Today the phone rang and the caller ID said the call was from 

Beehive Book.  I answered and the lady asked if I was Sister Monk. 

 I said yes and she said she was Sister Ricks from Beehive Book 

 in Bakersfield, California.  Oh my, my heart sank! 

 Yip, she said Elder Monk had helped her decorated her

store for Christmas today.  She went on and on about how 

much she loves my son and what a great missionary he is.

She even asked if she could adopt him!  My response was

he is not available for adoption.  It sure felt good to visit

with her and to know that Matt is doing well.

She thanked me for raising such a wonderful son

and for his service.  

Thank goodness for the Gospel and for

other Mother's that know what it is like

to have a missionary in the mission field.

I got to babysit the kids today.

Just had to share what we 

did. . . 

There is nothing better than

being a Grandma to the

best kids in the world!

I sure love my grand babies.

From Matt

Matt's new address after Dec. 12 is:

Elder Matthew Monk

California Ventura Mission

3301 West Gonzales Road

Oxnard, CA 93036

Monday, November 28, 2011

Hey Mom!

Well it was a good week. Sorry! We don't have lots of time.

I was thinking about Christmas. I would love a new camera! I know it’s a lot to ask, but mine had been having trouble. Maybe if someone is getting a new one i could just steal their old one? Or you could get a refurbished one? Just an idea. Don't worry about it though. That’s the only thing I could think of that a really want. But no worrries.

We met with Chase and Angela a couple of times this week! They are so sweet. We had our Ward Mission Leader Bro. Johnson come with us, and it was a great lesson! Chase is gone to work for the next 2 weeks, then he is getting baptized on the 17th!! He is right on track and absolutely SOLID. I can't wait!!! I am so happy.

Sister Ricks (The lady who owns beehive) gave us a tree for our apartment! It is awesome. You would love it! We helped the Swainstons decorate their tree on Thanksgiving and they gave us some poop to put on ours. Fun! I'll add pictures. (In the Swainstons pic - Sis Sainston, Nathan, Sarah, Mandy, Me Bro Swainston.)

We have been doing a PMG activity with some members, watching PMG videos and it is AWESOME! You should ask the missionaries to show you the district 2. You would love it!!

We had thanksgiving at the Scafers (Bishop of the YSA ward) and the Swainstons. It was a ton of fun! 

There was a baptism in our zone on Saturday - a 72 year old black ex preacher! He is in a motor scooter and they had to have 2 missionaries help him get baptized! It was such a sweet experience!

I did get the package! Thank you so much! I love the wallflower and the apple cider. MMM! Thanks so much mom! It means so much to me. You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you!

Well, I think that’s it! I hope I covered everything. My feet are... struggling. But it's ok! I’m on an anti-inflammatory and I’m getting insoles. Its good! We're working on it. I'm so blessed! You can cut and paste some stuff together for the newsletter. Or remind me next week and I can write something then. Thanks mom!

For the mission office stuff, just make sure everyone who sends stuff knows that it's changing soon. Thanks so much! I love you!

Have a swell week! I love you tons.

Elder Matthew Monk

  California Ventura Mission

          Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013

This is a picture outside our apartment! It gets super foggy in the morning here. Its so cool! :)

This week letter from Matt

Monday, November 21, 2011

Dear Mom!

Well it's good to hear from you! This week has been good. Elder Udy has been out 17 months and was a zone leader in Simi Valley, so he's pretty solid. He is way fun! We get along super well! He's from Cache Valley Logan area. I haven’t got the package (Unless it came today - We've been out).  Gift cards would be awesome. Or even better, you could just put some cash in my debit account, and I could get those supplies/ pants. Thanks mom!  I thought long and hard over what I should ask you for, but I don't really want anything. I already have so much and I am so blessed, what more could I want?? But those things would help. I would love a candle warmer though. It sounds way weird, but elder Schiess loved candles, and I guess I got it from him. haha!

