Pics 1-3: Mission Christmas Party, Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

So I don't have too much time, but this week has been pretty good! Christmas was amazing and I am so happy I got to talk to my family! I got everything any missionary could ever ask for! Hahaha! I miss you all and I hope everything went well with your Christmas! I love you! I am getting transferred so next week will be a better email! Love you guys!!!

Me and Elder Holland 

P-day at TopGolf

Okay, so this week has been a crazy one! I will continue to number the events in my week because it is easier. Hahaha okay, so 1. Miracle at Angry Crab 2. Throw up at The Hoffman's 3. Monte and Apollo 11 4. Miracle at Subway 5. Moto Cop

1.) Me and the other Elders decided to try out a place that just opened called angry crab and their seafood is to DIE for! And VERY expensive. (We didn't know that till we looked at the menu and after waiting for 30 minutes to get seated. Well we were ordering and a lady tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I am so sorry for rudely interrupting, but thank you for being missionaries and threw $80 down on the table and and we were just in shock. So, our meal was almost paid for. What a blessing!...... So, we thought!?!? We were finishing our 6 lbs of shrimp and 3 lbs of King Crab, and the waitress came over and said would you like your check? With bellies full and gross saucy hands we said, "Yes please!" It took my girl like 20 minutes to get us our check, but the anger quickly went away as she handed us our bill. We opened up the check booklet to a blank piece of paper that said, Merry Christmas, from a friend." We are truly blessed as missionaries and I am so thankful for the members that take such good care of us here in AZ.

2.) We were having dinner at the Hoffman's in the AR 1st ward and they had a sick child that had the Croop. So we had finished dinner thankfully and we were just conversing with the family about their missions that they served and their 4 yr old child came out of her room and sat on her mom's lap. She was coughing like crazy! While still conversing this child starts coughing to the point of gagging. Keep in mind I am a sympathetic thrower upper. And I just have a gut feeling this child is about to burst hot liquid out of her mouth. So she is gagging and her mom is like, "ARE YOU GOING TO THROW UP!?" *Cough cough* *BLAHHHH* Oh my gosh so hear is an image from my point of veiw. The baby is straddling her mom facing her, and she is coughing and I just seeing this river of brown, rice filled vomit projectiling out of her mouth.... I had to get up and walk away I almost upchucked. But Sister Hoffman took it like a champ as the puke soaked into her lap. Oh and the little girl tried re-eating the rice we had for dinner! You're so welcome for the detailed story!😘

3.) So we were tracting one day, Elder Holland and I, and we came across a man named Monte. I guess they had met with him before? Anyways, he was telling us how he used to be an electrical mechanic and he worked on the Apollo 11 and spent more time in the cock pit and crew couch more than Armstrong and Buzz! So cool! He showed us pictures.

4.) So same deal with Angry crab. We get into Subway and we get up to order and there is a Less Active member in front of us that is in our ward. We talked to her until she got her food and paid for it. She looks at all of us and says, "May I please pay for your meal? We were like that would be wonderful thank you so much!! She goes to pay and the cashier said, "Some lady just came in and paid $40 so your total will be $14.87." Or something like that haha. So double pay miracle both at Angry Crab and Subway! What a week! hahaha

5.) The Moto-Cop! So Elder Holland and I were tracting near a busy road, and there is a motorcycle cop on the sidewalk using a speed gun, and this guy would catch car after car and then come back and post up in the exact same spot! He would sit there and spot and flip his lights on and on he went to catch all the speed racers!

Well there are the highlights of the week. I love and miss you all so much! I am so grateful for this beautiful gospel and so grateful for the time I get to spend everyday spreading God's word! I am so blessed with the companion I have and I am blessed to be serving in the area I am in! I love Arizona and the people I meet each and everyday! God bless! I will be keeping you all in my prayers! Bless up Dub-J! Keep it real! And I will see you next week!

OH...and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Alright, so this week went by really fast and not a whole lot went on, but I will give you a quick run down. 1. I helped rewire a 64' Mustang fastback. 2. I guess I sleep walk?? Haha 3. Don't order Mt. Dew at Restaurants... 4. I have a love hate relationship with dogs. 5. Went to the Mesa Temple lights. And, 6. my comp is freaking hilarious with come backs to Anti's!

1.) So I was out on exchanges with Elder Merritt my ZL. And we were roaming around a gated community called Barrington. As, we came around the corner of S Gordon and E Lakeview I spotted a beauty. And, no not a girl, but a 64' Fastback Mustang with a guy slumped over the engine of this beast. Well, we pulled up and OYM'd (Open your mouth) this tubster, and asked him what he was up to. He was rewiring the car and we asked if he needed any help and sure enough this man said "As a matter of fact I do!" So, Merritt and I helped this man out, but he was sadly not interested in the LDS church...

