Elder Matthew Thatcher

6th week in Mission Field

Bolivia Santa Cruz North

Monday December 9,2013

I'm párt of the Carmen Branch. We can't go to the temple because it's out of our mission. The work is moving along nicely! I baptized a 16 yr old girl on Saturday!! It was amazing!

I don't have my camera cord  this week but I'll try my best to send pictures next week!!

 Tell Grandma and Grandpa Bitton congrats on their 48th wedding Anniversary this week and thanks for the Christmas money!! I hope your anniversary on December 19th is amazing!!

It sounds like a lot of fun in the snow out in VA! I miss the winter weather right now it's summer and really hot.

  We get jugs of fresh water for drinking! If you haven't sent the package yet can you send a small cook book with a bunch of different recipes? Also I need a new water bottle and I can't find any nice ones like the nalgene bottle you sent with me.

Running is going great! But I need to run more I think I've gained weight. Could you have DAD send me a workout schedule or sometype of program to help me stay in shape and loss the weight I've gained?? Please and thank you!

 The brownies were great!! I can't wait to make more things! I just need to make sure I have a balanced diet because right now im getting fed a lot of bread and greasy or fried food. It's a lot of carbs. I miss your cooking and all the great things at home but i'm doing good out here!

 I wash my own laundry by hand and if I don't have time I have to pay a sister to wash it for me. I'm hoping to find someone with a washer to use. Because right now i can't wash my laundry because my finger got cut on a fan when I was drying to hang my shirt to air dry.

 Thanks for all the pictures I hope I answered the questions you had! I might need a little bit of money but I think im okay for now. I love you and hope you all have a great week thanks for all the photos!!

Love, Elder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

5th week from the mission field

December 2, 2013

Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission

     Thanks for all the emails mom!! Yes I got more shorts for running and I ran twice last week and this morning also! Only 2 miles for 2 of the runs and 3 for the other, but It felt really good to run! I'm still running around a 7 minute mile pace for my runs. My companion is doing well with keeping up for the runs so it's working out! Thanks for the brownie recipe!! All the plans are working out great and I had a great week!

 

     It's so great to hear all the great news!!! I can't believe you lost 15 lbs in such a short amount of time!! Yeah they have trees for Christmas but I'm not sure about the stockings. I'm glad the holidays are going so well!! It's so crazy that the house is empty I got a little sad when I saw Alan's empty room! But I'm so glad everyone is doing well!! Tell dad he needs to get in shape because Sister Harper beat him! Ha ha It's great that Uncle Kevin is finally moving out to VA so he doesn't have to drive 4 days up and back and he'll have lots of work too! The pictures are great I love to see Katherine and Spencer happy, fighting , playing whatever it's great to see them! 

     I can't believe it's December only 23 days and I get to see you and talk to you through skype! If yo u want to you can let a few people come over for skype but it's up to you. Tell Nathan I say hi and that I miss him as well! It's great to hear that the family is so happy!! Also tell Mandy hi if you ever see her ha ha.

      But on the more missionary side of the email. Everything is great I gave another blessing yesterday! We have 2 families that we reactivated and I'm baptizing a 16 year old girl that's waited 6 months for permission from her mom to be baptized! I don't need money yet ha ha I'll let you know if I ever do. Thanks for always checking up on me!! The Lord is definitely  blessing me with everything I need! I eat lunch ever day at member's house and almost all of our investigators and members are happy to feed us! So there's no need to worry!

 

LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!!!

                                       Elder Thatcher

ELDER MATTHEW THATCHER

4th email from

Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission

November 25, 2013

Thanks for the pictures!! They are so great! I'm so proud of Tyler and the team! I just hope I can live up to the Thatcher name ha ha! I've been doing a bunch of core strength and stuff but I didn't get to run. But this week I will run every other day! I set up a program with my companion for exercise and I hope it works out!

 The baptism was great! We had our investigator come and she's very excited for baptism! I'm having lots of success and some difficulties but I can only expect that with adjusting to missionary life. 

Oh by the way, I had a great chocolate chip pancake breakfast for my birthday! Also a member family had us over for a lesson and cake on my birthday as well! 

