Never Ending Exchanges

This week was exhausting!

We went to Kyiv on Monday to do Exchanges with the AP's and I woke up super sick and ended up sitting inside all day and sleeping. It was not fun and I missed out on doing a last exchange with Elder Jack before he goes home tomorrow!

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with the senior couple, the Leifers. They fed us really, really well and made us feel right at home. That night we also took a bus out to Lutsk to have exchanges with the elders there.

I got to spend the day in Lutsk with my buddy from Tennessee, Elder Crabtree. He is such an awesome missionary and we had a really good time together talking to people and visiting less-active members from their branch.

We started teaching a young guy named Andryi who was asking questions about English that I could not answer to save my life. Luckily when we started talking about the gospel we had a lot more answers for him. He shows pretty genuine interest so we are excited!

I've been reading talks from this past conference and something Sister Michelle Craig said really stood out to me. She said that in first Nephi 3:7 it says that the Lord will provide "a way" not "the way". It is hard sometimes because I find myself praying and asking for God to guide me, and then, without thinking, I immedietly imagine what the answer is gonna be. I falsely set an expectation for the answer I am going to receive. I know we have heard it a billion times but we have to understand He will provide "a way" and it will ALWAYS be "HIS way". We cannot, as SIster Michelle Craig says, "miss or dismiss personal errands from the Lord", because we are stuck on "our way" or "my way". He will provide a way and it will always be the right way. Find time this week to discover what "His way" for you is.


Love you all!
Elder Kenyon Matua

Updates: 4 November and 11 November

4 November
Traveling (again), Exchanges in Ivano-Frankivsk, MLC and the temple!

Sorry folks but this one is going to be very short because I forgot till now.

We had a really long week full of a lot of traveling and not a lot of sleeping but that's ok because that means we working hard right? I hope.

Had exchanges in Ivano-Frankivsk and I got to work with my old companion Elder Petersen! It was really fun and we got a lot done. We had a lesson with an investigator of theirs who is getting baptized soon and he is awesome! We also got to meet the new missionaries again and get to know them better and they are awesome!

We went straight from Ivano to Kyiv for MLC. We got to do baptisms and a session at the temple the day before though and it felt so good. I also got to see a returned missionary and it was so funny and so good to see him again.

It was a really good week and we are just trying to soak up every minute we have here. Time is going by wayyyyyyy to fast and I don't like it. I love this work and the blessings it brings!!! So great!

11 November
President Goldens visit, Investigators and the Funny Things They Say

The stress is over!!

This week took so much preparing and stressing. We had been getting ready for a couple months now for the area president, President Golden, and when the beginning of this week hit, I realized how much more we still needed to prepare. We had heard so many stories about how strict he would be so we had everything perfect. The good thing is, it all went well. Everything went the way it was supposed to and I was so happy. President Kumferman and President Golden addressed us and we got a lot of counsel and guidance from them. President Golden also held a fireside for our branch members here in Lviv and it went really well.

We had exchanges this week with the elders from Rivne. It went really well and we had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the weather is getting worse and worse. And Elder Laney and I also had four lessons planned for that day and none of them went through, so that was pretty depressing. We got in contact with all of them again though and set another time.

We finally got to meet with our good friend Artiem. He has been meeting with the missionaries for 2 years almost and has just had so many difficulties with baptism. It started with his parents being very against the church, which is still holding him back now. But, on the lesson, Elder Taran bore a very strong testimony of his path to baptism because he is only a convert of about 3 years. He told Artiem that his parents were against him being baptized but he prayed for help and for them to have a change of heart and SLOWLY but surely they started to change. That opened Artiem up a little more to talk about his parents and he shared with us how they have been changing as well. It's very slow, but they are changing. So we invited him to pray and fast for strength to ask his parents again and he accepted and seemed excited to do so again.

Our friend from the Congo, Emmanuel, came to church! I really enjoyed it and everyone made him feel so welcomed. It was perfect because it just happened to be the day that our friends, the Hunters, from Utah, spoke! It was hilarious because after Brother Hunter spoke, Emmanuel leaned over to me and said, "Matua, is no one gonna clap? That was amazing!" I couldn't stop laughing.

