Pictures from the MTC

Last email from the MTC

Hola familia y amigos! This week was muy beuno lol.. Thank you so much for all the letters, email and the package. I will send my SD card home today so you can steal the pictures off of it for my blog. I am almost better all I have is a little cough now! So by the time I leave I will be better. I FELL way behind being sick this last week, but the Lord blessed me with some super powers because I was able to learn everything I drooled through and was sick during in one morning before the TRC lol But I'm caught up now. WE ran into some Chileans from Santiago at the temple on Sunday man they are tiny! and they talks so fast!!! but we were able to talk to them.. now I understand why Jared couldn't understand mike.. lol This last week I read Helaman, and most of Alma, it was awesome, I love how the scriptures can come alive. We also had a really good devotional where they played about 20 of the old Mormon ad's from the 60's-90's hilarious lol... but they taught us alot from them, it was way fun. So I weighed myself again, 188 even so i have gained a few pounds lol not to many though it didn't help that my family sent me my favorite vanilla oreos! lol And we got our flight plans there are 19 of us on the flight to Concepcion and a separate flight for each other mission in Chile with at least 20 missionaries on them! lol We got scammed on how much weight we can have, were flying Chilean.... 2 bags under 50 pounds and a carry on under 17 pounds.. ya there is alot of stuff I might not be able to take. We leave the morning of the 28th, our flight is at 11:20 but we leave for the air port at 8:00 so expect a call sometime during that morning. We fly first to LA then from LA we have a 17-19 hour flight to Concepcion lol... its going to be a fun experience. I took money out at the ATM because we are supposed to have $100 cash for traveling.. This is my last time emailing in America! lol weird I'm so excited though! Christmas will be fun we have speakers and we are told they are not everyday speakers lol so it should be fun. WE get to write home on Christmas so I will write a few letters today and a few Friday. And it would be nice if Jared could put my Chile address on my facebook or something:) for people to have it. I love you all I hope you know that!! I wish I could set up some lights and do secret Santa lol ... but I love you, talk to you on Monday! My last week in the mtc .... will go fast for sure!

2 Weeks Left!

Yes I had to be a host again this week, I think the Lord is trying his hardest to torture me right now lol.. jkjk well Elder Sacco got the swine flu this week and was put into quarantine! lol but I got his comp, so I was in a threesome from Monday to Saturday. It was hard, one comp is a little boy and the other one has no self confidence and doesn't think the Lord is going to help him at all.. I did my best to really be nice the whole week and try to change/teach them. My Branch President met with me and said that I need to share my wisdom with them and that it's not by chance that I'm with them. Wisdom? I told him to stop lying to me! lol... I'm sick right now it's just the flu, not the swine so I don't have the chance to be in quarantine. I still have to be a missionary in the MTC and work, in quarantine you sleep all day.. Ya sweet! lol But I do have to wear a mask around alot of the time. It's really funny, so I cough more on purpose to freak people out. Especially the Asians lol... they freak out!.. Well I'm learning a lot still, I'm stoked to get to Chile and not understand anything, I mean they will probably be able to understand me, but we had a visit from a Chilean from Santiago on Wednesday and they just talk so so so fast! lol Its going to be so fun. I cant wait to only be able to speak through the spirit and love! Yeah baby it's going to be awesome. I get my flight plans on Friday... sweetnessssss... Yesterday the BYU men's chorus came, they are really sweet. Music is so amazing! I'm still getting over that we are not allowed to listen to music of any kind at all... Oh the Canfields sent me a package Asombroso!!!!(Super wonderful) Good food and a yo-yo and a harmonica!!! whooo my whole floor is happy about it! I ran into Blake, wow talk about someone really growing in the MTC, he is amazing! Oh and Emily, I can iron my clothes now.. So I'm officially grown up right?! hahah I'm writing more letters home, maybe you should try writing back..hmm? So I'm in Revelations right now, dang its intense, but is awesome! lol I have definitely learned how much the scriptures mean if you study by the power of the spirit. Just know the church is true... so when do I get more pictures and stuff, maybe a photo album of the people and things I love? duh... That's what I would want for Christmas.. lol I love you all... Please know that and treat each other like you do.. Oh and Adam, a Elder in my district is just like you, in looks even. He is from Idaho and took state in wrestling he is like my best friend here.. he is like my piece of home lol.. or piece of Adam... jkjkjk they will give me time to write on Christmas and I can call home from the airport!!! Hey I've only got 30 seconds left before I lose my email .. Bye!!!!

