Email #14

It's been over 3 months since I left home now - time is FLYING! It kind of freaks me out. Anyways, things are going great here in Fresno as usual!

Elder Allen and I really do get along so well, it's like we've known each other our whole lives. He actually really reminds me of Morgan because we have the same kind of humor with each other. Together we've been able to have some great success with the guidance of the Lord. We've now got 5 investigators, and they are all awesome! We have one committed for baptism already, and the rest are progressing really well. All the hard long work really is worth it when you see these people you love so much accepting the gospel and changing their lives. 

A really cool experience this week was that I gave my first blessing. One of our investigators, who we hadn't even really taught yet, got into touch with us and asked us to give her a blessing because she's was really sick - talk about having faith! Not going to lie, I was extremely nervous when I was asked to give the actual blessing itself, but the more I look back on what happened I know that it was the Spirit speaking through me. I'm so excited for her and will keep you posted on how it goes. 

This last Sunday was also really awesome for two reasons - the investigators we invited to church came, and I got to play piano in primary again! Couldn't ask for anything more than that! I love playing in the primary because now all the little kids in ward know who I am and it's awesome. Bah. I love it so much. 

Speaking of little kids, my 'nephew/niece withdrawals' have been partially appeased these last few Mondays. On Monday nights we're not supposed to have dinner appointments because of Family Home Evening, so every Monday we just go over to a member's house and eat. It's great though because she has tons of little kids and it's so fun just to be able to play with them. No one can replace all the nieces and nephews, but at least I'm still getting some quality little-kid time in. 

The three random-moments-of-the-week (at least more random than usual) would include...

• One of our appointments the other night was in an apartment complex, and on the way walking through  we were almost (for lack of a better word) urinated on by a guy the floor above. Guess he doesn't like Mormon missionaries!
• One of the members we teach owns a photo business and really wanted us to come over to her studio and take pictures of us today. It was hilarious! She's planning on photo-shopping us into a Thailand backdrop, so I'll definitely make sure a copy of that picture gets sent home when I get a copy of it. 
• Every week Elder Allen and I have to take our car through a car wash, and after while we were vacuuming out the car (to make a long story short) somehow got into the middle of a fight between a homeless man and an employee of the car wash that almost broke out into throwing punches... yep!

I'm just completely content with life as a missionary. It really is the most worthwhile thing I know that I can be doing with my life. To see how others have been prepared by the Spirit throughout their life to learn about and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ just further reinforces my own testimony that God really does personally love us, is completely aware of us, and is waiting to bless us. I love you guys so much and hope you guys have a great week too!

Until next week - Sib Ntsib Dua!

- Yours Truly,

   Elder Tshaj Lug Vwj / 

   Elder Matthew Doane

+ P.S. - You may have noticed, but I definitely spelled my new Hmong name wrong in last week's e-mail! My 'hmoob xeeb' or last name is Vwj, not Vuj! Ha!

Email #13

Family! Friends! Everyone! Nyob Zoo!

Yeah, last week's e-mail was semi-frantic - Sorry about that! Things have been going GREAT though! All is well in Fresno-land.

One the coolest things about being a missionary is that miracles are a regular occurrence - both for us as missionaries, and in the lives of those we are teaching. There are so many that I can think of off the top of my head. We have neighbors that have been prepared by the Lord their whole lives and recently moved right next to us and are practically converting themselves without our help. They literally knocked on our door the other night asking for more Books of Mormon - that is not normal! There are two Sisters from Laos that we've committed to be baptized this week. It's just amazing how when you get to know people, you see how the Lord has been involved in helping them get the place they are today to hear about and accept the Gospel. I'm so excited to continue to work with them, hopefully they will be our first baptisms since getting here!

My companion, Elder Allen, is the bomb. We seriously get along so well! I can't believe I didn't know him in high school because we seriously have 1000's of mutual friends. We'll be together for at least two transfers (12 weeks), and I'm pumped because I really think that we are going to continue to work well together and make a big impact on this area while we're here together. Elder Allen has been in this specific area (Fresno-West) for literally over a year, so he really knows everyone and everywhere. It's great!

The Hmong is coming. Slowly but surely. It's definitely completely different now that I'm out in the field. It's kind of been a reality slap that I really need to put everything that I've got into learning the language and talking with people if I am going to be able to really master the language. Everyone has told Elder Burdick and myself that we're pretty good for just being out, so we're hoping to really master it so that we can teach everyone and teach effectively. Hmoob for life!