There was a verse that President Golden kept bringing up and that was Alma 7:7 which says, "For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all -- for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. "

It is so important that we take the things of God seriously. If we take them lightly, the sacred things and gifts He gives us, He will take them away. We have to understand the most important thing in our lives, or rather who is most important in our lives  and that is our Savior, Jesus Christ. We have to understand that His coming is nigh at hand. And we especially have to understand that God is preparing us and using us to prepare those around us. God works miracles through ORDINARY people just like you and just like me. He is preparing you to share the gospel with those around you, so do it!


I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Elder Kenyon Matua

Updates: 9 September - 23 September

9 September

MLC, BBQ and never giving up
Not much to share this week and not even that much time to share it.

We had MLC in Kyiv and we really enjoyed it. We are excited to apply some new additions to our mission. We also had exchanges with the AP's. I got to be with Elder Jack who went to Bingham. He is so awesome and I learned so much from him.

We played a lot of catch up getting back from Kyiv but we got in touch with a lot of the people we are teaching and we are ready for a good week. We did get to go out to our recent convert Roman and we BBQ'd with him and he loved having us out there and we loved being out there.

I was humbled by a scripture this week in Helaman 12:3. It says that the Lord chastens His people so we will remember him. I had been questioning a lot of things going on and why they were happening to us when we are doing so much good. I realized that my spirituality level was just down from what it should be. As soon as I asked Heavenly Father to give me strength and help me find the right path to have the Spirit bearing witness to me again, I was immediately blessed with just that. He is waiting to bless us. Don't get upset about hard times. They happen for a reason and we all know it. Just do not forget HIM! He wants to bless you so bad. Just be open and ask...then ACT!

Love you all have a wonderful week!

17 September

Street hockey, Artem and scripture power
Cannot believe this week has come and gone already. It was really good. Sickness and afflictions have been taking their toll here but we will pull through haha. We had a branch activity this last Saturday which ended with us playing street hockey with all of our friends from English and other members of the church.

Our friend Artem is back in town and he was so excited to meet with us. He started being taught almost a year ago but his parents were very against him being baptized. But over the course of about a year, his mom has attended church a couple times and he has talked to them a bit about the gospel! When we called to see if he could meet, he was so excited and he asked if we could have a spiritual lesson because he hasn't had one in a long time and hasn't been able to read the Book of Mormon. We had such a good lesson and read from Alma 47. He loved it and we were really able to relate it to his situation right now. I am so excited for him.

I was reminded of a promise that Nephi declared in the Book of Mormon this week. 1 Nephi 14:14 says that he, "beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb...they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory". Don't forget that the Lord's power is upon all of us. His power is with YOU. YOU are armed with righteousness. YOU are armed with the power of God. Live worthily of that power. Do not forget that He is working a marvelous work among us. He is using YOU to carry out that work. God loves YOU because YOU are His child. Love you all and have a great week!

23 September

Miracles, back aches and the Lords timing
This week was rough mostly because I was dumb enough to hurt my back a week ago so we were stuck inside a lot.

Crazy miracles have been happening here in western Ukraine though. We went from 1 baptismal date as a zone to 11 in exactly one week. Elder Blake and I were shocked and it was a huge testimony builder to see how much the Lord is softening the hearts of His children here in Ukraine. One of those dates came from a 16 year old boy we have been working with! His dad is a member who recently became reactivated. We had an FHE with them and we asked his dad to share his conversion story with us and man did that invite the Spirit! He became very emotional while sharing it and after we turned to Bogdan (his son) and asked him a lot of questions that eventually came around to us inviting him to be baptized. Without any hesitation he said yes! We are so excited for him.

Watching the new Book of Mormon video got me thinking a lot about Laman and Lemuel. We often think of them as being "the bad guys" right away. But how often do we act like Laman and Lemuel? How often do we complain because we don't know what is ahead in life for us? (1 Nephi 2:12) How many of us complain when asked to do something we don't want too? (1 Nephi 3:5) Do we often forget that the Lord's will will always be fulfilled on HIS timing? (1 Nephi 7:12) The list goes on and on. We need to continue to show our Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Just as the revelation given to Joseph Smith for Oliver Cowdery states, "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not".

