The Travails of a Sister Missionary.

Email received Jun 28, 2010

2010-06-29T21:14:00.101-05:00

Couple of cool connections this week: The building our wards meet in is the Stake Center for another stake who was having it's Stake Conference on Sunday, so our wards were all switched around. Our first ward met in one of the buildings that was temporarily deserted for the conference, and as usual Sis Knuteson and I stood at the doors to the chapel passing out programs and greeting people. When I saw people I didn't recognize I naturally chalked it up to summer visitors or confused members, but there was one family that was different. As they walked in the father said "Sis. Cloward, where are you from?" Now this is not an unfrequent question for a missionary, but the quick succession perked my attention. I noticed the man had a polynesian look about him and guessed where it was going. Sure enough, his name is Darryn Wong and he knows the Clowards in Hawaii; Cary Cloward was his sunday school teacher when he was a boy and currently lives in their stake. (Editor's note: Dad's uncle raised his family in Hawaii.) It's so cool to meet people who actually know people I know rather than "the Clowards in Nebraska?" "Nope, but we're related!" or "so-and-so Cloward was my great-great-grandmother." That's great, I only know a few names from that far back...but we're related.

I've also had a vain hope of seeing a teaching record with the name Conrad or Knieser (Editor's note: Boys in our ward in Connecticut who served in Nevada.) or possibly even Cloward on it (Editor's note: David served in Nevada while waiting for his visa to come through for Hungary.), but since the whole program has changed since then, our records don't go back that far. Plus, only Mark (Knieser) was in this mission, and it's a big mission, so he could have been anywhere. But on Sat we had a lesson with a recent convert in the single's ward. He lives with his grandmother who joined the church several years ago, but it took him until just this January to come around for himself. I asked him how they first got introduced to the church and he said: "Oh, way back when I was about 14 or 15 we were just doing whatever when the missionaries came to our neighborhood and Elder Knieser knocked on our door - " at which point I said "Elder Knieser?!?!?! Was he from CT? Was this about 2002-2003??" They replied in the affirmative and I continued to gush that "I know him!!!" We chatted about him for a few minutes and I told them what I knew post-mission (which isn't much, I don't know how may kids they have now); apparently the grandmother didn't get baptized until 2004 or 2005 so I don't know if Mark even knows about that, let alone the grandson. I just think it's so awesome that not only do I get to see a bit of what he did a-way back when, I also get to help teach one of the same families. You have to admit that's pretty cool.

I don't think I mentioned last week, but Sis Knuteson and I got to go to Girls Camp for an afternoon. We counted it as service because the craft lady is in our ward and said she needed our help, how could we refuse? We helped the girls make bead rings for an hour or so (they're very pretty) and then had some free time to go exploring. Now I have more photo evidence of just what sister missionaries can do in skirts and illustrations for Jeremiah 16:16.

It was funny to see the girls (and leaders) all bundled up because "it's so cold on Mt. Charleston!" I will admit, if you sit still in the shade it's rather cool and after the sun goes down it started getting quite chilly (maybe even in the 50s) I would definitley want an extra blanket at night, but if you're sitting in the sun or running through the hills, it's actually quite pleasant to a little warm. People were so concerned that our legs were going to freeze because we had come up in skirts, but we were happy as clams. Much nicer than the 100+ in Vegas!

I believe I've mentioned the Lords family before, we were having lessons at their home every Mon night; they are awesome and we love them so much!!! Well, their oldest son just came home from his mission on the 18th and Sis Lords asked if I would sing this song (Homeward Bound, Track #3) the next Sunday as it had become one of his favorites on his mission. Somehow I got roped into singing it in the Singles Ward this past Sunday as well, I don't know if I did as well, but it's all in the Lord's hands anyhow. Enjoy, but don't get any ideas, I've still got another 7 months before I'm on my way.

-Sis Cloward

P.S. We finally put our spider in the freezer and he died. Now we have two dead spiders sitting in a tupperware container on our counter, I'm not really sure why.

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Jeremiah 16:16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

Email received Jun 21, 2010

2010-06-22T19:52:00.014-05:00

To start with, imagine a father's day card. There were lots of Charlie Brown/Snoopy themed ones this year that made me think of you, Dad, but as I told my companion: Not spending $5 on a greeting card shows my love for my father. And for David, the father's day card of all father's day cards: you're walking through the store, you walk past the card aisle, all the father's day cards are displayed in front, your eye is drawn to one near the top, there on the cover is...Darth Vader. It doesn't even matter what the card says, that's just awesome. Some more thoughts for father's day, Sis Knuteson and I went to visit a referral a couple weeks ago who wasn't so much interested in learning about the church as he was in telling us we were wrong, but in a very pleasant and friendly manner. His son, who is a preacher, gave him a dog named Moses who says his prayers: he puts his front paws up on a chair and lays his head down on top of them; but the best story was when they showed this off to a random black lady they met on the street one day, "Praise JE-sus!! I've just seen a Dog that says his Prayers!" We chatted for a while and most of what he said was just his interpretation of all the religious studies he's done (he's chosen a mainstream Christian religion) but the phrase that pierced our hearts and won't leave our minds was "I am not a son of God, nor will I ever be a son of God." This has literally come up in conversation at least once a day since, with many references to scriptures and hymns and "See, right there, Child of God!" The thought hit me the other day that while chatting to him about other topics was very enjoyable, that was a fleeting sort of happiness, but knowing who I am, what I really mean to my Father in Heaven, and my true potential brings a lasting joy that nothing can take away. Nothing. I was grateful yesterday when many of the talks (we do go to three Sacrament Mtgs now, don't know if I mentioned that) focused on our Father in Heaven, and one even quoted from a story by Pres. Monson, "the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become like God." If anything, run-ins with people like this only cement our testimonies and drive them deeper into our minds and hearts.

Last night at dinner our host was telling us a story about a nephew, I believe; he was sitting by her and said "I can speak Spanish!" "Really?" "Yeah," as he picked up a fork, "Fark!" He's from Utah. We all laughed ourselves silly. Another home we were in recently has a full band player piano. She turned it on and I just sat in fascination while scents of specialty candies and fancy coffees danced through my head. Only this one didn't require a quarter and there was no plexiglass barrier, I actually sat down and played a little on it, it was awesome. (Editor's note: She's referencing an old-fashioned candy store we used to go to as kids which had a plexiglass encased player piano in the back.)

I don't mean to alarm you, but there's a black widow in our fridge, it's the one we caught last week. We actually caught it outside in the driveway, but we figured it was best to catch it outside before it had a chance to find it's way inside. The only problem is now we don't know what to do with it. It sat on our table for a while in one of those small Glad containers (perfect for spider catching) but we've since built a larger spider home...no, it's not a pet, it doesn't have a name...okay, it's Thad, and we may have put one of the other dead spiders in there to see what would happen. It was like watching the Discovery channel right there on our kitchen table, the horror on our faces obviously overcome by the fascination of watching it live. Now we've put the whole thing in the fridge because that apparently slows them down so they aren't quite as lively and eventually we need to put the real lid on so we can have our object lesson baptismal font back. The exciting life of a missionary in America, oh the drama. Really though, cockroaches are the drama bug; someone from our ward came and sprayed all around our apartment and the next morning we counted 15 ginormous, ucky bugs dead or dying on the sidewalk. Everything else is content to die in their little flowerbed homes, but the cockroaches have to come out so everyone can see. Get over yourselves.

Oh, I plum (plumb?) forgot, we're without a car until Wed. Someone had to borrow it to drive north to train a new car person up there, so we walked a lot on Sat, our feet hurt and we were very tired, but we really feel like missionaries. And today we had an excuse to hang out with Sis Johnson and Sis Mack so they could give us rides to the library and shopping and stuff. Okay, my comp is done so we should head out, now we have to find a ride home and figure out what to do with the rest of our day. Fun!!

-Sis. Cloward

Email received Jun 14, 2010 (a big one!)

2010-06-14T16:39:00.004-05:00

Pics from Red Rock 5-24-10

Welcome to Red Rock

All the Southern Sisters

My Comps, Sis. McCracken and
Sis. Forred (medical missionary)

The View

All of us

Eating lunch (finally)

Terrific trio

What?! Sis. Johnson's getting transferred?!

Giant tortoise - note the sign, I was
glad to be wearing pants

The district I love

Elder Powell

Elders Petersen and Williams

Lovely sisters

Fun in the car

I swear we were parked

I don't even know what those are

Elder Powell

Elders Robison, Mabeza, and Powell

Our Zone

Elders Smith, Powell, Mabeza, Petersen, Sis Knuteson

Zone Conference training on unity (post Elders Petersen and Mabeza and Sister Johnson) - the Zone Leaders joined our district because it was too close for sisters to participate, Sis. Knuteson was bummed about that

Elder Powell

Mission Life
(Sorry, the first two got numbered wrong.)

Elders...what else can I say?

Sisters on bikes. As for the last few seconds...see comment above.

Again, no comment needed.

The other district - they had some difficulties.

Our district - we've already been together one transfer plus we had a few minutes to practice (roughly 2 min 5? sec, if I remember correctly) - my camera chip finally filled up right before the finish line - sad day!! But I believe it was approximately 58 sec. Booyah.

Final addition to the armor of God

I was gonna send a sweet video of the new spider we caught last night, but it's too big. Shapoopie. Life's going well, hope you enjoy all the evidence, there's always more, but some will be better shared in person. Thank you for all the updates and pictures. I love you bunches.

-Spider Catching Master Sis Cloward

Email received Jun 7, 2010

2010-06-08T15:11:00.054-05:00

Another one of those crazy busy weeks where so much has happened I don't know how to write about it all. I'm working on some good illustrated stories for y'all, so if you're patient you'll get lots of pics and vids hopefully next week.

Some highlights: Churro's baptism (his real name is Diego, but no one calls him that) was AMAZING!!! He literally filled the chapel with all the friends he invited. It was really so amazing, that's about all I can say. We taught a lesson to a foreign exchange student from Thailand, she goes home in a couple weeks but we had fun watching the Restoration in Thai. Since transfers Sis Knuteson and I are covering the Singles Ward with the elders; yesterday was our first day - 8 hours of church! And on a fast Sunday! I love my life!! It's weird enough being in a single's ward again, but try doing it as a missionary - double weird. But there's a lot of return sister missionaries, so we hope to have plenty to keep us busy. Can't think of much else that won't be better with pictures, so hopefully next week there'll be lots of fun headed your way!

-Sis Cloward

P.S. I sang Mercy's Arms (Track #1) in one ward on the 16th & in the other ward on the 30th; I sang Baptism (Track #2) at Churro's baptism.

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Just some evidence of possibly the world's greatest district:
Sisters show their love
Elders show their love

Email received Jun 1, 2010

2010-06-03T14:49:00.002-05:00

I hope I'll have time next week to send updated pics and songs, it's been a crazy few weeks. Transfers were this morning, three people left from our district including Sis Johnson, but she only just went to South Zone so she's not too far away; in fact, she's sitting only a few feet away from me (we both come out of zone to use this library). Even though it's only been three hours since we saw her, it feels like she's been gone for a week; we already started cleaning and rearranging the apartment. We're all pretty excited because our district this past transfer has been The Bomb!!! so we're sad to lose such awesomness, but nobody new came in (they combined two areas) so we're all going to be pretty tight still, yay!!! (D'ya like my lingo - I've been spending too much time with 19 year-old boys).

In other news, we have a baptism on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be my first since Dec as I missed the one in March, plus this is a young boy who has been wanting to get baptized for a few years and his parents finally gave him permission. I'm so grateful I got to meet him and be a part of his journey; I'm glad it's finally working out for him, but I can definitely see the Lord's hand in the timing of everything. We've been having the lessons every Mon night at the home of the Lords family and that has been a blessing to every person involved in some form or another. I can't wait for y'all to meet them when we come visit my mission next year! That is already on the calendar, right?

-Sis. Cloward

P.S. We were talking to someone the other day about a charity they support which focuses on helping people regain well-being (something like Pransky maybe? I think the website was joyfulhope.org); they also mentioned a book by a guy whose research shows 7(?) different forms/causes of depression and how different treatments styles are required for each one (I think the book was Making a Good Brain Better). It all sounded very interesting, didn't know if you'd had heard of any of it.

