Awesome Week

Hey Mom!!
So you said a lot today so let me get rollin!


So I have written Granny a letter! I got the letter and money and all the sports articles TEll her Thank you and she will have a letter on its way for her tomorrow! :) I am going to put it in the mail tomorrow! Tell Jake I will write him soon! Like right now! Tell him I will be writing him a letter! I miss that kid! I miss all my friends like freaking Crazy! The Missionaries I am with here are cool and all but no one can ever take the place of those guys! Miss the heck out of them!


Well glad to hear everyone is starting school! I will be sending Todd a letter later so don't you worry! He will be just fine in a couple of weeks! And tell Garrett not to feel bad! I took Kindergarten twice too! And so did Mckean; he will have fun! :) 15 years from now he will be fine! I miss that little booger! :) Glad to hear lindsay is breaking out! Makes me feel better! After all that time of her making fun of me for having acne she deserves it lol! Just kidding, but hope she finds something that will work! I actually still have not gone to the Doctor! I forgot to make an appointment. All those people you sent me take our insurance??? My face actually is not bad right now! It is not the best, but it has been worse! I am hoping it will start going away naturally on its own soon!




Erick and Christina dropped us... Don't want to say too much because it is there business.. It is sad :( But its life you know?? They really are an awesome couple its just not something they are ready for at this point in their life. We have not talked to them in about a month. We were really upset and still are but continue to pray that one day things will work out! :) They really are awesome people. They wanted to be baptized, but problems come up and people have their agency so its all good! I love them and am still ready to serve and help them in any way possible! :)


Silvano works a ton and is now working on sundays... He still wants to be baptized, but cannot come to church... So its a predicament. He said it should only be a temporary thing so we are going to go visit him again at the very end of this cycle! :)


Mike is impossible to get a hold of... and Carlos said he is willing to change! He has just been really hard to get a hold of! Does not have a cell phone and works a lot as well! EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY WORKS!!!!!!!!!!! It is ridiculous! lol!


I love MExican food! But my stomach does not lol! Dominican food is starting to get really old, but its all good! And my favorite thing about the city has to be the people :) But other than that its how fast the city changes. How one minute you can be in the hood and then the next minute you can be in a rich part of town...


I was riding in the subway the other day and I was paying attention to something. We were down by the temple, got on the bus and crossed town to the east side and thats when we got on the sub. So at like 66th street it was about 75% white people. As we went uptown slowly it started to change. By the time we got at 125th and Lexington. like 3 blocks away from where I live I was the only white person left on the train. Thats just to give you a perspective of how it is! I love it lol! I love being a minority! first off I'm a missionary so people notice me for that... But then I am white so when I walk by sometimes I get a little attention.. lol! Not really that much but its kinda cool! lol!


Crazy to think I have almost been here for 6 months!! I am excited for that day! :) 1/4th! It is going by way too fast though! So so fast!!!


So this week has been a really really good week! We had 40 lessons!!!! Freaking awesome!!! The lord has blessed us so much this week! He is preparing things for us that I cannot even begin to comprehend! The ward has been helping a lot as well! We had a health fair that we set up a stand at and there was so much interest there that there were not enough missionaries and members to talk to all the people! Missionary work is the big thing in the ward right now! At the fair we got like 30 referrals and taught like 10 lessons! Plus got the name of the church out to over 100 people!


Little miracle happened the other day at this fair! It was on Saturday alright! So... I ran into this guy on friday. Said he wanted to talk with the missionary. Said he spoke English and Spanish.. He wanted English so I gave his name over to the sisters. Did not think much of it! So then the next day at this fair we run into him again! Coincidence??? I think not!! This is one of the biggest cities in the world! what are the chances! He sat down with us and we had a short lesson! Made a return appt for Sunday night! We went there and talked with him and his wife! Decided they wanted to go to the spanish ward! (Had to call the sisters and take back the referral... ooopss lol!) So his name is Wilson and his wife is Maria. They have 3 boys, 6 and under! We are teaching a family!! :) There names are DJ, Jose, and Jake! Awesome family! They were taught last year.. But lost contact with the missionaries! We found them and they are excited to have us again! Maria calls us her boys! They are a little interesting but way awesome and way friendly! I'm excited to teach the Plan of Salvation on Saturday! They are also feeding us! :) Life is good! This has just been a really good week! The Lord is not blessing us... He is blessing these people! I mean I guess he is because we have people we have the oppurtunity to get to know. And we have the oppurtunity to learn to love them! :) I already do so I don't know what I am talking about! But we are teaching a family! Pray everything goes well! I have a really good feeling about them :) Like a really really good feeling! I was so excited to teach the first lesson with them and I did not know why! But now I do! Wilson said himself he knows it was fate that he met us on the street two days in a row and knew that we were supposed to come over!!


