Week 50 (12/12/10) Email to Family

Hey y'all!

Christmas comes with a bit of a mix-up of P-days so the next time I will be emailing you guys is January 1. Yes you read that right January 1. It's kind of a lame deal but oh well. The next P-day will be Christmas and I will be talking to you knuckleheads instead of emailing. So that means we need to figure out what the arrangements are going to be. You guys let me know what timeframe works for you and this week I'll figure out what our Christmas plans are and my companion and I will work out what time we each want to talk and next Monday I'll email you guys a quick one to tell you what time to call me. That will be easier and better if you guys call me with a card or whatever from there. We live above a member lady and she has a landline so we'll be using that. Her number is 43893428. I don't know how the national or regional codes work but I'll see what I can find out and let you guys know next week.

So on Monday I worked with Elder Stokes and we went on Tuesday to Banfield to meet the noobs. We walked into the room and President had already interviewed them and assigned the companionships. There were 6 Latinos and 1 American. President named off the companionships one by one. First Elder Boyer...Latino. Elder Schmitt...Latino. Elder Stokes...Latino. Elder Rhoton...Latino. Elder Hendricks...Latino. 1 Latino, 1 American. President calls my name. I didn't think I was going to get the American but now it looked possible. It was down to me and Elder Delgado, the only Latin trainer. It was either Elder Bryce from the United States of America or Elder Wheeler from Colombia. Elder Woodside will be with................Elder...........Austin Wayne Bryce! YEEAAHH!!! It was awesome! Elder Bryce is a great kid. He reminds me a lot of Jake. Just really tranquilo and easy going. Sometimes when I'm not thinking about it it feels like I've got Jake walking at my side. We had a good first week together. Elder Bryce is from Flagstaff, AZ. He's a bit of a country boy. He grew up with horses and cows and all that stuff. We get along really well. I feel like I am learning just as much as he is. Its amazing being with him, because it makes me realize how far I have come since I got here. This Argentina place just feels so normal to me now. I think I will be with him for 2 transfers which would mean I'll be here in Jagüel until February 28. That would mean that in over one year I will have only had 2 areas. Crazy.

Christmas here isn't much of a big deal. Not a whole lot of Christmas spirit here. I kind of like it that way though because I think it would make me think about it more and make me more homesick if I saw lots of Christmas stuff everywhere. I think Christmas here is actually going to be kind of a pain in the butt. I heard the people here for the most part just get drunk and party. Plus we lose a P-day in the long run, at least I think we do. Week 3 P-day will be Christmas and week 4 is New Years Day-both Saturdays. I don't think that they will give us P-day on the 1 and then another two days later on the 3. We'll see. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we have to be in the pench at 6:00 because it's too dangerous after that for us to be out. I think we might be doing a sleep over in Colón with Maxfield and Gaffney but we'll see.

Today we played some frasketball in Monte Grande with some of the other Elders. It was fun stuff. I had to convince them that it would be fun. I think they all liked it so it was good. Then we went to Buen Comer, an all you can eat buffet. It was a good P-day. A good way for Bryce to start of his history of P-days. Its hard for me to imagine going back to the start. Its amazing how far I have come.

I don't really know what else to add. I'll email you guys a quick one in a week. The next time basically that we will be communicating is by phone. I'm excited to talk to you guys. I sure love you guys. 3 days and I'll hit my hump. Woohoo! I love being here doing this great work and time is flying. In no time I'll see you guys stepping off that plane and I'll be looking up at all of you except for Mom. I don't think I have grown taller since I've been gone...just a little chubbier. Just like my big bro. HA. I love you guys.

Chau chau.

Love, Matt

Week 49 (11/29/10) Email to Family

Hey everyone!

Today we had Thanksgiving dinner. A family from the Monte Grande ward prepared it for our Zone. We paid of course but it was a good time. We played some soccer beforehand and then afterwards I convinced the guys that stayed to play frasketball instead of soccer because somebody had a football. They were a little reluctant but because there were only seven of us they agreed and they all enjoyed it. Elder Spencer says he wants to play that for zone activity next transfer. Too bad he won't be here anymore!:( This coming week President is having a meeting to capacitate all of the leaders in the mission, district leaders, zone leaders and new trainers. Elder Spencer has to go because he is a DL and the meetings will be Tuesday, Wed, and Thurs of this week. The zone leaders called us last night and said since I am the best missionary in the zone not going to the meeting, they're going to send me to Las Flores from Tuesday until Thursday since it is too far for Elder Taylor to commute everyday and their area is hurting and needs some help. I was kind of bummed because I think this will be my last week here in Jagüel and with Elder Spencer. Elder Spencer got off the phone last night with the ZLs and told me that and I was pretty bummed. I told him I thought it was stupid because I'm not going to be able to make any difference in three days and that they should just send somebody else. Right after I said that, the phone started ringing. Spencer looked at it and said dude it's President! He answered it and after a second he handed it to me and said here he wants to talk to you! I took the phone and President said he was going to call me to be a trainer because he is extremely pleased with what I am doing. He had to tell me in advance so that I come to the meetings this week. Woohoo! I knew we weren't going to be staying together because of some things President said in interviews on Tuesday. I kind of thought I would be training but Spencer was sure I was the one going. I would have liked to be with Spencer for Christmas but the Lord's got other things in store. When we went to the offices this week we saw the new missionaries' black binders and there were only 7 new Elders-6 Latinos and only 1 American. I'm hoping for that American but I'll probably get one of the Latinos. That's okay with me too. So that means I'll be here in Jagüel until at least January 17th. I'm hoping I'll be here for two more though which would be the 28 of February so that I can see Marizol-we found out this week that she spells her name with a Z- and Romai get baptized. We had a fun Family Home Evening with them last monday. -Oh yeah! The B52s 'Love Shack' just came on. Good song.- We'll see what happens though.

