Monday, August 31, 2009
Email received Aug 31, 2009
I have great faith in the promise of a letter, but I've heard that Las Vegas mail is slow compounded by having to go through the mission office first, so no, I have not yet received said correspondence. We've been checking the mail every day and every time my companion says: "This one must be for you!" and every day she receives a letter or a package while promising that she has never received this much mail before. I think the Lord is just testing my faith. On this subject I will be sending you a funny story, but I will send it in pieces so as to draw out the pleasure and joy it will bring. I was considering sending pictures for y'all to enjoy while D&C are there, but I would have to send them today and I haven't even picked them up yet. Do you recall the days when the photo drop box was easy to find? Now they have a section with at least six digital print stations which we walked around twice before realizing that old-fashioned film must be turned in to the associate at the counter (though they "no longer offer 1-hour service, it won't be ready for a week" - okay, I'll be here next week, I just want my pictures!) Now that we've changed topics, the picture from the mission home is decent, but as you may recall from my application process, I could not find a picture I deemed worthy so I leave that decision in your hands. (Editor's note: This is in reference to what picture should be placed in her missionary plaque at church.) I believe next Mon is a holiday, so I might not be able to email if the library is closed, but will you send me Launa's physical address and the address to BAM? (Editor's note: BAM = Books A Million, her former employer.) Thanx! I want to tell you all about the wonderful people we're teaching, but where could I start? There are amazing people out there who desperately need what we have whether it be the gospel, strength and wisdom, or just love and support. Do not be stingy, you'd be surprised at how easy it is to love anyone and how grateful they may be for anything you have to offer. Perfect love casteth out all fear, so go forth and be bold in your loving!
Email received Aug 24, 2009
It's so nice to hear from y'all! I'm also glad to know letters are on their way, sometimes it feels like eons since the last communication from home. (Personal note removed) On that note (laaaaa) Danka, Danka, Danka for the music! It arrived just in time on Sat for us to rehearse and sing it on Sun; I don't know if you made copies or just grabbed the whole stack, but we had the exact number of copies for our two districts to sing together; everyone loved the arrangement and a few people even asked for copies. Golly, that all seems like another lifetime and I've only been in the field for two weeks. I've met many wonderful people here; we're teaching a few people who want to get baptized and helping a lot of people who haven't been to church in a while and want to come back. Sis Moreno and I are bonding over music and a dislike of tracting in Las Vegas (there are times when I forget what its like to be cold!) It rained on Sat and Sun - it was so wonderful, this morning's heat was quite a rude reawakening - has it rained in Houston yet? How about that tropical storm Bro Seibert predicted? (Editor's note: Bro Siebert from our ward is the weatherman on our local Fox channel.) The blog looks alright, I'll try not to let fear of personal details roaming the internet hinder my correspondence :0) I did receive both cards (the ketchup took much explaining but was greatly admired.) (Editor's note: We sent her a birthday card with her name spelled out in ketchup packets. She likes ketchup.) I'll write more next week and see you in 17 months!
S. Cloward
S. Cloward
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Email received Aug 19, 2009
Yoohoo! Sorry about the delay, with p-day on Thurs in the MTC and Mon in the field I missed last week, then this week we got to go to the temple, so our p-day was switched to Wed, so I've been almost two weeks without email or laundry! Other than that, I'm pretty settled in by now, I think. I'm serving in the South Zone covering the Sierra Vista and Southern Hills Wards. We're nestled up right against the mountains on the Southwest of Las Vegas (did you know LV was a valley? I never really thought about it.) I got here at just the right time - everyone says it's starting to cool off - but with temps over 100 degrees we're still advised to take it easy during the middle of the day, so no tracting door to door; we usually have something scheduled in the morning and lessons in the evening so I've only tracted about 2 hrs so far. Don't be afraid to write, I'd love to hear from anyone; I'll write more on Mon. TA!