Our Ward Mission leader Elvis has been helping us a lot! He is awesome! This week was awesome I loved it! Okay well I dont got much time! Just know I love you and Miss you all! I played baseball today so I am way Tired! Hit 3 home runs :) the last one I could swear was the farthest I ever hit a ball. I will write RJ, JAke and Todd later today hopefully! Tell greg to write! Thank you for your love and all you all do! Miss my family and everyone else! Let the Ward know I miss them! I love you alll and I am so excited to see what will happen here soon! :) :)


Love, Mark! :)


Oh yeah I gave a talk! It went really good! It was on faith I got a lot of compliments saying my spanish was getting better! 




Hey Dad! How are you??? Sounds like the trip was fun! I wish I could have gone that would have been really fun! I miss the Jet ski lol! And Sorry you had to drive the whole way! I wish I could have been there to help drive! I miss driving your car.. Actually I miss driving in General! It has been over five months since I have touched the wheel of a car! I feel like I could do it really easily if I got in one right now though. We were with a member the other day and he had a stick... And I really wanted to drive it lol! 

So New york is fun!! It is a lot different then I thought! I am not seeing the parts you see in movies! I hardly ever get to go down south, but when I do I love it! The suprises I would have to say must be the people! Meet some of the most interesting people everyday... More than you have probably ever met in your life! I have talked to 2 people who are convinced they are Jesus Christ lol! Crazy I know lol! Then all kinds of other interesting people! Its crazy all the people you get the chance to meet here! I hope I get to serve in South Man sometime! There is one Spanish Companionship there. I love my area! Like I don't want to leave! I will stay here for a year! But after I leave I want to go upstate just so I can have some peace and quiet! That is probably one of the things I miss most! Is just quiet and time to be alone! Its nice to see how the Gospel and the Spirit can bring peace even in the most hectic of times. 

Tell Grandpa happy birithday for me! And also will you please send me their address, along with Aunt Cindys and also when is she coming here again??

That sucks greg screweed up his mouth! How has he been since he has been home??

I miss home at times, but its all good! I wish I could be there and see what everyone is going through, but I know I will be able to in about 18 months when I return home! Crazy to think Lindsay is already starting school! Crazy that she will be in college! Crazy to think I already started college and am on a mission! I still feel so freaking young that its not funny! I really dont want to grow up any time soon lol! But I can see myself already maturing! One thing I noticed is I have not cussed in like 6 months! Not that I did it all the time back home, but a word would definitely slip out every once and a while! But that is something I have felt really good about! Also my patience feels like it is a lot higher as well! I tend to be able to tolerate things a lot easier and not blow up. But I am doing good! Sorry to hear about everything at work! I really hope that it all goes well that is awesome that you get to go to China! I want to go to Chinatown really bad lol! I think when when Elder huerta leaves I am going to go and see if I can go and find some more work downtown! 

The city is crazy! I love it! I am excited to be here! We had a really good week last week! I will tell you more about it in the email I send to mom! 

Well Dad I love you and take care! Have a great week! I will talk to you soon! :) 

Love Mark! 

New York - Part Two

Personalize a slideshow

Nice to Get Away

Hey Mom!! Glad to hear the trip is going well!! 

So yeah, I am excited to hear that Melissa is switching schools! I am glad that she is doing what her heart is telling her :) 

Sounds like you need to whip greg up into shape!! Lazy bum! in spanish we would call him a jeubon! Haha its really offensive lol!

So I got the Costco card! I actually went there today after the temple!!! I was so glad to go to the temple! It was nice just to find peace in the world!! This place is crazy, and it was just nice to get away from the world for a day! But it was good I got some answers for some questions and just had a really good experience!! 