Love you all,
Elder Kenyon Matua

Crazy Week - 27 May, 2019

This week was the craziest, most random week of my mission.

It all started on Tuesday. Elder Petersen and I got here to L'viv late Tuesday night and met Elder Cluff and Blake here at their apartment. We had a super train ride on our way here. We both felt a little sick after but didn't think much of it. Wednesday we had our exchanges with the zone leaders and it was an interesting one because they had their interviews with President Kumferman. So our day was basically based off of when their interviews were, which always changes so they are not predictable. But I was with Elder Blake and we had a really good day. All four of us got to go to their recent converts apartment for dinner and FHE.

When we got home that night, Elder Petersen was not feeling good at all. We called our senior couple out here and she made an appointment for us at the clinic. When we got there for the appointment the next day, we found out that it might be worse than we thought. We spent ALL day going to different hospitals and clinics and when we finally got to the end of the day, he was preparing himself to have his appendix removed. It shocked us all and it was a long process with a lot of opinions from different doctors but we finally decided to just have it removed rather than wait. We had our president there and even family of another missionary who had just finished her mission and her dad was a doctor and it was a huge blessing that everyone was in this city for this, we were very blessed. I left the hospital at around midnight and Elder Petersen had surgery until about 2:00 a.m. Everything went well and he is now recovering very well.

Friday we had zone conference and it went super good. President conducted an amazing segment on the Plan of Salvation and gave us so many new insights and ways to teach it. I also had my interview with President and it was very short because we were both exhausted and it was late.

We got transfer texts and I will be serving as the new zone leader here in L'viv with Elder Blake. I am so excited!! We got to spend a lot of time together this week because my companion was sick. But I am so excited to serve with Elder Blake and we already have so much planned.

It was a very long week just being stuck here in this city unexpectedly but I am so glad Elder Petersen is healthy and moving. We were sad we didn't get to do some of the stuff we wanted to do here but everyone is glad that he is OK.

Had to say goodbye to my old comp Elder Stott at 5:00 a.m. this morning which was super sad. Gonna miss that dude and some of the other elders who left. No worries though because I'll see them before I know it.


Love you all,
Elder Kenyon Matua

Exchanges - 13 May, 2019

Eating 'real' stake after exchanges with
Khmelnytskiy Elders

We had a really good week. We spent some time in Khmelnytskiy on exchanges. I got to spend the day on Wednesday with Elder Frasier who is from Alpine, UT so we had a lot to talk about. It was fun talking about all the people we both know and just talking in general. That was our first exchange together and it was cool because we both remember when we found each other on Instagram before our missions.

We got into Khmelnytskiy on Tuesday night just in time for their game night which was super fun. They have a really good group there, a lot of young people our age so it was super fun. On Wednesday, Elder Frasier and I had 4 lessons planned. Unfortunately, we only had one of those, the other three didn't show up. It's unfortunate but we kind of get used to that out here. We helped a member family move their giant canvas printer while we were there. They were very grateful and I was too because if they had tried to move that while we weren't there on exchanges I don't know how that would've gone down. We finished the exchange with some super good, real steak. It was expensive but it was worth it. First time having meat like that since I left America.

When we got back to Chernivtsi we had the best English practice we've had in a while. We had around 20 people which doesn't sound like a lot but from the time that I first got here to Chernivtsi, that's a ton.

Doing service - moving a very large printer

Sunday was sweet!!! Our recent convert Andriy received the priesthood. I was so happy when I saw him walk up to church in a suit again and even happier when I saw how excited he was. I'm so proud of the steps hes taken and ahhhh, he's the best.