Mission Home Letter received Aug 18, 2009
Letter HomeNevada Las Vegas West Mission
Date: 8/10/09
Ole! I mean ¡Hola! Here I sit in the Mission Office with Sis. Rummler and 18 brand new Elders. The NV LV West Mission has about 180 Elders & 10 Sisters. Wow. To answer other questions - I get about an hour of email each week (on the MyLDSMail thing) that may be just enough time to read any emails and maybe write one - I suppose that would be good to post as a general note - So you'll have to tell everyone to write me the old-fashioned way so I can return personal correspondence thusly. (Editor's note: These are in response to questions I asked her about her communication options and rules.) Okay, I've been up since 4:00AM so if this is wacky & disjointed - that's why . . . maybe. Oh, & we've been told the best option for packages is USPS Flat Rate because they can be forwarded whereas other packages may take a week or more to get to us depending on our area. Allright - my trainer is Sis. Moreno and I'll be serving in the South Zone (that's one of five zones in Las Vegas.) Can't think of much more right now. I'll try to write again soon.
Love, Sister Cloward
P.S. - Yes, you can call me whatever you want in letter, in fact they request you include the first name in the address. (Editor's note: This was in response to whether or not it mattered how she was addressed in letters.)
Oh yeah - red tile roofs, palm trees, & mountains in the distance - I love it! (Editor's note: Katie lived in Southern California, which is similarly described, from the age of 4 to 12. Fond memories.)
Plus...Look ma, no nylons! Yay!
My Testimony
"The First Day In The Mission Field"
I know I have a Father in Heaven and He loves me. His Son, Jesus Christ, atoned for my sins and knows what I'm going through. I know Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ called Joseph Smith to restore the gospel to the earth & the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God and is the word of God. I know Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's prophet on earth today. I know I am supposed to be here & I have a great mission to serve on this earth and as long as I focus on the Lord I can accomplish anything He asks of me. I know these things to be true.
Missionary's Signature: (Check it out below, it's just squiggles!) Date: 8/11/09
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Letter recieved Aug 7, 2009
I don't get much time to write letters so this is just the right size. (Editor's note: This letter was written on a small greeting card, which eventually became 2 cards.) So here's the health saga of my district: on the second day here E. Hardy hurt his knee in gym; after several appointments (which always seemed to be during Bro. Vallett's class) he discovered he had torn his ASL and both meniscuses (menisci?) After hearing the story of how he came on a mission, you can't imagine a worse thing happening to this wonderful Elder. He decided to have surgery here (yesterday 8/1/09) and do his recovery at the MTC and go on to his mission. We are all so glad because he is where he needs to be and will be a great missionary. That's just the beginning. The worst present I received for my birthday was a sore throat; on Tuesday it was full-blown congestion and dripping everywhere (that's the day B. Vallett asked: "Sis. Cloward are you coming down with a cold?" and I responded: "I am DOWN with a cold, there is no coming!") and on Wed. if I wasn't eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I had a cough drop in my mouth. I went through an entire bag in two days, and it took another 24 hrs. to get the post-cough drop feeling out of my mouth, I couldn't even taste the Thieves in my water!) (Editor's note: Theives is an essential oil which helps to strengthen the immune system.) Thurs (our first P-day!) dawned with only one cough drop and though it took me a little while to climb four flights of stairs wearing a backpack, I felt 10X better (Did I mention I live on the top floor of our building?) The progress has continued and I am now only coughing a few times a day, mostly cured by drinking water.
But that's not the end. I was only the first to get sick - Sis. Sheffield moved into our room on Sun. night & also woke up with a cold, but hers has been lower key & longer lasting and now S. Rummler & S. Young are sick as well. We think it started with one of our roommates who was sick when arrived. Also E. Jensen sits next to me in class everyday and said he had a sore throat yesterday. So between the sniffling, coughing, and Elders leaving for various & sundry doctor appointments, our teachers have been concerned that our district will start dying one by one and none of us will make it out of the MTC. It's been slightly humorous (on Sat. we had only 2 Elders & 2 Sisters, & B. Phipps kept telling everyone - "Make way, I've got my whole district coming through, & we need a lot of room!" Or - "12 Apostles? There were only three Nephites!" And, of course, - "I feel like the fifth wheel on an awkward double date.") We've all skipped at least one Gym time to take a nap --- Now I don't tell you these things to cause any alarm, as I said it has been the source of much humor and bonding among our class.