Thanks for everything I don't have much time so I wanted to say I love you and I'm great full  for everything that everyone is doing to help me with my mission. Also thank full to everyone doing their own missionary work back home! Thanks for the love and care! Almost forgot could you send me a brownie recipe in the next email, I'm making them for a family next Monday!

Love, Elder Thatcher

 S

ELDER MATTHEW THATCHER

Third email from

Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission

November 18, 2013

Thanks for the pictures! Spencer did such a great job!! I can´t believe that Alan is leaving the house that´s so crazy that only Spencer and Katherine will be there! Our investigators for the most part are very receptive and open!! We have 2 baptism dates of our own and I can´t wait to have my first baptism! Last week I gave my first priesthood blessing in Spanish and gave another one yesterday! The people and culture are great! The language is coming pretty fast but it´s still a little difficult to communicate at times but we are having success because of the spirit! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!! Tell Tyler good luck for me! I know that he´s going to kick butt!

 My companion Elder Cordova and I are doing great! We get along great and are teaching each other Spanish and English! I´m so happy for you and you´re health progress! I´m not surprised that Brother Harris got called into the stake young mens presidency because he did such a great job with the youth in our ward!!

 I was able to clean but need to clean some more today! No exercise clothes yet because I couldn´t find any last week but hopefully I can today! I´m doing fine with money for now I´ll let you know if I ever need help! I´m glad to hear everyone is doing well! I´m glad I think of you when I want a clean house as well! I haven´t been able to run in Bolivia yet but hopefully I can today. I workout everyday other than sunday as well! I Hope I can run this week because I actually miss it haha! I can´t wait to tell you more next time! Well I tried sending pictures but for some reason it won´t attach it says the format isn´t supported. I´ll get a flash drive transfer pictures and send them home as soon as possible!

Love Elder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

Second email from the mission field November 11, 2013

Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission

     I´m glad to hear everyone is doing so well!! I´m living on the top floor of a member home

 it´s just me and my companion. I basically have everything I need. Today I´m buying cleaning supplies and some more workout clothes. I can´t wait to hear from all the kids it´s gonna be great!! My P day´s are on Mondays! 

     I´m sad to hear about Sister Reese but I´m glad to hear that the family is doing well and that Brother Reese enjoyed teaching my primary class! How´s Sister Courtney Reese doing on her mission? I´m thankful for all the prayers it helps to get me through the rough parts of the day.

      I get to go to a baptismal service the day after my Birthday for a man I helped to teach! I only taught 2 lessons but it´s still really exiting! My companion is from Iquitos, Peru. I´m not using the hammock yet because I have a good bed  to sleep on. Thanks for letting me know how much money I have on my account, I don´t need any money right now I had to use my card because the one they gave me didn't have money yet, but now I have money and I´m doing great! 

       Tell everyone I say hi and that I really appreciate that they are thinking of me! I´m glad to hear that you are having so much fun with Katherine and Spencer! It´ll be weird seeing how  much they have grown at Christmas time! Congratulations with the new weight loss  plan!!  I´m glad you´re living healthy! I hope I can come home to happy healthy parents! I´m glad that you helped me to get my Eagle Scout Rank. I´ll never forget all the years of you helping me do that!

      Tell Katherine I´m really proud of her!! I told her she could run and she´s getting better, even though she wants it to be over I know she´ll have some good memories from it! I´m glad you guys are able to have so much family time and share the gospel too! It´s crazy that it´s almost been 2 months! I keep forgetting my camera cord so tell Spencer I´m sorry and that I´ll try to remember for next week so I can send him pictures! I´m so glad the kids are doing well in school and getting their work done! I can´t wait to get pictures and updates from you all! Make sure that Alan, Nathan, and Alyssa actually  email me! :)  I´m glad you´re able to go to the temple! How´s dad doing with his goal to go every month? I´m doing pretty good out here I´l be doing better when my house is clean I feel like I sound like you when I say that ha ha. Okay gtg

 Love you bye!

Elder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

6th and final email from the Colombia MTC

October 29, 2013

     Thanks for all the emails!! I´m so  glad to here from you all!! I leaving rather Thursday night or Friday morning! Keep an eye on  your phones because I might get to call you guys to check in while I´m at the airport!! I love you all too!