Email received May 24, 2010

2010-05-25T18:20:00.004-05:00

ohmyflipalipjuicymoma! That is only an approximation of what went through my head as I looked at the pictures you sent, Mother. Sikhs wearing tartans and playing bagpipes - Hallelujah! There's hope for my wedding yet! (Have fun explaining that Mr. Editor's Notes) (Editor's note: That's Miss Editor's Note to you, and, oy vey. The pictures sent were pictures from the Jakarta Highland Gathering that Mom, Amy, and Dad attended in Indonesia. I've inlcuded a picture just for ya'll. As far as Katie's dream wedding, the basic jist of it is that all the women will be wearing sari's and all the men will be wearing kilts. HA! That wasn't so hard.)

Well, we sisters all went to Red Rock this morning (a lovely desert area with colorful rocks.) We didn't go on all the hikes we had intended because we got lost on a one-way road, well the problem really came when the one-way road turned into a two-way road. And due to these circumstance there's not much time left in our p-day and we still haven't gone shopping, so I don't know how long or detailed I'll have time to get. We're also going to see if we can arrange to go back with our district of elders next Mon, so I don't know when I'll have time to write you all the fun details! Maybe if I quit wasting time just blabbing (and drooling over pics.) Okay, I'm running out of time, but truly, thank you for the pictures and updates with all you're doing. I love you!!!!!!!!!

-Sis Cloward

P.S. May I make a couple requests for that box if it hasn't been sent yet? Can you look in my closet for a black skirt (I don't remember how many I have) I believe the brand is Studio 41? I'm wanting some shorter skirts for summer and there's no reason to buy new ones if it's long enough (did you understand that oxymoron?) And maybe my capris, should be in one of the drawers on the left, I believe, unless of course Amy already stole all these clothes, then I'll survive.

Email received May 17, 2010

2010-05-18T17:42:00.014-05:00

Not much of note this week, except it felt like an eternity from one Sunday to the next; Wed felt like it should be Fri and by the time Fri came it seemed like a whole new week, Sat alone was at least three separate days. On the mission front the elders invited us to help them with a family of nine that want to be baptized this Fri (Dad, Mom, girl 11, boy 10, girl 9, girl 8, girl 7, girl 6, boy 2) only problem is Mom and Dad aren't married and even bigger issue is after living so long without the gospel there are consequences and issues that would probably take several years of intensive counseling & gospel study or a couple mighty changes of heart to overcome. But what can you do in just a short few weeks time? Pray awfully hard and be glad it's up to the Lord, the bishop, and the elders. That's another annoying thing about sin, the only options it leaves you with are hard and just-as-hard, how do you choose?

On the more lighthearted side: On Fri someone told us they were taking their kids to Robin Hood; Sis J: "You mean Red Robins?" In my head: "Maybe it's some local activity place?" Bro Moffat: "No, Robin Hood, the new movie with Russell Crowe!" Oh, yeah, that one that none of us have ever heard of because it wasn't even a twinkle in the writer's eye when we came out on our missions, gotcha, thanks. So we went inside and got keifer buds from Sis Moffat, yes keifer buds. Now we can make our own yogurt, exciting, huh? I think so. Apparently there are multiple ways to make yogurt, but I'm wondering if these are any relation to delicious Kefir yogurt drinks. I'll let you know if I figure out the recipe. Seeing as how they're live cultures, we weren't sure if they should count as illegal pets and if we should name them (Sis K. used to have a crush on a boy named Keifer, and the name Keefe came to my mind), but since they seem to grow pretty fast it would be hard to keep track of them so we decided to just consider them interesting. We're still experimenting with how they work and how much yogurt we will actually use any given day, but it's pretty cool.

I sang in one ward yesterday, but my camera wouldn't record for some reason, good thing I'm singing the same song in the other ward on the 30th, hopefully I'll get you a good copy then. I guess there were some other great lessons and visits this week, but I haven't even recorded them in my journal, I can't seem to be able to think of too many topics per email for fear of my brain exploding. Oh well, hopefully my brain lasts long enough to be able to share everything when I get home and show my slides all night like missionaries do.

Thanks for the emails and updates, keep staying out of trouble and try to stay healthy! Love you for eternity!

-Sis Cloward

P.S. The sister hike has been rescheduled to next week, so it may be a short email. Sending plenty of love this week.

Elder Powell tries on the armor in it's preliminary stages

While my companions were talking to their families Sunday night, Andrew Moffat roped me into playing Pirates of the Caribbean Stratego (wasn't to hard to do.) He was pounding me the whole game until the end when I just barely managed to pull ahead and give him what-for

Abby Lords models the finished armor

during the lesson

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Elder Jones and I sing Because He Lives at Zone Conference

Email received May 10, 2010

2010-05-11T17:35:00.013-05:00

So we didn't end up going on the outing with the other sisters today, but I forgot my magical bag of electronics so I can't even play with pictures or anything and now I have all this time to waste and nothing to do! Well, I guess I'll just write home.

Hmmm, what should I write about now? How about the fact that we're doing a lesson about the Armor of God tonight and we spent the last week making some pretty sweet armor, and ever since Sis Johnson tried it on this morning she's been acting a little crazy...or maybe that's normal.

Or...how about t-shirts? I want a new t-shirt, but I can't remember what I have at home so I guess I'll just buy a new one, maybe a Las Vegas one. What size t-shirt does dad wear? Just for future reference.

This one's for Tasha: I'm assuming her pillowcase got dirty, but last night I noticed my companion is using a t-shirt as a pillowcase and it made me think of you. (Editor's note: Tasha has made t-shirt pillows.)

What else to say...I'm singing a duet in Zone Conference tomorrow; it was a little touch and go for a bit as we only had two weeks to get the music, learn the song (he's sung it before, I'd never heard of it), find someone who could accompany in the ever shortening time frame and get together to practice. But miracles happen and that's why God allows some people to develop their talents so very well; we ended up with a sister from one of our wards who could play the song perfectly the second time through - well, she's says there are still mistakes, but I can't hear where - she also played the piano for the entire stake play I told you about, she's awesome. (I'm trying to set up David with her son who is leaving for a mission to Hungary in a month.) We got together to practice singing with each other and with the accompaniment for the first time this morning and everyone says it sounds pretty amazing; the song is beautiful, I hope I get a good recording for you tomorrow. Since you know everything that happened prior to Saturday evening most of this email is pretty up to the minute - this just in: Sis Johnson got hit on at the library for the third time in 2 months. It's kinda funny...poor girl.

Did you ever get emails with pictures from our last Zone Conference? I'm never sure if I write down the correct email addresses when I'm away from the computer. Can't think of much else to say. Any burning questions since Saturday night? Comments, questions, concerns...anything? I guess I'll go tinker around on lds.org for a while; I'd watch the videos there, but I don't have any headphones with me. Oh, well.

-Sis Cloward

Email received May 3, 2010

2010-05-04T17:24:00.020-05:00

Okay, my brain's still a little fuzzy, I don't really know what I did last week, besides walk enough to still be sore - being a missionary's great!! Last night was a bit of an adventure: we practiced teaching a lesson to a member family and when they dropped us off Sis Johnson realized she had forgotten the key again (she tries to say this has never happened before, but it has). We usually just knock on the Andrews' door and ask them if we can go through their house (it connects through the laundry room) but last night they weren't home. We tried calling but Bro Andrews was out of town and the oldest daughter was at a fireside so we had to go around the back and get the secret key. Luckily the people who dropped us off hadn't left yet and had a big flashlight we could use. Sis Johnson sent Sis Knuteson and I because she doesn't do dogs, so we had to climb fences and dig tunnels...just kidding, we just had to get through two fences and quiet two little dogs who could bark the head off a dead man while we found the key.

After much door jiggling and the retrieval of a second key, we finally got inside where the adventure continues. During this process the wife of one of our ward mission leaders came to bring bed #3 for Sis. Knuteson to try which involved rearranging half of the apartment and disturbing a rather large spider (did I tell you about the last one we found during our first week? Rather large, possibly a wolf spider) I fully intended to quietly carry it outside, but when one asks for a cup in a room full of 4 women at least one of them will start screaming and throwing shoes. Hail the conquering hero, we ended up with a rather large squished spider on the rug by my bed (to which I responded "I'm not cleaning that up!") Well, all said and done, Sis Knuteson now carries a door key, the bed is a hit, and our lovely WML's wife came and bug sprayed our apartment this morning.

In other news we are well on our way to becoming smoothie queens; we went to lunch with one of our members because her family is considering a move to Houston and she wanted to pick my brain (not much was found, but I told her I would ask if Mom and Dad still had any of their research, she does have one son left in high school, but is probably looking for a private school for him). We spent longer picking her brain about healthy eating (stevia vs. sucanut - have you ever heard of it Mom? It's pretty good) and the miracle of the magic bullet - it doesn't get much easier than that! She also treated us to grocery shopping this morning and bought us enough frozen fruit to last a while (have I mentioned how much I love our members?) So you don't need to worry about us eating healthy or dying of giant spider bites, the only question left is who should I call on Sunday? I didn't get Dad's cell # so I guess I'll call the house and leave the rest up to you. (Editor's note: This is in regards to the Mother's Day phone call.) Hope all is going at least okay, remember to suffer all afflictions cheerfully and with patience, if we endure it well, we shall be crowned with sheaves on our backs!!!

Poodles and poodles of love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Sis Cloward

Yet another email received Apr 28, 2010

2010-04-29T14:12:00.139-05:00

(written 4/19/10)(Yeah I know, confusing.)

We got to go to part of Youth Conference last last week, it took place over several days. On Fri (the 9th?) they had a musical/spiritual speaker thing (a capella group - check out the final song AWESOME!!!!!) (Editor's note: It's at the bottom of this post.) then a carnival in the church parking lot; Sat morning was the service project; Sat night was an awesome multi-stake formal for Priests and Laurels; Sun morning was a sepcial testimony meeting.

Carnival pics

This last Fri/Sat (16/17) was the stake play; in previous years they've done Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Ark, this year they did kind of a Broadway review loosely tied together with a spiritual message...loosely. But it was Amazing!!! We were so glad we had several people to invite so we just had to go both nights, oh the sacrifice - really it was, I've been humming the tunes all weekend...some of them have spiritual messages.

1. Hairspray

2. Annie

3. Just one song from Footloose, but it was so high energy and fun, it just stole the show the first night (the main singer is in one of our wards)

4. Wicked (the two girls are sisters, how cool would that be!)

5. Les Miserables ( no words, absolutely no words)

6. Mary Poppins (they had so much fun with the last song I just had to capture a little bit of the coreography) (Editor's note: The embedded video has the sides cut off, to see the whole image, including what the guy on the right is doing, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg_1D9GFooc. Also, they're spelling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It took me a while to figure that out.)

7. Almost Dr. Dexter - the vehicle (or excuse) for presenting such a variety of musicals.

This has been such a weird two weeks with transfers and the temple so I've been bad at writing everything down that I want to remember to tell you, I can either go in depth on a few things or just briefy mention a dozen. And now I'm running out of time. To continue our Broadway theme a young girl we're teaching in one ward was in Guys and Dolls at her Catholic Junior High and we got to go to support her (we stood in line behind probably the only other LDS people here, it was great). It was very well done, and again we still find ourselves humming the tunes (she's the one in the blue dress on the right end of the middle row.)

We are without a car for an unknown amount of time due to very good reasons on our part - one of the new elders in our district had his appendix out his first day in the MTC and his second day in the mission field he passed out, fell off his bike, and landed in the hospital for two days; needless to say, his mother wasn't very happy so we gave up our car to him and his companion until further notice; better to do it now when we can still walk around outside than in July when we're all puddles. Did a Sis Powell ever call to get Aunt Kathy's info? I just happened to sit next to her the first night of the stake play and she recognized my name - only the second person I've met who actually knows someone I know (and it's always Uncle Bob's family.)

Hmmm, what else, oh at Zone Meeting yesterday Sis Johnson and I got asked to volunteer for an object lesson: she was the missionary who had to teach and guide me (the investigator) to make a pancake that looked like the example pancake. I was blindfolded the entire time (mixing, baking, and decorating). The topic was that our investigators can't see the end result and we have to be able to guide them through the whole process. I think our pancake looked pretty good, and I didn't even get my jacket dirty (mine's on the left, the original is on the right).

I'm enjoying being in a trio again, though it's a bit of a squish in the apartment - it was just perfect for two, now Sis Knuteson has a fold-out bed that only fits in front of the door. But it'll be great for stories when we get home!! Gotta go - Don't forget to read your scriptures every day and try to spend at least 15 minutes outside, it really will make a difference!!

-Sis Cloward

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"A cappella song"

Another email received Apr 28, 2010 (pics & vid)

2010-04-29T13:28:00.030-05:00

Pics since Fallon

(Sorry these aren't formatted pretty, blogger is not arrange-your-pictures-nice friendly. And I just don't feel like fighting with it to make them look nice, like I did last time.)

