I am in Goa!

Oh my gosh! Where to even start? I AM FINALLY IN THE PHILIPPINES, and I LOOOVVVVVEEEE it here :D  It is so much different here than I expected, but also so much better. For one, it is not nearly as hot as I expected. I honestly think Texas summers are worse. Granted, I've heard it gets hotter around March, but I'm so grateful that I have a little time to ease into it.  Also, it is beautiful here. There are trees, flowers, mountains everywhere, and it is so green. I love it! I have been taking so many pictures! I think it might be annoying my companion a little bit, lol. Jkjk. I love her. My companions name is Sister Villa, she is Filipino and she is amazing. She's only been on her mission for  three months and is already training, which just shows how great she really is.

So... leaving the Provo MTC two weeks ago (wow! it feels like so much longer) was so hard! Our district had a testimony meeting the night before we left and I definitely cried a couple times. During the testimony meeting, Elder Flores was talking about how in our district we had our very own little breakfast club going. It was a really cool analogy and I think he was right. I really loved all the awesome people I met and got to be friends with in my district, they were all so amazing and taught me so much with their great examples and testimonies. Fortunately however, the Provo MTC was not the last time I saw them :) we got to keep our same districts in the Manila MTC.

 The trip to the Manila MTC was long but very fun. I went with Elder Flores, Elder Taubwueri, some people from the other districts in our zone, and some of the Cebuano Elders.

 On the trip, I sat next to sister King.

On one of the planes, we even got to give out a book of Mormon :) so great! Also, I got to call home to my family from the airport. It was so nice to talk to them again! I love them so much... I almost cried when I heard my moms voice. <3 

 After the 30 hour plane flight we were FINALLY in Manila and that is when the real fun started.

So let me tell you a little more about my first impressions of the Philippines and the Manila MTC. First, I was SUPER EXCITED to see everyone from my zone again! I hadn't realized how much I missed them all until I got to sit next to Elder Brown and Sister Mosher on the flight from Hong Kong to Manila.

From the airport we drove for about two hours (because of bad traffic) to the Manila MTC and let me tell you, driving here is SCARY!

 It is amazing how there doesn't seem to be any organized rules of the road here. Everyone just goes. They cut each other off, and drive wherever there is space. They always get super close to hitting each other but I haven't seen an accident yet! It is crazy. I am glad I don't have to drive here.

  Additionally, on the way to the MTC, we saw our first rain in the Philippines :) so nice.

Some things I learned about Filipino culture at the MTC: when I heard that Filipino's eat a lot of rice I didn't realize that they literally eat it for every meal! So crazy. I thought I would hate eating rice (because it is kind of bland) but it is actually really good here. It goes with everything and mixes with other food really well. I think that the food was the first thing I fell in love with here. IT IS SO GOOD! Especially their deserts and their fruits. I think my favorites at the MTC were this tasty cake called graham cake (I think) and this amazing pudding with mango called Sagu. So good!

Also, while I was at the MTC I got to try purple yam and cheese flavored icecream. I know, it sounds gross. But they are both actually really good! Filipinos know how to icecream! ;)

At the MTC, we got to go out prosolyting for our first time. It was so amazing, fun, and extremely humbling. I got to go to a teaching appointment in the city and we taught in this tiny little makeshift hut. I remember feeling shocked as we sat, teaching the gospel to a lady and her child who had so much less than myself. Suddenly, all my problems seemed so much smaller. I know I just got here, but already I think I am gaining a huge appreciation for the people here. They are all so nice, kind, amazing, and willing to listen even though many of them have so little. It was a huge lesson in humility for me.