To finish of course, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my wonderful, loving, amazing, joyful, spiritual mother. Love you so so much. The last two days thinking about mothers day coming up, I was continually reminded of the the scriptures in Alma 56: "They had been taught by their MOTHERS, that if they did not doubt God would deliver them... They rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it". Now that last part I didn't like sometimes because mom would use that against me haha but you have taught me so much mom and I am so grateful for it. I am blessed day by day out here because of the things you have taught me. Love you so much!


Love you all,
Elder Kenyon Matua

Go-kart fun on P-Day

Another short week - 6 May, 2019

Playing tennis on P-Day

We did a lot this week but at the same time I can hardly remember any of it. Time is going faster and faster every week.

Last P-day we got a chance to play tennis! It was super fun. My comp, Elder Petersen played tennis in high school so he kind of destroyed me but it's all good. And they opened a new rib place here in Chernivtsi that we went too after playing tennis. Always weird eating food like we are back in America.

We started our English Club again and not too many people showed up because no one knew about it but that'll change. English practice was super good. Mine and Elder Petersen's advanced class played Kahoot. It was fun because they had no idea what that was but after they loved it!

Hangin in the courtyard

We talked a lot to Andriy, our recent convert, about the priesthood. He loved it and had some good questions and ended up meeting with our branch president. He is so ready and seems excited. We had a really good Sunday. The members were so happy and so welcoming to everybody and it was amazing. They actually like talked to us which was weird. lol. But they really went out of their way to talk to Andriy. There was also a family that the sisters have been teaching that came to church. The members were SOO welcoming to them. Everybody introduced themselves and the family looked so excited and said they would come next week.

I love the fact that I get to talk to my family every week and I realize how spoiled I am for that. I really enjoyed talking to them this morning and it really hit me how important our families are. We all know they are important of course but through EVERYTHING, they are there. Whether it feels like it or not. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing family and especially with Mother's Day coming up, such and amazing mother. I love you all and hope you can find some time to spend with your family this week because we are never promised tomorrow.


Love you all,
Elder Kenyon Matua

Lot's of pigeons everywhere!

Six Months!

Six month celebration lunch with Elder Bott

Finally hit my sixth month mark! A ton of mixed emotions because it went fast and I have no clue where time went. I just can't believe I'm already a fourth done with my mission. We also got transfer calls this week, Elder Stott and I will be staying together for one more transfer here in Rivne. We are super excited because we have some big things coming up and we are glad we will both be here for them.

We had a really good lesson with Vika on Friday. We pretty much just had a lesson about her one question which was in John 1:18, where it says "No man hath seen God at any time". She didn't know what the Joseph Smith translations really were so we helped her understand that and what the scripture really meant. She has some really good questions and insights and she even drove 5 hours to go to the temple this week. She is amazing! And her little brother has been coming to church so that is super exciting.

Katya is back in town and she came to church yesterday! We were so happy she came and even happier when she pulled us aside and said she wants to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She has to go to Kyiv this week but she said she will decide on a date and that she is super excited.

We also tried having a sports day this last Saturday and these two guys came and after they gave us their numbers and said they wanna meet and talk with us and just be friends. They were super cool. They said if we ever need anything, even just to go on a walk, to call them.

Loving the work and of course loving the Lord. I am excited for all challenges up ahead. Love you all and have a good week!


-Elder Matua

Week 4 - MTC

Met up with the cuzzie, Elder Masuisui - Samoa Apia Mission

Our zone decided it would be fun if we could see how many bananas we could eat in one sitting. I was just watching because I didn't wanna get sick or anything but the like 12 of the other elders were just pounding bananas down their mouths. A couple of them didn't even eat lunch so they could have a little bit more room for bananas. They had all the peels on one tray and it was just a mountain. After a couple of minutes I decided I would eat a couple. So I ate 3. Worst decision ever. Not thinking, I drank a whole cup of sprite....If you haven't seen like the sprite and banana challenge its where you eat a ton of bananas and then drink sprite and it makes you throw up. I had no clue this was a thing....

Right after, Elder Howard and I had to teach. The whole lesson, I was holding in my throw up. I was just covering my mouth because I was right on edge. Toma (Sister Morris who we have been teaching) even asked my in Ukrainian if I was OK. It was the worst I just let Elder Howard talk and then I bore my testimony then we got outta there. Ran to the bathroom but of course by then I had swallowed it all. Funny but not fun experience.
 

