Happy Mother's Day!

Bula! 

First of all.... Happy Mother's Day! I hope everyone's Mother's day was as wonderful as mine! :) Elder Walker said it best when he said..."I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be today. Except with my mom....... but I know she would want me here! So here is the best place to be!" But it was a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon with all the missionaries on Taveuni at the McFadden's! We skyped and had dinner and chatted all night. And watched the Gorgeous sunset between the palm trees. :) 

As for the rest of the week..... we had 5 investigators at church! Yay! All of which are progressing really well! So that's exciting. And we helped with the YW Activity of making cookies for Mother's Day.  And we had an awesome service day scraping coconuts for coconut oil with Sister Bose's family. 

One of the principles that I really gained a testimony of this week was Sacrifice. I'm so grateful for the stalwart examples of sacrifice here in Somosomo.  One of which is Sister Bua. She is probably almost 80 and walks way down from a far away village every Sunday and every activity. Most of the time she doesn't have the 70 cents for bus fare but she doesn't let that stop her. Or the rain. Or the heat. Or the fact that she doesn't have shoes. She's always at church and she always has a great attitude. This week we gave her our extra flip flops so she didn't have to walk back barefoot and she was so excited. She's adorable. We love her. :) I've realized that many times we are too comfortable with just taking, taking, taking. But when we learn to sacrifice and press forward with faith and humility.... miracles happen. 

This week I'm so grateful for MOMS.  Moms make the world go round. Don't you think? I think so. Mom's have so much power and influence it's unreal. I know that as a missionary force we are a modern day "Army of Helaman." We're not experts at teaching, just as they were not experts at fighting. Yet we can press forward with a firm faith in Christ. With a knowledge that He will make up the difference as long as we obey with exactness. Just as Helaman's young army did so many years ago.  And we can do that because "we have been taught by our mothers, that if we do not doubt, God will deliver us." We do not doubt that our mothers knew it and still know it.  I am so grateful to have a mom who has always put the Lord first. Even when it was hard. And has paved the path of righteousness for all of her children to follow.  She is the perfect example of selflessness and righteousness. And I am so grateful for her in my life. 

Loloma Levu!

Sister Matheson :)

 With our moms for the day! (L to R: Sister Walker, Sister McFadden, Sister Laru, Sister Matheson)

 Sister Bua and her new flip flops!

 Dinner at the Driver's! :)

 The YW Activity

 These Elders.... doesn't our district leader look like Sunshine? (Tyler Roberts?)

 The natural water slide right next to Sister Bose's house.  We stopped by on our way back from service and it's awesome! Can't wait to try it out after the mission!

 Cute kids outside Sister Ranama's new Canteen!

 Lunch :) Ruru and i'a va'alolo

 On the way to Service! Check out those vuniniu's (cocounut trees) :)

Scraping coconuts like a true "Kai Somosomo"

Ever Faithful.

Ni Sa Bula Vinaka!

I'll just start by saying that I've been a missionary for 5 MONTHS! :) What?!? Where does the time go? Almost 1/3 the way done. 

We had an exhausting but fabulous week. Here are a few of the things we did. French Toast Party, the village meke (traditional dance) festival/party etc., Brother Orisi's 50th Birthday Party/feast, Armor of God FHE with the Raika's. And a whole lot of lessons. And a bunch of walking. And more lessons. And of course some serious studying. 

Funny story of the week.......... 

So we were helping one of the members make a cleaning assignment chart and she wanted to put a scripture on obedience.  We finally helped her decide on 1 Nephi 3:7 but she said it was a little long so she would just put the first part. We didn't think anything of it until Sunday morning when we saw it hanging on the bulletin board for the whole branch to see. It read....." I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men." Ha we about died. :) 

We had a fabulous lesson with Brother Orisi this week (one of our Recent Converts.) We were so excited that he had read like 20 chapters of the Book of Mormon since our last lesson. While I was bearing my testimony at the end, I thought back to my very first lesson here in Taveuni with him.  And how far he has come and how exciting it's been to see him change his life and to watch the blessings come. It was one of those tender mercies from the Lord that makes everything so worth it. :)

There are a lot of discouraging things that happen on missions. Lots of times when you just don't feel like you can keep going. Times when you are absolutely exhausted. But there are also times when the sacrifices seem so small and insignificant. Times when you are SO HAPPY to be a missionary.  We had a lot of those times this week. Every single lesson with Biu -  our most Golden investigator EVER. We can hardly get through a whole lesson anymore because he is constantly bearing his testimony and thanking us for bringing him to the Gospel.  And pouring out his heart about how happy he is and how the light has flooded his life and how excited he is to be a member and go to the temple. It's the most incredible experience.  I wish everyone thinking about going on a mission could be a fly on the wall in those lessons. 18 months is a small sacrifice for even one convert like Biu. 

This Sunday during Sacrament meeting, I was contemplating how to help strengthen these members and this branch. I love them so much.  I was thinking about what my greatest desire is for them. As we sang the closing song it hit me.  "Ever Faithful, Ever Faithful, to the truth may we be found!" (From "Lord Dismiss Us With thy Blessing" Hymn 163 ..... we sing it a bazillion times a week).  That is exactly my deepest desire for them. For everyone. To just STAY FAITHFUL!!!!! Endure to the end. Keep doing those things that are good and right. Sacrifice. Love. Serve. Live the Gospel. Never lose sight of what matters most. I love this area and this branch and everything about my mission.  It is such a blessing to be able to share this Glorious Gospel every single day. :)

Loloma Levu,

Sister Matheson :)

 The Village Meke

Brother Orisi's Birthday Party

Family Home Evening with the Raika's (The Armor of God)

The Elders

Making dinner with Nai (our adorable investigator)

French Toast Party with the Senilolis!

Using our imaginary jump rope :) Ha!