Several Updates in One

25 February

It was a busy week this week full of exchanges. We actually only had two exchanges but we were hosting both here in Rivne and it was back to back days, but they were both awesome!

Visiting the sites and sounds of Rivne

Our first exchange on Wednesday was with the Zone Leaders. I got to spend the day with Elder Eller. We spent both exchanges outside doing A LOT of contacting but on Wednesday we decided to put a little punishment to whichever companionship got less IP's. Elder Eller and I won and we got to dump buckets of water on our companions. We also got to go to one of the members houses on Wednesday and have a short lesson with her and it went very well and got to help her with a couple of things she was struggling with. The Zone Leaders left Thursday and the Lutsk elders got here on Thursday. I got to spend the day with Elder Holden who is in training right now and he did awesome. Spent that day outside a lot as well and they ended up leaving right before we had English practice. 

We met with Katya on Sunday and had a super good lesson on Tithing and Fasting and she loved it. We were trying very hard to stress the point that she needs to get baptized sooner than later and that right now at such a hard time in her life it will help so much but she just can't until her divorce is final because her husband said no to her getting baptized. But she did say, "I don't care if the world disagrees with me getting baptized, I will get baptized." 

Transfer calls will be here on Friday and we can't wait to see what will be going down. Super excited!

18 February

Man, a super super crazy week especially with the new announcement. None of us know what to

Our Branch Valentine's party

think, whether or not we are super happy about it or we are kind of ehh. But doesn't matter what we think because it happened!

This week was a little rough because I got sick traveling home from L'viv but all is well now. We had some really fun activities this week including a branch Valentines party on Saturday. It ended up being pretty fun even though it was planned in such short notice. It was my first time helping make real authentic Ukrainian food too.

We had a good training from a member in Kyiv about finances and stuff as a branch because Elder Stott is in the Presidency. Super cool learning about finances and stuff but I am not excited for having to do it all myself after the mission...it's a little scary.

We received a couple referrals and we were able to contact them. One of them named Ihor ended up coming to church yesterday. He is a super neat guy and he liked church! He even asked us after sacrament how he can become a member of the church. Super cool! We are excited to work with him, the only small obstacle is he lives 45 min away so we will be working that out.

These are just some of the trays of eggs since serving together

I started reading Jesus the Christ and man is it a lot of info but I am already learning so much about our Savior on a whole new level. Super excited to continue reading that and actually understanding the New Testament.


Have a good week
Elder Kenyon Matua

Squad

Zone Conference

Bus ride home from Zone Conference - L'Viv

Had a super fun week traveling and spending time with other missionaries in L'viv!

We stayed with the district leader in L'viv and the Elders serving in Uzhgorod and they were all bummed because I kept beating them in cards. We had zone conference on Friday and it was super good. It was focused on the Gathering of Israel and President Kumferman and another member of the stake presidency in Kyiv shared some really cool insights. It was really fun meeting all the new missionaries and seeing the other ones again. I finally met Elder Frasier who was someone I met on Instagram before coming on a mission. It was super funny meeting him and getting to know him.

It was weird because usually we have interviews with President Kumferman before zone conference but because he was so busy a few of us had to have them after, so Elder Stott and the rest of our district had interviews the next day and had to stay in L'viv one more day. We did a finding activity in the morning with the missionaries in L'viv and then had our interviews. They went super well and I always love meeting with President Kumferman. Our interviews were the last ones but we still had to go home that same night so we had to catch a late bus. It ended up being one of those double decker buses and Elder Stott and I had to sit in the very front two seats up top. There was like zero room but it was kinda fun to sit in the front of one of those buses.

Nothing super exciting this week but it was still a fun and busy one. Looking forward to gettin back to work here in Rivne this week and hope to see some miracles!


Love you all,
-Elder Matua

FHE with Polischuk's

English study class

Zone Conference in L'Viv

Finding in L'Viv

This is our bus home to Rivne

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

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

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,
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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