Boldy, Nobly and Independent

Hi family!

We've been greatly blessed this week by an abundance of the Spirit and by many miracles in our area and throughout the mission. One thing I love about my current assignment is the opportunity to hear of successes in so many places throughout the mission. It leaves me without any doubt that the Lord is driving this work.

Zone Leader Council on Tuesday was great. The Spirit was strong and I learned a lot. President Jones gave some great instruction based on the new simplified curriculum framework which contributed to a discussion we had on boldness. We walked out of that meeting determined to more boldly invite others to come unto Christ, especially focusing on early invitations to be baptized and having kneeling prayers in which investigators themselves offer the prayer. The simplified curriculum more solidly focuses on spiritual conversion and the learning by faith (through exercise of moral agency) required in order to experience a spiritual conversion to become a disciple of Christ.

President Jones also issued the challenge to all mission leaders to have at least two new investigators each week through the rest of August (and then every week after that). Finding new people to teach has continued to be the biggest challenge our mission faces. I am confident, however, that our mission is in a better position to enact positive change than we have ever been. In our own area, we were a little nervous about this challenge by the time Friday rolled around and we found ourselves with no new investigators. So, we made plans, set goals, and prayed in faith, asking the Lord to lead us to those whom He has prepared. Friday I had an exchange with Elder Barney here at MSU. While going door-to-door in Cedar Village (a campus apartment complex) we were invited in by an MSU student named Steve. He's a linguistics major from China who has heard a little about the church because he heard about our temples when he visited Hong Kong and his adviser recommended he attend Brigham Young for graduate school. Anyway, he was great and very open and curious. We're teaching him again tonight. Saturday, back with Elder Taylor, we had a similar experience with a Roman Catholic student from Poland named Martin. He was funny - he was nervous he would offend us asking questions about the South Park episode on Mormonism. We ended up having a really great discussion and he was interested in learning more; we're meeting with him again this next Saturday.

Cameren, a 19-year-old we started teaching through his friend James, who is a less-active member of the church, and their friend Denise, both excitedly set baptismal dates for the 9th of October this week. Cameren is way excited about the church; he came this Sunday and spent the weekend with ward members on a ward campout out by Silver Lake. He had a great time and even shared his testimony at a campfire meeting they had.

I love you all! I love missionary work! (I got to give a talk all about why people should go on missions in church yesterday and had so much fun!) I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! It truly is "the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth" (Romans 1:16)!

Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

A picture of downtown Lansing as we drove down that way last Thursday (above) and a couple pictures from the Ward's wheelchair basketball activity. Lots of fun!

Hi family!

Transfers have come and gone again this week. In spite of having 8 elders going home and 10 elders and 1 sister arriving, it was a relatively light transfer. It didn't reduce our driving any but it at least meant we had fewer missionaries to try to herd around. Tuesday night we had a testimony meeting with the departing missionaries. The Spirit was strong. It was especially meaningful to have two previous companions, Elder Morales and Elder Valentine, departing. It's wonderful to see missionaries honorably complete their missions having faithfully fulfilled their commission to represent the Savior in His work.

Wednesday we dropped missionaries off and picked the new ones up. We have a really great bunch of new missionaries; they're excited and full of faith. Most of them seem to have a solid gospel background and will be able to teach powerfully and effectively very quickly. I'm excited for the good they will be able to do for our mission. (I've included pictures of both the new

and departing missionaries).


We had some really good lessons this week. Alex and Daniel are still progressing well. I don't have time to write any more or I would.

Thanks for all your support!

Love,
Elder Cloward

More Pictures!


- The Living Center Elders


- Elder Seely and I sporting our almost-matching ties



- Elder Morales, myself, and Elder Valentine


- Incoming Missionaries with their Trainers

Hello Family!

Since we begin a new transfer period today, I don't have my old planner with me to run down the week's events. We'll see if my brain can recall the week's events without my external harddrive.

Transfer planning dominated a lot of the week but was actually a lot easier than it has been most times. We met with President Jones Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. He had transfers mostly figured out and we all felt good about it fairly quickly. We made a few observations and suggestions and President Jones made a few minor changes. I think it was probably the easiest transfer that we've had while I've been here (at least on our end - I'm sure President Jones put a lot of time and work into it). We still had to figure out a lot of logistics, especially with a number of white-washes (both missionaries replaced in an area at the same time), eleven new trainers, and three new zone leaders. Halfway through the transfer, things will get a little hairy, though; when my transfer leaves, we'll be short eleven missionaries for three weeks until we get our next shipment - fifteen new missionaries! (Every time I think about the craziness the mission has coming up, I'm sure to give Elder Taylor a sympathetic smile).

President and Sister Jones also spoiled us this week with quick trips to a few of their favorite spots that Elder Taylor hadn't yet visited. Tuesday after transfer meeting, they took us up to Frankenmuth for a "taste of Bavaria".
We had Wienerschnitzel and Sauerkraut at the Bavarian Inn, followed by some not-so-bad Apfelstrudel. (at right--The Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth)

Friday after transfer calls (to which Sister Davis, one of the office sisters, brought Cherry Berry pie and Cherry Vanilla ice cream, which we ate for breakfast), President and Sister Jones took us to Sweetie-licious, where we enjoyed some good sandwiches, and their award-winning blueberry raspberry pie. (The owner, who loves missionaries - she greets us with shouts of "My Mormons!" and hugs - has twelve first-place winning pie recipes from the Crisco National Pie Competition.) Needless to say, the blueberry raspberry pie was to die for. Our dessert excess this week also included treats from my birthday package (thanks again by the way!), the leftovers from Sister Jones' peanut butter pie, and a couple of chocolate cupcakes someone left on our doorstep (no idea who left them).