Before we left the Manila MTC, Elder Cook came to talk to us... AND I GOT TO SHAKE HIS HAND!!!!!!!!!! It was so cool! I think I blanked out a little when it was my turn to meet him because all I remember saying is, "You're cool." Lol, I guess that's a good way to greet a general authority. :)

After four days in the MTC, I FINALLY got to go to Naga! It was so fun, exciting, and nerve racking to finally be headed out. And hard to say goodbye for reals to my district :( I miss them all a ton, and hope they are all having the time of their lives in the Philippines right now. :)  Getting to the Naga airport, I was SOOOO excited. I almost laughed when I saw that the Naga airport is a rundown little building... under construction.  I rode in a tricey to meet the mission President and then to my apartment.  We ride them everywhere! It is basically a motercycle with a cart attached. I have to duck my head to fit and sister Villa and I hardly can squeeze in. But I have seen 10 people fit on those things! Three on the motercycle with the driver, four in the cart, and three hanging on the back/top. Its crazy!

 After meeting President Zapanta and his wife (who are amazing!) 

~ Sister Zapanta, Sister Matheny, Mission President Zapanta ~

I got to meet my companion. Like I said earlier, Sister Villa is amazing! I love her so much... and she is so helpful with learning the language. 

~ Sister Matheny & Sister Villa ~

So our area is called Goa Cam. Sur and apparently, it is really far south in Naga (I haven't seen a map though so I'm not sure...) All I know is that it is beautiful, the people are amazing and I love it here. 

 Our appartment:

Living in the Philippines is so much different than what I am used to! For one, THERE ARE SPIDERS EVERYWHERE! We have "house spiders" all over the walls, toilets, everything! We don't kill them because they eat the bugs and they don't really move so I guess its fine but still...spiders. In our bathroom, one of the spiders just had a bunch of babies so their are about 40 spiders in that corner. I think maybe we should get rid of some of them. 

Additionally, we also have geckos all over our walls. 

Apparently that is normal here (I've seen them in other homes too). 

And I have already seen 4-5 cockroaches. One of them almost landed on me while I was in the bathroom. Finally, we have a mouse living in the cabnit downstairs. Whenever we walk over at the end of the day, it freaks out and starts running all over the place! So I'm always nervous to walk over by the sink.

Living wise, I sleep on a mattress on the floor (which is actually really comfortable - mine is the one on the floor with the white sheet).  When we had exchanges this week, we fit six mattresses in that room! It was crazy! Also, we have a ton of huge thunderstorms here. When it rains, the roof right above my head leaks and some rain falls on me through the window in the night. On the brightside, I think I will be able to sleep anywhere through anything when I get home. 

We shower with cold water but we are actually really fortunate to live in such a nice bahay. We have a real shower (not a bucket shower) and a washing machine. So we only have to rinse and dry our cloths. So nice!  I really like hand washing my clothes.  It is super relaxing, and gives me a chance to think (we don't get much timer for that).

The people: I love the people here! They are so amazing! We have already talked to so many people and taught a ton of lessons. I think that is also the hardest part about being here though. I want so badly to be able to understand and communicate better but I can't. It doesn't help that a ton of the people here also speak Bicol. So I can never tell if I just can't understand, or they are speaking an entirely different language!

TAGALOG

I know I need to be patient and the language will come, but I think it will be just a little frustrating until I get there. The people here are so kind, helpful and loving and they all do so much to help me learn Tagalog. It is amazing! 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

Yesterday, we taught a lesson to some recent converts and I shared 1 Nephi 19:9 with them. Afterwards, we talked and I got to share my testimony about the atonement. I know my Tagalog is broken, but as I tried so hard to tell them how I know the atonement is true and that because of Christ's sacrifice for us none of us have to suffer, I felt the spirit so strong. It was amazing! We had such a great discussion and I learned so much. I think above all though, I really learned that while it is important to learn the language, the influence and love of the Holy Ghost is even more so. I know that this church is true. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and I know that the atonement is real and that it really helps each and every one of us.

Knowing that, I don't think it really matters whether you are good at speaking the language or not. All that matters, is having enough courage to bear record of what you know to be true, no matter how plain or in-eloquently. 

I will get there, the language will come but until then, I am just going to keep working on loving, learning from and listening to the people. Every day has its ups and downs, discouragement, frustration, and sorrow as well as happiness, joy, and so much love! I really REALLY do love it here, and am so grateful that the Lord has given me a chance to serve in the Naga mission.