Soccer Saturday

Fourth week out here so not really anything to talk about. All we look forward to is devotionals and p days where we actually do something different. Class has been really good though. We have started learning grammar and it so hard. We don't even get what's going on so we just nod our heads and then when it gets brought up later in the lesson we just ask her about it and she will teach it all over again and she goes into depth so it all works out. Sister Gray (one of our teachers) told us that she was walking out of the MTC the other day and saw all the Samoan and Tongan elders leaving and they were singing Folofola Mai a Sisu. And she told us how much she loved it. So at the end of class that day she had us all sing it. It was hilarious and was so fun to sing that hymn again.

Backdrop on point

So many new missionaries this last week!! Saw Mason right as he walked in! It was so good seeing him. I see him everyday and it looks like he killin it and is having tons of fun. Our huge group of 22 Russian elders joined our zone and 2 sisters. So many of the are from Europe! It's crazyyyyy! From UK to Germany to Norway to Denmark to Sweden and Austria. Insane to see how far the gospel is really spread around the world. Thank goodness for all of them too because we will never lose soccer Saturday mornings now. Soccer Saturday: every Saturday morning we grab our flags and sprint all the way out to the field, where we meet our opponents, all the elders going to the Scandinavian countries. There's so much hype Saturday morning and the new elders are BEAST at soccer because its all they did at home. One of them is from Hawaii, Elder Hoag. Super cool! Been talking to him a lot.

District-E Boy Band

Last nights devotional was soooo good!! President and Sister Kearon spoke. Sister Kearon spoke on competition and comparison. That before we came here there was so much competition and now there shouldn't be any and that we cannot compare ourselves to other missionaries. Super good talk! President Kearon talked about how we have the best gift for those we are teaching which is baptism. He asked missionaries from the crowd what the best gift they would right now. And they said a Rolls Royce. He compared a Rolls Royce all wrapped up in wrapping paper with a big bow and how excited you would be to give that to that person that wants it. We have that Rolls Royce, but better!! It's baptism and that's what we are giving to others. We need to be happy and "be the message and look like the message." Sorry I'm so bad at explaining things but it was really good I promise.

I didn't take that many pictures so I will try to steal some from the other elders.

Я люблю вас! Я знаю Бог любит нас. Книга Мормона містить слово Боже. Побачимось!

Not sure what's goin on

District story time

I was released as DL this week and Elder Chappell took over

Week 3 - MTC

 

Two of my friends who left for Russia this week

Добре День From the MTC!

Pretty normal week us over here. It definitely feels like we have been here for ages and we are finally getting used to it. The worst thought is that we will be here for another 6 WEEKS! My saving grace, besides the food, is the people I'm with. I love my district and my zone. Amazing people. We just lost the oldest group. They got to Russia earlier this week. So today we get 24 more Russian speakers. Sadly no Ukrainian speakers until 3 weeks after we leave. But today, in the group that comes, there are a ton of international missionaries. We are all pumped to meet them.

On Thursday we had our first TRC lesson which is where you teach members, mostly returned missionaries. It went OK....we didn't really know what we were going into so we kind of prepared for something different...as if we were gonna teach an investigator. But knowing how it is now we are definitely going to prepare different. Our next one is this Thursday and we are super excited because we know how they go and they are super fun just asking questions about there missions and life and whatever, Super fun!

Elder Howard and I got haircuts Saturday morning. I got sooooooo scared when she started cutting my hair. She combed my hair up, and with the comb still in my hair she just started shaving it off the top....I almost jumped out the chair but didn't want it to be even worse. It turned out ok in the end just so different having someone other than dad cutting my hair. That evening we had class and at the end we had Book of Mormon studies with the class. Elder Edwards and the Latvian teacher came and joined us. The Latvian teacher led the discussion and it was amazing. He had us all choose our favorite scriptures and had us read them and share why, I shared Alma 7:11-14.   After we all shared, he came back up to each one of us and acted as an investigator with a problem that our scriptures would be able to help him with. He did an amazing job and it was weird how real it felt. We all felt the spirit very strong and our testimonies of reading and studying the scriptures grew a ton.

