I'll go where you want me to go.

To be completely and totally honest, when I heard that I would be transferring to Iriga two cycles ago, I was not what you would call "thrilled" about the upcoming change. I actually was completely terrified to transfer to this area! From everything I had heard, the people here were hard-hearted, the houses big (meaning the people inside might not be friendly) and the sun hotter than anywhere else in the mission. In addition, what added more to my fear was before that transfer, I had specifically prayed and asked Heavenly Father: "If I am going to transfer this cycle, please anywhere BUT Iriga." So naturally, that is where I ended being sent.

But of course, even at that time, I knew that God has a perfect plan and that there was a reason I was meant to come here to Iriga. So even though I was scared, I put on a smile, 

set my feelings aside and have been doing my best to work hard and love the people here.

 The one thing I hadn't anticipated when I heard I would be transferring here however, was how much I would come to love this area, how dear to my heart it would become... and finally, how hard I would cry after receiving a call last night that I will be transferring out of what I have come to recognize as the best area in the mission.

Three months ago, I never imagined myself, kneeling on my bed and praying with my whole heart, just saying "Heavenly Father, I will try my best to be alright with whatever happens this upcoming transfer... but I am not sure if I could handle it if I am the one to leave. I just love this area too much."

Well, He is definitely putting my faith to the test as once again, I am going to do the one thing that terrifies me the most. But this time, I am going to let go of all of that and just put my trust in the Lord that DAET (my new area... and the furthest zone in the mission) is where He wants me to be. Because if there is one thing that Iriga has taught me, it is to have FAITH, and everything else will work out the way that it is supposed to. So that's what I will do! Have FAITH! For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish that which he has commanded them. (1 Nephi 3:7)

Yes, I am sad to leave my area, but I know I am leaving it in good hands. And at least I can say that after a long and hard week of work, I am happy with what we . . .

. . . were able to accomplish during my last week in Iriga.

One event that stood out extra-sharp in my mind was the art show that we had last Friday. 

 For the show, Sister and Elder Hanson had given me a canvas that they expected me to have finished.

 But as the days came and past, I was left with little time to work on my painting and was ultimately unable to finish.

 But as I have said before, the Lord works in mysterious ways! And because of my decision to focus on the work instead of the painting, I gained an awesome opportunity Friday to spend my proselyting hours painting live at the art show,

  meeting so many awesome people and answering their questions about art.

Before starting that morning, I just remember begging Heavenly Father in prayer to help me do a good job (because I really have no idea what I am doing with paint) before getting to work.

Throughout the day, the spirit there was SUPER strong and I really felt the Lord's hand guiding me along and helping me to do a good job. In fact, there were even times when certain ideas or impressions just popped into my mind for the painting! So by the time the art show was over, I was surprised and happy with what I was able to do, and had to tell most of the people who asked me to give them the painting that they would have to fight Sister Zapanta for it.

I know it was not because of my own abilities or skills that I was able to finish strong but I am so grateful to the Lord for answering my prayer to help me paint.

I was also grateful when the Lord answered my prayer Tuesday afternoon when after heading out to find a referral in a relatively large area, I prayed to Heavenly Father and said "I know we will probably not be able to find this person... but if they are ready and if we are supposed to teach them, please guide us to them quickly now so that we can make it to our other appointments." After that, the tricey dropped us off in a random spot and we were off!

As we walked down the road (me looking back and forth for people to ask along the way). . .

  . . . I noticed a rather large house and had the sudden urge to ask there. To be honest, I almost didn't listen because I have a weird tendency to knock on big houses (so I thought maybe the feeling was just coming from me) but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try, so I called out only to have the person there tell me that it was in fact the home of the person we were looking for!

I was shocked! I had prayed for Heavenly Father's help, but hadn't expected Him to answer my prayer so quickly or immediately! And throughout the mission, I have seen Him do that time and time again.

Like with this transfer, for example. Even though I am SOOOO sad to leave this area, I am also grateful and excited for all the prayers my Heavenly Father is also answering in the process. For one, I have really wanted to--and have been praying for a chance to--go to Daet since the start of my mission, and now... I WILL GET TO GO THERE! In addition, I will also be blessed with the awesome opportunity to be companions with SISTER SEGOVIA! 

