August 29, 2013

OFF TO BARCELONA!
Well nothing much has really happened. But I had a few good spiritual moments with all the guys. Elder Harrop, Elder Landinez, and Elder Dougher. Every night we just stay up and share the most spiritual moments that we had from the week. It´s so cool and really has made my testimony grow so much just from those things. The other day it was really late and we were all still up and Elder Dougher just says "hey guys I really feel like I need a priesthood blessing.."  Elder Harrop and I were the only ones with clothes so we got dressed and said a quick little prayer on who we thought should be the one to say it.  We both felt impressed that I should. So we got dressed up went out and gave the blessing.. I can honestly say that I spoke through the Spirit not a single word was a word of my own. When I closed the blessing we all just felt so overwhelmed everyone was crying and it was just beyond amazing. Those three guys have changed my life, I know that. I will be friends with them til the day I die. We were in the pre-mortal with eachother and I know that without a shadow of a doubt. We have all grown so much. I can feel the Spirit through them and without them I´d be lost. God put them here for a reason. I´m loving this and can not wait to get in the field. I´m ready to get out. My next email will be while I am in Barcelona!
 
Alright so on Monday I will be getting a little extra time to email you guys! I will be leaving the MTC and heading out on a train to BARCELONA! I´m way excited I can´t even wait. I had a really tough week. Really felt the adversary pounding on me. I know it´s because I´m doing exactly what he doesn´t want but the Lord always provides away. He will get me through this and reassure me. So I had an amazing experience at the park. I went with a native and we tore it up! We placed three copies of the BoM and got three references! How freaking amazing right?

I find out where I go when I get to the Mission Home on Tuesday!  I cannot even wait!! I could use some candy or something. But I need a tide to go stick, and some shoe smell odor!! The laundry thing...it works wonders for a missionary. hahah 

I am going to Sol today.  I leave in three hours. My Spanish is perfect ahahah...almost.  I have a harder time understanding than speaking.  I am learning Catalon too, not just Spanish.  Catalon is Spanish, French, and Portuguese mixed.  It is very different.  To answer your question about what I eat ... breakfast - yogurt, lunch - bread, dinner - pudding.  I left the house 196 and now I am 179.  We work out more than we probably should hahah but we look good haha!  

I went to the temple this morning for the last time before I leave for Barcelona.  I love you all and can not wait to hear from all of you!

Elder Harrop and Elder Mateos

Visiting the Real Madrid Soccer Stadium "a highlight!"

K so crazy week and I just got the package today of candy!! Few...I have food now!! So Glad!! OK so here is my schedule.

6:30     Wake Up
7:00      Eat
9:00     Teach
11:00    Class
1:00      Lunch
2:00     Class
4:00     Language Study
5:00     Physical Activity
6:45      Dinner
7:30      Class
9:00     Go Back to Hotel
10:30   Bed 

Hahaha  not very exciting but it is what it is!!  So being a DL means I lead the District haha I don't know how else to describe it.  I have to go to lots of training meetings and stuff so that's always fun.  So besides that this week has been very long and boring.  I get to go to the field in ten days so I just wanna get out of here!!  I find out my first zone and stuff tomorrow!!!  No more packages or anything because I will not receive them until I know where I am going.  You can send letters if sent before Monday.  

Spiritual experience right here:  So we have a testimony meeting with our district every Thursday and we all bore our testimonies and all that.  Early that day I prayed to have inspiration to lead the district.  At the end of the meeting I had this strong impression to share a scripture.  I shared Isaiah 41:10.  After we ended, Hermana Snelson in my district came up to me crying and said Elder Matthews, the Lord told you to share that scripture for me...I have had the hardest time and really needed something and I prayed in the temple today for some guidance...my jaw hit the floor...kid you not...I started crying but was at a loss of words.  Talk about the spirit.  It may be insignificant to all of you, but it hit me like a ton of bricks.  It made everything I've done up to this point so worth it.  

So I am going to try to send a picture later today but do not know if I will be able to.  Oh and so the Prado Art Museum...most awful experience of my life!!! hahaha but yes we have seen a lot of Spain.  It is gorgeous, the architecture.  Everyone smokes and it is awful!!  hahaha 

I love ya'll

Elder Mateos 

August 18, 2013 Singing "Onward Christian Soldier" in Spanish

A little taste of what they do on Sunday . . . coming from the LDS Mission Couple in the Madrid Spain Temple:

The day began at 9:00 am with Priesthood and Relief Society, which we enjoyed immensely. Sacrament meeting started at 10:40 and went until noon.
We then enjoyed lunch with the Sitteruds and all the young missionaries. In the evening, we spoke at the MTC fireside (held in the adjacent stake center) to around 90 missionaries.
The final activity was the weekly Sunday evening hymn singing by the missionaries on the steps leading to the temple and MTC area.

Click on the Link Below to Watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cKl7BxM1vdk

August 18th Singing in Spainish at the Madrid Temple

Elder Matthews and Elder Harrop on the left

More from Elder Matthews
(Received a Letter!)

First off, I am sorry everything is so short.  We have zero time for anything.  So here is a wrap up of everything you need to know!

THE FOOD 
We had flippin' shark and octopus...on the negative.  The food is SO gross I am dying.  I am dying.  I have lost 10 lbs.  I hate it.  No, I'm serious chicken and potatoes...amazing, everything else nasty.  Oh, and we had swordfish.  It's so different and gross!

THE PARK 
So I have placed four Books of Mormon.  My Spanish is pretty good and I'm getting there.  Lovin' that.  I can carry on a conversation with anyone, so I really do love proselyting.  I am for sure ready for the field.  The CCM I do not enjoy.

