Week 32 (7/26/10) Email to Mom and Dad/Matt's Birthday!

Hey Mom and Dad!

Wow I can't believe I'm 20! I remember laying in bed one night as a little kid wondering what I was going to look like when I was twenty. It seemed forever away, I could have had some better results but now I know! For my birthday so far we slept in til ten, then Elder Maxfield needed to go take out some money so we went and did that. Then we went and played pádel with Gabriel, two on one and he still killed us. It was a lot of fun. Pádel is like racquetball, tennis, and pickle ball mixed. Gabriel and I had some good rallies back and forth making each other run all over. Fun stuff. I wish we could have done that sooner, because I think I will be elsewhere in a week. After we email, we will be grabbing something to eat then going to the Cardozos to do a Noche de Hogar with them and Gabriel. Hermana Cardozo is making a birthday cake for me. I will be finding out what my next 6 weeks is looking like this Saturday. I think I will be out of here, but we'll see. If so I'm going to spend my last Sunday night doing a Noche de Hogar at Cardozos again with Gabriel. I pretty sure I'm going to cry when it finally comes time to say goodbye to the Cardozo family and Gabriel. Great people. I love them and I'm going to miss them. Hno Cardozo is like my Argentine dad. He is always happy to help us and is always watching out for us. He was there for me all along the way as I learned what I'm doing and learned the language. I think I did more work with him than my trainer those first three months. He was always very patient and helpful. I'm going to miss that man.

     This week we finally got hot water back. WOOHOO! That first hot shower was possibly the best shower I have ever taken. We also were able to set baptismal dates with Anulfo-Hermana Silva's primo- and Marco and his wife Susana. Marco is really excited about it and came to church yesterday, but I dunno about Susana. She doesn't really seem too interested and she says she can't read without glasses and you can't gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon without reading it, so we'll see what happens and do our best to help her feel the Spirit. The two families Elder Sobré used to go to ALL the time -Silva and Barrios- have fallen pretty hard, its been sad to see. It was like he was their crutch and when he left it hurt them. Its like when they tell you not to feed the squirrels. If you feed the squirrels regularly they are going to become dependant on that feeding. They are going to stop looking for physical nourishment for themselves. Then when your regular feeding stops, they have forgotten how to feed themselves and they can't make it on their own. I didn't just abandon them when he left either, we still try to visit them once or twice a week and help them.

     Elder Maxfield and I made a roast this week with carrots, potatoes, corn, and carne and it was AMAZING! We also made chocolate chip cookies. Also I finally found oatmeal, I had been looking for it but couldn't find it. Elder Larson showed me where to get it. Its cheap and easy and filling so that should save me money in the future. Thanks Elder Larson!

     We had interviews with the new president, President Stapley, this week. It was good, I like him a lot, he's great. He likes hiking slot canyons too so we talked about the fam, then we talked slot canyons, then we talked about missionary stuff. I like him better than the old one.

    Today being my birthday, I must thank you, Mom and Dad, for helping me become the person I am today. You guys have always been there for me and for that I will always be grateful. That's about all I've got this week. Hey Mom, if you haven't already sent package number 2, I would love some chapstick. My lips are dry and its driving me crazy.:) Also I would like Chad Graham's address, I'd like to send him a letter.

    Thanks for everything, all of your love and support, your weekly emails. I love you guys. You are the best parents in the whole wide world!

Love, Matt

Week 31 (7/19/10) Email to Mom

Hey Mom!

Transfers are creeping up and just around the corner. My first transfer may be on its way. We'll see what the Lord has got in store for me. I like my area and I like my companion but I feel like I'm ready for a change. I really liked the letter I got from Jim. It was good to hear about his areas and comps and his experience. The ward I'm in is a little disfunctional so I'm taking a page out of his book. We have a map of the area on our wall and a list of members. There are over 350 addresses with members so we looked through the lists and found all the listings with kids. We found about thirty, labeled them on our map and plan on passing by sometime this week and getting them back to church. We're hoping to take some references from our visits as well. I really think this will be a better, smarter take on the work here in El Cruce. I read his letter twice. Yesterday while my comp was sleeping, I read it the second time, then took some time to study and really think about my partriarchal blessing. My patriarchal blessing is really special to me. It really gives me direction and its just amazing. I took some time to ponder and really think about my mission, why I'm here and what I want to accomplish here. It was really energizing and I'm excited for what lies ahead. Lately I have been really trying to have the spirit with me and to develop a more personal relationship with my Father in Heaven. It has been an amazing experience. I don't know exactly what God has in store for me but I do know that I need to be ready and worthy for it.

This week I did an intercambio with Elder Larson from Arizona. It was a good day. He's a good missionary, he's got one less transfer than me. He's a hard worker and he's got a good attitude, really upbeat and happy and it was a good break from Johnny Raincloud. It's amazing how much of a difference your attitude makes. If you've got a choice why not be positive and happy?

     We really have had some good times. That Bolivia trip with you was two of the best weeks of my life. I want you to know how much I appreciate the relationship we have and everything you have done for me. I wouldn't be where I am now without you and your great example. I love you Mom.

