In Caldwell Now

Well about the phone call, I can probably call from the Mission phone considering its sprint and it won't cost either of us money. I would prefer to call maybe around night time since mom may be working. Or maybe during the afternoon sometime. My companion will have to talk to his parents during the morning since his family is all in France. Things here have been going well just a bit stressful because my companion works really really hard and it gets to the point where it stresses me out because I need a break. I think he is a good guy and a great missionary but he works way too hard. It's kinda like he is a robot. All he wants to do is teach teach teach and it's hard for me to talk to him about anything that isn't related to church. I have to have a lot of patience because I have trouble understanding him sometimes. He is also the worst driver ever. Worse than Lindsay lol. A timely comment: Within 30 minutes of Greg sending this email, Lindsay and Mark were in a car accident. Thankfully neither of them was hurt, but Greg's old Camry was totaled. OOPS! He wouldn't pass a drivers test I don't think. He has an international license but I let him drive because I want him to learn. He has trouble doing just basic parking and he ran a red light way too late. I have been driving lately because of all the snow and ice because he can't drive in that and I have driven in it before. But like I said he is really nice and is a hard worker. I'm glad he is a hard worker but in some ways I think he overdoes it because sometimes it makes me miserable because he sucks the fun out of everything. Like I just need a break sometimes because my medicine makes me tired and it just stresses me out. Other than that I have no problem with him. Most people think he kinda needs to chill out sometimes too and just learn to have fun and be more social. Last night we had a bon fire at the zone leaders house. Our Zone is awesome. We had like our whole zone there and we stayed up till 3 am. We had a bunch of boy scouts that couldn't start a fire so we had to use lighter fluid lol. It took like 30 min and it was probably about 6 degrees last night and below zero with wind chill. It was a lot of fun. I got to know people a lot more and I had a lot of fun. I took some pictures so I will be sending my memory card home soon. I had to sleep on the floor and get up at 7 am. But I really enjoyed it and it's like a once in awhile thing we do like maybe once a transfer. We call them P-day eves. But anyways I need to go. Take care. Please send my GPS soon because I really need it because my companion doesn't know the area the best and we keep having to turn around and stuff because he doesn't know the area and its wasting miles so I really need a GPS. Okay we got the HINT!

Love

Elder Mattei

- Are you staying with a family? yes, Bro. and sis. Perkins

- If so what are their names and do they have children, etc? they have 3 children and one on the way. I don't know all their names yet

- Do you have your own room, etc.? Yeah, its a pretty nice house

- How long has your companion been out? I think 10 months

- You said he is from France, what part? Southern part of France

- Do you both get along? Yeah we both get along well.

- What Wards are you serving in? Caldwell 9th, 15th and 5th ward

- How many missionaries are in your area? Maybe 10?

- Anyone you know or have worked with? Elder Nelson and thats it

- Are you currently teaching anyone? Yes a ton of people

- How are you doing on money and such? Money is decent but I don't have a whole lot cause of groceries and such

Stressed Out and Wiped Out

Greg is being transferred to Caldwell, ID tomorrow. I think he was ready for a change. It's only about 30 minutes west of where he is now ~ So on the other side of Boise.


I spent last night with Russ and said goodbye to him and I also got a chance to watch the Saints game and they killed the Patriots. I have been stressed lately with packing stuff and making sure I have everything. I have to sleep on the floor tonight at another Elder's house. I'm gonna head to my area tomorrow at some point. President talked to me today and told me he is sending me to that area because he knows I'll work hard. I'm really tired right now because I have not slept well the past 2 nights because I have been busy packing and stuff. Today I went and played racket ball at a members house. It was a lot of fun. They have their own built in racket ball court and their house was worth at least a million dollars. We have another baptismal date set but I probably won't be there for it. Her name is Andrea and she is twenty years old. She is really nice and we taught her the first two lessons before I left. Yes I know Elder Nelson. He is cool and get along with him pretty well. I'm extremly tired right now so I'm sorry if this message is short. I have been busy all day and yesterday so I'm about wiped out.

Love
Elder Mattei

The Jud's One Pound Challenge Winner

Sounds like yall will be having a fun Thanksgiving. All the missionaries around here are supposed to be fed by these people at the institute building. Yes President Yardley is as cool as everyone says he is. He is pretty relaxed and just an all around nice guy. I don't know one missionary who doesn't like President Yardley.

Scott is being baptized this weekend. It was so exciting to see him and his wife and kids at church. I was suprised to see them all there since they were separated. It goes to show you that the gospel blesses families. That is the 2nd principle we teach in the first lesson. You can tell it has made a big difference in his life. We found another person that we got as a referral that wants to be baptized, so we went over to her house and taught her this week. It's amazing how much we have been blessed and how many miracles I have seen while being out here.

I'm sure the family home evening video will remind me of home. I don't think we ever had a family home evening that went exactly as planned. Things are going better with my companion. I just think it takes time to get used to their personalities and stuff. I will probably be transferred soon. I still have not gotten your letter. It takes forever to get mail. I will be finding out when I will be transferred maybe tonight or tomorrow night. It will be interesting to see where I go.

I'm in 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I just like reading about all the wars and stuff. I have found myself enjoying the scriptures a lot more than what I did.

I hope yall have a good Thanksgiving. We will be having a Turkey bowl. It should be really good. Elder Keogan left today and he called me last night and said, "I have less hours than you do months on your mission" lol. He was a really funny guy and a good zone leader. My favorite family would probably have to be the Hansens or the Coles or maybe the Glovers. The Hansens are really cool and make good food and their dad is making me this awesome looking pen.

O yeah I forgot to tell you I did the big Jud's one pound challenge. I don't ever recommend doing it. I ate a one pound hamburger. The meat is actually a pound and the bun and all the other stuff is just extra. Then you have to eat a pound of fries or tots. I can say that I did it but I also felt horrible after shoving 2 pounds of food down my throat. And you also had to drink a big drink. So I felt really sick afterwards and wanted to vomit while laying in bed at night. One of the worst feelings I have felt on my mission. But I got my picture on the wall and I can now at least say that I did it. My companion couldn't finish it. He said he felt sick when he looked up at me while he was eating and said he couldn't do it. I just looked so sick and I had like ten tator tots left and I had to like force them down. I finished all that in about 50 min and I haven't had a hamburger since then lol. Anyways I have to go. Yall have a Happy Thanksgiving!