February 13, 2019

Today we dropped off our baby and 3rd missionary to the Provo MTC.

It has been a day of mixed emotions.  We met as a family for a quick bite to eat at Jimmy Johns in American Fork.  We took some photos, laughed cried then joined all the other families as they dropped off their missionaries at the MTC.  Its never easy saying goodbye so let the blessings begin! 

 Garrett you have prepared your whole life for this moment. Let your light shine!

WEEK 86---Days Feel Like Weeks, and Weeks Feel Like Days

Time is flying by.. The hot it getting hotter.. And everything just seems like a blur. So last Wednesday I got transferred from Queen Creek to South Gilbert of of Ocotillo and Higley. I live in a big red barn with another set if elders. Elder Reid and Francis. My new Comp is Elder Woods from Austin, Tejas. He's 6'3" and he swam for BUY for a year before coming out. He's a stud. And I am the 4th out of 8 Comps he has killed in the past year he's been out. This past week has been eventful haha a lot of things have happened that some might see as out of the ordinary. 1.) Austin.. 2.) The Barn 3.) Super Man 4.) Topher's Dunkage.

1.) Man I don't think I have ever ever EVER met anyone like Austin. He is one of our investigators and he is 1 in a million (in a crazy way). So first he lives with his parents, doesn't shower (He thinks the Gov. is polluting the waters for population control.), He doesn't shake anybody's hand unless it's family (He believes everyone is born with a disease that is triggered when hands joined with another's hand if you aren't blood related.) And last he doesn't wear shoes (He believes we get nutrients from the earth when our bare body is in contact with it.) And by him not wearing shoes in this blistering heat. He has blisters all over his feet.. He's a good though and very intelligent. He is so open yet closed. And he loves to listen and debate. He look like Matthew McConaughey. We met with him last Friday and as we were discussing about Adam and Eve he cut us off and began to tell us how he thought we, as humans, came from the ashes of the dinosaurs. Okay okay. I am done rambling about him. He's a Legend.

2.) The Barn... Okay it's not actually a barn it just looks like it and smells like it. But it's a nicely put together apartment equipt with 2 full bathrooms, a nice sized kitchen and 2 bedrooms. It is so sick here. The Elders I live with are goofy but we have fun. We all sleep in one room and study in the other. Not a whole lot gets done but hey at least we are having fun. I am glad this will be my last house.

3.) Okay the picture of my comp was taken just moments before he ran off the road and ate it. It was the funmniest thing. He was telling me that him and his last comp did it for aerodynamics haha and a split second layer he was on his back. Oh it was killed you had to be there.

4.) Here is a picture of me and the comp that taught Topher.
He is a Michael Jackson jumping, speed racing, one heck of a kid. I love him. He is so funny and as he was being dunked right before he went under he screamed "Oh Lord have mercy." EVERY ONE was laughing. He's the cutest kid. I had so much fun teaching Toph-a-loaf. Here is the post baptism pic.

WEEK 82----Golly Gee

This week has been a week of miracles and blessings. Elder Coutts and I have just been putting in work. Our main goal this week has been being urgent in everything we do, and talking to EVERYONE! So our mission statistics show that 1 in 3 people we have the first lesson with gets baptized and 1 in 2 that attends church one time gets baptized, so that been a huge goal of ours as well. So all week that is all we have done is talked to EVERYONE, and invite or commit them to coming to church. This week we picked up 7 new investigators, 8 of our investigators plus 2 part members we visited this past week came to church, and we have 3 people on date for baptism on the 12th of May! I get so excited seeing these people making this change in their lives! It has been a huge blessing to be witnessing all of this happen. We are told in "Preach My Gospel" that the progression of your investigators and their ability to understand increase and it is shown through your personal worthiness, and upon your willingness to obey. And I have a strong testimony of that especially after this week and seeing all of these miracles take place as Elder Coutts and I have done all that we can. We also came across a laday that had a signed baseball by Babe Ruth.But I have gotten in the past 3 days pink eye, sliced open my thumb, and caught a sore throat and cold. Haha but life's going amazing.

Well other than that there wasn't anything else that was cool haha but I will send some pictures of some other things haha. Love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk to you next week!

Here's what we came across as we helped a less active move out of our area. And here is a pic of me in 3 sizes too small Lulu Lemon ABC pants.

WEEK 79----4 MONTHS LEFT??

Time has been flying by... I don't like it. Mainly because that means summer is coming, and seeing how it is only April and the temperature right now is in the mid 90's, it  doesn't look too promising to me..This past week has had some ups and some downs, but over all it was a pretty good week! Here are the Top 3 highlights. 1.) 50 ft. Cottonwood. 2.) FHA. 3.) Easter!

1.) This Wednesday we got a call by a member to come and help him take down not 1. Not 2. Not 3. But 4 Cottonwood Trees in his back yard.. It was a blast. We got to watch those things come crashing down and then the pick up was the fun part. We would cart them to the wood chipper. It was so cool mainly because I become a 5 year old when big loud yellow machines are at my disposal. It's weird to see cottonwood trees in AZ. Well you'd be right if you were to agree with me because 1 - I am always right and 2 - The cottonwoods dry out and rot, and become brittle, so limbs come falling down by winds that compare to a 2 yr old blowing out a birthday candle. So that was the reason The Lemieux's were getting rid of them. The video will show how cool it is. Because I do it no justice...