I've got a story for you guys that I think Sam will like. It made me think of him just because of one of the people present. So we were in a lesson with Sebastian. He is a bald man with crooked glasses and he lives in his girlfriend's house with her family. We were teaching them about the Plan of Salvation and we were talking about what happens to us after death. So we explained the Spirit World and how we are in that state until the Resurrection. We read in Alma 41 in the verse that talks about how we will have perfect bodies after the resurrection. So I explained to them that if I lose a finger I will have it back after the resurrection, we won't have any more sicknesses. Then I looked at Sebastian and said and you'll have hair! It was one of those situations where you try to catch the words out of the air and shove them right back into your mouth. I said it as a joke but I realized as the words came out that it was the wrong place and the wrong time. Nobody said a word and then one by one they all started laughing. The 14 year old kid Elvis was dying. I imagined Sam sitting in the corner where he was giggling his head off. Elvis' older brother Miguel(20) was dying too. They are Sebastian's girlfriend, Maria's, brothers and she was laughing too. It was funny, I'm not going to lie, but like I said wrong place wrong time. I couldn't talk for a second for fear of laughing and making him feel like I was making fun of him. Spencer was the same. I tried to start talking again and looked up at what in my head was Sam laughing his head off. I looked away right at María as she busted up again. I couldn't hold it and I started laughing but I quickly got it under control. I looked at Sebastian and he had his head down. I felt bad. I wasn't trying to make him feel bad. I was just trying to make it a more comfortable atmosphere and bring it to an even level but it was the wrong time for that joke. Bald guys don't like when people comment on their baldness. Spencer was speechless, he wasn't getting any words out so I just had to choke down the laughter and move on with the lesson, which wasn't easy! After the lesson when we shook everyone's hands I told Sebastian I was sorry, that I wasn't trying to make him feel bad. After we left we walked about a block away and Spencer busts up laughing. I said what and he said hey you'll have your hair back! We laughed our way to the next appointment. It was a funny experience. Good times haha.

I did intercambios last week with Maxfield and when we were walking to the pench I heard a sound coming from our left as we crossed the dirt intersection. I looked over and instantly my senses spiked. I took a quick step back and I was in slow motion. Maxfield didn't know what was up. He said what are you doing as he turned to look at what I had my eyes locked on. The drumming of the horses hooves got louder. It had it's sights set right on me and it was at a full gallop. I took a couple of steps back and it changed it's course to follow me. I looked for something to step behind. Nothing. My backpack was strapped to my chest so I couldn't pull it off to swing it. The horse had a few feet before something bad was going to happen. Maxfield quickly took off his backpack and swung it in front of him and right at the last second the horse peeled off and ran up the street. I came out of slow motion feeling really weak. My legs felt like jelly. It scared the crap out of me. I guess I won't be throwing apples out the window at the horses anymore!

I got the package today. Exactly one month later so I won't expect the Christmas package til next year! I'm excited to put on my Super Feet! My insoles right now are pretty thrashed. I like seeing all of those FastBreaks! The other missionaries got a good laugh out of the supermonkeys. A Boise State fan started talking trash to me when he saw my Oregon tie. All I had to do was show him one finger. I like getting packages.:)

All is well here for me. I'm happy and working hard. I'll be in my second area still after a whole year! Crazy. I like it here so I don't mind being here for more. I'm excited to train. I feel like I've been ready for awhile. I love you guys. Thanks for everything. Less than a month til we talk! Chau for now.

Love, Matt

Week 48 (11/22/10) Email to Family

Hey guys!

     Todavía no package but we should be getting them tomorrow at interviews. I like packages.:) Indy's squirting the jelly huh? That's pretty cool, all the dogs here squirt mustard. Makin' some mustard! Yeah I heard today from Maxfield that the Harry Potter movie came out. I had no idea it was on its way already. I saw an add for the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Narnia books. When does that come out? We played pádel today, Round 3 with Gabriel. It was lots of fun. Today was a holiday so he didn't have to work so he came over to visit us. He's a great guy. Elder Maxfield and I are trying to get him to hook up with a girl from El Cruce that lives in the U.S. because she was born there. Supposedly they are writing to each other and she's coming down for Christmas. We'll see!

     Sunday was a pretty big disappointment. I was expecting to see more investigators at church than I have ever had. 15 different people said they would be there. Not a single one of them came. Oh well, qué va a hacer? The order of my favorited days of the week goes Monday, Friday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday, Thursday. For some reason Thursday is like the slump-day.

     I can't believe Christmas is so close. Almost a month away. WEIRD. I'm hoping I'll be staying with Elder Spencer next transfer so we'll be together for Christmas. I think if we're still together we're going to have a sleep over with some of the other missionaries. We'll see what happens though.

    I don't really know what else to write, it doesn't seem like anything new or really exciting happened this week. We got tile put down and we got a new fridge, I gues that's pretty exciting. Woohoo! The pench is like a completely new place. I like it a lot better now.

     As for the Christmas package I just want some American goodness. I'm looking forward to getting that Bang Bullet game. It sounds pretty fun. It'll be good for P-Day. Also I want you to send me my bright yellow tie. I'll just take it to a dry cleaner here. Also my Oregon tie would be cool.:)

     I can't think of anything else to write. I sure love you guys though. Less than a transfer and we'll be talking. You guys are awesome! Chau chau.