Who I ABSOLUTELY LOVE and is one of the hardest workers I have meet since I started the mission. I have prayed that I would get an opportunity to be her companion before, but didn't think it would actually happen because she is one of the Sister Training Leaders (STL's) in the mission. And since I am also getting the opportunity to be called as an STL (which I am honestly SUPER nervous about) it means I will also get to work with Sister Black again! (Something I have been praying for since we stopped being companions) 

Because she is also in Daet, so I will get to go on exchanges with her (hopefully) which I am SUPER excited for.

All in all, I don't think I have quite absorbed the fact that I am actually transferring! But I know the Lord has a plan, so I will just do my best to follow Him... because as the song goes "if, by a still, small voice he calls to paths that I do not know, I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I'll go where you want me to go."

I hope you all have an awesome week and I can't wait to email next week from my NEW AREA!!!! 

Sincerely,

Sister Matheny

God really does answer prayers.

 Oh where to even start!  It is SO beautiful here . . .

. . . And I LOVE it here so much!!!

This week my mind has been blown time and time again as we have seen miracle after miracle which has left me knowing without a doubt that God really does answer prayers, the atonement is real and all good things come to those who wait.

So last week, I really felt that I came to the realization of how much I love missionary work. 

But in addition to that, I also felt a deep-set depression when one of our awesome investigators--and one of the most amazing people I have met since starting the mission--started hiding from us after we came over and saw him drinking one afternoon.

We had only met him recently, but from his past experiences at church and from reading the Book of Mormon, he has already come to a solid knowledge that this message is true and has been working REALLY hard to overcome his word of wisdom issues so that he can reach his baptismal date.

From what I have seen since starting the mission, it is normal for people to occasionally relapse as they fight their own personal battle to come unto Christ and "be perfected in Him". But the amazing thing about this Gospel, is that no matter how many times we relapse, mess up, or sin, the ATONEMENT of JESUS CHRIST is ALWAYS there to help us change for the better.

After seeing our dear investigator drinking, this is what I wanted to shout out to him so that he would know we would NEVER look down on him or judge him for making a mistake. The problem however, is that he was hiding from us! So we couldn't!

I just remember feeling so crushed when that happened! It just didn't make sense to me that someone so prepared could fall off the map so quickly! And this investigator had become so special to us.

I just remember after that, pouring our my heart in prayer every day, begging Heavenly Father to help us know what to do. We fasted, prayed, sent inspirational texts, and even left a note and drawing of Jesus Christ that I made to let him know how much we care for him.

Part of me wondered why this was happening to me? The other part wondered if this is what it would feel like to watch someone very close to me fall away from the church.

Either way, after a final and desperate attempt to get an answer from Heavenly Father as to if this investigator would ever listen again, I opened my scriptures only to have them fall right open to the Bible Dictionary, and the only thing marked on that page was the definition of FAITH.

As I read that definition, warmth and comfort flooded my soul, and I felt that everything would work out for the best. Over the next few days, I had to return to that page many times to find comfort.

After that, a few days later, we made our investigator's brother (who we are also teaching) let us come over and pull out all the massive weeds in their yard. 

 Once again, our awesome investigator hid from us.

We ended up going home after a few hours with more splinters that I could count, feeling so happy with what we had been able to do for them but also so sad that our investigator was continuing to hide. 

As we went home, I asked Sister Habla for the millionth time: "Do you think he will ever listen again?"

Well... as I said earlier, God really does answer prayers (and in the most mysterious ways) because when we dropped by our investigator's home later that night, I was overfilled with joy as our investigator FINALLY came out (after over a week) to thank us for our service project.

Just that simple thank you made every single splinter worth it, and helped me to see just how POWERFUL service can be.

 I almost couldn't hold back tears of joy and was reminded once again of HOW MUCH I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK 

and why I am here . . . 

 . . . and couldn't help but think of the verse in Luke 15:7 which reads "likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth" or over one dearly beloved son of daughter of our Heavenly father who was lost, which is now found.

That being said, if I have one regret from this entire experience, it is that I ever doubted that God really would answer my prayers. Nevertheless, I am so grateful for this amazing miracle he has given us which has only served to strengthen my faith that He is REALLY listening to us, and that he REALLY will keep His promise to answer our prayers. 

 I have seen that time and time again throughout the mission, especially here in Iriga, which has grown to be one of my favorite areas. 

 I remember a few weeks after getting here, feeling so accomplished when we finally managed to have 7 investigators come to church (and we brought about 5 of them). This week however, my joy was tripled when we managed to have 12! And we only needed to go and get 2!