So a lot is going on! Too bad I dont have a lot of time to explain! Jasmine went to the Bronx for a month! So we are now aiming for her to be baptized on my Birthday! That would be really cool to see! :) Both her and her brother! Then we are teaching Ariel! He has some issues we need to work out! But he asked us about Baptism and more than anything he is just looking for a change in his life! He is excited to come to church and excited to start becoming a better person! He is Dominican! Gash... Tre and Mckean have it so easy!!! Mexicans are so easy to understand! Domincans/ Puerto Ricans are so dang difficult!!!! 

Oh before I forget I got my shirt/Memory card!!! Thank you so so so much!! :) 

So awesome experiance the other day! We have this 96 year old woman in our ward! Her name is Lysa Ortiz! I cannot understand a word she says lol! She speaks so quiet! But anyway.. I gave my first blessing in Spanish the other day!! :) It was totally the gift of tongues and the Gift of the Priesthood that made her better! The next day she was feeling just fine.. After being in the emergency room! we went back to check on her and she was runnning around like a mouse lol! She is a hyper little thing lol! She fed us a ton of food and would not let us leave until we ate it all!!!! Haha she had a full two liter of sprite! And Angel food cake, and sandwiches... My stomach was about to explode! Whenever she saw we weren't eating she would come out of character and say "EAT IT!" Then smile at us and lean back in her chair! Haha It would be the only thing she would say in english!!! Huge testimony builder though seeing how low she was and then the next day she was hopping around like Bugs bunny! Hahah if I did not know better she was on speed lol! She is awesome though :) 

So a lot of funny stuff this week and not much time.. Harlem is Crazy! Mom you would hate it! !!!  But its fun I like it :) I will have to take you all here when I get home!!! 

So Walkner one of the guys we are teaching just so happens to be Elder Huertas cousin!! Crazy right!! SMall World!! The Lord really does send specific family to certain places for a reason! When he first got here he realized that. Gema Romero.. One of the our best members!! She is awesome! She owns a barber shop and cuts our hair!! Ugh!! I want to say more but cant :( 

Uh what more!! So I am good! I have to give a talk on Sunday! I am excited for that! And scared! I will let you know how it goes! 

So Elder Lewis has a new companion again... Elder Torres - he trained Elder Veater! HAs more patience than anyone I have ever met lol! 

So I am going to the Derm this next Wed! Yay!! I just ran out of pills last night! I had been cutting them in half it seems to work pretty well! 

I have been thinking about my Grandparents a lot lately how are thy doing??? :) Hopefully well! I pray for them a ton! 

Ok mom so your Birthday is coming up!! What is your shirt size???? :) Uhm also I would maybe like 2 more short sleeve shirts... These Are not lasting too well! They stain really easy and my backpack leaves giant marks on them... They are ok.. But I can tell you already I am going to need like 2 more!! Is that okay??? :) Sorry, Just walking a lot.. And sweating even more lol! 

Oh mom.. could you send my lacrosse stick somehow??? :) I want to play catch with Elder Lewis! He has his baseball glove and we could play catch back and forth :) Haha i am smart I know!! 

Okay well I love you all! Hope you are all okay :) I've had a busy day!! Sorry I could not say more, but I promise you will hear more next week!! Hope you have a good one! I love you all! Take care and God Bless! :) 

Love Mark! :)

A Lesson in Faith

Hey Dad!!! How are you??? So I think I am just going to reply to you and mom here! So I am doing well!! How are you all doing??? How is Greg??? Sounds like he is good! Sounds like that place was a rip on drinks lol! That kind of stinks! The food was good though right??? I have had some good... And not so good things here.. We ate at this older lady's house last week.... Tasted like the inside of a trashcan filled with cigarettes and dog poop... It was nasty... You will never guess what it was... Rice... Ewww... I don't know how any thing could taste like that lol! I felt like some one spit a cigarette into my mouth... Good right??? You should try it sometime lol! 

Well sounds like you picked up some spanish in Mexico lol! My spanish is coming alright! Little by little! It would be nice to just be in Mexico for a month so I could be completely immersed in the language!! But its fun! I love it here! Still loving the people still loving the area! Nothing really happened with Transfers. I am here! And so is Elder Huerta Luna! One more cycle then he is going somewhere else. President told him that! I actually was scared I would be transferred! But I am here! Huerta has been here for 11 months after this cycle!! Crazy right??? But all is good! 