Love, Matt

     

Week 47 (11/15/10) Email to Family

Hey! This week was awesome! We're kicking trash here in El Jagüel. We're having lots of success-still no baptisms-but we're setting a lot of stuff up for the next transfer. We should be having a baptism on the 4th of December though with Ezequiel. He is a 12 year old kid with cancer. He doesn't really like reading but he loves reading the Book of Mormon. Whenever we give them a chapter to read they read it as a family, him and his parents. His parents really like having us over but say that they will not get married, so we're getting Ezequiel ready for his baptism and hoping that seeing him get baptized will help his parents make the right decision. Elder Spencer and I hit 15 lessons with a member present and found 17 new investigators which are both mission records for me. Those are really high numbers. Just in the last month I feel like I have figured out how to manage time better with planning and keeping busy during the day with the things that really matter--working smart. We should be getting even more lessons with members this week. Our investigator pool is the strongest pool of investigators I have had yet and Spencer says the same. We've got a good amount and they're all pretty solid. Things are getting going. Feeling pretty good. I love it. We're hoping President leaves us together for one more, because we're both loving it and with Christmas and our year marks coming next transfer, there would be no better way to spend it. We'll see. I told President today that I'd like to stay for another round with Spencer. This week I'll be doing intercambios with Elder Maxfield which should be pretty good. Who'd a thunk that we'd be working together one more time. I have come a long way since my time with Elder Maxfield. It'll be fun to work another day with him.

     That's pretty awesome that Sam's tearing up the tennis court. Good old Sam Miguel del Potro. It will be pretty awesome to watch his tennis matches when I get back. He'll be a tennis monster when I get back. Good luck beating that kid. That's that Woodside kid. Yeah that's right. My brother. That's my brother. I'm excited to go see his high school matches.

      I can't believe November is half-way over. Time is flying. We are keeping really busy and the days are all slurred together. The transfer is already half way over. We're hoping to be getting our packages tomorrow. Spencer's birthday was on Friday so he's got one coming too. The night before his birthday we were just chilling on our beds and I saw something move out of the corner of my eye but I didn't do anything, it wasn't a big enough movement. Then I saw the movement again, and I looked up to see what it was. It scared the crap out of me, well not really, but it scared me and I quickly said Dude get out of your bed get out of your bed! Spencer bolted right out of his bed and turned back to look at the wall. Surprisingly he didn't see it at first but when he saw it he freaked out. It was the biggest non-tarantula spider I have ever seen. It was HUGE! It was an easy 4+ inches across It looked like it crawled right out of the depths of Hell. Its legs were really long and it had big feeler things in front of its mouth that looked like fangs. It was disgusting. We were both kind of frozen but I went in the other room to grab something to kill it. I grabbed an empty DVD case but decided it was too small and I didn't want it to only half way hit it and have it fall on me or run away so I grabbed an empty cereal box and put it on my right hand like a glove. Spencer snapped a picture and I slammed that thing as hard as I could so that there would be no chance of survival. His carcass fell to the ground and left the cereal box wet with his body fluids. It was a beast. Spencer was still kind of freaked-well we both were a little but he was more so. I said oh butt that beast had a mother and he has to have brothers and sisters. All thoughts of sleep were gone. We were now wide awake. We moved our beds away from the walls into the middle of the room and didn't end up getting to sleep til after midnight. It was pretty crazy. Our apartment is pretty sketchy but we're getting tile put down today and tomorrow. Before it was just a crappy cement floor.

     Everything is going good on this end. I'm loving it, I'm happy and I'm looking forward to talking with ustedes in about a month. You guys are great. I love you lots.

Love, Matt

Week 46 (11/9/10) Email to Mom

Hey mom! That is awesome that Sam is enjoying tennis. That's sweet that he had his first tennis match. Good thing he won, it would be a shame to lose your first ever tennis match to a 12 year old girl! I think it would be good for Dad and Sam to see South America and especially for Dad to see where I have been working. I agree with that. I think it would be good. But like you said we don't have to decide for awhile. Its weird that we'll be talking in about a month. It seems like not that long ago that we talked but at the same time forever ago. I was with Elder Sobré still. Crazy Elder Sobré. It will be good to chat with you guys. I wonder where I'll be next transfer. I think I'll be in a new area. President told Elder Spencer on the phone yesterday that he 'really appreciates the work you two are doing together.' We don't think we'll be staying together because we're both so capable. I'm just going to work hard and enjoy it while it lasts. Next week I hit 11 months. Crazy! Alright Mom I better go. I love you. Thanks a TON for EVERYTHING. I really appreciate it.

Love, Matt

-We can watch movies but only the movies that Hermana Stapley buys for the mission library. I think this transfer it is going to be a fight for Toy Story 3. I'd say don't send it just because I don't know if I'd be able to watch it. Thanks anyway!

Week 45 (11/1/10) Email to Family

 Hey! Everything is great here in El Jagüel! This transfer is going to be the best transfer yet. For sure. I'm in my third transfer here in El Jagüel. I have been here since the start of August and will be here until at least December 6. My companion is Elder Spencer from Logan. We flew to Argentina in the same airplane and we started in the same zone-Quilmes. We get along great. We're working hard, working smart, and we're having a great time doing it. I'm loving it. When I was with Elder Gonzáles it was like we were running full speed in circles-going nowhere, but since Elder Spencer has gotten here things have been clicking. We're moving this crazy train out of the station. We're putting El Jagüel back on the map. We're working hard and progressing with the investigators. Marisol and her marido, Romai, are doing great. We talked with Romai for the second time and he understood the Restoration amazingly. He wants to keep learning more and we've got appointments with him on Tuesday and Thursday night. They are really great people. Marisol already finished 1 Nephi and is now working on 2 Nephi. She loves it. Their son David drew me a picture of Spiderman.