2.) FHA (Family Home Afternoon), So if you haven't heard of FHA don't worry. It is just a 2 hour activity put on by Senior couples in our mission to feed us, teach us, and let us relax, and get out of the heat. It happens every transfer. Well this last FHA was probably my most favorite one yet. There was ping pong, pool, mini golf, a tramp, corn hole, horse shoes, basketball, all in one yard!!! We had some dang good authentic street tacos and they were bombin! We also had a beautiful spiritual message that was all on becoming a better and a more true disciple of Christ. And as we were playing games all over the back yard it was just cool to see of immature we really are. Haha Especially me yelling at a stupid bean bag to get inside the hole. We may all look the part as we ride around and talk with people but deep down we all of our quirks and we all have that inner mischievous part about us. But here are some zone pics from FHA!

3.) I am writing about this now because I failed to send out an email last week! Anyway Easter was AMAZING! Conference was just jaw dropping. It was so amazing to stand and sustain President Nelson as our Prophet! But the best part about Easter Sunday was I didn't feel like I was away from home because of the Sparks family. The past 2 transfers I have gotten really close with them, and they treat me like their own. We spent the time in between sessions to hangout and play some games, and have lunch, and I felt right at home. And it just reminded me of my own family, and how grateful I am for them. Being out her on a mission has brought me to a bigger and better understanding of the importance of families. I am so grateful to know that we can be resurrected because of our Savior to be with our families for Eternity.

I am sad that my time here in AZ is becoming so short. I have hit a lot of bumps in the road while being here, but one thing for sure I am a better person because of the trials I have been through, because of the people I have had the opportunity to meet, and most of all because for once in my life I truly feel I have let the Atonement work in my life. These past 19 months have been the best 19 months for my life. I have learned so much. And all I can say is I wouldn't trade it for the world!

I love you all and I, again, am grateful for the love and support you all have shown me through out my life. I miss you all. I hope life is all goods in WJ! and wherever else you may be. I'll see you in a few!

Here is a picture of a friend I ran into the other day his name is Rolly!

Love,
Elder Tautai Matua

EASTER/CONFERENCE PICS APRIL 2018

Another P-day sunrise hike

No words.....

The Zone after Conference

WEEK 78--QUEENTUCKY

This week has been pretty eventful! It has been one of the shortest weeks on my mission. We have had a lot of lessons where we have seen progression in our investigators, and we have been able to see miracles through out the week. Here are some of the highlights of Elder Matua's week. 1. Spring into Queen Creek festival. 2. Food Truck Friday 3. Baby Goats

1.) So our zone got signed up for an event here for the city of Queen Creek, and it was a blast! We were supposed to play games with people and just be there to help out. Well me and Elder Neilson ended up playing corn hole with Downs Syndrome girls for like 2 1/2 hours! They were and absolute riot! We had a lot of fun. We also were able to be apart of the color splash. and we got demolished. We were caked in chalk.. I'll let the pictures do the talking. But needless to say we had a lot of fun on Saturday!

2.) Every Friday there is a lot like right next to our apartment where a bunch of food trucks, and we finally went. We showed up not knowing it was super over priced, but it was.. A member walked up to us and said wow Elders you have a budget for this? We were like no we don't haha we are just gonna go to Mcdonald's. He said oh don't do that and he handed each of us $20 and let us get whatever. It was lit. They have live music, food trucks, soda trucks, pretty much any food you can think of it was there. It was so cool.

3.) Last baby goats. I watched these little things enter this world. DISGUSTING! But they are cute so I don't care. Here are somepics.

Well  yall have a good week! I love you! I'll see you in a short 5 1/2 months!!

WEEK 77---Long Week

This week has been good just not a whole lot going on. Hopefully next week will pick up because we have found a few new investigators. But everything is going good. Just pressing forward doing the work. I love you guys I hope all is well! I miss you!

WEEK 75---"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."

This week has been a good week. Elder Lott and I have been able to see a lot of miracles and success. I found this quote the other day, and it's funny because I have kind of been in a comfort zone the past week. And here is what helped me get out of this funk. obviously seeing the quote helped,but we had a guy in our ward come up to us yesterday after sacrament meeting and he told us, "Elders I have written down EVER testimony given in this ward this year. 283 testimonies were born, and only 38 of those mentioned out Savior. That is roughly 13%. My brothers how sad.. Our Savior gave His life for us and we can't even acknowledge him in a simple testimony, but we are quick to give self praise for something we did, or how our kids made the school soccer team." I thought long and hard about that all day yesterday and all day today. And last night I got an amazing powerful test message from a good friend of mine named Steve Tenney, now if you haven't heard about Steve I'm sorry that's on me, but Steve was a less active member that came back into activity and is now working harder than ever to stay on the path to eternal life. Anyways here is what he texted me. "Hey Brother is Steve-O I was prompted to text you and to bear my testimony to you. The same testimony that I bore today verbatim, "I stand to bear witness to you all that one of the only things I have ever known, and will ever know whether I live for another 50 years or if I die right now is that Jesus IS THE CHRIST, and that I testifyand bear witness of in His Eternal and Sacred Name. Amen." He said Elder Matua I wasn't NOT going to church because I didn't want to I wasn't going because I got comfortable doing my own thing. I am proud of what you are doing keep pushing forward and finish strong. And I don't think I have ever felt the way I did last night as I read that. My Father in Heaven knew what I was going through whether I want to admit it or not, and he gave me exactly what I needed to keep pushing forward these last six months I have here in AZ. Anyways it's been a good week. Nothing extraordinary..I'll try to have some stories for next week, but until then I love you guys! Have a good week!

WEEK 74---PICS FROM THE WEEK

A massage

Not sure why they need a drone

Soccer skills

Oh MY!!! Study not study

In deep thought at church...more like a quiuck nap