Another Running joke has been the varying attitudes toward the traditional missionary weight gain. Certain Elders such as E. Perisich are concerned about gaining while at the MTC because their activity level is lower than usual (he's a second-degree black belt in Karate) and eat accordingly. Other Elders have come to full acceptance of the weight they will gain and do nothing to stop it, or, in the case of E. Jensen, aid it's arrival. There is always cold cereal available in the cafeteria and for the first week E. Jensen ended every meal with a bowl. His weight "goal" was 20 lbs. - then S. Rummler challenged that she could gain 30 lbs before he gained his 20; somehow this got upped to 40/30 and now every meal ends with all the Elders putting their unfinished food on E. Jensen's plate and telling him he has to eat it because he's the district leader and E. Jensen insisting that as long as anyone else is eating S. Rummler should be eating something too. Well this has provided hours of joy & pleasure for the rest of us (especially these days when our entire table laughing hysterically dissolves into a cacophony of coughing.)
More Spiritual highlights include: I am interacting & engaging with everyone with no signs of mental ill health; (Editor's note: Katie used to have strong Social Anxiety, but has overcome much of it and learned to manage it well in the last few years.) my spiritual confidence is growing & I feel the fire of the important of this work & my calling; my biggest fear is not being able to connect with my investigators & fill their needs, but I know that if I continue to prepare as well as I can, with experience & a good trainer those skills will come & I know the Lord will Bless me with all things I need so I will devote all my time & energy to His work & invite all to come unto Him!
Love, Sister Cloward
P.S. Send Vitamins
But that's not the end. I was only the first to get sick - Sis. Sheffield moved into our room on Sun. night & also woke up with a cold, but hers has been lower key & longer lasting and now S. Rummler & S. Young are sick as well. We think it started with one of our roommates who was sick when arrived. Also E. Jensen sits next to me in class everyday and said he had a sore throat yesterday. So between the sniffling, coughing, and Elders leaving for various & sundry doctor appointments, our teachers have been concerned that our district will start dying one by one and none of us will make it out of the MTC. It's been slightly humorous (on Sat. we had only 2 Elders & 2 Sisters, & B. Phipps kept telling everyone - "Make way, I've got my whole district coming through, & we need a lot of room!" Or - "12 Apostles? There were only three Nephites!" And, of course, - "I feel like the fifth wheel on an awkward double date.") We've all skipped at least one Gym time to take a nap --- Now I don't tell you these things to cause any alarm, as I said it has been the source of much humor and bonding among our class.
Another Running joke has been the varying attitudes toward the traditional missionary weight gain. Certain Elders such as E. Perisich are concerned about gaining while at the MTC because their activity level is lower than usual (he's a second-degree black belt in Karate) and eat accordingly. Other Elders have come to full acceptance of the weight they will gain and do nothing to stop it, or, in the case of E. Jensen, aid it's arrival. There is always cold cereal available in the cafeteria and for the first week E. Jensen ended every meal with a bowl. His weight "goal" was 20 lbs. - then S. Rummler challenged that she could gain 30 lbs before he gained his 20; somehow this got upped to 40/30 and now every meal ends with all the Elders putting their unfinished food on E. Jensen's plate and telling him he has to eat it because he's the district leader and E. Jensen insisting that as long as anyone else is eating S. Rummler should be eating something too. Well this has provided hours of joy & pleasure for the rest of us (especially these days when our entire table laughing hysterically dissolves into a cacophony of coughing.)
