October 17, 2011 A Week of Pain...

Wow after a week like this week I am pretty excited to end my mission... ! This week we had a great week and a bad week. Miracle lessons and ones that were the complete opposite. We had 3 investigators leave church during Relief Society, two of which were going to be baptized this Saturday. An argument came up between the women over if a dress was a requirement to come to church. Long story short lets just say the two women now don't want to be baptized. (at least not in this ward) we also had a lot of problems with the missionaries some times I feel like I'm babysitting. I'm all for having fun and being goofy but somethings are just not acceptable as a missionary. We did find a new family of 4 this week that all came to church! We knocked their door and we came to know that they had recently lost a young child who had not been baptized. We spoke of a loving Heavenly Father and a restored gospel that includes the plan a salvation, we opened up with Mosiah 15:25. Lets just say they were hooked at that moment. The father of the family was the first to fall into tears and open to us. They all accepted a baptismal invitation the 5 of November. It sucks sometimes, knocking doors or even having misunderstandings that cause someone to make a horrible choice and leave the Church over a dress. The lord is teaching us a lot, my companion is stressed a lot and gets very upset lately over what is going on. But I don't know, when you see the bigger picture and try to see it as it really is things make sense. I can't wait to see you all and relax a little. I will gladly participate in the service projects mom.. I won't have anything else to do, and what could be better. Thanks for sending me the info about my temple recommend. I received my flight plans and my last few days of the mission stuff, like my interview and jazz. Did you receive the email of all that? I will be home at 10:55 Nov second right?!!! hahaha  I love you all and I cant wait to see you, I'm just going to work and be here for two more weeks and I will see you all soon.. I love you all and thanks for all the emails!

Elder Matthew James Ward

How did we do so much?

Thank you for the emails this week. Happy birthday mom, I will give you a present in 3 weeks. ..... hahaha So this week I honestly don't know how we had time to do all that we did, we got so much done between the entire zone we did a lot of traveling between sectors to do interviews and deal with problems. This zone has a lot of them, I'm glad I'm only here for three more weeks. MOM is now in the stake Relief Society... That's going to be a little different than the Primary. We had a very successful week here in our sector, we got 11 investigators to come to church.. most I have had in my entire mission. The missionary who replaces me will definitely be baptizing. Me and my companion Elder Strong get along very well and we have great studies in the morning. I love it. A lot of missionaries have asked me if I am worried about studying daily after the mission. I'm not, I studied daily before the mission. I actually enjoyed it more outside of the mission. Because it felt more real to me. Here it is expected and a requirement. Before I did it because I enjoyed it and it constantly was changing me. Helping me see the larger picture. I cant wait to get home and go to the temple. Please if you can send me my membership number, the President will want to give me a temple recommend but I lost my old one with my wallet remember!!! I'm working hard and I'm happy don't worry, you all just keep living and I will be home in three weeks. And Jessica I still expect the cup cakes. The pictures are of the sunrise I see every morning when I wake up (I wake up 15 minutes early to see it) it's worth it. It reminds me a lot of the days working graveyard at pets mart and watching the sun rise, some times with Blair as well.. Also picture of my death name tag! And some pictures of a cool sunset of me and my comp. I love you all and cant wait to see you and do stuff with you. 

Elder Matthew James Ward

Conference in Chillan

I'M READY TO GO TO BED!  MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2011
So today was crazy we had consejo de lideres in Chillan and president drove me and my companion there. It was a great meeting and we got to play soccer afterwards. But we got home really late and now I'm going to go home. But we will be able to email you tomorrow after lunch sorry!!!! but I love you all!!!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011
Hey family this last week was super fast and crazy. We had a lot of
things to do and a lot of problems to deal with. Between companionship's
hating each other and fighting and missionaries having inappropriate
relationships we have had to be the ones in charge of trying to help
them fix it. I'm am so ready to not be a zone leader in a mission any
more.. lol We had a fun time though, I'm surprised the Lord can have
19-25 year old young men be missionaries. Its a miracle! the church is
true just for that. Me and my comp are having a great time we had a
baptism, also my last companion baptized Camilla the girl we had been
teaching for about a month before I left! I should be able to send
fotos next week. We have been having great companionship studies and I
have been learning a lot. It is one thing I will miss about the mission
but  I am planning on continuing it with my brother and my friends. I
have been having good work outs to in the morning I'm doing good waking
up on time and getting a good start to the day. One thing I'm very
excited about coming home, not only being able to see the people I
love but I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO THE LAS VEGAS TEMPLE!!! I have missed it
for 2 years now and am longing to return. I also received my flight
planes from the office elders. Scary to think. I don't have a lot of
time to email because we still have to work today. Just know that I
love you all and cant wait to see you! I will work hard and see you
all in four weeks!!
Elder Ward
PS I bought some stuff to take home, dad's has been the most expensive
so far but I'm pretty sure he will like it. But I may have to take some
money out at the end of the month to survive... lol.

Hey Family - New Zone September 26, 2011

Hey family, thanks for all of the emails. I love reading and getting to hear some of what is going on back home. And yes I took out some money, its so I can eat better!! and it helped me on a little of my traveling but I will be reimbursed. So I sent some fotos home, this is the view out of my apartment, we live on the fifth floor. I love the view of the super ugly city. But I enjoy doing my personal study out on the balcony in the morning and being able to just look and ponder. My new area is really good, its a very strong ward that really doesn't need the help of the missionaries. Its kinda nice.... I think I was sent off to die in a very easy area. But the zone is struggling, a lot of young missionaries with really old missionaries that are dying with me. Elder Godfrey is in my zone! he lived with me in Hualqui for three cambios, he is a good friend. I'm glad he is in the zone so I don't have to feel all alone and old not knowing anyone. But he treats me like a normal person. My new companion is young, his name is Elder Strong. He has just a little over a year in the mission and feels very pressured and stressed to be a zone leader. But he is doing fine. Some time I wonder why missionaries worry so much. Very little is in our own personal power. We have an amazing bishop in our ward and he actually visits the investigators and he assigns ward members to them and to help them come to church. We had two really good noche de hogars and both of the investigators accepted baptism dates. If all goes well we should have one this week and one the next. Its weird how comfortable I am just knocking a random door or even talking to someone in the street about God. I miss you all so much, and don't worry dad there is no count down of days yet even from my friends. All I know is that I have 5 weeks left and if they go as fast as the last one did the next thing I know I'm going to be home. I'm excited to see all you so much, the toughest thing about a mission is just being away from your family and friends for so long. But hey the time is just a small part of the eternity we will have! I love you all and I can't wait to see you, and can't wait to hear from you next week. 

Love Elder Matthew James Ward