Hello all!
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all gorge yourselves on Turkey and pie! I'm going to try to make a pumpkin pie this Wednesday for our district meeting. I think I'll be all right since I'm using a pre-made crust. (It was conveniently in the freezer when I got here. Libby's Pumpkin Pie Filling, too! But that was in the cupboard, not the freezer.)
Since I'm a big fan of lists AND I've been trying to find ways to liven up these weekly emails, I thought I'd give you a TOP 5 OCCURRENCES OF THE PAST WEEK IN OSCODA AS PRESENTED BY ELDER JOSEPH CLOWARD!
5. We're getting better at talking to people. Elder Valentine and I are two new missionaries who have not been doing a great job of talking to everyone like we should. BUT we've been getting better! We're still not having as many "Quality Gospel Conversations" as Elder Maynes challenged us to have while he was touring the mission but we're working on it. Improvement is always encouraging.
4. It's been a little warmer the past couple of days!
3. We committed a long-time investigator to once again work toward baptism. He wanted to be baptized last year but every time he set a date it fell through for one reason or another. We'll see if he will really make this a goal he will work toward but if he does I am excited to see him make the necessary changes in his life. He has a two-year old daughter who would be greatly blessed by his becoming a more responsible father.
2. We have been working with a man who was baptized several years ago but who had stopped being active in the church. After joining the church his health and the health of several of his family members rapidly declined and he told us that he was angry at God for punishing him when he was doing the right things. Two weeks ago, both of his kidneys failed and the experience has definitely humbled him. Now, I had been praying throughout the day yesterday that I might be able to be the answer to someone's prayer. When we stopped by his home last night he told us he had been praying all day that we would stop by. He seemed entirely different from when I had talked with him before. He told us he needed to make a change in his life and that we would see him at church this next Sunday. Fantastic!
1. Our three new investigators (the three younger sisters of a recent convert) are golden! We taught them the Plan of Salvation this last week, which they really enjoyed. They've read out of the Book of Mormon and came to church yesterday with their oldest sister.
Being a missionary is so much fun! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
Love,
Elder Cloward
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
More Thermals Please!
Hello all!
I've decided my emails need a bit of spicing up. I fear they're getting a little same-y and that would be unfortunately boring. Because boring the life of a missionary isn't! So today I'll give you a bit of the Good, the Bad, and the Strange of Oscoda, MI.
The Good: Three new investigators! This past Thursday, Elder Valentine and I taught the three sisters of a recent convert the message of the restoration. It was my first time really doing that, so I was really excited. We met them at a member family's home for dinner at 5:30. The food was delicious and the conversation, though not exceptionally lively, was fun. Our lesson, however, went oh so well! I felt very comfortable as we were teaching, the girls asked questions and participated, the member family was extremely helpful, and the Spirit was incredibly strong. I felt like leaping for joy I felt so good! The three sisters all seemed very excited to read from the Book of Mormon for themselves and agreed to pray about it. We'll be seeing them again this next Thursday; I'm extremely optimistic.
The Bad: It's cold in the winter and we've been doing a lot of walking. Really. A! Lot! Of! Walking! We're only allowed to use 1250 miles/month on our car and we've already used over 900, notwithstanding we have at least one more 120-mile round trip to make for district meeting this Wednesday. We can't be blamed for using up our miles, though; we lost over 300 of them the first day we had the car because it had to be driven from Grand Rapids to Mt. Pleasant and then to Oscoda. Plus, we have to go to West Branch (60 miles away) for district meeting once a week and we have significant amounts of work to do in Tawas (15 miles away) and Hale (30 miles away), where we teach our three new investigators. So, we've been spending every day in Oscoda we can. Walking. We walked 30 minutes to church yesterday, an hour to do our home teaching, 45 minutes to visit a less-active sister and this all in dress shoes! I suppose I should quit my whining. It hasn't snowed and stuck yet. And at least I have legs; it would be harder without them!
The Strange: We stopped by the home of a contact we have. He wasn't home but some teenage boy was. We asked him to tell our contact that the missionaries had stopped by. As we were walking away, he popped back out of the house: "Wait. Like, the missionaries that kill people?"
