WEEK 57-This is a sad week...

This week was my last week with my favorite companion. We've seen good success in this area. We've been able to see changes in those we have taught. Elder Mckown taught me that there is multiple ways to do missionary work. It isn't a wrote, scripted work. You have to be human and you can be You. Just more mature for me. This transfer has been real.
But let's get into the good stuff.
Here is a funny moment.
So we went to say goodbye to a family that Elder Mckown was super close with. And as we were leaving I heard and big slap and I looked and the oldest daughter was still grabbing Elder McKown's butt. I. Was. In. Shock. I died laughing while Mckown turned like 100 shades of red in .3 seconds. Long story short she was dared by hee sister to do it.
Here is a miracle.
We are teaching this girl. Her name is Julia. And she is awesome. And she is amazing. We call her the platinum investigators. She's another Jason. If you remember back to my last email a couple weeks ago. Julia is ready to be dunked. We just have to teach her the lessons. She is living the Gospel. She has met all the requirements. We are just waiting for her baptismal date which is November 4. Our second lesson with her she told US that she had a date for baptism. She's just awesome. So she is our miracle for the week.
Now not a whole lot has happened this week. Besides my companion packing, visiting families to say goodbye, having lessons, talking to people on the streets and getting rejected 100 times a day. But one thing I will remember was one of the talks given in sacrament meeting the an RM gave about families. I love my family. I am grateful for my family. I don't know what I'd do with out them. In his talk he said that without families God's plan wouldn't be complete. It wouldn't work. And I agree. I don't think if be able to make it through life on the right path with out a family to keep me on it.
With that I love you all and I hope you all had a good week. And I hope you all have a better week this week. Keep it real.
Love,
Elder Matua

That's our cowboy....what a dork!!!!

He must be missing his Kujo

WEEK 55----DUNKED!!!!!!

This week has been a wild one. And whenbi say wild I mean wild!!!! Crazy busy so let's get to it. I'm only going to be telling the important things throughout the week.

Tuesday: We had an amazing district meeting. We learned how to better work with our new technology and how we can help our investigators through Facebook. Let's just say me and my comp killed it. We got a few lessons set up and we had a couple lessons over Facebook messenger. Later that day we had a lesson with Jason Hair to finalize his baptism program and set up a daybfor his interview. Let me just tell ya. Jason is amazing. We tell him what he needs to do and he does it no questions asked because he said, "Before I even started taking the lessons I knew it was true." Which if you didn't know never happens. So it was cool to see someone act without thinking because of how strong his faith was.

Wednesday: We had our last required lesson with Jason. And of course he said he would commit to living the 20 commandments and the law of Tithing which is amazing. So many people get caught up on those things. Anyways. That's the only my important thing about that day.

Friday: See as a missionary our weeks are very different than yours back at home. We dread Fridays and look forward to Mondays. So we had weekly planning as usual and that sucked, but afterwards the day went awesome. We had a lot of referrals to stop by and all of the answered the door except one and we got to talk to them and set up return appointments. It was awesome. Later on we had Jason's baptismal interview which went very well. All we had to do then was get him in the water and dunk him. AND IT HAPPENED, but more on that tomorrow. We then had a lesson after the interview with a family that is amazing. They are less active, but we have good lessons with them. They actually came to church on Sunday, so hopefully we can get them started backup again.

Saturday: The only really important thing that happened on Saturday was Jason's baptism, and it was a amazing. He was so ready, and the spirit was so strong.

Sunday: We had church for 7-8 hours...... Not important I just complain about that a lot. Haha. We also threw a child in a pool.

Well that is about it. I love you all I hope you have a good week. Talk to you next week!!!

WEEK 54?---This Week Has Been Chill

I'm sorry I've been slacking on emails. But today I'll start with something I heard this week that I will probably apply for the rest of my life. It's from Elder Natress of the Seventy, and also former Mission President of the Arizona Gilbert Mission he said, "Plan precisely, but execute flexibly."  I love that quote. As missionaries, not everything goes to plan. Lessons get cancelled, doors get slammed in your face, you go to contact people and they say they're not interested, etc. But you either have a back up or you have to be light on your feet to come up with something to do to be effective. I've found this quote to have already helped me in this work. I've never not been busy this transfer, and I'm loving it. Although my comp goes home this transfer and is a little trunky. He still realizes that he's not done until he's been set apart. So it's been a good transfer so far. 

Here is a quick funny moment of this week. So, we were having a lesson with our investigator this past Thursday, and we showed him a picture of Jesus getting baptized. And he said, "Woah is that guy really trying to slap Jesus!?" And his girlfriend (She's a member.)  called in from the other room and said, "NO!? That's him getting baptized!" We all started to laugh I felt bad cause of course he didn't know, but I couldn't help it. 

Well I haven't sent you an email for about 3 weeks and I'm sorry. So here is a run down of those 3 weeks. My new companion is Elder Ethan Mckown. He's been out for 23 months. He is from Odessa, Texas. We have been able to teach quite a few people. We have 4 investigators in this area and all are progressing which makes me so happy.  

We are teaching a lady and her 2 kids. Here's what's cool they are FLDS, so they already have a testimony of the BOM and Joseph Smith. We are just working now towards how there is a prophet on the Earth today.  We have a guy named Bob. He is in a part member and he is a stud. Last week he came to church by himself without his wife although he only stayed for sacrament meeting he still came and that's progress. 

Here are pictures of me and Elder Mckown at a Greek Orthodox Monastery. We went and we had a blast learning about these people who don't even leave this place, and the lives they live and how they worship. It was cool. All of them asked us about our lives and our religion so it was a win win.

I am having a blast in my new area and I love the people here. We are having a baptism this weekend for a stud, Jason Hair, he is so knowledgeable, and he us so open to everything. We are too stoked.  I hope all is well. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Matua 

Greek Orthodox church visit

My new comp, Elder McKown