And thanks for the info for the COSTCO Card! I will do that!!!! 

Haha I remember when Mckean broke those handle bars!! haha! That was funny! I just emailed him and reminded him!! Haha! But that was a Lindsay moment Dad!! Haha you didn't put in the key??? REally??? Haha might help just saying!haah kidding! 

Crazy to think Tre is leaving so soon!!! I'm so excited for him!!! I wrote him a letter today and bought him a Birthday Present!! I Love that little kid!! haah! But I hope RJ is doing okay! I need to write him.. What is his address??? And I have talked to Jackson a bunch! Sounds like he is doing just fine! :) I am happy for all of them! 

Haha Mckean is my favorite lol! He is such a unique kid!! I love him! His emails  crack me up every time I read them! He is doing good things! I hope he sees some success there soon! He sure as heck deserves it! He has one of the sweetest testimonies of the Savior, out of anyone I have ever met! He also has a giant heart! He cares for people and that is what I love most about him! 

Sister Roarke is moving?? Wow thats sad! But good for her I guess!  She is such a sweet lady!! I am going to miss her! Will you be helping her move out??? When does she move?? ? Tell her I said bye for me will you please! 

So the Subway is fun! I love the Random stuff that happens on there!! HAha people preaching.. People screaming... People playing instruments and singing lol! Its a fun place! Still trying to figure it all out! But for the most part I got it down! and yeah I will definitely show you around it after my mission! Nothing too special, but the first few times it is fun! A lot better than the bus. And way better than Cabs. Cabs are a freaking rip!  

So what mom said... Greg had culture shock at the concert?? Haha tell him to come spend a day in Harlem lol! I am looking out the window now and don't see a single white person lol! And the people here are Crazy! haha! But I love them! Man... That must be a totally different world! our missions are two totally different places!!!  

Fast Food is ridiculously priced out here! Gash I hate it! Mcdonalds want a small drink??? "Five Dollars" No thank you I would rather go to a baseball game and buy one lol! That's a bit exaggerated but seriously!! Ugh it is ridiculous! Living off of rice and Ramen is fun! I am actually starting to get sick of Eggs! We only get fed like 2 times a week too... It stinks!! Seriously feed the missionaries more! Tell them if they don't have food to come over. lol!  It stinks when you don't get food and have to go all the way home to cook! It's also wastes a lot of time! And you should go on splits with them! Both you Mom, Greg, Lindsay, Todd; whoever! It helps out a ton when you have a member at the lesson! I don't know why! there is just a special spirit about it! so dad, go with them! Every member a missionary!! Help them out! You will be doing them a favor, and me a favor! 

So yeah! Glad to hear Melissa met Greg :) 

Oh also I don't have Grandma and Grandpa's address. Along with Aunt Cindy's.. Is that something you all think you could send me??? :) 

I really enjoyed both yours and moms emails!!! Tell her thank you! What she said at the end really made me happy! I love your support! It really helps me sometimes to hear you all say it :) I know you always do but just what mom said really touched me! 

So HArlem East side is doing good! We don't really have any progressive investigators.. But we have about 8 potential baptisms for this cycle! President said he is expecting big things! 

Rogelio and his sister Jasmine are preparing for baptism! We have to teach them really simple because they are kids, but we just need their mom's help on getting them to church! We will try to get other members to help us if her mom can't. She is trying to get sundays off to help them, but it sounds like she is having a hard time! 

Silvano.. Does not know if he wants to get baptized.. He is also working on Sundays now.. Ugh lol! But its all good... It is amazing how many road blocks the adversary will put in a persons way right before they are about to do something in line with the Will of God! Ugh! But all is well! all is well! I love him! he is an awesome guy! He just needs to make up his mind!! 

