July 14, 2019

Elder Harding is having a great time in Bellevue.  We haven't had much written communication from him, but he does call each week.  It was really cool that he got to call home on his dad's birthday too. 

He and Elder Fullmer are getting along well and working hard to meet new people.  They have had a few days that have gotten really warm, but it's not quite as hot there as it is at home. 

I will have to remind him to share weekly scriptures with me again as he has forgotten the past few weeks (as well as forgetting his mom likes pictures).

Hopefully our next update will have some more exciting information to share :)

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

Matthew has made it through another transfer, and he is staying in Bellevue with Elder Fullmer.  He has been out 285 days now... it's crazy!

The one thing he still struggles with is staying on his bike!  He had another accident this past week and hurt his hands, but thankfully it didn't give him a concussion like last time.
















We reminded him that it might be a good idea to remember to wear gloves while he is riding ;)













Some pictures he's taken in the last couple of weeks...

This is a beautiful sunset!

PDay shopping - I guess he really wanted some pistachios ;)

New shoelaces so he can finally wear this pair of shoes again :)

His desk area at his apartment in Bellevue.

The missionaries hosted a car wash for the community.  This is the Matthew we remember :)

He seems to be doing very well and is hoping to meet some new friends in the area soon so they can immerse themselves in teaching.  For now he is going to a bible study group, working hard, and learning to trust the timing of the Lord.  

June 16, 2019 - Father's Day

June 16, 2019

We didn't get to talk to Matthew very much this past week as he spent his PDay on a "cultural outing".  With the aide of his cousin Kristina, he and a few of the other elders in the Bellevue zone got to go be tourists for a little bit that day.  Here are some of the pictures from the outing:

We did get him to share a scripture with us by text....Gallations 1:6.

When looking at his other pictures we also found that he has been using the rubiks cube the boys sent him to entertain himself.  The boys were excited to see he had it.

Today is Father's Day, and it is also his transfer week.  Matthew is waiting until his transfer call from the mission president to call today.  This will let him call dad today and give us the updated news at the same time.

June 2, 2019

June 2, 2019

We didn't get to talk to Matt too much on his last P-Day because we were helping at the Fire Department Memorial Day Breakfast.  But he did send a few instant messages and a couple of pictures. 

He told us that he and his companion have been teaching some friends that are making the commitment to be baptized.  We are excited for him to have this experience. 

He is still riding his bike, and was showing me that his companion wanted to ride to the area that says "red" on the map in this picture.  It would be 5 miles downhill, but then 5 miles uphill to get back.  We will have to ask next week if he actually made the ride.

He also had to do some shopping.  He had to buy new shoelaces for his shoes...the others have already given out.  I guess making it almost 9 months they held up pretty well.

We're excited to see what he has to share with us this coming week :)

May 26, 2019

May 26, 2019

Our Elder has had a couple of pretty routine weeks as far as a mission goes.  He says that riding the bike is getting a bit easier.  He has been meeting some new friends and teaching others so that is good.  He is really good to call and talk to dad each week and makes sure to try and call home at least once a month so everyone has a chance to say hello.  I am happy that he is remembering to take and send more pictures :)

Here are some of the latest:

May 12, 2019 - Mother's Day

May 12, 2019

Happy Mother's Day

We got to video chat with Matthew today.  He looks well and was his happy self.  He says they have a couple of friends they are teaching, and he seems to enjoy his ward.  Tonight he got to go and eat with a family and they sent some fun pictures.

It is always so fun to get pictures from people he is meeting :)

Earlier this week when we talked to Matthew we found out that he is staying in Bellevue with Elder Fullmer for this coming transfer.  

During the week and on PDay he went to some bible study, his companion got made a district leaders so he'll be tagging along to some extra meetings, and is enjoying (or getting used to) riding the bike more.  He says that he and his companion are still having some meeting of the mind conversations, but even that seems to be getting better.  

He told us the weather yesterday was warm, but that it changes quickly and was much cooler today.  They are warmer there than here this week as they are already in the 80s.  

He sent this picture when I asked him if he was playing any sports for PDay...

If you count billiards

His scripture for this week is D&C 121:7.  He said he was able to share it with someone and it helped them through their day.  It is good to have him share experiences like this :)

Here are some other pictures he took this week that we got through shared photos.  I love getting photos. 

May 5, 2019

May 5, 2019

This week Matthew got to go on exchanges with the Spanish speaking Missionaries.  I asked him if he understood anything being said and he said "nope".  Maybe if they do it more often during the next year or so he'll start to pick up a little bit.

He says the headaches are finally much better after his bike accident.  He was even looking forward to playing a little volleyball for PDay last week. 

This coming week is transfer week.  We are waiting to see if he stays in Bellevue or moves somewhere new.

He sent a few pictures this week...all of them FOOD!!

I guess he was pretty excited to get to eat at the Cheesecake Factory.  Seriously, that boy...no wonder he's always out of money before the end of the month.

At least he remembered to send me his scripture this week: Alma 7:24.

With him being able to call on the phone and chat we never get emails, but I guess at least getting some pictures is worth it in the trade off.  It just means I get to be his narrator :)  Until next week, we leave Matthew as he suffers from the food coma he got from eating at Cheesecake Factory.