Hey all,
Sorry - I've only got time for a quick note again. Bay City is pretty good so far. There are a lot of people here who are progressing toward baptism. Being a zone leader is a little different - lots more planning, paperwork, and phone calls. I'll have to update you more on it next week.
Love you all,
Elder Cloward
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Transferred!
Hi all!
Well, transfer calls were sad even if unsurprising. I'll have to make this a quick email because I've still got to pack (!!) and we're driving to Grand Rapids in 4 hours. We'll see how that goes. I'm managing to collect a lot more stuff in each area. Somehow, I don't think it's all going to fit in my suitcases. (I can't decide for sure if I'm going to take my rolling pin or not. How else will I make delicious pies and pastries?)
Anyway, I'm heading off to Bay City over on Saginaw Bay. I'm glad to be keeping with my pattern of bouncing back and forth between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. I've spent a year without living farther than 10 miles from one of the great lakes. Kind of nifty.
And, since I know President Jones is going to send you a letter anyway, I might as well not forget to mention that I'll be a zone leader for the Midland zone. I'm not sure I really want to be a zone leader (I guess I'll do it whether I like it or not) but I am excited to go on trade-offs in Oscoda, where Elder McKinnon is currently serving as a district leader. It'll be great to see everybody there again - or at least a few of them :).
This week was pretty good. Our Spanish friends didn't come to church but we visited them later in the afternoon and learned they had all been picking peaches while church was happening. Speaking of Spanish, the area will finally be getting a Spanish elder - Elder Patino, who came out the same transfer I did. It'll be awesome for the area.
The best news of the week came yesterday when another of our investigators made it to church. He's progressing really well and praying about a baptismal date. So now we have two investigators who will -hopefully- be regulars in Sacrament meeting. What a great branch to begin attending. I'll miss the Hart Branch dearly. They gave me some things to remember them by, at least for a day or two - the Longcores gave me freshly picked pears to take and Sis. Myers made me pumpkin whoopie pies for the road! Yum!
Love you all,
Elder Cloward
Well, transfer calls were sad even if unsurprising. I'll have to make this a quick email because I've still got to pack (!!) and we're driving to Grand Rapids in 4 hours. We'll see how that goes. I'm managing to collect a lot more stuff in each area. Somehow, I don't think it's all going to fit in my suitcases. (I can't decide for sure if I'm going to take my rolling pin or not. How else will I make delicious pies and pastries?)
Anyway, I'm heading off to Bay City over on Saginaw Bay. I'm glad to be keeping with my pattern of bouncing back and forth between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. I've spent a year without living farther than 10 miles from one of the great lakes. Kind of nifty.
And, since I know President Jones is going to send you a letter anyway, I might as well not forget to mention that I'll be a zone leader for the Midland zone. I'm not sure I really want to be a zone leader (I guess I'll do it whether I like it or not) but I am excited to go on trade-offs in Oscoda, where Elder McKinnon is currently serving as a district leader. It'll be great to see everybody there again - or at least a few of them :).
This week was pretty good. Our Spanish friends didn't come to church but we visited them later in the afternoon and learned they had all been picking peaches while church was happening. Speaking of Spanish, the area will finally be getting a Spanish elder - Elder Patino, who came out the same transfer I did. It'll be awesome for the area.
The best news of the week came yesterday when another of our investigators made it to church. He's progressing really well and praying about a baptismal date. So now we have two investigators who will -hopefully- be regulars in Sacrament meeting. What a great branch to begin attending. I'll miss the Hart Branch dearly. They gave me some things to remember them by, at least for a day or two - the Longcores gave me freshly picked pears to take and Sis. Myers made me pumpkin whoopie pies for the road! Yum!
Love you all,
Elder Cloward
Monday, August 17, 2009
Beware the Jabberwock, My Son!
Hi there family!
Elder Weaver and I have had a pretty good week. Let's see ... what to report on.
First things first. We weren't able to email last week because we were tied up (for five hours) at a baptism. A family from Ithaca was having a family reunion in the area and wanted to baptize their 8-year-old daughter while all the family was together. Since our building houses the nearest baptismal font, we got to help out. And, since they were doing it in the middle of the day, we were asked by the Branch Presidency, all of whom would be working, to be the branch's representatives, fill the font, clean up and lock up, etc. We arrived at 2 to fill the font and discovered that the water has to be turned off every 10-15 minutes so the water heater can fill back up. So we were filling until just before 4, when the family was supposed to arrive. They didn't make it there until 5, the baptismal service took until 6, and they weren't done eating and cleaning up until 7.
We had interviews with President Jones this week. They're never as exciting as I hope but that's probably a good thing since he usually just tells me to keep up the good work or something like that. All signs are pointing to my leaving the Hart area. I'm going to be pretty torn up when I go but I've had a good 6 months here; I definitely feel like I'll be leaving the area better than I found it and that's a certain measure of success. I'm really hoping to help a few of our investigators commit to baptismal dates this last week here.
