Crazy Quick!

Show Basilic in Lutsk

This week was gone in a flash. We had a lot to do to prepare for the special sacrament meeting we had yesterday and the Christmas party tomorrow.

We had another lesson with Katya and it shocked us. We had planned to teach a whole lesson about a couple of the commandments and emphasize on baptism and a couple other things. We got to the lesson and she asked how she was doing and everything and then she immediately said she had some questions... about baptism!! So we said a prayer and she just went off asking a bunch of questions like, how do I know if I am ready to be baptized, what do I have to know before I am baptized, what really happens (like the whole process). So our entire lesson plan changed and we just answered her questions about baptism and helped her understand a lot more. Then she said she watched a video about family search and that she wants to do that. So we went and got on the computer and got her signed up and now she is doing family history! Super cool experience. The only down side is that she is leaving for three weeks but we will definitely try to stay in touch the whole time.

Painting activity

We had the opportunity to do service for a member in the branch, helping her buy groceries and stuff for her kids. It was a very long day because after doing that for a while we had to go to the bus station to head to Lutsk for exchanges.

Exchanges were super good. I was with Elder Pachev for the day and we had a good time with the elders and sisters in Lutsk. This is my first time serving in a district with sisters and wow, sisters are super, super good missionaries. They planned a super cool finding activity with wrapped copies of the Book of Mormon, and family proclamations, and we just asked people what was the best gift they could give or receive. Super, super fun and exchanges all together was a blast.

At English practice, there were these kids that invited us to come to their English club. So Saturday night, we went. It was very interesting but fun at the same time. Really only one of them could understand and speak to us but the others tried super hard. They were shocked how well we knew Ukrainian (well, Elder Stott) and they just asked us tons of questions and we taught them how to play signs and it was a good time. Little awkward, but fun.

We had our special Christmas sacrament meeting yesterday and it was awesome. Unfortunately, the big emphasis was on getting a friend there who is not a member of the church, and only 3 people did that, but it's all good they are trying. But we read the story of Christ's birth and sang hymns in between scriptures and all that good stuff. And we actually had someone from English practice come! A friend of Vika's. She is being a super member missionary right now and she is just killing it.  But awesome, awesome Sabbath.

Finished product(s) - painting activity

I wanted to share a thought from a book I am reading, written by one of our favorite seminary teachers in the Matua home. He was talking about our Heavenly Father and said, "When we are making decisions, He is available. When we are lonely, He can be with us. When we need help, support, and strength, He is willing to be there." Just wanted to remind everyone that our Father in heaven is always there and that He loves you.

Love you all and have an amazing week!


з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

Finding activity in Lutsk

After our finding activity in Lutsk

Shopping at Rinak

Old folks waiting to buy bread they don't sell in stores

Preparing for our Christmas Sacrament meeting

My little homie Sasha

New transfer, New comp, New adventures

Last night with my buddy Elder McGrath

 A crazy week!

I said goodbye to Elder McGrath on Tuesday and we split up, I went to L'viv and he headed to Kyiv to pick up his new trainee. It was super weird because I traveled alone and some how made it all the way to L'viv and to the church.

I spent a day and a half in L'viv with the zone leaders. It was a cool couple of days and got to say goodbye to a good friend who is home now. We did a finding activity in L'viv with the sisters and had a really good time. We headed straight to the train station to pick up my new companion Elder Stott! We got him, grabbed some pizza, and hopped on a bus home. I was super pumped to be serving with Elder Stott and it's been a super fun first week!

It's been super fun showing Elder Stott around and introducing him to the branch. Luckily I payed attention just enough in training to actually be able to show him around. Also Elder Stott and I have been chef'n it up. We bought a ton of groceries for like $30 and have been making some good meals. Mostly because he leaves in 6 months and is trying to look good ya know? So we have been going to the gym every morning and eating some good food.

Last dinner with Elder McGrath

We met with our investigator again, Serhi. We didn't think he was to interested at first but now he is finally coming along. And he came to church which was super good. Also met with Vika and had a super good lesson about the light of Christ and what that really means. She is still doing awesome and is loving the gospel which is amazing.

Again not much time but super good week and loving the work. Light the World and serve others.


