Newly Discovered Pictures

These were taken in the winter, but I just found them on a sister missionary's facebook page.

Can't Imagine Doing Anything Else!

Dear Family! 

Haha mom the idea of you singing at a Karaoke bar made me laugh! It sounds like you all had a lot of fun! :) And yes greg did email me! I have to write him back right after this! And yes we do not have a lot of time today, because it is transfers... And Nothing is CHANGING! Haha.. Our whole district is still the same. I am still in a trio... Only 2 of my companions so far i have not served in a trio with. This is my 4th cycle in a trio. 1 with Huerta y Martindale, 1 con Huerta y Hellberg, now 2 with Fox and Vazquez! That is a lot! lol! But things are going good! I love my companionship! I feel like I am becoming a better missionary/person each and everyday as I am with these 2 great people. They have become really good friends. 

So I will start off by talking about the Baptism. It was amazing Mom! Seriously, such a great experience. So.. Juan, the dad of Gizzell, was taught about 2 months ago by Elder Vazquez and Elder Peterson here in Stamford. And when Elder Fox and I arrived for some odd reason he just fell off the face of the earth and we could not get in contact with him. We talked to Cledi, Gizell's Mom and she told us that Juan was no longer interested in getting baptized/ joining the Church. Long story short.. Last Tuesday night I met Juan for the 1st time. He told us about all the problems that were going on in his life and how things were just really difficult.. He told us he did not even know about the baptism of Gizelle until we had told him... Originally the plan was for him and her to get baptized on the same day... He opened his heart up to us, and said he wanted to get baptized that Saturday with his daughter.... Stunned I just said "Si" we can make that happen!... Well we taught him that next day during our PDAy, and went over all 4 lessons, and scheduled a baptisimal interview with President Morgan.... Oh I forgot the best part.. He did not tell him family that he was going to get baptized so it was going to be a suprise! :) 

So we were really nervous about the interview, but all went well and he was okayed for him to be baptized that Saturday :) So Saturday comes around and I am conducting the baptisimal service, and Juan comes in his normal clothes... I talked to him before the baptism asking him if anyone has any idea what is going to happen and he tells me no.. The only people who knew were the Bishop, ward Mission leader, and a couple members who helped us get Juan to Church... So he tells me that he asked Gizelle if she ever prayed to ask if he would get baptized and she said to him " Yeah I do.. But its too late for that, you will never change".. Well.. Halfway through the baptisimal service Juan gets up to leave so he can go change.. and Gizelle gets upset because she thinks her dad is leaving in the middle of the baptism.. But little does she know he is going with Elder Vazquez to go change into his baptismal clothes :)... Well.. I am directing the baptismal program, so right before Gizelle gets baptized I look at her and say "Gizelle there is someone else here who would like to get baptized as well. Is that okay?" And she gives me the most confused look I have ever seen. Then I continue and say "I think you may know who it is" And I swing open the door, right as Juan finishes changing... And out walks her dad :) She just jumped up and gave him the biggest hug ever! :) And Cledi, her mom had the biggest smile on her face :) The whole family was happy! so then we took some pictures and Elder Fox performed his first baptism by baptizing Gizelle and Elder Vazquez baptized Juan... One of the most precious moments of my mission. Gizelle was crying when she came up out of  the water... 

The next day, Elder Fox confirmed Gizelle, and President Morgan confirmed Juan... They both became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. After the confirmation I looked out to the mother of our investigators Amanda and Bruna.. and Lisa was touched by the spirit.. All 3 of them were. We are hoping to get bap date with Amanda and Bruna this week! :) 

But all of it did not really hit me until Gizelle and Juan took the Sacrament for the first time... The spirit touched me so strong as I looked at their family! It was amazing... We had united a family. I am so grateful the Lord let me be part of something like that! It was such a growing experience, and I know... I know families can be together forever through this Gospel... And I know it all starts with baptism.. .Through someone making a choice to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ. I felt his love for each one of them, and I want to help all people feel that, because it really is the most amazing thing we can feel in this life. I love my Heavenly Father for the Miracles that have taken place in my life and during the course of my mission... I am almost at my 6 month mark and I do not want it to come.. I do not want to leave this place.. I can't imagine doing anything else where I can have such an impact on someone else's life. Nothing is more important than what I am doing here.. nothing. The most imortant thing someone can do in this life is take the steps necessary, acting in faith, and following the Savior.I saw a man change his life this past weekend. I saw a humble man with a repented heart, and he taught me so much... Words cannot explain how all this makes me feel.. It is true. It is all so true, and I would be lost without it. Mom, Dad, thank you for being active in the Church. Thank you so much for raising us in the Gospel. I don't know where I would be without it. I love you both for everything that you do. Just keep doing what you are doing! you are great parents! :) 

