Letter Home & Pictures 6/30/14

Hello! 

I am glad to hear about your classes. Follow up is so important. It talks all about it in Preach My Gospel. Do you remember Elder Ballard's talk from conference. It was all about persistent, consistent followup. 

I'm glad ya'll are doing so good.

Alison emailed me last week I think and told me how Sister Hunt came and visited her. Mom.. Sandy is pretty big and there are quite a few missionaries here. It would be tough to find me I think. We aren't supposed to get visits from friends or other people. 

I don't know how I'm doing in the heat. Ok I suppose. There are a couple barbecues going on on the 4th of July with some non members we will probably go to. I'm not sure what we are doing for pday today. 

We've been teaching an 8 year old girl and her less active grandma for awhile now. The 8 year old (Shauntay is her name) got baptized yesterday. She wanted me to baptize her so I did. Her grandma came to church the past two Sundays, which is awesome! 

On Saturday we seemed to meet every ex-mormon anti in our area. Those kind of people make me so sad. I just don't understand how they can be deceived so easily. 

This week was really tough-mentally, emotionally, and physically. I just want to cry right now. Don't worry though. I'll get over it eventually. 

Sorry I can't really think of much to say. I hope you have a wonderful week. I love you! 

Email & Picture from Matt on June 24. 2014

Hello!

So I went to Doctor Katz yesterday and I am all better. No surgery for me! The piece he pulled out was literally the size of a gummy bear. It was way bigger than when you did it. And it was all white. It turns out it isn't behind my ear drum and isn't going through the bone. Such a blessing! 

Oh yeah so I was on exchanges with Elder Hansen. Elder Hansen came out with me. He is a good elder. I think he is only 24 though. We were sitting outside the church building waiting for one of our investigators to show up and this guy pulled up and his truck and talked to us for like 15 minutes and then wanted to call ya'll. I'm glad you had a good chat. 

Sister Summers grandson went into the MTC last Wednesday. They stayed the night at her house before he left. It made me think about the night before I went into the MTC. Crazy to think about. He is the one that is going to the Detroit mission. Elder Kniffen is his name so keep an eye out for him!  

What ever you make for Elder Law and his parents will be perfect! 

We just got back from the Draper temple about an hour ago. It was so amazing. I think it was the first time I really received revelation in the temple! It was so awesome. 

We gave talks in church Sunday. We talked about family history and temple work. 

We had interviews with President Chambers this week. It was good. He asked me a couple of questions. Basically what do I want to become at the end of my mission. Then we set goals to get there. 

So on Saturday I was just biking a long. I was making the transition from the road to the sidewalk. There was a little puddle. My tire slid and I fell off my bike. Don't worry though. My chin caught the fall. Now I have a big scab on my chin. It could have been a lot worse. Thank goodness it wasn't! 

Have a wonderful week! 

Love Elder Alpin

Elder Alpin & Elder Dean at the Draper, Utah Temple

Email From Matt June 16, 2014

Hello!

It sounds like you guys had a wonderful week! How long is Kailee staying for? I'm glad you were able to spend time with Alison. She's a pretty cool kid. I am so proud of Ryan too! What a good kid. My Father's Day was good. We got some delicious cookies from one of the wards because they had some left overs. One of our bishops had a baby last Tuesday. We stopped by on Saturday and got to see it. It was so small and cute! I'm so amazed that we can create people. It just boggles my mind that God trusts us enough to do that. I've been thinking about families a lot after that. I studied about families today during my studies. What really stuck out to me is how central the family is to the plan of salvation. We lived together as one big family with God in the premortal life. We are sent to Earth in families to learn, love, and prepare to return to live with God. After we die we can live as families in the presence of God. Without families we could not reach our full potential and experience the greatest amount of joy. God truly knows what he is doing having families, father and mother and children. It is so beautiful and delicious! 

We took Chris and Cynthia to temple square on Tuesday. We watched God's Plan for our Families with them. I love that movie. I almost cry every time. Chris started to cry. He truly wants to teach his children good and he knows that is it through the gospel of Jesus Christ that will happen. We are still waiting to hear back from the first presidency to see if he can get baptized. It won't be for a couple of weeks until we hear back. He hasn't found a job yet so I'm not sure how they are doing financially. 

Elder Dean and I went running on Thursday for workout! That is the first time I've ran in months! My thighs hurt for two days! I didn't think my thighs would be hurting because we bike so much. 

This week was a tough week. A lot of our appointments cancelled and it seemed like there was no one home! It was a little frustrating, but it happens.  

Yesterday evening we went to the stake center to use the bathroom. You'll never guess who was there! Jenny Oaks Baker! She is a violin player and Dallin H. Oaks' daughter. I have that one Disney CD of hers. Anyways there is a performance or something going on this week and they needed a place to practice. I didn't talk to her. I only heard her playing and saw the back of her head, but how cool is that?! 

Moses 7:26. I read that this week. It made me mad! Satan cannot win.

It was super hot this week. The past couples of days have cooled down though so it has been nice. It has been a couple of weeks since I've heard from Katie. Hopefully I'll get a letter today. 

Church was super good yesterday. I taught young men's. 

I have my ear appointment today. I am so excited! I hope they make it better. 

Sister Summer's grandson goes into the MTC Wednesday. He is going to the Detroit mission so he will be there in a couple of weeks. Maybe he will replace Elder Law. 

I hope you guys have a wonderful week. You are awesome. Keep up the great work! Love you much!

Elder Alpin