Sister sandwich

Hanging with my old district in South Zone (of course, none of these people were there when I was. We got to go down because Sis Vomocil just came from this area and this was her last baptism.)

Southern Sisters: Cockrell, Beeston, Todd, Johnson, Kim, Me!

So excited to receive mail!

(Editor's note: These are the letters and postcards Amy, Tasha and I sent her during our Spring Break week in Stanley, ID.)

Easter - cool & casual vs.

super excited (love that timer!)

Our new apartment in Vegas. The batteries died so I started over, but that one's too long :(

Email received Apr 28, 2010

2010-04-29T12:39:00.002-05:00

Okay, I started a letter last week, but I didn't get very far so I might as well just write it all in an email so you can all get it together instead of missing your flight by mere hours. (In response to the news that Amy gets to go to Indonesia with Mom and Dad.) (Exciting realisation about Amy going to Indonesia: that must mean she's finally got a passport. Yay!!! Now we don't have to leave her behind when the rest of us evacuate to Canada or Scotland or northern Siberia.) The #1 thing I should have asked last week is did anyone by any chance do my taxes? Also, don't know if you read the jokes on the candy that went in my Easter bag, but this was my favorite: How do you get the water into watermelon? Plant it in the spring! Ahahahahahahahaha Ahahahahahahahahha Hahahahaha...Ohhh...sigh. Sister Johnson doesn't always get the word-play jokes.

Here are all the thoughts I've written/thought in the last two weeks organized into a somewhat logical stream. (Editor's note: The next two paragraphs are in reference to a difficult experience that someone we are close to is going through.) I've already decided I'd never go home - even for a death (sorry) (Name removed) has an excellent support system, I'm here to help others who don't know where to go to find that hope. This is not my experience, the Lord gave it to me so I can strengthen others. I almost can't believe it's real, but I don't think I'm in denial, I think I've just actually developed that much faith and trust in the Lord. Sure, I regret the circumstances that brought it about, but when I look at the future, all I feel is joy and peace. I don't even see it as a trial that may/will turn into a blessing - I just see what a wonderful gift it is - for (****) and the whole family, I don't know how or when, but I just know (****) are so blessed to be able to go through this situation, that the Lord trusts (****) enough to take it on.

I wondered only briefly what I could have done differently to prevent this, then recalled how many witnesses I've received that I am exactly where the Lord intended me to be right now, so I obviously was not meant to be home for this. Whatever the implications of that may be, it's wonderfully freeing to see the Lord's hand and feel free of guilt - and that's not just me, I'm close to the spirit here so you have to believe what I tell you and I tell you I have felt the Lord in no way holds any of you accountable for this - even (****) - He's blessing you!

I admit it, I'm behind on my scripture study, ever since the beginning of the last transfer I just haven't been able to catch up, I keep trying though; I've got more than half of the book to go, and if not, I do have an extra week in August before I start the D&C - good planning. But I saw the hand of God in it the week after you called; I spent that entire week studying Alma 21-24 Here are some of my insights: I am here because I know the power of the Atonement is real and everyone must know or they will live forever in misery and I can't bear that thought.

It's not about your faith bringing a level of blessing - it's about having the faith to accept whatever the Lord's will is with a grateful heart. We may complain about a small sting that lasts a moment when we can't see the enormous pain we just avoided. Why do we complain about the pinpricks when we can't see the epidemics we're spared.

What is the difference between those who stumble and are lost and those who stumble yet remain faithful? John 16:33 says "ye shall have tribulations" not maybe, shall, but we can rely on the Savior for comfort and guidance. Each time you fall, you can get back up and try again - the gospel offers unlimited pitches & innings, if you don't hit the ball, just keep swinging!

Email received Apr 19, 2010

2010-04-21T12:14:00.007-05:00

Just a quick note~

I'm gonna be in another trio! We pick up our new comp tonight (did I tell you about serving with Sis Knuteson for a day while I was between comps in Fallon? Now we get to be real comps!) and we're planning on a little library time tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be able to finish the novel I'm writing in another window and get it sent then. -Sis Cloward

Emails received Apr 12, 2010 (pics)

2010-04-13T11:43:00.009-05:00

PICS AND VIDS GALORE!!!

The results of Makeover Session #3 - just wanted to show the beautiful, completely accidental color scheme

Garden sign for Mom Caught...hehehe

(It says "Grow Dammit")

...All my winter gear put to good use...what else can I say?

What we thought was incredible bounty at Thanksgiving...nothing compared to Christmas!

Christmas Eve
....
...

Look familiar?

(Editor's note: Our van is identical.)

Just a little bit of what the natives call pogonip - it's so pretty (this was taken right outside our apartment looking SE, you can see the jr high straight ahead, the used book store to the right, and behind the little shed on the left is the library)

Twinsies (our car and the Spanish elders' car, sometimes I couldn't tell which one was ours)

We got this puzzle at the Dollar Store 'cuz it was so pretty - it took us an entire month to finish!

Pretty rainbow

Well...that's Fallon

Another great Zone Meeting

The wise man built his house upon the rock

Photographic evidence that sisters can do anything in a skirt (there's also video footage)

The ward had a cake auction to raise money for Boy Scouts, these are some of the highlights

One of our Fallon Zone Leaders went home last transfer, so at the request of his comp, we made him an updated planner. (This is only one page, we did several) (Editor's note: I can't read it very well either, but it looks like 'marriage' is one of the goals.)

The first time I saw these I knew I had to take a pic for Sarah (Editor's note: Just looking
at it makes me happy. :D )

Time to change our Jesus. The one on the left is brand new, the middle was in the LR window facing east, and the right was in the bedroom window facing south...don't know how long they'd been there. The funny thing is, I actually prefer the one in the center.

Goodbye Fallon fridge!

Some views of Fallon

The story behind the Meth sign: there are several of these signs throughout the area, one time while driving past this one I suddenly said to Sis K "MATH ATTACKS EVERYONE! ...Math?" I think you know what I was trying to say, but now it's even more hilarious.

Enough pics, I actually had a lot I wanted to say, but it was just so nice to be able to finally send all these pictures! Maybe I'll try to organize my thoughts in a letter.

-Sis Cloward

Emails received Apr 12, 2010 (vids)

2010-04-13T11:33:00.033-05:00

I'm sending all the videos that are small enough to be sent, of course all the really good ones are too long...so sad.

Sister Moreno and I playing with Coby at the park

Me and Sis Chapman in South

Bi-Zone (South & Vegas) P-Day activity last September (when I was in South)

Just documenting my ride up north - for most of the eight hours I was the only one awake...besides the driver.

Melting pogonip

Tracting at Christmastime

Email received Apr 5, 2010

2010-04-08T11:36:00.007-05:00

We had Zone Conference this week (did you get the pictures? I can only ever remember Sarah's email address when I'm not on the comp), and it was absolutely amazing! The Assistants gave a training about how spiritual wounds prevent us from being fully obedient and it was just so inspiring, the spirit was so strong. The wonderful thing is seeing how when I'm working on discovering and learning about a principle, the Lord surrounds me with opportunities for further growth. As evidenced in Zone Conf and again in General Conf when those speaking talked about and gave more detail on things I was only beginning to understand in myself, and sometimes wasn't even aware I was developing until they started to talk about them and state them in such clear words. 1 Cor. 11:28,31-32 - If we're putting in the effort to keep ourselves humble and learn and draw ever closer to God, He will bless our efforts; if we wait for Him to do the humbling, it's a lot more painful, but it will be done, because He loves us (thank you to the elder that gave the analogy of the immunizations!) It just makes me so sad to see that others (including missionaries) don't have that internal strength to be fully obedient (and may I say, trust in the Lord) even when those around them (including missionaries) are supporting decisions not in line with direct counsel.

Sarah - Okay, totally random thing just happened and I know you will appreciate this, I was working on another email in a different tab and my finger slipped and I learned a very valuable secret: you can flip between tabs with a keyboard shortcut!!!!! (Editor's note: Ever since tabbed browsing came out she and I have been trying to figure out how to find an ALT+TAB type shortcut to switch between them. (For those who don't know, ALT+TAB switches between your open windows.) It's so frustrating when your used to hitting the keyboard shortcut to flip back to the other window you were looking at, only to realize what you wanted is in the same window, just a different tab. While I discovered, through the same means, that CTRL+TAB switched between the tabs (which I haven't told her yet) I had not discovered the CTRL+# shortcut that she describes. So yes, it's very exciting.) So I've played around a bit and the best I can figure is: ctrl 1 is the first tab, ctrl 2 is the second and so on, ctrl 9 is the last tab; if you only have two tabs it's 1 and 9 and then the other numbers fill in between. Okay just had to get that total geek moment out, I've just been wanting that super-power for a few years now, I hope it's not just on whatever version of windows this is but that you can also bask in the joy of easy transitions. Have I mentioned recently how much I love you? Oh, another question, what is the best way (if any) to compress a file enough to send a video through email? Should I just zip it ten times, or is that bad for a file? (Editor's note: I don't know the answer to this. If any of you have knowledge that would help please let me know.)

Mom & Dad - So how much time is actually passing when you're flying through the twilight zone? (Editor's note: On their return trip from Japan they travelled backwards through time zones, which allowed them to leave Japan around 4:30pm Monday, travel some 20-30 hours, and arrive in Houston around 4:30pm Monday.) Does it add to your age, or do you get to be 21 forever? You are 21 right? p.s. I just wanted to let you know that you've both done an excellent job at being parents, I love you very much and I'm so grateful I got to be your caboose.

I got my Easter package mid-week and my poor companion was amazed that I waited until Sunday to open it (well, I opened the box, I just set the bag aside) I almost broke when she got hers on Sat, luckily we had somewhere to go so we didn't have much time. We came home after conference on Sunday to take pictures of our Easter, I'll probably put together a whole list of pics and send them all next week, it will take me a while to write descriptions for each one. Sis Johnson is requesting a pic of me with my long hair, don't know if there's a good one lying around somewhere. And could you also maybe make a copy of the music for I Heard Him Come? Thanks. I would still love an address for the Allens and if you can find one for Lauren and Davina as well that'd be super!

Random thoughts: 1. Did I tell you how much I love my Official Mission Pen? (Editor's note: A Christmas gift from Amy.) It's writes so nicely! I used it to take my notes for Gen Conf. 2. I noticed this in the MTC and it's held true up to now, I've written the word 'receive' more in the last few months than ever before in my life - crazy random, huh?

The caboose

Email received Mar 29, 2010

2010-03-30T11:22:00.001-05:00

Have you sent an Easter package yet? I hope not 'cause I have a few more requests: I'm running low on vitamins again...I guess that's it really, unless you want a detailed list of every random thought I have during the week. We moved into our new place on Fri (literally - it took all day, but moving two people in a one bedroom apartment just a few blocks is certainly easier than moving an entire family plus 20 years of stuff across the country). It used to be a 2-car garage that has been converted into a nice little studio apartment - just perfect for a couple of missionaries. Certain members of our ward even provided us with brand new beds and a couch so we left behind everything missionary-apartmentey; now we just hope they keep sisters here for a while - it's too nice for elders (can I say that without offending someone? It really is nice.) We think that was also part of the ward's motivation, everyone always says they're so glad they have sisters and they want to keep us forever. Speaking of sister missionaries, a young lady in one of our wards just received her mission call to the Texas Houston Mission. Now, I've heard of a few other people in the Houston East or Houston South missions and I wondered "How many missions are in Houston? Which mission are we in?" Well, when I looked through her call packet I examined the map and guess what? We're in her mission! I know we don't have sisters in our ward, and they took the sisters out of the single's ward a while ago, but you never know, maybe you guys will meet each other! Anyway, I just thought that was cool. Did you get the chance to watch the YW broadcast? It was fabulous, I encourage you to go online and watch it (it's always better in person than just reading it) especially Pres. Uchtdorf's talk. I already can't wait for the conference issue of the Ensign, I want to take notes and mark up all the talks.

After a drought of a couple weeks I got all five letters from the girls in one night, I was so excited I even took a picture of me and my bounty; it was great to hear all about your trip, don't forget to send pictures! I hope you're all feeling better. (Editor's note: Amy, Tasha, and I went to the mountains of Idaho for Spring Break. We all came down with colds the week before leaving, so the beginning of the trip was mildly unpleasant.) Mom and Dad - are you taking pictures, too? It sounds like you're having far too much fun for people of your advanced years, wandering through foreign countries all by your lonesomes - far too dangerous, you should bring one of your children along...like me, for example. (Editor's note: Mom and Dad got to spend a week in China and a week in Japan.) Next week we're gonna try to get more computer time so I can send some pictures and figure out the best way to send some videos.