з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

First dinner with the legend, Elder Stott

Traveling alone to get Elder Stott

This is what $30 worth of groceries looks like

What else? It's bowling time with Stott

Transfer Calls

English practice

This week was a very slow one to be honest. It was still good, just slow. Mostly because Elder McGrath got super sick which was not good at all. He had a hard time functioning for a couple days. So I got a lot, a lot, a lot of studying and cleaning in. Well, mostly studying.

Good news is, he is feeling tons better and we had a good last week together. Yes, we got transfer calls and sadly Elder McGrath is leaving me. Well he says he's finally escaping me, whatever that means. I am gonna miss serving with him so much and I'm gonna miss all the fun experiences.

Paper plane activity

Our investigator, Kate, is doing awesome right now. She came to church again yesterday and had another good time. We really hope she continues to come and continues to grow. She called while Elder McGrath was sick and asked if he was doing OK. She is just super nice and super amazing. And so is Vika! Also while he was sick she brought us a bunch of fruit and snacks! She is such an amazing member and an amazing friend. We have seen her testimony grow so much.

The rest of the week was pretty normal. Elder McGrath said a lot of good-byes and we ate at a couple of his favorite restaurants here before he leaves. We will be splitting up tomorrow and traveling alone, which is going to be super weird. But I got news that I will be serving with Elder Stott! I am super excited to be serving with him and I am excited for what's in store this next transfer.

Wanted to leave you with another thought! I was reading the temple dedicatory prayer for the Kyiv, Ukraine temple. In it, it says, "The Atonement brought about by Thy Son gives us purpose to our being and turns our thoughts heavenward". I  love that so much. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, our

A random pic of Rivne

Savior, is what gives us PURPOSE in this life. And because of it, our thoughts should always be turned to Him and to our Heavenly Father. I am so, so, so grateful for the Atonement and the role it plays in our lives. Especially for the role it plays in mine. I know that if we continue to strengthen our relationship with Him and with our Heavenly Father, we will be blessed in ways we can't imagine. I love this gospel and I love this work!

Sorry for another short email but limited on time now so they won't be very long anymore. But I love you all and have an awesome week!


з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

More games on activity night

Lesson with Tina and her grandma

The Polischuk family (my fam ... LOL)

Sister Timochko and Bohdan

Zone Conference and an exciting weekend

The District

Had an awesome week! Spent the beginning of it in L'viv for Zone Conference, which was super fun. We had interviews with the mission president as soon as we got there. My interview was awesome. I got some hints on what will be happening next transfer but nothing is guaranteed so I won't say anything yet.

Zone Conference was lit!

Spent the first day in L'viv just walking around because it was snowy and just a super good day! Zone Conference itself was awesome. President Kumferman is amazing. He shared some super cool stuff about the Book of Mormon that I have never realized before. The spirit was strong of course and everyone shared coll experiences. I love having conferences especially because we get to talk to all the other missionaries. The missionaries in this mission are outstanding people. The senior couples also put on a thanksgiving dinner for us. Made us feel at home for sure!!

Saturday night we had an elders quorum activity. It started out with what was supposed to be a spiritual THOUGHT but turned into an hour long lesson. But that's OK because everyone liked it and we had a good discussion. After, we watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration. Always love watching that movie and I've seen it enough that I actually understand most of it in Ukrainian. One of the members made a bunch of taco meat for the food after. Elder McGrath and I woke up early that morning and made 40 tortillas! Doesn't sound like a lot but it's a lot of work. We are pretty much professional tortilla makers now.

Enjoying dinner at Arsenal Ribs

Yesterday was an amazing sabbath day. The main reason is because one of our investigators came! She said she came just because she wanted to be polite. By the end of church, she stayed for all three hours (LESSS GO!). She kept thanking us for inviting her so many times because she loved it so much. And thank goodness for Vika because she was a super good friend to her and now they are even better friends. So it was a cool experience to have her there yesterday.

But I wanted to finish with a thought kind of related to that. She kept thanking us because we were so persistent. Which made me realize that we should never be afraid to share the gospel with someone multiple times, even when we are turned down the first time. That's a huge thing for missionaries of course but it can be a challenge for everyone! Especially in this Christmas season. Share your love, and more importantly, the Savior's love as much as possible.

