Mission Home Letter received Sept 28, 2009

We recieved this from the Mission Home. Presumably it is a copy of what they sent to Katie

Email received Sept 28, 2009

I've been found out! People have heard my voice and complimented me on it, but this Sunday one of the organists in one ward asked if I would like to sing something in church; of course I said yes, but now I just have to pick what to sing; I'd love to start working on something for Christmas, but I can't guarantee I'll even be here that long, I do hope so, though. My optimal plan (that I hope I don't jinx by actually writing it down) is to spend the winter in Vegas, then go up north for the summer and then come back down for the last few winter months; or, since there are now more sister areas up north, perhaps I could stay up north and actually experience a good winter again before coming home to lovely, wintery Houston. Either way, I don't think I could survive a real summer in Vegas - I don't know how anyone could, but apparently they do - but I don't think I would mind a nice winter - or maybe that's just the 103 degree weather talking. Poor Sis Moreno, she gets two winters up north and one summer down south, she's definitely a trooper.

I thought of y'all often on 9/19 (Editor's note: Sept 19 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, visit www.talklikeapirate.com for more info.), wondered how the party went (did Tasha wear her eyepatch?) and tried to find the balance between pirate and missionary - we didn't really succeed so we settled on the safe side and stuck with missionary, but we did try to think of some good door approaches - arrr, would ya like to be hearing the good word?

So the last two weeks have been a wee bit slower, we're trying to contact all the less-actives on our ward lists in the hope of something, and it is actually starting to get a little cooler, with the promise of the big chill coming soon, so we're planning a lot more tracting. My new companion wants to do my hair and makeup, but I won't let her do my makeup without my MK eye makeup remover, and she won't do my hair if she can't do my makeup, so could you throw that in the box that's on it's way? Thank you so much! She is also insistent on getting me to talk more, which I am happy to go along with (but that doesn't make it any easier) so we should be seeing some improvement in that regard. Well I'm sure I could ramble on for a while longer, but I don't really have much else to say of any worth so I will close for this week. Hope to get your letters soon, it really is such a thrill in our missionary lives to receive communication from home. See you in 16 months!!!

Sista Cloward

Letter received Sept 25, 2009

And now, a brief introduction to Mission Geography, Government, & Genealogy:

A mission (led by the Mission President and two elders acting as Assistants) is divided into Zones (led by a companionship know as Zone Leaders) which are split into Districts (led by a District Leader) which are made up of 3 or so companionships (Senior Companion and Junior Companion) who each cover an Area.

When you enter the mission you are “born” and your first companion is known as your “father” (or “mother” in the case of sister missionaries.) Most new missionaries stay with their trainer at least 2 transfers (a transfer is a six-week period at the end of which you or your companion may or may not be moved to another area) before moving on to their second companion who is lovingly deemed their “polisher.” However, in cases the new missionary or his (or her) trainer is transferred after only six weeks in which case the second companion becomes the stepfather (or stepmother.) Sister missionaries claim their first District Leader as their father; but, owing to the shortage of sisters, not every elder has a mother; most hold that only elders born into a district with sisters can claim the senior companion as his mother, but some traditions state that an elder may claim the senior sister is his zone, if there be any sisters in his zone.

I tell you all this to set the stage for my news: S. Moreno is being transferred to Reno and my new companion, my “polisher,” my “stepmother,” is also…my daughter – that’s right, I’m training! With 7 sisters continuing in the mission & 5 new sisters coming in this transfer, Pres McCracken has opened 2 new sister areas and has babies training babies. Well, that’s the bombshell, go ahead and brag, my mission mother is. I can’t think of much else to say and it’s almost time for dinner so…I’ll let you know how it goes. ☺

Much love,
Sister Cloward

P.S. It’s later and my new missionary is unpacking. Her name is Sister Chapman, she’s from VA & she’s actually older than me! She’s 27 years old and very talkative, so we should get along well together. Well, it’s about bedtime so goodnight! Wish me luck!!

XOXO

Be sure to check out the continuation of "The First Epistle of
the Elders to the Dead Letter Writers" below!!!

Email received Sept 14, 2009

I finally got the package - thanks for the vitamins and camera (though I was hoping you would leave all the existing pictures and videos, especially the sumos) I especially loved the surprise, it's always nice to find out you owe the IRS...oh, and the ice pack was cute, too. We live with a single sister from one of our wards and guess what - we just got a dog! Well, she's dog sitting for a couple months, but we got permission to take Coby (8 year-old Golden Retriever) to the park this morning and boy did he enjoy running around chasing that ball. I took a video, maybe if you send me the appropriate connection tools I could attach videos and pics to my emails (I also took some videos of elders piling up on a giant slip&slide this afternoon.)If you find yourself on Youtube with nothing to look up, search for clips from this years Jerry Lewis Telethon - George Wallace was very funny (if you ask me how I know, I will plead the fifth!) also watch when JL sings 'God Bless America' and look for a cute blonde in a white robe (she's in the back row mostly but at the end she's up front on JL's left) I know her!! In other good news, I had my first baptism on Sat! Wonderful Betty and her two children; the service went very well (I sang a song) and the spirit was felt by all. I will be sending presents, but since we only get one day to shop and we usually just go to Walmart, it may be another week or two till I find something good for all y'all born in the Fall. TA!!!