We had kind of a fun experience with a house full of Spanish guys yesterday. It started out as we went to visit Carmelo, a media referral whom we had taught once. It turned out he was done picking peaches and had moved to some other farm-hand housing where he was now picking zucchini. We managed to find his new place (a miracle since I was given directions in Spanish) and we taught him and six of his roommates the message of the restoration. They were all excited about it and about reading El Libro de Mormon; they all agreed to share three copies of the book - we had two on us and had already given one to Carmelo. They said they're coming to church this Sunday, so we're crossing our fingers that someone can be there to translate.
Speaking of Spanish, President Jones has told us he'll be putting a Spanish-speaking elder here if he transfers one of us. I'm a little jealous that it will probably be Elder Weaver who'll get a Spanish-speaking companion (I'm sure it'd be a lot easier for me to learn Spanish if I were living with a native speaker). Still, this area really needs a Spanish speaker; our branch president said he's considering requesting a Spanish-speaking senior couple for our branch. I have little doubt that there would be a Spanish branch or ward in this area within a short number of years.
(Writing emails home is always an exercise in prioritizing. What things are most important for me to include?)
I'll share one last insight before I close. Sis. Myers, who was baptized here last August, attended the temple for the first time last Friday. Elder Fortuna and Elder Contreras, who were here when she was baptized, were able to go with her. (They'll be going home next Wednesday, so it's a great way for them to finish up their missions). Anyway, Sis. Myers was given the opportunity to bear her testimony yesterday in Church. She told us about how marvelous it was to visit the temple, the House of the Lord, to feel of the Spirit there, and to feel the added armor of protection her covenants give her. Then she said something I hope to remember for the rest of my life. In speaking of the youth of the church who have grown up knowing the precious truths of the restored gospel, she said: "I often think: O, what I could have done with my life had I had then what they have now." I had to write it down verbatim so I would remember it.
I have the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know who my Father is and I know who I am. I know what my purpose and mission is in this life. I know how to call down the powers of heaven to fulfill that purpose and bring others to Christ. I know how to obtain blessings, protection, guidance, revelation, inspiration, and counsel. I know how to exercise faith and repent of my sins, and I have the assurance, through the covenants I made at baptism and in the Holy Temple, that I will always have His Spirit with me, that my sins are forgiven me, and that I will inherit eternal life with my eternal family in the Kingdom of God. O, what I can do with my life because of what I know! I'm so grateful I still have a year left of my mission - there is so much more I need to do and accomplish. Lisa Sandstrom forwards me Jeff's emails every week and the way that crazy kid is working and seeing success is blowing me away. (I think that's on my mind because I just read his last email.) Anyway, he inspires me, and if I can kick my work up to the Ammon-like level that he has, and work that way for the year I have left, I know I can accomplish a good work here for my Father in Heaven. The gospel is true!
I love you all and pray for you daily!
Elder Cloward
Elder Weaver and I have had a pretty good week. Let's see ... what to report on.
First things first. We weren't able to email last week because we were tied up (for five hours) at a baptism. A family from Ithaca was having a family reunion in the area and wanted to baptize their 8-year-old daughter while all the family was together. Since our building houses the nearest baptismal font, we got to help out. And, since they were doing it in the middle of the day, we were asked by the Branch Presidency, all of whom would be working, to be the branch's representatives, fill the font, clean up and lock up, etc. We arrived at 2 to fill the font and discovered that the water has to be turned off every 10-15 minutes so the water heater can fill back up. So we were filling until just before 4, when the family was supposed to arrive. They didn't make it there until 5, the baptismal service took until 6, and they weren't done eating and cleaning up until 7.
We had interviews with President Jones this week. They're never as exciting as I hope but that's probably a good thing since he usually just tells me to keep up the good work or something like that. All signs are pointing to my leaving the Hart area. I'm going to be pretty torn up when I go but I've had a good 6 months here; I definitely feel like I'll be leaving the area better than I found it and that's a certain measure of success. I'm really hoping to help a few of our investigators commit to baptismal dates this last week here.
We had kind of a fun experience with a house full of Spanish guys yesterday. It started out as we went to visit Carmelo, a media referral whom we had taught once. It turned out he was done picking peaches and had moved to some other farm-hand housing where he was now picking zucchini. We managed to find his new place (a miracle since I was given directions in Spanish) and we taught him and six of his roommates the message of the restoration. They were all excited about it and about reading El Libro de Mormon; they all agreed to share three copies of the book - we had two on us and had already given one to Carmelo. They said they're coming to church this Sunday, so we're crossing our fingers that someone can be there to translate.
Speaking of Spanish, President Jones has told us he'll be putting a Spanish-speaking elder here if he transfers one of us. I'm a little jealous that it will probably be Elder Weaver who'll get a Spanish-speaking companion (I'm sure it'd be a lot easier for me to learn Spanish if I were living with a native speaker). Still, this area really needs a Spanish speaker; our branch president said he's considering requesting a Spanish-speaking senior couple for our branch. I have little doubt that there would be a Spanish branch or ward in this area within a short number of years.
