Life in the MTC

Greetings amazing people! I seriously love you guys and I'm excited to share my experiences from my first week here with you! Today there are over 83,000 missionaries currently serving, and I am privileged to be one of them. This is history in the making. My first day in the MTC was wonderful. As I waved goodbye to my family instead of tears streaming down my face and sorrow in my eyes a smile spread from ear to ear. That's not to say I wasn't sad to say goodbye to my family, in fact I will miss them tremendously, I already do, but a smile spread across my face because I was finally beginning to embark on a marvelous work and wonder. 

So lets start at the very beginning. Right when I got here I was raced to a classroom to begin roll playing and actually teaching the gospel! There was absolutely no down time. It was rather intimidating ha. I also met my companion who believe it or not has almost exactly the same shade of hair color I do. Her name is Sister Peterson and she is from San Diego California. Oh and it gets crazier. She has two siblings...a brother named Taylor and a sister named Hayley!! She is radiant and full of energy and she can speak about 1,000 words a second. We have worked well together. In our very first lesson, our teacher was impressed how well we taught together for our very first time. My district has 8 people and we are all going to Columbus Ohio!! My friend from BYUI is also in our district and could very well be related to Shelly Egbert. One of the other girls in my district, Sister Mecham is related to Uncle Delbert! Cindy's brother! She is cousins with Addie and Travis Leavitt. 

As we taught some investigators that very first day I found myself genuinely caring about them. I didn't even know them how could I care about them?!! Why did I care so much if they believed my message. I ultimately saw them for who they could become and I wanted them to enjoy the blessing I have. I guess I was given a small glimpse of what Christ must feel like with His children, and I wanted desperately for them to accept what I had. We have been teaching a girl named Jordada and things are slowly progressing. The spirit has been incredible. One night I honestly could not tell you anything I said during the lesson and it was because I was not the one doing the teaching. It was the Holy Ghost and it was a powerful and moving thing. We also taught an atheist which was tremendously hard. The lesson all over the place and practically everything we said she contradicted, and fought back with a difficult question. We prayed hard that night for Heavenly Father to strengthen us and help us teach her something that would mean something to her. The next day we read with her in third Nephi of when Christ comes to the Americas and ministers among His other sheep. I got very personal with her and spoke with the spirit and directly from the hear.  And guess what, she did not fight back once. She could not argue my testimony because it belonged to me, and was something no one could take away from me. It was amazing.

Our Branch president is intimidating but amazing. I have already learned so much from him. It's crazy being raised in the Church I thought I knew a good deal about what we believe in, but coming here I have truly been humbled by how much I don't know. I learn so much daily. I know that God has the ability to make bad men good and good men better, and I have already felt that principle come into play. We all have room for improvement and that improvement comes through following our Savior Jesus Christ.

So here's the funny story for the week. My lovely companion set her alarm clock for the four of us for that first morning. Mistakenly she set it for San Diego time which therefore caused us to wake up an hour later and be late to our very first meeting the first real day of the MTC! It was awful. We wondered why it felt easy to get up and why it was light outside. Now we know, and don't worry my lovely parentals it will never happen again. I have repented.

Tasha this one's for you! I have been running most days! I also play basketball as often as time allows. The second day here I twisted my ankle pretty good which was rough. I had to go to the training room where they took good care of me. But rest assured Dad I beat all the guys in my district in a game of horse. This missionaries still got it!  And don't worry Mom I'm all healed up and feel great! 

Life here is exhausting, overwhelming, and busy. My companion and I are sister training leaders, the daily schedules are intense, we hardly get a break, but honestly I love it here. I have done a lot of fun things this last week, but the most important thing I have done is allowed myself to come closer to Christ daily. I am learning more fully what this means and what I need to do in order to accomplish this task.  The work is hastening, and I am more than grateful to be an instrument in helping this work progress in an upward motion. 