I love you all and have an amazing week!

з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

This is what 40 tortillas looks like

Elders Quorum activity

Thanksgiving!

Gearing up for the winter in Ukraine

Another fun week!

Not too much happened but being out in the work of the Lord is always fun.

We had exchanges on Thursday in Lutsk. It was super fun and super, super cold. I was on exchanges with Elder Pachev who is from Orem! So we got to share a few of our Thanksgiving traditions with those in Lutsk. One of the members in Lutsk, decided she wanted to make us a Thanksgiving dinner! We did a finding activity with their youth out in the center. Well, only one of the young men showed up but when we got back to the church for food we found some more of the youth there. But anyways, she made us chicken and mashed potatoes and made us feel right at home! Super fun exchange.

Exchanges in Lutsk

We had a lesson with Vika of course. We talked about callings and service and yesterday she got a calling in the primary! So excited for her, and she is super excited to have a calling now. Also yesterday a member that we meet with often brought a friend to church. He stayed for all three hours and shared some awesome thoughts in Sunday School and Priesthood. It was funny because every time we were saying a prayer he stood up and put his hands together and looked straight up. It was so hard not to laugh. But by the last prayer he had realized that that's not how we do it so he stayed sitting. We ended up having a lesson with him after church. He seemed a little interested and so we are hoping that we can help him progress into a real investigator and a progressing one.

It has been getting super cold here. I'm about to experience my first 'Soviet Winter', if this even counts. But I feel like it should because it's super cold!! We walked outta of our apartment yesterday and the 10 minute walk to the church was all ice. We legit ice skated all the way to church, and most the walk is down hill so it was more like ice skiing down to the church.

Elder McGrath wanted me to finish with sharing his favorite scripture. Jacob 6:12 "Oh be wise, what can I say more."  "Simple scripture for a simple guy."
- старійшина Макграф

Have an amazing week!

з Любов'ю,

Старійшина Матуа

Our "Thanksgiving" dinner

Ward temple trip with Vika

Getting my haircut by the homie at gentlemen's club

Four Months!

Temple visit with Vika

Another slow week and not much to write about.

We had exchanges this week here in Rivne. I was with Elder Kovolyav, he is from Eastern Ukraine. Awesome missionary. The funny thing is his family lives here in Rivne. So we got to stop by them and share a thought with them and eat! Super cool experience.

We had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Kyiv on Friday and attend the temple with the branch! We didn't think we were going to be able to go but we got permission because our recent convert Vika was going for her first time. It was an amazing trip. Surprisingly we had 17 members attend! We also got do work for the member's really close family. All of the old ladies brought ordinance cards with them and we did the ordinances for their fathers and brothers. It was SOOOO cool!!

On Tuesday we had our game night. Since Elder McGrath and I both love golf, we set up mini golf course around the church. It was super fun! They go into it but we don't know if they really understand how golf works. They were pretty much playing hockey. Even though we were using hockey sticks we explained they cant hit the ball again until it stops but I don't think anybody actually did that.

Elder and Sister Andrus, a senior couple here, came out to Rivne to do inspection. They are an awesome couple, such wonderful people. They took us to lunch and left us with some cookies and some other goodies. They also came to church yesterday with us and thank goodness because Sister Andrus plays the piano so I didn't have too. The down side is I had to do so much translating. I honestly just made stuff up sometimes because I had no idea what they were saying. But it all worked out!

Mini golfing with the members

One short thought! I was reminded of a scripture that I love at the very end of the Book of Mormon: "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." I love this scripture! I love how at the end of the Book of Mormon it is again just inviting all to come unto Christ and deny yourselves of ALL ungodliness, then, and only then, is His grace sufficient for you.

з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

Me and Elder McGrath at the temple

Lunch between temple sessions

My favorite member family in Rivne, Polischuks

A member said he would give me one...if I wasn't a missionary

For dinner we made pancakes and buttermilk syrup

Story Time

Hammin it up with the Primary kids

We didn't have to much going on this past week but we did have a really cool experience with Vika. So my email will just be the story of what happened because it was honestly one of the coolest things that has happened.

