Jenna

Can't believe our little Jenna is already

3 months old.  Oh, just look at those

dimples.  Isn't she the cutest!

We just love you Jenna!

Matt's letter for this week. . .

Monday, Sept. 24, 2012

Hi Mom!

Yes I did get the envelope! Thank you so much! I am so excited to be able to vote! And I really needed to get my license renewed. SO thank you so much! You are the best for helping me get that stuff done. You are a lifesaver!

That’s cool that you got to talk to Shara! I hope that they had a lot of fun! That’s good that you got to talk to her. And I'm glad that you got to talk to Victoria! She's great.

Were you able to put some money on my card? I'm sorry that I'm so needy, I just need some. Thanks for that, mom! You are the best.

It was a better week this week! We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, Elder Hall came here with me, and we had a great day! We did a lot of finding, and we were blessed to find a new investigator - Wallace. We tracted him and talked on his doorstep for almost 45 min! He just kept asking question after question and then he asked us to come back. Hopefully we'll see him today or tomorrow! He seemed like he was really searching. On Thursday we found another investigator named Olivia. She has 3 young kids and is WAY cool! She was joking around with us about our "magic underwear" and being polygamist. She was pretty wild! But we talked to her on the porch as well for about 30 min and prayed with her and invited her to church. She accepted a Book of Mormon and a return visit tomorrow at 4! She is way cool and I can't wait to see her tomorrow! Already love her.

The ward is so weird here! I'm not a huge fan. But I’m trying and praying to love them. They just don't talk to us or even give us the time of day! A few do, of course, but as a whole we just get snubbed. Whatever! But we are trying to work really hard and be obedient, so we're looking for some blessings in the near future.

Anyway. It was a pretty good week. Its good to hear from you! Thanks for everything you do!  I appreciate you and love you tons! Happy Anniversary! You are the best parents I've ever had, and I love you tons! Have a good week! I'll talk to you soon!

--

Elder Matthew Monk

 California Ventura Mission

         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

33 years!

Last Friday, Wynn and I celebrated our wedding

anniversary.  Can you believe we have been

married for 33 years!  Wow, where has the time

gone.  

On Friday night we went out to dinner and then on

Saturday, we got to spend the whole day together. 

It was wonderful!  

 We drove to Victor and then rode our bikes

to Driggs.  It's about 16 miles round trip.

Oh my, it was so beautiful and the bike

trail is awesome.  It was so much fun.  I have

been wanting to do this all summer and we finally

got to do it.

 We then went over to Jackson Hole and had lunch.

Then, we headed for Granite Hot Springs.  On our

way, we saw a heard of Mountain Goats.

 They just stood there and let me take their picture.

There was a lot more but I just got a picture of a few.

 The colors were just beautiful.  These pictures

don't do them justice.  

We had a fun time sitting in the hot pool except it was a pretty

hot day and the water was pretty warm.  I think

a cooler day would of been much better.  But, the

company was good!  :)

I feel so blessed to have Wynn in my life!  I love

him with all my heart.  I pray we have

many more years together.  

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 -

Matt's in a new area. . .

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the email! I got the pants... Thank you so much!! 

So they told me last week I was in Santa Barbara, but they meant the Santa Barbara zone, so I'm in Lompoc, about 45 min or so north of SB. Its about 10 miles away from the coast, so we got fog and cool breezes. It’s been about 65-70 degrees on average this week. I love it! My companion is from Poulsbo Washington (Kind of by Seattle) and he is WAY cool! We have been getting along famously. The area is kind of dead (Not being negative, just truthful). Scratch kind of... REALLY dead. We had one investigator when I got here - an 85 yr old lady that told us that she only meets with us because she likes the company... We did have a lesson with a Less Active guy named Ted (20) who is just getting off drugs and stuff and his GF is pregnant and wants to take the lessons. So that could be some potential! Other than that, lots of trying to see less actives and tracking. But it’s actually been pretty good! We've had some good experiences together. We had Stake conf yesterday (I got to see a bunch of members from Carpentaria! :)) and the stake president came up to us afterwards and seriously said, "What’s going on in Mesa Oaks? Lompoc always baptizes, how come you don't?" so.. not a lot of faith in us right now. 

So Shara's getting married, and so is Shallin? Holy cow.. That was quick! Yeah, I’m happy for them. Its just weird that one of my best friends is getting married to someone I don't even know. But It’s ok! I know her and he’s probably a great guy. Wish them luck for me! I hope I get an announcement! 

I'm glad you got to meet the Searfoss's! They're great. Keep in touch with Michelle! When you talk to her tell her I say Hi and that I really miss her and John!

How’s the new school year? How’s everything? That’s cool that Dad has Victoria in his ward. Please tell her I say Hi. 