More Spiritual highlights include: I am interacting & engaging with everyone with no signs of mental ill health; (Editor's note: Katie used to have strong Social Anxiety, but has overcome much of it and learned to manage it well in the last few years.) my spiritual confidence is growing & I feel the fire of the important of this work & my calling; my biggest fear is not being able to connect with my investigators & fill their needs, but I know that if I continue to prepare as well as I can, with experience & a good trainer those skills will come & I know the Lord will Bless me with all things I need so I will devote all my time & energy to His work & invite all to come unto Him!
Love, Sister Cloward
P.S. Send Vitamins
Email received Aug 6, 2009
Please look in the pile of music on the shelf by the piano for my arrangement of Guide Me Nearer, if you could send that uber-quickly that'd be great!
Other than that I leave bright and early Monday morning, but I forgot to bring the address of the mission home, so I'll have to send that in a letter. While I'm excited to start doing the real work and know there are many things about teaching that I will have to learn by experience, I wouldn't mind staying at the MTC for a few more weeks, just to feel as prepared as possible. It's a wonderful environment and I'm just starting to get the hang of schedule and they're already gonna kick me out. One of the best things about being here (besides the ratio of men to women, why can't the rest of the church be like this?) is the Spirit. Unlike the stigma of Utah where everyone's living the gospel, but how many actually mean it and how many are doing it just because it's the culture; here you're surrounded by Mormons and know that they are all devout and dedicated - it's the surrealist thing to get into a deep discussion about your experiences in the Temple with someone you've only known one week - I have to keep reminding myself that this is real. Another plus is that with so many elders and so few sisters, we get pretty sweet treatment: the doors are held open, they offer to carry our trays in the cafeteria, I've even seen some tables that stand up every time a sister joins - it's simply splendid! And to top it all off: The Tongans - they're large in spirit, large in personality, and large in stature. There is one Elder Afoa, at first he looks like your average large, very American football player type, but his friendliness seems to be very Tongan, turns out he's actually half Samoan (it also turns out there's some friendly rivalry between Tongans and Samoans). They seem to reflect the very best of the MTC, I'll miss them when I go. I'll miss a lot when I go, our district will be going to four different missions, plus we've gotten close to what I call our sister district, some of the elders there are also going to LV West, but all the others (including some of my favorites and the sisters) are going to California; I'm sure I will also meet many wonderful people in Vegas, but it makes me sad to think I may never see these people again.
Gotta go, 30 minutes goes fast. Write often, love you lots!
Other than that I leave bright and early Monday morning, but I forgot to bring the address of the mission home, so I'll have to send that in a letter. While I'm excited to start doing the real work and know there are many things about teaching that I will have to learn by experience, I wouldn't mind staying at the MTC for a few more weeks, just to feel as prepared as possible. It's a wonderful environment and I'm just starting to get the hang of schedule and they're already gonna kick me out. One of the best things about being here (besides the ratio of men to women, why can't the rest of the church be like this?) is the Spirit. Unlike the stigma of Utah where everyone's living the gospel, but how many actually mean it and how many are doing it just because it's the culture; here you're surrounded by Mormons and know that they are all devout and dedicated - it's the surrealist thing to get into a deep discussion about your experiences in the Temple with someone you've only known one week - I have to keep reminding myself that this is real. Another plus is that with so many elders and so few sisters, we get pretty sweet treatment: the doors are held open, they offer to carry our trays in the cafeteria, I've even seen some tables that stand up every time a sister joins - it's simply splendid! And to top it all off: The Tongans - they're large in spirit, large in personality, and large in stature. There is one Elder Afoa, at first he looks like your average large, very American football player type, but his friendliness seems to be very Tongan, turns out he's actually half Samoan (it also turns out there's some friendly rivalry between Tongans and Samoans). They seem to reflect the very best of the MTC, I'll miss them when I go. I'll miss a lot when I go, our district will be going to four different missions, plus we've gotten close to what I call our sister district, some of the elders there are also going to LV West, but all the others (including some of my favorites and the sisters) are going to California; I'm sure I will also meet many wonderful people in Vegas, but it makes me sad to think I may never see these people again.
Gotta go, 30 minutes goes fast. Write often, love you lots!
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