      I´m so excited to teach the people of Bolivia and share the love of the Lord with all of them! I really like that picture too! I´m glad we took pictures in big moments in my life! 

     I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween! How´s Alan Scott and Alyssa doing? Have them email me sometime to check in with me!And Nathan too! Thanks for being the best family I could've asked for!! I can´t wait to send pictures of my area and everything when I get to Bolivia Talk to you soon!

LOVE, Élder Thatcher!!

       I miss you too!! Spencer I´ll send more pictures next week! I have a lot to send and my camera is not in my possession until I get to Bolivia!

      Thanks for reminding me not to get parasites! I can´t wait to talk to you all again! Thanks for the pictures it´s really good! 

Stay out of trouble and do your homework!! :)

Love Élder Matthew Thatcher <3

 S

                 

 I love you <3 good night <3  -Katherine <3 

P.S. think  of Dory from Finding Nemo & her whale talk when you read this: "come baaaaack" hehe, bye :3 have fun in Bolivia! <3

 

That´s great Katherine! How´s  your times been?? Have you gotten faster??  I think you all have my address in the mission package! I´m glad you are enjoying high school and doing sports they are great memories even if some of the days kinda suck.

 But thanks for DORY YOU MADE MY WEEK!

 I´ll try and send pictures of my first area when I get to  Bolivia! I LOVE YOU TOO!!! <3

I can´t wait to hear all your crazy stories! Goodnight!! Computer HUG! actually hug the screen! Ok I have to go BYE!!! <3

-Matthew <3 Élder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

1st email from the Mission field

Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission

November 5, 2013

     Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't  get to call the phone wasn't working for me but Christmas isn't  far away so

 It´ll be okay!

      I´m having a great time in Bolivia I already have so many teaching appointments with my trainer!

  He´s been out for 21 months! His name is Elder Cordova! I can understand most of what he says  and can usually reply! But it is great to be out in the field! I´m so excited to hear more from you all! 

     I also was told by the assistants to the president that the safest way to send stuff is through normal post office. And send it in a pouch because  other wise they will most likely search through the box. I hope everything is going well! And I can´t wait to hear more from everyone talk you you soon!!

     I will send the address next week since I don´t have it on me right now but I´ll let you know asap!

Love you more!!

Love,

  Élder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

Fifth email for the Colombia MTC

 Tuesday October 22,2013

      Hey Family! I had an amazing past  few days! Today was great we got to see some of Bogota and take a bunch of pictures! I´ll send them next week! The work has been going great out here. Tomorrow I get a Latin companion!  I can´t believe
 it´s been 4 weeks!  Oh just to let you know they moved up the day that I´ll be leaving for Bolivia! I´m leaving next  Friday!! It´s going to be great !

      OH I almost forgot that we had a member of one of the 70´s come and speak to us. Along with the general primary president, and one of the councelors for the general relief society president speak with us as well! Sister Wixon was the general primary president. She was the mission mom of the Washington DC south mission from 2006 to 2008.  She said she had an Élder Thatcher from Arizona serve during that time. Do we have any Thatcher´s in Arizona that served in our home mission? Oh and my Mission President grew up in Virginia when Manassas was still cow fields and battlefields. He was in VA last year in Leesburg for a baptism of one of his relatives! It´s crazy to see how there are so many connections that we never knew about! Alright well I have to go so I´ll talk to you all more next week! Thanks for everything!

