Riverside Campground

Last Friday we went to Riverside Campground to visit

Mike, Karen and their family while they were camping.

We stayed for the afternoon and then

enjoyed dinner with them.

Above is Wynn with baby Camden.

Here is Ellie, Analyn and Emily having a great

time getting to know each other.

Aren't they cute cousins?

I just loved this picture of Ellie and Analyn.

The kids were eating Cheetos and showing us

their cheesy hands.

Enjoying ourselves!

We just love all those Monk cousins! They

are all so much fun and I just love

seeing them with their little families.

They all seemed to grow up so fast and

have made such good choices in

their lives.

We have some great memories of these guys

going on camping trips years ago.

This is what family is all about!

Summer Fun!

Kind of sad that this is the only swimming pool at

Grandma's house.

Didn't seem to bother Em's though, she had a ball

playing in the water.

Brooke and I were in the house preparing for a

summer BBQ with all the cousins. . .

Look at all these cute cousins.

Some did not want their picture taken.

Let's see if I can name them all, top to bottom:

Ashlyn Wood

Adyson Parkin

Eli Wood

Kinsley Parkin

Annalyn Hymas

Reese Wood

Benjamine Hymas

Emily Monk

Camden Monk

Here is all those cute cousins Moms.

Jerrica Parkin

Katheryn Wood

Lindsey Hymas

Brooke Monk

Lined up for their picture.

Couldn't get everyone to look at me but they

are still so cute.

Love is in the air. . .

On Aug. 4th, we traveled to Utah to attend

the wedding of Wynn's brothers son.

It was at the Bountiful temple and it

was so beautiful.

This is David and Megan Monk

This is Wynn with his dad and brothers and sisters.

David, Leslie Frandsen, Wynn, Le, Mike & Terry Ann Wood.

Mike and his WHOLE family except for one son-in-law!

On our way home we had to drive through Brigham City

to see how the temple is coming along.

Don't you think it looks similar to the Salt Lake temple?

It looks like they haven't got all the spires on yet.

Matt's letter for Aug. 8th, 2011

Hey mom!

This is gonna be a short one, i have only a TEENSY bit of time. Sorry!

Thanks for the letters from my friends! I really loved them! Im so
glad they are doing so well! I also cannot believe that Shelby is
getting Married! HAHA! But thats cool. doi you know who with? I'll
prolly get an announcememnt.

This week was fantastic! We spent monday night travelling to V Town
and all of tuesday there. President Castro is SO COOL! Everything we
talked about he could back with the scriptures. It was a way spiritual
experience. We all talked about what we need to do in the mission and
how our missionaries can improve. Its cool becaus eeveryone wants to
be there and we all have the same goal in mind:to help the
missionaries around us! It was GREAT! Driving home we hit a peice of
sheet metal and crashed and we just got out of the hospital today, but
we're ok. No juist kiddin! We were safe! :)

We had some exchanges this week too. We drove to Delano and spent the
day with the spanish elders. It was alot of fun! I I went with Elder
Richards and Elder Lyons and we did alot of really good things! It was
an effective exchange, and I think that they really had a good time.
Even though we didn't get to see many of the poeple we had planned, we
still were dilligent and accomplished alot. On Saturday Elder Williams
came to Rosedale with me and we had a GREAT exchange! We were blessed
to be able to teach a couple lessons, and also to teach one of our
investigators, Ashley! It was really good, and I was very impressed
with elder williams and how well he handled the day. We were busy and
did alot of good! We also talked to an older gentleman who told us how
much he disliked missionaries of any faith, but by the end of the
conversation, he had really warmed up to us! I know that it was the
Holy Spirit helping to soften his heart.

The other days we got to do lots of good too! Did I tell you about
ashley? She's 11 and her dad and step-mom want her to get baptized
before she moves back to New Jersey for the school year. She went to
girls camp, she comes to church, and she bore her testimony. It is
great! She's basically gold! :) We have taught her 2 times and we're
teaching her on wednesday. Miracles!!