I was totally confused. Luckily, Elder Valentine recognized his mistake. "Oh, uh, no, I think those are mercenaries."
"Oh. Right. Well, seeya!"
Those crazy Michiganders ...
Anyway, all is well in Oscoda. I think I'm slowly but surely improving as I strive to work harder, be more obedient, and do more to leave my comfort zone. Being a missionary is pretty much basically a good thing. For sure!
Love you all,
Elder Cloward
I've decided my emails need a bit of spicing up. I fear they're getting a little same-y and that would be unfortunately boring. Because boring the life of a missionary isn't! So today I'll give you a bit of the Good, the Bad, and the Strange of Oscoda, MI.
The Good: Three new investigators! This past Thursday, Elder Valentine and I taught the three sisters of a recent convert the message of the restoration. It was my first time really doing that, so I was really excited. We met them at a member family's home for dinner at 5:30. The food was delicious and the conversation, though not exceptionally lively, was fun. Our lesson, however, went oh so well! I felt very comfortable as we were teaching, the girls asked questions and participated, the member family was extremely helpful, and the Spirit was incredibly strong. I felt like leaping for joy I felt so good! The three sisters all seemed very excited to read from the Book of Mormon for themselves and agreed to pray about it. We'll be seeing them again this next Thursday; I'm extremely optimistic.
The Bad: It's cold in the winter and we've been doing a lot of walking. Really. A! Lot! Of! Walking! We're only allowed to use 1250 miles/month on our car and we've already used over 900, notwithstanding we have at least one more 120-mile round trip to make for district meeting this Wednesday. We can't be blamed for using up our miles, though; we lost over 300 of them the first day we had the car because it had to be driven from Grand Rapids to Mt. Pleasant and then to Oscoda. Plus, we have to go to West Branch (60 miles away) for district meeting once a week and we have significant amounts of work to do in Tawas (15 miles away) and Hale (30 miles away), where we teach our three new investigators. So, we've been spending every day in Oscoda we can. Walking. We walked 30 minutes to church yesterday, an hour to do our home teaching, 45 minutes to visit a less-active sister and this all in dress shoes! I suppose I should quit my whining. It hasn't snowed and stuck yet. And at least I have legs; it would be harder without them!
The Strange: We stopped by the home of a contact we have. He wasn't home but some teenage boy was. We asked him to tell our contact that the missionaries had stopped by. As we were walking away, he popped back out of the house: "Wait. Like, the missionaries that kill people?"
I was totally confused. Luckily, Elder Valentine recognized his mistake. "Oh, uh, no, I think those are mercenaries."
"Oh. Right. Well, seeya!"
Those crazy Michiganders ...
Anyway, all is well in Oscoda. I think I'm slowly but surely improving as I strive to work harder, be more obedient, and do more to leave my comfort zone. Being a missionary is pretty much basically a good thing. For sure!
Love you all,
Elder Cloward
Monday, November 10, 2008
It Snows Less Here!!
Greetings from Oscoda, MI!
This has been an eventful week, getting to know a new area with new people and a new companion. Tuesday morning we drove down to Mt. Pleasant, where Elder Williams picked up Elder Johansson and I met up with Elder Valentine. Since Elder Valentine doesn't have driving privileges yet, I drove and he navigated our way back to Oscoda. (Because he hasn't been driving, Elder Valentine doesn't know his way around as well as I would maybe like, so we've been making a lot of U-turns.)
Oscoda is nice. It's not Petoskey-nice, but it's still nice. Lake Huron isn't as pretty as Lake Michigan, but it's still pretty. Our apartment is nicer than the one in Petoskey but not as clean. I'm working on that. I think Oscoda is about the same size as Petoskey, but our area is much wider. If you're looking at a map
View Larger Mapour area covers Tawas City and goes all the way down to almost Standish (b). It goes West past Hale(c) and North past Harrisville(d). Anyway, we've got a lot more driving to do and less allotted driving miles than we did in Petoskey. It sounds like I may have a walking winter. Thankfully, Oscoda gets very little snow in comparison to the rest of Michigan, and especially Petoskey, which is up in the "snow belt". Unless they get a Noreaster, the lake effect is felt on the opposite shore. Wahoo!
