Sis. Meyers is Great! She Feeds Us Chocolate Cake (Almost)

Hi Family!

This was a pretty good week for us. I had an opportunity this week to have my first two trade-offs with my district with Elder Egan on Tuesday and then with Elder Hansen on Wednesday. I can't say I did a great job 'leading' the trade-off but I always enjoy working with other missionaries. Hopefully I'll get better at using trade-offs for improving our work as missionaries.

We did attend Gary's funeral this week. It was actually held at our church, which was wonderful, thanks to the efforts and offers of a wonderful branch member, Bro. Walborn, who has been a good friend (and across-the-street neighbor) of Gary's family for most of Gary's life. The church was as full as I have ever seen it (every single chair the branch owns was occupied and there were people standing in the back and in the hall). I had the privilege of playing the piano and organ during the service and Bro. Walborn did a great job conducting and later blessing the grave. Bro. Brown gave a wonderful lesson on the Plan of Salvation (to roughly 300 people, only 5 or 6 of whom are members of our church). It was a very nice funeral, very personal and a wonderful memorial for Gary. After the internment, the Methodist church in Shelby served a nice luncheon. We plan to visit with Gary's girlfriend and parents this week to see if there is anything more we can do for them and to invite them to learn more about the church into which Gary was planning to be baptized.

The best news I have to report is that Juan and Amalinalli, the Spanish couple we began teaching last week, attended church this week and very much enjoyed it. In addition to the two active members who speak Spanish, a Spanish-speaking couple was visiting from out of town, so they were all able to help Juan and Amalinalli feel very comfortable. Speaking of Spanish investigators, I also received an update on the Peruvian man I met in Grand Rapids last week. He has been taught several times and wants to join the church, but he'll have to do it in California, because he just moved there to stay with friends until his medical treatment is finished. He apparently told the missionaries that, since he is a periodista (he produces radio and television news broadcasts), he wants to help the church spread its message through his broadcast resources in Peru. I hope the tender mercies of the Lord allow me to see him again some day. But if not, I'm glad I got to spend a few hours with him on a Tuesday morning in downtown Grand Rapids.

And, in explanation of the subject line, Sis. Myers, affectionately called "Mama Myers" by the missionaries who love her, gave us some chocolate scones to bake for our breakfast this morning. They were delicious, and somewhat reminiscent of the Cosby children's infamous breakfast.

I love you all and am grateful for your prayers and support. Jesus Christ is the Savior; He will strenghthen and support us in every hardship and through every trial until we have become everything He knows we can! He has restored His church and the fulness of His gospel to the earth in this time! This is His work!

Love,
Elder Cloward