New Companion and a Branch Party!

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you all for your emails, once again. They are very much appreciated! Lots of things have been going on lately, so I don't really know where to begin this week. I guess I'll start by saying that I'm still STL and am now serving with a new companion Hermana Holloway. She is super cute, I adore her! She is from Riverton, UT.

Lovin' my new companion!
We didn't even plan on both wearing yellow; it just happened!

We started the transfer with a goal to find those who are truly ready and searching for the gospel and so that's what we've been doing! Lately we've been focusing on finding. We walk everyday at least 4 hours in between appointments. We're also incorporating Facebook a little bit more. The other day I had my first few lessons on Facebook. It's SO nice to be able to teach an investigator a principle in between other appointments. I am so grateful for my i-Pad.

I've decided the next time I come to Florida I am coming in March or April because the weather right now is PERFECT. We've been walking around trying to find a lot lately so my tan is getting pretty good :) Haha, sometimes it really is like I'm on vacation. The only thing is, I get to talk to random strangers and hand out cards while I'm here.

We're thinking of going out to the island next P-Day to go see the Dolphin Tales exhibit I'll send you pics if we do. This P-Day we are having a "Zone Development Day" where the whole Zone gets together does a training together and plays games.

It was Sister Jensen's Birthday and we were on exchange,
thus we ate cheesecake ... yum!

On Saturday we had our branch party. It was a blast! We all got together and just had a BBQ/fiesta at a members house. They even set up a really neat pool for all the kids and we all played get to know you games. It was perfect for our recent converts and Cindy who is still just getting to know the church. There wasn't going to be dancing originally, but let's be honest, this is a Latino branch, so the party turned into a dance right away. Everyone danced with everyone. I love being part of the Largo Spanish branch! 

Ha Ha, I feel like a giant next to all the short Latinos that I love.

And we danced ...

Yup, I danced too!

The kids played in the pool while we all talked and played games.

Marcelo and Diego

Goofing off with Diego.

 As for investigators right now, we're still teaching Elouisa and Juan, they're doing awesome. Right now we are working on picking a marriage date with them. Last time we saw them they asked us who in the church had the authority to marry them, so tomorrow we are going over with President Lopez (branch president) to set a date.

These gator signs are all over in our area.

Cindy and Cornelio are still doing good. On Friday, we went over to their house to teach them about observing the Sabbath day and Cindy and I made my mom's recipe for BBQ chicken pizza. It was delicious; it was a hit! Everyone loved it!

That's all I have time for today but I will send a few pics, love you all! Have a great week.

Con Amor,

Hermana Mathis

A New Companion!

Hermana and I at Cindy's, our first full day teaching together, I adore her. She is such a good teacher! We must be on the same wavelength because we even matched this day!

Hermana Holloway and Nathalie, instant buddies!

We went to Ivette Lopez's baby shower. Hermana Garnica made this balloon arch and then told us that we have to fly her out to Utah for our weddings so that she can make us balloon arches ;) 

Hermana Holloway had so much fun getting to know the branch. 

Seeing Some Fruit

I don't have a ton of time to write but I wanted to send you an email letting you know how things are going. With Hermana Duong leaving, we've been saying a lot of goodbyes, which has been really sad.

We had to get the car checked on too because there was a recall on our car due to faulty axels. Luckily ours is fine. I'm so grateful to have not crashed, I've been driving the past few weeks because Hermana Duong isn't supposed to and it's been scary. First things first when I get my new companion, she is driving! 

Other news is that the Fort Lauderdale temple open house was this past week and a lot of our members and converts and even some investigators went. 

Fort Lauderdale Temple

Friday night Cindy and Cornelio announced that they had picked a marriage date! Yay!!! I could have cried. Although they're not getting married until August 23rd, it's so good to see the fruits of our labors :) I'm so happy for them. Besides, Cornelio still can't be baptized until October, but who knows, maybe president will change his mind after the wedding. 

Jose (recent convert, he was baptized the week before I arrived) announced afterward that he was ready to receive the priesthood! We're so proud of him. 

Overall lots of good came from the temple trip. I wish I could have gone. I will send you a pic. 

Transfer calls were Saturday night. I'm staying in Largo, but I will not be training. There are lots of Spanish sisters leaving their areas, so I could be put with really anybody. 

Spiritual Moment of the week: reflecting on temple marriage because we have been talking about temples a lot with the open house and realizing how amazing temple work is. I am so grateful for all those who helped me to prepare to go through. I sat with Hermana Duong during comp study and we practiced teaching about temples in Spanish, the spirit was super strong, she'll probably be visiting the temple this weekend, I'm so happy to have had the chance to serve with her. 

Well that's it for today, tenga un buenísimo semana! 

Sincerely,

Hermana Mathis