Beware the Jabberwock, My Son!

Hi there family!

Elder Weaver and I have had a pretty good week. Let's see ... what to report on.

First things first. We weren't able to email last week because we were tied up (for five hours) at a baptism. A family from Ithaca was having a family reunion in the area and wanted to baptize their 8-year-old daughter while all the family was together. Since our building houses the nearest baptismal font, we got to help out. And, since they were doing it in the middle of the day, we were asked by the Branch Presidency, all of whom would be working, to be the branch's representatives, fill the font, clean up and lock up, etc. We arrived at 2 to fill the font and discovered that the water has to be turned off every 10-15 minutes so the water heater can fill back up. So we were filling until just before 4, when the family was supposed to arrive. They didn't make it there until 5, the baptismal service took until 6, and they weren't done eating and cleaning up until 7.

We had interviews with President Jones this week. They're never as exciting as I hope but that's probably a good thing since he usually just tells me to keep up the good work or something like that. All signs are pointing to my leaving the Hart area. I'm going to be pretty torn up when I go but I've had a good 6 months here; I definitely feel like I'll be leaving the area better than I found it and that's a certain measure of success. I'm really hoping to help a few of our investigators commit to baptismal dates this last week here.

We had kind of a fun experience with a house full of Spanish guys yesterday. It started out as we went to visit Carmelo, a media referral whom we had taught once. It turned out he was done picking peaches and had moved to some other farm-hand housing where he was now picking zucchini. We managed to find his new place (a miracle since I was given directions in Spanish) and we taught him and six of his roommates the message of the restoration. They were all excited about it and about reading El Libro de Mormon; they all agreed to share three copies of the book - we had two on us and had already given one to Carmelo. They said they're coming to church this Sunday, so we're crossing our fingers that someone can be there to translate.

Speaking of Spanish, President Jones has told us he'll be putting a Spanish-speaking elder here if he transfers one of us. I'm a little jealous that it will probably be Elder Weaver who'll get a Spanish-speaking companion (I'm sure it'd be a lot easier for me to learn Spanish if I were living with a native speaker). Still, this area really needs a Spanish speaker; our branch president said he's considering requesting a Spanish-speaking senior couple for our branch. I have little doubt that there would be a Spanish branch or ward in this area within a short number of years.

(Writing emails home is always an exercise in prioritizing. What things are most important for me to include?)

I'll share one last insight before I close. Sis. Myers, who was baptized here last August, attended the temple for the first time last Friday. Elder Fortuna and Elder Contreras, who were here when she was baptized, were able to go with her. (They'll be going home next Wednesday, so it's a great way for them to finish up their missions). Anyway, Sis. Myers was given the opportunity to bear her testimony yesterday in Church. She told us about how marvelous it was to visit the temple, the House of the Lord, to feel of the Spirit there, and to feel the added armor of protection her covenants give her. Then she said something I hope to remember for the rest of my life. In speaking of the youth of the church who have grown up knowing the precious truths of the restored gospel, she said: "I often think: O, what I could have done with my life had I had then what they have now." I had to write it down verbatim so I would remember it.

I have the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know who my Father is and I know who I am. I know what my purpose and mission is in this life. I know how to call down the powers of heaven to fulfill that purpose and bring others to Christ. I know how to obtain blessings, protection, guidance, revelation, inspiration, and counsel. I know how to exercise faith and repent of my sins, and I have the assurance, through the covenants I made at baptism and in the Holy Temple, that I will always have His Spirit with me, that my sins are forgiven me, and that I will inherit eternal life with my eternal family in the Kingdom of God. O, what I can do with my life because of what I know! I'm so grateful I still have a year left of my mission - there is so much more I need to do and accomplish. Lisa Sandstrom forwards me Jeff's emails every week and the way that crazy kid is working and seeing success is blowing me away. (I think that's on my mind because I just read his last email.) Anyway, he inspires me, and if I can kick my work up to the Ammon-like level that he has, and work that way for the year I have left, I know I can accomplish a good work here for my Father in Heaven. The gospel is true!

I love you all and pray for you daily!
Elder Cloward