107 Degrees isn't that hot

Well...this week has been a LOT better. We actually did some
tracting. In fact we did 13 hours, 147 OYM's (Open Your Mouth), had
like 3 lessons, and one BAPTISMAL DATE. His name is Fabian. He's lived
in California all his life but his parents are from Mexicali. He is a
nephew of one of the members but hasn't really talked to his Uncle
(who he's a referral from) much about the church let alone talk to him
at all. He's Catholic, the only one active in his family and is open
to all religions. We challenged him to baptism the first lesson and
committed him to a date on the second. It was awesome. And we teach
him in English which is a blessing to me. Our other investigator named
Rigoberto from I think Mexicali as well...we haven't been able to
contact him in a week which is frustrating. We got another appointment
to teach a man named Mike Alvarez who lives in Thermal (Mexiquito). He
has had a rough life, been homeless and all that good stuff. But he
has "opened his life to Christ" for about 8 years now. He LOVES the
Bible. He and a member named Hector Esteves work together picking
grapes and Hector brought him to church. Church is rough for me
because Elder Fisher goes out in the boonies to translate for a
bilingual branch of like 20 people. So I can't understand a word
people say in church becasue Spanish in the MTC is a WHOLE LOT
different than in the field. But it will come.

My area is from Ave 52 all the way out to Borrego
Springs.  Borrego Springs is at least and hour and a half from our
appartments.  So we do most of our work in Coachella, Mecca, and
Thermal. I'm starting to get used to it a little bit. Elder Larson (an Elder in our apartment)went
on an exchange with one of the ZLs from Fri to Sat so we had to make a
quick appt clean up. We vacuumed and threw all the dishes in the
dishwasher and stuff. APPARENTLY, you can't put liquid dish soap in
the dishwasher....so there were suds everywhere. We got three blankets
and four towels wiped it all up and stuffed them under the dishwasher
to absorb all the soap. it was funny. There is a Five Guys about 6
miles from our apartment, so those gift cards would be very appreciated.

About the sweet rolls you promised, We would love to have half rolls
half sweet rolls if it would be possible. At the MTC they would
already be hard when they got to me.....so I don't know if you could
just send the dough.......whatever put a refrigerated sticker on it.
The address to receive mail for my appartment is 81875 Avenue 48
Appartment #24 Indio CA. I'll be here in the blistering heat of the
desert for at least 2 transfers after this one. Good cool weather here
is 100 degrees. We were tracting and were talking to people and they
said it's not that bad it's only 107......as I'm standing on their
doorstep with sweat dripping off of my face. It's worse than two a
days in VA. But I'm loving it out hear and I'm glad things have picked
up. Love you all a ton.
      -Matt

July 19, 2011

Sorry for the depressing email. I'm really having a good time. Just a bad week. Today, we are going to tract ALL DAY in Mecca after I told Elder Fisher so. It's going to be extremely hot and I'm going to sweat my brains out. Can't wait to get out and do something.

I forgot to mention a couple of things in the email. Such as thank you so much for the package waiting for me when I got here.

Our mission is less restrictive about music than the previous mission president. The rules are as follows: 1. Nothing that talks about love between a man or woman. 2. Nothing that takes away from the spirit. That's it!! If I could request a couple of CD's that would be great! Such as Mulan, Hercules, and the other Disney sound tracks. Les Mis is a good one as well. Lot's of Insideout, Voicemail.

The thing I don't like about my area is we only receive mail once a month (rarely packages). So just send letters to this address. It's that way because we are so for out from the mission office.

So this Wednesday I get to go teach a recent convert because he's been inactive for awhile, and wants to come back to church. My trainer will be in a Leadership Meeting and I'll be with and Elder from Nicaragua who's been out for 6 months. GREAT. I'm excited though. Love you all and I miss you tons.
Matt

Pictures

Elder Matt and his trainer...Elder Fisher.

He's been out about a year...from Montana...

President and Sister Smart/Matt's Mission President...they've just arrived the first of July. Troy and I went to hear them speak before they left. They are great!

Being very studious...it's music for a vocal solo...Matt had the opportunity to sing for several different events at the MTC...including a new missionary meeting with 400 new missionaries.

Miracle meeting of RJ Johnson and Elder Matt in front of the MTC. RJ came to pick up his daughter Carly before having surgery and Matt and his companion were sitting outside the front door on a bench studying! RJ called us and we were able to say thru him how much we loved him and how proud we were of his great efforts! They had to leave as fast as he came to go teach an "investigator"...little miracles every day for these missionaries!

