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

Merry Christmas ... Again!

Happy New Years!

Super uneventful week but still was super good. We didn't do anything fun for New Years because we weren't allowed to go outside but we did get some cleaning done in the apartment, which was fun....I guess. We are also having a magic night for English club this week so Elder Stott and I have been practicing a ton of magic tricks. And they actually celebrate Christmas here on the 7th of January so today is our second Christmas, So merry Christmas again!!! 

We went to a sushi/pizza place for lunch this week because I wanted to force myself to like sushi but still can't yet. But anyway, while we were there, we saw these 3 boys walk in. Elder Stott and I both looked at each other like "oh great". You know? Like when you see a couple teenagers walk in a restaurant laughing and whatever and then sit right next to you. We were sitting there and we heard one of say something about America in Ukrainian. Elder Stott made a face like trying to get their attention so they would laugh, and they did look and the kid said "Don't worry its not about you guys". It was suer funny and we ended talking to them and they were super cool! So it was kinda humbling after thinking that as soon as they walked in. But they were our age and were actually missionaries for their church, a Pentecostal church. They were fun to talk to and we invited them to english so hopefully they come.

We were walking out of church today and as i opened the door it hit something on the other side. I opened it and looked on the other side and there was a guy passed out behind it. There is a door to our church and the a little entry way and then another door and that's where he was. He was super drunk and we had to go get the other guys in our branch to come take care of him. It was an interesting experience. Welcome to Ukraine.

Finishing with Elder Stott's favorite verse he shared with me which is an amazing verse that I am sad I haven't paid more attention to and it's Jacob 5:41. "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?" I'll let you interpret that yourselves but it's an amazing verse.


Love you all and have a good week!
-Elder Matua

December Updates

Once again, we have totally failed at posting Elder Mica Matua's email updates. Here are the email's we received in December.

With James Bond at the Branch Christmas Party

10 December

I'm in Busan right now meeting up with my new companion. I have to catch a flight back to Jeju so I don't have much time. My new companion is called Elder Braswell. We are in the same MTC group so we both already know each other.

This week was super fast. We got a bunch of lunch appointments since it was the last week. We met up with our Filo's and ate chicken. They also brought a few of their Indonesian friends. There was sort of a language barrier but it was fun.

I would write more but I have about no time.

Love ya'll

17 December

First week done. It was a good week but we had a lot of appointments cancel on us. Which sucks because we dont have to many appointments in the first place. So we did a lot of proselyting. Plus it snowed here a couple days so its been really cold.

Decorating for the party

At our English class we only had one person come and also James Bond but he just sits there and acts like he knows what we are saying. But we did start a new English class this past week. Well actually someone else started it for us. Our friend John, who owns a restaurant, his mom Lisa set up a free English conversation class in Johns restaurant. We thought we would just be sitting in and helping Lisa when she needs it but when we showed up at the restaurant Friday morning we found out that Lisa wouldn't even be coming and we were supposed to run the whole class. It was a little awkward at first but turned out pretty good. We had six members show up and they were all young moms but they are really cool.

We have also been preparing our Branch Christmas party. Its gonna be good besides the fact the Elder Braswell and I have to do a performance, and the performance our ward mission leader has in mind is... gonna be interesting. James Bond has offered to do a performance as well but I think the members sort of shut it down hahaha.

We will be heading to Busan tomorow and having the mission christmas party on Wednesday. Hope you all have a great week and Merry Christmas!

31 December

Heppi Christmas and Heppi New Yea!!!
I was pretty sick over christmaz but we still had a good time. Its always good to Skype the big fam on Christmas and New Year. Our ward also had a really good Christmas party. Elder Braswell and I had to sing and we totally bombed it. #fail. James Bond also came and brought the party with him.
We aren't doing anything special today for new years but the district president invited us and our Filipino friends over for dinner tonight.

We don't really have anyone to teach at the moment. We were teaching an old couple and even set a baptismal data with them but they moved to Seoul last week. We referred them to the elders down there and they said they would get baptized there.

Besides that not to much else goin on here in Seoguipo. Its crazy is already 2018. is gonna be a big year.

Hope you guys all have a great week and year.

Loving the Christmas hats

When I get bored at night (Christ)