Our 5th letter from Jordan! Received on Friday April 25, 2008

Dear Mom & Dad,
So since my email time today really stunk since I forgot to log off,
oh well it's okay.
Thanks for the letters. My schedule is 6:00-6:30- wake up then eat at
7:00-7:30. Then we usually got to class for a couple of hours. Lunch
11:30. We get mail during lunch & dinner. Dinner is at 4:30-ya really
early it's crazy, but I don't seem to get too hungry, probably cause
we are too busy. After lunch we more class, so we typically have
class with teachers twice a day, then either a meeting or study
time-comp-1hour-personal -1 hour-1 hour language. I don't think I've
ever studied so hard but it is wonderful. We are only supposed to
write on PD's-Tuesdays. Thanks for writing through Dear elder, it's
nice. Is it free? We get back to our rooms at 9:30 & go to bed at
10:30. So not much time to do anything. I typically just brush my
teeth then write in my journal. But it's fun to kinda wind down.
There is so much I wanna tell you bit it's hard to write so I try &
just tell the important things. Our PD's we do laundry- that stinks,
write & get to go to the Temple. That's the awesome part! It's
amazing & I'm so thankful for that opportunity. I'm really going to
miss the Temple when I get to Italy.
How's life? How are you Dad? How's Penny? How is everything? I
really stink at this letter writing thing, but I hope I'll get better
for you guys. Mom will those forever stamps work when postage goes
up?
Oh ya, bars of soap go really fast so should I buy some or will you
send some? I think it will be easier to buy some here, but I don't
know. I'll just get some.
Dad could you check my account (checking to see how much I have)?
Thanks Love you. Sorry again for being so needy, but thanks for
everything! Any kind of treats are nice. Jerky-
I'm getting along better with my Collega cause we are actually having
productive study & actually talking. Still doesn't change the fact
he's a little weird, but I'm sure I am too, in fact I know I am!
Mom the letter in Italian was cool but I had to have someone translate
it. You should do that again in a month! Aunt Elna & Aunt Julie both
wrote & Aunt Elna sent a package so that was nice.
Well, we just got back from the Temple & it was great. It's so
peaceful & relaxing, it kid of gives you the breath you need to get
through the rest of the week.
Thanks for forwarding Scott's letter to me. He gave some good advice
haha so that was nice.
So I mentioned that I was sick, well I caught a head cold that was
moving around our district. It was so miserable! It was so hard to
study & concentrate. I had a pounding headache & that made sleep
pretty crappy. But I asked for a blessing & it was really good.
Anziano Bailey gave it to me & the next day I started feeling better.
So that was a perfect example of the power of the Priesthood & I
really think it strengthened or coppia.
The language is ok. It's rough & you know me I HAVE to work, work,
work & work some more, but it will come I know it. I can't wait to
leave. For the past 2 weeks we have been working on PMG lesson 1-The
Restoration, but this week we start lesson 2. I think we teach it
twice at the TRC-where we teach real volunteers. Then I think in our
4 or 5 week we will teach in Italian. Crazy huh!
But all is well & thanks for the letters. Next week I'll try to do
separate emails to everyone, but we will see. Thanks again for
everything. Dad, how are the Jazz doing? I heard they beat Houston
in the 1st round??

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Love, Anziano Mathis

P.S Next time the letter won't be so long, but I had to make up for my
email mistake

Email (April 17)

Dear Mom & Dad,
I know I sent an email on Tuesday but I just want to tell you how much
I Love & appreciate you guys. You guys are the Best parents anyone
could ever want.

OK so the MTC is great although really busy & a lot of hard work. We
spend pretty much all our days in a classroom learning the lessons &
the language. I struggle with the language but I know it will come
through faith & persistence.

I hope all is well. How's work? Are you guys planning any cool trips?
I think you should. If you need take 2-3 months of my mission
payment & use my money to pay for it so you can go somewhere nice.
You guys deserve it.

Well my companion is great just different & it's hard to teach
together & talk about lessons. In fact it's difficult to talk to him.
I suppose I need to try harder.

We get to go to the Temple. I'm so excited! Although I think my comp
gave me a head cold along with our district leader so that's no good.
But it will go away as I work harder.

Mom, I'm really sorry for asking for so much. But could you maybe
send me 1 sweatshirt & 1 jacket for p-days, also 3 pair of white
socks? The ankle ones with gray on them. Mom, sorry for asking for
so much & if you can't please don't worry about it.

There is so much I wanna tell you but I don't want to write super long
letters & I seem to run blanks when I start writing. But I'll try to
be better with this letter thing. I promise.

Dearelder.com is biena (good). It will make it easier for me to
respond by email if you write from Dearelder.com & I think it's free??


Love you guys.

Love, Anziano Mathis

P.S. Sorry it's not more specific & that I didn't ask more, it will get better.

Letter (April 22)

Thanks for the packages. I received one from dad with some candy, so thank you dad its always nice to have candy. Thank you mom I received the robe so thanks. Im going to have to write a letter home this week cause I dont know if I sent this to the right address and I dont know why but I only have 15 minutes. I dont know what the heck happened owell. Mom as far as sweater I ment a sweatshirt like my black total 90 one. As far as treats jerky would be nice and some more healthier treats but also some sweats but really I dont mind what. Just whatever is on sell and cheap. I really want appolizige for always wanting things but I want you guys to KNOW that you guys are the best, and I LOVE you so much.

