2 Missed emails together

12/13/2010
Hola familia, Esta semana fue super buena! Tuvimos cualquier milagro, y estamos muy bien con mi companero nuevo todavia. El bautismo de Hermano Arturo fue muy espiritual, y el dio su testimonio despues tambien. Creo que mi mama talves es poco enojado ahora por que ella no sabe espanol, tampocco otras personas en mi familia solo mi Hermano. El va a tranducir para mi mama, y ahora el va decir que el queire que mi mama haga un  sandwich para el!! Ha you guys don't know Spanish. I Think its crazy how missionaries learn to speak different languages when really there is no structure whatsoever. And most of the time you are with a companion who doesn't Know the language either. I am extremely blessed to have had 3 Latin comps. I can speak really well right now, and there is barely a thing that I cant understand. That's so exciting that Jared found a new job, All By himself  too!! lol Plus its full time, in a few weeks he won't be so poor, How is the house now that Landon is gone! Probably weird huh, man I miss that kid so much. My new area is doing really well, We visited every member of the Consejo Del Barrio this week to gain their confidence. And We are working with the members now, my first week we only had 3 lessons with members, this week we had 10! I rarely have time with Elder Michie in the mornings because he is always singing. He is in a devotional thingy that our president is putting on. But me and him are still going really well. Working our Butts off!! We taught Arturo this week every commandment, got him and interview and a time with the bishop and got him baptized!!! in one week! usually that's like 3 weeks. lol He was ready for it though I cant believe the elders never taught him. We have another woman named Sandra that has had a really really sad and hard life. Almost all of her family is dead and had crazy ways of dying. just horrible things. But she cried during the plan of salvation and Cried the entire time during church she has finally found the true church. I have no idea when we are going to be baptizing her. But its going to happen. We Also got a family to come to church who loved the restoration, and loved church. Just the parents are not married, so we have some work to do there. There is just so much work to do and so little time. I am doing great though, I have been having crazy dreams though, Crazy dreams. It finally hit me that it was Christmas time yesterday in a devotional that we had. holy jazz what has happened with the time. I should be getting me packages today in the evening I'm excited. Well I love you all so much and next week i will write info about the phone call home!!! Oh and the pictures, Saturday night I  had to sew Arturo's pants so they would fit, I really should have learned. It took me an hour!!
Love Elder Ward

Very Different!  12/6/2010
Wow so I got transferred, My new comp is new in the mission he is still learning Spanish. His name is Ken Michie from MORONI  Utah.. hahaha He is awesome though I love him to death. I am in Tierra Bella Which is in the same Zone of which I started. I am in a huge ward of just a little over 150 active members. And during the week we saw member after member and yes they almost all remember me and some of them I knew their names already. The elders before me had so many investigators. But none with fecha or teachings... but they all have tons of assistance's (attendance in church)- You can't baptize anyone if they don't know the Word of Wisdom.. lol The elder before me was trunky and was afraid of teaching the commandments. A lot of the members didn't like him and the missionaries are not trusted here. So I have a lot of work to do!!! But at least we were able to make baptism dates for some people and we taught a lot and we are having a baptism next week!! lol I know a lot of the missionaries in my zone including Elder Moss from the MTC and my old companion Elder Castillo... This last week went so fast. It just starts to go faster and faster. I am not enjoying it. I mean I'm loving the mission but I don't like how fast the time is going. And no I was not able to see the Devotional it didn't play here till 10 and night.. and we didn't have permission.. So we got permission from President to go bowling today!!!! Never want to do it again lol talk about making a boy from Vegas trunky. I was on the dang bowling team and would have the french fries with my mom and Blair and Landon , Zach and their moms . lol... I took first though and bowled a 170 we only got to play one game because man it is expensive!! I live in a mansion too, I have my own bathroom, it used to be a house for the sister missionaries so just imagine how dang good it is!!! I'm doing great family and thanks for the emails. I will keep working hard and man do I miss Christmas.. lol it sucks here...

