Second email received Feb 15, 2010

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.

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 2, 2009

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!

Email received Oct 19, 2009

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

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

Letter Received Sept 14, 2009

District 53E!

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

.

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

.

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

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

.

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

.

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

. Bro. Vallett & Elder Hardy in his wheelchair

.

Bro. Phipps & Elders Jensen & Lotz in the corner

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

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

.

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

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

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

Hello fambly!

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

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

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

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

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

Love & Kisses,
Sister Katie Cloward

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

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

Email received Jul 30, 2009

(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.