Be good, read your scriptures, pray always.

Much Love
-me

Email received Mar 22, 2010

2010-03-25T10:26:00.013-05:00

Couple points - If you see Dave Lambson any time soon, ask him where in Africa he served; there's been a lot of guys going to South Africa and Ghana from my areas recently and I just wondered where he went. Also, I don't know if you've already taken care of it and just not told me, but I think the easiest thing is for someone at home to do my taxes for me. There's probably should be something in my email about the website I used last year, so that should make it pretty easy - that and there's only one job in one state, how simple! There's so much else I could say, but it would take a lot more than 10 min to type it all out, so I don't really know what else to say. I love getting your emails and letters and everything good. I can't believe it's already time for conference again and then only a month 'til I get to call once more - of course then we're in the long stretch until Christmas and then BAM - I'm home! You could blame these thought on having a companion going home tomorrow morning(!) but I think about it all the time, actually...well, often anyways. I added that song I told you about last time. I can't quite remember everything I've sent, I want to send some of the videos I've taken but it says they're too big. Maybe I'll put them all on a cd...or just make you wait 10 months. Be safe, be good, know I love you and pray for you.

-Sister Cloward

Here's is the song referenced in the March 9th email. To read about it click on the title of this post to be taken there. There's a false start at 30 seconds then the song actually starts at 36 seconds.

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Email received Mar 15, 2010

2010-03-25T10:23:00.003-05:00

I forgot to give you notes on the package. Mostly it's just stuff I can't carry in my suitcase, I'll probably ask you to send the coat back in Sep/Oct, the yellow flip-flops I bought and wore a few times but they're too big so I figured Sarah can have them, and of course the medical receipts. Word is we'll move in the next week or two (Sis Vomocil goes home next Tues. and does not want to spend her last week cleaning and moving so we're going to try and push it till the last week of March) so I guess I'll wait to give you an address till we're actually there.

Sarah - I have a commission for you, I'll be sending sketches and descriptions by snail so you can start working on them.

I have another request. I just did the math and realized my birthday is only in four months (it kinda snuck up on me, I've been focusing on counting my mission) but I'm requesting a gift sooner. You know that undershirt I got from Shade, the nude colored one? I've heard there are cheaper versions of the same style and I'm wondering if someone could get me a couple more, maybe in black, cream, navy, etc. That would be supercalifragelisticexpialidocious! Summer comes early in the desert and I need something light to wear under shirts and tank tops are just too low, it's quite annoying.

Sorry for the boring note, not much else has happened this week, and I have to write some lengthy love notes to my former comps. Have fun on your various adventures and remember - you are never alone!

Much Love

-Sis Cloward

Email received Mar 9, 2010

2010-03-10T10:19:00.012-06:00

Sorry for the late email - transfers came, ripped my heart out, and stamped on it. I spent Sat night crying, Sun night packing, and Mon driving back down to Las Vegas. It was a wonderful drive, but I've been in tiny Fallon so long I almost started hyperventilating when we entered Vegas: It's too big, there's too may people, everything's so close together! It feels like I should just be here for a visit and then go back home to Fallon, but I probably won't see it again till next year. By the way, I'm coming back here next Mar/Apr for when the McCourtneys get sealed in the temple, if anyone wants to come with me; I promised I would do all in my power to sing at his baptism (which is why we pushed so hard for Mar 6, it was the last day we could guarantee all three of us would be there) but it's not to be; I willingly go where the Lord wants me now, but this time next year I will be my own woman and no one can hold me back from being in the temple with them. It was also hard because on Sat Sis K got super sick and then Mon morning Sis Shrier woke up really sick, too, so I had to get a ride to the church to catch the van from someone in the ward so I could leave them both home to recover, it's hard to walk away from two people I love so much when they're so sick and I know I can't even call to check on them. We sang again in 6th Ward, another quick-preparation song; we got the music Fri then Sis K got sick so Sat night we rearranged parts and Sis Shrier and I sang with two sisters in the ward (a quad-trio, I ended up on the middle harmony.) It turned out very well, but I started the recording before we got up to sing so there's about 40 sec of silence and then a misstart before we actually begin...I can't figure out how to connect my thing to this comp yet so I'll try to send it next week. (Editor's note: The song track can be found in the post for the March 22nd email. Click on the title of this post to be taken there.)

My new companions are Sis Johnson and Sis Vomocil. Yes, I went from one trio to another, but it's because Sis Vomocil goes home in two weeks. Sis Johnson came out with Sis Chapman and Sis K; and Sis Vomocil is (obviously) the oldest sister in the mission, the next one won't go home till Christmas. I'm in an apartment right now, but I think we're about to move in with a member so I don't know what address to give you; of course the Mission Office is practically just down the road now so you can just use that one till I send a more permanent (really?) one.

Okay, we still have to go shopping before dinner so I'd better go. See you in 11 months!!!

-Sis. Cloward

Email received Mar 1, 2010

2010-03-02T10:35:00.005-06:00

The video finally worked and was much appreciated!

Yes, there is a gym at the MTC; yes, it has a track; no, there are no tvs or radios; mostly you just talk to someone or stare at the wall or enjoy whatever activity you're engaged in. Where is Anna going? (Editor's note: These are answers to questions our friend asked. To see more about her and where she is going go to http://sisterannamichelleschmidt.blogspot.com/)

I just got Amy's letter saying she was in FL and now your email says you just picked her up. My, things happen fast. And what's in China (besides Mom and Dad soon)? When do you leave for ID? I still haven't heard more details about this trip. Amy - in addition to your Moses/Narnia scripture look up 1 Nephi 17:48 and think of the first Harry Potter movie (the power of God is Love) Proof that it's scripturally based, does that mean I can read/ watch them on my mission?

Hell week: this week we had a challenge with the elders; we created a point system for lessons, contacts, baptisms, etc and whoever gets the most points (does the most effective work) gets free lunch tomorrow. Well, we didn't win, but we pretty much tied for second place...well, with a sick-sister-handicap and questioning the accuracy of some of the elders points the last day anyway. But 122 to 125 is pretty close, you must admit. For all intensive purposes.

Hallelujah!!!!!!! Do you remember me telling you about Bro. Mac, the curmudgeony old sailor who's been meeting with missionaries for over six years? He's getting baptized on March 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only problem is transfers are next week, so we're all praying very hard that if we don't stay together we will at least only be transfered to an area up north so we can still come to the baptism.

Ummm...we sang some more in church this week. At New Beginnings we sang A Child's Prayer and did really well the first half, totally bombed the last bit, but all ended together on the right notes, it was awesome! We also sang half-impromptu at Ward Conference yesterday. We'd been told they wanted us to sing (the song we sang in the other stake last week) but hadn't been told it was a guarantee. We usually do splits - drop Sis K off at 6th ward, then Sis S and I go to 5th ward, then go back at the end to pick up Sis K - We did that, then came back after the first meeting so we could sing in the choir; we were late so we missed the first choir number, but did arrive in time to wonder "Are we singing? Yup, here we go!" Sis K was sitting in the stand with the choir and Sis S and I had just snuck into the front side seats, then we all went back to sit with the choir. It went well and I'm out of time, gotta go! (Sorry if the last bit doesn't make sense)

-Sister Cloward

Email received Feb 22, 2010

2010-02-24T11:45:00.006-06:00

Ephesians 6:12 I don't know if I like this verse because I like fantasy stories or if I like fantasy stories because they remind me of this principle, but...I can't begin to tell you - (well I could begin, but I don't know how it would come across in an e-mail, or even face-to-face) - the experiences that have happened the last 2 weeks and last night in particular have changed me and I can never be the same. I know too much of the love of God to deny it to someone else; I know too much of faith in God to fear what man can do. I can barely believe I'm even writing these words, but they're true, they are all true, it's all true. The Lord does unexplainable things through ordinary, explainable means - even three humble, seemingly inadequate missionaires.

In other news I've been sick all week. I got an 'upper-respiratory-tract infection' that knocked me out for three days and grabbed hold of my asthma so I'm left with a lingering cough (you should have seen the collection of cough drops I accumulated at Stake Conference yesterday.) We had been asked to sing in the Sat. night session and had been preparing for two weeks, I prayed on Tuesday that the Lord would move the illness along quickly so I would be able to sing come Sat. and, wouldn't you know it, I was able to contribute my voice without losing a lung on the stand. It did seem a little shaky at some points during the week if I'd actually make it, but the Lord knows what He's doing. We also found out on Mon night that the song we had been rehearsing was one of the songs the choir would be singing the next day so when we got together to rehearse on Fri night we whipped together a lovely arrangement of an arrangement you may know with another arrangement thrown in - have I mentioned Roger Sorensen, the amazingly talented musician-dairy farmer? Well, he's awesome, we couldn't have done it without him; it turned out pretty well, all things considered.

I'll send all my current medical receipts home today; I don't know if the prescriptions for sickyness need to be submitted to Missionary Medical as a secondary insurance, I don't think I gave that information to the pharmacy yet.

I love Sister Shrier.

I think that's about it for now. Yeah...Much love to you all, keep up the good work!

-Sister Cloward

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

A Letter to Tasha

2010-02-20T14:30:00.000-06:00

We received this letter, I wanna say mid-late February. It's dated the 11th, but I don't think we received it right around then. Tasha sent Katie a letter speaking generally about some struggles she was having, just your average sense of 'right now I feel stuck and I can't seem to make any progress.' In response Katie sent her this letter which came right at a time when a couple others of us started to feel that way, and right before we discovered a big change in our family situation. It brought comfort to all of us and Tasha has graciously agreed to let me post it here. I'm not going to transcribe it though because 1) Katie made it look cute so you'll just have to read the images and see it for yourself, and b) that's a lot of work friends. Anyway, here it is.

Second email received Feb 15, 2010

2010-02-19T15:23:00.010-06:00

Did you get my email with all the attachments? It said it sent it so I figured it wasn't too big.

Item #1: I received a Christmas package a few weeks ago that had been sent to the MTC address, just wondering if that has been updated or if they were just using old info.

#2: Can you get an address for Pres. and Sis. Allen? Thanks.

#3: Did you take my scripture study challenge? How's it going? I just finished the Isaiah chapters today, they're GREAT!!!

#4: I've fully converted my companions to the magnificence of the Inst. study manuals, our study table is getting a little crowded though.

#5: On 2/6 I found out that I have eaten dinner three times with the Zeller's cousins. One of the daughters husbands served his mission in Australia and I mentioned I knew someone who had also served there by the last name of Zeller; the other daughter said "Kent Zeller?" I said "Yeah..." "He's my cousin!!!" Turns out the mother (Carolyn Bake) is Gene's cousin so the kids are second cousins, but the daughters met Kent up at BYU-I, so they started texting him that I was sitting at their table that very moment. He concurred with me that Jason would know me better, but it was still pretty cool!!!

#6: LOVED the Valentines!!! At our first Zone Meeting of the transfer we always introduce ourselves with the usual info and then answer some random question; I had just told everyone that I had no valentine, I almost claimed my sisters but little did I know I could also have claimed the house. (Editor's note: We tried to send one everyday from Feb 1 through 14. We did pretty good; occasionally forgot a day and had to double up the next day.)

#7: This week has been exciting again - from leaky water heaters to being tracted by the JWs (I actually had the presence of mind to offer an exchange - fun!) to more absolutely astounding spiritual moments that cannot be adequately expounded in writing (don't worry, I'll journal what I can and share when I get home.) I love my mission, I love my companions, I love the people, and I love all of you!

#8: Did you see that article in the Church News about the sister we met at Bob & Kathy's house (totally just blanked on the name) someone showed it to us and I realized Hey! I've met her!! It was cool.

We're at the family history center (we've got connections) so I had a bit more time to do other stuff on the comp, but I still don't feel like there's enough time for everything. We'll come again next week so I can do some more.

-Sister M'Friend

P.S. I like watching Celestia's videos, I miss all you people. And no we don't have a dvd player, I'd have to take it to the library and use the same amount of time or make everyone else watch it with me at someone else's house, so I'll just watch a few here and there. I would love more videos of all y'all, I couldn't get that youtube one to work, but it may have been the comp I was using so I'll try again.