I got an awesome letter from Jeff and I really appreciate him and the example he is to me I Love you Jeff.

James and Kiera also sent me a letter its so nice to hear from you guys and to see how life is. Thats so awesome audrey is potty trained!!! All is well here in the MTC but thanks so much for writing I really appreciate it and I'll try to send a letter. I love you guys.

Jared and Holly thanks so much for the letters your probably in SLC right now and thats pretty close to me haha Is abby potty trained yet?
Jared thanks for the sports updates, how are the Jazz doing???

Well my time is almost up and I dont know why I didnt get 30 minutes I suppose I forgot to log off when I checked it this morning... what bulll crap sorry for the languge but I will write a good letter today promise
I LOVE you all and appoligize for not being a better writer but I dont have a ton of stamps and I wanna savor them haha all is well I LOVE YOU GUYS

Love Anziano Mathis

Letter from Anziano Mathis (April 15)

Well thank you for everything and for the letter and package I really appreciate it. You guys are the best and I love you so much. The MTC is wonderful the spirit is amazing although the language is tough, but I can bear my testimony and pray in Italian so thats great. We only have 30 minutes on the computer so I have to learn to type FAST. Since Im only a week in, Im still trying to adjust to a routine and etc. Therefore you whoever wrote me might get a response by letter cause I want to respond its just I cant type that fast to respond to everyone sorry, but I'll try and I'll figure something out. My companians name is Anziano Bailey from a tiny town in Washinghton state you can sure tell he is from a little town... kinda lacking normal social skills... Im sorry if that sounds mean cause Im tying and learning to love him hopefully he is doing the same. Well we had the oppotunity as companians to teach the first lesson in english at the TRC to a voulenter who acted like an investagator and then our teacher was watching us on a camera it was so awesome. Elder Bailey and I did pretty well for the first time and the teacher was really suprised how well we did for our first time, It was awesome even though it was just a volunteer the spirt that was there was amazing. Aside from the language I think the hardest thing is adjust to a companian I dont mind having a shadow all the time its just very difficult to teach and organize an outline but with faith and by acting on that faith all will be well. I suppose I need to be more patient and reach out to mu companian and try to get to know him personally. Although I think he made me and another anziano in our district sick so no biena.. Well the cafetira food is what I expected it to be like quantity over quality but its fine Im kinda use to it from Iowa. Well I think I have and idea as to why the spirit is so strong here we pray SO MUCH... we open everything will a prayer and close everything with a prayer. Its so humbling and I know that the only way to acomplish the Lords will is through his help!!! This is the Lords work not mine nor is it for me. Well our district is cool there are two Aussies they are so funny they just crack me up, especially one. The otehr is a convert of a year so its pretty amazing who strong his testimony is, in fact everyone in our zone has an amazing testimony very humbling. Our zone is about 2 weeks ahead of us and although they are the same age as us they seem so much older its crazy I suppose its cause I look up to them. I sometimes feel like im the only one in our district that cant get the languge but its only the first week. just a thought untill i get in the field please send letters through dearelder.com it will be easier for me since I only have 30 minutes on a computer i wont be able to read and respond. Im sorry its all jumbled but I'll try to respond to individual letters through email but we will see.. Mom can you send me some 3 pair of white socks in my drawer grey on them, a jacket, and a sweater if not let me know sorry to ask so much I love tou all so much!!!!
Anziano Mathis

First Letter from Jordan

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well it’s 8:20 and we are in our first district meeting, which is in a room the size of the computer room, it’s so packed when everyone is in here. There are 8 of us in our district & my companion’s name is Anziano Bailey, he is from Washington & really awesome. There are also 2 Australians in my district. They are so funny. Everyone here has such a great testimony & the spirit is so strong.

I believe there is a scripture which says put away the childish things & become submissive to the Lord...I think- Well anyways that’s what I got to do. The MTC is going to be a lot of work but that’s great. I feel like I have so much I want to say cause there are so many wonderful things that I learn & experience. Well thanks for everything. You guys are amazing & I’m so thankful for all you guys do for me. I Love you guys so much, so Thanks. I know this is The Lords work & I’m here for a great purpose which I know will come to pass. I’m so thankful for the Gospel & the role it plays in my life. I know The Book of Mormon is true & I’m so excited to serve the Lord & the people of Italy. I know this is where I’m supposed to be. Thanks for everything & I know the Church is true. Love you guys.

Love, Anziano Mathis

P.S. A Robe would be much easier here, do you think you could possible send one?? You can use The $50 I received from Giffords. Thanks love you

Free same-day letter delivery to Provo MTC

There is a website called Dear Elder (http://www.dearelder.com) that offers FREE same-day letter service to the MTC in Provo. Just go to the link above and click the link that says "Write a Letter." This will allow you to get your letters to Elder Mathis much quicker. Jordan would love to hear from you.

Here is Jordan's MTC information:

MTC Box #:118
Mission Code: ITC-CAT
Estimated MTC Departure Date: 0609