What a beaut!!! '64 Fastback Mustang!!!

 2.) Well, it was Thursday night and usually we would have 10 o'clock and then we chill and talk. But. I went to bed right after 10 o'clock prayer while the other Elders stayed up. So around 10:30 Elder Holland came into the room and went to bed. I was out like a rock. Anyways, 10-15 minutes pass and this is Elder Hollands experience. So, he was almost asleep and he felt his bed shake a little and so he rolled over to see what it was and there I was standing over him with my eyes closed and he was FREAKED out that he punched me in the chest and I didn't wake up, so he shook me and I fell on him and then I freaked out that I was in his bed.. Soooo, yeah I sleep walk?

3.) Don't order Mt. Dew while at a restaurant, because here is the response you get, "Mormon's can drink soda?? I thought y'all couldn't like have caffine?" Ugh, if only people knew... It's all good I just gave him a weird look and he left and brought my apostate drink hahaha.

4.) Dogs are good, but they suck when you are trying to teach. First, they bark like crazy so people get annoyed of their dogs and open the door. But, it's when you're in the house and teaching that you hate those things and just want to punt them to China..

5.) Last night Me and Elder Holland got to take a recent convert, and her non-member husband to the Mesa Temple lights. It was such and amazing experience, because the husband saw a Plan of Salvation video at the visitor center that sparked some interest in the Church! And now we have a lesson with him on the 15th!!

6.) So we were getting anti'd out the WAZ the other day and this guy was attacking us left and right, and the guy said, "I don't want none of *bleep* in my life. I don't want to be a part of a Cult."

And Elder Holland cuts him off and says, "That's funny you say that because we USED to be a colt, but now we are a stallion!!" The Guy lost it and said okay that is a good one and we just told him to have a good day and we went our separate ways!

So things went really well this week and me and Elder Holland are killing it! We are loving the work and we are loving the Lord and we are serving him the very best we can! I love you all and I miss you all too! I hope things are going great up there in SOJO and DUB JAY! Alofas from AZ!

P-Day soccer injury

See #3

So this week didn't have too much going for it... Sadly. But it was a good week! 1. My neck is kinked out the WAZ... 2. I have had a couple of people ask me what nationality I am and I tell them Samoan and they go on and on about Tongans.. 3. I look Hispanic in a cowboy hat.. 4. I met a guy that only has 2 teeth in is mouth and his breath smelled horrible.. 5. Had a few amazing lessons. AND 6! I had the best home made, made from scratch Mexican food!!

1.) So the other morning I woke up and went to roll out of bed to say my prayers, and I could not move to save my life.. My neck cranked the wrong way. And I was down and out for the weekend. But, it is getting a lot better. Even though I couldn't play basketball today.

2.) I have freaking had like 5 or 6 people ask me this week if I was Polynesian, and of course I respond with, "Yes I am Samoan!" Now the answer is always the same. "AHH I had a few Tongan companions on my mission!" Cool dude! I am not Tongan.. So I just sit back and listen to how many people they've met that are Tongan and they always ask if I have ever been to Hawai'i. Oh well. OH! And they always say You can't be Polynesian!? You're too small!? Yes I know.. I am small for a. Anyways.

3.) As you can see in my pictures. I look like a Meeko in a Cowboy hat.. That's all for that one.

4.) Mr. Navarro. This guy is the goofiest looking dude you will ever meet This guy can talk for HOURS! Goodnight man, he only has his bottom K9 teeth and that is all you can stare at when he talks to you! I am not joking. Imagine a 65 ish ol' Meeko man, tall, lanky, and has no teeth except his two bottom K9's. And, the only thing I took away from talking to him for an hour was this.
Mr. Navarro: I haven't met too many Samoan's that are LED!?
Elder Holland: You mean LDS??
I about burst out laughing but I felt bad for the guy only because of the way he looked and his breath was RANK.. Oh and because he didn't have the true Gospel in his life..

5.) We had some pretty great lessons this week! We have a Less Active family in our area and they are an amazing family but they just don't go to church!? And we keep inviting them to come to church, but they never come. So we were prompted to start small with just saying family prayer and they committed to do that and you can see the change in the way they listen to our messages now! We had a lesson with another Less Active family, the VanWagner's. They have never let us in until we started helping out his dad which is also in our area. We shared a scripture and the dad opened up and said, "Yeah we know we need to go and we want to so maybe next week? Sound good hun?" So we are crossing our fingers!

6.) Mexican food isn't my first choice, but homemade?? I think yes!?!? It was like Heavenly food! I cannot pronounce what it was nor spell it. You just have to take my word for it!!

Anyways that is all for this week! So until next time! I love you all and thank you for all the emails! I miss you guys! I hope you have a verry Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays my dudes!