First email received Feb 15, 2010

2010-02-19T11:01:00.015-06:00

These are from the Christmas program at church. These are the choir numbers that I sang in, the first one we sang three songs right in a row so they are all on the same track. I don't know how the sound quality will be, it is a digital camera afterall, not a fancy voice recorder, and it was sitting by me so I may be slightly featured in most songs.

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Email received Feb 8, 2010

2010-02-09T11:01:00.002-06:00

Okay, I finally got my camera connected to the computer, now here's the excuses: Celestia sent a bunch of videos that I will have to finish watching next time, we had to figure out how to transfer to the new ldsmail (they switched to a google server) so now I don't have time to organize and send all my pictures, but I figure I can at least start with the audios. Okay that didn't work...and I don't have time to figure out size limits. Oh, well, there's always next week. Sorry it's taking me forever to get these to you
Gotta run
- Sister Cloward

Email received Feb 3, 2010

2010-02-05T15:14:00.001-06:00

Surprise - I have limited time again today. We're going to the temple right in the middle of the day and that didn't leave much room for email and shopping, but I'll be back again on Mon. Have you noticed I probably spend as much time apologizing for short emails as I do actually writing the email? I just did. Maybe if I stopped wasting time I could actually write more news. Okay, I sent the letter on Monday so you should get it soon. Alls pretty well here; this last week has probably been one of the craziest/weirdest/best weeks yet: case in point, we stole someone's scriptures and wouldn't let him read any church materials for three days. I don't think that's in any missionary idea handbooks, do you?

Thank you so much for the package, the photo album came just in time - on Sun someone chastised me for not having brought any pictures of my family. I spent all day just looking through and exclaiming "It's my family!" And thank you for all the notes from Maureen's funeral, it was wonderful to get the full effect, I only wish I could have heard the male quartet. Hopefully I will finally have time on Mon to stop taunting you and actually send all my pics and recordings.

Gotta go, talk to you in a couple days!
-Momma Cloward II

Email received Jan 25, 2010

2010-01-27T14:28:00.002-06:00

Sorry if this is brief again, I spent all my time looking at the pictures Celestia sent. (Editor's note: Celestia is Katie's sister-in-law.) Plus I'm gonna hand write you a letter anyway, I might as well leave everything for that. I was gonna send a bunch of pictures this week as I didn't have time last week but in the course of 4 days I misplaced the connector you just sent me - I swear it was in my bag and now it's gone! Oh, well, there's always next week.For the big news of the moment I'm staying in Fallon with Sis Kartchner (yay!!!) AND I am training the new sister. We thought we would be off the hook since we got a temple square sister (their transfers are 3 weeks off from ours, so she's been here for a bit, we figured she was the replacement for when Sister Moreno goes home) but apparently we're also getting a new missionary so there will be an uneven number of sisters and we get to be the trio. That's what we get for telling Pres. in our last interviews "I think we're really starting to get it President, it's all coming together."

Amy - I keep thinking of writing that note, but you know how I am...I'd rather scrub out a filthy refrigerator. If you can send me my old journals (Pooh and that pretty, peachy one) they contain some notes that I would like to use, might help me bite the bullet. Thanks!! P.S. Red again, huh? Looks good...different, but good. (Editor's note: Amy died her hair red.)

-Mother Cloward (I have two daughters now)

P.S. I almost didn't recognize Nadia in the pictures, it wasn't 'till I saw Sunny that I realized who she was! Tell them Hi!

Email received Jan 20, 2009

2010-01-21T14:15:00.002-06:00

So this past week has been a might bit more happening than the week before, but I don't know if I'll be able to fit everything in. Maybe if I had written on Mon, but you see, that's part of the story. And I am quickly running out of time, I don't know if I should even try to begin today (I've already written the personal notes you see, maybe I'll just write this one in a letter for you (Sarah ;O) .) I got my box Tuesday, Thank you so much for all the goodies!

What I intended to write on Mon (it being a Holiday the intention moved to Tue & the rest of that will be relayed later) was 1.the idea that we could coordinate our scripture study. One of the wards I'm in is encouraging everyone to read the BofM this year, the average rate being 1.6 pages a day, I believe; but I decided to take the opportunity to go a bit faster and am reading a chapter a day. I had hoped to apprise you of this idea last week, but forgot to write it down. But it shouldn't be too hard to catch up as yet - being the 20th of Jan I am on the 20th chapter of 1 Nephi - you could catch up in no time, personally or as a family, I thought it might be nice. When we get near the end I'll fill you in on what to study next (I've got it all planned out and written on my moo calendar.) 2.Sis K & I sang in one ward on Sunday, and just so happened to be sitting behind a visitor from the 3rd ward who just so happened to be in charge of their music and just so happened to ask if we could sing in her ward the next week; we just so happened to be singing in our other ward but as it just so happened their ward meets later we just so happened to say "Sure, why not?" 3. Sis K & I had an amazing spiritual epiphany on Thurs morning, we're still coasting on the wave and I think that may have something to do with why there seems to be so much more to do. 4.Another amazing fun story that just may have to be combined with The Ballad of Tuesday in a letter, hopefully I can get it written this week, either way you probably won't get it 'till next week, but never fear! you will receive said correspondence come Holiday or getting-kicked-of-the-computer!!!

Sarah - No I didn't get pictures, I thought about it, but I didn't, if I ever go back though I surely will. I don't recall saying I would grow my hair out my whole mission, I was debating cutting before, but it wasn't long enough to donate, so I figured I'd let it grow 'till it was long enough and luckily it was by Christmas 'cuz I couldn't take it anymore and just wanted to hack it off! (I was getting sick and tired of having to do it every morning, it's easier to grow when you can throw it up in a bun everyday and just forget about it.) Go ahead and friend all those peeps - that's so funny about the Swanns, how's Jen Jordan doing? I only wrote those letters 'cuz A.I was sending a package or 2.I couldn't put it in an email. You may have noticed the last bit has been slow of news, so I didn't really have anything to write in a letter, hence all the sticky notes in the last package. By the way, you all mentioned the videoing of the opening of the box(ing), now I am in great suspense to finally witness it. No more suspense then you all should be in for all my pics and videos, I don't think I'll have time to send them today, but I should be back in just a few days (next Mon) so I'll try to do it then. They're gonna be great!

Tasha - Take it from a missionary in the field: no news is ever outdated, a letter is a letter. Celestial Congratulations and I miss your heiffer shapoopie!!!

Amy - It was rather strange to receive a package from Vann & Jody with your name stamped on it, took a few moments for my brain to catch up with my eyes :O)

-Sister Cloward

A Package with a Surprise

2010-01-18T10:00:00.004-06:00

Katie sent us a package and said that there was a surprise in it and that we should have the camera ready because she wanted to see our reactions. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to use my new video camera. The following is the annotated version I sent to Katie of our family opening the package together. (Editor's note: The box was addressed to "Al & Sundry" which was presumably supposed to be ALL & Sundry. Funny side note, we have a friend who's name is Sundra, so with the all being shortened to Al we thought, "Is this for Al & Sunny {our friend}, but then who's Al?" It took a second to get it.)

The point of the ponytail is that she sends them to Locks of Love (http://www.locksoflove.org/), but her last two ponytails are still in an envelope on her dresser waiting to be sent.

This is the picture that was included.
(Along with her new haircut she's showing
off her new feety pajamas.)

Email received Jan 11, 2010

2010-01-14T10:28:00.002-06:00

Forgive me if the news is slow, not much has happened this week. It's finally getting a little warmer, all the snow is melting and there are big puddles and mud everywhere. We're trying to put together some kind of missionary activity fireside in both wards, but it probably won't happen until next transfer, I hope I'm still here! We are having a special mission conference next week, Elder Sybrowsky (from the Seventy) is coming to tour the mission; I've been roped into singing, so it should be great fun; Sis K and I are also singing in both wards in the next two weeks. One of the families we're working with has two pugs and they had puppies recently - the cute-puppyness-syndrome almost makes up for the fact that pugs are really not attractive dogs no matter what way you look at them. We ate at a really good Chinese restaurant the other night, it was fabulous. I've noticed that whenever I write about good food in my journal, I always use the word 'fabulous', is that strange? Okay, now I'm just rambling...any requests for subject matter?

Sarah - We met someone the other day who has been collecting nativities for over forty years. She has an entire room devoted to them with six curio cabinets plus wall hangings and more scattered throughout her home. It was pretty amazing.

Amy - I'm glad you got to go to the funeral; I tried to write her a Christmas card, I hope she got it before she died.

Can someone search for and send me the picture of David on the cherry picker? Did you get my package? Are you still alive??? Just kidding, I'm getting silly in my old age - think about it, in two weeks I will have only 12 months left! CRAZY!!! Gotta go - LOVE

-Sis Cloward

Email received Jan 4, 2010

2010-01-05T10:21:00.003-06:00

Warning: I'm limited on time and am trying to do 3 different things again, so I apologize ahead of time if this is short or disjointed in any way.

I will hopefully be sending a box this week with Mom & Sarah's B-day presents, and some other things for safekeeping. Most everything should have a note delineating where it should go. I want to see your reactions when you open the one that says "surprise" so have the video camera ready!

I want to share my pictures and videos with you, they'll make the stories that much more alive. Sis Kartchner may have a cord that will fit my camera, but we don't have much time to play this week, I'll have to catch you next Mon.(I'm trying to find a nice list of temple trivia, but they don't have anything on lds.org or mormon.org, how am I supposed to stay obedient and teach a good lesson? Maybe if I had more time, but the lesson's tonight and we have a rather full schedule already, oh well, we'll make something work.)

Yeah, this is definitely disjointed. Here's some scriptures to ponder for some spiritual upliftment: 1 Tim 1:5(6-7) see also Gal 5:14 I was studying Love for quite awhile when I realized I could spend my whole life on the topic and never reach the end, so I decided to move on, but it just keeps coming up, I can't get away from it, it's everywhere! Here's another cool one: Eph 4:11-15 Pay attention to why the Lord gives us prophets, apostles...& teachers and especially when He says we won't need them anymore.

Gotta go!
Love
-Sister Cloward

Email received Dec 28, 2009

2009-12-29T10:09:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't much know what to write as I only just spoke to you a few short days ago. I'm missing watching silly & soulful videos on youtube. Sister Kartchner is complaining about all the lotion she received ("being on a mission is certainly making me girlier" - not the first time I've heard this observation.) But, I'm enjoying all my Christmas presents: we just put the magnets on the fridge; I'm wearing tights, knee-highs, and boots which keeps me pretty warm (from the knees down :O); and I finally put the concert cd (Editors note: Our stake and the Catholic church from across the street have been doing a joint choir Christmas concert for 16 years. It's a pretty amazing event, well known locally. Katie participated in 07 & 08.) in the player - the choir they put together for 6th ward helped me to not feel quite so homesick about missing that, it wasn't as big, but the music was certainly of the same caliber - two songs from the Messiah - it was so much fun! I recorded all the songs, I can maybe send them as soon as I get a connector for the camera.

Any way you could supply me with some Yogi Tea Breathe Deep, they don't carry it at the Walmart up here, and keep an eye out for a good deal on MK Eye Makeup Remover, I'm starting to get low. Can't think of much else to say...I'm considering making myself a felt board - that will be cool. I could also use some ideas on good, effective exercise that I'd actually be willing to make myself do at 6:30 in the morning, I've ruined all that good work I did during the summer before I left - if only we could do water-aerobics!

-Sisty-ugler Cloward

P.S. When did Celestia dye her hair?

P.P.S. Oh, did I tell you about the necklace? I opened the pretty necklace and earring set and joked that I couldn't wear it because then everyone would know that my first name must begin with a K, so I said I'd give it to Sis Kartchner cuz her first and last name begin with K. Well, as we continued to unwrap gifts she picked up a similar looking box and said "Hey, our parents shop at the same store!" Upon opening it, we discovered our parents have even more similar taste - we decided to wear our matching necklaces all day.

