Email received Feb 22, 2010

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

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

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

I love Sister Shrier.

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

-Sister Cloward



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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.

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.

First email received Feb 15, 2010

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




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Email received Feb 8, 2010

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

Email received Feb 3, 2010

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

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

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

Email received Jan 25, 2010

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 11, 2010

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

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

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

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

-Sis Cloward