I had a little mini miricle happen with Erik and Christina the other night... They have been ignoring us for a couple weeks... They don't really feel like hearing some stuff that we are teaching lol! But I was praying as we were walking by their house... There are only 3 people that live in their building so no one is ever coming in and out... And there is no ringer on the outside. So it is impossible to get in without calling them! So we were walking by.. I did not really know where we were.. Then I saw the Mcdonalds right by their apartment. I began to pray as we walked. Elder Huerta was talking to me, but it all just kind of bounced off of me... I was praying that a miricle would happen that somehow their door would be open.. This was at like 9:25 right before we went in... I started to say in my head "Please help us.. We need a miracle... I know that door will be open. Just help that that door will be open for us and we can go in and talk to them...Just help..." Then I realized I was lacking someting... Faith... I then understood what it meant when the man said to Christ "Oh lord I believe.. Help thou my unbelief" I said almost the same thing I said "Lord give me the faith that this will happen" Then I just knew... I just knew we would get in. We neared the building and out came walking Erik and Christina.. We set up a return appointment with them. We are going back this week. Whether or not they will be there I do not know.. Because they still have their agency.. But I learned one thing from this.. That the Lord does answer prayers. That he really does care. And he had a plan long before we stepped foot on this earth. Every single experience and everything that happens.. He set it up. He did it for our benefit and our Growth... He loves us... And if we pray with faith.. Nothing lacking.. We will receive. He promises this and it is true! And it is all dependent on our faith in the Lord Jesus Chirst! This reminds me of the scripture Matthew 21

 21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have ^afaith, and ^bdoubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this ^cmountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

 22And all ^athings, whatsoever ye shall ^bask in ^cprayer, believing, ye shall receive.

It is so ture!! I love this scripture now! With Faith all things truly are possible! Even the smallest of things! :) 

So we are also still teaching Cindy with Elders Baba and Willis! HAha I felt like we were doing a Marriage counseling thing the other day! Way Awkward! But now she is good! she is so ready for baptism! the only thing holding her back is Nursing school on Sundays which does not end until November :( But she has such a strong Testimony of the Savior and of this Gospel! 

I don't have much more time! But I love you all and I hope all is well! I miss you! I hope Greg writes me soon! I love you Mom and Dad and all you have done for me! and for always encouraging me to Choose the Right! You are all in my prayers! I hope Greg is adjusting well to normal life! Well a lot more to say, but I dont have time! I have not made a doctors appt yet! I have to clear it with Sister Smith before I can! so hopefully next week or sometime this week I can do that! I love you! Pray for the people here! I love them! And I love you all! Be safe and talk to you all soon! :) 

Love, Mark! :)

And Yes Dad I am writing in my Journal. Not everyday! At least 1-3 times a week though! I am going to try to do better at it this cylce! Love you all! 

Hey Mom just wanted to send a seperate email to you and say that I love you and am so grateful for all that you do!!!! You win the best mommy award!!! Don't worry you will get it in about 19 more months!! Its a great big hug from your favorite son :)

Love you!

Love Mark! 

Short Email

Hey Mom!!! Not a lot of time today!!! 

Well all is good! To answer your question Mom his name is Mike not James. And he has a rough schedule. He has been in court a lot for his son's trial. But I am doing good! The area is good! I am just really excited for tranfers this week! A change will be nice! But I am excited for you all that Greg is home! Cool that he met Elder Bednar! What all did he tell him??? And he is in Elder Martindales home ward lol! I will have to tell him that he met my brother lol! But that is cool! The pictures were nice! Wish there were more though!

Uhm Lisalo never heard from her! But it is okay! You just need to remember that people have their agency!! But just keep them in your prayers. Harlem is doing well! It seems like the area is slowing down... There is rumor of me getting a Greeny. It would be really hard, but I think it would definately be a good thing! It would really help me improve my spanish, because it would force me to speak more! But all is well!!! I Just really wish I had more time! Sorry I did not write a novel this week like I normally do!!! Did Greg gain weight??? Sorry I am really random lol!!! :) :) But no I am good! the Lord is blessing me! I probably sounded a little down last week just because I was not feeling good! But I am good! Don't worry about me! 

HAve fun at the concert! Hopefully Greg will meet Melissa there :) :) 

Well I love you all! There might be a chance that I can get on tomorrow. Our Zone Leaders said we might be able to. Probably not! But we will see! 

I love New York and I love the people! And I love you all! Hope you all have a great and safe week! Keep me in your prayers and I will do the same for you!! Love you!! :) 

Love Elder Mattei :) 

Becoming a Better Version of Myself

Hey! What up Yall!!!