(Writing emails home is always an exercise in prioritizing. What things are most important for me to include?)
I'll share one last insight before I close. Sis. Myers, who was baptized here last August, attended the temple for the first time last Friday. Elder Fortuna and Elder Contreras, who were here when she was baptized, were able to go with her. (They'll be going home next Wednesday, so it's a great way for them to finish up their missions). Anyway, Sis. Myers was given the opportunity to bear her testimony yesterday in Church. She told us about how marvelous it was to visit the temple, the House of the Lord, to feel of the Spirit there, and to feel the added armor of protection her covenants give her. Then she said something I hope to remember for the rest of my life. In speaking of the youth of the church who have grown up knowing the precious truths of the restored gospel, she said: "I often think: O, what I could have done with my life had I had then what they have now." I had to write it down verbatim so I would remember it.
I have the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know who my Father is and I know who I am. I know what my purpose and mission is in this life. I know how to call down the powers of heaven to fulfill that purpose and bring others to Christ. I know how to obtain blessings, protection, guidance, revelation, inspiration, and counsel. I know how to exercise faith and repent of my sins, and I have the assurance, through the covenants I made at baptism and in the Holy Temple, that I will always have His Spirit with me, that my sins are forgiven me, and that I will inherit eternal life with my eternal family in the Kingdom of God. O, what I can do with my life because of what I know! I'm so grateful I still have a year left of my mission - there is so much more I need to do and accomplish. Lisa Sandstrom forwards me Jeff's emails every week and the way that crazy kid is working and seeing success is blowing me away. (I think that's on my mind because I just read his last email.) Anyway, he inspires me, and if I can kick my work up to the Ammon-like level that he has, and work that way for the year I have left, I know I can accomplish a good work here for my Father in Heaven. The gospel is true!
I love you all and pray for you daily!
Elder Cloward
Monday, August 3, 2009
If I had a Beard, I'd Twirl it
Hello Family!
This week went well. I learned a lot and hope to be better off for having lived this week :). (I guess that's my hope each week of life; perhaps especially this week?)
Continuing to focus on finding new people to teach as President Jones has encouraged us, we taught two new people last Saturday - two of the teenage children of Moses, whom we had already started teaching. I had actually already met his daughter because she ran track at the high school. We thought that made for a good week (just one shy of the "standard of excellence", set at three new investigators per companionship per week). Little did we know what the Lord had in store for us Sunday where we began teaching three more people. Two speak only Spanish (Carmelo y Pedro) and are hard to teach not only because I'm the only one who speaks any Spanish but also because they work a lot. As in, more than I thought people were allowed to work in this country. I guess agriculture has special exceptions. In any case, it makes finding time to meet with them difficult.
But, speaking of lessons learned and beards twirled (isn't beard-twirling a natural result of lesson-learning?), I actually had a pretty rough week previous to Friday zone conference and our successful weekend. We had a few lessons that fell through or didn't go as well as we hoped and I was allowing myself to feel like an inadequate missionary, whose failings and lack of perfect diligence, knowledge, and planning skills were basically going to sink the ship. Anyway, some good chastisement at zone conference and afterward got me out of that slump. The summary for me came in our Sunday School lesson yesterday on the persecutions and trials of Missouri and Zion's Camp. D&C 101:16 - "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion [concerning your missionary work, Elder Cloward]; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progessing, not even mine. Especially not when I'm trying to do the opposite and relying on the help of the Lord.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Cloward
This week went well. I learned a lot and hope to be better off for having lived this week :). (I guess that's my hope each week of life; perhaps especially this week?)
Continuing to focus on finding new people to teach as President Jones has encouraged us, we taught two new people last Saturday - two of the teenage children of Moses, whom we had already started teaching. I had actually already met his daughter because she ran track at the high school. We thought that made for a good week (just one shy of the "standard of excellence", set at three new investigators per companionship per week). Little did we know what the Lord had in store for us Sunday where we began teaching three more people. Two speak only Spanish (Carmelo y Pedro) and are hard to teach not only because I'm the only one who speaks any Spanish but also because they work a lot. As in, more than I thought people were allowed to work in this country. I guess agriculture has special exceptions. In any case, it makes finding time to meet with them difficult.
But, speaking of lessons learned and beards twirled (isn't beard-twirling a natural result of lesson-learning?), I actually had a pretty rough week previous to Friday zone conference and our successful weekend. We had a few lessons that fell through or didn't go as well as we hoped and I was allowing myself to feel like an inadequate missionary, whose failings and lack of perfect diligence, knowledge, and planning skills were basically going to sink the ship. Anyway, some good chastisement at zone conference and afterward got me out of that slump. The summary for me came in our Sunday School lesson yesterday on the persecutions and trials of Missouri and Zion's Camp. D&C 101:16 - "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion [concerning your missionary work, Elder Cloward]; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." No unhallowed hand can stop this work from progessing, not even mine. Especially not when I'm trying to do the opposite and relying on the help of the Lord.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Cloward
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