Now mom.. I want to know your full conversion story... And Dad yours as well... You both have shared with me bits and pieces of both of yours, but I would like to know the whole thing :) As well as the story of the first member of the Church in our family if you know it dad :) I would love to hear! 

So the plan as you asked mom is going really well! We already have about 125 referrals! :) We plan on going out and contacing all that we receive at the end of the month, and our goal is to have contacted everyone by the end of September and have 10 baptisms come from the names that we were given! :) But I think we can surpass that goal! :) Pray for us here. Miracles are about to take place! I am so excited to see what is going to happen! :)I love my mission, and I love the people here. The members, investigators, and missionaries! It is amazing! And I love you all too! Mom I love you most! Have a good week and all of you take care! See you all too soon! 

Love your Son! Elder Mark MAttei! :)

You guys are in my prayers! :)

Praying for a Miracle

Dear Mama! :) Hows you doing?? :)

I am doing good! I am going to send Lindsay an email so I will address all of that info in there!  But I am doing fine. It is hard at times, but I will be alright.  But wow! sounds like things are busy at home. Hard to believe that school is about to start up again. 

And yes I will write Todd.. We have just been extremely busy. And the Memory Card lol! I will get them both there ASAP! 

So sounds like Dad is traveling a lot. So what exacly is it that he does?? lol! I left like a month after he got this job so I have kind of already forgotten :./ 

So things in Stamford are legit! We are working really hard. This is probably the hardest I have worked on my mission. We already have close to 100 referrals from ward members :) This plan we are working on was for sure inspired! After this month is over we plan on going out and contacting all of the referrals we have! Things have been crazy busy! But I am enjoying it! Transfers are next week, so I am pretty sure Elder Vasquez is out. But I have also heard a rumor of them splitting our area, so we will see what happens. But I am excited! 

And best news of all we have Gizzelle's baptism this Saturday! Elder Fox will be baptizing her! and even better news is there is a really strong chance her Dad may be getting baptized as well! :) :) Miracle if it happens... It is a long story. But if this happens.. It will be the biggest Miracle I have seen on my mission. We taught him today during Pday. I just met him last night. He was Elder Vasquez's investigator before Elder Fox and I came to this area and we have been trying to get a hold of him, but now he just came to us... I am so happy! I will have to explain in more detail next week! :) 

And today Pday was kind of boring.. We drove out to Danbury CT to play football but when we got there they decided to stop playing... It took an hour to get there lol! So kind of a wasted pday. But we taught a very very good lesson so it was all good! 

Crazy Garrett got married.. Hellberg told me the previous Elder Torres got married this past weekend.. And thanks for sending that address for me! :) 

So I need to write Lindz so I am going to keep this kind of short, but I love you all! :) Thank you for the email mom :) And for emailing every week! :) I really do appreciate it! You are the best! I will be home shortly.... That is so weird... :(

Well I love you all! Take care and have a great week! God Bless you are all in my prayers! :) 

Love Mark! :) 

Changing More and More

Dear Madre, y papa! :) 

How are you doing? Mom I have not really heard from you this week! But thank you for all of the pictures that you sent to me :) So I am doing good! We have been really really busy lately! We are working on a new project in our ward. Our goal is to get 150 referrals from members by the end of this month and a result of 10 baptisms :) 10 new people living the Gospel :) WE already have 25 and it is only the middle of the first week of the project :) :) So it is going really well! :) We know we are going to see so many miracles becasuse of this. It is something we have been trying to come up with since i came here, and the Lord has now provided it! :) We know we are ready to do the work necessary, and that the members, and their friends are ready :) The Lord has prepared us all :) it is amazing! We are working so hard with the members, and so far everyone is willing to help! We have like 15 member appointments this week, and at the end of the month we plan on going out and finding all of the referrals and do what is needed to help them! It is a really detailed plan, and is going to show great results! We can already see how we are going to get more then 150 referrals.. we have recieved 25 from 3 members... So I am so excited! :) This area and ward are going to light up! :) 

the best part is in the mean time we are still finding more and more people to teach :) and we have a baptism on the 11th :) With Gizzele :) She is really cool! :) 9 years old and just the most humble little girl ever :) :)

