Elder Mathews
". . .But behold I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.”
1 Nephi 1:20
NOTE: Tender mercy is the help, guidance and grace of the Lord. I just can’t pass up the tender mercy that happened to Elder Mathews’ family. When he was a small boy his mother told him that when he grew up and served a mission for the Lord, he would serve in the Baltimore, Maryland mission. This was a wish and a prayer of his mother because she was the only member in her family. She hoped and prayed that her family would at least become interested in the church, if not join it. All of her family lives in and around this area and Elder Mathews and his family live in Idaho. What are the chances? When Elder Mathews opened his mission call, just as his mother had been telling him for as long as he could remember, he is called to the Maryland Baltimore Mission! (NOTE: A mission call is when you get your mission papers in the mail from Salt Lake City. These papers contain the information on where you will be serving and, if you are a senior missionary, how you will be serving.)
I asked Elder Mathews what his Mom did when he opened the papers and it was announced where he would be serving. He said he didn’t know for sure because he ran into his room and locked the door to get away from his out of control (with joy) Mom! I can just imagine.
Elder Mathews arrived in the mission the middle of June and already he has been in contact with members of his Mom’s family. They are excited to see him, because they feel that if he came all this way to serve a mission, the least they can do is drive out to see him. We keep him in our prayers.