TRYING TO BE PATIENT

Hola mi familia y amigos! So this last week went by faster than ever, I don't think my patience has ever been tested like it has been and I hope it never will have to. Bishop sent me a encouraging letter, and thank you for all the dear elders and also the mail/packages. I told my comp he needed to grow up, he is taking it ok. but he does, like seriously your on a mission. You're here to work and learn and teach. Not to fart, burp, draw and come up with funny pictures and games to play.. it's so hard to balance the constructive advice I give him through scriptures always, or when to just ignore him. Besides that I'm having a good time, I am almost finished with Acts but I got distracted in Samuel and also Revelations plus D & C its so hard to only read one place in the scriptures. The Lord is blessing me with so much knowledge in the scriptures I'm learning things and its crazy to think of. We taught in the TRC Saturday all in Espanol, its only a 45 min thing but it is all in Spanish. My teacher got mad at me for talking too much and not letting my comp talk, I told him it's because he knows no Spanish! lol He goofs off when we should study. But I am going to do what my leaders tell me and ..... But Spanish is coming, the gospel MTC Spanish is easy, I'm ready to learn the real thing! lol I really am missing decorating and actually having holidays. There are no holidays here only a holiday speaker lol.. besides that its still work, work, work. But I enjoy how much I'm learning and how I feel like I'm doing nothing or wasting the Lords time when im not studying or teaching. The gloves are awesome! My hands are not cold any more, and its really not as cold here as people say it is, the temple walks are like a stroll, Jared is just a baby. We hosted this week, so i got to be one of the missionaries who steal the son or brother from the family at the curb. Everyone enjoyed it, I hated it. A family rolled up in their suburban that had a full load, it was the oldest son leaving. He had 4 little sisters and 2 little brothers they were all crying, and I did to.... the missionary asked me why I was crying, I just told him that maybe someday he would understand. So we were asked if we wanted to host again I said no.. lol guees what? This Wednesday I got selected to host again! ya I hope it isn't as sad as it was last time. I got a christmass card from Melissa and Adam! It was really nice and I was all excited, then there was no letters with it.. what the!? Are you trying to torture me!? lol but thanks for the great picture, I probably won't be able to send any pictures home the machines are broken, both of them are out of order till before Christmas. So sorry no pics.. maybe I can just send home my card? It snowed a foot this week it was really cool, and then you have missionaries who are not aware that they are missionaries that play in the snow and get hurt and have to go home. Some have gone home already. Like really, act like a missionary. I'm having a hard time ignoring the 12 year old boys that are here at the MTC. Well I love you all and please write me its awesome to get mail while I still can, lol, it will be alot different in Chile. I cant wait to get in the field, and not be in the protected MTC (lol) and learn Spanish!!! These next weeks will go faster than I know it, because the whole last month has flown by. I am excited for Christmas devotional!! lol its usually someone from the first presidency! Tengo un testimonio de jesucristo y sus evangelio, tambien que el espiritu santo es real. Yo se las escurituras es las palabras de dios!!! read them there amazing!!! I love you all and I have run and learn!!! DECORATE FOR ME!!!!

Dear Family,

That's alot of news.. moms email took ten minutes to read.. geez! lol But sounds like you are all having a exciting time back home. Here at the MTC we had Elder Oaks come on Tuesday and Elder Holland came on Thursday, talk about amazing. On top of that for Elder Holland I was in the 3rd row. He opened it up to questions, then he answered (lol) tight! He bore powerful testimony and the whole thing was just amazing. I'm pretty much sick of the food, they don't change the schedule at all, it's the same every week. Exactly the same! Spanish is coming along, at least MTC Spanish its pretty easy and I finished John and am in Acts now, but I'm also reading the Doctrine and Covenants to. I find myself getting frustrated sometimes because i have to do all the teaching, and teach my comp. It takes so much time. My time is already down to 5 min, love the MTC timers sweet, my comps mail just deleted. But everyone I love you and will write some letters :)

