Email received May 24, 2010

ohmyflipalipjuicymoma! That is only an approximation of what went through my head as I looked at the pictures you sent, Mother. Sikhs wearing tartans and playing bagpipes - Hallelujah! There's hope for my wedding yet! (Have fun explaining that Mr. Editor's Notes) (Editor's note: That's Miss Editor's Note to you, and, oy vey. The pictures sent were pictures from the Jakarta Highland Gathering that Mom, Amy, and Dad attended in Indonesia. I've inlcuded a picture just for ya'll. As far as Katie's dream wedding, the basic jist of it is that all the women will be wearing sari's and all the men will be wearing kilts. HA! That wasn't so hard.)

Well, we sisters all went to Red Rock this morning (a lovely desert area with colorful rocks.) We didn't go on all the hikes we had intended because we got lost on a one-way road, well the problem really came when the one-way road turned into a two-way road. And due to these circumstance there's not much time left in our p-day and we still haven't gone shopping, so I don't know how long or detailed I'll have time to get. We're also going to see if we can arrange to go back with our district of elders next Mon, so I don't know when I'll have time to write you all the fun details! Maybe if I quit wasting time just blabbing (and drooling over pics.) Okay, I'm running out of time, but truly, thank you for the pictures and updates with all you're doing. I love you!!!!!!!!!

-Sis Cloward

P.S. May I make a couple requests for that box if it hasn't been sent yet? Can you look in my closet for a black skirt (I don't remember how many I have) I believe the brand is Studio 41? I'm wanting some shorter skirts for summer and there's no reason to buy new ones if it's long enough (did you understand that oxymoron?) And maybe my capris, should be in one of the drawers on the left, I believe, unless of course Amy already stole all these clothes, then I'll survive.

Email received May 17, 2010

Not much of note this week, except it felt like an eternity from one Sunday to the next; Wed felt like it should be Fri and by the time Fri came it seemed like a whole new week, Sat alone was at least three separate days. On the mission front the elders invited us to help them with a family of nine that want to be baptized this Fri (Dad, Mom, girl 11, boy 10, girl 9, girl 8, girl 7, girl 6, boy 2) only problem is Mom and Dad aren't married and even bigger issue is after living so long without the gospel there are consequences and issues that would probably take several years of intensive counseling & gospel study or a couple mighty changes of heart to overcome. But what can you do in just a short few weeks time? Pray awfully hard and be glad it's up to the Lord, the bishop, and the elders. That's another annoying thing about sin, the only options it leaves you with are hard and just-as-hard, how do you choose?

On the more lighthearted side: On Fri someone told us they were taking their kids to Robin Hood; Sis J: "You mean Red Robins?" In my head: "Maybe it's some local activity place?" Bro Moffat: "No, Robin Hood, the new movie with Russell Crowe!" Oh, yeah, that one that none of us have ever heard of because it wasn't even a twinkle in the writer's eye when we came out on our missions, gotcha, thanks. So we went inside and got keifer buds from Sis Moffat, yes keifer buds. Now we can make our own yogurt, exciting, huh? I think so. Apparently there are multiple ways to make yogurt, but I'm wondering if these are any relation to delicious Kefir yogurt drinks. I'll let you know if I figure out the recipe. Seeing as how they're live cultures, we weren't sure if they should count as illegal pets and if we should name them (Sis K. used to have a crush on a boy named Keifer, and the name Keefe came to my mind), but since they seem to grow pretty fast it would be hard to keep track of them so we decided to just consider them interesting. We're still experimenting with how they work and how much yogurt we will actually use any given day, but it's pretty cool.

I sang in one ward yesterday, but my camera wouldn't record for some reason, good thing I'm singing the same song in the other ward on the 30th, hopefully I'll get you a good copy then. I guess there were some other great lessons and visits this week, but I haven't even recorded them in my journal, I can't seem to be able to think of too many topics per email for fear of my brain exploding. Oh well, hopefully my brain lasts long enough to be able to share everything when I get home and show my slides all night like missionaries do.

Thanks for the emails and updates, keep staying out of trouble and try to stay healthy! Love you for eternity!

-Sis Cloward

P.S. The sister hike has been rescheduled to next week, so it may be a short email. Sending plenty of love this week.

Elder Powell tries on the armor in it's preliminary stages

While my companions were talking to their families Sunday night, Andrew Moffat roped me into playing Pirates of the Caribbean Stratego (wasn't to hard to do.) He was pounding me the whole game until the end when I just barely managed to pull ahead and give him what-for

Abby Lords models the finished armor

during the lesson

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Elder Jones and I sing Because He Lives at Zone Conference

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"

Another email received Apr 28, 2010 (pics & vid)

Pics since Fallon

(Sorry these aren't formatted pretty, blogger is not arrange-your-pictures-nice friendly. And I just don't feel like fighting with it to make them look nice, like I did last time.)

Sister sandwich

Hanging with my old district in South Zone (of course, none of these people were there when I was. We got to go down because Sis Vomocil just came from this area and this was her last baptism.)

Southern Sisters: Cockrell, Beeston, Todd, Johnson, Kim, Me!

So excited to receive mail!

(Editor's note: These are the letters and postcards Amy, Tasha and I sent her during our Spring Break week in Stanley, ID.)