In spite of all the busyness, we had a great week of missionary work in our own area. We started teaching three new investigators. One, Courtney, is a really cool girl Elder Taylor and Elder Fugleberg met on trade-offs last week at Lansing Community College. She is a believing Christian who feels like she wants to get back on the right path; she's tired of living a double life. Another, Aaron, is a friend of a friend of Ashlie, who was baptized here in June. He is, likewise, a Christian who feels he has drifted away from God and who soaked up the message of the restoration. He's being baptized September 18th if he comes to know our message is true. The third, Denise, is the friend of a less-active member, James, and his friend, Cameron, who is already investigating the church. The three of them are way funny. When we came over Friday night, they were hanging out, trying James' MREs (he's in the army). I had a bite of ... something. It wasn't bad. James tried to give us some gum, but Cameron and Denise spared us the pain of discovering it will dissolve in your mouth because it's a powerful laxative. Apparently Cameron found out the hard way. Anyway, they're all very open and hunger to feel the love of God in their lives. Cameron has really caught on to the Book of Mormon and has been reading it frequently for support and comfort when he's been struggling lately.

We had several really good lessons with Daniel and Alex this week. We talked with Daniel about his concerns with the Word of Wisdom. He says he has no question that the principles are true; he simply doesn't know if he can withstand the pressure he knows he will receive from others to go against his principles and drink. We talked about the opposition Alma and the Sons of Mosiah faced after the time of their conversion and the great blessings that came to them because of their faithful obedience (see Alma 27:32-37). He seemed to appreciate their example and the promise that the Lord would give him the strength he would need and bless him beyond his current understanding. We're still waiting a little bit for their baptism because they haven't been regularly attending church and because Alex wants to wait until Andy, his closest friend in the ward, is back in town (several weeks from now).

I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve as a missionary! I love helping people to taste the fruit of the tree of life, or to feel the Love of God in their lives. Truly, "it is the most desirable above all things ... and the most joyous to the soul" (1 Nephi 11:22-23). I love you all!

Love,
Elder Cloward

P.S. A few pictures

- Family Home Evening sidewalk chalk activity


- We've had a few really nice sunsets lately.


- The three companionships that live in the LDS Student Living Center went out for IHOP this morning before transfers.

It Ends with Peanut Butter Pie

Hi Family!

We had a pretty good week with a couple of companion exchanges and a bunch of good lessons.

We've taught Daniel and Alex a bunch this week in preparation for their baptism. They have accepted all of the commandments and are striving to live them. It's incredible to see the great faith they have developed as they have experimented on the word and come to trust that obedience to God leads to happiness, peace, and a bright hope. We were planning on having their baptism this next Saturday (the 24th) but will be rescheduling it with them tonight because they didn't make it to church yesterday. Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise that we will be able to spend another week or so helping them fully understand the covenant they will soon be making.

Wednesday and Friday we had exchanges. Wednesday I spent at WMU with Elder Merritt, which was a lot of fun. We had several lessons with members I have taught before while on exchanges. I always enjoy spending time with Elder Merritt; he's a great leader and a great missionary. Friday I got to spend at MSU with Elder Wray. We had some really good lessons (one with a couple of Chinese students we had never taught before - Xiaofeng and Chengru). Elder Wray served at MSU for six months last fall, so it was really fun for him to be able to see some of his old friends. You can really tell the impact a person has had when you see the love that others have for them because of their service. Elder Wray was definitely loved by many of the ward members here.

My birthday was fun. We went to the Lansing Church of God in Christ in the morning - we're teaching an MSU student, Russell, who is a minister there (he gave the invocation this week). The church was very different from any I had ever attended so it was really good to understand better where Russell is coming from. The service was very focused on music, praise, and worship and the people were about as welcoming as any I've ever met. (They had us stand so they could all sing to us while everybody came up and shook our hands.) Afterward, we attended our ward, which was great. Half of the ward went on a quick trip to Palmyra this weekend and got back late Saturday night. Several who went shared testimony - one of whom was a recent convert, Elissa. What a neat experience for her to have been able to have! Kate Johnson also gave a fantastic talk about miracles in our day and in her life. She is a PhD student at MSU and was a professed (and somewhat defiant) atheist until last year when she was baptized. She has an incredible testimony and incredible faith.

After our church meetings,
President and Sister Jones had us over for dinner. President Jones grilled salmon, which was amazing (!), and Sister Jones made a peanut butter pie from Sister Longcore's recipe (the Relief Society President in Hart). It was amazing! A picture, compliments of Elder Taylor, is included.

I love you all!

Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

Corned Beef and Sauerkraut = The Nature of Happiness

Hi Family!

We've had a pretty good week here at MSU. It's been pretty warm this week (highs in the 90s with high humidity) and a little bit rainy. Daniel and Alex are still progressing and doing well. We were able to have several lessons with them and got together with several members from the ward (our ward mission leader set things up for us) to watch the Restoration DVD. I think it helped them better understand our message through a visual representation. Alex had a hard time understanding; I think because the language used in the video matches Joseph Smith-History and not a modern English vernacular. Daniel seemed to understand just fine; I think it helps that he has been reading the Book of Mormon in English, while Alex prefers to read in Chinese.