Love Elder Ward

Baptism and a Transfer

Good news! we had Miryams baptism!! It was amazing she loved it, it took the two of us lol she asked me to say the words though. It was good for the rama. Everyone was so excited, the rama has grown so much. I read a book this week called the Miracle of Forgiveness. It was amazing! I learned a lot. We are going to be baptising Nicolas next week Miryams son, and a woman named Patricia and her son Javier the 19th. But I won't be there, I am being transferred. to Chigyuante the same zone as Hualqui. But I am in Terra Bella now its where I lived for three weeks after the earthquake. So I already know some of the people. Not excited to be changed. Or to say good bye to the people that I love here. Even though I have knocked every door 4 times now, officially as of Saturday. And i could call them by name lol.. my comp was laughing about it. We knew i was going to be transferred. So I have to start working out. I'm starting to gain weight fast. I'm almost 200 pounds. So I didn't even know it was Thanksgiving lol Not until today, and its funny we were fasting as a zone on Thanksgiving. lol That's what I did. what did you guys do? I miss you guys a lot, and don't really have a lot to write now, I did have some stories I wanted to tell but I can't remember now I can't stop thinking about being changed for cambios.

I love you all!!!
Elder Matthew James Ward

Not like last week

This week was tough, I had to leave my sector for 3 days. Elder Sanchez had a training in Concepcion. When we came back to our sector, it was as if Satan had been let loose. A man in our branch said, " the angels who God sent to Longavi can not leave, they are who protect the people from Satan. He told us this Sunday night before we left and then Thursday morning we had a prompting to go to his home first. Police.... something had happened with their son and a debt, all of their appliances were being repo-ed we showed up as the cops were leaving. The family was grateful that we had shown up and helped them to go unto Christ during this trial, and not further away. That was just the start, every home we went to needed help. Or something bad had happened. Yes we were able to leave every home with a Priesthood blessing or a prayer but most important they were happy when we left and had been turned unto to Lord. Bad things happened even to our investigators, including Miryam. I pray that God will allow us to repair all the things that had happened. I have learned that No matter how hard we work to protect someone, or flood them with Christ or the spirit. It relies on them and their agency, faith and actions. Because you can't always be there to protect them. I have also learned that men need to learn what the Priesthood is. Yes its the authority to do ordinances and other things, blessings of health and of comfort. But it is the power to act in the name of God. Who has created all things. The priesthood can bless all things. Anything that a worthy priesthood holder comes into contact with can instantly be blessed. I think Men need to better study and understand the power of which they can access. Things are going good, I am learning more than ever, I just pray that I can become the man who I need to become to bless the lives of others, especially the lives of those I love. I love you all and we should have a baptism next Sunday.    Love Elder Ward