Elder schiess is still my favorite companion ever! I love him to
death. Mom, if it's not too much, could I have a tiny bit oif money?
We do so much traveling and have to stop to eat... I honestly don't
spend much money, it's just the travelling thing... Im sorry! I hate
to be a burden like that, but yeah. That's my schpeel! I love you.

I do love mail, so please keep it coming. I hope you know how much i
love you! I pray for you dailey! Keep in touch! And thank you so much
for all you do for me! I am so blessed to have a faithful family
behind me all the way. I love you!!!

Elder Monk

Sam's High Adventure

Last week end Sam and a couple of his buddies went on a back packing trip.

Just had to share this photo that he took of Mt. Idaho (#7 highest peak in Idaho at 12,065') above Merriam Lake in Custer County, ID.

YM High Adventure Camp out

Last week end was the YM High Adventure Camp out. There are very few Priests in this ward at this time so all the YM went together. They went to Ririe Reservoir. Our Scout Leader has an awesome boat and I'm sure the boys loved it. I know Wynn had a great time. Just wanted to share some of the pictures.

They cliff jumped!

This is Br. Shewey.

I didn't know he was such a dare devil.

They caught craw dads and then

had a huge feast!

This is Ryan Myers nose to nose with the little feller.

Brody Brighton caught some sport'en googles.

I think he would of rather of had a fish.

Here's a picture of where they camped.

This is David Ames on the knee board, I think.

Some of these kids don't get the opportunity to go

out and do these fun things very often.

How grateful I am to all the scout leaders

who took my boys on outings.

The gospel is a wonderful thing.

So glad I am part of it.

Matt's letter for Aug. 1, 2011

BEST
WEEK
OF
MY
ENTIRE
MISSION.

Dearest Mommy Monk!

OK... So this week! FANTASTIC! And thanks for the package!!! It was so nice. Monday was pretty relaxed. We didn't do a whole ton.. Just went swimming... tanned... and went on a couple dates... no big deal. JUST KIDDING! No we did do some shopping and wrote some letters and cleaned, so it was nice. Tuesday we went on exchanges with the Sapnish elders in our zone! I was with elder Jones - he's been out about 8 weeks, so his Spanish was kinda shakey and we were in his area. It went really well though!! I read a scripture to a lady in spanish, and i pretty much felt lost and confused all day! But it was fun, and i really felt the spirit the whole day. I love being able to exchange with missionaries! Its such a learning experience for me. Tuesday we had our disrict meting and it was great! I have been asking the elders in my district to teach lessons, and each time, they have been STUNNING. FANTASTIC. REVALATORY. Last week we talked about love, and we read the words to "A poor wayfaring man of greief." Chack it out its great! Thursday we went on an exchange with the 5th and 2nd ward elders. Elder Scheiss went with 5th, and I went with 2nd. It was great! They have been having some obedience issues, so we loved them. FANTASTIC! It was a nasty ghetto, but we taughty alot. Friday we helped a family do some wervice. The lanes - we tracted into them and they are down on their luck a bit, so we have been helping them. it was fun! He always gives us eggs and peppers and tomatoes. It was great! We had dinner with a less active family and it went great! Miracles have been happening... Speaking of miracles...

MANNA FELL FROM HEAVEN!

On saturday the boys got back from scout camp and we were tracting by one of the leaders house. They called us over and gave us a HUGE rubbermaid tub full of food! Pancake miz, mustard, fruit, etc. FANTASTIC! Then yesterday we were having dinner with the Issertells who are friends with Chase and having a lesson with him, and they gave us toothbrushes and toothpaste and laundry detergent. Awesome! Then we had a great lesson with chase and yeah. Great week! We are going to ZLC in ventura tonigh (Like 2 hours away) and we'll be hter all of tomorrow. Its gonna be fun! We are studying the talk "Desire" by elder Oaks from last conference. Revelation. COOL! Well, I gotta go. I love you dearly. The church is TRUE! Talk to you soon,

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