Dear Mom, Dad, and Jonathan,

Things this week are going pretty good. Ya'll got the picture from the baptism, neither myself nor Elder Jensen baptized them, but their friends who introduced them to us. We have been teaching them since I first got out here, so it has been a long time coming, but it was well worth it. How ever I was still able to be part of it because we had to do a waterside confirmation for Sister Taylor and they wanted me to confirm her, which was just as a neat experience as baptizing someone.

 Earlier this week however we had a bit of a spirit lead adventure, I do not have as much time as I would like to tell you the whole thing so I will write it to you as soon as I can, but it ended up with me and my companion basically running through the woods at night, don't worry we had little flashlights, in shirt and tie trying to get to someones house before 8:00. It was kind of fun and we got there just in time but I still have not gotten around to getting the mud off of my shoes. My pants and everything else fared pretty well. 

Also, another thing happened earlier today, we were in a car accident but every one involved was alright, so we are good. What happened was that we were riding with a member to go bowling and a car in front of us stopped, so the member slowed to a stop behind them, but the woman in the mini van behind us was not as good on the brakes and ended up rear ending us and pushing us forward into the car in front of us. I would just like to remind ya'll that I am perfectly alright and so was every one else. It was probably a good thing that we were there, because the woman in front of us was an elderly woman and had some heart problems and was pretty shook up from the whole thing, however there was no damage done to her car which is a bit of a miracle, but if that van hit her then she might have ended up in the hospital, now that I think about it. Not only that but a week or so ago the member we were driving with was in an accident when it snowed and did some damage to the car, and the insurance that he has, wouldn't cover the damage done to his car. So since this one was not his fault, the other persons insurance might be able to get him a new car, so we are thinking that it is more of a blessing in disguise. 

Other then that things are starting to look up for us, we found three new investigators this past week and we are excited to start working with them, and we also have another baptism planned for the 22nd. I love ya'll and can't wait to hear from ya'll soon.

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

Monday January 23, 2014

Dear Mom, Dad, Jonathan,

          Just to let you know Dad, yes it has been very cold. It snowed last Tuesday and I don't like the snow. We got our transfer calls just this past Saturday and guess what, I am still here in Kannapolis! By the time that this transfer is over I will be in my first area for seven and a half months. It has been a very long time here, it feels like, and in this ward you get pretty attached to the members. The really like us, so it will be sad on both sides, when I leave. But, at least that will not be for at least another six weeks, so we don't have to worry about that right now. Our district leader is going home this weekday so we will be getting a new one tomorrow. It is sad to see him go because we got to know each other pretty well, but he lives in California and I believe in the southern part so he wont really be to far from me when I get back. Orange county is in the southern part of California right? The baptism was a very neat experience that I enjoyed greatly, it was kind of funny though how he chose which one of us was going to do it. It actually came down to the flip of a ring, I will let ya'll figure that one out for know. Also know we are teaching a fellow who is a Hatfield and a direct descendant of that family that we saw on the history channel. We are also teaching a woman that is a member that was married in New York. She has not been to church in a very long time and still believes in it and would like to raise her son in the church. She is a very kind person and even had us over at her house last week for lunch. Other then that I cannot think of too much right know but I will also send some pictures today as well, hope ya'll have a good week and I cant wait to hear from ya'll soon. Love ya'll.

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

October 21, 2013 Email

Dear Mom, Dad, and Jonathan,

I did get the package that you sent and I also sent you a letter which should get to you soon, I sent it on Saturday. This weekend I would have to say was a very interesting and spiritual experience. Saturday morning we went to the funeral of Elder Andrew Page. Our stake missionaries where there, plus 2 other stakes, making it almost 100 missionary's! I figured ya'll heard about that since you said be careful while riding my bike. Elder Zwick from the First Quorum of the 70 was there, and the talk he gave was incredible! He got up there with no notes and nothing prepared. He just had his iPad and scriptures with him as a library to refer to when he felt a prompting. During his talk he proclaimed Elder Page to be a man of God and twice mentioned that Elder Page and his dad, who also died, where in the chapel with us. We then went to the grave site and all us missionaries sang "Called to Serve". 