Please write me. I would love to hear from you guys and to be able to share my testimony with you. It is growing day by day, little by little. Also written letters would be fantastic because I can write back to those whenever :)

I love this work. I love putting on my name tag and wearing his name. I truly believe I was called of God to be here, and I have felt such comfort being here. I love you guys. Do not worry about me. I am doing better than ever :) I love you guys!

When everything says you can't believe in the part of you that can  

Love Sister Mathis

Today's The Day. I'm Off To New Places. I'm Off And Away

I am full of mixed emotions. Yesterday during church everything suddenly became so real. I am actually doing this! During the sacrament hymn "I believe In Christ" which just so happens to be my favorite I was overcome with emotion. I listened carefully to the words, and I felt how real my Savior was to me. I know He lives, and I know He provided the ultimate sacrifice of love for each and everyone of us. Because of Him I can become perfected through His atonement. Because of Him I can feel peace in a troubling world. Because of Him I can live and know that there is a divine plan in store for me. Because of Him I am doing what I am doing.

Yesterday was also the first day where I felt nervous. All throughout this process I have been pretty calm and most definitely excited, however yesterday I began to get nervous. What if I get out there and mess up? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I have nothing to say (which is you know me you know that is very unusual)? A million questions were circling my mind, but somehow I was able to find peace. Somehow I knew that if I put my trust in the Lord and did all I could do, I would be alright.

 I was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints on Sunday the 2nd. The blessing was short but incredibly powerful. Tears dripped down my face as the words were spoken and when the prayer was over I knew without a doubt I was making the right decision on serving a mission.  

And so the goodbyes began. In the words of Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber, "I hate goodbyes." Each goodbye got harder and harder. The first goodbye was to my adorable twin two year old cousins. I look into their eyes and told them I loved them. I knew they would be the one's to change the most while I am gone. This morning I said goodbye to my sister. That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. We have been best friends since the day we were born. It's going to be hard to be separated.

A mission is full of sacrifice. It is full of hard work and dedication. I realize it will be difficult, probably the hardest thing I will do, but I also realize how much it will help me grow. I need this is my life. I love the church I belong to and I feel selfish not to share it with others. One of the best things about a mission is that I leave my family for a year and a half, to help other families be together forever. I am delighted and grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to a new and challenging adventure. Dr. Seuss in "Oh The Places You'll Go" stated, "Today is your day, you're off to new places. You're off and away. "So here goes nothing. We are headed to Utah where I will enter the Provo mission training center on Wednesday the 5th. I am excited to see where this journey will take me.

And lastly how are grateful I am for you! That's right YOU! The person reading this. If you are reading this you hold a special place in my heart. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I am overcome with your support and love. God be with you till we meet again my lovely friends and family! I look forward to hearing from you while I am out there in the mission field. 

Love Sister Mathis

Called To Serve

Is this real life? Am I actually going on a mission? I opened my call and read, "Dear Sister Mathis." I love the sound of that. That is when reality hit that I was really doing this. I kept reading and came across the anticipated words, "you have been called to serve in the Ohio, Columbus mission." I was excited! I thought for sure I was going to go foreign, but I wasn't sure why. Well I'm here to tell you I am not going foreign, but I know wherever we are called as missionaries, the work always remains the same. There is a reason I am going where I am and I cannot wait to get there and experience the work in full force. I was also grateful because one day on campus a random citizen told me I was going to South Dakota. Now I don't know much about South Dakota other than it get pretty darn cold, but I was panic stricken when he told me this. I have no idea why, I'm sure it's a lovely place however I was relieved to read Columbus Ohio. I am to report to the Mission training center on February 5th! Now rewind a few months to why I decided to go on a mission.