You guys would be so proud of me - The food is so spicy! Basically 99% of the meals in Hmong homes consist of sticky rice (SO GOOD!), every part of the chicken, and then this (for lack of a better word) hot sauce called 'qua txob' that is insane. It is just in a completely different realm of spicy than I have ever eaten. The Hmong people seriously just pound it down like it is no big deal, while I'm in the corner basically balling my eyes out because I had a tiny piece of it. By the time I get home I'm going to be able to eat spicy food like never before. And I guess it's a common joke in Hmong that the more qua txob you eat, the quicker you will be able to speak Hmong. Painful, but worth it. 

The Hmong people seriously are so incredibly humble. Some of the government-provided refugee housing that we often visit really is... down-trodden to say the least. Us missionaries stick out to much! The Hmong people tend to have a respect for us as missionaries trying to learn their language, so it's not like we feel unsafe or anything like that. For some reason being in these really poor parts of town really makes me realize that I'm exactly where I am supposed to be doing exactly what the Lord would have me do. I know I've said this already, but it truly is an honor to serve with among the Hmong people of this area.

It's crazy serving in Fresno because there are people from here that I know! The other day one of my friends from BYU, Ginger, sang in our sacrament meeting! And we have our district meetings in Elder Evan's church, my roommate from BYU! I see his plaque on the wall and it's so weird to think he'll be coming home eventually and there's a chance I could see him while I'm out here on my mission! I'm secretly hoping this happens! Okay I'm a-lot hoping this happens. 

I'm still happier than I think I've ever been. Missionary work is completely drop-dead-into-bed-at-night exhausting, but so worth every effort. I know this is only the beginning, and I'm so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me. I'd love to hear from you guys! Just send anything to the mission office address (1814 N Echo Fresno, CA 93704) or family can just e-mail this address directly! I can't wait to hear from you and let you know what craziness  has happened this upcoming week!

Sib Ntsib Dua!

 - Tub Txib Tshaj Lug Vuj /
   Elder Matthew Doane

+ P.S. - Any friends that are reading this - Before leaving for the MTC I forgot to get pictures of you guys and now it's killing me! So if you have a spare second, I would be so grateful if you just printed a picture of us together off of Facebook or some other picture and sent it to me - I would be forever grateful! Not to mention I want to hear how you are guys are doing!

+ P.P.S. - Recent family pictures of any kind would also probably cause me to burst into sobs of happiness :)

Email #12

Nyob Zoo Kuv Tsev Neeg! Alright, where to even start... Let's go back to day 1.

{And note, I am skipping SO MUCH detail that I don't have time to fill in, this is bare bones!}

First off, the missionaries that came to Fresno with Elder Burdick and myself are amazing people! We instantly bonded. We got here in Fresno and were met at the airport by President Gelwix and the missionaries that were leaving that day. President Gelwix is one of the most down-to-earth, spiritual men that I've ever met. I can't even tell you how excited I am to have to opportunity to have him as my mission president. From the airport, we went to an orientation-type meeting, and were paired up with a random missionary to go out tracting! I was kind of nervous, but really excited to be just jumping into it. Myself, Elder Burdick, and two other Hmong Elders (more on them later. . .) went to a refugee housing area called 'Little Laos.' I paired off with Elder Burton, one of the Hmong missionaries, and we went out tracting through the apartments.

The high-light of tracting was I realized that I've already fallen in love with these people. The Hmong people really are the most humble, spirited people that I have ever met. Just talking to them made me feel honored to have to opportunity to be serving them for the next two years.

Alright, now the low-light. (And Mom, please don't freak out...) So we were walking by this road, and across the street was an elementary school. Long story short, we saw a hit-and-run of a little girl crossing the street. I can't even tell you how freaking out I was. There were people suddenly everywhere, and we left because there was no way we could have been helpful in that situation. We don't know what happened to the girl. Bah. Everyone keeps telling me that never happens to missionaries out on the first day, but I'm still just a little bit nervous whenever we're out on the streets. Bah!