Later that night we went to the adult session of stake conference and Elder Call and I where greeting people as they entered the chapel and I got to Shake Elder Zwick's hand! Unfortunately, I did not realize it was him until he had past by. I then also felt bad because Elder call mentioned how he could just feel his spirit when he shook his hand, because I didn't recall feeling anything. 

He gave a talk that night and another one at the second session of conference. After it was over, me and Elder Call where helping set up a small lunch for Elder Zwick and a few other local leaders before their meetings, and as we walked out of the High Counsel room I saw him walking toward us and this time I felt the spirit unlike anything I've ever felt before. He came up to me with a smile and shook my hand and my companions hand and put his hand on my shoulder and had a brief conversation with us, and that made my day. 

A little later, me and my companion where still there, along with few other missionaries, when a woman walked up and says that Elder Zwick was wondering if we wanted to join all of them for lunch. We quickly replied yes and headed down there. They where waiting for us to show up before they started eating. After everyone got their food we sat at the table and I found myself across the table from Elder Zwick. We where all pretty quite, being in the same room as a General Authority, but he was so friendly and immediately started talking with us, and he started talking with me. As I sat down he asked me where I was from and then we started talking about the Temple. He told me the dates that they are going to have the events for it, such as the dedication, and when the sessions will start. He then showed me pictures on his phone from when they put the Angel Moroni on it, which I told him I was present for. He also showed me the mission home they picked for the Gilbert mission, which has a view of the Temple from the backyard. Towards the end, I told him about the thing you said at my farewell in your talk. About your wife being your translator for the spirit, he said that was good counsel so way to go Dad!

This morning he spoke to the whole mission, and at the beginning we recited D&C 121 like we always do at the start of a meeting, and he was so impressed with it and the spirit he felt from it, that he was going to recount it to a couple of the Twelve Apostles. I can't remember which ones, but I believe Elder Ballard was going to be one of them. One thing he mentioned a lot, and what I have been hearing a lot by others, is the historical significance of this time. Which is said to rank with the first vision and the restoration. He said he was very impressed with this mission, and said that we astounded him, and that we where some of the best in the field.

It was just such a good moment, but I have to tell you that the work the brethren do is incredible! They all can be nothing short of real Men of God. The spirit I felt while being across the table from him during that lunch, was more then enough, to wipe away any doubts of the church, I just wish ya'll could have felt it to. I love ya'll so much!

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

October 17, 2013 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,

          Mom, I have something to tell you about second Nephi, I understood nothing from that either. I did not highlight a single thing either, I just read it and got the first part done. Most of second Nephi is from the prophet Isaiah and was copied in there by Nephi. But later after he is done copying it he acknowledges the fact that it is hard to understands and then he explains it in a much simpler fashion. Another interesting thing about that book is that I believe that at the beginning it says that only those with the spirit of prophecy can understand what it all means. A return missionary told us about when he discovered that, because he had the same problem, he then prayed and asked The Lord for the spirit of prophecy and he said that the book had a whole new meaning for him, so I thought that I would share that story with you. But don't worry about not getting much from it, not very many people do from what I have seen to be perfectly honest. 

Things are going great here. I wrote ya'll a letter and in the letter I said I would mail it today, unfortunately I forgot to put it in an envelope so it will be in the mail tomorrow. So when the letter says it was sent on Monday it lies. 

I am so glad to hear that Ian is doing so well with the Honda, but it doesn't sound like that the clutch will have much left to it here soon. Interesting fact manuals are called straight drives here in NC. 

We got 2 new investigators this week, they are a couple. The husband is an interesting fellow, he says he has been working on cars his whole life. They have this Oldsmobile that needs a new water pump. He has the pump but he refuses to work on it because it is a transverse engine, I believe that is the proper term. But he evidently had no idea what it was technically called, because he kept calling it a side winder. 