Letter Received Sept 14, 2009

District 53E!

E Jensen, E Perisich, S Sheffield, S Young,
S Cloward, S Rummler, E Lotz, & E Hardy

.

The Sisters of Branch 53
S Logo, S Sheffield, S Heslop, S Young, S Cloward
S Rummler, & S Fangupo - I promise you the
matchy-matchy tealness was purely & perfectly
coincidental - see, S Rummler didn't get the memo.

.

MTC Branch 53 Districts C & E (plus Elder Tonga)

E Henderson (CA), E Lotz (UT), E Perisich (UT), E Francis (NV),
E Sorenson (NV), E Jensen (Scot), S Sheffield (Ire), S Heslop (CA),
S Young (UT), S Cloward (NV), S Rummler (NV), S Fangupo (CA),
E Ostler (NV), E Mouritsen (CA), E Campbell (CA), E Hardy (UT),
E Tonga/E Zimmerman (CA), E Marler (NV)

.

There are 4 or 5 of these signs
on the walk from the MTC to the
Temple. Ask David for the backstory :-)

.

One of our roommates had a birthday just before
we arrived. After 2 weeks some casualties had been
suffered but most of the hearts were holding strong.

. Bro. Vallett & Elder Hardy in his wheelchair

.

Bro. Phipps & Elders Jensen & Lotz in the corner

. We tried to use the commitment pattern to get our teachers to bring us a pack of Oreos. Though we didn't get a firm commitment from either, we developed a theory involving Bro. Phipps which turned out to be 100% accurate: He said he couldn't do it or he'd get in trouble for bringing us food & not bringing any for his boss, but we surmised that after his last class a package of Oreos would somehow 'appear' in the classroom - sure enough, at the end of his last day he came up with some crock story about us closing our eyes while he left so there would be no hard goodbyes. We all saw through it instantly but did as we were told, though I set up my camera to capture the truth... Sure enough the Oreos appeared while Bro. Phipps was still in the classroom. This picture is worthy of blackmail, don't let it fall int the wrong hands - we wouldn't want Bro. Phipps losing his job over such excellent service to his class.

P.S. When I get home, I'll show you the proper way to eat Oreos.

.

S Rummler, S Sheffield, & E Jensen enjoy
the spoils of the Commitment Pattern.

The Seat in the corner under the bookshelf
is where I spent many happy hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello fambly!

To Celebrate this wonderful Labor Day holiday we must defer to old-fashioned methods of communication - just for future reference let me know when you get this, I didn’t get your letters till Wed 9/2 which by my calculations means 7 days coming, I imagine the going will be somewhat faster without a stop at the mission home. I’ve included the receipt for Aug’s meds and the beginning of the story I promised; now, don’t cheat and try to look up the rest, the anticipation will only make it better (and give me more time to find other things to send.)

(Editor’s note: The following are snippets from the sections addressed to individual persons.)
~I do miss the MTC – the spirit, the camaraderie, and, of course, being fed at regular intervals, though it’s nice to have more say in meal choices now. ~
~We had another thunderstorm on Fri afternoon – we had just started our afternoon visits when it started – fat raindrops & lots of wind; we decided to visit one of our R.S. Presidents for a long discussion of the ward list but first we had to back out of our current parking space; now, mission rules dictate that when backing a mission vehicle, the non-driver must stand behind the vehicle to offer direction & guidance; needless to say, I eagerly filled my duty this day – let others say I’m hard-core, it was simply refreshing!~

Tumble Mittens & the kitties (Editor’s note: Yes, she addressed a section to our cats.) – One of our investigators (she and her 2 kids are getting baptized Sat. yay!) has a cat that was very pregnant and finally give birth last week. We had an appointment the next day and got to see the brand new kittens – 3 orange & 1 dark tabbies. I haven’t seen any that small since you were born, Tumbles. (Editor’s note: Tumbles turned 12 in July.)

I hope D&C’s visit and move were enjoyable & went smoothly. (Editor’s note: D&C is David and Celestia.) I know you took pictures of the baby, so don’t be stingy. ☺ The previously mentioned R.S. President had her baby on 7/8, he was only 8lbs something ozs but he’s already huge – in her words “all my kids just chunk up!” Other news to make you (and me) jealous – the lady we’re staying with just got back from a 2 week trip to Scotland; apparently she has a “friend” there that she would like to know better. ☺

I’ve been writing for hours & I was hoping to get some x-stitching done so I’ll try to wrap it up – but I don’t want to waste paper either. (Editor’s note: This was at the top of a brand new page.) My companion bought a cross-word puzzle book & we’re trying not to let it distract us from the work, but it’s certainly building companionship unity. While I write, she’ll occasionally ask about a clue & I’ll answer – it’s kinda making me feel smart. I’m sending a few of my MTC pics, but I only got singles so don’t lose them! Okay, I know there’s probably more but I’m really wanting to move on so this will have to suffice.

Love & Kisses,
Sister Katie Cloward

Inspirational quote:
TRIUMPH usually comes from putting a little more “umph” into your “try.”
Quoted by Thomas S. Monson

Be sure to check out "The First Epistle of the Elders
to the Dead Letter Writers" below!!!