So for this week! Well, we had transfers on Tuesday and we barely got our rides figured out by about 10:30 Monday night, and it was crazy. Bro. Deason from our ward (He served here 15 yrs ago!) took olive knolls down. We had a good transfer meeting (I lead the music... badly) and then elder Denison (Olive Knolls) couldn’t find his new comp. We talked to president and he told us he was having some anxiety issues and we would be in a threesome for a couple days. Yikes! We went home and elder Baratta joined us on Thursday evening. We were happy to get him! He is a good missionary, just a little scared of being in charge. He replaced me in Carpentaria and was companions with elder Searcy. He is way nice.

 Did you get that photo from the Swainstons? Haha that was a wild night. I accidentally left my pass along BOM outside when we were playing with the dog and he ate it! haha

We met with Chase and Angela twice this week and we are meeting with them today! They are great! We also helped them clean out their garage. It was fun to work with them! They are the sweetest people ever! He is getting baptized on the 17th of December! We are soo excited! He is gold. 

We got to chip tile out of a kitchen and entryway on Saturday! It was crazy hard and we had these big vibrating shovel things, haha I’m way sore, but it was a lot of fun! It was a member family in the ward, the Issertels. They are so sweet! We have some awesome members. Then later that day we put up Christmas lights for the Deasons. MY DREAM! Haha it was fun!

We had a Thanksgiving feast at the YSA word on Friday night. It was a lot of fun! And I got to hang out with elder Schiess. We have a great ward, and out Bishop and his wife are AMAZING!!!! I'll get a picture with them. We talked to Joey about coming, but he had family stuff. But he's reading the BOM and praying, so he is on track! He's going to be gone to Santa Cruz for 2 weeks, but we'll meet with him soon.

I got the newsletter! Thanks so much. And for the little loving you sent. I really appreciate it. Its was good to hear from everybody! Sounds like they are doing well. 

I got elder Moore  a birthday present on Saturday. He was born in New Zealand and we have a world market store, so I got him Tim-Tams and some Australian licorice, and he LOVED it! I'm working on him! :)

I had a doctor’s appt with Bishop Kesler today and he took some ultrasounds on my feet and I have plantar filitis or something like that, so he prescribed me some anti-inflammatory and is having some special insoles made for me. He is the coolest guy ever! We had dinner with their family last night. They are the sweetest ever. They have pictures of their family's feet up on their walls! My kind of people! :)

 My feet have been bothering me for about 2 months or so. I think its just a normal thing, he told me my shoes were fine, but that its like tendonitis in your heels. It just makes walking really sucky. It’s just a dull constant pain in my heels. But it’s ok! I'll get those pills today and be on them for a month or two then get those insoles in a couple weeks. He is good.

Why did Dad and Nat go to Phoenix? Update me! Glad you had fun at Zone Conference! I can’t wait for the socks and sweater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I love you. We're having thanksgiving at the Schafers (Bishop YSA) and then at the Swainstons (1st counselor Rosedale), so we will be taken care of! Deep Pit turkeys at the swainstons! :) :) Love it! Let me know how everyone's doing! I love you all.

P.S. The Church is MOST DEFINITELY true. No Doubt. 

Elder Matthew Monk

  California Ventura Mission

          Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013

Phoenix

Last week Natalie and Wynn went to Phoenix to see 

the US Women's Soccer team play New Sweden.

They left Thursday morning and came home Sunday morning

just in time for our Stake Conference.

They had plenty of time for some

sight seeing.

Sounds like they had a great time.

(I enjoyed having some time to myself and I got so much done!)

 With a brother in California on a mission

this license plate deserved a picture!

November 14, 2011

Hi Mom!

Ok for this week! Well, lots has happened... Here's the low down! We had a great lesson with Don and Karen (Our old Catholics) and watched a Mormon Message with them. It was so good! I love them lots.

A girl from our YSA ward went to Rexburg and Idaho Falls this week! She used to work at the mall. There are so many Idaho Connections here! Our ward mission Leader is from Rexburg! :0 I love it.

