Monday, September 17, 2012

From Matt


Monday, September 17, 2012

Hi Mom!

That's too bad about Sis Leavitt - I didn't get to write her - I haven't written any letters for a couple of weeks with the transfer and all. Gosh! I love her so much and will miss her terribly. Please please send my love to them. SHe is seriously one of my dearest friends! She will be missed! 

I really REALLY need you to check about me extending my drivers license! It expires next month, and I have to have it! Our car guy called me last week and reminded me and said how important it is for me to have it! So please do that ASAP! If you want we can arrange to fax from a members home or something - let me know what works best and the timeframe required.

I want to vote really bad! Will you check on the absentee ballots and all that jazz - what do I need to do? The definition of an "idiot" is: One who does not vote. So I gotta vote! And I can't vote in California, so it has to be Idaho. Let me know!!! Thanks so much mom!

I did get a pair of pants that are sufficient. We looked ALL OVER at Ross, but couldn’t find anything, so we went to Marshalls that just opened here and I got a nice pair for 26.00. Could you reimburse me please? haha I am so needy... And a little extra would be nice. Our members don't like to feed us. I've had 4 or 5 dinner appointments in the 2 weeks I’ve been here.. There are some Spanish members in the Spanish branch that feed us more than our own members do! So needless to say, we buy more groceries. But hey guess what?!?!!! Elder O'Leary and I have been exercising every night before bed (as well as trying to in the morning) and we're getting ripped! Haha maybe not, but we're eating better (I haven’t had soda for a week now - except last night, we ate hot peppers at dinner and seriously all they had was orange soda, and where we were the water was bad)! I am feeling pretty good, and trying to be healthier! YEAH!!! 

I'm glad that dad is enjoying his calling! I’m also glad that you get to experience some blessings of dads new calling as well. I'm so proud of you two! I love you both a ton.

I still haven’t gotten Shara’s wedding announcement yet... But I did write her today and congratulate her. I got a letter from Austin, and he was like,"Good thing I broke it off when I did!" Haha so that’s good. I hope it is great! Are you going to the reception? If you do, take a picture for me, give her a hug, and tell her I love her and I'm proud of her. Thanks mom, you are the best.

The work here is ok.. The ward is really weird. Like nobody talks to us except the moms with missionaries out. Its really strange. Nobody is really hip on missionary work. I got up and spoke for a bit in Sacrament to introduce myself, and nobody really talked to me except like 2 people. Seriously! Usually missionaries are a hot topic in the ward, especially a new one! What the heck... Hopefully it'll get better soon. We’re trying to earn more referrals, trying to be obedient, trying to do good, trying to have fun, trying to work hard. All we do everyday is tract, try to see less actives and try to see former investigators. *Sigh* But other than that, the area is beautiful, the people are nice, my district is amazing, and things are going well. And I like my companion too! All is well.

So being a district leader all I do is do district meetings on Wednesday mornings, and receive and report numbers on Sunday nights and do exchanges with the elders in my district once a transfer. There are 2 wards in Lompoc, about 45,000 people, and a Spanish unit. There is another set of elders in the Lompoc ward, a set in Solvang (about 30 min away) and a Tri-Pan of Hermana's (Spanish sisters) in the Spanish unit. They are all awesome! I have an amazing district. I'm pretty blessed!

Well, I think that’s it! If you wouldn't mind doing those things, I would really appreciate it! You are the best mom! And may I please have some money? SORRY TO MOOCH!!!!! But life as a missionary is unpredictable. You are the best, I love you, send my love around.

--
Elder Matthew Monk
 California Ventura Mission
         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

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