Anyways, things after that have been great! We were finally introduced to who our companion would be for these first two transfers, and my companion's name is Elder Allen! It's hilarious because we went to Alta and both graduated in 2010, but we somehow didn't know each other before! God works in mysterious ways! :) He's been out here well over a year, I think he goes home in January. We get along swimmingly. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better companion.

The area that I'm in now is the Fresno-West area. I'll be here at least for the first-two transfers (12 weeks), although Elder Allen has been in this same area for months so there's a chance I'll be here even longer than that. Which I'm actually really grateful for because I'm going to be able to really get to know the members, which will really help!

Yesterday at church was so fun! Every week for Sacrament Meeting, they have one missionary and one member of the ward translate because some of the families are English-speaking families that serve in the ward. Hence, they have to translate both from Hmong to English and English to Hmong depending on who is talking. The translator sits in a little booth on the podium, and everyone in the congregation that needs translating wears headphones. Thankfully, no translating duty for me this week :) but Elder Burdick and I said the prayers in Sacrament Meeting! Everyone said we did really well, which we hope isn't just because it's our first week. Then they had me play the piano in both primaries because the pianist was a no-show, I loved it!

I really am so grateful for this chance that I have to serve. I know that this is where the Lord wants me to serve, and that I'm going to have success provided I continue to rely wholly on the Lord. I love you guys and miss you so much, and know the Lord is blessing and supporting you!

I really feel like I have left out 99% of what's happened, so I'll cram as much in as I can next week! I love you!

I almost forgot... I HAVE A HMONG NAME!!!! We went over to a member's house, and he gave me my name - it's Tshaj Lug Vuj (pronounced Cha Lew Vue, Tones are descending on the Cha, Breathy {basically sound like you are being punched} on Lew, and descending on Vue). It literally means 'to declare the word!' It's basically the coolest name ever! Haib Heev! Tshaj Lug Vuj for life!

Yours Truly,

Tub Txib Tshaj Lug Vuj / 

Elder Matthew Doane

P.S. - I was wrong about the address thing, send mail to the mission office. I included the address below. They forward the mail onto us. Thanks!

1814 N Echo Ave

Fresno, CA 93704

Arrived!

Hey Mom! I don't have long, but I just wanted to let you know I got here safely! And boy has it been... crazy! They said that I'll be able to e-mail on Monday, I'm guessing that Monday will be my new p-day, I'm not sure though.

 

I love you, I'm safe. And I'm a missionary.

Email #11

Nyob Zoo! Nej nyob li cas? {Hello! How are you!} It is officially my last day here in the MTC! I can't believe it! It's weird to think that I have almost literally been here the whole Summer, and yet in many respects it has felt no longer than a week. At this rate I really do feel like my mission is going to fly by!

 

I know that's because I'm working harder than I ever have. This last week has sort of been a 'reality-slap' for our whole South-Eastern Asian hallway in that we said to ourselves, "Shoot, we need to be able to speak this language in a week." And hey it's not nearly as bad for us Hmongs just going to California, I could be going to Cambodia speaking Vietnamese, so count your many blessings. { cough cough Mom :) }

 

But even more importantly than learning the language, even more importantly is understanding the simple doctrines of the gospel and being able to teach these simple truths to the needs of the investigators. It has been something we've been drilling since day 1, and I feel like this last week things are finally starting to connect on really how to do this. Now I've just got to see if it's going to work when I am teachingactual investigators!

 

Here's a couple highlights / lowlights / 'what-just-happened' moments of the week...

