No Transfers

Hey family whats going on, so I'm still here in the rest stop in the middle of nowhere . lol Six more weeks lol we should have a baptism this month coming up though so its all worth it. Its not all about baptisms. I learned that a lot this last 6 weeks here in Longavi, I am serving in meaningful ways. If it means helping my companion find his testimony and teach him correct doctrine, or listening to people for hours about their trials and afflictions. I don't know, but I am serving. I am content with knowing that when I am serving them I am serving my God. This last week went by really fast, I learned a lot and hope that me and my comp can continue to build a relationship. Slowly we are. I want to thank everyone for the emails that I received this week, I was very happy to have so many great emails. bro Jared, !Esta o no! I happened to read D&C 121-3 this week lol I think its the Lord speaking to me. lol So this week we had some really intense lessons, my comp is mad at me because I'm not by the book on the lessons and I take over, he says. If the spirit tells me something, I'm going to do it. If someone needs to be taught something for their spiritual progression I'm going to take the time to teach it. If someone just needs us to listen, we listen. Holy jazz, talk about rain this week, we had a day that it rained big time all day. Just to make our day better every appointment fell lol members to, we tried everything. Contacts all day, 10 hours of contacts. A first for me in my life lol oh and how I hope its the last lol. And to add to it we got rejected all day but hey, I'm serving lol right. I hope you guys are receiving blessings for this! lol So this week I started a list, every question and the answer in the Book of Mormon. So far I have 56 questions about life or the gospel of Jesus Cristo and the answers are in the Book of Mormon, its absolutely amazing! Definitely a true book. Plus I love to watch people ask a tough question and see their reaction when I take them to the index and show them how to find the answer -then read the answer. Its amazing. lol I didn't take any photos this week sorry, out of batteries and I have about 4 dollars to life off of until next Monday and 3 dollars are going to fast offering. Not buying batteries lol.. Maybe I can find some in my meletas. Wll I'm doing good family and friends, the gospel is true.

Love Elder Matthew James Ward

Grandpa would be proud!

Hello family, would like to start out this email saying its going to be alittle different than last weeks. I had alot of experiences this week but they were very sad, and very hard to go through. I learned alot this week. And I still have not received a fancy American bank card that could really help me out right now lol. We had service this week to chop some wood, and when we got there I was given a dull axe and when I asked where was the wood, the woman pointed to a tree. I had to do all the work myself. My gloves ripped and my hand got a nice cut, but don't worry I pulled a Grandpa Olds, a napkin and tape and went to work! Dont worry mom my hand is fine. This week we did contacts in the market. A lot of people really didn't like me because the market is about a kilometer long and once your in it its hard to get out unless its on the other side. We set up in the middle and as my comp manned the table I went out and stopped the traffic. I learned alot this week, but alot of things I don't want to write. Just people experience so much pain and sorrow. I miss paying tything. I miss time..... I never have time.... I don't know this is the first time I really don't feel like writing I'm sorry. I'm fine though so don't worry, just experiencing a lot. I would like a picture of our new dog lol..

