Letter recieved Aug 7, 2009

I don't get much time to write letters so this is just the right size. (Editor's note: This letter was written on a small greeting card, which eventually became 2 cards.) So here's the health saga of my district: on the second day here E. Hardy hurt his knee in gym; after several appointments (which always seemed to be during Bro. Vallett's class) he discovered he had torn his ASL and both meniscuses (menisci?) After hearing the story of how he came on a mission, you can't imagine a worse thing happening to this wonderful Elder. He decided to have surgery here (yesterday 8/1/09) and do his recovery at the MTC and go on to his mission. We are all so glad because he is where he needs to be and will be a great missionary. That's just the beginning. The worst present I received for my birthday was a sore throat; on Tuesday it was full-blown congestion and dripping everywhere (that's the day B. Vallett asked: "Sis. Cloward are you coming down with a cold?" and I responded: "I am DOWN with a cold, there is no coming!") and on Wed. if I wasn't eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I had a cough drop in my mouth. I went through an entire bag in two days, and it took another 24 hrs. to get the post-cough drop feeling out of my mouth, I couldn't even taste the Thieves in my water!) (Editor's note: Theives is an essential oil which helps to strengthen the immune system.) Thurs (our first P-day!) dawned with only one cough drop and though it took me a little while to climb four flights of stairs wearing a backpack, I felt 10X better (Did I mention I live on the top floor of our building?) The progress has continued and I am now only coughing a few times a day, mostly cured by drinking water.

But that's not the end. I was only the first to get sick - Sis. Sheffield moved into our room on Sun. night & also woke up with a cold, but hers has been lower key & longer lasting and now S. Rummler & S. Young are sick as well. We think it started with one of our roommates who was sick when arrived. Also E. Jensen sits next to me in class everyday and said he had a sore throat yesterday. So between the sniffling, coughing, and Elders leaving for various & sundry doctor appointments, our teachers have been concerned that our district will start dying one by one and none of us will make it out of the MTC. It's been slightly humorous (on Sat. we had only 2 Elders & 2 Sisters, & B. Phipps kept telling everyone - "Make way, I've got my whole district coming through, & we need a lot of room!" Or - "12 Apostles? There were only three Nephites!" And, of course, - "I feel like the fifth wheel on an awkward double date.") We've all skipped at least one Gym time to take a nap --- Now I don't tell you these things to cause any alarm, as I said it has been the source of much humor and bonding among our class.

Another Running joke has been the varying attitudes toward the traditional missionary weight gain. Certain Elders such as E. Perisich are concerned about gaining while at the MTC because their activity level is lower than usual (he's a second-degree black belt in Karate) and eat accordingly. Other Elders have come to full acceptance of the weight they will gain and do nothing to stop it, or, in the case of E. Jensen, aid it's arrival. There is always cold cereal available in the cafeteria and for the first week E. Jensen ended every meal with a bowl. His weight "goal" was 20 lbs. - then S. Rummler challenged that she could gain 30 lbs before he gained his 20; somehow this got upped to 40/30 and now every meal ends with all the Elders putting their unfinished food on E. Jensen's plate and telling him he has to eat it because he's the district leader and E. Jensen insisting that as long as anyone else is eating S. Rummler should be eating something too. Well this has provided hours of joy & pleasure for the rest of us (especially these days when our entire table laughing hysterically dissolves into a cacophony of coughing.)

More Spiritual highlights include: I am interacting & engaging with everyone with no signs of mental ill health; (Editor's note: Katie used to have strong Social Anxiety, but has overcome much of it and learned to manage it well in the last few years.) my spiritual confidence is growing & I feel the fire of the important of this work & my calling; my biggest fear is not being able to connect with my investigators & fill their needs, but I know that if I continue to prepare as well as I can, with experience & a good trainer those skills will come & I know the Lord will Bless me with all things I need so I will devote all my time & energy to His work & invite all to come unto Him!

Love, Sister Cloward

P.S. Send Vitamins