Keep trying. Keep working. Keep loving. Keep going.

Oh my goodness! How the week has flown! It feels like just yesterday I was sitting in a sketchy little computer shop, surrounded by teenage boys playing world of Warcraft, an electric fan in the background and a plate of food in hand (since we always use Nanay Cea's internet shop. She in a member in our ward and she ALWAYS feeds us) writing about how much I love it here and how the time seems to be going too fast.

~Nanay Cea & I at her computer shop~ 
Well, I still love it here and it seems like every day the time only speeds up! Especially with Sister Black and my new goal to work twice as hard this past week, which really ended up paying off.

With this being the last week of our transfer, Sister Black and I wanted to end with a bang! Just in case we had a transfer within our companionship, because we wanted to make the most of the time we might have left and now, I am really happy we did.

 Last night, we got a call from the Zone Leaders announcing that Sister Black will transfer... to GOA!!! TO MY LAST AREA!!!! When I heard, I was so excited that I couldn't keep from shouting for joy, which kind of surprised me because I am not really a "shout for joy" kind of person. But what freaked me out even more was when the zone leaders gave me the news that this upcoming transfer, I WILL BE TRAINING!

To be honest, when I got all that news I really wasn't quite sure how to feel. Stressed, freaked out, inadequate, scared, and nervous. But above all, determined to do my best. I'm not quite sure what training is going to be like but I know that me and my new companion are going to have to learn to lean on the Lord every step of the way.

I am going to miss Sister Black SOOO very much!

I feel like the longer we have been together, the more I have come to look up to, admire, respect, and really love her. I am so grateful to have been her companion and have learned so much from her. To be honest, I think I really needed her these past few transfers. Like I have said before, she is one of the hardest workers I have ever met and everyone she meets absolutely adores her! I know this area will miss her a ton but I also know that she will do tons of good in Goa.

This week, we saw a lot of miracles in our area. I felt the spirit guiding us in each and every lesson and felt the spirit of discernment stronger than ever telling us where we should and should not go. To be honest, there were days this week that were really rough. Sister Black and I weren't feeling our best every day and I know we were both lacking sleep so as Sunday came around and we were still full of energy and ready to go, I asked myself why? 

Usually, after a long week of work I am READY for P-day by the time Sunday rolls around, so why was it different this week? Why were we still so full of energy, especially when we hadn't been feeling 100% this past week?

As I sat thinking about that question, I realized that it was all in our attitudes. This week, Sister Black and I really did make it a goal to put in our best effort and do everything we could to help our area to progress, even when we weren't feeling our best. After thinking about that, I realized that this is the key: just to work hard, no matter what.

God has promised that as long as we are diligent in doing HIS work, we will be able to run and not faint, walk and not be weary. If we are doing our best, we will not have to worry about running out of strength because the Lord will provide for us every step of the way. I know that is true.

There have been so many times where I have not felt like working or felt too tired to go on but I forced myself to because we hadn't put in a full day of work yet. I have noticed that it is days like these that we generally find the most success if we keep persevering. As Ukdorf and some of the other apostles have said: it is always at the last door that you find success, because it is not until that point that we are able to show God that we care enough to be entrusted with teaching one of his precious children the sacred message of the gospel. 

I know that God is there. He loves us. He will never desert us and He always knows what is best for us. Everyday, I am so amazed by how much He does for me, especially when I cry out to Him for help.

I am so full of mixed emotions and anticipation for this upcoming transfer, but I know God has a plan and that he trusts me and Sister Black to do our best. So that is what we will do. Keep trying. Keep working. Keep loving. Keep going. Even when things are hard, because if we just try our best I know that everything will work out in the end. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Sincerely,

Sister Matheny