Probably our last letter........so sad!!!

5/6/09
The time continues to get short but it feels like this is how it is supposed to be. Life has been a little crazy lately. We started off this transfer like normal with driving the transfer train and getting everyone settled in. Elder Jennings and I split up and I went to the Bismarck zone for a week then to Fargo for a week and then I was in Sioux Falls for a weekend with plans to ride the bus on Monday to go back to Rapid to start the zone conference tour. On Saturday night Elder Jennings called. He was crying and said "man I think I'm going home". My first thought was what did you get yourself into these past two weeks. I was thinking that he had done something wrong. He then proceeded to tell me that his dad was really sick and President and Sister Cannon had just told him. His dad has pancreatic cancer that has now moved into his liver. They don't think he has long to live. Right after that President called and told me the same thing. He said to leave for Rapid as soon as possible so on Sunday I skipped church and got on a bus and headed for Rapid. It is about a six hour ride but I don't mind a bus ride, it's pretty relaxing. I got into Rapid at about 6:00 p.m. Elder Jennings picked me up. He was doing a little better at this point. I think I was more upset thinking that I was going to lose my companion for my last month, selfish I know. We spent some time in Rapid as he and President decided what he should do. On Tuesday we had zone conference in Rapid. Tuesday night they made the final decision to send him home on Thursday. On Wednesday we had to leave for Bismarck. We had conference there on Thursday. On Wednesday, Elder Jennings, Elder Clark and I went to Mount Rushmore at 5:30 in the morning. That was an awesome experience. We were the only ones there. The sun was just coming up and there was a little fog. It was way cool. Rushmore is an a mazing place and when you are the only ones there it is even better. We spent about an hour there then went back to Rapid to leave. We said goodbye to Elder Jennings then headed for Bismarck. I followed President and Sister Cannon in my car because we had so much stuff to haul. With supplies and hitches. The church has come out with a policy that all mission vehicles have to have receiver hitches and bike racks to go on the hitches. Somehow I adopted that responsibility to get those on all 49 cars in the mission. That has been a project. On Thursday we had Bismarck then right after that on Thursday we left for Fargo. Their conference started on Friday. We then spent the weekend in Fargo this was my last time there. That was hard. I think I really grew to love the town and the people. I was glad I could go to church there one last time. On Monday we left for Sioux Falls. Their conference was on Tuesday and that was my last conference. The Sioux Falls zone has been struggling so President wants me to stay here rather than going to the two Wyoming conferences so I will be in this zone for the next two weeks. I hope to make it to Huron for church before I leave and that will be a good experience. That is about what I have been up to. It has been flying by I guess I will be talking to all of you this Sunday for Mothers Day and will be seeing all of you soon. Thank you all for everything you have done in supporting me. Love Elder Robison
Matt didn't write on any of the pictures so I will try to figure them out from his letters
He went to a reptile museum. I am surprised he would have his picture taken with this snake. He hates snakes

Mount Rushmore at 5:30 a.m.

I think this is Matt saying goodbye in Fargo.