We all have struggles and trials in life. But when we rely on the Lord, life is great :)

Sincerely, Sister Matheny

I live in the Philippines!!!

Hey!  So, After two long days of travel, I made it safe to the Philippines.  I can finally say... I LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES!!! And I love it here!

It is sooooo beautiful! The trees are beautiful, everything is so green and the people are so nice! On the way to the  Manila MTC, tons of people waved at us, it was so fun! Also, it rained a little right after we got here, it was really pretty. And the food is AMAZING!!!! I loved dinner and lunch at the MTC, it was way better than Provo MTC food. It was apperantly a 'cool' day here, but it felt really hot! And it is super humid too. Like Texas times 10. I love it!

Anyways, I took a TON of photos on the way here so I will post them next week. For now, I love you and I can't wait to experience the Philippines :) I will write again on my first p-day in the field (so probably about a week and a half to two weeks). 

Love you!!!

Sincerely, Sister Matheny

Philippines, here I come!

So... this is my last day at the MTC!!! Well, more like my last three hours. I head for the travel office at 11:50am and am starting to get a little nervous! I am also super excited though. I bought a couple books of Mormon today (the cheap ones) and am going to try to give them away to people on the plane. Hopefully that goes well. I guess I shouldn't worry about it so much... It's not like there's anywhere they can go. :)

Anyways, I think I am more sad to leave my district and my kasamas more than anything else. I love them all so much and feel like we have gotten so close over these past six weeks. I'm not going to lie, there were a few tears over it last night, and I wasn't the only one. Sister Mosher had her fair share of tears too :)

This past week has been a little rough, I got sick last Thursday and am still trying to recover. Thankfully I am just down to a runny nose and a cough. On Thursday and Friday it was a lot worse. I ended up getting sent home on Friday and literally slept through the whole day! I think I needed the sleep, but I had totally forgot how depressing being sick can be. I felt so bad missing out on in-field orientation (even though I heard it was boring) and I hated not being able to talk to everyone! But the worst part was that I woke up the next day feeling better, BUT I WAS STILL TIRED!!!! How does that happen? I feel like if you sleep all day you should be able to stockpile some of it for later ;) Oh well, I think it is a blessing that I got any extra sleep at all. :)

Saturday was SOOOOO much better. I GOT TO GO TO CLASS!!!!! 

Yay! I had so much fun talking to everyone again and I got to play snaps, green glass door, and black magic with the new districts. It was so fun to watch them struggle trying to figure out the riddles! I remember back in the day when I struggled with green glass door (three weeks ago) lol.  And we celebrated Elder Taubwerei's Birthday!

Sunday flew by! We fasted and it was actually pretty easy (considering I haven't really eaten much the past few days) but I will say, I was definitely excited for my last bowl of icecream at dinner before leaving the MTC. I had peanut butter cup :)

On Monday we started packing for the flight (since they don't actually give us any time to do it) and things started to get more real. We had to say goodbye to our teachers Sister McGrath and Brother Cuttler and that was rough. They are so awesome and I love them so much! Brother Cuttler is hilarious! He always tells the funniest stories and sister McGrath is probably the happiest, cutest, smileyest person I have ever met. I will definitely miss them a ton.

~ Me and Sister McGrath ~

Tuesday was packing day to the max. We litterally spent every spare moment shoving stuff into suitcases, it was definitely a little stressful. We also had our final devotional. The General President of Primary came to speak and she was amazing! I loved her message on loving others and obedience. And I really do believe it is true that as we make obedience a way of life more than an irritant, we will have so many blessings and be so happy because of it.

