Monday, February 23rd.
We did the usual. Then went to the stake center to hang out with
missionaries. I also had the chance to talk to the paradise sisters
and found out that the Avery's, a family I used to teach in paradise,
is getting baptized at the end of March. So that's an amazing miracle.
We have dinner tonight, then we get to go to the church for makaylas
baptismal interview.
She did great! It was good. Everything is working out. And the area is amazing!
Tuesday, February 24th. Temple day!!
We had a good morning of trying to contact some people the headed to lunch.
Sister Forsyth and her friends had us meet up with them at Carl's jr
for lunch, so we get there, order, then start eating. I was able to
give out a pass along card to a guy who wants to come back to the
church and needed specifically a deaf ward. Crazy right?! Of all the
missionaries he asks that question- it's me. So once he got the info
he needed for that he leaves while I eat.
As we were eating, this guy sits down and eats then stops and looks at
us and directly turns to me( which causes the whole group to stop
talking of course...as well as the people in the resturaunt) and says
"Can I ask you a question?" I say yes!
->This is where having the spirit and some experience as a missionary
helps because he was asking a bunch of questions, etc. All of us are
joining this conversation and somehow we are able to get some of his
questions answered, gave him a Book of Mormon, and card with the
number to call. Sister Forsyth said this to me as we were leaving...
"we just got a glimpse of what your life is like everyday, huh?! You
got a tough one, but it's a good one." Hahaha I love that lady so
much!
We stopped by makaylas house again to take care of little details for
the baptism.
Around 4pm, the antelope 2nd sisters came and picked up sister Davies
and myself and dropped me off at sister Davis's house! Sister Davis
was my companion for the temple trip I had been given permission to go
to for Gerald's endowment and sealing( a recent converts first temple
trip). We left around 5pm, got some pictures, then went in to get
ready ...and I saw so many friends. It was great! A bunch of loomis
people, gerald, sister pickup( one of my past companions), and the
eyeslee's( a family I served around in paradise)...I saw a lot of
people. And I loved every second of it.
The temple was so perfect. And Gerald's sealing to his wife was
perfect too. I love going to the temple, the spirit is always so
strong there.
Sadly, I had to leave that beautiful place. BUT I needed to leave to
go back to antelope so sister Davis and I left after getting some
pictures with everyone.
Bishop Addley( the bishop in Loomis ward I served in)gave me a hug lol
and president Alston just about had a fit- hahaha it was funny. We
were all cracking up. Bishop didn't care about that rule for five
seconds.
Then home around curfew time, and bed. Sister Davies and the sisters
had a great day as well!
Wednesday, February 25th.
Today we headed to Sacramento( with permission from president) because
sister Davies had an appointment down there so that was most of our
morning. We had lunch, then went to see suki ( makaylas mother) to get
a few last minute things worked out for her makaylas baptism. Her
family is excited too! So that's awesome. There's going to be lots of
nonmembers at makaylas baptism, and it's going to be great!
Then more finding.
We were double booked for dinners again so we had our first dinner
with sister Jeffers, a LA, then went over to an active sisters( sister
Custer) house for dinner where her sister is going to get baptized as
well as her son so both of the dinners went great and they are awesome
people.
Then more visits, and home to do normal routine.
Thursday, February 26th.
We did weekly planning since Friday is going to be a zone conference.
Went about doing visits then had a lesson with brother haltom, a LA,
and it went great!
Dinner was with sister fanoua, and it was chinese food again! It was
good. We tried to go see more people, but no one was home.
It was tough day, but we were trying to see people. And I have gotten
another cold somehow so I'm taking medicine for that and resting as
much as I can. I learned what Christ felt like when everyone rejected
him and how disappointed he feels with us when we "forget" about him
too.
I understand a little bit more of what it means to truly "remember"
him more than we usually do during our everyday lives.
Friday, February 27th.
We had zone conference today. Antelope, Roseville, and Citrus Heights
came together for a big meeting. It went from 9am- 5pm. We received a
lot of instruction on how to better magnify our calling to do the
Lords work- it was so great!
I also was asked to give a talk on how I have become converted to the
Lord, and to give my departing testimony.
How do you sum up 18 months of service in 5 minutes? I didn't know
what to say honestly. All I could blubber out was that I had changed.
