Tecumseh

For starters, this email may be brief and I'm typing it as quickly as I can because the library has changed their computer system so we're only allowed a half hour now. Murmuring is bad so I'm going to try not to murmur. Maybe.

The highlight of my week was most definitely SUNDAY. Because Sunday was awesome! Why was Sunday awesome? Because we had church! I might normally insert an "of course" after that statement, but seeing as the weather and the forces of evil have been conspiring against all our church-having recently, this is big news! And, of course, to make it all even better, we had two investigators there - the first time this transfer (well, last transfer actually - today's the first day of my fourth "transfer") we had any investigators at church. Two of those with baptismal dates were there (one of the sisters and the soon-to-be-married man) and both seemed to like it.

Elder Sodenkamp and I both had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting and we did pretty well, if I do say so myself. I spoke on my all-time favorite doctrine - that we are the literal spirit children of a loving Heavenly Father - and discussed what this meant for us before this life, what it means for us now, and what it will mean in the eternities. Good stuff.

I don't know if I've mentioned "quality gospel conversations" (QGC's) before - it's an indicator that our Mission President uses to keep track of our work. Elder Sodenkamp and I had a rather poor week with only 21 QGC's. But to make up for it we had 21 QGC's yesterday alone, so we're off to a good start for the week.

We attended a funeral for a branch member on Saturday, which was really nice. I hadn't met her because she's been entirely incapacitated the last few years, but I know many of her children and grandchildren that live in our branch. It was a beautiful service; my favorite part was when all her grandchildren sang "Families Can Be Together Forever". The Spirit was so strong. In the lid of her casket they had a picture of the Washington, D.C. Temple with the caption: "Sealed together for eternity, May 1, 1975". (I don't actually remember the date). It made me sad that I wasn't able to be there for Grandad's funeral, but at least I know I'll see him again.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention transfer calls! Friday was transfer-call day and both of us are staying! I'm glad to keep working with Elder Sodenkamp and in Oscoda. I guess President figured if it wasn't broke he wasn't gonna fix it. Or something like that. Boy, have we got him fooled :P. (Just kidding, mom. I'm a good little missionary :).)

I love you all and I'm happy to report that we're probably pretty close to halfway through winter. Everyone tells us the snow will probably melt at the end of April. Oh goody.

Love,
Elder Cloward