Loooong Week

Statue in L'viv

Had a very, very long week this week. We have been in L'viv for a few days for zone conference and district conference and it has been amazing! We are still here at an internet club so I don't have tons of time before we gotta go.

Zone conference was really neat. Talked a lot about our goals as a zone and we are very excited. President mentioned we will be receiving some exciting news these next couple of months so we are all on the edge of our seats waiting for an announcement. He also mentioned that Easter Sunday will be another big opportunity to have a special sacrament meeting and invite our investigators and less actives and referrals and everybody! Also had super super good counsel from our mission president.

District conference was great. Had a great turn out. I think over 200 members which doesn't sound like a lot for most members of the Church around the world but here that is a lot. Not a ton from Rivne but still had a good turn out. The talks were amazing and there was a baptismal service that literally everybody stayed for. Biggest baptismal service I have ever been a part of for one person. Super cool.

I learned so much this past week. One of the biggest things was the difference and the relationship between Faith, Hope and Charity, which President Kumferman talked to us about. I always love President's segments at conference. A big question I have always had is, does hope come before faith or after faith? and the answer is yes. Hahaha yes the answer was yes, hope comes before and after faith. President Kumferman mentioned how he had been looking for that answer for years and couldn't believe that was the answer but that it made so much sense. My eyes were opened to so many things about faith and hope and after hope then faith then hope comes charity. Man sorry it's so confusing but it makes so much sense to me now. And if you already knew that your a молодець.

Love you all have a good week!
Elder Matua

Big, entertaining Branch activity

Doing service for a member

Zone Conference - Pres K is the best!

Saying goodbye to Elder Lukach

Saying goodbye to Elder Galmeister

THE best District at Zone Conference

District bangah's!

4 February 2019, Update

Our favorite past-time with friends - games!

Another week in the books!

Not a very busy week unfortunately. We did finally get a chance to meet with Katya though! It went really well. We talked about the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. She agreed with everything. She also shared some cool experiences she had while being on vacation about not drinking alcohol because on holidays, if you don't drink, it's kinda weird. But nobody said anything when she didn't drink and she really liked that. While we were talking about the Law of Chastity and we started talking about things that go along with it, like pornography. While we were talking, she stopped us and said, "I don't have a problem with this, pornography is boring". Elder Stott and I could not stop laughing, we thought that was so funny. She also excepted a date to be baptized on March 2nd! However, we told her that she would after to get spouse approval and her and her husband are not doing to well right now so she thinks that will be an obstacle, but we are praying it won't be.

We had a couple fun activities this week. On Tuesday we played the card game spoons in a couple different versions and it ended up being super fun. On Saturday we had sports day, but because it's too cold outside to play sports we played another card game called Munchkin. It took a second to teach everyone but it was really fun. After a few of the people from English club invited us to go get lunch. It was a funny experience and we are making some really good relationships through these activities.

I heard an awesome quote that I wanted to share really quick. "It is better to prepare and prevent than to repair and repent". I love this quote and I kinda of took at a missionary stand point because it obviously applies to me more that way. Right now we are trying to help those that aren't prepared get prepared so they don't have to worry about trying to repair, repair, repair. Obviously we will always and should always be repenting because none of use are perfect but when we are prepared we can prevent so much more.


Have an amazing week!
Elder Matua

28 January, 2019 Update

Another successful game night

Awesome, awesome week! Had some interesting experiences and also got tons of snow again which is not good; We were just starting to think that winter was over.

Started out with an awesome game night. There are pictures attached that probably look super weird but we played human battle ship for game night. We didn't have too many resources but we made do with what we got. It ended up being super fun and we also taught them how to play signs after and they loved it. There was also a drunk guy that walked in demanding hot tea and money and shoes. He sat on the couches all night and at the end of the night we had to kick him out because he wouldn't leave.

English practice on Friday was also good. We had a couple debates and played some games. Our friends I talked about last week ended up coming again. Then they wanted to come to the gym with us Saturday morning, so they did. It was different having other people there at the gym with us but it was really fun. And I think the people at the gym finally realized that we understand everything we are saying so that is good too. Our two friends wanted to take us to eat after so we went and got pizza and we talked. They are two really cool and really neat people. Elder and Sister Andrus, a senior couple in L'viv also came to do apartment check ups on Saturday so they took us to lunch as well.

Vika spoke in sacrament yesterday for her very last Sunday here in Ukraine. She leaves to Germany on February first. Everyone was really sad to see her leave but we are all super excited for her. Her talk was focused on testimonies and thanking the branch for their testimonies and helping her become converted, it was amazing.

Have some more stuff planned for this week that we are excited for and we are all excited for the week after because we are heading to L'viv for zone and district conference.


Lovin the work and lovin Ukraine.
-Elder Matua