SPAIN
So I've been able to explore a little here.  The stuff is crazy.  Such beautiful buildings like in Sol (Center of Madrid) is beyond crazy.  We were able to go visit a cathedral and the Royal Palace.  It was so crazy and cool...just beyond cool! You just can't even compare it to anything.  We also got to go see the Real Madrid soccer stadium.  So many cool things to see.  You would not even believe it!  Got to go through the lockers...the coolest thing ever!

I love you all!  I really love letters, keep writing!

Love,

Elder Matthews

It is hilarious that Kade's best friends are always the tallest!! This is Elder Matthews and Elder Harrop - Best Buds!

August 15, 2013

OK so today we went through the Spain temple, like a tour. I did the whole thing in Spanish. Pretty crazy. I can feel the language through my veins. In a lesson the other day, the lady told me I sound like I´m from Chile and I have an amazing accent. She didn´t believe that I was American! I´m taking Spain by storm!

We may be going into the field sooner than anticipated because of how far ahead we are. I´ve placed four books of Mormon thus far and was just called to District Leader. My companion was a little upset because he thought he was going to be called to DL. 

OK so I taught this lady at the park (in Spanish) for an hour last week about the gospel. It was amazing. I can all ready smell my first baptism. But seriously though, here´s the kicker... she has two weeks to live. What an amazing time to find the gospel and be able to teach her so I can plant that seed and she´ll be able to remember our conversation in the life after. Gosh, I love the people of Spain. Some are so rude but the rest are just amazing.

And Dad its the Sullivans right? You should email them that you know their son that broke his neck and was in critical condition after a mtn biking accident. Really a hard time for them. But they´re amazing people.

So I got my first hair cut that wasn´t by mom... Oops hahah But it looks great. I have some great pics. Elder Harrop and I did it together. I can´t send pictures til next week though and you´ll get tons.

I got the package and it made my day!!! ahhhh I love it. Made me fail my room check but I love it! Getting letters is the best feeling ever.. I kid you not... So I went to the RealMadrid stadium last week and got the huge tour. It is beyond sweet. This place worships soccer. I have tons of pics. Today we go to the Prado, one of the largest most famous art museums in the world. Feeling jealous yet? So the food really is awful and I wrote more about that. But I have lost like 14 lbs now! Hahah so I will be getting on later today so email any questions!!

Ok since no one checks email at 4 am here is a story I remembered. So I was teaching the lesson to an investigator about the Plan of Salvation this week... I am talking to her and I tell her we need to fear God. So that is. necesitamos tener miedo en Dios. Miedo is fear... Miera is well the s word. Guess which one I used?? Yep that good Matthews luck. Hahah thought you´d enjoy that. Her expression was priceless. But oh well guess the Gift of Tongues likes to come and go.

On another note I am trying to get my nametag changed. In Spanish Matthew is Mateo ( the book of Matthew) so I want to get it changed to Élder Mateos. I´m working hard on that. I think that would be sooooo sweet. I mean as DL (District Leader) I have a little bit of power now so I´ll see how far I can get haha.

This food will be the death of me. Everything is freaking gross fish. Tuna fish soup yesterday.. No wonder I´m in the 170´s again. I left at 194. So I am slowly dying I think. hahah. It´s all fish and patatas here. Hahah reminds me a kid in our room totally stinks at Spanish and was asking the lunch lady for more potatoes and said más Papá. Which means I need the High Pope. Hahahahh I died!!! It gets me everytime hearing some of these kids that just aren´t any good. So I am moving out of the MTC this week. Not enough room for us. We leave for the hotel down the street. I am excited and hoping I get to leave for the field sooner. I would love that. I am def ready!! 

Well I am about to go to Prado and look at some art! So I miss you all! Tell all the little ones I love them and want letters from the younger kids at least!!! I love everyone!!

Love Elder Matthews

Madrid MTC Missionaries Sing on 4 August 2013
 Click Here to Watch Video

Our First Official E-mail

I do not know how to live on my own... This is so crazy. I have learned more in this week than I have in my entire life! The Church is true. I can see everything so clearly while I am here. I miss the family like crazy. I have this roommate Elder Rasmussen who reminds me of Jax in every single way. Gosh that kid is my boy! I love this so much though mom. But being away from Jax has been hard. Not having someone to be sitting there waiting for me every night when I get there is killing me.

So the other day I cut my companions hair... I have pictures don´t worry. It actually turned out to be amazing hahah all thanks to me seeing you cut hair for 18 years. There are so many funny things that happen daily.  

Ok, so the food... It's awful. Except the chicken and the potatoes. Other than that it is just horrible. I want to come eat some of your food. Mom, I can not eat fishn.

We went proselyting last Saturday and it was so hard. My Spanish is pretty excellent and I can see the Spirit guiding all of my conversations with the people. The Topical Guide has been my best friend here though because you have to be quick to the scriptures.

The train crash had one of the Elders, Elder Ward, who is now in the MTC on it. He is a walking miracle and what a good way to let others get to know about the church because of what happened to him. Things have been so much better since that first weekend. You can just feel the Spirit and you know that you are doing what the Lord truly wants. I´m missing a lot of things... Food, family, candy, fast food, being able to come upstairs to see you guys but I know this is where I need to be and I am reminded of it everyday. We are going on the train in about fifteen minutes to go around Spain and have a bit of a tour. I can´t even wait!! The MTC is packed right now! The Lord is teaching me a lesson so I am as patient as I can be with everything. The Spanish is coming along better than I could have ever hoped. I have already taught investigators and have been proselyting. Anyway, I have to get on my tour so I will email you next week!
 

Tell the family I love them and I will be getting to all their emails next week and trying to hand write as well. They only give us thirty minutes which is just awful! I love you all and keep the e-mails coming everyone!!