Elder Valentine is from Benicia, California, in the Greater Bay Area. He's been in Oscoda since August, although he spent the last six weeks working in a threesome in both Oscoda and West branch because an elder was sent home early and some elders were moved around. He left on a mission straight out of high school, where he played football and basketball. He's fourth out of five boys in his family; one of his older brothers has served a mission. I'm excited to work with him because he is extremely intent on being an obedient and diligent missionary. Our combined lack of experience is, at times, embarrassingly evident, but I suppose this is as good a time as any to learn to allow the grace of God to make up for our inadequacies. I don't think I enjoy the experience of learning a new area. It's nice to meet so many new people, but it's difficult to dive in and start teaching them when I don't fully understand what they have previously been taught or what their prior experiences with the missionaries or with the church have been. We have four or five investigators, but all of them are pretty stagnant. They've been taught all the missionary lessons and, for the most part, read the Book of Mormon regularly but none of them are actively attending church or preparing for baptism. As I meet them, I suppose we'll have to figure out what it is they really want.
This last weekend was Stake Conference down in Midland. As nice as these large conferences are, I'm really ready for a Sacrament meeting, which I haven't attended in 2 weeks. It was fun to meet all the elders in our zone. I think we may very well have the youngest zone in the mission. Among the six of us that spent the night in one of the Midland apartments, we didn't even have two years of experience. Many of the other elders in our zone have only been out a year or so and another companionship is in the same boat as Elder Valentine and me. Sunday morning we had interviews with President Jones. I was very appreciative that he spent a little more time with us than last month. He told us that he had felt strongly impressed to put so many young elders together in our areas and that if we will learn to work by faith, trusting completely in the Lord, He will bless us to find, teach, and baptize. I'll do my best.
When is the BYU-Utah game? I want to try to watch it with some members. I've been getting regular updates on BYU's games from members - that TCU loss made me so sad, especially since Elder Williams is a Utah fan and rubbed it in lots.
Anyways, I like Oscoda, or at least I'm happy to be here. I'm excited to work more and harder than I have thus far. I love you all and I hope things are going well.
Love,Elder Cloward
This has been an eventful week, getting to know a new area with new people and a new companion. Tuesday morning we drove down to Mt. Pleasant, where Elder Williams picked up Elder Johansson and I met up with Elder Valentine. Since Elder Valentine doesn't have driving privileges yet, I drove and he navigated our way back to Oscoda. (Because he hasn't been driving, Elder Valentine doesn't know his way around as well as I would maybe like, so we've been making a lot of U-turns.)
Oscoda is nice. It's not Petoskey-nice, but it's still nice. Lake Huron isn't as pretty as Lake Michigan, but it's still pretty. Our apartment is nicer than the one in Petoskey but not as clean. I'm working on that. I think Oscoda is about the same size as Petoskey, but our area is much wider. If you're looking at a map
View Larger Mapour area covers Tawas City and goes all the way down to almost Standish (b). It goes West past Hale(c) and North past Harrisville(d). Anyway, we've got a lot more driving to do and less allotted driving miles than we did in Petoskey. It sounds like I may have a walking winter. Thankfully, Oscoda gets very little snow in comparison to the rest of Michigan, and especially Petoskey, which is up in the "snow belt". Unless they get a Noreaster, the lake effect is felt on the opposite shore. Wahoo!