Zone leader council on Tuesday was fun. We presented the adjustments Salt Lake is making to missions worldwide in order to implement the Simplified Curriculum. I'm really excited for what will take place in the coming year in sharpening missionaries' teaching skills. All the training is focused on clearing away the clutter and making our teaching a better environment for the Spirit to testify of truth. I'm a little sad I won't be able to receive/help with all this training myself, but I'm excited to work as a member with missionaries who are better trained and prepared than I have been. The Spirit made it clear to me that these adjustments and changes are led by the spirit of revelation, which is the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ. He is at the head of this church and this great redemptive work.

We blitzed Traverse City last Friday, which was a lot of fun. I don't know if I told you about the Silver Swan restaurant we ate at the last time we were there, but they serve the best Reuben Sandwich I've eaten. (To be fair, it probably ties with the Reuben I had when mom and I were in Connecticut visiting Yale.) President Jones recommended the place (and specifically the Reuben) and we ate there the last two times we've been up to Traverse City. In addition to a delicious sandwich, I got to spend the day with Elder Riley, which was really fun. They've a lot of great member missionary work happening in the Traverse City branch and it means they're teaching a ton of investigators. We taught a man who was the husband of a recent convert, a 16-year old adopted son of less-active parents, a member family's neighbor, and a less-active brother with a desire to return to the temple and be sealed to his wife, who is not a member. And Elder Taylor and Elder Johnson were busy teaching the whole day too. It was great!

I love you! Thanks for all your support!

Elder Cloward

Zone Conference and Fireworks

Hi Family!

Sorry, it's been a crazy day, so we just squeezed some time in for email. President Jones called us this morning as we were driving to email and had us come to the office for a meeting instead. The church is introducing a "simplified curriculum" for missionary training based on what they have identified as the most important principles of effective teaching taught in Preach My Gospel. There will be some changes throughout the coming year to facilitate the sort of training they want. In any case, we had to figure out what they're wanting us to do during a morning meeting because we have zone leader council tomorrow and it will be good to present it to the zone leaders right away since most changes will take place immediately.

Our week was great. We had zone conferences Wednesday and Friday in Mt. Pleasant and Grand Rapids, respectively. Elder Taylor and I gave more instruction than I have been used to, which was fun, if a little draining. I especially enjoyed speaking in our district leader / zone leader training meeting. President Jones told us to discuss whatever subjects we felt impressed to and I chose to teach about "joy". This subject has pressed itself upon my mind and my feelings lately and I loved studying in preparation for zone conference. I walked away from the experience with heightened conviction that lasting joy comes only through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

In preparation for zone conference, President Jones had asked the mission to read and ponder four talks by Elder Maxwell centered on a theme of consecration. As missionaries came prepared it was wonderful to see the things that the Spirit taught us. It is so exciting to see our mission grow in faith and commitment to the Lord.

The Lord blessed us this week by bringing us many successes in our finding! We set up ten return appointments for this coming week, which is the "standard of excellence" set by President Jones. (It has been reached only occasionally and never by one of my companionships).



Daniel and Alex are both doing well. We rescheduled Alex' baptism for July 24th because he was out of town this weekend and needs a little more time to prepare. I think he and Daniel are excited to be baptized on the same day.

I love you all!

Thanks for all your support,
Elder Cloward

P.S. President Jones gave us permission to stay up a little late to watch fireworks and I've attached a couple of photos.

There is an Earwig Somewhere in the Library...

Hello Family!

We had some fun companion exchanges and good work this week!

Wednesday we had an exchange with the Portland elders. Elder Taylor and Elder Valentine worked in the Portland area (and actually had a lesson with Lindsey, who lives in their area but was recently baptized in our singles ward). Elder Andersen came to MSU with me. We had some really great finding on campus and talked with a girl named Felicia from Muskegon, who allowed us to sit down with her and share the message of the Restoration. The lesson was great and the Spirit was strong. Unfortunately, this is finals week for the first summer semester (MSU has two sessions) so she wasn't sure when she could meet again, but she did say that even if we were never able to talk again she would remember our meeting for the rest of her life. We had a similar lesson with a Chinese student named Ray, who really enjoyed our visit but returns to China tomorrow. He said he'd meet back up with missionaries in the fall. (It's a little sad to know I won't be one of those missionaries.) It was also fun to spend a day with Elder Andersen, who was in my MTC district and in the Hart district with me almost a year ago.

Friday we had an exchange with Grandville Spanish. I got to spend the day in Grand Rapids with Elder Morales while Elder Patino came to MSU with Elder Taylor. My Spanish was extremely rusty but Elder Morales was very generously complimentary. We had one lesson in Spanglish, which was nice, but Elder Morales had me teach how Dios revela su evangelio en cada dispensacion (or something like that) in a couple other lessons and he had me quote from Joseph Smith - History as well. Thankfully, in a lesson with Andres, a new investigator they found knocking doors a few days before, it didn't matter that I messed up the quotation a little bit. Andres realized he already knew the Joseph Smith story; he ordered the Restoration DVD from the church a few years ago but never requested missionaries. We had a great lesson; he said he felt that we were sent by God in answer to his prayers. The whole day made me wish I had been called as a Spanish-speaking missionary. But ...


I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction (Alma 29:3-4).