TAGALOG

So, I think I meant to mention this earlier but sorry in Tagalog is Pasensiya, which sounds almost like plasensiya. So my first few weeks at the MTC, I walked around saying plasensiya every time I made a mistake. Oops :)

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

So, since I have been here my testimony has grown so much. I know the gospel is true, that God loves each of his children and wants us to be happy. But more than anything, I feel like I have really developed a testimony on the Atonement. Before, I had always thought it was something we used to get over sin, but now I realize it is so much more than that! Yes, Christ took on our sins. And he didn't just suffer for our sins, he litteraly took our sins, he suffered each and every trial each person has been through personally. And he didn't only suffer our sins. He suffered our sorrows, hardships, pains, afflictions, and every other kind of thing you could possibly imagine. He suffered for each and every person so that he could completely 100% understand anything we might go through. And because he suffered guilt, pain, loneliness, sorrow and every kind of affliction imaginable for you, you don't have to feel those. The atonement is not just something to help us get over sin. The atonement is there for us always, in any situation. It is paid for, we just need to use it.

I know that as each of us strive to use the atonement more fully in our lives, by turning to Christ in times of need, asking for help, and allowing him to love and comfort us, we do not have to suffer through our trials. We can be happy, we can always be happy because of what the Savior did for us.

I am not perfect. I am not even close! But because of the atonement I can always keep trying :)

If you have time, I would really suggest watching these two amazing Mormon messages this week about the atonement. They really hit me, hopefully they can also help someone else

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/that-they-do-always-remember-him

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-1000-why-we-need-a-savior--a-christmas-message-about-our-savior-jesus-christ-asaviorisborn?lang=eng

Sincerely, Sister Matheny

Last Week at the MTC

This is my last week in the MTC and America for the next year and a half, so I better make it count (especially since I don't think I will get to email next week). I am so excited and happy to finally be heading out! But I am also supper nervous. I feel like I am nowhere near ready! (Then again, I don't think I will ever feel ready so I guess now is as good a time as any to leave.) Also, I am really going to miss my district. Over these pasty five weeks I have really grown to love and care about all of them. They are all soooooo amazing and I know they will be awesome missionaries. They have helped me to learn and grow so much and if it were up to me, I would love to serve my entire mission with them. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!

So this week felt long and short at the same time (I know that doesn't make sense). We have really gotten into the swing of things here so I had a lot of trouble thinking of cool experiences to write in my journal each day...

Last P-day (Thursday) we got to go to the temple as usual, email home, and play some sand volleyball. I LOVE playing volleyball with my whole zone. It is always such a blast and we all get a ton of laughs out of it, since none of us are very good. The only embarrassing part about that is when I see the ball coming towards me really fast, all that goes through my brain is AHHHHHH!!!! Apparently I actually scream too, which is super embarrassing! At least everyone gets a good laugh out of it :)

On Friday, my companions and I went rouge and left the MTC. . .

 Just Joking! Sister Mosher had an eye doctor's appointment outside so we all got to take a fun field trip to an off-campus medical center. So fun! 

   She ended up having an eye infection (from sleeping in her contacts... DON'T DO THAT) so we got to take another trip to the Pharmacy. It was so weird/interesting to leave the MTC. I almost forgot that a whole world existed outside!!! So it was more of a shock than anything else to get to leave. Additionally, we finally got our flight plans Friday!!! I was so excited, but unfortunately, I am not with my companions  :( Oh well, I will be with Sister King and a couple other Elders from our zone so it should be fun. I will get to see my companions again on the car ride to Hong Kong. For my plans, I leave the MTC at 11:50 am and take a plane to Arizona, California, Hong Kong and then Manilla. I will stay a week in the Manilla MTC after that. I'm so excited but I'm definitely not looking forward to our 30 hour flight time!!!

Lets just say that Saturday was a long day. 

Despite this, it was also an awesome learning/growing experience for me. In short, I really feel like I learned a ton about how to better love and serve others. During class, Brother Cuttler was telling us about how on his mission, he would always try to be like Christ. He said he would be super nice and loving and that he didn't realize until later, that Christ was also bold. Christ would never sit back and tolerate bad behavior just to be nice. He would never condemn a person, but he would also help them correct their mistake. I feel like we need to be the same way. I am not saying it is our place to correct the mistakes of everyone around us, but we can be bold in standing up for what we believe in and teaching by example. I feel like this is something I really need to work on.