Miracles

Where to start.. well family and friends thanks for all of the emails and the dear elders. It is so nice to be able to receive love every week when I have time to do Internet. Its also really nice to feel not forgotten. lol. I have never worked so hard or prayed so much and with so much strength before until this week. We knew since last Sunday that this Sunday church was going to be in Linares which is a 45 min bus ride away. So we decided if we wanted these investigators to come to Church we would have to work everyday for it. Miryam really wanted to go she said,  "Elder Ward you have to find a way for me to go, I know God will speak to me if I go." What missionary in the entire world would not work his butt off to get a investigator like that there. Her fecha bautismal is for the 28th of November. We only had one problem she is paralyzed from the waist down and she only has a electric wheel chair that weighs 250 pounds. So we had a plan of getting a truck to take her and our other investigators to church.. Sweet right! Wait.. remember how hard it was to find a socket wrench? Yeah now imagine finding a Truck! I called all the presidencies and let them know we needed help, the district presidency and branch presidency of every ward. I then called all the missionaries in the zone to help. Tuesday we found one!!! But then his wife got sick and they had to drive to Santiago. Wednesday we had no luck.. Thursday I was getting tired of it, and wanted to cry to be truthful. My comp and I fasted and prayed so that we could find her a truck. She made me promise to get her there. I called President Humphrey the Mission President and he said he could do it. I was so happy we did it!!! But then  on Saturday night at 9 pm,  I get a call from the assistants they said the speaker during priesthood canceled and our mission president would be speaking so he couldn't do it. I asked them what to do.. They said, "Say sorry and take notes for her." They wanted me and Elder Sanchez to give up. So we prayed to find a way to get Miryam to church, which we should have done in the first place. We could carry her on a bus but we would have to get her to the bus with a wheelchair which she didn't have... So i did all of the phone calls I did for the truck over again but this time we did it for a wheelchair. We finally got one but it was in Linares.!So we would have to get it in the morning.. we had a way... so we got to sleep at about 3...the next morning we woke up early to get on a bus by 730 but wait... there are no buses till 10 am on Sundays!!! no!! We saw a taxi so I ran over to him and I asked him how much and he said 10 mil! that's an eighth of what I get every month.. shoot no.. I talked him down to six and we were on our way. We get to Linares and met up with the other missionaries... No wheelchair!!! the 95 year old man we were going to borrow it from decided to get out of bed and go to the park.. the one day right!!! The Hermanas called and there is a wheelchair in their chapel! at this point we are running the 11 blocks to the chapel. We finally make it and we got the wheelchair, it had 2 flat tires. All the Chileans were trying to help and I just picked it up and ran, it looked like I stole it lol.. My comp caught up to me and we found a gas station!!! No!!! the air thing was broken!!! so we ran 5 blocks more and found another one. Yes!! the wheelchair works, and now we are waiting out front of a lider (shopping store) and waiting for a bus... No buses are coming. My heart dropped, we did all this work, we were five minutes early for the bus and its not coming. I prayed so hard for a bus to come, Nothing. I realized Elder Ward you 're stupid, Just pray for a way... One minute later we decided to just start running it, running the 20 kilometers. She was going to come. She wanted to come and we promised. A taxi came by us and said he was supposed to drive us!? God sent us a taxi but we had to fit the wheelchair  in now. We needed rope, so he called his friend and he was there in five minutes with rope!! On the way to Longavi he asked me why he felt he was supposed to pick us up. I told him we were messengers from God and we had to get some one to church. He told me he had just been praying to find which Church was true. We taught him lesson one about the restoration and he loved it. He took us to Longavi and we picked up our investigators. And he took us back to Linares for half price! We had eight people in a little taxi and as we were getting to Linares a cop pulls us over!!! NOOO so much work so many miracles why did we have to be so close to not make it. The cop came back and asked if the taxi driver is related to a cop in Talca he said yes. And we got off for free!! let go!! and we made it to church 15 min early!! I have witnessed miracles this week. God made us work, we worked so hard that a few times I thought I was going to have a heart attack, especially when I was running with a huge wheel chair on my back! God is real and he is a God of miracles. If we do all we can do he will provide a way. She loved church and wants to be baptized! After Church we had to cook lunch for the other investigators lol.. we did it because she asked us, how can I go to church if I have to cook for my family. So we said we would do it ... lol so we did.. Pday felt great today, no more stress no running with wheelchairs..lol we did play basket ball and it was alot of fun. I'm doing great family and I love you all!!! The power of prayer is real, and I know God lives. The church is true....

Love Elder Matthew James Ward

Hey a todos!!!

Hey family how is everyone, thanks for all the emails! Its always nice to see so many emails every week, and to feel the love from my family and my friends. This week was very tiring. I worked extremely hard. Maybe the hardest I have worked my entire mission. We did not have alot of results. But I know that the Lord is pleased with the effort we put in. We had Miryam the woman in the wheel chair come to church. Only after I rode my bike 5 kilometers to find a socket wrench so I could fix her chair. It broke, and she was going to wait for someone to come all the way from Santiago.. nooo you have Elder Ward lol.. Its amazing that I have forgotten how cush cush you all have it in the USA. I bet you could walk into your garage and dad has multiple socket wrenches. Only two people in Longavi have one. I had to get one from the mechanics they were pissed but I got it. As you can see I had alot of fun decorating our house. I really enjoyed the package.. Thanks so much. The holidays are going to be hard for me again. They are such a special time of the year for me. We had a zone activity in the campo, we played soccer and volleyball. We made a sweet volleyball court. lol We also burned shirts.. the four of us who made a year mark, but the hermana ended up using half of my shirt because she couldn't say goodbye to her shirt lol so I ripped mine in half. The mission is going great I love you all. I hope all is well.. Email me!!!

Love Elder Ward

A week of Miracles!