The less active member we found a while back, the one that was less active for about 10 years, his name is Dennis. He has been going through some rough times so we have been seeing him again and we also gave him a blessing last night. But we always seem to go over there when he needs it the most, and he said his spirit is always lifted up when we go by. He is a guy you can have an intelligent conversation with on engines! He was telling us about an old 50's Pontiac he had back in the day, that had the old straight 8 flat heads. Also he had some relatives that lived in Mesa. I don't know whether you have heard of this, but one of his relatives died early on because he would repair leaks inside of full tanks like the big propane ones, and some fumes where still in there and the tank blew up and killed him. This was way back in the day so I don't know if you are Grandpa ever saw that in the newspaper. 

If ya'll stay home for Christmas, that could be a good thing, because Matt might be home during that time, and if every thing works out then he could be there when we skype. Well I hope every thing is going good in the ward, and I also hope that ya'll and the ward are actively helping in the quickening of the work. 

Dad if you ever get some time read the Preach my gospel book, there should be a bunch in my room, that is not just for missionary's. Read through some of that and see what ya'll could do and what the ward can to to help the missionary's in the ward. One thing I have learned, is that the most effective way for us to do our work, is if the ward finds the people and then has us teach them. That is in the book and I believe it was President Hinckley that said that. Just so you know, it is not coming from a lazy missionary. Can't wait to here from ya'll soon and I will do my best to write more often.

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

October 7th 2013 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,

          Thank you for the emails and the pictures! Mom, hopefully I  got the prayer in before you took your test. I said it around 11:30 your time. It is kind of weird being 3 hours ahead. There is a world clock on the iPad, it shows where it is day and where it is night, and when I am just about ready to go to bed and I see that the sun is still up over there, I feel a little funny about that and I have no idea why. 

Mom I read your email first so when I saw that my car was sold I was very depressed for about 5 seconds. That was when I saw the next sentence which did make me feel much better. Let me know how Ian likes the car. I also hope you got the oil changed on it because it needed that since before I left. 

It is interesting to think that I am now 2 months out. 2 months since I have seen any of you or Arizona, only 22 months to go. I think it was my first week here my companion pointed to the sky and asked me how far away the plane was. I said probably around 30,000 ft. He the replied "No, 23 months". From what I have heard it takes about 4 to 6 months before the home sickness goes away and before you start to really get into it, after that the time fly's by. But I have been doing well out here so far, there are no desires to go home until the work is done.

One thing I found out, is that there are a few people in the ward that are from Mesa! I think it was last week, we were at a members house, and I found out that the whole family lived off of Stapley and the 60. When they found out I was from Gilbert we spent most of the time talking about the valley. A couple of people here graduated from Mesa High in 93 as well. It was nice to talk to people that knew the same streets I know. I have noticed that the one problem we all face going from Arizona to NC, is the fact that it is hard to find a GOOD Mexican food restaurant.

One last funny story is that the bishops son whose name is also Matthew served in Tuscon! Anyway, in regards to the work we found 2 potentials and one of our investigators came to 2 sessions of General Conference. He seemed to enjoy it and could even tell us in detail his favorite talk and why. I also got the chance to run the area for a day when my companion went to an 8 hour meeting. Everything went fine, only a few people went inactive and stopped seeing us because of it (haha). But everything is going well and I hope to hear from ya'll soon.

Love,

Elder Matthew Pena

September 30, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

          I do have some good news! I'm not being transferred this time around. And also my companion was made district leader. They are dividing the current district almost in half. Right now the district is Albemaral, Kannapolis, and Concord. After the 1st our district will be just Kannapolis and Concord.

I do apologize that I have not been able to send a letter back home. I have been pretty busy and by the time the day is over I am pretty tired. There where a few interesting things that happened last week that I was not able to recap like I wanted to. One of those things I actually is, I got cursed at! It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The guy I could tell was trying to be nice, but he was not doing a very good job. We were seeing less-actives, and we stopped by his house. He had a garage where he builds racing chassis, he also had some nice cars out on his lawn. I was hoping to talk to him about it but that idea quickly went out the window when he said he wanted nothing more to do with the church and told us to get out of his garage.