It was also fun to spend the day with Elder Morales, whom I hadn't seen too much since we served together in Bay City. "And what added more to [my] joy, [he was] still [my brother] in the Lord" (Alma 17:2). (I'm not sure it's good that I've developed a habit of quoting the Book of Mormon in every other breath. Elder Barney once pointed out that weird missionary jokes would probably not be impressive on post-mission dates and Book of Mormon quotes might fit in that category.)

Overall, the week was great. We taught seven new people this week. Three became new investigators (meaning, we'll meet with them again), one moved to Tennessee the day after our lesson, two move back to China this week, and one has finals (hopefully we'll meet again with her afterward). Daniel, who we've taught for several weeks, decided in our lesson this week that he would like to be baptized and we set a date with him for July 24th. Alex, who is scheduled to be baptized July 10th is still progressing and doing really well.

I love you and I'm so grateful for all your love, prayers, and support. I am blessed by your faith and by the goodness of your lives!

Love,
Elder Cloward

Driving is Only My Part-time Job

Hi Family,

I think Elder Taylor and I spent just under 30 hours driving this week. So it only qualifies as part-time work. Serving as a missionary makes me laugh that we call a 40-hour work week "full-time". Somehow, our 24/7 job with no pay seems to qualify more readily as a "full-time" assignment. And I suppose it's not a nonpaying job either. The earnest of the Spirit is far more desirable than a weekly paycheck (although not always as useful for paying the rent - thanks for working so I can serve, Dad!) Let me give you the run-down on our week.

Monday: Day 1 of transfers, so we toured the Southern portion of the mission. Compared to other transfers, this one was relatively small since we only had one departing missionary and six incoming missionaries. Monday, especially, the transfer van never had more than eight people on board. After a hot dog barbecue with the elders spending the night in Lansing we even had time to go to Family Home Evening. Alex, whom we've been teaching, brought Daniel, whom we have also been teaching, which was cool since we didn't know that they knew each other. They do live in the same apartment building, though.

Tuesday: Day 2 of transfers. We ran up to Mt. Pleasant and back and then ran the Southern loop again. Elder Stayner, who went home on Wednesday, rode the transfer van all the way around with us so he could say goodbye to everyone. I think it was a longer ride than he expected. Departing activities at the mission home were nice. President Jones grilled us some delicious steaks because it was a smaller group than normal.

Wednesday: We got to sleep in until 6 am! (Normally, the Wednesday of transfers we have to get up at 3 or 4 am but Elder Stayner's flight didn't leave until 10:30). Elder Stayner told me he'd say hi to Emerson Ave for me (he lives up the street a mile or so). We taught a couple quick lessons in between trips to the airport and then picked up the missionaries and started some orientation with them. As the missionaries came down the hall in the airport and we saw them for the first time, I received an undeniable spiritual impression that they had been called of God and sent to us by Him. I love orientation with the new missionaries; they epitomize the scriptural admonition to give the Lord "the heart and a willing mind" (D&C 64:34). President Jones let us slip out a little early so that we could fit in another lesson.

Thursday: After orientation with the new missionaries and their trainers, we drove three companionships up to Mt. Pleasant so they could then drive to their areas. We then had a crazy evening of teaching eight lessons in five hours.

Friday: Our morning was taken up by a meeting with President Jones to plan for our trip to Ann Arbor the next day and talk about zone conference and other mission issues. We had to leave by 7 that evening to begin our trip North so we could take the Traverse City zone down to Ann Arbor. We had 1:30 to 7 to try to squeeze in some more lessons but due to some cancellations and two lessons combining to become one lesson (we had set appointments with two separate students on campus for 4 and 4:30 - it turned out they were friends and we just met together in one lesson) we only ended up with three lessons. The two guys we started teaching Friday are really active in an apostolic church and know the Bible really well. It was really fun to talk with them and for them to have a strong Christian background. MSU definitely has a wide array of religious ideologies.

Saturday: We spent Friday night in Houghton Lake and then woke up at 2:30 am to get ready and drive the rest of the way to Gaylord, where we met the Traverse City zone and left for Ann Arbor at 4:30 am. We arrived a little after 8:00. We had a three-hour meeting (from 9 to noon) with Elder and Sister Bednar; Elder Hallstrom, of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Uceda, a new member of the First Quorum of the Seventy; and Elder Seldon, who I believe is an Area Seventy. It was incredible. Elder Bednar taught in a very interactive, familiar style. He gave no prepared talk; rather, he asked us what we had learned from the two talks he had us read in preparation for the meeting, expounded on certain principles we discussed, and then allowed us to ask whatever questions we wanted of him or the other brethren. One of the ground rules he outlined was that we were not to write down anything someone at the pulpit said; we could only make notes if they were dictated by the Holy Ghost.

What struck me most was the in some ways unexceptional nature of the meeting. True, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ was present and I did receive a strong spiritual confirmation that Elder Bednar is an Apostle; yet, I was taught by the Spirit just as I am in Sacrament Meetings or Zone Conferences or lessons. It was comforting to recognize that our lives can be a constant classroom with the Teacher of all Truth. Although we must have the priesthood keys held by the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency, the presence of this or that man or even instruction from this or that man is far less significant than the presence of the Holy Ghost, if we are choosing to learn by faith through the influence of the Spirit. (If you're interested, he had us read two great talks he has given, Seek Learning by Faith and Ask in Faith.)

Sorry for the ultra-long email. Attached is a picture of the incoming missionaries with their trainers.

I love you!

