Hello everyone. Sorry, Elder Matua didn't send a weekly email this week. When he emailed us on Sunday he said that he didn't have much time but that things are going well. He has a new companion from Samoa, Pesega 3rd Ward, Elder Iakopo. He didn't say where his old comp, Elder Fine was transferred to. But the work continues to move forward, slow but making some progress. This blog will have more pictures of him, his companion and the district. He sends his love to everyone!!!

DISTRICT

New companion, Elder Iakopo

Chicken, anyone???

Missionary Fun

"Cheesy Smile" picture

E mail Day

Kia Ora! Good Sabbath Evening! Short email this week, we're having our Zone P-day today. So It should be a blast! Nerf Guns and Zombies!
I hope today has been a great day of Spiritual Refill, There are a whole lot of things I have come to a realization of this week.
1. Satan really likes to work on you at your low moments
I've been sick..Yes again sick but I am all better now; Geared up and ready to go to battle. The Adversary has been a real EGG. He really played tricks with my mind. It's only when I am sick it happens. It's terrible. I sought some help from my Mission President. He gave me this, Fasting! So if I look skinny skinny you will know why:)  
2. The Atonement is SO REAL- Repentance is an awesome process of changing and reforming. I have really taken it for granted but now I realize it's going to help me. My views have switched heaps!
3. Trials and tribulations are like mirrors They display how strong you are.
4. I'm terrible at speaking my mind.
 Having to counsel missionaries is the hardest thing for me to do as a leader. It hurts you more than it does the missionaries because you learn to love those around you. It hurts to the point you want to help but there's not a whole lot that can be done because agency is the key to everything. It's super tough!
 So I have a lot of improvements to make...in a short amount of time. It will not be easy but I pray that the harder I work the easier the trials will be to endure. It's going to be fun to see what is going to happen here in the next while! Heaps of emotions will for sure be coming about so I hope all goes the way it should!
 Let me know how things are going for you! I hope this week is awesome for you!

Tofa mai Niu Sila!

Well, as you can tell from the picture Elder Matua shared this week, the weather is getting colder. They're heading into the winter months over there and so he has to bundle up. It was so good to talk to him on Mother's Day. We talked for about 55 minutes and he sounded great. The bridge pictured below is where he called us from. Our conversation consisted of questions we asked him and then he'd ask us some questions. One of the questions he asked was, "OK, which room am I going to use when I get home?" We couldn't give him a definite answer, but I think we'll have a room ready for him downstairs (fingers crossed). He laughed about that one because he said, "Well, maybe we can just knock out the wall between the rooms and we (all 3 boys) can share a room." Can you say missionary flat? Ha Ha

A question we asked, "How is the area?" He said that the work is really slow, hard to find investigators, it's a more affluent area and he said that people aren't as humble. But he also said that it's great working with Elder Fine, and that he really loves him because he's so humble and works hard. He talked about his appreciation for his family, something that he said he took for granted and that he's learned how important his family is to him. That really made our day!!!! He had words of encouragement for Tai and Garrett, expressed his love for his MOM, of course, and his love for his ward and extended family. He was kind of bummed that he didn't get a chance to talk to his cousin, Ean, who recently returned from his mission in Samoa. Mostly because he wanted to rap in Samoan. He was also excited to hear about the return of another cousin, Braden, from serving in Mexico (his younger brother, Cole, will be leaving for Iowa in July). He was blown away that Duncan, Kingston, and soon he-himself would be home, He said that he's feeling sad because he feels like he's leaving "HOME" to come home. His experience has been a real life-changer, mostly spiritually. He hasn't changed much physically, he has maintained his weight, which for him is a big thing because the people were always so willing to feed them. But definitely his testimony has grown and he's grateful for the gospel in his life.

Mother's Day Bridge

As we concluded our phone call, he shared his testimony with us in Samoan. The beautiful country of New Zealand and it's wonderful people have definitely filled a space in his heart. We are excited to have him home but it's a bitter-sweet feeling. We're going to miss his emails and especially the BLESSINGS that come from having a missionary in the field.