Great Days In Abilene

Well here we are again. It has been a few months since we have posted on this blog. I feel so badly about it, but time has gone by so fast and before you know it another week, month and then months have gone by. I vow to do a better job as now Kendal, Matthews Dad, will be able to help and keep this well updated.

As you have seen, we received some pictures from Elder Haynie and posted a few of them. We have actually received quite a few over the last few months and will post more, but these are the most recent. Matthew looks great! Since he has been out he has gained a little weight and grown up, ALOT! He is no longer our "boy", he is a man! We believe that the picture of the four missionaries is Matthew's District. The other with just Matthew is of him and his current companion, Elder Reay. They all look great!

Matthew is doing really well. He is currently still serving in Abilene and is District Leader. He is doing such a great job and loves his mission. Over the last few months he has had a couple different companions and served in a couple different capacities. He has loved serving in Abilene and done such a great job. Abilene has also been a place that has been a bit trying for him. He found himself experiencing some struggles for a few days a little while ago, but as Matthew always does, he came thru it fine and even stronger than ever. Sometimes our trials makes us stronger people, and it has done just that. He is doing amazing!

Last week, Matthew and some of the other Elders, went to Odessa and were able to attend a couple days of training that came by way of the First Presidency. He said that there wasnt any changes in the lessons but other ways of teaching and so forth. He said it was an amazing time and had a wonderful time.

We are so proud of Matthew and the work that he is accomplishing. He is a wonderful missionary and loves the Gospel. Keep up the good work Matthew and we love you!

Another Message From Abilene!!!!

Well here it is a few days before Easter and we have just received another email from Matthew! He is doing very well and have much success in Abilene. The work is moving forward and at a good pace. Since Matthew has been there they have had 3 baptisms already and a couple more in the works. Good Job Elders!!!

Matthew seems to really like it in Abilene. Like usual, he speaks of loving his mission and loving seeing the Church grow and seeing peoples lives change as they accept the Gospel. True words spoken of a truely dedicated Missionary.

In the last email I sent to Matthew I had to actually scold him a little bit. Can you believe it???? 20 yrs old, on a mission, and his Mom still scolding him... Wow!
But, the emails get shorter and shorter all the time and no letters coming home. My last email was only 4 sentences or so. My husband keeps telling me he is staying focused on the work and to leave him alone but being the Mom that I am, I just want to know how he is doing and that he is ok. So..... we will see if he listens. Thank goodness Mother's Day is coming next month and then we get to talk to him! Woohoo!!!!!!

Thanks for all the support everyone has given Matthew. It is truly appreciated!!!

We love you Matthew!

Transferred to Abilene,Texas!

Hey everyone! Well here we are 2/25/10 and we have received yet another email from our favorite Missionary! It seems as though the farther Matthew gets into his mission the shorter the emails are!

As you can tell Matthew has been transferred to Abilene Texas. Evidently it is a city unlike all the little towns he has served the rest of his mission in. He is excited to serve with more missionaries. There are a total of 6 missionaries in this city. The area he and his new companion are in was a sister missionary area. Matthew's new companion is Elder Pitts and stands 6'4! Matthew says they get along great and cant wait to share the Gospel. The Lord must have great things waiting for him there as he was told by his Mission President " I am sending you there for a good reason." We cant wait to see the progress and experiences he will encounter.

We are so excited that he will have the opportunity to see more of Texas. He cant stop talking about how he loves his mission! We are so proud of Matthew and hope Abilene will be a great experience.

Good job Matthew and we love you!

Another Email from Matthew in Pecos, Texas!

Well we received another email from Matthew today. What a wonderful day it is when you receive an email home and your son proceeds to tell you how much he loves his mission! Kendal and I are so lucky, as every week we get to hear how wonderful things are and how Matthew loves his mission! Definitely one of the greatest blessings in life!

Right now Matthew is serving with Elder Hardy in Pecos. This next week brings transfers for the Texas Lubbock Mission so they are anxiously awaiting to hear what will happen. This will be Elder Hardys last transfer before he goes home.
This week in Matthews email he sent a copy of an email from President Robison, as they get an email each week, and in it, it speaks of Matthew and Elder Hardy and how they listened to the words of the President and Zone leaders and in doing so they were blessed to have some really good results come of their work. It is such a blessing that they are humble enough to listen to the counsel given and in turn be blessed to be able to bring people into the church. They will be baptizing Maria Morales and her husband on February 27, 2010 and when the children are of age they will be baptized too! Keep up the good work Matthew!!!!

The rest of his email tells of different experiences he is having and of the love for his family. Matthew has a couple of friends out on missions right now and one is about to come home. Chris Bailey is serving in Bucharest Romania and will be coming home 2 weeks from today!!! What a wonderful day it will be for Chirs and his family to reunite after 2 yrs. We so look forward to that day with Matthew.

We have received a few more pictures and will be posting them soon. Thank you to everyone who supports Matthew! We love you Matthew!