Elder Cloward

Super Delux Double Plus

Dear Family,

We've had a good week. We had a lot of transfer planning to do, so we met with President Jones on Tuesday and Thursday (we would have met Wednesday but we had our last temple trip) and even made some last minute changes Friday morning before transfer calls. Sister Jones told us afterward that she had never seen President Jones spend as much time deliberating over a transfer. More than in any previous transfer experience, I felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that the decisions made were according to the will of God. It's always fun to be a part of transfers.

Me, Ashlie, and Elder Taylor after Ashlie's baptismal service.

Ashlie Beebe was baptized on Saturday (by Elder Taylor) and confirmed yesterday (by me). She bore her testimony at the baptism, which was awesome! She talked about her experience in the lesson in which she asked us why she always felt so happy when we were over for a lesson. I had recognized it as a big step for her as we explained that these feelings came from the Holy Ghost but I think I still underestimated the significance of that experience in her conversion. She said that when Elder Valentine and I (we were on a companion exchange) testified that her good feelings came from the Holy Ghost she was totally taken back. Although we had taught and talked about the Holy Ghost previously, the thought had never crossed her mind that she was feeling the Spirit of God communicate to her. I think that may have been the moment in which she came to a full recognition of the reality of God. (She is a very scientifically-minded person and had always felt previously that she could never know for sure if there was such a being as God.) It was really cool to hear her share her testimony.

We had a couple of good lessons with other investigators this week. Alex, whom we have taught for about three weeks, has decided he would like to be baptized as well and he's now preparing to be baptized on July 10. I hope and pray that we can continue to be led by the Lord to those whom He has prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel.

I feel like the Lord has taught me a lot this week about the righteous use of agency to determine our personal perspective and attitude. Inasmuch as repentance is a change from a state contrary to the nature of God to a state in line with His will, intellectual/mental repentance (i.e., changing our patterns of thought, shifting our paradigm) is as much a necessity as behavioral repentance. I think that's part of what the Lord means when He commands us to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. The Spirit has specifically directed me this week to changes I need to make in my mind and my heart in order to see things as He sees them - as they really are.

I love you! Thanks for your prayers, your emails and letters, and all your support! Thanks for being a family focused on Christ!

Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

P.S. The pictures are ...
Elder Sodenkamp, me, and Elder Valentine at the temple last Wednesday.


- You wish you could go through the Employee Entrance.

The Good News

"The good news is that Jesus Christ has made a perfect atonement for mankind that will redeem all mankind from the grave and reward each individual according to his/her works" ( Bible Dictionary, Gospels).

The other good news is I'll be staying at MSU with Elder Taylor for the rest of my mission. While I'm not sure I like the finality of that statement (mostly the idea that my mission will eventually come to an end), I'm excited to be able to continue to learn and grow as Elder Taylor teaches me how to be amazing, as we work closely with President and Sister Jones, through serving the mission, and by staying in the same ward for the rest of the summer. President Jones and I talked several times about what I might like for my remaining transfer-and-a-half and after some thought and prayer he made his decision on Friday. I'm grateful to know that my assignments have come and will continue to come through inspiration.



We had a fantastic week. Two temple trips definitely didn't hurt! I could get used to going every week. Over the last transfer I feel I've learned a lot about how to approach the temple ceremony by patiently listening for the whispering of the Spirit and allowing the Lord to teach me according to His will. Our last temple trip will be this Wednesday. (Not that this trip will bring an end to especially spiritual experiences for the mission - did I mention we're going to Ann Arbor for a meeting with Elder Bednar on the 19th?)!
(Insert:Elder Weaver and I at the temple last Wednesday.)

Ashlie is doing really well and is excited for her baptism on Saturday (as are we). She informally bore her testimony in our Gospel Principles class yesterday. Elissa Konkol, who was baptized in December, bore her testimony during Sacrament Meeting. There are few things that bring me greater joy than hearing the sincere testimonies of recent converts.

It's exciting to see the mission improve over time. Although we're currently struggling significantly with finding new investigators, we've taken a step in the right direction as more and more companionships consistently teach twenty lessons each week. Several of the zones are teaching twenty lessons in virtually every area. Now that we have the desired quantity we're working on improving quality so that they will produce referrals and new people to teach. It's always reassuring to recognize progress.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Elder Cloward

P.S. I thought I'd send a few pictures from our trip last Monday to the MSU Gardens.

- the rose garden



- the pond

Unsurpassed Insanity is Wonderful

Elder Taylor and me at the temple.

Hi Family! Happy Memorial Day!

Just when I thought life could not get any more hectic ...

We had a great week! We had lots of driving and lots to do but I learned a lot and grew a lot, and hopefully was able to do a little good. I'll have to give you the play-by-play for this week or I'm pretty sure I'd get lost trying to remember everything.

Tuesday: Zone Leader Council (ZLC) was a significant spiritual and emotional experience. President Jones changed the agenda at the last minute, feeling impressed to have us try an exercise Elder Zwick of the Seventy had used while meeting with President Jones and the Midland Stake Presidency last weekend during their Stake Conference. (Incidentally, it sounds like it was an amazing Stake Conference. President Jones said he thought it may have been the best he has ever attended - and he has been a Stake President.) We went around the room and each person shared three things: 1) What problem or challenge keeps you up at night?, 2) What is your solution to this problem?, 3) Your testimony. It was hard not be filled with love for the elders in the room.