The next guy we saw was just a weird situation. We met a member, that had no idea that he was a member! He was very nice and said he would be open to hearing the discussions. We are in the process of finding out how his name is on the ward directory, because as far as he know's, he was never baptized. He did say that his mother is a member, so we are talking to the ward clerk about that. 

We have one really good investigator now. He has been to church twice and last night he came over for dinner at the Mitchel's with us. He did have some word of wisdom issues, but he is doing very well with all of it. After the first time we taught him he said he took all his alcohol and dumped it down the drain and this was before we asked him to. Then we challenged him to give up coffee and tea. We went over 2 days later and the thing of coffee he had was gone. We are now on the stop smoking program, which is said to get people to stop smoking, in a week. So far it has been at least 2 days. We will check back in today and hopefully it will be 3, but I'm sure it will be. 

One last thing, ya'll remember the story I told you in my last email. Before we left the Mitchel we got down in prayer and asked Heavenly Father what our work was for that night. The first family we saw, the one that I recounted in the last email, was one name that came up. The second family we saw was another name that was given to us by the spirit of God. We went over there and did not give them a lesson but just sang them We Thank the God for a Prophet and then we left. Yesterday at church the father of that family came up to brother Mitchel and asked him why we came over that night. He told him how we had prayed asking what our work was for the night. The father started to cry and said that, that was exactly what they needed at the time and that, that was an answer to his prayers. 

Anyways, I cant wait to see some of the pictures from the race, and I want to know how you are automating the master caster. Also, I do not recall you thinking of any kind of target system before I left so I am very curious on  what that is all about. Also I have found a scripture that has helped me answer a few questions I have had. It can be found in D and C 130 if ya'll want to read it. There was also a good ensign article I read that you might like. It is in the 1980 September issue called Gospel and Science or something like that. I believe it was the last article in that issue. I love ya'll and cant wait to hear from you.

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

September 16, 2013

Sorry that these are out of order. I had to take out a few things that Matthew asked me not to post on the blog, so that is why it's real short. I wanted to post what I could.

Dear Mom and Dad,

          Every thing is going great over here. I did get the letter that was sent a few days ago and I did very much appreciate it. I sent a letter on Friday so it should be there soon. I really don't have all that much to say about this week, but as soon as I start walking out of the library I will remember something. We use computers at the library and I was looking and I can't send pictures from here because there is no USB port that I can put my card reader into, (big waste of money that reader was). Anyway I'm going to take a few more pictures and send the SD card in the mail. A few of the other Elders I know have done that. You can also send me an SD card with some pictures on it from back home and of some of the races, please no videos though thanks.

I went on my first transfer on Friday. That is where the district leader comes over to our area for 24 hours to see how things are going basically, and I go over to his area for that time. I was in a place called Albamarl, or as my companion calls it Albahole, because it is this great big place with nothing in it. It was a very fun experience and I got to be with a couple of different Elders that where really fun to work with. Yes, there where 3 in that companionship. Please don't put this in the blog. (Content deleted) Okay, we are good now. Two people this past week thought I was a seasoned missionary and where surprised to find that I have only been in less then a month, so that made me feel good.

I know that as soon as I leave I will think of 5 things I wanted to say but I can't think of them right now. One last thing something that might be good to show Jonathan is Mormon.org, Go through some of the profiles and videos that people have of themselves, you know those I'm a Mormon videos, that would be good for him. 

Also, Dad look up Vai Sikahema in your high school year books from Mesa High, he was a football player and track star there, He later played for BYU and is a news sport caster in New York I believe. He came and gave a talk to us the last Sunday I was in the MTC. Anyway I will talk to you all later and look forward to your letters.

Love,

       Elder Matthew Pena

P.S. Remind me I need to write about all the interesting people in this ward, some of them have done some pretty neat things. Also, one of them almost tricked me into eating a slug.