              LOVE,

                         Élder Thatcher

     Katherine makes a great Alice!! I'm so glad everyone is doing so well! The spirit at the house must be so great! I´m so proud of Kim! Tell her that I miss her and I´m so excited to hear how she´s going! Let Jazzy know I´m excited for her and to have a great senior year! Tell Grandma & Grandpa I love them too! The temple has been great! I´m actually understanding it in spanish! :DI hope homework goes well with Spencer! I have to go now but It´s been great to hear from you all!! :D LOVE,            Élder Thatcher



  
Dad,                                                                          Friday October 19, 2013

       I´m glad everything is going so well!! I can´t wait to hear about all the crazy stories while I´m gone! I´m glad you got that job It´ll be great!! Is Alan  Scott looking into getting a job at the airport still? If you send a package you´re gonna want to put virgin Mary stickers on everything and it won´t get stolen because the people down here are very superstitious or religious and think they will be cursed if they take anything with that picture on it!  That job is just an extra strength for me thanks for letting me know! I hope you guys have a good holiday season without me! Let me know what the kids decide to be for Halloween :)

But everything is going well in the MTC, other than the sickness from a few days ago literally everyone but 3 people in my district were vomiting. Most of the other missionaries were also sick. I was blessed enough to not get sick! Oh just to let you know I sent out 4 letters and it cost $22, I sent one to the house for you guys to give to Amy because I didn't have her address to send it to. Thanks for letting me know how things are going. 

I´ll keep in touch and try to stay in good shape! :)Let me know how Tyler and BYU do while I´m gone! I met a missionary that is planning on running there after his mission and he has some good times so I already know one of my team mates for when I get there! Alright I think I´m done talking! Love you Dad make sure you keep your temple goal!  Don´t make me sound stupid in the monthly reports ha ha.

Love, Elder Thatcher :)

Elder Matthew Thatcher

Fourth email from the Columbia MTC

October 18th 2013

    
     The photos were great and I´ll have plenty of photos to send next time!! My next p-day will be Tuesday, this week it was late! I´m so glad that all this missionary work is happening in the home!! I can´t wait to hear about Jazzy and her mom! I´m so glad everything is going well!! Thanks for all the love and great stories to get me through the week!! I´m not getting distracted from worrying and I´m not worrying too much xD

    
     I´ll keep the Jones in my prayers!! I get a Latin companion on Wednesday, and then only 2 weeks until I get in the field! I haven´t shopped yet, though I spent $22 dollars on sending letters. So I´m doing great! On Tuesday I get to tour Bogota and I´ll take lots of pics! I´m glad that everyone is having so much fun while I´m out here!! The new missionaries are doing great! We are having a blast!! Thanks for everything! I went tracting again and gave a couple of Book of Mormon and they wanted us to call them back! Éverything is great and I can´t wait to hear more from the family! Love you all soo much!! Talk to you soon. 

                                                                
                                                       LOVE, Élder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

Third email from the Colombia MTC

October 8th, 2013

     Everything is going great!! Tracting went well, we had 4 street contacts and we got all of their numbers!! I´m glad everything is going so well at home!! I can´t wait for the call/Skype either!! I can´t wait to see how´ve they grown!! All the Latinos left last night and we are getting more tomorrow!! It´s crazy how fast time is going here!! The language is coming great! I can carry on some pretty good conversations in Spanish now!! I´m glad Katherine is running I hope she´s having fun with it too! I can´t wait to hear how the genius Thatcher´s do in school!! haha I´m glad they are actually sleeping now! 
    
     All I can say is go for whatever goal you have  and never give up because it´ll be worth it in the end!! Conference was great and the spirit here is amazing!! It´s like living at a temple! But it´s a little noisier with all the Elders here haha! Thanks for all the prayers I´m praying for you guys too!!
    
     I hope that everything is going well and that dad has a bunch of jobs! I can´t wait to here back from you all! How´s my room looking with me gone have you packed anything up yet??? I´m running out of time but I want you to know that I love you guys and hope everything is going well! If you can get one package to me with some of those newer vanilla power bars and some assorted candy that´d be great but if not, I understand!! Oh and tell dad that I´m pretty sure that I´m running 6.30 or 7.00 pace even at 9,000ft elevation! :)

I can´t wait to here back from you!!

                                                           Love,

                                                                      Your son, Élder Thatcher

 

     SPENCER!!! Thanks for all the compliments!! I miss you and all your craziness!! I hope you and Katherine are having fun and not trying to kill each other!! I love you! I´ll let you know as soon as something happens!!!! Have fun in Virginia and have do good in school! I hope you don´t grow too much when I´m gone because that´d just be weird xD Remember to not leave dishes in the basement!! Make sure you do your homework before you get sucked into Minecraft okay! hahaha

    

     But seriously I miss you and hope everything is going well!! :) Try to get mom to send me chocolate haha, just kidding I already talked to her :) I can´t wait to here back from you! I won´t ever forget you either! I hope you guys watch some good Disney movies for me :)

 

                                                              LOVE,

                                                                     Élder Matthew Thatcher, Your big brother!