Ever since I was a little girl I desired to go on a mission. I admired all the missionaries I would see in our Ward. However when they changed the age limit, it sparked many girls to go. In all reality it kind of scared me off. I went from knowing I didn't have to make a final decision until a couple more years down the road to knowing I had to decide soon, very soon. I was 18 at the time and knew I would have to make a decision as to whether I would go or not.  The pressure was real, everyone was asking whether I was going to go or not. I was hesitant, and stubborn like I have always been. I wanted to go when I felt ready, I didn't want to go because everyone was telling me to go. I didn't want to go simply because "everyone was doing it." In other words I wanted to go for the right reasons. Time passed by I turned 19, the eligible age for girls to leave on missions, but I still hadn't gotten my answer. I prayed long and hard and desired to really come to know my Father In Heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ, and their plan for me.

 In my first semester of my sophomore year of college I enrolled in a mission prep class. I told myself I am just taking this class to see where it leads me. Well guess what, it led me to a mission. My teacher was phenomenal. He helped change my whole outlook on things, and there was not a day that went by that I did not feel the spirit in his class. My testimony was strengthened immensely. During the first couple weeks of school we sang the song, "Called To Serve." When I began to sing those words I could not help but hold back tears. I was overcome with emotion and that is when I got my answer. 


"Called to serve Him, heav'nly King of glory,

Chosen e'er to witness for his name,

Far and wide we tell the Father's story,

Far and wide his love proclaim."

I knew in that moment when I was overcome with the Spirit that a mission was where the Lord wanted me to be. I knew I wanted to be a witness for His name and proclaim His word. I knew how happy I was in the gospel, and I wanted more then anything for others to feel that joy too. I also knew in the moment that Heavenly Father truly does hear and answers prayers. My answer didn't come right away, in fact it took months, but for those who follow the guideline and the teachings of this beautiful gospel, answers will most definitely come.

  I also learned during my time at BYUI how mindful the Lord is of us. For those of you who know me, knew it was never in my plan to go To BYUI. However when I didn't get into Provo it was my only other option. At the time I was angry and wondered the Lord didn't give me this one thing I had worked my whole life for. But now looking back on it, there was a reason I went to BYUI. There were people I needed to meet, classes I needed to take, and I don't know if I would have decided to go on a mission if I hadn't have gone there. A wise friend once told me sometimes rejection is the Lord's way of saying, wrong direction. The Lord knew exactly what He was doing with me even though I didn't know it at the time.  

I also had many wonderful examples who showed me the way. While I was in Salt Lake and went to the October 2013 general conference I randomly bumped into my friend Emily who attended BYUI but is now serving her mission at Temple Square. To see her so happy doing the Lord's work inspired me to want to be like that. I am grateful for all the missionaries out there, being the true superhero's of this world especially those who are near and dear to me. So Taylor Mathis, Seth Ross, Sam Ross, Camille Mathis, Adam Bolingbroke, Chad Gray, Romney Hansen, Watson Asi, Tyson Otuafi, Lahi Kautai, and Kevin Foote this one's for you. Thank you for your strong testimonies, thank you for the love and support you show me in your weekly emails, but most of all, thank you for your strong examples without which I don't know if I would be where I am today. I love you guys! And a big thanks to my amazing family who has stood behind me all along the way.

Often times I feel inadequate and like I don't know enough about the gospel to go and teach others about it. Satan is working harder then ever to convince me that I am not good enough. However, God does not expect us to be perfect. He gives us our weaknesses to turn into strengths. Elder Nash of the seventy said, "Remember what you know. Hold to your faith, continue to learn and He will strengthen you."

Lastly I just want to tell all you guys how much this gospel means to me. I absolutely love it. Through this gospel you can experience true joy and happiness. I have felt my Savior's love stronger then ever and I know without a doubt He is very real, and that He lives today. I truly stand all amazed at the love He so graciously gives us. I am delighted for this opportunity I have to become one of His servants and become a part of this great work. I look forward to meeting the amazing saints in Ohio and helping them come unto Christ. 

For any of my non-member friends, if you have any questions about what I believe in feel free to ask me or go to lds.org to find answers there.

I love you all. Thank you for being YOU! You all hold a special place in my heart.