     We found a family last week that had listened to the missionaries before and they didn't seem like they would be that solid, but when we came back the second time they had read 3 Nephi 11 as a family and loved it. They had lots of questions and comments and wanted to get baptized by the authority that Jesus gave his disciples. We didn't even have to ask them about it. They aren't married though so we had to talk about that. Marta, the mom, says she is not going to get married. They love the teachings though so we'll work with them little by little. She says she'll think about it. The 12 year old kid loves it too and wants to come to church and get baptized. His name is Ezequiel. We went to visit them with Hermano Dario, the young men president so it was great. Edgardo, the dad, and Ezequiel are going to come to church next week and Dario told us he is going to help the kid feel welcome and comfortable in the activities. This week Elder Spencer and I put up 12 lessons with members accompanying us. That's the most I've ever had in a week. It's only going to get better because this crazy train is just leaving. We're just getting started. President sent me an email this week that said he is pleased with the progress I have made and that I'm a great missionary and that 'you are going to be able to help us in many ways.' Whatever that means. When Gonzales had his outgoing interview with the President he went with another missionary and I went with Elder Porter. When we went to go get them when they were done. President called me over. He led me down the hall in the mission home. I didn't know what he wanted. He stopped and showed me a picture he had on the wall. It was Subway! I happened to have my Subway pics on me so I showed him my pics and he really liked them. We talked Subway and slot canyons for a bit. It was pretty cool.

     I don't think Elder Spencer and I are going to be together for more than one because we are both so capable so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. We don't really know what to expect with the next transfer. Either way this transfer is a good one. One for the books. I love you guys a lot. Best family ever.

Con amor, Matt

Week 44 (10/25/10) Email to Mom

Hey Mom! I'm happy about the new companion thing too. This next six weeks are going to be great. I have had my share of tough ones. Elder Spencer and I get along great. Zero disagreements. We work hard and have a good time doing it. I love it. We were able to talk with Marisol's 'husband', Romai, on Saturday and it went great! We were praying for a miracle and I did a 12 hour fast beforehand. Marisol had said he wouldn't be too open to the idea. He was great. Just like her. He said he is happy but recognizes that he needs to make God a part of his life to be happier. He said he thinks God sent us to him. Boy did he! He wanted us to come back and we're going back on Thursday. I think they will be getting married and then baptized. Just a matter of time. I hope I'll still be here. Anyway all is well here. I don't have much time left so I better get going. I have an early Christmas request. Elder Spencer said he played a fun card game called BANG. Just let me know what Santa thinks.:) Well I love you Mom. Thanks a TON for everything!

Love, Matt

Week 43 (10/20/10) Email to family

Hey everybody!

Good news here from El Jagüel! I received Elder Spencer into El Jagüel and he is the district leader. Elder Spencer and I have the same amount of time and we already knew each other and we're buds so I'm stoked. This transfer is going to be a lot better. I was hoping to be senior comp but Elder Spencer and I are going to work good together. We're going to tear it up! Basically we're both senior comps. Elder Maxfield got transferred out of El Cruce after 6 months there and got moved to the area right above mine and now we're in the same district. I'm excited because this transfer is going to be awesome.

     Marisol is still doing great. She is cruising in the Book of Mormon. She says she really feels the peace and spiritual strength that comes from reading it. Its like food for the spirit. She said she noticed it the most when she didn't read on Sunday, the difference she felt. She couldn't come to church on Sunday but she came to an activity on Saturday. We talked with her this week about the importance of marriage and she and her marido are going to talk about it. He sounds like a really good guy and I think we're going to get to meet him on Saturday night. He's from Bolivia as well. Marisol was born in Potosí. I don't know if you remember which city that was Mom but that was the city with really high altitude where we went to the caves and the coin press museum and where I had to pee worse than I have have ever had to pee. Whenever I meet Bolivians I feel an extra amount of love for them. Bolivians are pretty discriminated against here and that makes me sad. Her son David is always happy to see us. I think he's going to draw me a picture of Spiderman haha. Pablo's still doing good, we've got an appointment with him today. Adelina, one of the references from the Gutiérrez family that I talked about last week is doing really good. We have to take it a little bit slower with her because she is from Paraguay so her first language is Guaraní, but she really likes it and came to church this week with her 6-year old daughter.

      That's about all I've got for this week. I love you guys and I hope everything is well. I'm happy with where I'm at and what I'm doing. I know this is the Lord's work. This is the true church of God and He loves each one of you. As do I. Until next week. Chau chau.

Love, Elder Woodside

Week 43 (10/11/10) Email to Family

Elder Woodside's Top 10 of Transfer 6 Week 5

10. The Princess and the Frog

For our zone activity today we watched a movie and played some futbol. Movies were recently added to the approved P-Day activities. The movie was actually better than I thought, though I think any child that watches it will be afraid of the dark. I liked the part when the alligator gets on the boat and starts wailing on his trumpet.

9. Capital Federal

It was good last week being in the capital. It's like a whole different world than the area my mission covers. We went the cemetary where famous Argentine people are buried, then we went to some weird art museums and we almost got to meet Bon Jovi. It was good to do something on P-Day with other missionaries. Doesn't happen much with Elder Gonzales.

8. Cañuelas

After district meeting on Thursday we had to go to Cañuelas for some baptismal interviews. Cañuelas is a beautiful place. It reminded me a lot of Illinois. It was like an hour and a half travel in train and colectivo to get there. Lots of farms and stuff like that with a big blue sky. I felt like I was on vacation.

7. References from Gutierrez

A family in the ward gave us a few references and we had some good lessons with them. We went one night to talk with one and then the next night we went and met the other. Adelina and Eugenio from Paraguay. Its all about the members and their help.

6. Pablo's Turno in the Registro Civil

Pablo got a date for his marriage! This really should be ranked higher but he had his wife do it-she doesn't really want anything to do with us-and she put the date for January 7. That's so far away! I think Pablo was kind of bummed. He's come to church 5 times and is doing well with his reading. He's ready for his baptism, but now he's just got to wait.