So yesterday I had a really cool experience in one of our lessons. We were teaching the law of chastity to our investigator Leticia.. she is so awesome. The perfect investigator, apart from the fact she is not married to the guy she is living with.. I felt as we were teaching her, the Godly sorrow God has for his children. We just talked about love and how much God loves her... I felt as if I was speaking for him to her... I can't even explain it... I felt the Love God as for her as we sat there in the little apartment... It was such a humbling experience... I cannot exactly put it into words.. It was just amazing... God really loves his Children.. I know that.

What else has happened this week?? Uhm today we went to Costco... uhm, oh did you ever send Lindsay the letter Elder Kay sent her?? 

Oh yeah haha! This Saturday we had a really fun ward activity! It was a ward BBQ at the church! The Sisters and us organized a game of Water Balloon Volleyball :) It was fun! Turned into a waterballoon fight... haha good thing we were all in Pros  proselyting clothes right?? :P Some members were upset with us.. but it was a really positive activity and one of the more memorable days of my mission :) So much fun! We grew a lot with the Ward and also with a lot of our investigators :) 

Lately on the mission I have noticed myself changing more and more..  IDK how, but I have seen just little things. I am pretty sure it is a good thing! :) No worries though I will still be good ole normal marky when I get home :)

So it sounds like you all had a great trip! We will have to do something like it again when I get home! :) Oh.. And mom I have been thinking.. can you somehow find out what my grades were at SCC... I never looked at some of them... :P so.. that may be a good thing for us to find out you know?? haha!  But anyways, yeah I have been thinking a lot about where I want to go to school when I get home. I really want to go to BYU... something is just really telling me I need to be in Provo.. Whether it is at BYU or UVU idk... just the feelings I have been getting lately.. But those are likely to change. I hear it is a lot easier to get into BYU and stay in if you do it for the summer semester.. but we will see lol! :) 

But well that is about all that is going on with me! It is good to hear that you all are doing okay! :) Especially Granny and Pop pop! I am glad nothing too serious happened! :)

and Dad just keep up the good work! :) I am so greatful for all that you do! :) Both you and mom! You guys are the best!   Well I love you all so very much! :) Let me know if there is anything I can do for you! :) .. almost 7 months left :/... then 6.. and yeah I don't really want to talk about it... I really do just loving being here and being a missionary. I can't imagine not being a missionary.... But anyways! :)  Miss and love you all! You are in my prayers :) Please keep our investigators in your prayers :) Sorry I don't tell you about each one! But there are alot! :) Good things are up ahead! :) :) Love you all! Love Mark :) 

Lots of Stuff Running Through My Head Lately

Hey Dad! Well I am going to reply to both yours and Mom's emails this week :) 

So wow.,.. Did not know you guys were going out west! That is fun! Not going to lie I am a little jealous! That is so cool that you guys are getting to have so much fun and spending time with the Barnes family,... Actually I have been considering going out to school in Provo,  either at UVU or BYU. I would really like to go to BYU. I want to study Communications and also Religious teaching.... And I would maybe like to work at the MTC or something.. IDk . Lots of stuff running through my head recently. 

So the area is doing really good! We have a really big ward mission plan that we are working on right now, that involves the members a lot more than things that we have tried in the past. I love the area! I am really fond of Elder Fox. He is a great guy! Last night we received a call from President Morgan. I answered and he asked to talk to Elder Fox.. Turns out his Aunt and her daughter died last night in a car accident... he took it really well. I felt so bad for him though. :( Such a strong kid. I am really excited to take over this area with him! I can just see how things are going to sky rocket here! I would really like to spend at least 3 cycles here but we will see what happens. All of the members here are really nice! I cannot even begin to explain it... Seriously some of the nicest people in the world live here... A person could not help but love everyone here :) I already like this area more than I did the Bronx.  Stamford is so cool! Oh and Mom! Before I forget! I will be sending the memory card home hopefully this week :) So be expectiong that! 

