June 16, 2011

Hello family,

How is everyone? I've had a swell week. I'm working on my sixth week, it seems to fly by faster and faster. But it's weird because it doesn't seem like I'm going to Riverside in three weeks it more seems like I'm going home after because this place is like jail in a lot of ways. The longer you're here the more you're respected. My district is more respected than our zone leaders.....But I'm cool with it. Elders Snow, Martinez and Brandon leave on Monday and I'm really sad. That's the district I told you about that we stay up all night with and talk about life. Elder Gavin Salisbury, Elder Colin Maxfield, and Elder Jordan Davis all from Olympus are here, they got here last Wednesday. I'm still waiting on the pictures from Kathy and more from y'all so if the process could be sped up that would be great. We got a new Elder in our district, his name is Elder Maradiaga. He's from Honduras and he's going to Orlando Spanish speaking. He was moved into our district because he was having some issues with the rules and we were asked to set him straight. He is having somewhat of a rough time, and I can't blame him. His mother was killed 5 months ago in an armed robbery, and his sister was diagnosed with cancer before he left on his mission and is supposed to die while he is out. I can't even imagine how hard that would be. He was put as Elder Applegate's companion (the one from Bountiful) and Elder Mc Ewen (Applegate's former companion) was moved into a trio with Painter and Wilde. Elder Applegate was named the new DL, and his mother (the one you called with his plaque scripture), sent the whole district paddleballs. Needless to say, we aren't bored as a district. The Primary President came and spoke to us and it was suprisingly good. Sister Wixom was very good. We had a District devotional review and our whole district was in tears. The spirit was very strong. I performed an arrangement of Come Thou Fount, and it went well for the 12 people I sang it for. The arragement we sang was very simple and mediocre....when we first got it. Me and Applegate completely tore that thing a part and we sang it for the SENIOR MISSIONARY ORIENTATION......but that's ok I sang well. Elder Prince, our former DL got a bottle of Martinelli's in the mail. He didn't drink it but we did all go in the showers and pop the cap like it was champagne. I love our district. and I love yall and miss you.
Love Elder Matt

June 9th, 2011

Hey Family,

So I'm here in the laundry room soaking up the soultry smeel of sweating elders and sisters and their laundry detergent. I love the MTC........this week was a good one. I hope you have got my package....I can't believe that both pairs went out on me. Oh well, and I'm serious about my Angels hat. If you didnt know I can receive emails as well as send them, just to be more convenient for you.

So Doug Burgoyne came down as you know and brought me my insulin along with other goods. It was good to see someone from the outside world. They called me down from my classroom to the health clinic in the middle of class, and everyone in my district was confused and worried. So my companion and I decided to play a little joke, we decided to lie and tell everyone that they called me down to tell me the insulin I have been taking has been bad and I have to go home for surgery on monday for two weeks. Hilarious. They are still completely believing it, and I plan on keeping it that way until I show up to class on Monday. It's going to be funny. Anyways, on to the next subject. Me, and Elders, Cox, Brandon, Martinez and Robertson stayed up till like midnight and shared stories of our past, IN FULL DETAIL. It was way good and everyone was in tears. Elder brandon and Martinez are here and their families don't even want them here. I can't even try to imagine what that is like. This month has flown by. Like I said we are the oldest in our Zone now and we are the "examples" histerical. But, I'm having a good time so far. I have unlimited access to the cafeteria and my mini fridge is never even close to being empty. My whole floor loves that. The devotional given by Elder Kikuchi was the best devotional yet. He called on one of the Elders who got here last wednesday (this is on tuesday two days ago) to bear his testimony in front of the whole MTC congregation and he had the first vision memorized and he was in tears two words in. You have to understand that I never would have pegged this guy as a super spiritual guy, but he hit the nail on the head. Well, keep writing and tell friends and families to write through dearelder.com, it's super easy. Because mail is the best! Thank you for all your support, love, and more support. I love you all.

Sincerely,

Matt Dial

June 2, 2011

June 2, 2011

Hello family,

I'm sorry the letter was so short, i forgot my password so I ran out of email time. So I need like addresses of families and friends and stuff if you could in your next letter. Thank you for the shoes, I'm going to wear them tonight, they look awesome.

Elder Hinckley came and spoke to us in one of the firesides and it was weird because he has so many mannerisms like his dad. He spoke about doing things on your mission and being able to look back and say, "I'm glad I did....." instead of, "I wish i would have......" It was great. I'm taking my Adderall when I remember, which is most of the time.

We finally got our permanent teacher last week. Her name before she was married was Hermana Hunt, and now it's Hermana Hunter after she got married. She's great but it's weird because she reminds me exactly of Calee Naylor, her voice her little sayings.....it's way weird. My Spanish has improved a ton and me and Elder Robertson made a goal to teach the first lesson 13 times in Spanish in a week. That has helped alot.

So I sent the birthday letters to Meg and Jojo on the 25th. I didn’t realize it took the post office to get the mail from Provo to Salt Lake in 4 days. I miss you all. The O'henry bars are delicious as usual. In the next package if you could throw my Donald Duck shirt in there and more pictures of my opening my call that would be great. Don't feel like you’re in any hurry.

There's an Elder Brandon on my floor and we tell everyone we are cousins because it's fun. He's a way funny guy, and he's a fat strong guy like me. None of his family is Mormon, he's from Bountiful and he's on his mission because his girlfriend sat him down once a day and they read the bom for twenty minutes. way cool story. I usually spend the night in there every night for like an hour and we just talk about random stuff. Elder Anderson from our District left to go to the Peru MTC and we had like a goodbye little devotional deal for him and it was sad, which was weird because I only knew the guy for 3 weeks. We also had a big sleepover in one of the rooms. The layout of the room allowed six mattresses to lay out on the floor, it was funny.

I miss you guys a TON. Sending pictures of Tabby made me angry though......because I wasn't there. But, I'm glad I'm here. I tried out a Come Thou Fount arrangement and they said a definite yes. Maybe because the guy who went before me was horribly but that’s ok. I'm hoping I get a devotional but I'll work my way up to it if not. Congrats to Mike for graduating, I'll send you a real card sooner or later. Keep me updated on everyone’s MTC entry dates and calls and stuff. Also an update on the NBA finals would be nice :). We are just starting to learn the second lesson in Spanish, it's rough. Well, I'm sorry I haven't written much email, but I can receive email from cousins and uncles and grandparents. So tell them to feel free. I love you all, thanks for the support.

Sincerely,

Elder Matt Dial