5. Marisol and Conference

Marisol is a Bolivian lady that I found with Elder Miles not this week but the week before. She is a great lady-very humble. She told us she wouldn't be able to come to conference on Saturday but that she would come on Sunday. We looked for her on Sunday but we didn't see her. When we talked with her this Tuesday she said she came to the Saturday afternoon session. Woohoo! She really liked it.

4. The Home Stretch

This is the last P-Day of this transfer. You know what that means! This week is going to be a long one though because it will go until next Wednesday. I won't be writing again until the 20th of October. I'm on the home stretch. Almost there! The next time I write to you guys I'll have a different companion and I'm hoping that I'll be senior comp. I'll be staying here in El Jagüel for one more for sure.

3. Marisol and The Book of Mormon

Marisol is doing great with her lectura in the Book of Mormon. When Elder Miles and I found her, we left her 3 Nephi chapter 11 to read and when we met with her on Tuesday she had read the chapter, then started at the front cover and read til the testimony of Joseph Smith. She has now read Alma 32 and as of Saturday she was in 1 Nephi 4. She really likes it. The Book of Mormon is an amazing book. It really comes from God.

2. Marisol's Baptismal Date

Marisol. Again. She says she doesn't think she has much faith but faith is a principle of action and I know I'm seeing it. She is doing great with her reading and she came to conference. We set a baptismal date with her on Tuesday for November 6. She has desires and she is excited. Her only obstacles are that she works on Sundays from 6:00 am to 5:00pm in the feria(its like an open flea market basically) and that she isn't married to the man she lives with. I don't think either of them will be hard fixes we just have to help her taking it one step at a time. She has 4 kids, 2 of which live in Salta(Northwest corner of Argentina) 1 lives here in Jagüel with a family member and her 6 year old David lives with her. He's a cute little kid. He loves spiderman and he's afraid of girls. He's a happy little kid.

1. My MOM! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day Mom! Mother's Day in Argentina is this coming Sunday so I just want to thank you Mom for all that you do for me. I know I wouldn't be where I am without you. You have always been a good example to me and I want to thank you for that. Thanks for putting up with me all these years and for being by biggest support out here. I really appreciate it! I love you!

Well that's the top 10 for this week. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope everything is going well for each one of you. You are all important to me and I appreciate you guys. That's all for this week. Hasta luego. Chau chau.

Love, Elder Woodside

Week 42 (10/5/10) Email to Family

Saludos del capital!

This week we switched P-Day to Tuesday so we could come to visit capital with our district. This morning we went to the Recoleta which is a big cemetary with famous dead people. My favorite part was the stain glass windows in the sepulturas. We saw lots of American people there that don't speak Spanish. Stupid Americans. Anyway is was like a giant laborinth. I was half expecting Indiana Jones to pop out of one of the tombs with a bunch of zombies and maybe a few glass aliens chasing him. It got boring fairly quickly and now we're doing ciber before we head to the museum. Elder Coats is in my district again. He was in my very first district with Elder Sobre and he has been in the same zone with me all along the way so far. The transfer is almost on the home stretch with one more P-Day and 15 more days. The longer I have been here in Argentina, the more my desires to eat meat has diminished. If I could go back to my childhood I would do as Dad always told me and eat every carrot and pea on my plate. I miss vegetables! This week was a little different. There were leadership meetings in Adrogue in the morning of Tuesday-Friday so I had the opportunity to work with Elder Miles from Henderson/Las Vegas from 8:30-4:30 those four days. This is his first transfer and he speaks like a champ. I enjoyed working with him. Then Saturday and Sunday we had conference! I really liked the talk by Elder Uchtdorf on Saturday Morning and the talks by Elder Oaks and Bednar. We were late for Saturday Morning but I heard Holland's talk was good. Pablo went to conference with Dario, the young mens president here in El Jagüel, on Sunday and he should be taking out a turn in the registro civil to get married in November or December. Isabel and Lucas didn't come to conference. Isabel's oldest daughter recently moved in with them and she is reaking havoc, causing all kinds of problems and saying bad stuff about us. News from El Cruce is that Gabriel got a really good job through a member of the stake and he's doing great. Elder Maxfield only has 4 transfers left. That's about all I have for this week. I love you all. I know that God has an amazing plan for us here on earth. I know that he loves each and every one of you and wants you to be happy. So be happy! Hasta la proxima semana quédensen sedientos amigos!

Con amor, Matt

Week 41 (9/7/10) Email to family

Hey everyone!

     This week went quite a bit faster than the last one. I hope you guys in Utah are all right. I was a little worried because I was informed by somebody yesterday that there was a big hurricane that went through Utah. Ha! Hurricane! In Utah! I didn't think that was a problem in Utah but maybe it was one of Dixie College's Red Storms. Ha!

We had Zone Conference this week which was good just like always. There was an announcement that I liked-the transfer will be ending 5 days early because of a meeting the mission presidents will be having on the 25th of October. That means the transfer ends on Wednesday the 20th of October and the next transfer will be 5 days longer. Woohoo!

This week we had 5 investigators at church which is the most I have ever had. Pablo came for his 4th Sunday in a row and is cruising in the Book of Mormon. He's almost in 2nd Nephi. Isabel and Lucas(13) - a mother and son - came for the first time and they really liked it. Lucas fit right in with the other young men his age and we're hoping to set a baptismal goal with them tonight. Camila(14) came for her second week with her twin member friends - Mara and Heliana De Ruvo - and we've got an appointment to visit with her tomorrow in the De Ruvo home.