Very busy studying...He is totally asleep..I can tell by his mouth...he's probably snoring!

His GREAT MTC companion...Elder Robertson from Vancouver WA...they worked great together. They sent us another photo of themselves on Pday...Elder Robertson was wearing an In and Out Shirt...don't worry Troy sent a 5 Guys shirt the very next day!

July 18th

Hello Family,

So I'm not sure how you looked up my apartment on google earth. Did you talk to Sister Robinson or something? This week has been a little bit slow. Actually very slow. My Trainer is Elder Fisher from Montana. He's been out almost a year and he's a little different. He's all into dungeons and dragons and things like that, but i love him. We live in Indio, but we are opening a new area and live about an hour outside of it. Our area is in Salton City, Thermal, and Mecca and some of Coachella. It's rough. My companion doesn't really seem to like to work, for example: we only tracted 4 hrs this week. We haven't taught a lesson yet, let alone get in any doors. We don't have any investigators, but we do have one potential. His name is Rigoroberto, we met him while we were tracting and we gave him a BOM and challenged him to read 3 Nephi 11. My Spanish sucks. This is God's work but it's rough. Meanwhile, we're rooming with an Elder Chambers, and Elder Larson. Elder Larson came in my week and they've got like 10 hrs of tracting and eight lessons. It's a little frustrating but I know it'll pick up. Church was a little rough, because I can't speak it. Native speakers are a lot different than MTC gringos. You can't understand them! I'll be needing prayers from everyone.......even Tai. Anyway, that's good news about Shay and Barry. I totally called they were going to get married on the first day i met him. Well I know that what I'm doing is the Lord's work and that I'll be blessing people's lives sooner or later. Love you and pray for you every day.

Matt

June 30t

Hey Family,

This week has been eventful. The thing that has effected me most is two sundays ago, I left a chocolate milk in my backpack. I try to carry sugar or somehting around alot on sundays but apparently i forgot that i left that in there. On Monday, we got a lesson taught to us by the Columbian MTC director, therefore we had to be in suits. So we had to run back and change into our suits last minute. Well, as I opened my door I frantically kicked my backpack out of the way and rotten chocolate milk got EVERYWHERE. Our room smelled so bad I couldn't sleep in our room that night. It still smells horrible. But, it was funny. It was way cool to have the apostles here, and hear from all of them. David A. Bednar came and talked to us on Friday, and talked about being a PME (Predicar Mi Evangelio). He talked about teaching people not lessons. It was good. I appreciate the mail, and the packages, they are great! Keep em comin! I rolled my ankle in gym, it's all purple and swollen. But, I can walk on it just fine, and I plan on playing on it tomorrow in gym. Elder Schone is here bugging me about things. He says hello and is from St. George his Grandparents live on Walker Ln. Elder Robertson, my mother would appreciate more Chocolate chip cookies.

My Spanish has improved immensely we have two days this when we talk solamente en espanol. It's the worst, but it helps a ton!

Yo se que nosotros estamos aqui para un razon mas importante. Soy mucho emocionado salir a Riverside. Entonces me dijen a cerca de ustedes vidas. Les amo. And i miss you.

Matt

June 23rd

Dear Family,

Thank you so much for the package, everyone is loving the rolls and sweet rolls. I get to meet my mission president tomorrow, and I'm hopefully going to get to see President Pingree as well. Do you know when all the kids get here? if you could try and send my class ring in and get it resized to a 12, that would be great. Paul Sybrowsky came and spoke to us and talked to us about walking with christ. but the biggest thing was that he testified that we made promises to people in the pre-earth life that we would bring them unto christ. so that was cool to hear. this week the MTC got over 500 MISSIONARIES!!!!! Ridiculous, we show up to dinner like half an hour early on wednesdays. I will probably get my travel plans to california next week which is way excited and I'm excited to call you in the airport. Not much happened this week, except for I didn't get my HAT! I've been waiting all week and waiting for my hat and when i got this package and realized my hat, donald duck shit, and new shoes i was upset. But when I realized that the box was full of rolls and sweet rolls I was ecstatic. thank you. I heard about walker and byron. I saw mikes buddy who is going to orlando (i forgot his name), Jeff Christensen got in this week. and waiting for the Oly kids to roll in. Well I know this isnt much but its all i got this week. I love you and miss yall a ton

Sincerely,

Matt