One Year Older and Wider Too?

Hi family!

Thanks for your emails and for the package - I had a great birthday! The cookies were delicious (don't worry, they're not ALL eaten yet), the ties are much appreciated, and the CD is great.

My birthday, since we're on the subject, was great. The branch held a pioneer picnic, which was a lot of fun - we went on a trek through the woods, had a watermelon eating contest (I was second place), had a balloon-toss (Elder Weaver and I were second place), and ate lots of food (I was second place; I'm pretty sure Elder Weaver ate more). I ate way too many slices of Sis. Myers' delicious peanut butter Texas sheet cake, which I adopted as my birthday cake :). It was also our branch president's birthday, so the branch sang to both of us.

Also on my birthday, at the risk of being irreverent, I asked Heavenly Father for a present - I only asked for one new investigator but he gave me two! (That upped our week total to four). We taught Jerry and Leann Saturday (after talking to them while tracting over a month ago). Interestingly, Leann has an aunt who loves the missionaries (I don't know if she's a member or not) and has been telling Leann to talk to missionaries and get a book from us for years. We're excited to teach them more. (Sadly, I'll be in Grand Rapids on trade-offs tomorrow while Elder Weaver and Elder Guedez teach them).

Another of our new investigators, Cindi, came to church with us on Sunday! She requested a copy of the Book of Mormon when she saw an ad for it on TV; she was feeling really depressed (she's been recently laid off) and thought it might help her out. She loved everything we taught and was excited to go to church again after years of not attending any church. We hope things continue to go well there.

I have to wrap it up here because I'm out of computer time. I know Jesus Christ leads this work. I'm so grateful for his patience with me and the grace by which He strengthens me each day. The Lord knows what kind of instrument he wants and needs and he'll make us into that! I love you all!

Elder Cloward