Besides that, life as usual has been good. 

 I officially dislike AC (which makes a room WAY too cold... and makes my nose hurt), snail has definitely become one of my favorite foods since getting here, and I am gradually growing to love basketball (which seems to be the favorite sport here in the Philippines). In one of our barangay's (which is kind of like a neighborhood), they are having a basketball tournament between all the different zones in the barangay, which has been fun for some of our investigators to participate in.

Anyways, there is so much more that has happened, but never enough time to write it all! Ha ha!

 Nevertheless, it sufficeth me to say that this week was a good week, full of faith, miracles and great hope for the weeks to come.

Have an AWESOME week and as I forgot to say earlier, MERRY THANKSGIVING!!!! Lets all find something to be thankful for.

Sincerely, 

Sister Matheny

P.S.  May the force by with you . . .

I don't ever want my mission to end!

Wow! What another great week here in Iriga! So this week has probably been one of the most challenging and rewarding I have had since starting the mission.

To be honest, it seems like every day, the mission becomes more challenging. Now, don't take me wrong, that isn't a bad thing... it just means we have to always be striving harder and doing more to reach our best.

I remember at the start of the mission, feeling really encouraged as I thought to myself "all I have to do is adjust to life here and then it will be a breeze!" Oh, how I was wrong :)

 True, the trials now are not the same as when I got here. I don't have to force myself into the freezing shower water everyday (because I'm used to it) and I don't scream AS bad when a cockroach lands in my hair, but in other ways, the trials have become more real. Little by little, I have had to push myself to reach higher goals, pray more sincerely, and meet more people. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, and I'm not sure I'm doing a great job of it now, but all in all, I am so grateful for the tests of patience, faith, and hope that my Heavenly Father gives me each day to help me continue to grow and always be pushing to be better than the day I was before.

Little by little, I have really felt my love for this place and the people here increase and I LOVE getting to be a part of their lives and watch them change and grow.

 More and more, I am really learning that this work is not about me, it is about THEM. All the people we strive to help each day. 

When THEY are happy, I am too. When THEY are sad, I always want to cry and walking from place to place, I always feel stressed that we don't have time to meet more of them!

If there is one thing a mission will teach you, it is how precious time is. Every single second is a blessing, so we should use each of them wisely.

I think out of everything that happened this week, what I remember the most is waking up the other day and just thinking... "I don't EVER want my mission to end. I don't EVER want to go home! I just want to be a missionary forever". 

Nothing can describe the joy of this work and how thankful I am for my family (especially my mom) who pushed me to come here. I was never expecting to change in the ways that I have, or to have become so happy. I really do know that this is God's work, this is His restored church on the earth and that He loves us so much and will never desert us.

Besides that, I also want to thank my awesome mom for yet another care package!  

It came just at the right time too... So, we have this investigator, who is my FAVORITE person EVER! He is SOOOO awesome and really knows this is true. But we saw him drinking alcohol last week, and then he started hiding from us. It is so hard to describe how much that hurt me (that he doesn't trust us that we won't be mad at him or anything) and I have been praying really hard for him. To be honest, I was feeling SUPER depressed about it when the package came, so it really helped to cheer me up, especially when I saw the pizza sauce! 

So, we are just going to keep pushing and working hard in the upcoming weeks. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Sincerely,

Sister Matheny

Feeling Blessed, Happy, and Lucky!

What a week! So this week I have felt so blessed, happy and lucky to have gotten to be a part of helping others and watching the Lord bless their lives. These past weeks, I have really been praying that God would lead us to those he has prepared and he really seems to be pulling through as day after day, we are blessed with amazing people to teach. 

 So to start: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! I don't know about y'all... but this was definitely the coldest and wettest Halloween I have experienced so far.  For one, when we woke up on Halloween morning, it was pouring rain outside! And we didn't have an umbrella! (Since Sister Habla's got lost and I accidentally left mine at an investigator's just two days before). So we were not too anxious to work when the time came...

 But because we still had people to teach (rain or shine) I put on my boots (So at least my feet would be dry) and we headed out.

Luckily, our morning ended up being the only part that was super wet because by the time lunch came around, we were able to get a new umbrella for Sister Habla which we used until we were able to drop by the investigator that had mine. 

Needless to say, when we got home we were both cold and wet, 

so I decided it would be a good time to drink the hot-coco my mom sent me last year when I was still at the MTC.  So tasty! I honestly had forgotten what home tastes like!