Email received Dec 21, 2009

2009-12-22T09:50:00.000-06:00

I forgot to make a list throughout this week of things to write about so I'm sure I'll forget something - but we'll talk on Fri so we can catch up then! Crazy isn't it?! Well, last week was transfers and Sis Compton went home (it's so weird to think she's just chillin' at home with her family right now...surreal) We thought I might be without a companion for a day as Sis Compton was when I came up to Fallon (the van takes missionaries down on Mon and up on Tues leaving us northern missionaries companionless for a day) so I was planning to stay with a very fun newly-wedded, RM sister in one of our wards, but it turned out there was another sister going south so her leftover companion got to come and spend a day with me in Fallon and then we both picked up our new companions on Tues and she went back to her area. It was really cool cuz it was like we were on splits for a day - we sisters don't get to do splits on account of we're girls and the elders are boys and...yeah. But apparently we are supposed to be doing splits, we've just been told, so we get to actually hang out, I mean work, with other sisters. I imagine this would be easier down in Vegas as everyone's closer together, though now that there are actually more sisters up north it's feasible up here too. It's so exciting cuz we never get to see the other sisters except maybe at Zone Conference once a transfer, and that's only if our zone meets with another zone that has sisters. It's also great cuz I like to see how other people do things, it gives me a better idea of what I should be doing (I think that's one way the Lord was blessing me by giving me a different companion every transfer - so I could see a lot of ways of doing things) and that helps me be more confident in the things I do. But now that I've experienced a variety of styles, I hope he'll leave me put for a wee while, cuz I love Sis Kartchner!!! She's silly and funny and talkative and sings alto and loves the Muppets and I think we'll have a lot of fun together...and work very hard.

Oh, and did I tell you about my last baptism? Wonderful Pat and her husband moved in with her sister (who just happens to live right behind us); turns out the husband joined the church in his youth but hadn't attended in many a year, but he and Pat were perfectly willing to meet with us and she turned out to be one of those rare perfectly Golden Investigators: we met her at the end of my first week here and she was baptized 5 weeks later; we even had to have 2 or 3 lessons the last two weeks to make sure we taught her everything before she was baptized, but she was very happy to do it just before Sis Compton left. What a send-off - baptism on Sat, Confirmation and an ordination of another recent convert on Sun, and away she went! I only hope I can end my mission on such a high note; I'm sure that also helped to keep her focused - she really wasn't very trunky at all, quite the opposite really, we were joking even on Sun. night that she would stay and I could take her place - if I died my hair blonde, Pres would never even notice, right?

Well, I don't have an exact time to call, I imagine it will be in the afternoon sometime, but it's not like you guys will be going out at all during the day (right?) and not a lot of people call on Christmas day so you don't have to wait by the phone or carry it with you - there's one in every room anyway.

By the by, is there anyway someone could look up a skit about Cinderella where the letters are all switched (rindercella and her two sad blisters...at the bancy fall she slopped her dripper)? Sis Kartchner was quoting it and it was really funny, but she doesn't remember the whole thing. Maybe I'll have her do it for you on Fri. Amy may recall my reaction to the Sumo guy on Thou Shalt Laugh - that's what I do when she starts telling the story, which is really innapropriate for the library environment in which I now sit, so I should move on to another subject. She can also play parts of a couple Jon Schmidt songs which makes me drool, I think I would really like a couple of his cds and maybe the sheet music, maybe one day I could play like that...Well...the time has come I suppose, if I think of anything else I can just tell you on Fri. Much Love!!!
-Clister Soward

Email received Dec 14, 2009

2009-12-16T14:34:00.003-06:00

I don't want to take too much time to write this week for reasons that I'll have time to explain next week, so I'll try to just touch on a few brief points.
1.I've asked for a few recommendations for dentists, apparently there's one office that's full of members, don't know if you want to check it against a list from insurance but I'm gonna go ahead and make an appointment in case it takes awhile to get in.
2.(Personal request removed.)
3.I don't know if you've already picked something out, or if I should even ask for this, but is there anyway I could request for my Christmas PJs a pretty, white flannel nightgown, traditional style with long sleeves, high neck, and ruffles in about a size 24 or so? I don't necessarily need or have room for anything new for myself (though if you're already sending something, I'm sure I can find the space) and if I had the time I would love to make this one myself, but it's hard to get all the materials and find someone with a sewing machine and...these are times I wish I could just take a day off from being a missionary and do whatever I want, but there will be plenty of time for different forms of service when I get home, right now I have to try to fill my time with more direct service to the Lord.

Oh, speaking of choir - I was going to ask when the concert was, I'm so excited they recorded it this year! Yay!!! (And by the way, I didn't mention last week (I always leave something out!) I have been enjoying the NC Ward cd very much, it so crazy to hear all the songs and be able to say "I know that voice!") I'm also singing in the ward choir (only one ward was able to pull one together) and this past Sunday I sang O Holy Night in Sacrament Meeting. I wanted to record it but the brand new batteries I just bought a month ago wouldn't even turn the light on the camera on (when the old, dead batteries would) let alone actually turn the camera on, so I couldn't. But it turned out very well, I wish I could have preserved it somehow, maybe I'll just have to do it again wherever I am next year. As for the Christmas cds, last I knew they were all in a box near the stereo, I think, or maybe we couldn't find them last year either so we just listened to the same eight cds for a week I'm beginning to recall. Oh, well. Do you want the Celtic Christmas cd back? I could just make a copy for myself.

What's this about Tasha in Utah? Nobody tells me anything :O( Just kidding! Someone needs to call that girl to be a ward missionary, she's doing such a fabulous job - keep it up! Since we're on the subject, did they ever call a new choir director? Wasn't Dad up for a new calling? What's the word on the street? ...yo ...one :O) too many funny things at once! Okay, I should probably wrap it up for now, thanks for all the love'n'stuff!!! Can't wait till Christmas!

-Sister Cloward (I'm out of ideas for creative ways to sign my name - any suggestions?)

Email received Dec 7, 2009

2009-12-07T15:30:00.008-06:00

Well, that's totally not fair that it snowed in Houston, I was planning on making you insanely jealous when I wrote you all today about a certain fluffy, white substance that began falling last night and is still falling! It's the first snow of the season and is apparently the most they've gotten in five years. I just started driving again a couple days ago so I can learn the area before my comp goes home, I had to warn her that it's been a couple years since I've driven in the snow, but so far we've managed to stay on the road, in our lane, and away from other cars :O) We've also decided it's time to pull out our Christmas decorations - we even have a decent sized fake tree - and we're allowed to listen to the radio stations that play all Christmas music, so it's starting to feel nice and cozy with a cup of hot cocoa (someone just gave us a box of dark chocolate hot cocoa - heaven!)

Yes, I received the package, thank you for your prompt response; it was very nice, though I was looking forward to those long-sleeved shirts, but if you only just read that letter last week I suppose you didn't have time to gather them. I thought of a few more things I could add to the list, some feasible, some not, in case anyone else asks:
-An exercise bike for the apartment
-A shower head with a hose (let's face it, I've been spoiled, I don't know how people survive with such immobility of their water source, but this is more of a pipe-dream (ha, ha) I'm making do just fine)
-A battery charger
-A way to play my mp3 player in a car with a cd player and no tape player
-A connector for the camera so I can send you pictures of what I'm doing (I suppose you don't need pictures of the snow now that you have your own)
-My own copy of Jesus the Christ (I borrowed David's but I think I'll want to mark it up as I read)(Editor's note: We've got this one covered.)
-A small frying pan
-A shorter handle for my bag

Okay, some of those I can get on my own and some I'll just deal with, it's not like I'm suffering in central Africa or anything, but I just wanted to share what's been on my mind.

No, no one mentioned anything about a ranch! What's this? Planning fun outings without me? I thought y'all were supposed to be in cold storage for 18 months, you couldn't wait one more year? Well I suppose you still have lives to live...what ranch is it (it couldn't be IRMR, you haven't been working long enough to afford that)? What are you going to do while you're there? (I didn't think that the 'no riding horses' rule would affect me much, but up here in Fallon we've actually had people ask if we'd like to ride their horses - so sad!) Tell me all about it! When we went to Thanksgiving dinner, one of the young boys was wearing a shirt that said Redfish Lake, it made me happy. (Editor's note: In the summer of 07 Katie, Tasha and I worked on the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch (IRMR) which is near Redfish lake.)

Speaking of T-day, we drove to Reno in the morning for a missionary Turkey bowl; there are four zones up here and we all got together so the boys could play football; there are three sets of sisters, but one didn't come, so there were just four girls and about 70 elders - but I did get to see Sis Moreno again! Then we drove back for dinner. I got to try a fried turkey (pretty yummy and juicy) but I think the best part was the appetizers; they had them out to munch on throughout the day, we didn't get there till about 2:00, but still managed to fill up on cheese and crackers and other goodies before dinner was ready. I think I'd been craving one of those simple on-dit meals for a few days, so it just hit the spot. We took home plenty of leftovers, so I did get to enjoy the traditional meal several times over. Speaking of leftovers, you should see our counters (I've taken pictures) they are positively brimming with plates of cookies, pies, and other treats, it's just ridiculous. We're trying to pawn some off on the elders, I'm already eating dessert after lunch, dinner, and before bed, so much for all that weight I lost this summer; I never completely understood the magnitude of Holiday-weight-gain fear, but if you have as many treats available as we do, I can see where the concerns add up (literally).

We also got together with all the zones up North for a special Christmasy meeting on Wed (I got to see Sis Moreno again!) and then because Sis Compton is going home we got an extra temple trip that evening with all the outgoing missionaries. They used to all go together on their last day after they're all gathered down in Vegas, but Pres. McCracken changed how transfers are organized, so I got to accompany Sis Compton while all the elders had to do splits with other companionships.

Well, I think this has gone on for some time, have I officially started rambling yet? Oh, one more thing, another wish granted: when I heard about the wards splitting in Katy I thought 'Golly, I always seem to miss those things, they either happen just before I move into a ward or just after I leave.' Well, I have now officially experienced a ward boundary shift! Of course, it's completely different as a missionary. Fallon 5th Ward is probably the largest in-town ward as far as land mass, but the smallest in attendance, so they shifted three wards to increase our numbers, also increasing the physical size of the ward - it's huge! And now we have to completely reorganize our records, transfer work from the elders, and redo all our maps - lots of fun for those snowy days when we don't want to go out! We'll definitely be busy for a while, but it will be good to have more work to do in 5th Ward - the members are so good and supportive, and we just haven't had a lot for them to help with recently.

Ummmm....I think that's catches you pretty up to date with me, anything else going on at home? I hear D,C,&S will be there for Christmas, how long are they staying? How was the semester for those attending school? Any other fun plans for the next year? Keep in touch as always, see you in 14 months!

Much loveses,
-Sister Cloward

Email received Nov 30, 2009

2009-12-07T10:42:00.007-06:00

A Missionary's Wish List

1. All my investigators and less-active families to come to church, feel the spirit, become converted, develop a personal relationship with God and His scriptures

2. Solid member referrals

3. The Conference issue of the Ensign (each companionship gets a copy each month, but it's nice to have my own copy of the Conf. issue; plus, being up north we get them even later than everyone else, e.g. people are already getting the Dec issue - we have yet to get Nov, though word is they have finally arrived, it's just a matter of passing them out) (Editor's note: We've got this one covered.)

4. Missionary appropriate music and/or blank CDs (Editor's note: Christmas music is missionary appropriate and she loves to listen to it year round, so it's a gift that won't be put away in a month. Also, for those of you who are not members, appropriate music includes classical, instrumental, Christian - nothing raucous or loud or irreverent.)

5. Stationary/office supplies (we like to make cards for people and decorate our planners, etc. The best care packages I've seen (not that I've seen that many) are the one you sent with cards and stamps and the one my first comp received with pads of paper, pens, and cute paper clips - she was so excited)

6. Gift cards to Walmart for various and sundry items that are hard to specify or ship

7. Pictures of home & family and all the fun (and boring) things you've been up to

Those are the things that have been on my mind this past week. Thanks for all the news from home - congrats on the #; stinks about the freezer; if Amy goes to stay with D&C she can live in the camper; hadn't thought about the Ren Faire in a couple months; it's a good thing I didn't send any food in that package; I already sent out letters to Calli and Launa with the other addresses I received, hopefully they still work.

I'm trying to do two things at once (the other thing is managing music, which actually involves doing more than one thing) so my brain is stretched thin, I'll write more about my Thanksgiving and such next week. Love ya!

-Sister Cloward

Email received Nov 23, 2009

2009-11-24T13:33:00.007-06:00

Well, I'm sure I have oodles to write, I just can't think of any of it right now. How about families? I have had a handful of people ask if I'm related to so-and-so Cloward. I always yes, even if I've never heard the name before, but one person actually said 'I'm related to Clowards a few generations back' and started rambling off names (do you know how we connect to the Burrs? The name sounded familiar) we finally made the connection when I asked if they knew Thomas P. cuz that's the only name I can remember all the way back then. And one among the younger set (actually the first person I met in Fallon, besides my comp) said 'I had an institute teacher named Cloward.' That sparked my interest and I asked where and what his first name was, to which she replied: 'Cedar City, I just remember he was really sick'. (Editor's note: Our Uncle Bob taught institute in Cedar City. He died of ALS a few years ago.) So that's the first person who actually knows someone I know. On the flip side 75% of this town is related to each other. There are four or five families that have married each other and of course all live nearby one another so they have to get crafty when making the ward boundaries to divvy them all up, and even then it's tough. We have half a dozen Whitakers in either ward, you need a family tree rather than a ward list to figure out all the Sorensens (especially as this last generation seems to have been all sons, so you can't tell who's brothers and who's cousins - they all look related), and when your ward council has three Schank brothers you get a lot of references to 'Mom' and they refer to everyone by the old-fashioned Brother Bill/Sister Sue, it's the only way to know who everyone's talking about!