I have felt a lot these last couple of months like a Wide Receiver in football that even when I'm wide open, my QB won't throw it to me - just tucks it and runs. The only time he throws to me is as he is getting sacked and I don't know where the ball is going. I finally got some of my ideas through to Elder Gonzales this week and we've got more focus on our solid investigators. We set multiple appointments with them this week and I made some phone calls last night to have members with us in the appointments. I have often felt like we're working hard with no destination, working just to work, but I finally feel like we're headed in the right direction here in El Jagüel. I feel a lot more confident with what I am doing and I'm excited to see what happens with Pablo, Isabel and Lucas, and Camila. I think it is really important to have members involved with the work and though its not really happening as much as I'd like right now, I'll have my say in the transfer to come. The members in our ward are really great and we're not really involving them that much. We're averaging about 6 lessons with member here, but I think 10+ would be easily reached. We'll see.

Thanks for your love and support! I love you guys and hope you are doing well. Let me know how things are going and what's up with you.

Love, Matt

Week 40 (9/20/10) Email to Mom and Dad

Haaaalllllloooooooooo!

Hey! This was a long week for me. The slowest El Jagüelian week yet. I actually had thought about doing triathlons before but that's as far as I ever got. I'd like to do a triathlon with Dad. I'll whoop his butt at swim and then watch his 50 year old calves zip past me. (Dad will be turning 50 two weeks after I get home. He's gonna be an old fart.Ü) Actually he would destroy me at all of the parts but I'll have to do some training. Yeah that's right Rafael Nadal won the U.S. Open! I already knew. That's weird to me that another US Open has come and gone. I watched the last US Open just about every day. I think this win completes his career Open, though I'm not sure if he has ever won the Australian. I know he's won French and Wimbledon. I don't really want to go back ten years, sorry Mom. I like where I'm at and where I'm going, though I must admit it wouldn't be too bad to be a kid again. Let's see...Halloween goodies...I really like Fastbreaks. A pack of Fastbreaks would be kinda nice. I also like a little Hidden Valley Ranch packets in my trick-or-treat bag. Ranch is like gold here. 'Solid gold!' Yeah I got Grandma's package. I really liked those worms she sent-possibly the best gummy worms I've ever had. Man I could really go for a good Pizza Factory pizza right now. But what appeals even more to me is the PF salad bar. I think I would pay 50 dollars to have an all you can eat salad bar right now. I'm so tired of the food here. It's basically the same things over and over. And its not that good. Really heavy. Lots of meat. Your whole vegetarian thing has never appealed more to me. The only problem is that the veggies here are pretty crappy. It's starting to heat up-today's pretty hot and its still technically winter. I fear the summer. After we eat I always have the worst fiaca-that basically means when you just feel wiped, not much energy or don't feel like doing anything. The fiaca just gets worse with the heat. I think I'm going to get bumped up to senior comp this transfer so that will be a lot better. I'm about ready to take the reins. I'm tired of having somebody tell me what to do. Its easier to get excited and be ambitious when I can choose what I do. Its pretty draining being with my current comp. I completed 9 months this week. It's gone quick! In the package I got from my friends, they included a picture of me with that cake they made me. It doesn't seem like its been a year since that happened. I guess Kelsee is planning on serving a mission. She put in her papers and everything and is just waiting for her call. You'll have to ask her about it next time you go eat at the PF. That's some exciting news. Pablo says his 'wife' is okay with getting married and tomorrow we'll be figuring out about going to the registro civil to take out a turno. After that we'll know what date we can shoot for for his baptism. He came to church for the 3rd Sunday in a row yesterday. This past week we did intercambios twice. Twice because the first one only lasted 22 hours and Gonzo says it has to last 24 hours so we had to do it again, but I didn't mind. Elder Fernandez Paz came to El Jagüel both times. We had some intense Jenga competition the first night. I like intercambios. Anyway that's about all I've got for this week. Until next time. I love you guys. Thanks for the weekly emails.

Love, Matt

Week 39 (9/13/10) Email to Family

Hey familia!

Hey woodchuck chuckers better put your booties on cause it's cold out there! The groundhog saw his shadow and went back into his hole for six more weeks of winter. I will be with Gonzo for 6 more weeks. Gonzo was upset that he didn't get moved up to Zone Leader, but he just doesn't show a whole lot of love for people. You have to love the other missionaries, be encouraging, listen to them, show interest in them as people. He likes to drop the cane-Argentine phrase that basically means lay down the lay-but nobody likes hearing that. I was kinda bummed when I heard the news but I'm going to do what I can to keep learning and improving. I like the ward I'm in so it will good being here til at least December. I will be getting my second kill making me the most dangerous Elder in the mission. That will make me level up more than a few times and bump me up to Latino Slayer. Thats some pretty good experience points there. Pablo Chaves came to church yesterday for the second Sunday in a row and we set a baptismal date for him in October. It's good to finally see some progress. Pablo is 23 and his girlfriend lives with him and they have a 2 year old daughter. --The whole marriage thing is a mess here because people don't think its important, a LOT of the people living together aren't married. Its how the culture is here.-- Pablo recently had a big tumor removed from his left ear for the fifth time. He's hoping it doesn't come back again. At church yesterday he gave me a pen with string weaved around it that says JESUCRISTO on one side and WOODSIDE on the other. It was pretty cool. Pablo is a good guy. He's got a lot of faith. He likes reading the Book of Mormon because of the peace he gets when he reads it. The Book of Mormon really has power to change lives and fill people's lives with peace and happiness. We've got a Family Home Evening planned with the Villagra family tonight and Pablo says he's going to come, so that will be good for him. I got a package today from STG Friends. It was a good package. It had licorice and letters from Charity, Maddy, Kelsee, Ren Quinn, McLain, and Nick Barnum. It was good to hear from some people I hadn't heard from for a long time. I also got a letter from Greg that I really liked. It seems weird that he speaks 'Castellano' and knows about Alfajors and Argentine things. Pretty cool. --I wrote more before but my computer was being dumb and I lost what I had and now I have to go. Until next week. I love you all.