• Okay I'm going to preface this Story by saying Mom, I'm sure this isn't going to happen to me. Well, now that that is out of the way... One of our teachers, Brother Sanchez (aka Southeastern-asian language master) was telling us this story about how when he was serving in San Fransisco, an elderly lady he and his companion were teaching called them and asked if they could give her a blessing. They agreed, but when they got there it turns out the the two of them "walked into the middle of a gun fight." People were shooting at eachother in this lady's house! They said that they screamed "the police are coming" in Laotion or something along those lines and everyone took off. Again, Mom, I'm sure that won't happen... pretty sure... :)
• With the aforementioned teacher, the three of us Hmongs were trying to practice street approaches. One of the funniest / most awkward experiences of my life. So Brother Sanchez just randomly walks out of class, and by the time we finally deduce what is going on, he is wondering around the MTC campus. So the three of us are literally running around the entire place, building through building, trying to intercept our teacher. People thought we were crazy! Finally we found him, so completely out of breath and from 100 feet away we scream 'Oh NYOB ZOO', at which point our teacher burst out into laughter. It was great.
• This last Sunday, we had a departure devotional for us missionaries that would be leaving this week from the MTC. Just the 300 of us! Ha anyways, one of the Elders gave an amazing testimony, and in it he stated "Today's test is tomorrow's testimony." I think that is such a simple statement, and yet it is so completely true. It reminds me of in Ether 12:18 which states "And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God." I know that the many miracles I have seen take place in my life have only come after a personal trial of my faith and testimony, and I know this is true for the rest of God's children as well. I'm excited to be able to share that message with the Hmong people - that trials you may be facing today allow miracles to take place in your life and your testimony to grow.
• So the 'what-just-happened' moment of the week took place during the closing prayer of said devotional. So my companions and myself were sitting in the second row from the front, and in the row behind us were all the Senior Missionaries. So when the closing prayer was being offered, I heard what I thought was snoring, and just thought to myself 'one of the senior missionaries must be asleep.' Turns out the senior elder sitting directly behind me had a stroke during the closing prayer! It was such a sureal experience. The second the prayer was over, his wife screamed out for help and we all realized something bad had happened. Before I even knew what was happening, there were paramedics sweeping in, ambulances being called, and groups of missionaries praying all around me! I really do hope and pray he was alright.

As I've prepared to leave and packed all of my belongings away, I've had such an amazing realization - I have no fear. I'm so grateful for this time I've had at the MTC because it has helped me continue to develop my faith to the point of where I can say I have no reservations or anxieties going out into the field tomorrow. Sure, I may not understand what's being said to me, but I'm ready to give all that I have in helping invite others come unto our Savior, and I feel truly privileged for the opportunity to do so.

 

I love you! Oh, and before I forget, don't forget I have a new writing address now, so don't send any letters to the MTC anymore! The address is below. I believe it is the address of my mission office. When I get the address of my actual place I'll be living, I will let you know. Until then, write to here...

1814 N Echo

Fresno, CA 93704

USA

 

Alright, well I'm sure my e-mail next week will be interesting to say the least, so I can't wait until then! Don't worry about me, and I won't worry about you guys - deal? Just always cultivate your relationship with our Heavenly Father and keep your perspective on the things that truly matter in this life, and we will always be at peace.

Sib Ntsib Dua!

- Es Daws Tooj / Elder Doane / Elder Fierce / just-realized-I'm-probably-getting-my-real-Hmong-name-tomorrow!

Email #10

Nyob Zoo! Bah - I love you guys so much!

 

This last week has been amazing! Felt like half an hour in real-time, but still amazing! Couple high-lights would include...

• So with the audition for the musical number in the devotional... I made it! To be honest, I was completely terrified. Playing an instrument I haven't played in literally years in front of 2700+ people - no pressure! But for me, a miracle happened. I prayed fervently to help my technical skills return, especially considering this piece is really high, something I'm definitely not used to as a viola player. And this last Sunday night when I stood up in front of the packed auditorium, I could almost literally feel the Spirit pouring into me, and I know this because I was I think one of the happiest that I've ever been. I prayed to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, and I feel I accomplished that. The piece went off without a hitch, I literally couldn't have asked for a better performance. It was such a unique experience I know I won't ever forget, and was also awesome because....
• Because I played in the devotional and they announced my name and where I'd be serving and such, after the devotional some Elders came up to us Hmongs and it turns out they're the majority of the other Elder's going to out Fresno with us speaking Spanish and Engligh! There are 15 other Elder's going out to Fresno with us, and they are such incredible guys! It just got me more excited to finally get out into the field. Yet at the same time....
• I have been studying harder than I ever have before. Studying for school or a test is one thing, but I'm talking about studying so I'm not completely in the dark when I arrive. It's defintely going to be a humbling experience, because as it is with any South-Eastern Asian Language, you have to just immerse yourself and study for months before you really start to get a grasp on it. Well and that's only if you've got the power of the Spirit too! I've been trying to prepare myself as much as I can {And, I feel it is approapriate here to give a shout out to my favorite Texan-Sister for sending me Hmong dictionaries. You have no idea how helpful they are!}, but nothing can replace just jumping out of my comfort zone and being completely immersed in the people. Which is interesting because.....
• Looking from when I entered the MTC to know as I'm about to leave, I can see one of the blessings that is already being bestowed upon me from the Lord - confidence! Not that I didn't have any coming in, just there was that fear of jumping into the unknown. But now, I feel completely opposite. It's almost strange how unafraid I am to dive head-first into helping the Hmong people come unto Christ. I've never felt more sure of myself, and I know that is only because of the truthfulness and the divinity of the message that I have to share with God's children.
• I wish I had a cool transition for this next point, but I've got nothin'. Ha anyways, in Sacrament Meeting this last week I heard a really cool analogy that I wanted to share with you guys. There is a scripture that he read (and I forgot to write down the reference, sorry!) that talks about how the Lord refines us like Silver. He then continued to tell us of how that process actually works nowadays. The man that is refining the silver holds it in the oven at the hottest part and intently watches over it. He must keep meticulous watch over it because if the Silver is left in the heat for too long, it is ruined. Yet the refiner knows the silver is completely refined and pure when he can see his reflection in the silver itself. Similiary, the Lord is watching over us. He refines us with our trials and adversities, yet is intently watching us, making sure we are not overcome from the trial itself. And through the trials, we obtain that part of Christ in us. I know this is true, and I'm so grateful for the challenges and trials I have faced in my life, because I know they have made me into the man that I am today. Like my favorite scripture (2 Nephi 2:24), "All things have been done in the wisdom who knows all things." I think this is so important to remember when going through life - Christ is always watching over and helping us, often in ways we don't even recognize.