 

 

     Hahahahaha Katherine I miss you too!! You are awesome!! I know you are going to be great in school!(if you actually do your work XD) I´d love to come home and see you but I can´t! I´m doing pretty good out here make sure that you get me chocolate because the stuff they have here is not real chocolate it´s fake!! XD

    

     I´m glad you said no because no boys need to be dating my sister when I´m gone!! :) If you have any troubles with boys get Alan to take care of that XD

    

     I can´t wait to here from you again!! I hope you and spencer aren´t killing each other and that you and dad aren´t fighting every morning about seminary! If anything is going on tell me and I´ll talk to you!! I love you soooooo much and can´t wait to see my super model sister all grown up! But if you are to good looking I´m going to have to go everywhere with you XD I love you and miss you!! Even your blonde moments!! Stay out of trouble and in school!! haha but seriously try to be happy at home and eat mom´s food because the stuff down here is all greasy and kinda weird tasting xD

Again Iove you SOOOOOO MUCH!!! <3 I´ll talk to you in a week!! :)

                             

                                 LOVE,

                                           Your Best Brother!!! <3

                                               And neighbor when we move out XD

Elder Matthew Thatcher

Second email from the Columbia MTC

October 2nd, 2013

     Hey everyone, the MTC is great! I get to go tracting for the first time this Friday!! It´s so exciting to be here and to learn so much! I already have my second companion, and I included a picture of my district in the email for you all to see. I can´t believe it´s already been a week! My first companion, Elder Groberg, is now district leader and my current companion is Elder Sevy! Bogota is great, but I could do without the crazy drivers when we went to the temple today!

     It´s really great down here but I never knew how much I loved you all before I left! I can´t wait to tell you about all my adventures in South America! Tell Katherine and Spencer to try and get along for me! I miss everyone, but I´m really excited to be here! Tell Katherine and Spencer that I love them and hope that they a doing okay without me! I know they are going to be so grown up when I get back, but tell them not to change too much! Tell Katherine to send the bear! It´s been a little draining here but very rewarding! I can´t wait to hear back from all of you! Tell all the kids to email me!

     The food here is pretty good, but I´d definitely love one of your home cooked meals! I think I´m going to need some extra workout clothes, but other than that I think I´ll be okay! Oh, and I should probably let dad know that I´ve run almost everyday since I´ve been here! Tell Katherine to keep me updated on her running and whatever else she wants to talk about! I hope everything is still going well! I can´t wait to call or Skype you guys at Christmas. By the way, I think some friends might be trying to come over if I can Skype! xD

     

     I´m  glad everyone is doing well! If you guys are going to send me a package I´d definitely appreciate power bars and chocolate or some other snacks! Once again, I love all of you so much and can´t wait to hear from you! Mom and Dad, thanks for being such great parents! Try not to be to hard on Katherine and Spencer when they act up! Make sure Katherine knows I actually miss her 10,000 hugs before bed each night! You should all have a family Disney movie night for me while I´m gone. xD

 

     If anything big happens while I´m gone make sure to let me know! You all are in my prayers! Tell Alan and Nathan to stay out of trouble for me and make sure they beat up the boys that try to flirt with Katherine! I have to go now, but I seriously love you all sooo much!!! I can´t wait to talk to you all again!

                                                                                                                     

Love Elder Thatcher

Elder Matthew Thatcher

First email from the Colombia MTC

September 25th, 2013 

     I had a great first day at the MTC, the people are great! The language is already coming better than I expected. I can't wait to learn even more, it's great here. I love and miss all of you! I was limited on my time so I'll talk to you more next week. I hope that everything is going well at home.

Love, Elder Thatcher

At the airport before the MTC. (Katherine, Matthew, Spencer, and Alan Scott Thatcher) September 24th, 2013