Note to Self - don't personalize pass along cards!                                                        June 15, 2015

Hi y'all (gosh two weeks in Indiana and I am already saying this!)

Once again, I don't have a lot of time (the curse of a missionary, but I wouldn't have it any other way), so please note that this doesn't encompass my week in any way, shape, or form. But I'll do my best. Also, I have been told that my emails are a bit confusing, and I have come to realize that I type a lot like I talk: with lots of tangents. So I apologize in advance for that.

Anyway, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN SO AMAZING. I have literally seen God's grace in every minute of my everyday. I challenge all of you guys to look for him in your life, because I promise he is there.

So. This week Sister Mickelsen and I took some time out of our lunch break and wrote the best rap on the planet earth. Maybe if you are lucky you will be able to hear it one day... oh wait, all of you will hear it because once we come home it is going to be blaring out of every car radio ever. So be prepared for Matt-Sizzle and Mickey-Free, cuz "we're two power sisters, who don't need no misters, cuz for 18 months we are serving the Lord." One thing that I don't think I understood before the mission is that it is SO fun. Even when we are out teaching, it is okay to be yourself. Because God called ME, Sister Sara Ann Matthews, to this mission. And it won't do any good if you become a zombie robot. Personalities are important, no matter if you are serving a mission or not. That being said, it still is important to allow the Spirit to be with you always, and there are times that reverence is key. But you can be yourself too :)

For example, my companion, Sister Mickelsen, is just the best. And when we are running in the morning, or walking on the street, or driving in the car, you better believe that there is some serious Disney quoting going on. I was so blessed with a twin soul as a companion.

Okay, contrary to what you have read so far, I promise I actually do missionary work here in the field! And I have seen so many miracles this week! Just like D&C 4 says "the field is white and ready to harvest!" One of these miracles was a man named Steve. Let me try and paint a picture of him for you: He is about 57 years old, lives alone in his apartment, and has no teeth. He was also wearing three shades of pink (sweats, a cut off, and a sweat band) when we first met him, and he was smoking. We talked to Steve for a little bit to get to know him, and then we taught him the restoration lesson, right there on his porch. The Spirit was so strong, and he felt it, I just know he did. Afterwards, we asked Steve if he wanted to be baptized, and he said YES! He turned around, gave us his cigarettes, and said he didn't want to smoke or drink anymore. He was so prepared, and because we followed the prompting of the Spirit to talk to him, we were able to provide that peace that he needed. We are preparing for a baptism on the 4th of July, so keep Steve in your prayers!

As we were walking to an investigators the other day, a man in this very old, beat up truck drove by us. His truck was teal, and it had scriptures spray painted on it!! As we drove by, I smiled and waved, and he yelled out the window "You keep that smile, girl!" and I thought, "Yes Sir!" It is my new mission motto, and I challenge all of you to think about the difference your smile can make in other people's lives. So, you keep that smile (girl, boy), it'll change your life, and the lives of the people around you.

Okay, one more funny story, that will explain the interesting title of this email. So, as missionaries, we pass out a lot of pass along cards right? And these cards are supposed to have "Sister Missionaries ### ### ####" written on the back, so that people can call us if they ever become interested. Well, as we were walking into the library the other day, I gave a guy (he was probably about 24) who was sitting in his truck with the windows rolled down a pass along card! He called us later that night, and I guess I accidentally wrote "Sister Matthews" and then the number on the card, because he asked for me. He started asking me all these questions like "Are you nuns?" "Can you dates guys out here?" "How long are you unavailable?" And such. Sister Mickelsen just laughed as I answered each question, and followed it by saying "and we share a message of Jesus Christ" :D Haha he said he might be interested (in our message of course) and that he would call us when he got back from his army trip thingy. Haha we had a good laugh, and I learned a good lesson!! So take note future or current missionaries!!

Well, I am out of time! I love you all so much, and know that the Lord loves you and is watching over you all individually. So you keep that smile, and don't let the world get you down!!

