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 Two - MTC

Elders in District E!

Цеи тиждень дуже нормальнии

Crazy uneventful week here in the MTC. Nothing really exciting happened except for when my companion was hanging from the pull up bar with his feet and then slipped out and he ate the floor.

We got a new teacher this week so now we have two, and of course the new teacher was our last "investigator". So the first day she came in it was pretty awkward because she knew how bad we were at Ukrainian. But she is an awesome teacher. She is a character for sure which actually helps more than you think because she is so fun and easy to relate too. Ever since she started teaching we all have progressed so much.

We had a workshop about finding people to teach and the guy leading the workshop looked so familiar. He came up after and said 'wassup dude?' and I finally figured out he played rugby with Kingston and Chase. Then like 20-minutes later another instructor walks in and it was another guy that plays rugby with them. He like nodded wassup at me and then everyone looked at me and it was kind of awkward but super cool to see them.

Studies - gaaaahhhh!

I have been meeting so many people from school and from rugby and it's crazy how many people you realize you know in the MTC. I met these Elders straight from Samoa and they said that they knew the Matua's but were pretty bummed that I couldn't speak Samoan. It was way fun talking to them and I went out and played volleyball with them and we were pretty much unstoppable. I also have been speaking a ton of Chinese with random Elders and with one of my roommates. His name is Elder Clark and he's from Sweden but he lived in China for like seven years. He is one of my favorites for sure. I love talking to him and nobody can understand us. There are so many foreigners in our zone and all of them are from Eastern Europe. Awesome, awesome, awesome people.

We started teaching another 'investigator' and this time it was our other teacher. She made it very, very tough on us and we struggled. It ended up being OK and luckily we were able to pull out a couple random things in Ukrainian. The teaching gets harder and harder everyday. We actually have a lesson this evening and we have no idea what we are gonna teach her but it'll all work out.

Can't wait for what's up ahead this next week and can't wait to be out of here already. Only seven more weeks!..... Ми Любов всі!

District E - The Best!

Yes I'm getting "Dear Elders" it's so nice getting one everyday. This week was really hard but really good. The language is rough as always. and there are four Ukrainians, three Estonians, one Latvian and one Lithuanian in our District.

We are going to the temple today! (Wednesday) I'm so excited. And my head is great. Little to no headaches and I'm always carrying a water bottle around.

Today (Wednesday) we did laundry, then we are emailing until about 10, going to exercise, temple, come back and email, study, and then P-Day ends at 6:00 p.m., and that's when we teach. 

A Seventy spoke Tuesday night at the devotional (Kent F Richards). Really good - he talked a lot about teaching with the spirit. and on Sunday I don't even remember who spoke. But we sang in the choir last night and we were front row. bahaha got on screen a lot. the song was amazing. super fun to sing.

I have been feeling the Spirit in every way you can think of, especially teaching. When we were teaching, we had just told her that God loves her and she asked why would God love me? And we had no clue what to say. We knew what to say just not in Ukrainian. So we were scrambling through papers. and I just stopped. Said a prayer in my heart and while elder Howard was still shuffling through papers I just started talking AND IT WAS CRAZY! I have no clue what I said but she said thank you for that and later she told me that our lesson was really good. So just being able to have the spirit with me at all times is amazing. And it has definitely been stronger and my relationship with the Holy Ghost has grown tremendously.

Love you all,
Elder Kenyon Matua

The Swede locked my comp out for farting too much

My study area

My man, Elder Chappell

Me and Elder Otterson

Me and the Swede, Elder Clark before DL meeting

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

Hello and Goodbye Elder Matua

On Tuesday, July 10, we welcomed home Elder Mica Matua from the Korea-Busan Mission. Tomorrow, July 18, we say goodbye to our latest missionary - Elder Kenyon Matua has been called to serve in the Ukraine-Kyiv/Moldova mission and reports to the Provo Missionary Training Center tomorrow.

We have enjoyed our short time together as a family. It is the first time in six years that our whole family is together along with two new additions, our daughters in-law Mariah (Kingston) and Kaylee (Chase). For one week we have laughed at Mica's stories as a missionary in Korea and reminisced of our times together over the years as we give Kenyon our best missionary advice and testify of Christ.

This past Sunday, Kenyon and Mica both spoke in Sacrament meeting. It has been bitter-sweet but we know that one day our family will be together forever because we believe it is possible through our Savior Jesus Christ and it is an essential truth in the Plan of Happiness.

We will miss Kenyon dearly these next two years but we're so happy that he has chosen to serve the Lord and are confident that he will love every moment of this new journey!