We tracked into a 20 year old kid a couple weeks ago, had a lesson with him on Thursday, and he came to church on Sunday! He is also going to FHE tonight, so we are excited! His name is Joey.

It was our Stake conference yesterday! It was so good. They talked about missionary work, so everyone is basically on fire! We are so excited! Chase and Angel were there, and Chase LOVED IT! He has to move his date back a couple weeks because he didn't know about coffee, but he dropped it immediately and is on track!! You should put their names in the temple if you get a chance. THANKS!! And Angela is getting refellowshipped too!! WOOOO!

President Castro is awesome. I love him. HE couldn’t come to Stake conference yesterday because a missionary in Oxnard dove to catch a Frisbee and shattered his jaw and knocked out 10 teeth. He had to have surgery and his mom came out. He has to go home, but only for 6-8 weeks.

You said you wanted a Christmas list? Well, I puzzled until my puzzler was sore, and I couldn’t think of anything I want. But some things that I could use....

-New Razors and Shaving stuff

-Shaving cream

-Old Spice Body Wash (Cypress - it's in a white bottle) + the matching deodorant

-A Toothbrush

-Toothpaste

-Shampoo

-The old "olive Colored" flowery tie from my closet, if it's still there

-a 2012 calendar (You could make one with pictures of the family and friends on the i photo stuff? That would be fun)

-Maybe a candle warmer? We have a bunch, but we can't have fire (Mission rule) and our apartment reeeeeks.

-a sweater that you knitted me

-socks that you knitted me

If I got some of that stuff, it would be super sweet! That would be a load off my back, and very much appreciated! :) But do whatever you feel. Thanks so much! You are the best family ever!

For the Thanksgiving Package Situation, I would LOVE some Christmas Music. Anything is good, as long as it's not bad. haha! Just use your good judgment.. If you can feel the spirit while listening to it, then its ok. And usually if they are Christmas hymns (Angels we have heard on high, etc) then its ok. I REALLY WANT SOME CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Thanks so much momma!

Ok so to answer your questions: Transfers are every 6 weeks, so tomorrow is transfer Tuesday. Elder Schiess is going to the South Bakersfield Stake (We are both Zone Leaders, and I'm also a district leader) and I am getting a new companion - Elder Udy - he's a zone leader already too, and he's way cool! I’m excited, but WAY sad to leave elder Schiess. :(

WEll, that’s about it from here! I love you and miss you! Call me soon. HAHA Don't call me! that’s illegal! I'm glad you like my camera! Use it every so often! Just don't drop it in the toilet :) Thanksgiving we are just eating at member’s homes. It will be fun! Haha i love you! Have a good one.

Elder Matthew Monk

  California Ventura Mission

          Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013

Monday, November 6, 2011

MOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy cow. I cannot tell you how UNBELIEVEABLY Happy I am. The work is amazing, My companion is amazing, everything is perfect. Let me tell you!

Ok, so we went to Ventura for Halloween, and Hannah was Hermione from Harry Potter, and she was SO cute! It was Samuel's birthday on the 3rd, so I got him a CTR tie tack, and so Hannah didn't feel left out, I get her a Return With Honor bracelet. Her and Samuel wrote elder Schiess and me a little letter today, and it was so sweet! Hannah colored me a picture, and Samuel wrote me a nice thank you. I love them so much!!!

ZLC was so good. I added a picture for you. We had a lot of fun!! Our mission president is DEFINATELY called of God! I have a testimony of that! He is amazing and inspired! I am so lucky to be able to work with him so closely!