Well, I should probably be going now! I'm starving! Ha! I love you guys though, are always in my thoughts and prayers, and I honestly couldn't ask for better people in my life. Stay near to Christ, and He'll stay near to you.

 

- Es Daws Tooj

Email #9

NYOB ZOO! Oh My Lanta, I love you guys! This week has been great! T-minus 15 days until I am OUT OF HERE! I'm kinda nervous, but mostly excited. We've been working for what sometimes feels like aneternity to prepare ourselves to be able to teach with the Spirit and, you know, in the language, so I'm excited to just get out there and finally do what we've been talking about! It's going to be great!

 

So I've started to just write down little notes in my planner of thoughts I want to send home. Some of them are awesome, some incredibly stupid, but that's alright.

 

• So I've been told by multiple people that I look like President Barack Obama... not sure really how to take that...
• We had a really amazing week this wise in terms of teaching. Incredibly hard, but great! We've been teaching an 'investigator' who had already gone to Christian churches and said he was already baptized and that he didn't need to be baptized again. We had been teaching him about the priesthood and why it is important, but we were seemingly going nowhere, so we decided to stop being nice/beating around the bush and just straight-up tell him that his baptism wasn't done with proper authority and only our church had the authority to do so. It made me realize that the message we are teaching is bold, and as such I too need to be bold and unafraid in declaring the message. And plus, considering the language barrier, it sometimes forces us to be very bold because that's all we're able to say.
• Okay, this is another really stupid thought, but I've decided I'm hoping my Hmong name will be Zaj Dawb... It means White Dragon...
• I think I mentioned this last week, but me and an Elder from high school, Elder Eldredge, auditioned to play in the devotional in front of the whole MTC. Long story short, we're not sure if we made it or not so we have to audition again on Thursday, so I'll keep you posted on that (again).
• So that other day in class, the three of us Hmongs were getting really confused and hitting a wall in terms of how to make a lesson plan for one of our investigators, and our Teacher interrupted and talked to us about something that has been really meaningful. He asked us if we felt lost, then continued to explain how we were beginning to understand what it meant to be 'lost in the work,' and that we were progressing towards becoming the missionary the Lord would have us be. I'd never thought of it that way before - if we are to truly lose ourselves in the work, than an element of that is feeling lost! It was a much needed thought because I was beginning to get frustrated in that I wasn't sure how to best approach the situation, but I've realized it's just a part of the process of become the Lord's missionary. This week I read in Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." To me, that is such an incredible scripture because if we are the Lord's side, working to bring about His will, He will always be with us and never fail us.

I love you guys so much! I am so incredibly grateful for the love and support you continue to give me, and I can honestly say that I am working my hardest out here and will not let you down. This opportunity to serve has been the most difficult experience I have ever been through, yet also far more rewarding than I ever imagined. And this is only two months in! Holy Cow, just realized my 2-month mark was yesterday! Anyways, you are all in my prayers, and I'd love to hear from you, just shoot me a letter or a DearElder. Sib Ntsib Dua!

