Monday March 12, 2012

Hello,

This week was an awesome week. Elder McGill and I did some work. We received a referral from the English missionaries, named Cielo. They said she was somewhat interested, but that's about it. So we went over there, and decided to meet her. She is a 19 yr old girl who lives with six other people from her family. We didn't think we would be able to teach her and the whole family to where they were progressing investigators. We went in talked to her and asked if the family wanted to come sit in. Well amazingly, they did (that never happens)! So we taught an awesome Restoration and picked up 7 new investigators in one lesson. Sweet, and they seem pretty good. Jesus one of the sons, is about to get baptized into Harvest (the great and spacious building), so we gotta stop him from taking that camino down to hell.

Also we picked up 2 other investigators this week, meh we'll see how they go. I've finally gotten to the point where I can understand everything everyone says. It's super relieving. I also love being here in the states and being able to meet people from almost EVERY Spanish speaking country in the world.

We got to go to the Elders Quorum President's house on Sunday who's from Cuba. He gave us Cuban food and I ate a TON. Elder Cook, from Colorado (another big guy) and I have eating competitions. Also in sacrament meeting the bishop announced that whenever the members have us over for a dinner appointment they have to make us a ton of food because, "Elder Cook y Elder Dial comen BASTANTE!"He's super tight and has tons of animals, like 6 horses, 8 dogs, and cats too. That's about it though love you all and I expect replies!

-Elder Dial

Monday March 12, 2012

Hello,

This week was an awesome week. Elder McGill and I did some work. We received a referral from the English missionaries, named Cielo. They said she was somewhat interested, but that's about it. So we went over there, and decided to meet her. She is a 19 yr old girl who lives with six other people from her family. We didn't think we would be able to teach her and the whole family to where they were progressing investigators. We went in talked to her and asked if the family wanted to come sit in. Well amazingly, they did (that never happens)! So we taught an awesome Restoration and picked up 7 new investigators in one lesson. Sweet, and they seem pretty good. Jesus one of the sons, is about to get baptized into Harvest (the great and spacious building), so we gotta stop him from taking that camino down to hell.

Also we picked up 2 other investigators this week, meh we'll see how they go. I've finally gotten to the point where I can understand everything everyone says. It's super relieving. I also love being here in the states and being able to meet people from almost EVERY Spanish speaking country in the world.

We got to go to the Elders Quorum President's house on Sunday who's from Cuba. He gave us Cuban food and I ate a TON. Elder Cook, from Colorado (another big guy) and I have eating competitions. Also in sacrament meeting the bishop announced that whenever the members have us over for a dinner appointment they have to make us a ton of food because, "Elder Cook y Elder Dial comen BASTANTE!"He's super tight and has tons of animals, like 6 horses, 8 dogs, and cats too. That's about it though love you all and I expect replies!

-Elder Dial

Monday March 5, 2012

Hello Everyone,

This week was.....not as good as the last. We talked to a lot of people but all of our appointments fell through and just a lot of things didn't really "work out" this week. We go out and do work but unfortunately numbers didn't show it this week. We taught a couple lessons but nothing out of the ordinary. I can't believe we are already entering week 5 of this transfer. Time flies when....you're doing the work of the Lord.

I finally acquired something to do exercise with other than pushups and situps. We were teaching one of our investigators who lives with a member and had lunch after. We walked out to the backyard (which was just riddled with all kinds of junk), and I saw a set of 60lb dumbbells on the ground. I asked the Hermano if he was using them, he said no, and he gave them to me. Exercise with dumbbells is limited, but I try to get creative.

Yesterday, for the first time in my mission, did I mix up two Spanish words ending up saying a curse word. Rats. We were visiting a less active, who has a couple of dogs and I was petting one of them and I noticed that the tail had a little nick in it. So I asked, "Como se quebro el culo?" The Spanish word for tail is cola.....not culo. Culo is a word that may or may not mean the vulgar way of saying rump....it was embarrassing but my companion (the native Spanish speaker), and the member laughed ridiculously...I guess it's kinda funny.

I love this work and I know this gospel is the TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. We were listening to a talk from Hyrum W. Smith who defined a couple words. The definition of humility is the realization of our dependance on God. I liked that a lot. It is so true how little we are and how God uses us as instruments.

