Danville, VA

                                                                                           October7, 2013

I agree. I would have loved to talk more, but there were only three phones, and 25 of us flying to Charlotte. but its okay. at first I didn't really like it here, but I'm liking it more and more. i think the hardest part so far in not knowing anyone and trying to remember their names. I'm so bad at remembering names! President and sister Craven are so nice and wonderful! they love us all so much, and they are so spiritual. they are not only interested in making good missionary's, but making good men and women. one of their favorite sayings is "today, tomorrow, and forever" like...no matter how hot it is outside, you should never roll your sleeves up. that's a today, tomorrow, and forever principal. I am in a companionship in Danville, Virginia. my companions name is Elder Latalu-lokeni. he is Samoan and he is from Utah. he is 25 and a great trainer. I have learned so much from him already! I haven't noticed the humidity too much yet. it has gotten a little hot during the day, but not too bad.

As for being prepared for this, I don't think you can really anticipate exactly what it will be like. not that that's a bad thing, its just different from anything you have ever done. the biggest thing that i think would help the most is to do everything in seminary that you can. Don't just read the Book of Mormon, but study it and know the stories and what are in it. a huge thing that would help them so much is to have all the scripture masteries memorized and to know where they are!! I think besides having read the Book of Mormon is to know those. When we go into someones home, or we meet someone on the street, we need to share a message that will help them with the problems they are facing in their lives. If we can do that through the book of Mormon we can more easily let the spirit touch them, and better help them. but if they have a question about faith, and we don't know that in Alma 32:21 it says that faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, we cant share that with them, and the spirit cant touch them. even though we are promised that in the very hour that we need it our mouths will be filled, if the spirit has nothing to pull from, how can it fill our mouths? 

and you will be happy to know that I have brushed my teeth every morning and night without fail! Also, my address is: 1609 glenn street, Danville Virginia 24540. we have a house to live in instead of an apartment :)

Thank you so much dad!! i love you so much!! That is so cool that they are starting that construction! where will the new ones be? in that torn up area kinda by your shop? and that is such a good idea for the heating! it sounds like a very conservative and useful use of their resources. will it generate alot of power? do you loose some of the effectiveness of the steam because of the turban?

Of course i think it is okay that you are doing this 5K thing! i think it is so cool, and it inspires me to do more! every morning we have workouts for 30min, and i don't really like doing that, but i have new found commitment to it knowing that you are working hard back home, i will work just as hard here to stay in shape and even when im tired or hurting, we will keep going and talking to people and spreading the truth. thank you so much for that!! i love you so much!! 

That is such a crazy firewood story, but that is so cool!! i cant believe that there is that much wood out back now! have they started to split and stack it yet? and yes, i can receive and sent pictures. i would love some of those pictures! 

thank you all so much for all of your prayers and everything headed my way! its so nice, and i love you all! its been slightly discouraging because i went on two exchanges my first week here in Danville, and it seems like thus far we having accomplished anything yet. i haven't even taught one lesson yet. our area in kind of dead right now, and we have no progressing investigators. but that's okay, don't worry. that just means that we have a lot of work to get done, and lots of people to talk to. Elder L and i have both made it our goal to kill it this week! we are going to work hard and help the spirit bring at least 10 people unto Christ this week! I'm so excited to finally be able to get to work this week, and feel like we are actually getting something done. i read the account of President Hinckley, and how he wrote home and said that he felt like he was wasting his time and his dads money but his dad said "forget yourself and go to work, and that was really good for me to hear. its time for me to forget myself and go to work.

Love you all!!

