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