December 30, 2018

It's been a great week!  We go to talk to Matthew on Christmas.  He was his quirky, happy self.  He was even such a smart alec as to tell me this when I asked if he wanted to bear his testimony:

"God is real.  The church is true."  He then added a minute later, "Oh, and I love you mom."  I guess I can't complain after that :)

 We got a group picture of Matthew and the other kids.  They all thought it was fun to talk to him on the TV.

I harped on him about taking more pictures...so he tole me to go ahead and get a "tag pic" from this one.  So I guess my first tag picture from his mission, I actually took :)

We were glad to see he was finally feeling better after his cold.  He says that it is still really green in Seattle, but he wished it would have snowed for Christmas.  

This week Matthew reached the 100 day mark of his mission.  He is coming up on 12 weeks in the field; this week is transfer week.  We will find out tomorrow if he gets to stay where he is at or if he is moving, and if his companion stays the same or changes.  

Here are a couple of pictures from his picture files:  

Can't wait to hear more about them :)

December 23, 2018

Our Matthew has been sick this week :(  He didn't send his normal email home, but we did get to chat with him a little back and forth on Monday.  He feels awful, but hopefully will be taking some time on his PDay to rest more and that will help.  I've offered all of the mom suggestions: NyQuill, Vicks, EmergencyC, etc.  Hoping he will take some time to take care of himself and soon be feeling better.

We are excited that he will get to make his first phone call/video chat home this week for Christmas.  We will try to record part of it to share.

December 16, 2018

Here's what we hear from Matthew this week:

"So the meal thing is going good, we still have members that will drop off a dinner for us to eat during the week. I honestly have not looked for a crockpot at all so I don't know if we have one. It really hasn't been too bad of an adjustment. Music is a weird story, there are a lot of different views on what is and isn't allowed to be listened to. Currently I just go along with whatever Elder Hodgson wants to listen to, and we have listened to a few Christmas songs recently. However if I am honest, the lack of snow keeps the feeling of Christmas distant. On the point of the temple, I believe that we get to go in January or February. I've been told that we only get to go twice a year, I am not sure why that is, but that's the rule. As for favorite restaurants, IHOP is great restaurant and we have one close to our apartment, Buffalo Wild Wings is another good one, we would go on Tuesdays, recently we have been going to Cafe Rio because it's quicker. Federal Way has all kinds of fast food though so whatever you believe that I would eat, that's the best thing I can say, you aren't really a picky eater any more when you're a missionary. As for a scripture this week, I think that Alma 5:25-26, I liked this scripture because me and Elder Hodgson listened to a talk by Hyrum W Smith. This talked really stood out to me and made me think about the "Marvelous Work and Wonder" that missionaries are doing. And I was just glad to be apart of it. For Light The World we aren't doing anything super special, however last week we did a service project as a district and did it in the name of Light The World. As for prayers, just keeping me in mind and praying that we keep the car again in Hylebos. I love you all, and I hope you have a good day.

Elder Harding"

During our back and forth conversations Monday we learned that they are meeting with a couple of new friends, and that they got to attend a baptism with one of them.   Matthew said that during this past week he also got to give his first priesthood blessing.  He was really excited about that.  We love that he is having such wonderful experiences on his mission.

He also told us that they are busy doing a lot of tracting right now.  They get to meet a lot of new people this way.  Matthew said it has been good that he hasn't been yelled at since November by anyone so that was a positive.

I also emailed with Sister Rasmussen, the mission president's wife this week and loved getting this little bit about Matthew back.

" We sure do love Elder Harding. He is doing so well and adjusting to this wonderful missionary life. We get to spend the day with them on Thursday as we do some follow up training. I will be sure to tell him hello from you.

 Thank you for sending such a wonderful young man to us.  We love him and promise we will take good care of him. This is the Lords work and it’s such an exciting thing to be a part of with these amazing young people! 