We had a lesson with Vika on Tuesday which didn't go too well. We were teaching about priesthood authority and power and she was just confused. We also had to leave early because our land lord kept bugging us. So anyways we planned to meet with her on Saturday to clear things up. A little background: on Tuesday she also asked what we think she could work on as a person in general. I mentioned that she need to share her knowledge more because I know she knows more than she gives herself credit for. So, leading up to Saturday we were praying so hard for the Lord to just help her understand and want to learn more. Saturday comes around and we planned an entire lesson that we knew would help her understand. We get to the church and start having our lesson with Vika.

Right from the start she says she wants to share something. She mentioned that from last lesson she was a little confused about the priesthood, so she went home and studied. She then said that we said that she needs to share her knowledge so that's what shes gonna do. So she asked for the chalk board. We got super excited. She wrote 'priesthood' at the top and just went off about what she understands. She started pulling quotes from conference and scriptures up the whazoo! She had been studying for hours everyday about the priesthood and what it truly is. She explained the difference between priesthood power, priesthood keys, and priesthood authority, better than I could have EVER explained it. She blew us out of the water!! It was such a cool experience. We finished off the lesson talking about the temple and now she is coming to the temple with the branch on Friday! Such an amazing person and such an amazing testimony.

Vika's awesome Priesthood lesson

That was my story for the week and one of the many awesome experiences we have had out here in Ukraine. I wanted to end with what Vika answered to our question about the priesthood, which was "what is the priesthood and why is it so important?" Her answer was this... Priesthood is your natural and divine calling by which humanity can be saved. WHAT?!! She was baptized last week!

I encourage everyone reading this to find a deeper meaning to a doctrine of the gospel that they are struggling to understand right now. It's so important that we are understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ in full. We can't fall short of our opportunity to obtain as much knowledge as possible on this earth; this incredibly short period of time. Take advantage of what you know now, learn more, and share it with someone.

I love you all and have an amazing week.


з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

Clownin' around

Georgian food!

Baptism Week

Having lunch at Lviv Croissant

Crazy Crazy Crazy week!!

This week was very, very busy and Elder McGrath said that is normal for baptism weeks. We started off the week with having a Halloween party! We didn't have much time to plan it because we had just gotten back from Kyiv and were scrambling to get stuff done. Luckily we have an awesome member in our branch named Bohdon. He is 20 and got back from is mission in London a couple months ago. He helped us out a ton. We had a Halloween movie night that the branch put on. We watched Goosebumps and had some food. It was a super fun night.

We lost the other two elders in our area which has been a little bit of a set back but we are catchin up. But because they left, we moved into their apartment because it's closer to the church and a lot nicer. So it's been a fun week in a new place.

Doing service - walnuts (brings back nightmares LOL!)

We met with Vika everyday this week in preparation for the baptism. Friday night we met with her and her little brother. Her little brother is the best! They both come every week to English practice and he always comes early and hangs out with us. He has been teaching me a lot on the piano too because he's super good, and because I'm stuck playing the piano at church now. And for those that don't know me very well, I don't play the piano!! So I've just been trying to learn and it has been a fun process.

The baptism was on Saturday. It was so awesome!! We had a little bit of trouble with the font in the morning but we got it all worked out by the time we needed to start the baptism. Vika was excited and she had an amazing time. She came up to us before the baptism and just said Thank you. She said that we saved her life, that we helped her come closer to God. It was so cool! She is so awesome and will be a strong member in this church.

Vika's amazing baptism day!

Things in Rivne, Ukraine are awesome. It's thought of course, but always staying busy helps. We have been listening to these talks given by speakers like Troy Dunn, and Hank Smith. If you haven't listened to these guys talk please do, they are awesome. But I remember from one of them we recently listened to, Hank Smith shared a story of a boy giving something up that was very special to him. What the boy wrote about it later was, "The best decision I ever made in my life, was to give up something I loved to the God I loved even more. He has never forgotten me for it." We can give up things of this world and things that aren't important and make bigger decisions for the one that loves us the most. It will be hard, but i know it will be worth it. I love you all and thank you for everything!


з Любов'ю,
Старійшина Матуа

Ward Halloween party

Vika's lil bro Valiera

Pavlo and his crazy math

Georgian bread and croissants

Study area in our new apartment