Studying in class

We had our first fast Sunday here. It was so weird not eating. It was amazing fasting though. We definitely felt the blessings of it this week. The Sunday devotional was Jenny Oaks Baker, President Dallin H Oaks Daughter. Her family is very very very talented. It was a musical devotional so she would get up, share a testimony and the whole family would play a song. It was super cool and they were amazing.
 
Monday was when we realized the power of fasting. We were preping our lesson all day because it was at 6 that night. We had no idea what we were gonna do because it was the furst lesson that we couldn't use any notes our books or anything.... we were freaking out. Our lesson plan was this: Say a prayer with her, have her read a scripture about baptism, tell her about three lines about baptism that we have memorized, ask her if shell be baptized, if she says no, share Mosiah 18:10 (amazing scripture to share if they say no), ask again and whatever her answer, bear testimony, and close with her saying the prayer. Of course, she asks us a question we were not prepared for. Somehow we got through it and i got the chance to ask her to be baptized. She said No. I asked if she would read Mosiah and she did and I asked again. She said "for now I will say yes. But you told me to pray and ask God so I will do that first" YOOOOO we were so hyped!! I told her that she is making the right decision and God will bless her for it and bore my testimony. It was so cool. And I saw Mariah who just got a job here!! So awesome and weird seeing a family member. I will be seeing her like everyday she works..... So awesome!
 

Not really studying in class

Tuesday Devotional, President Jean B Bingham spoke!!! She is amazing. but I wanted to share something her husband said. He bore a short testimony but what he said really changed my outlook on the mission. He said "This next two years of your life will be the simplest.....not the easiest....but the simplest" I love that! Its so simple what we are doing out here. We do the same thing everyday and teach the most amazing message. Its not complicated what we have to do. It will be very hard but very simple. Love it.

Yea things are going great. Definitely learning patience. Thank you for that scripture! (1 Nephi Chapters 5-7) I actually just finished 1 Nephi and learned so much. Yes we have been learning a lot about Ukraine and its amazing. You guys should watch the Kiev temple dedication youth video its amazing and makes me so excited.

I love all of you.

Я Любит Вас

P-Day life

Week One - MTC

Добрий День! 

Me and my comp, Elder Howard

This week has been THE craziest week of my life. I have never been given so much information and things to remember and memorize. It's very very hard but so far, it's been very very worth it.

My companions name is Elder Howard. He is from Bountiful and just graduated from Bountiful High. We are two totally different people but it'll just take some getting used too haha. We have the BEST zone ever. I'm sure everyone thinks we are so weird because we are all so close already but that's why it's the best we all feel included and the older missionaries are super super cool.

Our zone is the all missionaries going to the Eastern European region. More than half of the zone is going Russian-speaking so it kind of stinks that I can't talk with them but English will just have to do for now. There are like 10 districts in our zone! We have one of the biggest, if not the biggest zone in the MTC. On the second day of being here they had to call district leaders for all the new districts and they called Elder Matua as district leader... I don't know what they were thinking. Nah bahaha I love it and I love my district.

Chillin in our classroom

There are nine of us: Me, Elder Howard, Sister Baker, Sister Mckell (Ukrainians); Elder Chappell, Elder Black, Sister Nelson (Estonians); Elder Edwards (Latvian); Elder Dudley (Lithuanian). Yeah my district is pretty crazy. All the other districts are either Russian or going to Ukraine speaking Russian. I got lucky enough to have a variety. It takes a lot more work rounding them up and stuff but totally worth it I love them. In our residence there are four of us. Elder Howard and I, and Elder Peterson who's also from Bountiful and Elder Clark who is from Sweden. I love Elder Clark, he is hilarious.