Elder Jorgensen

On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 1:13 AM,

Hey Elder Matt,
Boy it was so great to talk to you this morning! 9 minutes wasn't enough but I guess 90 wouldn't have been enough either. It was good to hear your voice. Paxten and Keasa loved talking to you as well. Your brothers were still asleep and there wasn't time to wake them, but we had talked the night before and this morning, They send all of their love and support. They were glad to here you sounded good and were excited.  I hope you loved flying. Paxten wanted to know how big your plane was. I told him it was huge. :)  Well your there now, a full time Ambassador of the Lord starting the service you have been prepared for. You will be Amazing!! We hope the next year and 11 1/2 months go by as fast as the last week did for you. ;) You will have to tell us all about the Mission home and Pres. Craven and his wife.  I'm sure they are nice. Are you in a companionship or a 3some? who is your trainer and where is he from?  Hows the humidity? Send us an address where we can send mail and packages ASAP.
Talon's farewell was yesterday, we went.people love you! He did a good job
So I forgot to ask you about your FB while you were on the phone. I would still like to clean it up and  check it for you. I don't know if you can remember what the new password you entered was or if you'll have to reset it. The thing is you can't access that email account to do anything. So I guess just let me know what you can that would be Awesome!!  
The game Friday was good we kind of told you about it on the phone, I want to give you all the details you want without making you homesick or feeling left out. Cris's senior year when you are here is going to Rock! Rigby is going to stay on top for awhile. We didn't play as well as we had the week before but the attitude has changed to a win no matter what instead of we can't pull this off.  "So what. Now what" is really making a difference. Refs, bad plays, so what, now what. Andy says the over all attitude of the players is better. they pick each other up and are better friends on and off the field. The score was 21-19. Drew Zagula carried the ball well and got one touch down. Hayden and Landon Larsen connected a few times a couple were Very pretty. 2 were  TDs.  Century had 2 or 3 quarterbacks. one could scramble, one could pass and one to hand off. it really kept our defense on its toes. But Norm totally handled it. We blocked a couple of PAT's and a crutcial punt. It was 18-19 at this point.  on the final drive Hayden put the ball in the middle of the field so Alan Caudillo could kick a field goal Then we drew Century off sides. so instead of kicking 27 yards they moved 5 yards closer. He nailed it no problem. It was also Alan's birthday! cool present! There was about 2 min left on the clock then so we defended 4 more downs then just stalled the min that was left. Hayden ran for 56 yards and completed 14 of 22 passes.  So this week we play Madison should be a good game- they are yet to win. Ririe got beat by firth last week 59-7. Their new coach isn't working out so well. ;)
I F beat Skyline in the emotion bowl 44-22. IF is really good this year. Bonneville is the only other team at 4A that is really good this year.  Blackfoot doesn't have much either.
Saturday we went and got wood. We went with Sorensen's and it was kinda fun. We filled Doug's big trailer then got about 3 rows in Floyd's dump trailer. There isn't much dead stuff left up there. We went a little further up than before and a lot of the land on one side is privately owned. And a mile or 2 further you run out of forest. it is just open ground and hills. We were suprised. So next year we will be hunting for a different place to go. But while we were waiting for Dad and Doug to fall a couple of trees, a guy drove up and said he had some ground on the other side that he was clearing an we could have all the wood he had already cut and didn't need. So Dad finished and Doug went and cut up about 1/2 a cord. Then the guy told them he would be back next week end and he would haul out all we wanted to cut. So we are going back up  this weekend to try and fill both trailers with some that's a little easier to get.  See blessings are already coming. ;)
Mrs. Thurber said to tell you Hi and that you did a Great job training Raina. She said they are in good hands till you come back. :)
I guess I'm walking/running my first 5K with Aunt Kara in 2 weeks. Think I can train as fast as you did?? ;0 I'm not a runner, as you know, but I told you before if you can do hard things so can I, and this is a Stretch for me! But I really hope to get better.  We are so Proud of you!!
I'm excited for conference this week end. I find it hard to believe that it was a year ago that Pres. Monson made that historic announcement that changed the age. And now look you are already serving. Wow what a difference a year makes. I find it a little exciting that you are out right now and that I have a piece of the almost 80,000 servants of the Lord. AMAZING!! and Awesome!!
I know your time is limited and I don't want to suck it all up with you reading. We are all fine. Love you so much. I hope your brothers get their emails off before your p-day. Can't wait to hear how you are and all about your first few days. Have you heard from others?

We Love you so much and pray for you every minute of  everyday! You are never far from our thoughts. Work hard and Brush your teeth! We Love you So much!
Love
Mom and Dad and Fam