On Sunday, we were on our temple walk when sister Mosher accidently ran into her twin sister and niece. It was so fun to get to meet them and see how happy sister Mosher was. She cried when she saw her little niece and they all got to take a couple pictures together.

 Seeing how happy she was totally made my day :) I love that girl, Sister Mosher is the best!

So... Monday was HALLOWEEN!!!! I know, so exciting! For one, we got to leave the MTC again to go check up on sister Mosher's eye (it's better) and we had a really fun day. We didn't have costumes but we all made the best of it. Everyone was switching name tags so we could be each other for Halloween. Sister Whaley's mom sent some fake mustaches in the mail, so we all had some fun with those. 

 Also, my mom sent a box of apple cider, cinnamon rolls and candy. I shared the candy with everyone but we are saving the apple cider and cinnamon rolls for tomorrow. It is Elder Taubwerei's b-day tomorrow so we are going to use them to have a little birthday celebration for him (he is the Elder from Kiribati so he knows almost no English! Despite that, he is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. HE IS HILARIOUS)

On Tuesday I nearly killed myself at gym time. I did squats around the track after running and doing some butt and ab workouts so I am still super sore today, but it was so worth it! I love working out, and I love how good I always feel for the rest of the day after. Also, we had devotional tonight. As usual, we went to choir first. This time, my companions and I got to sit in the front row to sing "Praise to the Man". Let me tell you, that song is powerful! As sister Mosher would say: I LOVE IT!! And what made the night even better is that President Russel M. Nelson came to talk to us tonight. He is such an amazing speaker and I felt the spirit so strong! I was so close to President Nelson, I didn't have to look at the screen to see him. It was so awesome. To be honest, it is probably one of the best days I have had so far.

Finally, yesterday was pretty normal. A couple days ago I started drawing a picture of our district if we were all dogs. I drew Elder Brown as a Great Dane, Elder Stokes as a Chow Chow, Elder Maez as a Wiener Dog, Elder Flores as a Panda (I know... it's not a dog. But it totally fits him!), Sister Mosher as a Cocker Spaniel, Sister Whaley as that Dogo Dog that is always used for memes, myself as a Pointer, Elder Oukuanguy as a Doberman and Elder Taubwuerei as a Beagle. 

It was so fun to draw and my whole district loved it! Also, after dinner Sister Whaley and I got pants! Since we are going to the Philippines, the MTC gave us a couple pairs of dress pants so we won't get Zika while we are there. They are super nice and I am so happy to have gotten them!

TAGALOG

So this week we taught our first lesson on Skype with an actual Filipino today. It was so fun! I was so nervous but it actually ended up going really well. Since she didn't speak English, we had to use all Tagalog. I was expecting to forget everything, but I actually remembered a lot more than I expected. We are teaching again tonight so hopefully it goes just as well as last time.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

At devotional on Tuesday, President Nelson spent a lot of time talking about missionary work. A couple things that really stuck out from his talk were that "Exact obedience brings miracles."  Since I have been here, I have been trying really hard to follow the rules and be obedient, but I noticed that I sometimes slack on the little things. This message helped me to realize that if I can really focus on being as obedient as possible, than I will have a much better and more successful mission. Also, I loved at the end when President Nelson said, "God will provide the energy and comfort you need, for with God nothing is impossible."

I know this is true. God is our light. He can comfort us and help us through all our times of trials. He atoned for your sins. He atoned for mine. That does not just mean that he suffered them, he literally took each of our sins from us so that we would not have to suffer. He felt guilt, sadness, pain, and loneliness for each and every sin we committed. He knows our pains because he has literally suffered them. So don't ever hesitate to give them up to him. We don't have to suffer because he already did. And when we are going through struggles, he can always help us because he knows EXACTLY how we feel.

I love my mission, I love my district, I love my friends and family back home, but mostly I love God. For with him, "nothing is impossible".