Love, Matt

Week 38 (9/6/10) Email to the Family

Hey!

El Jagüel basically means the swamp, or the marsh. I didn't really understand why until this week. It rained five days in a row and since the majority of the streets here are dirt, it was a muddy mess! We played padel today with Gabriel and Elders Maxfield and Henrie. They announced on Thursday that we can't do stuff with missionaries from other zones. I was really bummed because I was looking forward to playing all transfer. Elder Maxfield called President this morning to ask permission and he said yes! WOOHOO! Speedy wasn't too excited. He wasn't very cool about it. It was good to see Gabriel again. He's such a good guy. On our way to the padel courts he asked if I have had any new baptisms. I said, Nope you're still my last baptism. He smiled and put his arm around me. I put my arm around him and said if I don't baptize any more people on my mission, that's okay with me. You're worth a thousand baptisms to me. I love that guy. We played padel for about an hour and a half. I played really bad but it was still fun. Gabriel is going to come to transfer meeting next week. I'm hoping for some good news this Saturday night but I think I'm going to be with Speedy for another month and a half. I did exchanges with the zone leaders this week and that went well. I really like doing exchanges. It was good to be able to spend a day with someone that I could enjoy being with. I spent a day with Elder Jeldes in 9 de Abril. He and my other zone leader Elder Robledo trained guys from my group. Its easy to wonder why I couldn't have been put with one of them at the start but the Lord knows what he's doing and I trust him. Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. Its tough being with my companion because I don't feel much if any love from him for me or for the people we are teaching. Its really frustrating. I'm reading in the New Testament right now and its good to read about the example Christ gave. He loved all of the people. In theBook of Mormon in Mosiah I think chapter 3, it says that even with all of the persecution he recieved he never opened his mouth. This transfer I have had a lot of Dad's advice from growing up going through my head and it has been helpful. Maybe I didn't listen back then, but I see now that he was right. Nothing really new this week to report. I'm coming up on 9 months. I can't believe it. 15 months ago we were starting the summer. That's about the time we did Subway as a family. Not that long ago. Time is going so fast. I hope everything is well with you guys. I love you guys a lot! Thanks for your support and prayers. Next week is a new transfer so that's all from me for transfer 5.

Les amo!

Love, Matt

Week 37 (8/30/10) Email to the Family

Hello from El Jagüel! I had my first dream in Spanish that I actually understood last night. I dreamed that I was playing soccer with the other missionaries and I had to use the bathroom so I went off by myself and I had to cross a crosswalk at a red light. As I crossed, the first car honked its horn and I looked as the window rolled down, it was Dad! He said hey buddy you need a ride? I was like yeah! I hopped in the car and the whole family was in there. It didn't seem to me like a big surprise or anything out of the ordinary. I thought to myself, I'm going to impress them with my Spanish speaking skills, -even though Dad had asked me if I needed a ride in Spanish. I started talking in Spanish and much to the the dismay of my dream-self, they could all speak Spanish too, so they weren't impressed. Pete made a comment about how there are a lot of pandas here in Argentina and that confused me. I thought maybe he meant pandillas-which means gangs-but he said no that he meant pandas. I was still confused but I just went with it. Then Dad dropped me off at the bathroom-the bathroom had to have been really far away!-and drove off like it was nothing. There was a member of the church close to where I got dropped off and he gave me a displeased look like-Elder you're not supposed to visit your family on your mission. I got defensive and said, 'That was not planned!' He let it go and I headed toward the bathroom and I woke up and I realized that I had just dreamed in Spanish. It was a pretty weird dream. I also do a lot of my thinking in Spanish. It feels weird. When I think of memories, they're mostly in Spanish even though they happened in English.

     This week we went clear to the other side of our area to contact a reference somebody had given us. We passed a house and a man was standing outside so we stopped to talk to him. He acted like he didn't want to talk to us but he came over and shook our hands. He asked my companion's name first, then he asked mine. He said what sounded like Herman. I just assumed he was saying his name. He looked at me like he was waiting for a response. I said nice to meet you. He said it again. Herman. Again he looked at me waiting for a response. After an awkward moment, I said again, nice to meet you. Then he said it again. Herman. I looked at my companion to see if he was confused as I was. He looked like he knew what he was saying and he was waiting for a response as well. I gave a nervous laugh and said I don't understand. The man brushed it off and asked my comp where he's from. He said Perú. He turned me and asked where I'm from Germany? I said no I'm from the U.S. He looked kind of confused/amused and then said again Herman. I was so confused. He said 'Don't you speak English? Herman.' Then he just went off speaking in a language I have never heard in my life. If that was English then things have changed since I have been gone. He looked at me expectantly and I said I didn't understand again. He strung off again in his perfect English. I didn't know what to say. I looked at my companion again and he still looked at me expectantly. I just kind of chuckled and didn't say anything. The man looked kind of disappointed. He told me he learned English here in Argentina. Haha. He told us his name is Victor. We talked for a second about who we are and what we do. He said something about musical instruments and said something about a harmonica. He said he plays the harmonica. I said wow that's great! He headed toward his house and opened his gate. He was really excited. He said come in come in I'll show you! He ran in his house so we passed in to his front porch table. We didn't know what to do. He seemed like he might be kind of drunk. As we waited I looked at his tablecloth. It looked familiar. After a second I realized why. It was a Twister mat. It made me laugh to myself. My companion was confused. Victor came out with a small harmonica and a medium one. I could hear a faint electric guitar sound coming from inside. He said do you like this music? I could only tell it was elec. guitar that's it. Then he started singing loud while pretending to play guitar. He changed his voice to mimic the singer. He was singing in his Argentine-English jibberish accent not even formulating words but the way he sang I thought to myself that has got to be John Foggerty. He stopped for a second and I heard a familiar Creedence Clearwater Revival song playing from inside. Haha! Then he whips out his small harmonica and just starts sucking and blowing on it. He did it for about 15 seconds and finished with a pleased look on his face. We were like wow that's really good! Then he grabs the medium one and does the same. Suck blow suck blow. It reminded me of the harmonica that we played with at Mark and Lynn's house. The one that got me sick. I didn't even want to think what would happen to me if I played with his harmonica. He was very pleased with his harmonica skills. We praised him on his talents and we said a prayer with him and started heading out. He asked us how old we were and we told him to guess. He guessed 20 for me. Right on! My companion said alright what about me? He looked at him for a second and said uh less than that. Haha it was pretty funny. We invited him to an activity we had that night and he said he would come only if he could find a girlfriend there. We headed on our way. He didn't show up, but it was a pretty funny experience.

