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

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 1, 2010

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 10, 2010

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

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

(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


Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.
"A cappella song"

Email received Apr 19, 2010

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 (vids)

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 Mar 15, 2010

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

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

A Letter to Tasha

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.

Email received Jan 25, 2010

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

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

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 4, 2010

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

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

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 7, 2009

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 23, 2009

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 12, 2009

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

(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!!!