Love,
Elder Matua

Lowridin'!!!

Chinese anyone???

Elder Wilcox and his Santa outfit

So this is Thanksgiving week and we seriously ate way too much. We were invited to 5 different homes and ate at ALL 5. I was so sick but hey you can't turn down a meal right??? Anyway, it was awesome and the families here are just so amazing. We feel so blessed to have good families in AZ.

It was a rough week as far as teaching. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't force things and that I have to be patient and let the Spirit do the converting, BUT it's still frustrating. AHHHHHH!!! We'll be kicking off the 25 ways in 25 days, #Lighttheworld campaign, it's going to be awesome. Please go online and watch the video and get on board!!! Serving during the Christmas season is a great way to remember the Savior and all He has done for us.

Anyway, no wrecks on the bike this week ;) , the weather is getting colder, 65 degrees during the day and low 40s at night. I miss the snow but it's nice having the mild winter here. I can't wait to Skype with you guys, we have arranged with the Lowry family for Christmas day and they are a great family in the Augusta Ranch 1st Ward. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and hopefully you'll have a great week!!! Love you all

So this last week has flown by and not much has been going on. But, I got transferred last Wednesday. And my new companion is Elder Holland (No relations to THE Elder Holland). I love him and we get along just as well as me and Elder Wilcox! Funny story about transfers. I didn't even have to switch zones! I didn't even have to switch houses. I just had to switch rooms! Hahaha I love it! Me and Elder Holland have some good times while Proselyting! Like the other day I made him fall off his bike cause I raised up my seat on my bike and looked stupid and he was laughing too hard and hit the curb! And another time I tripped down the stairs after a door approach and the person at the door just laughed as he shut the door...  We also got to ride in the Gilbert Half Marathon and we were the Lead bikers! It was so much fun! MOTIVATION!! I love this place! Anyways, that has happened within the first week of the transfer, so we will have to see how the next 5 weeks go...

I love my new area! We only cover 2 wards, thank the Heavens! We only cover a square mile literally! Haha that's the only down side, but all in all things are just getting better down here in AZ! It is still hot in the day, but at night it gets very nippy! I hope one day it will be cold in the day and even colder at night! haha, but I love you all! Until next week! God Bless!

So this week has been good! I had my birthday and got a free lunch at Joe's Real BBQ and OH MY GOSH! It was so good! I loved it! We have been teaching a lot. We have a family that is on their way to eternal salvation. All that needs to happen is for them to be married. Hahaha. We have had a lot of success and a lot of well the opposite of success which is crap.... Although I love this place, there are so many people here I want to strangle! It's like I have the cure to cancer!!! Take it please! I promise you will love it! But they don't care... I wish people could just know that this gospel is true as soon as we ring the doorbell. Sadly it doesn't work that way...

New comp....Elder Holland from Kanab, UT

I got transferred, but luckily I am only switching rooms! haha PRAISE! My new comps name is Elder Holland! I am so stoked! We get along real well and I can't wait to see what we can do with the members we have! I am now in the Augusta Ranch Area. I will cover 2 wards AR 1 and AR 2. I am praying that we can work with the members to "Teach repentance and baptize Converts."

I pray for my whole family back at home every night and day! I miss you all, and when I say family I mean my home ward as well. I miss everyone back at home, but I know that I am where I am supposed to be. AZ is so amazing! I know that this church is true. Christ is my savior, and I know that he and Heavenly Father loved us so much that they provided us the Atonement, so that we can repent for our wrong doings and our short comings. I am so thankful for Joseph Smith. I know that he was a true prophet of God. He translated the truest book I have ever read! The Book of Mormon is the Word of God! I am so grateful for this opportunity I get to serve these 2 years and devote my life to preaching this Gospel. I am here because it would be selfish of me to not share the thing I know to be the key to eternal happiness. It would be selfish of me to stay home and do the things that I wanted instead of informing the people of AZ about this gospel. I know that I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe and know that this is the true Gospel!

Until next week! I love you all!!!

Love,

Elder Matua​

Oh Tai....

OK, so this is the reason why I didn't email on my regular Monday P-day. We had Elder Cornish of the 70 here, and he was doing stuff with the mission, man was it powerful with him talking to us.

So I don't have much time so here is a run down of this last week!

1. I took too much C-4 (pre-workout)
2. Elder Cornish came to the mission! AMAZING!!!
3. An elder got his nose shattered during mission sports
4. I almost crapped my pants riding my bike home from a freaking natural laxative (I think that's how you spell it).
&
5. I crashed again on my bike doing no hands and hit a gnarly speed bump.

I love you!

Love, Elder Matua

Getting ready for the day

OUCH!!!

To the doctor's office we go....