That I had given everything to the lord. That I have been stretched
and put out of my comfort zone. That I understand just a tiny fraction
of what He, the Savior, must have felt when he did the atonement.
There is so much that the lord has given me, and all he ever asked me
to do was to "come and follow him". I couldn't explain my thoughts
really well, but I know 100% that this church is true. So I testified
of what I did know.
I read from 2nd Timothy 4:5-9, if anyone gets a chance read it. It's
good stuff. I didn't cry too much haha but I did have a couple of
tears come out of my eyes...so I still have some emotions left I
guess. Sister Davies gave her departing testimony as well as 2 other
missionaries from the three zones that were there. The spirit was very
strong there.
After our meeting, we had dinner with platte family then got stuff
ready to go for makalya baptism. It was a good day! Sister Davies and
I were exhausted.
Saturday, February 28th.
We had makalyas baptism today! And the turn out was amazing!! Sister
Davies and I set up around 70 chairs and we ended up having to set up
more chairs since people kept coming in. It was around 100 people that
came to see her baptized. Most of them were nonmembers who came...in
her family! Between us, the ward, and her family, and friends that
came...we ALL made it happen. The spirit was so strong. And we all
were emotional, so many people were crying. Sister Davies and I had
the opportunity to teach the restoration. It was the first time to
teach that specific lesson together since we had been companions... it
wasn't too bad lol. The spirit worked through us both.
After the baptism, there was a feast of food. Suki, makalyas mom, had
prepared a bunch of food and her whole family was involved with this
event and they were excited. They are so prepared by the lord! One of
makaylas grandma's took a Book of Mormon as we were talking to her and
asked questions about some of the things we taught, how church went,
etc. So we showed her the chapel and explained more about how
confirmation goes once someone is baptized. She was really open, and
wants to check it out!
She lives in Marysville so that was a bummer for us haha but the
Marysville sisters were at the baptism( one of the sisters there
taught makalya originally so she came for her baptism) and this sister
connected the dots! She figured out that those sisters she saw would
be the sisters who would help her, if she needed anything. Funny how
that works out.
I'm grateful that planning was done for this (and for everything else
in the church) because everything went perfectly. The spirit was there
so everyone was touched by the spirit. It's the little things that
made it so cool too!
We did finding after we cleaned up, went and visited the Pinkstons,
then went and saw Vlade( our Russian friend! )
Vlade dropped us, but still likes us so that's a plus. He's not quite
ready to change, but is willing to read and try it out when he makes
time for the gospel.
Dinner was with the Pinkstons, then we went to support the antelope
sisters at their baptism.
Then prep for Sunday. So it was a busy day!
Sunday, March 1st. Fast sunday :)
We had meetings, then church. Everything went really well! The church
is organized so well that anywhere you go you can always find ways to
serve the Lord.
Makalya was confirmed today, and her whole family came! Kellie,
makalyas grandmother, who took the Book of Mormon loved it. She wasn't
able to stay for the rest of the meetings with the family, but her
interest was definitely peeked so we might be hearing from her again
soon or the marysville sisters will. It was cool to see how the spirit
works through other people.
Makaylas family was welcomed in the ward so well! The members here are amazing!
After church, we broke our fast and ate lunch because it was 3pm...and
we were kinda hungry by then lol
We tried to make visits to people, but they weren't home. We tried though!
Dinner was with the matos family, another great family in this ward.
After dinner, we stopped by bishops again to visit their family. It
was his birthday, and sister davies really felt prompted to go and
talk to Kayleigh( his less active daughter). It was a good visit, and
we needed to go see the whole family.
We visited the Hernandez family again, and this time...we saw the dad!
He stayed around while we were there instead of watching tv in the
other room like he usually does.
They are the cutest family ever.
Then we did normal call in report, and prepared for monday.
Monday, March 2nd.
Doing the normal things we usually do, then going over to the
Pinkstons a bit early to chill with them before our p-day ends then
change and stay for dinner with them! It's going to be a great day!
Today I also received my "trunky papers" so that was cool I guess.
I hope that y'all are doing well. I love y'all dearly, and will soon
see all of you soon.
I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope it brings to
any individual who is seeking out the truth. I also am grateful for
the time I have to be out as a missionary.
Enjoy the pictures!
Until next week,
Sister Matchett
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