So I'm not feeling well today and don't have much time becaue we are going to the zoo!! Crazy that Greg is getting home! Lucky Duck! He deserves it! I wish I could see him! And it really stinks I won't get to talk to him until Christmas and by then his mission will be less in his mind :( I miss him a ton now that he is coming home! I could not fall asleep last night . But I am happy for all of you as well! Give him a hug for me and let him know how happy I am for him! And for the service he has done for the Lord! I am so proud of him!!  Tell him to email me when he gets home! I want to hear from him! 

Felipe Munoz left on his mission to Pittsburg! We helped him get stuff ready on sunday night! And Sister Munoz made us gumbo! It was way good! And I was really happy! Sunday was a really good day in general! I for sure need to take you to meet this family after my mission! They are awesome! 

Also I got a package from Melissa yesterday :) That was really nice and made me really happy! It had pictures, a coloring book! Candy, and a puzzle and some other stuff in there! It was really nice! Haha she really is the best! :) Like really she is! :) :) :) Mom when you see her next give her a giant hug for me!!! :)

I also Got a letter from Jackie Martin, and from Sister Duree with letters from the primary kids including Garrett :)

So not much has happened this week! Actually I lied! A lot has, just more negative stuff! We were pretty much dropped by Lisalo... I have no idea what happened she was so ready and she said she wanted to be baptized, but said that she started having family problems and stuff and she thought it was a sign she should not get baptized.. But I would say its the exact opposite... More like Satan was trying to stop her... :( IDK that has just really been upsetting me. She said she would pray again! And I can only hope that her prayer is answered again... She said she prayed and knew it was true and the Holy Ghost told her so... But now she does not know... I am really upset about it and everytime I think about it I become more and more upset...

Same news with Eric and Christina... We taught them a principle that they could not quite agree with. And now they seem to be ignoring us. But I have faith everything is going to work out. We will just give them time and see what happens. And continue to pray! I just wish they could realize how much this could really change their lives. I'm sad because I know what they can have... And if they choose not to accept it.. then :( :( The Gospel is everything... Jesus Christ is everything. Its only through him, his mercy, his grace, and his atoning sacrifice that we can live again! And not only live, but live and be happy... Forever.

On better news! Silvano is preparing for Baptism! He came to Church and loved it!! We are visiting him on Friday!! when I am on a Split with Elder Scott in my area... Elder Scott only knows English lol! So pray for me and that I can magically learn Spanish even faster in the next couple days... Like I said I can speak it pretty well! It is understanding it that i have problems with lol! But it will be all good! I am excited for it! And same with Rogelio and Jasmine! They seem to be pretty excited. 

Life is awesome! I learn to love people more and more everyday! Each one of them is important. And Each one of them is my brother and sister... Sometimes when I walk out. That is really hard to imagine. That the homeless guy laying on the stairs drinking a bottle of Warm Vodka is really my brother. And that God cares for him. But its true and I have a testimony of that stronger than anything else!

I am so glad to be on a mission and doing the things I do! I am not necessarily changing... I look at it as becoming a better version of myself as Hermano Corbride Always said! I love the Gospel and am excited for everything to come! I am glad the RJ, Jackson, Mckean, and soon Tre, have decided to serve the Lord! I have already seen change take place in peoples lives! And I know that they will do the same! They are going to help people. To serve people. To help people find TRUE happienes, and most importantly testify and teach of our Savior Jesus Christ! I love my life and I am grateful for everyone back home! Things are hard and will only get harder! But I am ready for it! I got to get going so I will leave you all be! I love you and I miss you! Hope you all know you are freaking everying to me! Stay who you are and I will see you all soon! 

Love you! 

Love Mark! 

Spanish Coming Along

Hey Mom!  And Family and Friends! :) Whats up??? I'm going to need to keep it a little short this week! But all is Good here in Harlem! Elder Huerta Luna and I are doing fine! We have five baptisms planned for August! I am sad, because most likely Huerta will not be here to see that! They are Eric and Christina, Silvano, and two kids of a less active member who we just started teaching yesterday actually! Their names are Jasmine and her brother Rogelio. They are 10 and 13! Shy Kids but this is something that they want! I am excited for them all! Arlen was Baptized by Bishop on Saturday!! That was so awesome! She was so happy and I could see it on her face! On Sunday when she received the Holy Ghost she started crying and it was a really sweet experience! Sad thing is she is moving to the Bronx at the End of this month! I wish I could have expressed my feelings for her a little more but it is all good! She knows what I meant lol!  