We have had some changes with how we work lately. President made a Standard of Excellence for our mission  - goals that we strive to reach every week, as well as daily. (Read the last paragraph on pg 146 of PMG) We had to tell our zone, and it didn’t go over well ha ha! But it was ok. So while we were at this ZLC he mentioned that it didn’t go over well in a couple zones, and I guess from what he said that our zone was the worst haha! (Ok i have to interject this... I did my district meeting on Wednesday, and it was sassy. We have a couple really strong personalities that kind of dictate how things go, and they were especially sassy. I was bummed and I had to call president for a question that some elders had on going to the temple, and while we were talking - I didn’t even bring it up - he asked about my district meeting. I said it was suckish and that a couple people were sassy, and I was thinking of 3 specific elders. He said, "Ok, was it elders ______,________, and _______?" I asked how he knew, and all he said was basically, "Well, Elder Monk, I know. From how people talk and what they write in their presidents letters, i just know." !!!!! HOLY COW! He proceeded to tell me that I can take confidence in knowing that I have done my best, and if they choose to reject that, it's their fault. He is so cool. I love him!) So things have been going better!

We had a couple good exchanges this week! We came home from Ventura Tuesday night and immediately went out with the Meadows Ward.  I went with Elder Brinkerhoff, and it was so good! He is a pretty new missionary, and he is on fire! He is so happy and excited, and it made me feel so excited about missionary work.. AGAIN! Haha it was good. Then on Saturday we went to Delano (About 40 min north) and went in Tri-panionships with Elders Marcano, Ainsworth, Richards, and Lyons. It was really good! Delano is probably around 85% Spanish, so there was a lot of Spanish flying around! And no I'm not picking up too much Spanish, just some greetings and stuff. Ex: Hola! Somo los Misioneros de la Iglesia de Jesuchristo de los Santos de los Ultamos Dias. Hi! We are missionaries form the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That’s really it haha! But I did get to try this Spanish corn on the cob! They slather it in Maionaise and butter, then put parmesan cheese and chili powder on it. Sounds nasty, I know, but it was actually pretty good haha! :) Multicultural, huh?!

Our YSA ward is so legit! We had a great Fast meeting yesterday, then after church we had a Break the Fast! YEAH!! So good! And they sent us home with food! :) haha i love it! Then later last night we went to the bishop of the YSA wards house. Bishop and Sister Schafer are SOOOOO SWEET! I love them. Sister Schafer reminds me of you, mom! I told her about the Thankful Journal (WHICH I LOVE!!!) and she loved it. She fed us pumpkin bread and hot chocolate. MMMM! They are super super sweet!

Chase and Angela are doing so good! Thanks for the prayers and stuff! It means a lot, and I feel that it is working a lot! We talked to Angela and she has been wearing her garments a few times! (She hasn’t worn them for a couple years - she's been disfellowshipped) and she met with the bishop yesterday about getting refellowshipped and what its gonna take! WOOOO! And I told her that you put their names in the temple, and she thinks that is SOOOO SWEET! So thanks! :)

I've been doing the thankful journal everyday! Thanks so much mom! I really think it has made a HUGE difference in my days! :) I love it!

Christmas requests... Hmmm.... I do want some Christmas music. I already got the new David Archuleta/MOTAB CD (Sister Ricks gave it to me!) But i would like: Josh Groban, Noel; Anything MOTAB (Except Ring Christmas BElls - got it), and really just anything good. Nothing too rockish or wild or modern please. Sorry if I’m being sassy! The pants? Umm anything black. Stripes would be cool if you could, but if not, whatever. You choose what would look best! I trust ya. Gosh, I don't know. Whatever. Maybe a bunch of stamps... pictures.... I don’t know! I don't really need anything. I'll think about it.

The weather has been a lot cooler here (50's at night or colder, 60s-70s daytime) so it feels IMMACULATE! :) I'm thinking of buying a nice Pea Coat - it's what all the missionaries here wear!!! They are nice. Maybe a little money for that for Christmas would be good. (I'm thinking like ROSS kind - discount and cheap.) It's like a wool trench coat, but shorter. haha! I just like the style!

Anyway, I think that’s it! Good luck at the ZOne COnference! Enjoy it!!! I hope they sing called to serve for ya! Thats what we do at our zone conferences! :) I love you Mom! Have a good week! Merry Christmas!!!

Elder Matthew Monk

  California Ventura Mission

          Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013