The Ukrainian language is INSANE. I don't even know where to begin. It feels like I'm back in elementary learning a whole new alphabet and how to even sound letters out. It's a work in progress and thank goodness I am here for nine weeks because if any shorter, I would be in trouble. We had our first lesson, all in Ukrainian our third day being here...It was going well until I started talking about the Book of Mormon and looked at Elder Howard to start saying something, and he started bearing his testimony about how the Holy Ghost has a body of flesh and bones or something. bahahah I had to stop him right away but I'm just glad it was him and I don't blame him at all for it because if it wasn't for that I would've probably said something dumb. Elder Howard and I were asked to lead a discussion for the whole zone the next day.... I don't get why they have used me for everything the day I get here. But it's good I am learning a lot.

Oh just passin the time

We have the best Sunday's ever here! They don't let you skip a beat on Sundays. They keep you soooooooo busy going to devotionals and discussions or whatever you can think of but it was the best. Felt the spirit the entire day. We also got the opportunity to sing in the choir last night! It was awesome. We had a practice before and the conductor was telling the coolest pioneer stories. He is an amazing guy and we hope we can make it to here him every week.

The Estonians and the lone Latvian

At the devotional a member of the Seventy, Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, spoke and he spoke on obedience. He shared a lot from 1 Timothy 4. One quote he shared was that "Obedience is greater than sacrifice." Yes I sacrificed a lot when coming out here but we as missionaries shouldn't be looking at it as just a sacrifice but that we are out here being obedient to the Lord's commandment. We also watched 'Character of Christ' by Elder Bednar and I can say I've never felt the spirit so strong. Very much recommend watching that devotional.

It is safe to say that this is probably the hardest thing iv'e ever done but I know the Lord can help me push through it. Things are awesome here I've never felt the spirit so strong. Everyone here has a very strong testimony and it's strengthened mine a lot.

Still 'bout that selfie life LOL!

I am really struggling with the language. As most people are their first week but it is really really really hard. Learning a new alphabet and just so much that makes it difficult but I know the Lord is definitely on my side. I pray every single night for help and I know I just need to hold up my end of the bargain and it'll all work out.

Funny story - Elder Otterson is in my zone....As in Lisa's (Wilson) nephew! I thought I recognized him and then I had my Cannibals shirt on and he was like "Ayyyyee I knew I knew you from somewhere," and at the same time we were both like "Cuz bailey!" Bahahaha so funny!

I love all of you and miss you tons
бог є небесним батьком

The Lone Update for May

Today is transfer day and I've been running all over the place with all my bags so its been pretty crazy. I thought I would be staying in 광안 (Gwangan) since I only have one transfer left but I got the call to move Saturday night.

I will be serving in 대신 (Nampo) with elder Lee Yong Ho. We are whitewashing in. It's gonna be good. It's still in the same zone and I have already served in this district.

We are gonna have to be first and second counselor since there is almost no members but it will be good.

Not too much else. Crazy transfer call day. Hope you guys have a great week.

Old folks, bath houses, ping pong and more

Our investigator in Changwan was baptized this week

Hey ya'll,

It's been a pretty busy week. We do a service project every week at a huge old person place. We sit in the kitchen washing dishes while about 20 old Korean ladies cook and serve food and one of the old Korean ladies kept smacking my butt. I'm not really sure why. Then we have English class every Thursday and Friday. After Thursday's class I challenged some of the class members to play me in ping pong (most of our class is over 70 or 80 years old). I got wrecked by two old guys who were 80 and an old lady who is 75. They all came to class with their custom paddles in little paddle cases.

For Friday's English class we just read the Book of Mormon in English which is cool since no one who comes to the class is a member. One of the guys actually knows the Book of Mormon stories

This morning we went to a public bath house. They are all over in Korea and the one in our area is supposedly the biggest one in Asia; maybe the world. It was a very interesting experience. You walk in and put all of your clothes in a locker (ALL of your clothes). The only thing you are wearing is a bracelet with a key on it. Then you just go chill in the hot pools with a bunch of old naked Korean guys.

This afternoon we went to Nampo, which is like the biggest outlet mall in the world. There's a tie store that sells really nice ties for two dollars and the guys know the missionaries pretty well because everyone from the mission goes there.