     I'm kinda bummed that I have to get two packages, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it. Haha! My comps bummed that the packages won't get here til after transfers. He wants to see some pictures. I told him I'll let him have some candy cane hot chocolate and show him pictures next time we see each other. I'm excited to get some pics and CDs and whatnot.:) I don't have a tape player so you'll have to send one. How do they not have a Robin Hood CD?! That's some of the best Disney music you can get! Bummer. What other CDs are you sending? I'm about to finish my first quarter in Argentina. A scripture I came across after studying my patriarchal blessing that I really like is in Moroni 9:6. I think thats the reference. I miss my Book of Mormon study. Lately I have been trying to get through Preach My Gospel, but its hard because its just not the same. The Book of Mormon just has that amazing spirit. I was looking through some old letters and I saw the one when you said you wanted to try having the Spirit more and have that guidance in your life. You should read Chapter 4 in Preach My Gospel. Its a good one. Also I think I may have said this last week but you should buy a copy of Our Search for Hapiness by Elder Ballard and read it. Its a good book. Another thing I'd like is the address of the Morbys. I want to send them a letter and tell him I appreciate his help and love in young men's and then tell them to get their butts on a mission. He would make an amazing mission president.  Alright Mom that's all I've got this week. I appreciate everything, I really do and I love you lots! Thanks!

Love, Matt

Week 30 (7/12/10) Email to Mom

Hey Mom I don't have a ton of time to write. I spent too long trying to send pics... Oh well. Anyway if you haven't sent the package yet I'd like a copy of the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas CD as well as a copy of the John Denver Muppets Christmas CD as well. :) Tis the season to be jolly no? Also some Pepto Bismal Chewables I can't remember if I told you that already or not. Anyway its cold but I'm doing fine. The work is kind of slow here but I've probably only got three weeks left here. Weird. I hope everything was good with Pete's birthday and everything. This is going to be my coldest yet. I want some pics of the Florida trip, the wedding, of when we did the Subway, pics of us as a family, just some cool pics. Haha thanks Mom. That sounds like fun, playing games with you guys. I could go for a good game right now. Have you ever read Our Search for Hapiness by Elder Ballard? I'm reading it right now and its really good. It all makes so much sense, the things we believe in that at first may seem downright silly to some people. God is amazing. And I love Him. I also love you Mom. Keep up the good work!:)

Love, Matt

Week 29 (7/6/10) Email to Mom

Mom!
Hey everything is going good here. This week was a LOT better. That is good to hear that you got Sam going on tennis lessons. He will be a beast. It'll be fun to play with him when I get home, though by that time he will be way better than me. I heard Nadal won Wimbledon. Yeah that's right. I have seen clay courts here and someday I want to play on them. I'm actually surprised that nobody has said anything to us about Argentina losing. I think they are too humiliated and disappointed to say anything. I think every one of us here had ourselves convinced that Argentina was going to take it all. It was a big back to earth moment here for the people. Kind of depressing to see. I actually almost bought a Germany jersey before the games started. They're too expensive though. Hey if you haven't sent the package yet or aren't ready to send it yet, I'd like the Holes soundtrack and the Jars of Clay cds both of which we already have. Also ranch packets would be awesome too. And candy cane hot chocolate packets. Also I want you to see if you can find out how cheap you can find reading glasses. I often meet people that can't read the Book of Mormon very well because its too small and they can't see very well. It would be kind of nice to have some cheap reading glasses to be able to give to people that I know need and will use them. Let me know what you find out.
     So in about a week I will have been here in El Cruce for five months. That is weird to me how long I have been here. At the end of the transfer it will have been just under 6. That's about a quarter of my mission in one place. I like it here. It will be kind of sad to leave all of these people I have come to know and love. This is like my home. To me this is the mission. I know no other area. I did an intercambio this week with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Day to his area and Elder Riquez came to my area. It was a really good experience. It was just what I needed. I have been feeling a bit down the last week and a half or so. I haven't really had a companion to learn from and I felt so inadequate. I knew I needed to improve, but I didn't know how. I just wanted to be able to have someone I could learn from, someone to show me the way. I felt like a lot of things I had done in life I had had to figure out on my own and that was something that for me wasn't too hard. This stuck feeling was a new feeling to me and it was bothering me. I felt like I had my boots stuck in the mud. I wanted to continue walking down the path but I couldn't. I needed someone to pull me out and show me the way. My day with Elder Day was just what I needed. Just seeing how he did things, seeing how he loved people, seeing his desire to share with everyone we passed was freshening to me. It was just a day, but I feel like it was a very important day for me on my mission. It got my batteries recharged and the rest of the week we were clicking in my area. We put up the best numbers I have had so far without baptisms. It can be hard sometimes, not having a good companion to follow and show me an example early on but I trust that God knows what he is doing and it will turn out to be the best for me. He knows what he is doing and I know that he does. He has things for me to learn and I sure hope I am catching the lessons he is throwing me. It is supposed to be hard, otherwise we don't grow, we don't learn, we don't progress. Thanks for all of your love and support Mom. I really do appreciate it! I love the mission and I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of God on the earth today.

Love, Matt