I can't wait for a white Christmas!

A recent baptism.  He looks happy!

Hello all,

This week was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! We did some serious work. We found some super solid investigators, la familia Vega. They are a referral from a recent convert in one of the white wards, and are super solid. They are on date for the 6 of Jan.

 We found another family of 5 who are of baptismal age. They are currently not on date, but they are looking pretty solid. We found a total of 10 new investigators this week. I'm soooo excited for some baptisms this month. We currently have 6 on date for the last weekend of the month. 9 in total. 

We are sooooo busy all day every day. We take about 20 minute lunches every day then out to work. We have packed lunches for like the past 4 days and switched driving when the other was hungry.

Right now I am probably the best missionary I've been yet. The Lord has humbled and formed me. I encourage all of you to allow the Lord to form you. Allow his Atonement to change your life daily. It is only by the name of Christ that we can enter into his rest. 

I love this work. I don't want to come home. I'm grateful for the fact that I have a knowledge, not a perfect one, but a small knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. It is perfect. 

Sorry for the shorty email. We have tons of stuff to do today. All is well in Moreno Valley. We'll be enjoying tamales, champurrado, pupusas, and all kinds of other delicious foods for the holiday season. 

I love my mission. I can't wait for a white Christmas. (you know…baptisms!)

Love you all,

Elder Matt Dial

The mission is the Greatest!

(Matt went to the Dr. on Monday and the temple on Tuesday, so their P-days got mixed up…)

Hello everyone,

This week was great. We are still finding, teaching, and just waiting on the baptism part. We have 6 SOLID investigators to get baptized on the 29th and the 30th of this month. We found a family doing the Harvesting Blessing this week named La Familia Preciado. They consist of Grandma, Mom, and 2 sons. We knocked on their door, they let us in, and we started writing down all the names. As we about finished, Alma (mom) said with tears rolling down her face, "Can you add two things to mine? I just got laid off, and the way I deal with it is drinking and smoking. I don't want to do it anymore." We obliged. We said the blessing and got up, sat on the couch, paused (this is key), acknowledged their feelings and the Holy Ghost, and said, "Will you both, follow these feelings, and the example that Jesus Christ has set before us and be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God?" They both obliged. They and the two sons will be baptized on the 30th of this month.

The Lord is preparing people. It's awesome. We are straight up doing this in the most ghetto of places too. We knocked on a door, and as we looked closer, we saw blood splattered all over the door. Someone straight up got murdered there. It's sweet. I love this area. It is probably the most ugly area I've been in, but, it is the area with the most work in it. We're straight up raking in investigators.

 On Sunday, I had the opportunity to do something very special. In our ward we have a young man named Beto. He is about 14 years old, and has the priesthood. He passes the sacrament regularly, and I never really thought anything of it until I was asked by his mother to follow him and watch him while he passed. As I reverently followed this priesthood holder around the chapel, I could feel the Spirit immensely, maybe one of the most spiritual moments of my mission. As he passed, I watched with tears in my eyes and could feel the love and diligence radiating from this young man. I want to grow up to be like Beto someday and love EVERYONE I see, and express it.

We had a chance to go to the temple, which I love doing. The temple is the house of God. We should all make the goal to visit it regularly. If we haven't been married, or gone through for ourselves, take the steps that we need to take in order to participate in these sacred ordinances.

 I love this work. I love this Gospel. The mission is the greatest. I have never been so happy/tired/stressed/spiritual/consecrated/tried in my entire life!! It really is the best fetchin two years.

 I love you.

-Elder Matt Dial

Happy Day!!!!!

Hello everyone,

This week was absolutely the greatest. We did some SEEEEEERIOUS work. We found 18 new investigators. We taught 9 member present lessons. We taught 14 other lessons. As of now, we have 7 with a baptismal date. Needless to say, our area is flourishing. The people here in Moreno Valley and prepared, and accepting the Message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I want to talk about one of the more spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. We were knocking on doors offering the Harvesting Blessing, and we knocked into this family who straightway let us in and we blessed their home, and got a return appointment. We came back, and the lady (Delia) invited her daughter over to her apartment to sit down with us. Her daughter (Leticia) is a mother of two young men who both are serving in the Marines. A couple months ago, only one came home alive. Her son Anthony was killed in Afghanistan. She is a strong woman. However, she is angry with God. We taught the plan of salvation. We taught the whole lesson and she didn't ask a single question. We taught the three kingdoms, committed the family of 5 to be baptized, and then the questions rolled in.

She asked me in perfect English (which I had no idea she spoke English), “So where is my son?”

I answered, "Your son is in Spirit Prison waiting to accept the Gospel fully through baptism."

We explained temples, and the duty she had to be baptized so she could have the work done for her son.

 She said, "Normally, I wouldn't be open to talk to you guys, or anyone about religion at that matter. But, as of now, I'm just searching for hope and comfort. I'll look anywhere."

 I testified of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, and there was a long silence. Tears started to flow, and Elder Allen brought it home and bore his testimony about his little brother who is also entering in the Marines shortly, and realizes the fact that the same thing could happen to his brother. With tears rolling down his face, he testified of the Plan of Salvation and how he knows he'll be with his family no matter what happens. We left her with Alma 40 to read, and passed her over to the missionaries who are in her area. Mostly everyone was in tears during the lesson.....except for me. Cuz I'm a MAN! haha jk. but really...i didn't cry.

Then we picked up another family of 4-5 last night. We blessed their home, talked about the fruits of the Spirit, how to follow them, the importance of baptism, our purpose as missionaries, and committed them to be baptized. They said maybe. It was cool. Everyone was crying there too.

We have been listening to Cee Lo Green's Christmas CD which is the greatest. I cry every time I listen to, "Mary Did You Know?" Then we blessed a pastor's home and left a bom with him and he said he'd read.

This work is sooooo true. All we have to do to be happy is obey and work. THAT'S IT!!! I am so grateful I have an understanding of the Plan of Salvation. I have some family who hasn't been to church for a while. Enjoy it for now because when Elder Whammy gets home things are going to change. So, go out to dinner and Wal-Mart and stuff on Sunday as much as you can. Get your fill.

 Love you!

-Elder Matt Dial

P.S. Elder Spencer made me super sad when he brought to my attention that after this transfer, I've only got 3 more. That made me quite depressed. Sorry fam but I don't want to come home.

P.P.S. BTW my legs are suuuuuper sore. We did squats, deadlifts, and calves this morning. I'm gonna make my calves turn into cows.