My investigator back in Changwon got baptized yesterday. He called me to see if I could come but the AP's said no. But it's okay, it just matters that he got baptized. It has been a little harder finding investigators in Busan. Everyone is really "busy" and don't want to listen. Another thing that makes it harder is that most people have a really bad opinion of Christian churches here since there is literally a Christian church on everyone corner just looking for money. But we are meeting with a family which is very rare in Korea. The family is sooo cool. the dad is hilarious and he wants us to teach his son English because he has a friend who learned English from the missionaries, moved to America, and got really rich. But his son is really shy and doesn't want to learn English. The family is really good when we teach them lessons. The dad's name is Sung Han and he loves to say the prayer at the end of our lesson. I really feel like this family will get baptized. When we meet with them it feels like we are meeting with one of the member families.

Busan is actually split up into two different zones and many different areas. Ours is called 연 산 (Yunsan). It is amazing. The Ward is really strong but there are like, 500 inactives. Korea is amazing. Sometimes when I'm walking around the city I don't realize what an amazing country this is but sometimes I stop and just take it in. Every day we are walking through huge skyscrapers, and buildings with colorful lights and signs all over them, huge fish and street markets selling all kinds of stuff, beautiful Korean mountains and tons of Buddhist temples. And the best thing is that the people are all so nice and respectful.

My friend Edwin in Changwan

really well. Every time someone asks a question he explains like the whole Book of Mormon.

A lot of work to be done. Hope everyone thing is going good back home. Stay safe.


Love you guys,
Elder Mica Matua

Johnny in Changwan

Robert, the Filipino member in Changwan

Exercising on the rooftops in Yunsan

District meeting in Changwan

Me and the homie, Elder Barnett

Nampo Mall - the place is huge!

Meat buffet with the missionaries in our area

Me and Elder Johnston eating bedar chicken in our apartment

Our apartment - study area

Our apartment - sleeping area AKA study area

Random Korean companies #1

Random Korean companies #2

Almost time, language struggles and Elder Bednar

Sculpting? We're bored

We are almost there. We have like 4 or 5 more days till we fly out. It was so good to see chase on friday. Some elders from my district wanted to meet him so they came to the lobby with me. It was funny because we had class at 6:30 and thats the time me and chase were supposed to meet. So the elders that came with me were planning to come say whats up at 6:30 and then leave for class. We waited there for a bit and at 6:40 he still hadn't showed up so I walked over to the front desk to see if they could call you guys. As I walked to the front desk one of the elders yelled Matua, and i looked at the front doors and chase walked in. It was so cool to see him here at the MTC. He was so serious about the gospel and was a great example to all of us. It was funny because had just watched the Two Brothers documentry and it felt just like when they meet in the MTC and the older id giving him all these tips for a mission. It was cool to see pictures of you guys together at top golf. I just hope you guys realize that i would destroy all of you if I was there.

Utah Lions teammate
Elder Colton Swapp (Japan)

As the days count down we are all getting so excited to leave but also very nervous. The language is probably the biggest stress here. We have been practicing street contacting a lot with other missionaries which is always funny because we can only say a few lines. Our teacher told us that street contacting actually turns into a stress reliever. He said when he was stressed he would walk outside and find an old Korean lady to talk to.

Last night we got a devotional from Elder Bednar. He gave a great talk in an interesting way. he brought his wife up to the mic and they both stood up there the entire talk switching off back and forth. He talked about going back and studying general conference talks. He told us how he studies GC talks. He gets a piece of paper and writes the name of the speaker and under that he writes: droctine or principal, Invitation, and promised blessings. He then fills those out for every talk he studies. He then played clips of general conference and had us practice. It was funny when he played Elder Cooks talk because he said,"hey this is my seat mate, in quorum of the twelve meetings." He then bore witness that any time a servant of the lord gives an invitation and promises a blessing that it will always come true.

I love you guys and I hope you guys can keep this place running while I'm gone.


Love you all

Elder Mica Matua

Utah Cannibals teammate, Elder Jaeron Masina (Trinidad)