After ZLC we taught six lessons. (It helped that we did splits with our ward mission leader and another member in the evening). I wasn't at the lesson, but Elder Taylor and our ward mission leader, Brandon, taught two Chinese students for the first time. We teach them again tomorrow.


Elder Taylor's companions (that were at the temple Thursday). From left: Elder Merrell, Elder Taylor, me, Elder Sutton, Elder Wray.

Side view of the temple.


Wednesday: We took the Midland zone to the temple. It was great! After we brought them back, we picked up Elder Curtis, whom we were transferring to the Kalamazoo zone, and drove to Bay City. Elder Taylor stayed there with Elder Hiatt and I picked up Elder Arroyo so that Elder Taylor and I could take two separate groups to the temple the next day and still have a companion with us at all times. We drove from Bay City to Marshall, where we dropped Elder Curtis off and made our way over to Kalamazoo to spend the night just in time for bed.

Elders and Sisters taking pictures at the temple.

Thursday: Elder Arroyo and I got up early and drove to Grand Rapids where we picked up parts of the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo zones and took them to the temple. I was extremely grateful that Elder Barney was able to drive the van. (He's the only person except me or Elder Taylor who is officially certified to drive it.) I was even able to fall asleep for 20 minutes or so on the way back from Detroit. I enjoyed the temple on Thursday, although it was much harder for me to pay attention and feel like I was getting as much out of the session. It's amazing how much sitting and driving all day can wear you out.

After dropping people off in Grand Rapids, Elder Arroyo and I drove to Lansing to pick up a mattress and box springs and then back to Bay City where I met back up with Elder Taylor. We stopped briefly at the Schindlers' to say 'hi' on our way over to Mt. Pleasant where we spent the night with the zone leaders.

Friday: We had a companion exchange with the Midland zone leaders. I spent the day in Mt. Pleasant with Elder Wray. We taught a bunch of good lessons, one to a Brother Villahermosa and his wife. They are from the Phillippines and he was a mission president there about ten years ago. It was interesting to hear how different a mission that would have been. Elder Taylor drove up to trade back in the evening and I finally got to come back to Lansing!

Saturday: We had a number of awesome lessons. My favorite was with a Chinese student named Alex whom we met and taught for the first time last week. After teaching him about the message of the restoration we taught him to pray and, after asking a lot of questions to be sure he understood how to do it, he gave the closing prayer. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING PRESENT THE FIRST TIME A PERSON PRAYS!!!! Last week Alex did not believe in God. On Saturday he spoke to Him. After his humble prayer, Alex said he felt "uplifted", like he was flying or could fly. "I have closed my eyes while talking to a friend before but I have never had a feeling like this," he said. "I feel like there is someone there listening."

The bell tower on campus. (MSU has a beautiful campus!)


Sunday: Alex came to church! The language barrier was really difficult for him but I really admired his tenacity in trying to understand what everyone was talking about. We have two Mandarin-speaking students in the congregation but both of them were out of town for Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully they'll be able to help answer Alex's questions once they're back.

I love being a missionary! This is truly the Lord's work! There is great power in it! I am so privileged to serve as an instrument in His hands, as one of the weak and simple of the earth chosen to carry light and truth to His children who are searching for it. I hope that I can endure in faith and truly be said to have wasted and worn out my life "in bringing to light all the hidden things ... truly manifest from heaven" (D&C 123:13). I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Cloward

P.S. Next week I'll be able to tell you whether I am being transferred (although if I am I won't yet know where).

ZoneConference Week

Hi Family!

We've had a really crazy week. Mostly really good! Here are a few of the highlights:


Zone conferences (Wednesday in Kalamazoo and Friday in Mt. Pleasant) were great! President Jones spoke a lot on our missionary purpose to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." Powerful stuff. I love zone conferences. They're always a tremendous opportunity to feel the Spirit and to be rejuvenated for the coming six weeks before the next zone conference. Elder Taylor and I gave a little more instruction than usual, which I thought turned out well. Before zone conference we conducted a training meeting on planning with zone leaders and district leaders, which was hopefully helpful. We also taught about a new "simplified curriculum framework" the missionary department of the church has developed to help missionaries (and mission presidents) focus on the most important aspects of Preach My Gospel. Elder Taylor trained on the "Process of Revelation" through prayer, the Book of Mormon, and church attendance. I focused on effective teaching ("Teach People - Not Lessons", "We Invite, They Commit, We Follow Up", and "How to Begin Teaching"). It was a lot to cover in a little bit of time but I think we were effective. I learned a lot from preparing for it.

Wednesday after zone conference President and Sister Jones took us to Shipshewana.

It's an Amish town in the one sliver of our mission that crosses into Indiana.
I enjoyed the best peanut butter of my life! I'll attach a few pictures(I'm sorry the picture quality is sort of poor because I took all the Shipshewana pictures from the car).

Thursday between zone conferences we had a companion exchange with the Portland elders - Elders Sodenkamp and Valentine. I got to spend the day at MSU with Elder Valentine. I haven't really been around him much since we served together over a year and a half ago. We had a fun day. We taught a lot of good lessons (one with our investigator Ashlie, whom he had previously known while serving in Holt) and did a lot of finding. It was nice to have some students back on campus for the summer semester so there were actually people to talk to.
After a couple of awesome lessons with Ashlie this week, she has decided she wants to be baptized and we set a date for June 12th. I think she still has a lot of questions, which is great! She knows that she has felt the Spirit. She asked us on Thursday why she always feels so good when we teach and after we leave. It's wonderful for me to have continual affirmations from others who feel the Spirit because of the truth of the word. How could I ever deny the truthfulness of the restored gospel?