Hola Mi Familia

Well the MTC is getting easier than it already is lol, this last week we learned alot of course. That's crazy about the Ward boundaries, kinda makes me sad at the same time though. Why did they have to screw up our perfect ward! gay. WEll Elder Matney my comp has made big progress I'm proud of him, I am not learning as quickly as I would like but I am being patient. Our roommates still fight, they are both sick and blame each other, really fun! lol I weighed myself last Wednesday and I'm on 184 so I actually lost 3 pounds! ha Volleyball in gym time is sweet, I'm quite popular. lol My comp as well as my roommates are going to Chile Concepcion to, same with my favorite missionaries in our district Elder Moss and Elder Hathaway. I tried to print out pictures but they only have 1 machine for now 3, 100 missionaries because Visas for the Brazil mission are not going through so they are all here.. ya FUN Yea! I bought stamps today, eight bucks! What is that, and all the stuff I want to by like gloves I'm not buying because the store here is so over priced I refuse. Its worse than Deseret Book, 23 dollars for gloves.. ya right I would rather freeze. And yes Dad I had the New Testament sophomore year, but I was 14 and ... I was 14....but I'm almost finished with Luke I will probably finish tomorrow. This week is exciting because our Branch Pres. said we will probably hear from 2 Apostles one on Tuesday one on Thursday, maybe-- even better... I'm stoked. I see Elder Roundy about once a week and Elder Waite I have in gym and every meal... I need more ties and a good picture of the Las Vegas Temple!!! please Well I love you all and I only have 5 minutes left I'm writing Jared and Blair, Sorry mom, I can't write, but I love you to. lol BYE!!

Third week in the MTC-11/16/09

So far its still awesome, I have been getting along and starting to really like some of the Elders in my district. My comp is doing better, he does let me teach him alot and is open to help so its been going good. We are switching bunks tomorrow so I dont have to be on the top! yes, and so i don't have to smell his (edited and edited) all night which is (edited). The other companionship in our room is aruguing alot, but the Branch President talked to us about it, I try my hardest to try to make the peace. So I am almost finished with Mark, then I can start Luke, which is amazing! I still can't believe what I have been missing out on. Our district leader and his comp are now the Zone Leaders which is weird because its usually the oldest group, but we are the second to youngest. I love Sundays! because I actually get to study what the spririt is telling me to and have real personal study. There is also a Sister Ward here who is in our building and her mail and my mail keeps getting mixed up.. hahaha I think its funny, she doesn't. So my teachers have thrown almost all the Spanish at us already, they are using us a guinie pigs and seeing a new teaching idea. They are teaching us all the Spanish in 4 weeks instead of 8 so then we have four weeks of strait practice and review. Its hard because they're going really fast but its a good idea. I just keep praying to the Lord for help, if there is a missionary who doesn't realize they can't do it without the Lord they are dumb. I should stop calling people things, your read in Matthew how much the Lord cares for his children and calling them dumb or something is horrible, just read it. I hate the timers in the MTC.... they start from the time the computer turns on and it takes almost 10 minutes to get to your email then you read them ... but its fun, not to cold, yes there is snow and I am learning alot! I love it !!!

News from 11/10/2009

Its great to hear from you guys at home, it must have been very stressfull for everyone with Carters surgery. I dont think I would have gone just like Jared... lol it would have driven me crazy! But also it would be nice to see the family. Yes my companion is cool, but he is always stressed and it bothers me. He doesnt even try to learn in class and then after, when its time to do my personal study which I only get about and hour a day , it sucks.. thats when he wants me to help him. But the Espanol is coming very easily so far, but I met a Chilean here on his way to the states... wow he spoke a hundred miles an hour, didnt use any s's or use any hand motions so I understood very little.. so I guess I get to look forward to a fun few months in Chile. Well in our District 6 are going to Concepcion, 2 leave for Guatemala in a week (I make fun of them all the time lol.... but encourage also, they love to see all of Jared's stuff and they are really cool). Then we had four Elders going to Honduras too, but one of them went home already so now there is a threesome in our district. I love my companion but alot of the time he is a real hinderence, like we had to contact and then teach part of lesson one in Espanol on Saturday, It was awesome! I could form my own sentences and talk with them, BUT I'd be in a conversation with them talking about their family and Gods love torwards them, then my comp will say... DONDE VIVE....? lol but I try to let him talk as much as possible so he can learn, I can not and wont shelter him he needs to learn these things and can't lean on me the whole stay in the easy MTC. I love my district Elder Moss is like my best friend, me and him are reading the New Testament together its amazing! Why did no one ever tell me that it was there!!! always, BOM BOM BOM thats all I was ever told to read... but the first chapters in Matthew are amazing I learned so much. I have gym time right after lunch, I know sucky cause then we have 7 hours of class room insruction that half the time is a waste cause either the teacher is not fully prepared or we are learning things that we learned the first 2 days. But I have learned to be very patient all of my thoughts are kept inside, all I have now is to learn to control my thoughts lol I'm studying alot on charity! I see Blake every day, and I see Dave like every other day.. its cool to see people you know. I enjoy getting letters from dear elder and also hand wirtten ones so thanks for all of them. All of my district is jealous of me because i get alot of mail, and yes mom I got my jacket and it fits good! It will be put to good use soon. I love you all, I'm going to write Blair now so peace!

