An Instrument in His Hands: June 2014

Bula Vinaka!

I can't believe it's Monday again. Ha! A ton happened this week. Just like it always does. We had exchanges with the Ba Sister Training Leaders. Sister Tuahivaatetonohiti came to Lautoka with me. She is also Tahitian and sooo funny! Unfortunately I had a pretty bad boil and a bad fever. But we made it through and I learned a ton from her.

We also had a really cool lesson with one of our investigators in Koroipita (Humanitarian housing done by Rotary club..... SOOO cool. Look it up) We were teaching about tithing and they accepted and understood everything. But then at the end of the lesson they timidly looked at each other then asked if people who are really, really struggling still need to pay tithing. I couldn't stop the tears. My heart ached for them. I love them so much and I know it's hard. I just bore my testimony that Heavenly Father knows what they are going through and he will help them through if they will trust in Him and keep His commandments. But then, on Saturday...... we asked what they had decided about Baptism and the Husband told us they all would all be baptized. Yay!!! They are the cutest family.

Other interesting things that happened this week...... we went to 3 baptisms, spoke in sacrament meeting, hopped the fence for District meeting and ate Pizza!

Funny Story of the week ............ this actually happened right when I got here but I keep forgetting to write it. So everyone asks me what happened to my legs. Because they look real bad. So my first day one of the Elders said...."Sister Matheson, I gotta ask..... what happened to your legs?" I told him I got "Eaten Alive" in Taveuni and he got this really weird look on his face and asked me what in the world that was. Would I have to go home? Was there any treatment? Is it a disease found only in Taveuni? I asked him what in the world he was talking about and he said that he was so sorry and that he had never heard of the "Ianolai" disease but that it looked horrible and very painful. I guess it looks worse than I thought ha!

Sister Mataoa and I were talking about languages on the way to email today and we came up with this sentence..... Bonjour, Maeva, Hao Mo? Wo Janta Hain that Propess verdad O Josefa Simici. Kansameda, Gamon, Chao! It means.... hello! Welcome. How are you? I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. Thank you, Thanks! Goodbye. In 12 Languages. French, Tahitian, Hakka, Mandarin, Hindi, English, Kiribati, Spanish, Fijian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Italian.

This week I feel like I can really relate to Nephi.

"But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith and I know that He will hear my cry." (2 Nephi 33:3)

I esteem this message of great worth! Especially unto my people the Fijians and even more so unto my investigators who I love SO MUCH! I also pray continually for them. But at the end of the day, they still have their agency and Satan is very real. And sometimes they reject this beautiful message and then my eyes water my pillow by night. Because I'm just so sad for them. And when that happens, I have nowhere to turn but to My God. I cry to Him in faith and I too know he hears my cry. But Sometimes it's still so hard. This week was one of those times. I think missions really prepare you for the heartache of dating. Somedays I feel like my heart is being shredded to pieces. But it's still worth it. Because there's no point to a mission if you're not willing to hand over your heart and love people for all you're worth. I decided there truly is no growing in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growing zone. I'm so grateful for my mission and everything I learn every single day. It's made me the person I am. My deepest desire right now is to be the best missionary that I can possibly be!

Loloma Levu,

Sista Matheson