Anyways... about Halloween in the Philippines: It is NOTHING like Halloween back home. For one, they don't trick-or-treat here. Instead, on November 1, they all go to the cemetery, set flowers and candles on the graves of their loved ones and all spend the night on their ancestor's graves. It's actually super cool!

Sister Habla and I even got to drop by when a lot of our appointments ended up falling through, and it was PACKED! I have never seen so many people at the cemetery! There were food carts lined up all over the place outside and candles on every grave! In fact, there were so many candles, that the whole place seemed to be completely lit up (I remember thinking: if this were happening in Texas, the whole cemetery would burn down)! And as we went about greeting and sharing the Plan of Salvation with the people there, I even got to meet one person from Seattle and another from the UK! So it seems like people come from all over the place for this Holiday. Overall, it was definitely one of the coolest things I have experienced since moving to the Philippines.

Besides that, we also had another couple of cool experiences when we really saw the Lord's hand working through us, helping us along, and answering our prayers. 

For one, I remember last Friday, we were in a tricycle and the people sitting across from me turned out to be on the way to the hospital. They immediately opened up to me, acting like we had already met before, so I thought maybe we had met at church or something (we hadn't)... As I asked the one lady about her son (who was the one in the hospital), I felt prompted to write down his name so that we could pray for him later that night, so I did.

Well... on the way back from proselyting that day, we actually ended up stopping by that hospital because one of our investigators was there and we wanted to say hi. But when we went upstairs and were about to go into her room, I noticed that the name on the door had been changed, meaning that our investigator had just went home earlier that day. We were about to leave, when the lady I had met in the tricy earlier that day suddenly stepped out of the room.

I immediately recognized her and was super surprised to learn that her son had just been moved into that room. She welcomed us in and sure enough, he was not in good shape. But sitting in the room, I couldn't help but feel that God had put us there for a specific reason. So we ended up giving them a short lesson about the Plan of Salvation and then doing as I had said earlier and leaving them with a prayer. Hopefully that will be able to help.

Finally, I had another miraculous experience this week, when once again, God answered my silent prayers (and almost immediately too!)

We were headed over to one last appointment the other night, when I could not stop thinking about the delicious gummy store close to where we were. I remember thinking that it would be so nice to eat some gummies then, but the problem was that it was already late, so even if we did walk there right then, the store was probably already closed anyways and we still had one more appointment to get to.

I remember as I thought this through in silent prayer, just thinking: "It's alright Heavenly Father... I can just eat gummy's next week." Right as I had this thought however, a tricy drove by and the driver stopped and told us to hop in. Our next appointment was relatively close, so we turned down the offer only to have him insist. So finally, we hopped in only to have him drive us right to the corner of that gummy store before dropping us off at no charge! And to my even greater astonishment: THE STORE WAS STILL OPEN! Even though it was already pretty late.

I remember as I bought my gummy's that night just feeling so happy, grateful and amazed at what my Heavenly Father had done to answer my prayers.

I hadn't NEEDED to eat gummy's right then, yet Heavenly Father had still answered my prayer. Going home, I felt so happy and grateful and couldn't help but think of the verse which reads: "...the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him.  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." (1 Nephi 7:12)

I know Heavenly Father will always be there to help us, just as he has been there time and time again to help me this past week. Thinking back on this week, I can't help but smile. I think of all my amazing investigators and all these people the Lord is letting us teach.

 I think of His help in reaching our goals, as this week He provided a way for us to have 10 investigators attend sacrament meeting! I felt so happy and blessed for all the experiences we have had, and smile as I think of one experience in particular, when our investigator Joemel turned to us after a testimony about missionary work last Sunday and asked: "Is missionary work really that tiring? Why don't you just go home when you are tired?"

Turning to him, Sister Habla answered "Yes, we do get tired, but think: if we were always to go home when we were tired, we would never have met you."

Joemel, paused for a moment, and then responded "that's true. I am so grateful that you guys knocked on my door."

More than anything, seeing the change the gospel can bring to the lives of others and hearing how happy and blessed they feel to be receiving this glorious message always makes me so happy and gives me the strength to keep going with a big smile on my face. It definitely makes me think:

Serving a mission is the best decision I have ever made. And despite the bumps and challenges along the way, I don't think I have ever been happier.

I hope you all have an awesome week! And don't forget how much the Savior loves you

Love,

Sister Matheny