Sincerely,
Sister Rasmussen"

We also heard from a family in his area this week and got another picture.  He was there helping to hang their Christmas lights.  I'm glad he got the opportunity to do that because he was always a good helper at home getting the lights up.

December 9, 2018

Here's what we heard from Matthew this past week...

I had asked him about the Bellevue Nativity Festival because a lot of the other missionary moms were posting about it.

"So the nativity festival, I actually didn't hear much about it. So I guess that that answers that me and Elder Hodgson weren't there. I'm excited that you've gotten some snow! And I'm glad to hear that the YM were sent out to help with it. The weather here has been ok. It's not anything exciting, just rain and cloudy skies. So no snow yet, however I am holding up hope for a white Christmas. So my personal Book of Mormon reading has actually been slower than yours, but its picking up now. I am currently in Mosiah 23 and powering through. I have really found a joy in reading from the Book of Mormon that I hadn't had before. I think the biggest thing that stood out to me recently was in Mosiah 18, it really talks about the structure and purpose of the church and baptism. So that can be my weekly scripture. On the topic of our mission friends, well a lot of them have fallen off the path unfortunately, but we have found one guy that is really enjoying the lessons, we have daily contact with him throughout the week and then teach him on the weekends. As for how baptisms work. They are pretty simple to set up, however with all the ward Christmas parties it is making them more difficult to fit into the building schedule. Most commonly baptisms are on Saturday though so that we can confirm the new member that Sunday. That was something that I didn't know about until coming on my mission, they don't receive the gift of the holy ghost until the Sunday after the baptism. I'm excited to hear that you got to give a talk in a baptismal service! That must've been really cool to do. Things you can pray for this week, you can pray for the sun to come out sometime haha, people seem to be getting more and more grumpy now with how gray the skies are and how soon it's getting dark. And I am sorry about pictures, it just is really busy and hard to stop and take pictures, especially because the missionary handbook, specifically says to not look like tourists. I'll try harder to get some to you.

Elder Harding"

He also sent me a couple of pictures (probably under duress since I have BUGGED him over and over for them).  This is the few small Christmas decorations we sent him and maybe one of his companion's too because we only sent one tree.  Matthew's stocking is on the left and Porter's (his companion) is on the right.  The pictures are a little dark, but I'm sure that's so we could see the tree lights :)

December 2, 2018

Here's what we hear from Matthew this past week:

"This week has been good. Elder Hodgson is a great missionary, he is funny and kind. We are keeping the car so that's really nice, especially since everyone says that the rain will be coming. Thanksgiving was amazing, we had chicken, but Brother Schilling prepared it like a Turkey, stuffed it and cooked it in it's own juices etc. He actually cooked 2 so that he could send one home with us. He made amazing potatoes with chives and a sort of bacon sausage that was delicious. It was a great dinner. So as far as my knowledge goes, the missionaries do the same thing for Light the World as everyone else. This year is pretty cool with the 4 themes and I look forward to being a part of it. So there have been a lot of lights going up recently, but it's more in the house area than in the apartments, but that's to be expected because I don't think we are really allowed to decorate the outside of the apartment. I do like the sweaters, the one in the picture however was from Elder Worthington. He was funny on the last day he was here and just started to throw things he didn't like at me, it's a 100% wool sweater so it's really nice for the wet days. As for the scripture this week. I think that 2 Nephi 25:17 is a good scripture this week, not because it has any special meaning but because it was one that I liked when I read it. "And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men." And just keep praying that we will continue to keep the car. 

Elder Harding"

As of today, Matthew has been in on his mission for 75 days, and he has reached double digits for his service percentage (10%).  It's funny how we can track the craziest things when it comes to his mission :)

The also got his plaque up at the church with his picture today.  This isn't a great picture of it, but it's there :)

We also heard during our back and forth conversations on Monday that they are talking with several friends in the area now.  And that he enjoys days that are busier.  He is really enjoying the Seattle area and says it is really green, and that there are a lot of hills there.

It is a great thing that he is enjoying his mission and learning and loving the people there.