 

- Es Daws Tooj (Elder Doane)

Email #8

Nyob Zoo!!!

 

Well I'm now 3/4's of my way through here in the MTC! I can't believe it! I'm so excited to get out into the field. The three of us are starting to get to the point where we're not so much as just remembering as much vocab as we can to now we're trying to really understand how the Hmong people speak, which what better way then actually being around them? We're working harder than every before because we really want to be as prepared as possible for when we get out into the field. That's what I love about my companionship. The 3 of us are all striving to be the best missionaries we can be and helping others come unto Christ, so we're all united in our focus. Not to mention sometimes I feel like I've known them my whole life, we get along so well! I think the perfect example of this was the other day, during our companion inventory, Elder Burdick said something to me along the lines of, "You're just enough crazy that you keep us insane."

 

Thanks Mom for so much for that cake you sent a while ago! I felt bad because I literally hadn't opened yet and it was still really soft, so I brought it into the Cambodian district and we all enjoyed, so on their behalfs', Thank You!

This week has been so incredible! So I just barely got back from cleaning the Provo Temple! It's closed for these couple of weeks, and in the mail one day we randomly got this slip saying we would have the opportunity to help in the cleaning of the temple on our p-day! So we went up there, they ended up giving us some white scrubs, and we helped to rip out the carpet on the cement in front of the temple, scape the glue off the cement, and then do some dusting and cleaning inside! It was such a cool experience, and it really made me appreciate how much work goes into maintaining the Houses of the Lord. For the devotional last Sunday, Jenny Oaks Baker played a couple songs! If you don't know who she is, she's basically one of the best violinists in the country and is actually Elder Oak's daughter (just YouTube her!). You could feel the Spirit so strongly, and not to mention it really made me want to play my viola again! Actually, speaking of, I've been able to play a violin a couple times while I've been here because I am accompanying one of my friends from high school and we are auditioning to perform a musical number in one of the devotionals! In every devotional, they have a musical number perform, but you have to audition for it, so I'll keep you posted on if we make it!

 

So, on a completely random note, I had the greatest dream ever last night! So it started out that I snuck out of the MTC. Not that I'm condoning that, just keep reading. So I snuck out home and I was able to have a Sunday dinner with you guys and all the sisters and their families, but the dream was super realistic! I remember I went through and hugged all of the nieces and nephews, it was so great! Haha sorry that was really random, but it was really cool. But hey, no worries, I'm not planning on sneaking out of the MTC :)

 

I'm so grateful to the Lord and all that he has given us. Something that I have been realizing this week is how the more you open your eyes spiritually and become aware of how much the Lord has blessed you in your life, the more in debt you are to serve and give thanks. I'm so grateful for this chance I have to serve my mission because in my own small way, though these two years of service, I'm able to give what little I can back to the Lord and in the process, help some of His children return to Him and realize the peace and safety that comes through following our Savior. A scripture that has really impacted me this week in regards to this is Helaman 5:12 (Go read it!), which talks about how we should build "upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ," and that if we do, Christ will never let us fall. To me, this scripture insures me the both if I build my foundation upon Christ, I will have a successful mission; and that all of you back home will also be supported as you put your trust in Christ.

 

Oh and guess what... I'm going to Laos instead of California for my mission! Just kidding :) in our companionship we like to joke around whenever we get an official letter addressed from the church that it is going to say something along the lines on "Hey, Laos is now open to missionaries and we need to send some Hmong speakers, so you're up!" Ha that would be crazy!

 

I love you guys so much! I'm so grateful for the roles you have played in my life, helping me get to this point where I am today. I know it's not a coincidence that we are together as a family and I have made the friends I have, because like it says in 2 Nephi 2:24, "But behold all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things." This is actually the scripture that I'd like to have put on my missionary plaque (mom, I sent you a letter today talking about this, so hopefully you get that soon). I really do think and pray about you guys all the time. And trust me, my companions make fun of me for how many letters I write, so if you write me, I WILL respond as soon as I can!

 

Only 22 more days until I'm on a plane to Fresno! Sib Ntsib Dua!

- Es Daws Tooj (Elder Matt Doane