I get to serve with Elder Taylor!

I get to serve on MSU!

I'm a missionary!

And those are just a few of the highlights.

Have a great week! I love you!

Elder Cloward

P.S.
The pictures are all from the Shipshewana trip except this one. It's a sign on campus.

WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!!

Hi Family!

Here's the rundown on my week:

Tuesday: We had a companion exchange with the Grand Valley elders. Elder Patino and I spent the day at MSU. We got back from Grand Rapids forty-five minutes late because of construction and rain (there's been a ton of rain this week) so we rushed from lesson to lesson all afternoon and evening. We got two new investigators, though, so it was a good day.

Wednesday: After attending Elder Barney's district meeting in Grand Rapids, Elder Taylor and I came back to campus and taught non-stop through a lot of the day. We even had time for lunch and dinner. (It might have been the only day this week :)). Wednesday night we drove up to Houghton Lake (partway to where we needed to be early Thursday morning) and spent the night. We had to drive separately because we needed to use both the transfer van and the minivan to get people to the temple, so we just drove within sight of each other and each had a phone. I was surprised at how lonely I felt. I guess I've gotten used to having someone with me 24/7. Plus, I normally enjoy all the driving we have to do because it gives Elder Taylor and me so much time to talk. Oh well. It's worth it because ....

Thursday: We picked up the Traverse City Zone in Gaylord at 7:30 and drove to the temple!! It was amazing! (I've included a few of the pictures I took before we went in for the endowment session we attended - the 12:00 session).
The temple workers were all very helpful; we were greeted by the temple president and temple matron. He reminded us that although he may be the president of the Detroit Temple, it is the Lord's House. I had forgotten how wonderful it feels to be in the House of the Lord! The Spirit was incredible! I was taught by the Spirit and I found answers to the questions I had been pondering in preparation for attending the temple. I'm excited we still get to go five more times this transfer! I'm excited to be able to attend the temple for the rest of my life! After driving back from Detroit, we drove from Gaylord to Traverse City to blitz the area with the zone leaders - Elder Johnson and Elder Riley.




Friday: Our blitz with the Traverse City zone leaders was a lot of fun. Elder Johnson and I did some contacting in downtown Traverse City. We met a very enthusiastic Australian and talked to a bunch of fishermen. (I'm glad Elder Johnson loves to fish and knows a lot about it. I can't say I was particularly helpful in starting conversations with them.) We had to leave at 6:00 (we ended up leaving a little late because the casserole I made for our dinner wasn't quite finished) in order to get back to Lansing.

Saturday: We taught and planned like mad back in Lansing. We had a ton of planning to do both for our area and for the mission, especially with zone conference next week and zone leader council the week after. We also helped Maria, a sister in our ward, and her boyfriend, Marcus, whom we are teaching, move. It was the easiest move ever! She had everything packed away nicely and had it all in one spot. We did the whole move in an hour and a half!

Sunday: Somehow we managed to teach four more lessons, attend all our church meetings (almost - we skipped our correlation meeting with the ward mission leader because we had to get to Grand Rapids), and go to the Grand Rapids Stake PEC with the zone leaders and President Rasmussen of the Mission Presidency.

It was a great week, even if it was a little exhausting. I'm excited for this next week - two zone conferences, a trade-off with the Portland elders, and hopefully lots of teaching and finding!

God Bless!

Elder Cloward

Transfers and Twenty Lessons

Hi Family!

It was great talking to you yesterday! It's hard to believe how fast time flies. It feels like Christmas wasn't very long ago when I was last talking with you.

This has been a crazy-busy week, what with transfers, etc. Transfers were relatively smooth this time around, though. No snow, no last-minute changes. It was fun to see most of the missionaries, even if it was just for a few minutes while we made a stop on the transfer route.

Elder Weaver and I at transfers (it's been almost a year since we served together!)


Elder Rawlings and I at transfers (I've gotten to know him while he served in Williamston - they cover East Lansing to the mission border)

I especially enjoyed, as always, picking up the new missionaries and having orientation with them. Elder Barney was with us when we picked them up at the airport, which was fun because we didn't tell them that he would be training one of them. He was really excited to train and white-wash the Grand Rapids area. They'll do some great things!

Elder Taylor and I with President and Sister Jones, the trainers, and the new missionaries


In spite of transfers, we decided to still teach twenty lessons this week, which we did. All but four were taught Thursday evening through Saturday. For a number of the members and investigators we taught it was our last lesson with them since they were going home or off to some internship for the summer. We're trying to come up with creative ways to continue to find new people to teach since campus is mostly dead right now. At least the summer semester will start in a couple weeks.

I don't know that there is too much more to report. I love the Book of Mormon! I've especially enjoyed studying from it and discussing it with Elder Taylor this week. I don't think I could ever disbelieve the book's truthfulness. We have it by the power of God. There is no other satisfactory explanation. I know that we draw closer to God as we read from it and apply its teachings!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Cloward

Elder Taylor hanging upside down at a member's house. We put off our lesson for a few minutes so we could experiment :)

With Three You Get Chicken Pillows

Hi Family!

