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.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Email received Dec 14, 2009
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?)
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?)
Monday, December 7, 2009
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
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
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
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
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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!)
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!)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Email received Nov 16, 2009
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
(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
Thursday, November 12, 2009
From the Nevada Las Vegas West Mission
*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
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!
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!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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!!!
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!!!
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