This week was amazing, we dropped all of our investigators except for one lol. The first day we had nothing to do, I was like crap what do we do. We pray, my comp was like right "here in the middle of the plaza?" I said yes- so we prayed, and I waited. I decided to take the road out to the campo and we went for a about 20 min until I felt a prompting to go left to a street with about 8 houses on it. We went to the second to last house and I was like Elder Sanchez this is it! We knocked on it and the women yelled at me with the middle finger and slammed the door. I was like crap lol.. lets knock the door next to it. We do and its a family of 9 who let us in! and is really receptive. Afterwards, my comp said 'well, Elder Ward, your almost in tune with the spirit' lol.. We prayed so much this week I seriously prayed 100 times lol. But god blessed us. I just thought to myself, Elder Ward, do you believe or not.. simple question but very powerful.We found 23 new investigators this week. Usually in the mission you find like 4 lol I am learning faith and trusting in the lord my God. We have two jovenes who are ready to be baptized they are 15 and 17 and the parents wont give permiso.. GAY. I have been reading the Book of Mormon alot, And I am learning the difference between God, and Jesus Christ. And who is our God and why, its actually really interesting. But also really new to me so some parts are hard, dad you are going to have to help me out. Saturday we hit a 4 hour gap where we had nothing! So we went contacting. We were locking up our bikes and I had a prompting to go talk to a lady in a wheelchair far off. But I didn't want to so I ignored. Then we walked to do some contacts 3 streets over, no success so I prayed in my heart, and it was like a kick to the rear from God. I already told you fool.. so I told my comp we had to go talk to a woman in a wheelchair. He was like OK.  We went and it was so awkward at first. But she let us in turns out she met with the missionaries 6 years ago, and a week before her baptism she and her husband were shot. He died and she got paralyzed. She said she was praying for the day the missionaries would come back. God is a god of miracles. Trust him, he is God. I love you all, and I miss you all so much.


Love Elder Matthew James Ward

Hello Family and Friends!

Hola familia!!! This week went by extremely fast, I am so jealous that I was not there to see my sister get married.. Yea sweet for you guys, sucky for me.. lol.  But yes I'm doing really good here in Longavi we had cambios today and nothing changed I am still here with my comp And I am really happy I am. All of our investigators died. In mission terms as if the have died when it comes to progressing. We did find a new family yesterday, I'm stoked about them, the dad loved the restoration. My comps name is Elder Brian Andrez Sanches. I am doing good here, it has still been a big change with the whole training thing. But we are doing good. The branch is doing good, still small but the love is getting better.So I am way excited for the next six weeks, I'm going to work the best I have my entire mission. I just enjoy coming to the house at night and being exhausted. Knowing that God is pleased with my service here. I am truly giving my whole life it feels great. My comp is having trouble giving things up, but hey it happens to to all of us. We don't have a mission conference for 7 weeks but we should have mail here in Linares from the office next Tuesday. I just need to figure out how I can work harder and more efficient. Jared!!! what did you do to your knee, your going to look like Megatron with a giant leg brace!!! haha so that means no driving what are you going to do! I have been doing exercises when  I count blessings that I have received or am receiving from God. Also a list of all the truths I know, and how or why I know that they are true. I Love you all, so much. I love Chile right now, I love the mission. Don't worry about me..Emily are you still doing bike rides? I got to work on my diet or something I work out and I'm gaining weight!! tty next week family!


Love Elder Matthew James Ward

HEY!!!

Hey family I'm doing great, we got home really late, we had a activity as a zone up in the mountains. This week went by really fast, and I'm learning a lot, I wrote Jared and Jessica and I really don't have anymore time to write I need to get out to work right now. But I got money again!! so I'm doing a lot better and I absolutely loved conference, the whole mission is making fun of me because after the first talk by Uchtdorf everyone was like crap now we got to listen to what Elder Wards been saying for the last year.. lol I love you all and I promise to write more next week....  (He has been studying and gave a Zone lesson on the Plan of Salvation)


