02/24/2009 (Off to Kennewick)

Matthew didn't send an e-mail this week. Instead, he flew from Salt Lake to Pasco, Washington and was assigned to an area in Walla Walla, Washington. We were all able to talk to him for about 45 minutes while he waited for his flight to board in Salt Lake City. Later at night, we got a call from President Belnap's wife telling us he would be working in the Walla Walla, WA area.

We got a letter from Matthew on Saturday that was written on Tuesday. I transcribed it for your enjoyment.

Well here I am, sitting in the apartment of the office elders and the assistants to the president. Today we were picked up from the airport from an airplane that was so small we had to walk on the tarmac to get to it in Salt Lake. The plane only held 50. That means at 17 of us, we took up 34% of the plane. They picked us up at an airport about the size of Scottsdale. We drove from Pasco through Kennewick to Richland where the mission president lives. He has beautiful home. It is huge. They are very nice. We ate lunch there, sloppy Joes, and then had interviews while having safety meetings and stuff like that. Then we walked to the temple (which is a five minute walk from their home) and just looked at it. Then we came back and ate dinner, ham, it was pretty good, then we had a little devotional with the president and his wife. Then they told us where we are going. I am off to Walla Walla and the Walla Walla 3rd ward. My companion is Elder Flint. The ward is an English ward but there is a Spanish group of about 30 in it I guess. I don’t really know what that means but I will let you know. We transfer on Wednesdays and p-days are Tuesday. I don’t know what else to say. We ship out tomorrow at 7:30. I will let you know how it goes. I love you with all my heart!!