Never Ending Happiness

HOLA!

What a stellar week! So much learning and growing!

The Sister Training Leaders came to visit this week! I love when they come! Such a blessing to have two stellar examples! I always learn so much from exchanges!

This week we had some pretty neat experiences! The Andher´s (The Senior Couple here in Malargue... they´re the best) finished one year on their mission this last week! They have been working with a sister in the branch who is less active. She and her husband BROUGHT the church to Malargue. They are practically legends. Their familiy is such an example to me. Pretty much all the people we visit talk about how incredible this family is! They gave all they had to establish the church here and to invite others to come unto Christ. Her Husband passed away about 3 years ago from Lou Gehrig´s disease and it was SO rough on her. Since then she hasn´t had the strength to leave the house or receive visitors. The first visitors other than familiy that she received at her house for so long, were the Andhers and through their love and support they have helped her so much... and... she invited ALL of us (all six missionaries) to come to her house and celebrate 1 year for the Andhers! It was such a neat experience to be in the home where the first sacrament mtg in Malargue was held. You could just feel the love she had for this gospel. It was such a blessing to be in her home!

We had the opportunity to visit many less active families this week! One day we were knocking some doors and found a family and after talking to them asked if they knew anyone close by that could use our help. They said there was a family two doors down but she wasn´t sure if she would let us in. Of course we still went and at first she was a little standoffish, but later she opened up and told us she was a member! She told us she has the desire to come back, and wants her three (adorable) daughters to have the blessings of the Gospel in their lives. Cant wait to help them :) Moral of the story... ALWAYS ask for references!

We also met another less active named Adrianna, one day we were just walking in the street and she came up to us! We visited her this week and honestly my heart just hurt for her. She told us about how she went to the temple had a happy family, and was a really strong member, and then she made some bad choices in her life and it went downhill from there. Her life right now is miserable, she doesnt have much contact with any family... she is in a sticky situation with her boyfriend, and is living in the house of her brother in law that has no utilities and she is just miserable. I was so sad for her. Imagined her before when she had the blessings of the gospel and then to now and it just made me sad. As we were visiting her and all the other less actives this week I realized that life is always hard and we are always going to have trials... but it is a WHOLE lot harder without the blessings of the gospel. Whenever trials come seems to be the time we are most tempted to slowly stop living the commandments, but in reality THAT is the time that we most need the blessings of the Gospel. I have seen first hand that leaving the security and peace of the commandments only brings misery. I think King Benjamin said it best...

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed
and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold
they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if
they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that
thereby they may dwell with God in a state of Never Ending happiness"

I have NO doubt in my mind that THIS is the way to happiness. To live the commandments and teachings of the church is to live happy. There is no doubt in my mind. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to share that truth with the people here. And to remind people of the happiness they once felt, within the gospel. The church is so true :) 

Con Amor, Hermana Matheson

 Happy one year in the mission to the Anhders!

Our favorite senior couple in all of Malargue ;)

Hermana Moreno! She and her sweet family are Legends, they brought the church to Malargue!