So on the 11th of Augst we have a bap date for Gizzelle. She is a 9 year old girl. She is so excited! I feel the spirit so much each and every time we go over there to teach her. She is awesome! Her prayers... Wow she just makes me want to cry.. Such a sincere and humble little girl! I think I now understand what Christ meant when he said "Be as the little Children. For theirs is the Kindom of heaven! " 

We have a lot of really good potentials... We could easily have 5 baptisms in August! :) The people are ready! We are teaching these Brazillian sisters! Bruna and Amanda! they are really cool! Bruna has felt the Spirit. But we are now just waithing on her to be ready to be baptized.. Because she was baptized like 2 years ago in her dad's church and she felt like she was forced.. So we are making sure it is her decision. But she knows the things we say are true :) Their mom is a LA  Less Active  who is coming back to church :) 

So last week we had interviews with President Morgan :) He is such a great guy! He invited me over to make gumbo for them sometime! So mom resend me the recipe! :) We talked for quite a while! I really like him! He is just so humble. :) I really hope you guys get to meet him and President Smith at some point! :) 

So yeah.. Not a lot of time. As you guys can probably tell by now. The upstate emailing is a little more difficult :/ But I just want to let you guys know I am doing good! and I am hanging in there. Even with the whole Melissa thing. I have good roommates, 2 good companions, and my Heavenly Father :) So I am good :) Thank you both mom and Dad for your words of encouragement and comfort :) They mean a lot! :) Both of you are awesome parents :) I hope you guys are enjoying your vacation! Stinks that I can't be there with you! But I would rather not be anywhere else in the world :) I love it here! I love the people and what I am doing! It has changed my life :) The Gospel is everything to me. Christ is everything to me. And i am grateful that you brought me up in the church and always encouraged/ not forced, encouraged me to choose the right :) Thank you! I am forever in debt to both of you :) I hope one day I can be as good of a parent as the two of you are to me :)

I love you all! Tell my friends I say I for me if you see them! And tell the Barnes hello as well! :) 

Love you all! Love Marky Poo :) 

The Strongest Lesson of my Mission

Dear Mommy and Daddy! 

I am doing good! :) Once again I am not going to have a lot of time because the internet is down at the Church and we are having to use the library again. so sorry in advance!

But everything is going good! I am loving the area. We are teaching a pretty promising family here. Well part member family. The Daughter will be getting baptized here soon. Her name is Gizel! So that is exciting! We also have a lot of other promising investigators. :) A lot! We have a pretty big teaching pool! so I will let you know about them as they progress! I would like to talk about each one individually but I really don't have time!~ 

I will tell you about one family though. This will probably take up the majority of my email.. And it just shows how much the Spirit has been impacting me in my life over the last couple weeks! My testimony has grown so much... So here is the story. we were teaching our investigators Oscar and Rosa, and we just had the most poweful/blunt lesson. The spirit was so strong. During the lesson I asked Rosa if she knew what the holy ghost was and if she knew what it felt like, and if she had felt it in the past. She said she had. and explained to us an experience she had in the past.. Well long story short,  Oscar tells us about all of his life problems. And Then we ask him and her if they want help, and they both just look at us and say yes. And we tell them that the Gospel and the church will be able to help them more than anything else. As we leave we say a prayer. Elder Fox begins saying it, and after he says "nuestro padre celestial." our Heavenly Father,  Oscar stops him and runs into the other room to grab his baby girl... one of the coolest and just most humble things I have seen in my life... Ah,,, I wish you could have all been there! Then Elder Fox says the prayer... and says amen.. and I just looked at Rosa and Oscar and asked them if they felt something different.. And they both said yes.. and I asked Rosa if it was the Spirit and she said yes. And we told them both it was.. And I looked at both of them and told them, that they need to follow that feeling, the Holy Ghost for the remainder of their lives and if they do that.. They will be happy. It serisouly was the strongest Lesson of my mission.. I wish I could explain it in better detail!  I hope and pray they get baptized... I pray so hard. I love them so much! They are 2 very very humble people! 