Love Elder Ward

Another fast week, and another week of rain!‏

Hey family how is everyone! thanks for all of the emails! Its always nice to get emails. So Emily and Jared, How is the bike riding going? still doing it? And I don't even know who Jared is anymore if he is alive or not.. shoot its been over a month since he wrote me.  So this email will be quick, But I am doing great, my comp has had me on a work out plan. he is destroying me lol.. we got ourselves weighed at a pharmacy today so its legit. I weigh 184 pounds. So I'm doing really good,  just got to get a six pack back! lol yeah!! I feel like the next few weeks are going to fly by, seeing the last 3 did. Its even hard to find time to do things on pday-- So we have the work booming! We have 26 investigators ... only 3 came to church but we are going to change that soon. For dad to know last week we had 6 people at church and this week we had 27 but we should have at least 2 baptisms at the end of next month! but we have a possible 7! I am continually learning alot and I cant believe that conference is this week!! That's like vacation with cake in the mission! I'm so exited. We should have an investigator there too! If you guys could, in my next package I would love some books, nice ones that are small. Like my Jesus the Christ and the Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith that I had. They are really small and are printed on rice paper. But I will talk more about that with dad next week. I miss you all, I love you all, and I am doing absolutely great!!! don't worry about me... but letters would be nice! We get letters now every three weeks. I will be writing a bunch soon!


Love Elder Matthew James Ward

Small Post

Hey family thanks for all the emails this week, including all of the pictures. It is always nice, I will not be sending a very long email this week because I would enjoy to study on mormon.org and the lds website. As missionaries we have very little to study from besides the scriptures.But I love you all and I am doing well. My new comp is from several places in the USA but was raised in Columbia. He has a great desire to work. I am enjoying the work we are working really hard and we are having success too. We are working hard, haha elder Castillo got sent to Hualqui to be comps with Elder Matney. Next week I promise I will write more I am just really enjoying being able to study right now. LOVE ME

Training? What... and Baptisms!‏

Hello family, This week was crazy. I have had many spiritual experiences that have strengthened my testimony about this gospel. I studied differently this week and allowed the lord to take over. This week seemed to be the plan of salvation as the grand subject. People with questions, doubts and even people coming up to me to tell me something was false about the plan of salvation. I dont Understand why someone would try, it is the most doctinal supported, and scriptual supported subject. Including visions by ancient and modern day prophets. And the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 76 that we too can see the celestial glories. i say glories because yes there is more than one. I have learned alot this week especially about learning from god, allowing my own eyes to be spiritually opened to not only read but understand. And its amazing how much we can learn by observing the life around us. All things point and teach of god. Look for them, and pray to god to have the understanding to find and understand the answers. There is nothing anyone can ever say or show me to change my testimony. But what is a testimony, its a spiritual witness from the holy ghost on a gospel subject. So it is not somethin that we can lose, or something that can be taken away. We can not lose a testimony either, but our heart can be hardened and our guilt can over power our true faith in Jesus Christ. I have seen many people including returned missionaries here in chile who are members of other churches. And always it can be traced back to a sin, and a lack of faith. they still have testimonies but lacked the faith in Christ to overcome a trial. Or those who never recieved a spirtiual witness. This is the larger group. They did not recieve a witness and will not untill they become humble and do other things. But it all, All an be traced back to Faith in Jesus Christ. There is a reason why its the First principle of the gospel. This week the Hermanas baked me a cake it was really really good. The week went by really fast to be honest. We had a baptism this sunday, It was fantastic. Afterwards she thanked me for helping her find the truth and to recieve her own TESTIMONY. she has had her own spirtitual experiences about the book of mormon, Joseph Smith and more. I have come to realize why people have doubts or even attack the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ Of latter Day Saints. And it is misunderstanding. simple as that. So we got a phone call this morning saying that I am going to be a trainer, Weird because I have not even been a senior comp yet. and their are plenty of older more experienced elders that have not trained. But hey we will see how it goes. So i take a bus ride in the morning to Concepcion to get him. Mom i am fine, you worry about things at home, I am in the Hands of the Lord and you know that. A mission would not be possible if it was not so. Still no knews about landons Mission call? well i hope all is well in vegas, and i hope that your not all melting. To end my email this week, i would like to give a very simple yet powerful testimony.

That I know this church is true, its teachings, and we have a prophet to guide us. And it has been made manifest unto me by the power of god. And I can never deny it.

I love you, Elder Matthew James Ward

I'm an old fart!