Easter - cool & casual vs.

super excited (love that timer!)

Our new apartment in Vegas. The batteries died so I started over, but that one's too long :(

Email received Apr 28, 2010

Okay, I started a letter last week, but I didn't get very far so I might as well just write it all in an email so you can all get it together instead of missing your flight by mere hours. (In response to the news that Amy gets to go to Indonesia with Mom and Dad.) (Exciting realisation about Amy going to Indonesia: that must mean she's finally got a passport. Yay!!! Now we don't have to leave her behind when the rest of us evacuate to Canada or Scotland or northern Siberia.) The #1 thing I should have asked last week is did anyone by any chance do my taxes? Also, don't know if you read the jokes on the candy that went in my Easter bag, but this was my favorite: How do you get the water into watermelon? Plant it in the spring! Ahahahahahahahaha Ahahahahahahahahha Hahahahaha...Ohhh...sigh. Sister Johnson doesn't always get the word-play jokes.

Here are all the thoughts I've written/thought in the last two weeks organized into a somewhat logical stream. (Editor's note: The next two paragraphs are in reference to a difficult experience that someone we are close to is going through.) I've already decided I'd never go home - even for a death (sorry) (Name removed) has an excellent support system, I'm here to help others who don't know where to go to find that hope. This is not my experience, the Lord gave it to me so I can strengthen others. I almost can't believe it's real, but I don't think I'm in denial, I think I've just actually developed that much faith and trust in the Lord. Sure, I regret the circumstances that brought it about, but when I look at the future, all I feel is joy and peace. I don't even see it as a trial that may/will turn into a blessing - I just see what a wonderful gift it is - for (****) and the whole family, I don't know how or when, but I just know (****) are so blessed to be able to go through this situation, that the Lord trusts (****) enough to take it on.

I wondered only briefly what I could have done differently to prevent this, then recalled how many witnesses I've received that I am exactly where the Lord intended me to be right now, so I obviously was not meant to be home for this. Whatever the implications of that may be, it's wonderfully freeing to see the Lord's hand and feel free of guilt - and that's not just me, I'm close to the spirit here so you have to believe what I tell you and I tell you I have felt the Lord in no way holds any of you accountable for this - even (****) - He's blessing you!

I admit it, I'm behind on my scripture study, ever since the beginning of the last transfer I just haven't been able to catch up, I keep trying though; I've got more than half of the book to go, and if not, I do have an extra week in August before I start the D&C - good planning. But I saw the hand of God in it the week after you called; I spent that entire week studying Alma 21-24 Here are some of my insights: I am here because I know the power of the Atonement is real and everyone must know or they will live forever in misery and I can't bear that thought.

It's not about your faith bringing a level of blessing - it's about having the faith to accept whatever the Lord's will is with a grateful heart. We may complain about a small sting that lasts a moment when we can't see the enormous pain we just avoided. Why do we complain about the pinpricks when we can't see the epidemics we're spared.

What is the difference between those who stumble and are lost and those who stumble yet remain faithful? John 16:33 says "ye shall have tribulations" not maybe, shall, but we can rely on the Savior for comfort and guidance. Each time you fall, you can get back up and try again - the gospel offers unlimited pitches & innings, if you don't hit the ball, just keep swinging!

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 (pics)

PICS AND VIDS GALORE!!!

The results of Makeover Session #3 - just wanted to show the beautiful, completely accidental color scheme

Garden sign for Mom                Caught...hehehe

(It says "Grow Dammit")

...All my winter gear put to good use...what else can I say?

What we thought was incredible bounty at Thanksgiving...nothing compared to Christmas!

Christmas Eve
....
...

               Look familiar?

(Editor's note: Our van is identical.)

Just a little bit of what the natives call pogonip - it's so pretty (this was taken right outside our apartment looking SE, you can see the jr high straight ahead, the used book store to the right, and behind the little shed on the left is the library)

Twinsies (our car and the Spanish elders' car, sometimes I couldn't tell which one was ours)

We got this puzzle at the Dollar Store 'cuz it was so pretty - it took us an entire month to finish!

Pretty rainbow

Well...that's Fallon

Another great Zone Meeting

The wise man built his house upon the rock

Photographic evidence that sisters can do anything in a skirt (there's also video footage)

The ward had a cake auction to raise money for Boy Scouts, these are some of the highlights

One of our Fallon Zone Leaders went home last transfer, so at the request of his comp, we made him an updated planner. (This is only one page, we did several) (Editor's note: I can't read it very well either, but it looks like 'marriage' is one of the goals.)

The first time I saw these I knew I had to take a pic for Sarah  (Editor's note: Just looking
at it makes me happy. :D )

 Time to change our Jesus. The one on the left is brand new, the middle was in the LR window facing east, and the right was in the bedroom window facing south...don't know how long they'd been there. The funny thing is, I actually prefer the one in the center.

Goodbye Fallon fridge!

Some views of Fallon

The story behind the Meth sign: there are several of these signs throughout the area, one time while driving past this one I suddenly said to Sis K "MATH ATTACKS EVERYONE! ...Math?" I think you know what I was trying to say, but now it's even more hilarious.

Enough pics, I actually had a lot I wanted to say, but it was just so nice to be able to finally send all these pictures! Maybe I'll try to organize my thoughts in a letter.

  -Sis Cloward