Hello family! It's good to sit down and write a bit again. This past week has been pretty interesting, so I've got quite a bit to write ya about!
First off; I'm suffering some of the side-effects of being an English Spanish missionary in Taft. The other day, as we left a Mexican family, I shouted "Ya'll que tengan bien dia!" 
Elder Nalder was laughing his head off for the next ten minutes! It's hilarious when we wind up mixing the languages.
The work this week has been great, but still a bit tough to actually find people at home. I guess that's how it's going to go for a while. The sacrament meeting talk yesterday was on patience; and both Elder Nalder and I recognized our need for it. As long as we keep doing our part, the Lord will provide guidance to people who are ready. It can be a bit hard to accept that and feel successful at the same time, but we'll do it! D&C 31 helped me know that if I work my hardest, "the laborer is worthy of his hire."
We've found a lot of really super cool places lately though! We've seen apartments that probably cost more to rent than a bad house payment, houses that make the apartment complexes look small, and a part of town called "The Knolls" I really think I want to retire there. I'll have to take some pictures. The houses in that section of town are super weird; none of them are a standard house. The roads are tiny, winding mountain roads that barely let our little car by. It's super forest-y and downright beautiful, and there's a bunch of Peacocks wandering around. We got lost up there looking for a referral from the media missionaries at the MTC, who apparently asked for the lessons and wants to be baptized! The only problem is the missionaries haven't been able to find her for a while; the message we got was way confusing. We think we know where she's at now though; the only problem is it's in a gated-community. Wish us luck!
It sounds like this week's been pretty nuts for you all. I hope it's all going well and that the work isn't killing you guys to badly. Hopefully the van get's worked out. I hope Dad travels safe, that Brittney and Danielle rock the school as usual, and that Mom has a little more peace and calm.
Love,
Elder Matthew David Clough
