Testimony

Thats pretty cool that you got an ipad. I heard they are pretty neat. Apparently google is coming out with something similar to it. The only thing I don't like about Apple is you have to use their stuff for it. Like I heard the ipad doesn't have any usb ports or anything like that. Thats a neat gift to get though. I heard about the Saints win. That was a big win for them. They should have beaten them earlier in the season as well. 

Things are going  fine with my companion. He is a nice guy, he is just different. The teaching is going good. I think we have like 2 baptismal dates. On my mission I think I have most learned to be more positive and I've learned that people really can change. The best thing to see on a mission is the change the gospel brings in to their lives. I talked about this in my talk. I talked about certain circumstances that I have seen the Atonement change peoples lives. I gave two examples in my talk. One was Trina and the other one was the Garcia family. Anyways in the 1st ward my talk was 15 min long. In the 2nd ward it was 20 min long cause my companions was pretty short and I was the last speaker. I've gotten really good at free talking though. I barely wrote anything down on my notes. It was more of a outline and I only had like 5 things on there. The rest I just kinda filled in. I just went with the Spirit. It turned out pretty well though. I know that the Atonement can help us out during the hard times in our lives cause it has helped me out a lot on my mission. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel on the earth today and that Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God. The church is true and has been a great blessing in my life.

Anyways I enjoyed talking to yall on Christmas. I just realized that I won't hear Mark for another year lol. Thank you once again for all the gifts. I really like the cologne and the blue sweater yall got me. Anyways yall have a good week and a Happy New Year.

 

Love

Elder Mattei

So Do You Like Star Wars?

Well mom I wasn't able to view the video here cause for one I have no sound and 2 the library computers won't let me go to facebook or youtube links. (I had posted a video of Mark opening his mission call on Greg's blog, hoping that he would be able to view it.)   Apparently he is getting sent to New York Spanish speaking. I have no idea where Jackson is being sent to. I was told Sister Garcia brought me a cake. (The Garcias are a family Greg became close to in Caldwell;  I called her and asked her to make Greg a cake for his birthday.)  Im out late every night till about 9 or 9:30. I was happy they brought it and our room is a lot better than what it was. Its still kinda messy but most of that is my companion. Elder Jones enjoys Star Wars and Star Trek and just about any other sci fi thing that deals with aliens. He also enjoys drawing space ships and aliens and stuff. And no I am not kidding. I have trouble talking to him about anything else. So its pretty hard for me. He is also socially awkward. Thats about all I'm gonna say lol. We walk a lot and he has trouble keeping up. I look back and I'm like 20 yards ahead and I have to wait for him. The only way I can get him to keep up with me is if I talk about some kinda of sci fi stuff. I now know that I'm not gonna be negative as much anymore. He complains a lot that his feet hurt and stuff and that no one is home. I'm always like we will go contact another family and eventually we will find someone home. And guess what? We found some people home that we haven't been able to get a hold of. I don't mean to nag on him or anything but I just have no one to talk to or anything.

Thank yall for all the letters and stuff by the way. I enjoyed reading them. I'm sure I will also enjoy that birthday present yall got for me when I get home. (Saints playoff and Superbowl videos plus last season highlights - so he can catch up on everything he missed!)  I stay with the Dows. They are a really nice family and their son is on a mission in Guatamala. They gave me a card and 10 dollars for my birthday though.

So one of our investigators is in the army and has a baptismal date for January 15th. He is a pretty tight guy. He was like I'll take yall to my cabin and we will go snow mobiling and stuff and hunting. He wanted us to go do all this stuff. He apparently had a problem with God forgiving him for the things he has done in the past. Apparently he has shot and killed a lot of people while in the army. He also said he lost faith in God for a long time and is still trying to build it back up. He is awesome though. I held his Magnum. It was the kind Dirty Harry carries in the movie. You feel just like Dirty Harry holding that thing. Anyways he is really tight. There are some other families that are really cool there though.

P days here are really boring. Not much here to do. I spent this morning reading questions asked to Joseph Fielding Smith. A lot of it is pretty interesting. I also read a book about the Atonement each night before I go to bed. Its a really good book. It helps you understand the atonement a lot better through the eyes of another person. Its about a guy who is having relationship problems with his wife and how he comes to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Anyways we walk just about everywhere. (We later found out that he left his bike in his old area)  I've already lost some weight. Its good though cause I'll be thin for when I get home. I'm pretty talkative as a missionary. But it depends on the family too. I tend to run my mouth quite a bit though. I enjoy talking with other people. (We were telling him that some of our missionaries here at home are on the quiet side and wondered how he compared.)

Tell the Garcias thank you for sending me a cake though. They are such an awesome family and will be one I will visit after my mission. Anyways I hope yall enjoy your Christmas and have a good time. O yeah I forgot to tell yall that this family the Wilsons gave me their trenchcoat to have which is nice. Its a lot warmer than the other coats I have. I wear it quite a bit too. Tell Julian and them that I said hi. Anyways I don't have much else to say. I hope yall have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll call at around 3 o clock.

Love

Elder Mattei

Mark's Mission Call