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat...I can't believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday! It doesn't seem real yet, even if it is actually cold - maybe that's it, I've forgotten to associate cold with the holidays. But Christmas decorations are starting to peek out, so that should help, though it's driving my companion crazy. She goes home Dec. 16 just in time to spend Christmas with her family, so any reminder of Christmas makes her a little trunky and she's trying so hard (and doing quite well) to stay focused. We've developed a system we hope will help: she can only refer to days of the week, I handle all the specific dates, and she doesn't look at the calender. So far, so good...until she got her Exit Interview Paperwork more commonly referred to as 'trunky papers' which just happen to be due on her birthday (Dec 4) so she can't conveniently forget about them. But we're still working hard and trying to stay busy. Let me know how your holidays are going - pictures from Halloween, more video evidence of Santa desecration (ah, fond memories) and what not. (Editor's note: I'm sorry, this would just take too long to explain here. Good times.) I guess I'll talk to you in a month or so and see you in 14!

-Hermana Cloward (did I tell you - when we asked our ZL for new planners (we get new ones every transfer) the only ones they had right then were in Spanish, it's a good thing I've been out long enough to know what everything says!)

Email received Nov 16, 2009

2009-11-18T11:53:00.006-06:00

It's nice to see an email from home in the inbox when I log on. Yes, I did get your nice, long letters and the pictures, they were wonderful. I laughed out loud and still can't help smiling whenever I think about the news of Castle/Firefly. (Editor's note: This is in reference to the Halloween episode of Castle which I told her about. We are big Firefly fans.) Is it turning out to be a good/decent show or just another investment of time & interest that may be canceled at the end of the season? I've walked into several homes wherein the tv was playing Medium, Ghost Whisperer, or Bones, but I think the hardest was yesterday when someone was watching Serenity (Editor's note: The movie sequel to the TV show Firefly). I was highly tempted to take off my nametag and plop myself down on the couch. But it's not all bad, sometimes our Zone Leaders get permission to show video clips for our training meetings; this last week they showed pretty much all the highlights from Rudy - very inspiring; at my first Zone Conference two months ago we actually watched a clip from Bourne Supremacy, that was exciting.

(Personal note removed regarding our brother in the Navy.) Speaking of seamen, one of our investigators up here is everyone's favorite curmudgeony old sailor. He's been meeting with missionaries for six years (his wife got baptized at the beginning) and has made leaps and bounds of progress but still insists on dragging his feet. When the area got transferred to sisters a couple years ago there were three sisters so he started calling them his 'angels'; now after the first meeting we are officially dubbed 'angel' and thus we will be forever more, it's quite on honor. I hope one day y'all can meet and he and dad can swap sea tales (he's quite a storyteller). Did I mention, there's a Navy base in Fallon...okay, so it's an Naval Air Station, but still, I'm sure they'd have an NFCU branch; in fact, several of the homes we go to have NFCU magnets on their fridge, it's very heartwarming. So, the question is: Why Fallon? But my bigger question is why is there an Army Base in Hawthorne? (another small town to the south) Oh well, who can say why the government does what it does. We do cover the military housing in one of our wards so sometimes when we head that direction we can see jets flying circles in the sky, other times we just hear them. Kind of makes me homesick for Las Vegas as our area was in direct flight paths for a lot of the planes taking off or landing at the airport, we got to see a lot of low-fyling underbellies, I miss it. I also miss the warmth (not the heat - just the warmth) as it's getting quite chill up here in the north. I bought a nice coat, but it can only do so much after the sun goes down, I plan to do a lot of layering through Jan & Feb and stay inside as much as possible (pray we'll have a lot of people to teach!)

(Personal note removed.) Thanks so much! Keep on being the wonderful family you are!!

-Sister Cloward

From the Nevada Las Vegas West Mission

2009-11-12T16:02:00.007-06:00

*ATTENTION*

November 11, 2009

TO: Missionary Families
SUBJECT: (1) Holiday Mail and (2) Mission Visits

(1) With the holiday season at our doorstep, we assume that you may be planning to send mail and packages to your missionaries who are here in the field. If you will follow the suggestions offered, you will help us in the office immensely during this busy time of the year. Also you will have the best assurance that your mailings will get to their desired destination in time.

a. Mail early. Plan to shop and ship in a timely manner.

b. Letter mail should continue to come to the mission office. We faithfully turn the mail around in 24 hours.

c. Packages (UPS, USPS, or FedEx) should be sent DIRECTLY to your missionary. These should be sent before December 15, 2009 as transfers will occur on that day. We will ask your missionary to e-mail you their addresses on Monday, November 16th. We will also ask them to e-mail their new after December 15th. If you have not sent a package to arrive before December 15th, please wait for the new e-mail from your Missionary. (Editor's note: If you intend to send a package to Katie please email me at sarawithanh1@gmail.com for her current street address.)

d. After January 1st, please resume sending everything to the mission office.

(2) Our mission receives many requests from family members who are passing through Las Vegas to visit their missionary serving here or in the northern sector of the mission. We are, regretfully, a convenient thoroughfare for business travelers and vacationers with Utah and California in their plans. We are generally advised not to honor such a request.

Visits by family members are far more disruptive to the work than many realize. We work tirelessly to keep our missionaries focused, battling a multitude of distractions that are naturally here. We ask you to PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ASKING TO VISIT YOUR MISSIONARY IF YOU ARE IN THIS MISSION AREA – FOR HIS/HER SAKE. We constantly express obedience and we appreciate your help in this regard.

Sincerely,
President Kevin D. McCracken

Email received Nov 12, 2009

2009-11-12T15:53:00.002-06:00

Well this past week has been a little crazy - with the unexpected transfer, then this week we went to the temple on Wed (yesterday) so that threw off our p-day - so I'll just make this a brief note and write again on Monday.

I loved the ride up - everyone says it's a flat and desolate trip but I thought it was just beautiful - definitley not flat and I don't know if I'm just mountain starved after CT and TX or if this landscape just brings back fond memories of my childhood, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the scenery it was so beautiful. It felt so good to be road-tripping, though I could tell all the elders in the van with me were not experienced road-trippers - they all fell asleep right off (just cause we left early in the morning - no excuse!) and took too long and bought too much at the first rest stop (the gas station also contained the Death Valley Nut & Candy Co - made me homesick for Queen Bee) whereas I set myself up with a few snacks from home, some cross-stitching to keep me busy, and never slept a wink the entire trip. I was the first dropped off in my new area of Fallon (The Oasis of Nevada) which, if I compared to places I've lived before, would fall somewhere between the outskirts of CT and Stanley, ID. It's a small town (pop. 8000) with lots of rural outskirts (read: lots of dairy farms) and apparently a 20-25% LDS population - that's even more than Vegas' 10%! (and just the beginning of the differences between the two towns.) I'm settling in well and getting to know my new companion, though I have a heads up we'll only be together for 6 weeks (she's going home in Dec) which means in my fourth transfer I'll already be on my fourth companion! Crazy! Well, I hope you got the packages, I had to leave the last one for my last comp to send out but she said she did. Hopefully I'll have the means to send more pictures soon. Can't think what else to say now, so I'll write in a couple days! Bye!

Letter received Nov 3, 2009

2009-11-05T13:50:00.000-06:00

(Editor's note: The salutation dates back to the mission experience of Katie's brother, who served in Hungary...the country. Anyway, the Hungarian words for 'Dear Family' are apparently very similar looking and sounding to the words 'dragon salad,' so many of his letters were addressed thusly. We found Katie's first letter from the MTC addressed to Dragon Salad, which brought surprise, memories and great happiness to us all. Usually it's only on the address on the envelope, which is why you haven't seen it. But since this letter came in a box the letter itself specifically starts with the happy greeting. Now that all that's out of the way...)

Dragon Salad,

Allright, so I'm leaving for Fallon in the morning & these are things (Editor's note: Some clothes and stuff.) that I have not found useful in the last 3 months - so I'm sending them home to make more room in my suitcase for the results of Makeover Session #3 - clothes shopping. I felt like I was on "What Not to Wear." Sis. Chapman literally went through the racks at lightning speed throwing things in the cart "I like this, I don't like that, too long, too short, try it on, faster!" (We didn't have much time because - long story - too many people have been going over miles so the entire mission had to park their cars for one day & we actually went over just a teensy bit over so we got parked a second day so we had to work around member schedules for rides and didn't have the leisure time to dilly-dally.) But, she is a tremendous shopper & has a great eye - I think I've come out looking like the dignified missionary I had hoped to appear but didn't have the time or skills to prep for. So Mom can have her skirts back, Amy can take her slip, the rest can go in my closet till I get back. Also, wilst thou include in the next package the long sleeve shirts I recently purchased from Shade as well as my long sleeve brown shirt, I thank thee & should be able to provide the street address in my next email. I'm including a reply letter to the Flowers to save a stamp - would you be so kind as to hand deliver it? And thank you for the FedEx slips - if I had only known I would be sending this package so soon, I wouldn't have sent the other one separately. But I guess (well, I know) it's nice to get lots of things in the mail, so I hope you enjoy! Oh my, I can't believe I'm leaving already; everything about this area is so precious to me. My next companion, Sis. Compten, is going home in six weeks which means in my fourth transfer I will already be on my fourth companion! I only have to think of how many companions David had to realize it may be a family trait, but I'm sure the Lord knows what he's doing and I'll just take what He gives me. Well, I still have some final packing before I go to sleep so I'll let you go for now - let me know if there's anything you need from me or anything you want to know more about. Oh, I guess we'll have to start all over with a dentist, but I'll ask around the first week to get some recommendations - thanks for all the info you sent, Dad, it was very helpful!!

Sister Cloward

I LOVE YOU!!!

Email received Nov 2, 2009

2009-11-04T14:03:00.002-06:00

Thoughts from earlier in the week: #1 Okay, now you're just spoiling me with all this bread! And thanks for the candy, I won't even need to hit the post-Halloween sales to bulk up my personal stash. BUT (funny story) both Sis Champman and I have been a little concerned that even our mandatory exercise every morning cannot keep up with cookies and dessert at every house every night, so we called our Zone Leaders and asked to be put on dessert restriction (no dessert except on Sunday.) They kindly obliged and even followed with a threat to take away our Sunday desserts if we misbehave (of course, when we're at home there are no restrictions, especially at Halloween, so don't worry that I'm suffering complete neglect.) Now don't tell anyone we were the instigators of this mandate, we've already used it to great advantage this week - laying all blame on our missionary leadership! But I am interested in investing in some more healthy snacks - any ideas? With all the money I've saved not having to buy bread perhaps I can experiment with more fresh fruits and veggies.

Thank you all for your loving care and concern during my recent troubles, I almost didn't even mention it but it was the second Monday in a row we had been in a disagreement (we had been doing better during the week) and I just really needed to talk to someone. Things have been going MUCH better, we talked things out Monday afternoon and got back to work - we've had quite a fabulous week actually. We had make-over session #2 with make-up tips (#1 was clothes and hair last week.) We laughed so hard on Wed night we were practically rolling on the ground, we couldn't even walk back to our car - it felt fabulous! We went to two Trunk-or-Treats on Friday night (the best costumes we could come up with was switching name-tags (it felt really weird) and we even tried imitating each other to much giggles and laughter.) We also tried to set up a couple people we've been working with, it was a little awkward, but you never know... Sis Chapman keeps trying to play matchmaker with everyone we meet, the latest is two return missionaries (one in each ward) that just got home in the past month - could be interesting. For Halloween night we had to be home by 6:oo pm with no instructions on specific use of the time, so we grabbed a stack of church videos, changed into our pjs (it felt so weird to be chilling in my jammies at 7 in the evening - I nearly felt scandolous!), and spent the evening catching up on Church History while helping pass out candy. There's an excellent video about Wilford Woodruff's (Editor's note: Wilford Woodruff is Katie's great-great-great grandfather.) experience finding the church - check it out at an LDS library near you! BIG NEWS: With thoughts fully turned to the jovial holiday and absolute surety of our current station, we both forgot Sat was also the night of Transfer Calls. When we checked our messages I thought it was a prank - I'm going to Fallon! That was Sis Moreno's first area up north (used to be the only sister area up there.) Well we both wailed and bemoaned and I haven't even started packing but I'm running out of time on this email, so I guess I'll share the continuing story next week - stay tuned for the address change!