Elder Valentine is from Benicia, California, in the Greater Bay Area. He's been in Oscoda since August, although he spent the last six weeks working in a threesome in both Oscoda and West branch because an elder was sent home early and some elders were moved around. He left on a mission straight out of high school, where he played football and basketball. He's fourth out of five boys in his family; one of his older brothers has served a mission. I'm excited to work with him because he is extremely intent on being an obedient and diligent missionary. Our combined lack of experience is, at times, embarrassingly evident, but I suppose this is as good a time as any to learn to allow the grace of God to make up for our inadequacies. I don't think I enjoy the experience of learning a new area. It's nice to meet so many new people, but it's difficult to dive in and start teaching them when I don't fully understand what they have previously been taught or what their prior experiences with the missionaries or with the church have been. We have four or five investigators, but all of them are pretty stagnant. They've been taught all the missionary lessons and, for the most part, read the Book of Mormon regularly but none of them are actively attending church or preparing for baptism. As I meet them, I suppose we'll have to figure out what it is they really want.
This last weekend was Stake Conference down in Midland. As nice as these large conferences are, I'm really ready for a Sacrament meeting, which I haven't attended in 2 weeks. It was fun to meet all the elders in our zone. I think we may very well have the youngest zone in the mission. Among the six of us that spent the night in one of the Midland apartments, we didn't even have two years of experience. Many of the other elders in our zone have only been out a year or so and another companionship is in the same boat as Elder Valentine and me. Sunday morning we had interviews with President Jones. I was very appreciative that he spent a little more time with us than last month. He told us that he had felt strongly impressed to put so many young elders together in our areas and that if we will learn to work by faith, trusting completely in the Lord, He will bless us to find, teach, and baptize. I'll do my best.
When is the BYU-Utah game? I want to try to watch it with some members. I've been getting regular updates on BYU's games from members - that TCU loss made me so sad, especially since Elder Williams is a Utah fan and rubbed it in lots.
Anyways, I like Oscoda, or at least I'm happy to be here. I'm excited to work more and harder than I have thus far. I love you all and I hope things are going well.
Love,Elder Cloward
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Petoscoda
e-mail sent Nov. 3, 2008
Hello everyone!
I love you all and miss you but I am still loving Michigan! The mission fieldis definitely the place to be. The week started out just like any other. Actually, it was probably more boringthan the average week, we didn't really accomplish very much. Thursday night wedid get started with the piano lessons. We had four members there for thelesson and one non-member - he's an exchange student who came with one of themembers. I thought it went pretty well; everyone seemed excited to keeplearning and had plans to tell more friends about the program.
Friday was Halloween, of course, but much more importantly to missionaries inthe MLM, it was transfer-call day. Elder Williams and I both planned on stayingfor another transfer together in Petoskey, since that's frequently how thingsare done. When the zone leaders call in the morning (sometime before 10), youknow that there won't be any changes to your area. Well, we waited around inthe apartment (since we weren't allowed to go anywhere before we got our call)but the zone leaders never called. That wasn't so bad, I thought, it will befun to get a new companion and show him around Petoskey, being almost in-chargesince I know what's going on. Around 1 we did get our call from President Jones and - SHOCKER - I'm the onebeing transferred! Elder Williams is staying in Petoskey (for his thirdtransfer here) and his new companion will be Elder Johansson, who was mycompanion in the MTC. Elder Johansson just spent the last month and half downin Grand Rapids but the lucky dog gets to come spend some time in the celestialkingdom (as President Jones calls it). I'm still hopeful I'll get a little moretime here. If not, I suppose I can always rent a summer home here during themillennium.
I am headed off to Oscoda, a small town on the shores of Lake Huron. I hear theapartment is nice and big AND it has its own washer and dryer (YES!). The areais bigger than Petoskey's and the people are more spread out, but they say it'sa beautiful area, even if not quite as nice as Petoskey (it really doesn't getany better than this). The most surprising news in all of this, however, isthat my companion will be Elder Valentine, who has only been out for twotransfers. Between the two of us we'll only have four and a half months ofexperience. I'm a little bit nervous about it but I'm far more excited thananything. It will be nice to work with someone who hasn't yet absorbed theculture and attitude of the mission and with whom I can learn and experimentfairly freely. I'm glad that President Jones trusts us enough to place ustogether (and I really hope that trust isn't misplaced). Anyway, I'm off to Mt.Pleasant early tomorrow morning, from whence I will head back North to Oscodawith Elder Valentine.