So mom, dad, and family, I lost my umbrella.. And I have no money to purchase a new one so this last 3 days I have walked in the rain.. my scriptures are in a plastic bag and my whole body drenched. I am still here with Edler Castillo in Longavi with all the pigs and chickens.. So thanks for all the birthday emails! It was extremely nice to sign on my email and to have so many emails, even from people I rarely hear from. That's good Justin got his call!! I'm excited to hear about Landon I really want him to come here to Chile, in this mission lol.. its possible.. lol So this is the last week of the cambios here so next week its possible I might get a new companion! So this week we had alot of opposition. However you spell it. Lets just start with anti-Mormon folletos here in Longavi.. But don't you worry dad I destroyed those filthy lies and fibs about the Book of Mormon. We only lost one of our investigators. This week we went to our favorite house the family of
Katia and the husband is just having ridiculous questions very difficult and crazy questions. But I called him out with the scriptures about the intent of his questions. Then I answered them and told him he will never know the truth and will never receive answers if he doesn't soften his heart and read the Book of Mormon, which he won't do. I shared with katia last week the talk by Jeffery R. Holland about the Book of Mormon and told her that if anyone ever gives her crap about the church to slap them in the face with the Book of Mormon. (Ha Ha) This week she needed another new Book of Mormon because at work again 5 people were attacking her about her choice to be baptized in the the Mormon cult... bull crap. But she threw at them the Book of Mormon (to read) and didn't let it phase her. We should be baptizing them this Sunday!!! So I'm doing good family, today for my birthday we played volleyball.. well few of us did because it was raining hard. But me and my new buddies fresh from the MTC still played with me.. they are in the pic with me. The lord is shaping me into something, I don't know what, but I think it has alot to do with patience and love lol.. Last night I played bombero, or fireman, the house next door caught on fire so I was up there as people would hand me the buckets of water.. it was fun.. the mission is full of experiences. Don't worry about me family I'm doing fine. Just ready for a new companion , and I'm ready for spring... why won't it come lol.. Love me...

I can see clearly now that the rain is gone!

Hey family whats up!! So dad and mom thanks for the emails, its nice to know that 2 members of my family have enough time to email me. lol That's hilarious about dad and the dogs lol I can see him trying to take off his BOOTS and the dogs messing with him and then sleeping with him on the couch. That's crazy that so many people are working on their mission papers and then on top of that how many young men from our ward are already out in the mission. Isn't Regan almost coming home!? holy jazz.. Well hey family this week was pretty much the same except that it only rained once!!!! Its almost spring here I'm so excited to start wearing only a camisa blanca again and start feeling like a real missionary again. So I have not been taking alot of pictures because I am tired of not having pictures of baptisms! But the 5th of September we should have two!!! I am working extremely hard for it. We visited her last night and she had 4 friends over, all with pages of questions about life, the scriptures and church. All her friends are Catolica and she told them that we have all the answers. It was a very fun hour and a half lol.. But its true this church is the true church of God. So we finally have investigators here in Longavi. The work is progressing and I am learning more than I ever thought I could. I wont lie I'm really ready for a gringo companion lol or at least some one who can do some of the work too.. lol So I would like mom to know that I flossed every day this week! and I worked out. Now that its not to cold I can do stuff, before it was to cold to ----.(pass gas) I left Katia our golden investigator that we contacted in the rain a copy of the Liahona the general conference one and she is going to read the talk about the Book of Mormon by Jeffery R. Holland lol.. she told me she is going to read them all. lol Life is good, the Church is true and I love my family and friends. Peace out!!!

Hey family, I will start by answering some of the questions that mom and dad asked. I still have not received my credit card, and yes dad there is a baptismal font here in Longavi. That's really funny about Kayman and Jared with different kinds of music. Don't worry Kayman I would have listened to country music with you, Jared just doesn't like it because he hasn't met the right girl yet... lol.. get on it Jared. So August is weird here in this part of Chile, it rains one day and its sunny the next. It only rained 3 times this week it is getting a lot better. So this week I'm still a missionary lol.. And don't worry I'm not homesick. Its just really hard when you always have to do everything, I teach the lessons, I resolve doubts, I do everything that's all I'm going to say. I just can't wait to get a companion that is like a friend. I have never had a hard time with getting long with someone or being patient for a long time, then I came on a mission. lol.. I'm so excited about Landon!!!! He better email me himself about it maybe a video even or at least a foto. I am extremely excited for him. I love that kid, I have never spent more time playing video games with someone else. So we have a family we are teaching and this week the mom was like Elder Ward I have something to tell you. I was like shoot, because the last week we went over the Word of Wisdom. She was like Elder, I need a new Book of Mormon. At work they tried to get me to drink cafe, (coffee) then they made fun of me, so I shoved the Book of Mormon at them and told them to read it and try to deny it. Yes I gave her a new Book of Mormon lol, I was extremely happy for her, she is ready for baptism she just is lacking assistance because she is still working on getting Sunday morning off. But she is converted its amazing how powerful the Book of Mormon is. So I got my package this week, I wrote a little thing in the Latin Book of Mormon (this is what he asked for his birthday) for Elder Castillo he loved it. Now I just hopes he reads it. I m doing good family, I'm loving a lot of things down here. I got to start working out.....