Well that's all the time I have for this week so I'll stay in contact. I love you guys!

Love, Matt

Week 36 (8/23/10) Email to Mom and Dad

Hey familia!

     Not a whole lot to report here. Nothing really exciting happened this week. I really enjoyed the tape, it was good to hear your voices. I also really enjoyed getting the pictures. The laser pointer was kind of a weird, but fun thing to get, I thought it was a pen at first. I don't think I have ever seen a laser so powerful. It is fun to have at night because it scares all the cats and dogs, especially cats. Some cats are afraid to cross it so one time I put it in front of a cat and it turned to run and then I pointed it on the other side and it stopped. Then I pointed it in circles around it and it was too scared to do anything. I didn't point it again but it was too unsure to do anything but stay in one spot. It is also good to shut up the dogs. The dogs bark but then when they see the laser it scares them and they back off and keep quiet. Its kind of a handy tool!

     Gabriel called me yesterday to let me know that he is doing good and that he recieved the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday. He was excited. Speedy wasn't too happy that he called but oh well! We're playing pádel with Elders Maxfield and Henrie, and Gabriel on September 6 no matter what. I told Speedy we can do what he wants today but we are playing pádel on week 6 sí o sí(no matter what). Gabriel has it all planned out with reservations at the courts in Varela. I'm looking forward to it.

     I can't believe how fast time is going. Time is going fast this transfer. Time goes faster the harder you work. We are working hard every day, but it doesn't really feel like we're getting anywhere with our work. I have some good ideas for the ward but I'm saving them til after Speedy 'andale andale arriba arriba's his way out of here so that I will have more control over how well they work. My first idea is to do a class for the ward members based on member missionary work. They always say that every member needs to be involved in the work but a lot of people don't know what to do, how to do it, or they have fear about doing it. I want to do a weekly or every other week class for whoever in the ward wants to come so we can help them be more involved and be more confident about doing it. We can teach them some things from Preach My Gospel, from the scriptures, do practices and activities. I know that for me before the mission, I didn't really know what I could do and I did have some fear about doing it as well. I think this way we can help people to get more involved with the work, get them animated about doing it and in the process it will generate more work for us as full-time missionaries. My other idea will work a lot better if we can get this going. My other idea is an idea I got from one of the teachers in the MTC that went to Mexico on his mission. It is called Finding and Baptizing in Multitudes. In the Member Missionary class we could talk about this and facilitate the members in making it happen. The way it works is we set a date, probably a Saturday and the more members that  can participate the better. We all meet at the chapel, split them all up into 'companionships', plan out their routes with them, do a quick debriefing, say a prayer and send them all off to knock doors and give the people brochures and ask if they would be okay with the missionaries passing by to share a message with them about Jesus Christ, take down the names, addresses, and times to pass by. This way it would make it so we don't have to clap as many houses and when we do pass by the houses we are invited. The members would be excited to be able to participate in the work first hand. I guess they had a lot of success with it in the mission of the MTC teacher. I'd like to try it. While all the people are out working for a couple hours my companion and I will be making lunch in the chapel for all of them to come back and eat. I'm hoping it will be able to happen. This ward has a lot of people that want to help us but there isn't really much for them to do other than share with their friends. This will be a good place to try it out. We'll see. Speedy says its time to go so I gotta go. I love you guys! Thanks for everything!

Love, Matt

Week 35 (8/16/10) Email to Mom and Dad

Hey Mom and Pops!

This week was a lot better at least the last few days have been. Today was pretty boring but I think next week we're going to meet Elder Maxfield, Elder Henrie, and Gabriel in Varela to pádel it up! I got the second package today and I loved getting the pictures. It was weird seeing the Florida pics. I was looking through them and they were all pics I had seen and then when I got to the Florida ones it was like what in the world? It looks like you guys had a good time! Our family rocks and it always will. Yeah! I still haven't listened to the tape yet but I'm looking forward to it. When we got off the train here in El Jagüel 20 minutes ago, the first ciber we came upon was closed and Elder Tronzales tried telling me ya fue, perdimos-oh well we lost email this week. I was like oh no not so fast Speedy. We're looking for another ciber I'm not just skipping email like that. I'd like to send some pics but time is really tight with Speedy. This week won't work but I'll try next week. Its nice having a good buddy former companion in the mission. On Sunday nights we have to be in the pench an hour earlier so Maxfield and I talk on Sunday nights. Its good to hear how he and El Cruce are doing and just have somebody to talk to. Elder Maxfield's a good guy, we had some good times together. I'm doing a lot better, that first week was pretty rough. I know the area and the people a lot better and I'm feeling more comfortable here. Thanks for your emails, the packages, your love and your support. I love you guys lots.

Love, Matt