Time for a workout

Hey everyone! So things this week have been great! A lot of lessons and a lot of people to talk to now that it is cooling down! (80 degrees...) I love this work and the blessings that come from it! We had a sacrifice and covenant this week that if we "fasted" from music we would find 2 new Gators (investigators) And we did! A man named Joe and a young man named Josh! Both we pretty excited to here about this beautiful gospel and the way that it makes our lives better! I love it. I am still loving my comp. We work hard together and we get things done. He teaches me something new each and everyday. I found out this week to not do wheelies on your bike in the middle of the intersection because the Lord has a sense of humor. I came crashing down with eyes staring at me through windshields of cars. I got up quickly with a hole in the right knee of my slacks. Oh boy did the pain come after that as I kept riding to the other side of the intersection with a red face and throbbing knee... Needless to say my comp couldn't stop laughing... I haven't learned my lesson because even after going to the doctors and having a fear that I re-injured my patella tendon, I am still doing wheelies across intersections.I love this work. I get to see the fear in the eyes of those of other faiths as they speed walk back into their houses,or back into their cars as they just pulled up to their house. I get to see miracles happen. We just had a baptism this Last Sunday for a young boy named Taylor, he is 10 years old and boy does the light of Christ shine in this young man. He is so receptive of information thrown at him and he has so many questions! I love teaching him! I am having a great time down here in Arizona. Although I get doors slammed in my face, and little girls chasing us down to throw water on us. Times do get hard, but I know through the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us all things are possible. My love for others grows stronger everyday, even those who I have just met. I am grateful to be serving. I love my companion and the example he is to me. I am so thankful for the love and support you all show me back at home! I miss you all. I hope all is well back home. God bless, and I will talk to you next Monday!!! 

Hey everyone, below is a link to a youtube video that the Ward Mission leader in the Eastridge Ward put together. copy and paste to your browser. Enjoy!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FfYb-xxMLg

I love my mission. It is so much fun, and I love the work. Everything is going great, and we actually have a baptism on date for the 29th for a boy named Taylor and he is 9. I am excited cause me and Elder Wilcox started teaching him. It gives you such joy and happiness. I love hearing from those in the ward! I am glad  haven't been forgotten.I love my comp. Elder Wilcox. He is a stud and he teaches me something new and important everyday, and he is a missionary I want to be. He is hilarious! Every morning he wakes me up and says wakey wakey princess! Weird, but I laugh every time. He keeps me in line and tells me what to do in a way that doesn't make me want to strangle him.

It has been hot. like mid 90's all week! It makes you sweat through everything you have on. Thank you Lord we have a washer and dryer in the flat so we can do laundry whenever, so my shirts aren't 5 different shades of yellow.. But, all I'm doing is getting skinny and black. haha what else could be better! 

We just had a baptism for David Abel and he is a goof! He always looks so stoned, but he is the funniest kid you will ever meet! Man, the light in his eyes freaking brought me to tears as I look him in the eye and got to tell him that he will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and that he will remain a constant companion as long as he stays worthy of that. As I asked him if he would take that challenge to always stay worthy of it he got the biggest grin and said YES I WILL. Man that made my day.

Thank you for your support I hope all is well. And here is some advice to better your life. Read your scriptures. AND Pray about them. I promise you that it will help you out immensely.

Mormon 9: 37

Alma 32:21 

Alma 26:12

Mosiah 4:9 

Here are just a few of my favorites.

 Anyways I gotta go I love yo all! Have a great week! Until next week!

O and the picture of the elders on the phone is them trying last second to find a pianist for the baptism. don't wait last minute to fine the pianist!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Matua!

Last minute calls for a pianist

Saturday's baptism in YSA ward, David.

 

FIRST P-DAY

My Companion - Elder Wilcox

OK, so crazy week since I've been here. My companion is Elder Wilcox. He is from Bend, Oregon. Has a family of 6, 2 brothers, and one sister. He is 6' 3" and loves football, basketball and track. We get along so well and he is such an amazing missionary. He teaches me something new like every hour! It is amazing here! I love it, and it is hot!!! But, as long as you don't think about it, you are golden!!! I'm currently serving in the Mesa Arizona Eastmark Stake. We cover the Marbella, East Ridge, and Hawes Wards, and also the Meridian YSA ward!!We have a baptism on date for this Saturday with a young man in the YSA ward. I love the people here they are so nice, and I love the investigators even more! I miss you all! So much!! I am doing great and I have just a few pictures cause we have been so crazy busy! But they do these things here called mini missions. Where YM, YW come out for the weekend with us missionaries and see what it's like and it is so cool to see how they react!!!    I love you and tell the boys I miss them!   Love, Tautai

 

On the plane to Arizona

Me and Elder Holland at Mesa Temple