This last Saturday and Sunday we spent down in Kalkaska because of districtconference. We drove down to Kalkaska Friday night, spent Saturday with six ofthe other elders in the zone (playing frisbee golf, which is actually prettyfun) and then went to the adult session of the conference Saturday night. Afterthe general session Sunday morning we headed back to Kalkaska and then back toPetoskey. The conference was really good. My favorite speaker was probably theTemple Matron from the Detroit Temple, Sister Schilling (sp?), who testified ofeternal families. I'm so glad to know I can be with my family forever and thatI can help other families be sealed together as I share with them the gospel ofJesus Christ. The plan our Heavenly Father has for us is perfect!I'm grateful to be a missionary! I have more opportunities to learn and growthan I have ever had in my life! I'm doing my best to use every minute of thistime I've been given.
Life is short; make the most of it!
Love always,Elder Cloward
Hello everyone!
I love you all and miss you but I am still loving Michigan! The mission fieldis definitely the place to be. The week started out just like any other. Actually, it was probably more boringthan the average week, we didn't really accomplish very much. Thursday night wedid get started with the piano lessons. We had four members there for thelesson and one non-member - he's an exchange student who came with one of themembers. I thought it went pretty well; everyone seemed excited to keeplearning and had plans to tell more friends about the program.
Friday was Halloween, of course, but much more importantly to missionaries inthe MLM, it was transfer-call day. Elder Williams and I both planned on stayingfor another transfer together in Petoskey, since that's frequently how thingsare done. When the zone leaders call in the morning (sometime before 10), youknow that there won't be any changes to your area. Well, we waited around inthe apartment (since we weren't allowed to go anywhere before we got our call)but the zone leaders never called. That wasn't so bad, I thought, it will befun to get a new companion and show him around Petoskey, being almost in-chargesince I know what's going on. Around 1 we did get our call from President Jones and - SHOCKER - I'm the onebeing transferred! Elder Williams is staying in Petoskey (for his thirdtransfer here) and his new companion will be Elder Johansson, who was mycompanion in the MTC. Elder Johansson just spent the last month and half downin Grand Rapids but the lucky dog gets to come spend some time in the celestialkingdom (as President Jones calls it). I'm still hopeful I'll get a little moretime here. If not, I suppose I can always rent a summer home here during themillennium.
I am headed off to Oscoda, a small town on the shores of Lake Huron. I hear theapartment is nice and big AND it has its own washer and dryer (YES!). The areais bigger than Petoskey's and the people are more spread out, but they say it'sa beautiful area, even if not quite as nice as Petoskey (it really doesn't getany better than this). The most surprising news in all of this, however, isthat my companion will be Elder Valentine, who has only been out for twotransfers. Between the two of us we'll only have four and a half months ofexperience. I'm a little bit nervous about it but I'm far more excited thananything. It will be nice to work with someone who hasn't yet absorbed theculture and attitude of the mission and with whom I can learn and experimentfairly freely. I'm glad that President Jones trusts us enough to place ustogether (and I really hope that trust isn't misplaced). Anyway, I'm off to Mt.Pleasant early tomorrow morning, from whence I will head back North to Oscodawith Elder Valentine.
This last Saturday and Sunday we spent down in Kalkaska because of districtconference. We drove down to Kalkaska Friday night, spent Saturday with six ofthe other elders in the zone (playing frisbee golf, which is actually prettyfun) and then went to the adult session of the conference Saturday night. Afterthe general session Sunday morning we headed back to Kalkaska and then back toPetoskey. The conference was really good. My favorite speaker was probably theTemple Matron from the Detroit Temple, Sister Schilling (sp?), who testified ofeternal families. I'm so glad to know I can be with my family forever and thatI can help other families be sealed together as I share with them the gospel ofJesus Christ. The plan our Heavenly Father has for us is perfect!I'm grateful to be a missionary! I have more opportunities to learn and growthan I have ever had in my life! I'm doing my best to use every minute of thistime I've been given.
Life is short; make the most of it!
Love always,Elder Cloward
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