Longest letter I have gotten!! Four family letters in one envelope!!

Matt wrote some more letters and we received them today. They seem to get here very fast! He dated mine 06/29-that's only 2 days! :o)

He says letters are very encouraging. Matthew expressed that it's getting hard after having lost initial drill, which as I understand it was a competition between his platoon and another in the company, (They are working harder as a consequence of losing.) and the fourth week as the Marines count it, beginning yesterday. As hard as it has been, he sounds like he is clear headed and he understands what needs to be done. He gets free time at night and on Sunday mornings.
He seems very homesick, having mentioned a few times that he wanted to be home and missed us all. He would like to talk to us, not just write.

Please pray for thick skin as he said that he "need(s) to thicken it real quick."

They get a haircut every week and sleep 90 guys in barracks-each has the same bed every night. Guys are there from all over the country, he says, which he added a smiley after. And he said there are several believers. He is one of two prayer leaders, it sounds like, and he plans to talk over some of his struggles with the other guy who leads prayer. He feels demoralized over "to never do something right". That sounds like BIG discouragement. Please pray for him to cry out to God and seek Him first and that God would go before him to bring him strength and victory.

His bad ankle is fine since he has to wear combat boots every day.
He adds that he is not thinking he has made a mistake. He knows this is what God called him to.

Praise God that He has hold of my son's heart!

Miss you so much, my man-son!