-Elder Dial

Obedience is key!

February 27, 2012

Hello Everyone,

This week has been pretty dang productive. Not necessarily with the number of lessons we taught but with the number of new investigators we found. We found 7 new people to teach this week. I don't know about y’all in Mexico but 7 is a good number here in the smoggy city of Riverside. It is amazing how the Lord blesses those who are obedient. Blessings truly come when we are obedient, One of my favorites, "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated".

One of the methods Elder McGill and I have found is very effective to bringing in the spirit is we ask if we can simply sing a hymn from my mini hymnbook before we begin. Dang it brings the Spirit in like a brick wall. We made about 12 (new key indicator) people cry this week because we do a mean "Senor te Necesito". Elder McGill has perfect pitch along with a beautiful voice so it works out. I usually sing alto or tenor and McGill does the melody. Unfortunately NONE of the people we sang for showed up to Sacrament meeting. Frustrations rose as Sacrament meeting started and they didn’t’ show up, but as soon as I took the sacrament I was good.

Hyrum Dominguez from the ward is leaving on his mission to Dallas Texas soon. He'll do really well. He gave an awesome farewell talk. I've picked up another free guitar from a member and play a little bit with the little amount of time we have after planning before we go to bed.

It's nice to FINALLY see some progress come out of working and being disgustingly obedient. That's all this week! Love ya!

-Elder Dial

Lunch with Holli! (and the boys...Ryan, Rocco and Jax!)

February 21, 2012

Hello Everyone,

It feels good to have my occupation. My job is to make other people happy, to bring them the gospel and enrich their lives as the Lord see fits. I have the opportunity to experience diverse culture, and get to know others on a deep spiritual level. I'm a predictably dressed minister, therapist, and philosopher in a most unpredictable world. My idea of a good time is pitting my scripture mastery skills against my friends, seeing how many pass along cards we can get to stick in the ceiling, and eating ridiculous quantities of unhealthy tacos. I work long hours, receive terrible pay, my living conditions could be viewed as abominable to some, and I'm forced to live with a companion of opposite personality as I. Some people despise my purpose and message, while others view it as their salvation. I'm in a white shirt and tie sweating in the sun. I'm a charming smile and, “when can we come back”? I'm a seller of divine goods that have no expiration date. I'm a missionary, and I'm proud of it.

This week has been fairly uneventful. We picked up three new investigators (some kind of flaky) and I've started to see the area grow more and more. I would have to say being able to see Holli and Ryan at Yardhouse was the highlight of the week. It was awesome to see her, Ryan and the boys. For those who are receiving this email who don't know Ryan and Holli they are my cousins who live about 40 mins away from me. We had an awesome lunch and talked for about 2 hours there, on P-day mind you, so it wasn't a waste of time. I didn't really have a chance to share a testimony with her there because the environment wasn't really right. I just sent her this:

Holli! I completely forgot to say thank you. The lunch was awesome and I loved being able to see you and your boys (all three). Feel free to send me an email about your thoughts on the website. I email once a week on Mondays and can email all family. Holli, this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it all sounds redundant to you, and people have told you and your husband this time and time again, but this is the way to true happiness. I have met hundreds of people here in Riverside, and I can see the difference of people who live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and those who don't. They receive blessings beyond anything they can imagine. Please take 10 minutes sometime today (this is going to be a little weird) find a quiet place and kneel down, and open up your heart to God. He is waiting to hear from you and Ryan. If you can't think of anything to say just sit there in silence and think. I can promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that you will receive an answer from your Father in Heaven. I didn't really have a chance to say this yesterday because the environment wasn't really right. I love you Holli.

-Matt

This truly is the work of the Lord and I'm so blessed to be a part of it. I love you and challenge you to do the same as I challenged Holli. Love you all!

-Elder Dial

NEW ADDRESS...

Elder Matt was transferred on Monday...here's his new mailing address...

Elder Matt Dial
8230 Magnolia Ave. Apt #305
Riverside, CA 92504

The mission home is always an option and will eventually get to him...

Mission Home
5900 Grand Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504