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