Love Elder Ward

Experiences, there is no other way to title this email.‏

So this week it rained and the wind blew like I never knew it could. Me and my comp we had a lot of talks this week, especially about doctrine. I refuse to teach false doctrine he got a little upset at me that I was correcting him but it needed to be done. That was an experience. We just had so many good lessons this week and so many heartbreaks. I didn't know it was possible to feel so different so many times in one day. I will only give two experiences this wee. The first, we are at investigators home.. Or a medio agua, the shack that the government gave to those who lost their homes in the terremoto. We are teaching a man and woman who have two very young daughters they are not married. The dad left for something for about 15 min the woman broke down in tears about how hard her life was all of her family has died. She is alone and lives with a man who she doesn't love, only because she cant leave him because she has no work, no home, no family. But she wants to get baptized but refuses to marry this man. Before we can reply he returns, My comp, being the great senior comp he is, looked at me and expected me to know what to say. I shared about the atonement and then set an appointment with the branch president this Sunday to speak with her personally. Because I do not have the keys or the calling to give counsel like that. But we are good now. But how sad was the experience we are the only people she trusts. Then the same day we ran into a woman named Katia we contacted her about 3 weeks ago. She didn't want a thing to do with us, but not to feel bad she has nothing against us. I said don't worry about it, or No se precupe, don't worry yourself lol your not rejecting us, as representantes de Jesu Cristo your rejecting him. She came up to us this day and told us to come share with her family because she couldn't stop thinking that she might have rejected Jesus Cristo. We go into her home and she has a family of 9 all waiting to share with us. They pricked and questioned and doubted everything we taught. I felt the spirit so strong during the lesson I never didn't know what to say, my comp might of been a little upset because I did all the talking. By the end of it they told me I had convinced them, and like any missionary knows it was the spirit so I told them that, I asked them how they felt right now, they said calm and warm (BAM in your face I wanted to say) but I taught them that what they were feeling was the spirit bearing record that what we taught was true. At the end of the lesson they said things I will never forget. One was, in the last ten years living in Longavi, Katia told us she sees missionaries almost every week but until us none of them had ever talked to her. Then her mother who was there also asked, how are you always so happy? Yesterday I saw you being hugged by a drunk man and made fun of by all his drunk friends, and you just took it, happily too. It was a great lesson, great experience. The only bad thing we can only teach them once a week, every Saturday because they all work. and want to be taught together. another thing, we taught them the godhead, they have been Catolica their whole lives and didn't even know who God is. .. Sometimes we do not know who is watching, and how we react may influence someone else in their life. I also learned how important study is, when we obtain the word and treasure it. The Holy Ghost will always bring it back to our memory when it is needed. He will guide us. I know its true. I'm doing fine so family don't worry about me. I'm still being tried with my patience and my love lol but I am learning every day. I sent letters home today too. I hope Emily is at least getting a cool dog lol.. Jared email me bum face. I love you all and I hope you are all showing each other that you love them. And next time that you are eating In-an- Out or something amazingly good, just take a second to remember that Matthew is eating beans.. Love your son and brother,
Elder Matthew James Ward

Rain, Rain

Hello family how was the great fourth of July! well for me I walked around all day.. in wind and rain, the bum part of my rain pants broke so I had a nice wet bum all day... lol So this week was good, me and my comp are really making progress with some of the people we found this week we found two jovens, both sixteen and they are cousins. They came to church too! We have taught them 3 times and one is very interested in the the priesthood, which is good since there are no young men in the branch. So maybe that will change soon. We had another Zone conference with the new President and his wife, I really like them. Just things are changing alot, like we only have interviews and conferences every 12 weeks! I also got my scripture cases for my small English scriptures, man they are legit! lol I have been learning alot in this new area, especially because I have alot of responsibility in the branch. To answer dads other question, there are 2 elders in Longavi, 4 elders in Linares and 4 sister missionaries in Linares, and that's our district. Our zone is with the missionaries in Parral. Longavi is going to take a different type of work, Love and Patience.. And that is what I'm learning right now.. And I am trying very hard to apply the things that I am learning. I love you all!!!!!!!! PS. I MISS ENGLISH

MOM
I'm doing good I just sleep with out a pillow lol.. and the new president changed a lot we have conferences every 12 weeks now! lol and same with interviews. But he is going to come around and train us personally alot. Hey its what elder packer instructed him to do so I'm for it lol.. so I dont know my mail situation. I just really want some american money lol we have lunch 4 times a week but its portions for a little girl.. and yes we do alot of service but I dont need anything. we should be having a baptism in two weeks but we still have alot of work to do. I love you mom!

Hello family how is everything! Here in Chile things are doing good, conference was very good, I got to see alot of people from the MTC! Like Elder Hathaway! I also saw Elder Hafen who is one of my old friends from Vegas! He just came to the mission lol the other kid is Elder Stermetz from Arizona he is fresh from the MTC lol he thinks I'm a stud with Spanish we talk alot on pdays because we are exactly alike. I like girls, he likes girls. I like halo and call of duty, he does too. I love volleyball, he does too! I finally have someone to play with! He is tight, and I'm tight lol I worked my butt off this week like I told dad in his email, I lead the music, blessed the sacrament and gave a talk while taking care of our investigators. lol Alot of work is needed here in Longavi, my comp is content.. and doesn't push himself. he hit a year this week and died with it lol. Im really enjoying the mission right now, even with another comp from Peru. I just swear they are from a different planet lol... .. we played soccer today with a bunch of Chileans today I sprained a kids ankle. Its his fault, he ran at me full speed with the ball and thought I was going to move. no bro, I'm twice your size.. maybe next time he will think lol.... I'm slowly getting better at soccer its still really hard. Well I'm doing good, I'm learning alot and working hard. Had alot of good experiences this week..
Love Elder Ward