Hooray for mail!

I got my first letter from Elder Ward yesterday. Here is what he said.

Dear Melissa and Adam,

The MTC is sweet! I have learned so much these first five days. I have been humbled but also brought back up by the Lord. We went to the temple this morning and I felt the spirit so strong. there is an Elder I have come to love, Elder Moss, he isn't my complanion but him and I relate so much I love being near him. My companion is from a forest area in Ohio. His is way cool and funny, bu the is very slow at learning and I am constantly having to help him with everything. But I don't mind, it just makes less time for my personal learning, HA, I am the junior companion! I like it though. I can already speak basic conversations and scentences. I can bear my testimony and pray in Spanish. It's amazing how much the Lord has blessed me with in such a litttle time! I love you both, and your crazy kids.

Love, Elder Matthew Ward


Missionaries LOVE mail. Click the link on the sidebar to send him a letter thru DearElder.com!

Trip to the MTC

Early Tuesday morning we got up and left to go to Salt Lake City. The weather was off the wall, the first snowstorm of the year. It was white out from Beaver to Salt Lake. When we got into Downtown Salt Lake it finally stopped snowing. We went to the Art Museum, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and walked through Temple Square. It was freezing for these desert rats. We found our hotel, ate and dressed to go back to the Salt Lake Temple. It was a wonderful experience going to the temple, it was the first time for all of us going to a live session. It was great because Br. Roundy and Elder Roundy went to the same session. We visited on the temple ground and got a great picture of Elder Ward and Elder Roundy. We had a wonderful late meal at Olive Garden.
The next morning we got up and got ready to head to Provo. Elder Ward was ready to go in, he would like to have reported at 9 am, but had to wait until 1:45 pm. We went to the Provo Temple to take pictures, it was so cold we got back in the car, found a Shopko and bought gloves. We then went back to the Temple to take pictures.
After hugging, kissing and saying our goodbyes in the parking lot. We drove down into the MTC where we were given a little orange sticker that told us which area to stop at. There were three Elders waiting for us. They explained that they couldn't shake our hands, but were there to help Elder Ward with his luggage. One Elder was his host, they got all the bags put together, one last hug and kiss and off he walked. He and the other Elder talking as they went. No looking back.
It was a long trip home another storm hit and it was worse than the day before. I am so thankful that Elder Matthew Ward was so ready to be on his mission. He wants to be out teaching people about our beliefs.

Jared Returns!

Jared Returned home! its a about 2 weeks sooner than expected, nut its really an answer to prayers. Now i actually get to see him longer than ten hours lol.. the airport was fun, jared cried like a baby.. but it was cool all the family and friends that were there.. me and jared will both be speaking on the 18th at 9 am. its a family get together right after and then a friends and a ward get together at like 6 or something. but it is awesome at home now because people actually stay home and talk it feels like we are complete again after 2 years.. lol...

blake's endowment

haha, blake roundy going through the temple! it seems the more i go through the temple the more i love everything about it. especially the extreme feeling of peace while your there. And that seeing people you love there does mean alot. But blake is really funny and im really happy for him, he got his mission call to chile as well. Rancagua Chile which is the mission right above my mission. we are from the same ward and have known each other for quite a long time, the best part about it is that we have our farewells the same day and we both enter the mtc the same day! AND the last pciture of our dog, she was yelping for help when i walked in my room and discovered her on the table in my room. She smelt the chocolate i had left up there. Man our dog is weird.

Temple:)

Temple Date

So we found out the date and time that I will be going through the temple for my endowment. Its September 12th, 2009. 2:30 PM but the temple people said for everyone to be there by 2. So I hope that everyone can make it, I am extremely excited. I dont think I could even attempt to tell you how excited I am. I also added some more pictures of me and my brother just because until i go through the temple i dont really have any cool pictures.

More Mission Call Photos

The Mission Call.....!

Finally my mission call came, it felt like i had been waiting for years. But it was really only a few weeks. I got called to the Chile Concepcion Mission and I sounded like a big dork because I couldn't pronounce it and its quite easy. No one really cares where I was going at first, the big deal is the date that I report to the MTC. Its the day after my Brother comes home! He comes home Oct the 27th 2009 and I report Oct the 28th 2009.

My Big Bro Jared

This is an image of me and my brother Jared the night he was set apart as a missionary. He left Oct 2007 and is serving his mission in Guatemala, Guatemala City North Mission. He will be coming home this october 27th we are all excited to see him, he will have alot of stories to tell us. He is and always will be my best friend.