We've been up to our eyeballs in transfer planning this week. We had meetings with President Jones Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday discussing missionaries' assignments for the upcoming transfer, which begins today. Once we got things settled Thursday morning, we had to hurriedly plan out when and where missionaries needed to meet us or meet each other in order to get to their new areas and meet their new companions. Friday morning we had transfer calls and since then we've been trying to tie up all the loose ends, including new car locations and completely changing the way we allocate and report mission vehicle miles, so that we'll be ready for the transfer. I've still got my fingers crossed. Thank goodness for the Lord's promise that the Comforter will "bring all things to [our] remembrance" (John 14:26). It may seem a foolish or a small thing, but I believe I have seen this promise fulfilled in a very practical way this week.

It has been really fun to serve with both Elder Barney and Elder Taylor for the week. They're two of the finest men I have ever known and I've really enjoyed both of them. I'm excited to get a second transfer with Elder Taylor -- I felt sort of gypped after just serving five weeks with him our first time around.

The baptism Saturday was great. The Spirit was really strong and Mika had a lot of support. The St. Johns elders (who first taught her) attended the baptism and the Holt elders (who taught her second) attended her confirmation. We managed to have three lessons with her before she was baptized in which we finished teaching the commandments and helping her commit herself to live according to them (lesson 4 of chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel).

It's so great to be a missionary! I am so blessed to be able to devote all my time and attention to serving the Lord by teaching the gospel to His children during these two years! It goes far too fast. Jesus Christ lives! His gospel has been restored to the earth in its fullness and is the source of joy!

I love you all!

Elder Cloward

P.S. The three of us had a delicious chicken pillow dinner with the Law family yesterday; hence, the title. (It would have been cooler had we eaten egg rolls, but I think chicken pillows really hit the spot.)

P.P.S. Pictures are ...
#203 - Elder and Sister O'Dell and me. The O'Dell's just completed their mission as a CES missionary couple here in Lansing. They're great people!



#205 - Bro. Hinckley, who baptized Mika; Mika; Justin, Mika's boyfriend who confirmed her


#207 - Elder Taylor, me, Mika, and Elder Barney



#215 - A deer in our backyard!

Mattress Delivery and Burmese Immigrants

Hallo Familie!

Yet another busy week. I can probably stop beginning my emails that way. From henceforth, please assume I had a busy week. I will no longer include this detail in my weekly emails. :)

We had companion exchanges Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday I was down at Western Michigan University with Elder Maxwell Merritt. He's from somewhere in Davis County. We had a really fun day on campus there; I got a sticker and a pen! We also were able to set up four return appointments with students and taught four lessons. They're doing some really good work down there; I was impressed. Elder Merritt helped me catch a little bit of his fire for the work, which I definitely appreciated. Friday I spent with Elder Brad Sodenkamp in Portland. It was fun to spend the day with him since we served together over a year ago now. We had a few good lessons. They're doing well applying the Lansing Stake's direction to follow Elder Perry's instructions for ward missions. Their whole zone is doing fantastic, largely due to the support of the Stake (as well as some really faithful missionaries and leaders who encourage and support them). 8 out of 10 areas taught 18 lessons or more this week (the Stake and mission have a standard of 20) and one area - the St. Johns branch - taught 44 lessons!

We also got to spend 5 or 6 hours driving from area to area in the Kalamazoo zone delivering mattresses on Thursday. It was a good time. I actually really enjoyed being able to see some of the Spring colors, especially down near Lake Michigan in South Haven and St. Joseph. It's a beautiful part of the country!

The work continues to go well here at MSU. We started teaching a girl this week who is getting baptized on Saturday. She has been taught by the St. Johns elders (where her boyfriend lives) and by the Holt elders (where she lives) but she decided she wants to be baptized in the Young Single Adult ward (where we live). Her name is Mika Rotman; she's a really nice girl and will be a great addition to our ward.

We had an awesome experience yesterday. We received a referral from the Lansing elders, who had met three siblings on a bus. They said they would love to have the missionaries come by some time - their father was a pastor in their home country, Burma. Due to a misunderstanding, the Lansing elders thought their dad was still back in Myanmar, so they sent us, since we teach any interested young adults. We stopped by yesterday, and Peter Khen, the father, greeted us at the door. He speaks very little English, but saw the name "Jesus Christ" on our name badges and invited us in. An immigrant family of ten, they were the most hospitable people I have ever met. They gave us seats on their couch, some of the only furniture in the room, and asked us to share with them about Jesus Christ. We explained, through one of his sons, who interpreted, the basics of the message of the restoration. They were very interested to have a copy of the Book of Mormon in their own language, zomi-chin. (I'm not sure if this is equivalent with Burmese, which may or may not be the name of a language. We'll find out, though, and we're hopeful that the Book of Mormon, or portions of it, has been translated into their language.) After we talked, they brought out a table and served us coffee and delectable French toast (made a little differently than I've had it before). They were initially confused that we refused the coffee, but served us Pepsi instead once we explained that it was for religious reasons. (I detest colas, I think that might have been the second Pepsi of my life, but I figured it was better to just politely accept). As we were about to leave, Peter Khen asked us to pray for him and his family, who all came in and sat around on the floor. The Lansing elders will be visiting them again next Sunday.

I love you all! Thanks for all your prayers and support! I truly do feel the blessings of heaven that come my way because of your faith. Thank you!

Love,
Elder Cloward

P.S. The pictures are ...
#186 - Our ride. A 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. Elder Barney's the soccer mom; I'm just his little MVP.

#188 - Our other ride. We drive her for transfers and - this week - mattress deliveries.


#195 - I got bored while we were driving mattress around ...