Love,

Sister Matthews 

P.S.

Here is a picture of Sister Mickelson and I.  She is the greatest!

M&M in the CC:  June 1, 2015

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hollo.... er I mean Hello everybody!

Sorry I didn't to get to email last week.  The flight was great, and here I am, safe and sound! There is so SO much I could write about, but since I can't, I'll just hit the highlights!! So, the title of this Post has to do with the fact that I am with the best Trainer/companion in the whole wide world, and her name is Sister Mickelsen. We are serving in the Columbia City ward, which is in, yes, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA! So M&M are rocking it in the CC. 

There are a few things I have learned about Indiana since being here.
1: There is a LOT of rain this time of year. Should've packed some rain boots. And a raincoat. And one of those bubble hamster balls you can roll around in. That might be the only thing that could keep me dry! But the work moves on, and I am sure once summer roles around I'll be praying for rain again!

2: Fort Wayne is called the City of Churches.... my admiration for Joseph Smith has shot up since being here. Who would've thought that the concept of baptism would be so hard to explain? Everyone here has already been baptized... sometimes multiple times! 

3: There are a plethora of geese, bunnies, and ponds in this city. Literally, I have never seen so many of all of those things since being here. Weird, but true.

Anyway, my first week in the field has been absolutely fantastic!! I can't even describe how happy I am. The work here is quite different from what I thought it would be like (my previous knowledge coming strictly from the movie "The Best Two Years"). We try not to knock very many doors, at least not randomly. We try to follow referrals, and then we do something called the 2-2-5 principle. Which is where you knock 2 doors to the left, 2 doors to the right and then the 5 doors across the street from the house you actually know about. Apparently this is super effective, and makes us look less like traveling saleswomen. They also have a knocking system here, you always knock three times. Once for their salvation (then you wait), once for your salvation (more waiting), and once for the Holy Ghost to work. We have found quite a few new investigators that way, so I guess it is inspired!

We get to drive cars here, which is really nice! But it isn't quite what you would think. Because we have limited miles and a pretty spread out area, we usually park in a neighborhood and then walk all around it. But this is good because we get a lot more street contacts that way! Also, if anyone in the mission gets in a preventable car accident, all of the cars in the mission are grounded, and we have a car fast! We had one of those on Friday, so we did lots of walking. While we were walking, I innocently pointed to a cornfield across the street, and someone almost took my arm off driving like a thousand miles per hour. Did I mention there are no sidewalks here? Because there aren't. So be grateful I still have all four limbs after that day.

The members here are awesome. They are always so willing to feed us, and drive us (when our miles are low or to church, which is a half an hour away) and give us cookies, and most importantly, to come to lessons with us. MEMBERS AT A LESSON MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. So every non-missionary reading this, call up the missionaries in your area and volunteer to go out with them. It will make their day, and hasten the work immensely. Not to mention spiritually boost you up!

On my second day here, I got to teach a young 14 year old girl named Mary the story of the restoration. We drew it out on the sidewalk with chalk, and then taught her about Joseph Smith. The Spirit was so strong when I was testifying, and as I recited the first vision story in Joseph Smith's own words, my testimony of their truthfulness increased a hundred fold. (So when you are struggling with your testimony, share it. The Holy Ghost witnesses of the truth, for both you and the person you are talking to.) She said she wanted to be baptized, so pray for her mother (Swan) to soften her heart and let them come to church.

I love you all, keep writing and emailing me, I love hearing from you, and will reply as soon as I can.

Heavenly Father is there. I have seen his hand in my life everyday, every hour, every minute. Pray for His Spirit always, and He will help you, no matter what you are going through. I am so grateful I get to share that with the people of Fort Wayne.

LOVE,

Sister Matthews 

P.S. My new address is: 6628 Farmswood Dr, Apt 2b (or not 2b, that is the real question), Fort Wayne IN, 46804