Letter received Oct 28, 2009

2009-10-29T14:05:00.000-05:00

Hello Again! Here are birthday presents:
The tie is for father (perhaps I'll find a shirt for Christmas). I wish I had sent it last week so he could take it on his business trip (do they make him wear a tie down there?) at this rate he'll get it the same time as his Christmas present, oh well. (Editor's note: He went to Indonesia and Malaysia for several weeks.) Funny story - I was looking through the ties and among the poker chip & playing card varieties I saw one that appeared to have an angel Moroni pattern! But that's not all. Further inspection revealed temples, scriptures, & CTR's - the LDS styles outnumbered the gambling ones! What ever is this town coming to? And this was just at the local Wal-mart. I also saw an adorable shirt with Snoopy & Woodstock but my companion insisted that a grown woman had no business wearing a shirt with Snoopy on it; I concurred only on the grounds that I wasn't sure it would fit Amy, plus being a family of Walmart shoppers I was sure she'd already seen it & perhaps even bought it for herself. So that means Amy & Tasha can divvy up the soaps & lotions - they all smell good, I'd hate to choose the wrong product for the wrong person so I'll let you decide! I'll also let you wrap them up so you can unwrap them and get the full effect - how thoughtful of me, I know! Much love & drippy kisses!

-Sister Cloward

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

Email received Oct 26, 2009

2009-10-27T13:14:00.006-05:00

(Several family/administrative questions removed.)

I had hoped to fill this email with happy uplifting stories from earlier in the week, let's see if I remember any of them...My companion rewrote "Popcorn Popping" with some missionary-innapropriate lyrics about a (good-looking) single young man in one of our wards; we created a scavenger-hunt in the library for some elders we needed to get paperwork to; we had a memorable tracting experience with an interesting, talk-a-mile-a-minute, somewhat contradictory young man (the scary part is we got the impression that he also preaches at his own church); there were other good moments, I'm trying not to be distracted by the bad. Gotta go, much love to all!!!

Email received Oct 19, 2009

2009-10-21T12:18:00.004-05:00

In good news we have a baptism coming up on Friday: a wonderful twelve year old girl (who does not look twelve!) whose parents have been inactive for a number of years, but the mother is coming back to church now; it's been absolutely amazing to see her embrace the principles of the gospel and learn to recognize the spirit in her life; she's going to be a pretty amazing force for good to everyone she meets. I love to see how people have been prepared by the Lord to receive the gospel and how it changes their lives, but I'm also amazed at the children we've taught and their grasp on what's important and true; it's almost easier to teach them because they just get it, I hope none of them lose that as they grow up.

As to the recent package, may I turn your attention to Philippians 4:14-19 which expresses my feelings rather nicely. And the cinnamon rolls were not moldy, too heavy, or un-cinnamony; they were a little dry around the edges but with a good nuking even that could not inhibit their yumminess. (Editor's note: They were homemade cinnamon rolls, which we later realized we forgot to put cinnamon in. So they were actually just sweet rolls I guess.) Which means one of three things: they were actually quite good, I haven't had anything decent to eat in a long time, or I'm just that desperate for things that remind me of home. Regardless they were good enough that I meant to share one with my companion but ended up eating them all myself, how shameful!

Here's a sleuthing opportunity for whoever feels so inclined: In the last transfer when Sis Chapman came, there also arrived a certain elder by the name of Elder Rolfson. (Editor's note: Our mother's maiden name is Rolfson, and her mother is from Alberta.) After brief questioning I have discovered he is from Calgary, has 3 sisters, his father's name is Kent, and his grandfather's nickname is something like Kug/?Cub. I shared similar information and got us nowhere, so it's up to y'all in the realm of Easier-Access-To-Info to figure out how we are related and report back asap. This note will not self-destruct as we are not allowed to play with anything remotely dangerous as missionaries. Goodbye.
-Agent Cloward

Email received Oct 12, 2009

2009-10-13T12:42:00.005-05:00

It's good to hear what's going on in the world, in Conference they alluded to something in Asia/the islands and we had no idea what they were talking about. This Sunday we had two baby blessings - one had 14 people in the circle, the other 15, I wasn't sure they could all reach the baby! Combined with a BYU-NV football game on Sat, the chapel was so packed, they actually had to open the extra overflow! This was Sis Chapman's first time at this ward and we just happened to sit down across from her cousin and aunt who were in town for the game and staying with said aunts brother in the ward - crazy, huh? Say hi to Marilyn and Wally when they come, and thanks to Stacia for the letter and treat - all the mail I've gotten from extended family makes me feel guilty for never writing anybody, I barely even wrote my own brother! Thank you all for writing me and keeping me in the loop. I was hoping to get Calli's (Editor's note: A girl in our ward who just left for her mission in Manchester, England.) address before she left, is there any way to get her my new email address so we can swap stories cheaper than letters to GB? Thank you also for feeding the missionaries and especially trying to give them referrals, member effort can truly make all the difference. We have another baptism coming up at the end of this month, then it may be a little dry for a while, but we do have a lot of less-active members to work with. I'm also starting to build my collection of tracting stories, but the best one yet is definitely directed by the Lord and still progressing, so we'll see what He has in store! I guess that's it for now, keep in touch - wherever you may be!
-Sister Cloward

Email received Oct 5, 2009

2009-10-08T13:53:00.010-05:00

Alls well on the western front. Thanks loads for the good bread (Editor's note: We overnighted a loaf of homemade bread to her.), I did the math and it saved me in the neighborhood of $5-10 which is a good chunk of my weekly budget. And goober that I am, I haven't really been homesick, but when I held that loaf of bread (it was still warm, but that may have had to do more with the Vegas sun) I started to tear up a little - I guess homemade things really do come with a hefty dose of love. It's beginning to turn cold here - not just cool, actually cold - last night we jogged between doors just to stay warm...it had nothing to do with the fact that the members who live on that street offered us root beer floats when we were done, really (though I almost asked for hot chocolate instead.) Today we got to the library a little early and had to wait for our computers; normally this would be no problem for me, especially in a library, but when you're surrounded by shelves and shelves of books you're not allowed to read, it's pure torture - we even sat at a table in the YA section, I must be a glutton for punishment. (Editor's note: The Young Adult section is Katie's favorite.) And yes, I memorized my library card number the first week (Editor's note: She always has her library card number memorized.), it was pretty easy, the challenge is that I only use it once a week so that keeps me on my toes.

Tootles,
Sister Cloward

P.S. Did you enjoy Conference? What was your favorite talk?

Mission Home Letter received Sept 28, 2009

2009-09-29T11:58:00.007-05:00

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

Email received Sept 28, 2009

2009-09-29T11:51:00.008-05:00

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

2009-09-25T12:04:00.005-05:00

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

2009-09-14T21:59:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-14T19:24:00.004-05:00

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!!!

Email received Aug 31, 2009

2009-08-31T22:08:00.006-05:00

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

2009-08-31T21:54:00.007-05:00

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

Email received Aug 19, 2009

2009-08-23T20:57:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-23T17:49:00.017-05:00

Letter Home

Nevada 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

Letter recieved Aug 7, 2009

2009-08-09T19:11:00.002-05:00

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

Email received Aug 6, 2009

2009-08-09T19:07:00.000-05:00

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!

Letter received Jul 30, 2009

2009-07-31T14:19:00.001-05:00

7/22-26/09

Hello All! I arrived safely at the MTC, on time, and was the first of my companionship to arrive. I got checked in and taken to my room where I met our roommates Sister Liljenquist & Sister Rhondean. They are going to Indonesia and have been here for 3 weeks which means after my 3 weeks they will still have another 3 weeks to go. I then went to get lunch because I was very hungry; as I didn't have a companion yet I sat by myself but was soon joined by a Sister Horning and her companion Sis. Marble who are heading to Winnipeg, Canada (Editor's note: It turns out this Sister is the niece of a woman in our ward who was Katie's visiting teacher before the mission.) and a Sister Brobst going to Phoenix, AZ who was also brand new and hadn't found her companion yet. Okay, I don't have much time so I'm gonna skimp on the details and just get the highlights. My companions are Sister Rummler from a small town in Wisconsin, also headed to Las Vegas West, and Sis Young from a small town near Bakersfield, she's going to Salt Lake South. Yup, I get to be in a trio! We are in Branch 53, District E; the Elders in our district are Elder Jensen from Baltimore (no he doesn't recall meeting Adam Salt) (Editor's note: Adam is a young man in our ward who just got back from the Baltimore Mission, well, almost a year ago actually.) he's our District Leader and is actually here waiting on a visa for Edinburgh, Scotland; his companion is Elder Perisich from Milwaukee, OR, he's heading to the Salt Lake City South Mission as well; so are Elder Hardy, from "as far south as you can get" in LA, with the accent to match and Elder Lotz (Lō-tz) from Virginia (his accent sometimes sounds lie a cross vetween Old VA family and Australia or New Zealand, it's very interesting to listen to.) Our first couple of days were really busy with group meetings and jumping right into class, but things are starting to settle in now that we have more time to study and actually do all the things we were told to do in all the meetings our first day. Our teachers are Brother Phipps & Brother Vallett. Bro. Phipps is real energetic and high speed while Bro. Vallett is little softer, but they're both pretty powerful & direct. They've also been real great at throwing us right into teaching: as a class, to other classes, and so on.

Well, I started this letter Thurs. night and I've only had snatches of time to work on it; now it's Sunday and some things have changed. The other new district in our branch has three sets of elders and a trio of sisters. From what I've heard, Sis. Young's comp was supposed to be a sister from Canada but I don't know why she didn't make it, the trio in the other district has a sister who's going to Dublin, but is waiting on a visa, so the Branch President (President Bishop - truly) is going to have Sister Sheffield (the visa-waiter) move into our room and be Sis. Young's companion. We're a little sad because after the first couple of days of being overwhelmed and quiet, we've been getting to know each other better and the dynamics are real fun; so we're trying to view it not as losing a Sister, but gaining a Sister. The district from our branch that is leaving tomorrow is going to Tonga (seems to be 2/3 1st generation from Tongan families living in Utah) but our zome leaders, coordinating sister & music director were all in that district - that's pretty much, well, all the missionary level branch leadership, so they had to completely reorganize. Guess who's the new music director? (Editor's note: Katie was the Choir Director in our ward before she left.) If you guessed ME! you can go get a piece of cake from the kitchen (unless you guys already finished it off, then just think warm, happy thoughts.) I think that's most of the overview up to now; I get to email on Thurs. so hopefully you receive this before then. I love you very much and am grateful for all our experiences together. Stay true, stay strong, the Gospel is true - shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Katie
XOXOXO

Email received Jul 30, 2009

2009-07-31T14:16:00.000-05:00

(Personal note removed)...

On to other business, I wrote a letter but didn't get to send it until Tuesday, so I don't know if you've received it yet. In case you haven't and also if you would forward this to other people, I will include a brief overview. I am in Branch 53 District E, we have two sets of Elders and two sets of Sisters (Initially I was in a trio, but we switched around with the other new district in our branch (District C) which also had a trio of sisters.) Elder Jensen (from WV currently, but his family is military, so they've moved a lot/heading to Edinburgh, Scotland (he's here waiting on his visa)) is our District Leader and his companion is Elder Perisich (from OR heading to SLC South;) then there's Elder Hardy (from LA going to SLC South) and Elder Lotz (from VA going to SLC South;) the sisters are Sister Young (from CA (near Bakersfield) also going to SLC South) and her new companion Sister Sheffield (from Logan going to Dublin, Ireland(another visa waiter)) and last, but not least, my companion Sister Rummler(from WI, also heading to Las Vegas West.) Our teachers are Brother Phipps and Brother Vallett, they're super fun and really great at giving us what we need and throwing us right into teaching opportunities. A note to the Suhakas: in the other new district is one Elder Marler from Damascus, MD who can't believe the odds that I'm Sylvia's niece; he's also headed to LV west, what are the odds! I'm low on time so I may write another letter, but be sure to send this to the fam inclusing D&C, so I don't have to repeat it all again.