But the Spanish is coming good! (Don't know why it is in bold now but I am too lazy to change it lol!) I actually have had 2 times this week where I just spoke fluently!! I was really happy! Elder Huerta told me he was impressed! One of the times was at our investigators house. We were visiting Miguel and Pedro... We had to drop them :( I shared with them my final testimony of the Church and how we loved them. It was a really sad experience! And the other time I experienced Spanish just come naturally is when we were visiting with Nelson Yesterday! The older man we are teaching English! He is like 66 and just an awesome guy! We were talking about my family! And Melissa, and he told me I need to hurry up and Marry her when I get home! lol! And that both of us need to visit him! Also that i need to take my whole family to meet him! He is an awesome guy! I speak so naturally around him because I am able to just be myself with him! But in Spanish! There are still some things I do not understand but I get most of it! It was really cool! He was also telling me a lot about himself! He is from the Dominican Republic and since he has moved here has not had close contact with his family. Even though his brother and sister live in Brooklyn and Queens. But he told me that I was his brother  and that we were family and I was in his family since my family is so far from me now! He is a really sweet guy and I love him to death! I really want you all to meet him! He knows he has a family in the Church and said that he has never been happier! Even though he lives alone and only has his Dog for company at times! He is a great guy! I can't wait for you all to meet him one day! 

Another really awesome person I have met here is Felipe Munoz! He served a 4 day mini mission with us last thursday, friday, and saturday! I have never seen someone that was so prepared to serve! He is not going to the MTC and now I know why! He has such a strong testimony and love for the Gospel! And he loves people and that is one of the most important aspects of this Gospel! He has lived a hard life! And that has helped prepare him to serve the Lord! Haha he has also lived a really fun life! He told us about how he hitch hiked/walked all the way to BYUI to go to school lol! and he just registered when he got there! Knocked on a random door the first night and asked if he could sleep there until he found a place to stay! haha Crazy kid! He said going to school there was all a last minute decision!  I want to do something like that sometime! But really he is one of the most legit kids I have ever met in my life! And I am sending the pictures today for you all to see! Mom I am writing a list like I did last time with the pictures so you can understand lol!

Sounds like home is changing! But all still sounds the same at the same time! I am happy for you all! I am really happy with Todd! That was so nice to hear from him! That email he sent me made me cry! I am so so so so Happy for him and the decisions he has made! I love that little kid! Way weird Greg is getting home so soon! Seems like just yesterday I kicked him out of the car and into the airport! :) But I'm happy for him! He did it! And I know how hard it is! haha! Not as easy as I thought it would be! Both physically and emotionally! Glad Lindz had fun in Utah and Cali! Weird to think she will be going to college next fall and Todd to High School! Let me know what teachers Todd has when he registers! Okay well I gotta go!  And Mom if you could send a copy of the DVD that would be great lol! I never got it! And Send the package today, because I am sending the package for you all! And there will be 5 bucks for Garrett in the mail since a card is not good enough for him :)

Oh also three quick things! Find a dermotologist and give me the address nearest to me! Also! See if you can get me Yankees Tickets for the next game on Wed this month! You might need to call President Smith about it just so he knows! Buy four for me and my roommates and we will pay you back! Elder Nevarez's dad did the same with us! He was super nice though! Gave them as a gift! I was so thankful for that! And also!  one more thing! I need Gregs Costco Card!!!! He needs it no more! Okay Well I love you all  very much! I am happy :) Things are hard! But I'm a big boy! Trying to stay cool! Very Hot here! Okay well I love you all! Keep me in your prayers, and even more importantly the people here! Because they need them more than I do! They are Crazy! Haha not all of them.! But Just pray for them because they really are a people that have good hearts. You just got to get it out of them to tell sometimes! Okay well I love you all! God Bless! See you soon! :)

Love Mark :) or Elder Mattei!  HAha! Bye! Seriously! Take care! Love you all and See you soon!