Love Elder Ward

Where To start...

So to start out this email, No I have still not received any mail! But hey we have a training Wed so maybe I will get some mail then! Thanks for all the emails I got this week, I'm sorry I'm going to be a little lazy today and not reply back to all of them. And mom, do not worry, we don't use a heater... We just freeze at night lol. but hey one more month! Its starting to warm up, I'm really jealous of the Vegas weather, it doesn't thunder here, or lightning. You just cant go anywhere better than Las Vegas. So this week, to start off we had a mini cambio Tuesday that was really fun because it was with Elder Garey. Its a little lame that he only has a little more than 4 months left. I will have to find a new mission buddy. lol. The next day we did contacts all day, and I was testifying to this family outside of the bus stop right, and everyone starts laughing. I look down and there is a dog peeing on my leg. Sweeeeet huh? But don't worry yourself I didn't let it affect me and kept working all day. The next day we chopped more wood as a service project, and I bought gloves! They are not very comfortable though. If I look fat in the picture its because I'm back up to 80 kilos. And its not all muscle like before :( oh well, I guess I will have to start working out in the morning again. Later that day we had a lesson with one of our investigators. After the opening prayer she starts crying and telling us something. I couldn't understand her at all. I looked at my comp and he looked at me. She stoped talking and I looked at my comp hoping he would share something. And he just looked at me, I grabbed my scriptures and prayed. I opened my scriptures and shared, she talked more and cried more. My comp said nothing. The spirit guided me to another scripture and I shared my testimony and then she cried more and told us more. Then the spirit told me to share two scriptures and share about the beauty of repentance. She thanked us and we left with a prayer. She was happy when we left and we made goals with her. But remember how I said I didn't understand a thing? Yeah the whole lesson I didn't understand a thing she said to me until we starting making goals. After the lesson my comp asked me how I knew what to say, and how what I shared was exactly what she needed. I told him I didn't understand a dang thing. He didn't believe me at first. But another testimony to me, that the guidance of the holy ghost is real. Only that we must learn to recognize it and be worthy of the blessings. Throughout this week I thought alot about temptation. And how I don't remember before this life, But Satan and his followers do. We had another really good lesson with the family we are teaching. She had a huge doubt about the priesthood only being held by men, but don't worry, the Proclamation to the World about the family took care of that real easy. lol We also taught them the Word of Wisdom and they are dropping everything! Because they feel so strongly Jose Smith was a prophet and about the Libro de Mormon. Awesome right? So this week I got a little frustrated because I always have to answer the questions always. Why cant my comp help me out sometime. My zone leader talked with me and asked me how i haven't gone home yet, i asked him... What? lol he was like dude you have had 2 of the hardest companions in the whole mission. Well someone has to help them, and be strong enough not to fall doing it. Its tough, almost 10 months of always having to be the strong one. why... I'm praying that it will change with my next comp. This week I had a really rough day. I was studying and like a lot of times studying I get really into it. And sometimes I feel like I'm studying in my front room, or in the car like I did before the mission and forget that I'm in Chile. I learned something new and I jumped up and ran out of the room because I had the urge to share it with dad. To realize that I was 9000 kilometers away in Chile. It hit me hard, after I read a talk MAN DOWN by Henry B Eyring, some of my friends came to mind. I cried, it was hard. And my comp didn't even ask me if I was OK. But hey we are strengthened by everything right? I'm still learning and helping investigators. We should be baptizing this family in the next 3 weeks. I'm enjoying the mission. I love you all, and I hope all is well.
Love Elder Matthew James Ward