Then we had another Lesson this week, where Sister Vera shared her Testimony/conversion story with us and I just started crying.. Then she talked about Missionaries and how important they are, and about the blessings we will receive because of serving a mission. And at that moment that is exactly what I needed to hear! It was so good! Ask me in a seperate email next week mom and I will explain it to you.. Kind of personal. But such a great story and great testimony! Then she fed us some amazing food! :) 

So sounds like everything back home is good! Thank you for sending all the pictures! Granny and Pop Pop - happy aniversary!! :) Enjoy it! And Garrett happy late birthday! I hope you got my letter! :) and Todd be good and have fun at EFY! You will love it! Just as you did last year! And email me when you get back telling me all about it.. And listen to the Holy Ghost. Pray, It's a good time to do so. I love you bud! And you Thomas! All 3 of you are such great brothers! And I know Mom and Dad are happy to call you their sons.

My roommates are awesome! Elder Fox is such a great kid! And so is Elder Vazquez. Elder Vazques is from New Jersey. He is 27 years old! I look up to him a ton! Elder Fox is 19 from Lehi Utah. And the two of them have helped me turn into the best missionary i have been on my mission. I love them so much! And I love the Missionaries around me. Sister Major is in my District. From Utah. and SIster Alvarez is in the same district as me once again! They are both really funny! I love our District because I feel like we can all be 100% ourselves around each other. Elder Stevens, you guys already know a lot about him. I love that kid. And Elder Portillo. From Reno Nevada. Has become one of my very best friends in a short amount of time. He is a convert, and just has a huge heart. And we act so dumb around each other lol! Great guy. Well that is a little about what is going on here! Oh and Elder Kay is in my Zone! Today we all played Soccer for Pday! I stink! But it was fun! And... yeah... :) HOw are all you doing? I love you all so much! Sorry my emails are so scatter brained.. I just hate being rushed for time! Well I love you all so much! Thank you for all your support and love! I appreciate those of you who read my emails, because it shows me you care! :) So thank you! I hope you enjoy them! And get a little bit of a feeling of what a mission is like! 

Well love and miss you all! :)
Love Mark! :) 

Grandma you are in my prayers :)

Changes

Mom it was nice to hear from you! :) You emailed me right as I got on! So I will say as much as I can in the small amount of time as I can. My comps are great! I love them both to death! They are both really humble people and are really willing to work hard. They have made this transition so much easier! Training Elder Fox has been fun! He is a great kid and has a great heart! I don't think I have ever seen someone more eager to do missionary work, and so ready to love other people for who they are. Driving is going good! Haha I was a little rusty at the beginning but it is all going better now. Kind of like riding a bike. Little things are coming back as I do so. We got these stupid Tiwi Boxes in our car that go off every time we speed or do anything slightly off color! So before I forget I got a card from Granny! tell her I say thank you and I love and miss her so much! Also that I will be writing them a letter this week :) And the 4th was fun! We played Bang and Soda pong! lol! The punishment was drinking nasty concoctions of drinks. I love my apartment. Elder Portillo has become one of my really good friends really fast. We just get along so naturally. haha I will send you some videos on my memory card soon! So President Morgan is awesome. We met him for the first time on Monday. Along with his family.. It is different having a mission president with kids.. I am not going to lie. A whole new Change. From the area, to training/follow up training, to a new mission president. It has all been fun and I am loving it! I really respect and love President Morgan! He is a great guy! And I can already tell he is going to be a great leader in the NY NY North Misson! So there is a lot going on in the area! We have taught a lot of cool people! :) I will explain more next week, due to the lack of time I have today! But I like it a lot! The Ward is cool and I really love the investigators. This is the upstate area that everyone covets lol! I am just trying my best not to get fat up here. So far I have lost 3 pounds so I think I am doing a pretty good I am good and I am loving life! :) Suprisingly despite everything that is going on I could not be happier! :) The Lord really does know how to lift us up in our hard times.. He knows us all too well. And he knows me and I am so grateful he is always there to help me :) I love you all so very much! and thank you for all that you do! Have a great week! and I will talk to you very soon! I love you! :) Love MArk! :)