I do want to go to BYU-I, but I am thinking of just working until the fall semester. I don't know yet for sure, maybe I’ll want to go summer, but right now fall is looking the best for me. I really want to get a good job, and work and stuff to get some money saved up so that I don't completely have to bum off you and dad! And I’m going to need some money to pay for that iPhone! haha! If you could get some info on what I need to do etc to go to the fall track, I would appreciate it. That one letter said I had to go online or something and tell them I wouldn't be home in time for spring, and could go the next available or whatever, but again, not so sure. They should help you pretty good if you call up there or whatever. The spring track starts jan.6 or 7, and I get home that Wednesday I believe.. Don't quote me. ANYWAYS... off the trunky stuff... :)

I think things over here are well. If you would, a little bit of money for some newish clothes would be nice. I'm going to try to find 2 pairs of pants I really like so that I can alternate between them or have a backup or whatever. Thanks for supporting me mom! You are the best, and one of my hero's! Thanks for all you do! I love you!

Ps I tried to send pictures, but the computer wouldn't let me... So I’ll see what I can do later! Love you!

--

Elder Matthew Monk

 California Ventura Mission

         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

Jenna

Yesterday, I got to babysit our sweet little Jenna.

She is such a good baby and I loved spending

some much needed time with her.

She will be 11 weeks old tomorrow.

I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

I am so happy that Hailey is staying home

with her and not taking her to daycare.

This baby gets so much love. . . 

Life couldn't be more sweet!

Mom's 80th Birthday Party. . .

Last week was my Mom's 80th birthday.

There had to be a celebration

for her in every way possible.

We had lunch at Sizzler. . . 

and then a celebration the

next day.

Mike took tons of

pictures and when I get them

I'll post.

 At Sizzler with her special dessert.

 My sister, Jana, and her grandson, Justin.

 Oh my, isn't this the cutest picture every?

My three grandkids:

Camden, Emily and little Jenna.

Emily just loves Jenna.

Aren't they just adorable?

Can I just take a minute and  say how

much I love my Mom.  She is the most

gracious, loving and charitable women

I know.  Thanks go out to her for

all she does for me and my family.

She is a wonderful women and when

I grow up, I want to be just like her.  

At The Zoo!

Last week I took the kids to the zoo.

I just love The Idaho Falls Zoo.

It's not too big and it's not too small.

Just right. . . 

We had a great time.

                                                                      Ready to go into the zoo.

 Such beautiful flowers!

 So entertaining. . . .

 Almost as big as a lion.

 Almost as big as a tiger.

 The pelicans were my personal favorite.

 Emily liked the birds.

 The kids even got to go in with the goats.

Emily loved combing his fur.

 I remember this water fountain from

when my kids were little.

All the kids love the water fountain.

 Sleeping lions.

 Camels are just so amazing!

 Look at those eyes. . . 

 Wouldn't be a great trip if there wasn't something

to climb on.

I just love these two.

We had so much fun.

Thanks for the fun day

Emily and Camden.

From Matt

Hi Mom!          September 3, 2012

Well, I just wrote you a nice email and the computer deleted it, so I'll see what I can write.

I'm glad you talked to Michelle - She was pretty broke up and so was I.. I'm gonna miss them so much! I love Tehachapi! But it’s good to have change I guess.

The Big news... Elder Scott and I got to baptize Sam and Susie on Saturday! It was great! I had never done that before, so it was neat to baptize Susie. Bro Weaver confirmed them in church yesterday, and it was a really spiritual testimony meeting. I am so thankful to have been a small part in all of it. After church we all had dinner at the Weavers with some of their kids and the Evans. It was fun! Then we had a testimony meeting, and then played scripture charades. I love them so much! 

President Castro called last night and asked me to be a district leader in Santa Barbara - the Mesa Oaks ward. Woo! So that should be good. I'm just going to miss Tehachapi.. But it’s ok. My companion will be elder O’Leary I think (I don't know him). 

We went to breakfast with the Minors (BV) this morning at the Mulligan Room. I love them so much! The mom and daughter are members, the dad and son aren't, but all are active. They told me how much they love and will miss me, and my heart broke! I will miss this area so much. *sigh*

We're probably going to spend most of the day packing and saying goodbyes to people. I've really gotten attached to this area and these people. This is a really special place! I can't wait to bring you back to meet everybody. This has been my favorite area no doubt!!

Wow, it looks like I don't have much to say.. Things are good for me! OOOH! One request. There is a talk that elder Scott’s mom sent him that I think you would love, and I would love it too! It’s only on CD, its called "Healing the Wounded Soul" by Jack R. Christianson. You can look it up on www.covenant-lds.com. Please check it out!!! Its sooo so SOOO SO AMAZING! Like life changing. I loved every second of it. He quoted elder Nelson, "Man is that he might have joy, NOT GUILT TRIPS!" Haha you will love it.

I love you mom! Did you get my stuff from the Searfoss'? If not, you should hear from them soon. I just sent home some junk that I want, but don't want to carry around. I'm still on for a minute, so you can answer real quickly. I love you!

--

Elder Matthew Monk

 California Ventura Mission

         -  Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013 -

John, me and Michelle King

Us, Sam and Susie!

The Minors (Lonnie, Julie, Susan and me)