Lot's of Changes

Hola Todos!

This week has been a lot! The beginning of the week was very quiet because a lot of members of our zone were heading out into the field. It was especially quiet Tuesday night where we went from a hall of 20 to a hall of 6. I wish the best for all the missionaries that just entered the field.

5 of the missionaries from our district left to learn in the Missionary Training center in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. It was pretty sad to have them leave, but I know they will do and learn great things there. 

Here is our Zone before half of us left. 

From the Left is 

Hermana Balanzategui, going to Quito Ecuador, and a very hard worker,

Hermana Clarke, going to Cochabamba Bolivia, a person with a very big heart,

Hermana Cannon, left for Dominican republic, and the best Spanish speaker in the District,

Hermana Carroll, left for Dominican republic, and a person who likes to laugh,  

Hermana Wright,  left for Dominican republic, and a very happy person,

Hermana Anderson, going to Quito Ecuador, a parkour free runner,

Hermano Poaletti, one of our two teachers,

Elder Jensen, who left for the Dominican Republic and has a lot of faith,

Elder Tingey, who left for the Dominican republic and has a lot of love for others

Myself,

and My companion, Going to Santo Cruz Bolivia north, and has a very great sense of humor.

On Tuesday, we were very pleased to find out that the night's devotional would be by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, one of the greatest church speakers and apostles. He talked all about the tremendous opportunity we had to serve a mission and he desired that we all let our mission create the foundation for our soul. I specifically liked when he told us to start our mission imagining how we wanted to return from the mission. I want to be the missionary who comes home confident and humble. Who hardly thinks of himself and stops on the way out of the airport to help someone. I want to become someone who treats all people with Christlike love.

On Wednesday, we welcomed 19 new missionaries into our zone: 13 Elders and 6 Sisters. It was fun to welcome the Elders and show them that we cared about them and also like to have fun. We've started a new tradition of having one Elder tell stories about their reasons for coming here, and their conversion to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It will allow all of us to grow closer together and grow greater respect for each other's faith. My companion had a really rough childhood, and him being here shows very strong faith.

We got another investigator today. His name is Daniel. He has a wife and a 3 year old boy and wants to know how he can become a better father. We only have one more opportunity to teach him, so I hope we can make the best of it.

We are all done teaching Laura. If I find an investigator like her on my mission, I will never be able to thank God enough. She has so much faith and such a strong desire to learn more. She will be going to church tomorrow and we set a date for her baptism after we leave. So someone else will have to take control of making sure she finishes preparations for that. 

Mauricio made great progress this week. On Monday we helped him realize why it was necessary for the Church to be restored. I bore testimony that our church was the only one that allowed us to return all the way to God and be in his presence. He was super tired that day however, and during my companions testimonies he fell asleep. Elder Miller and I are still learning how to teach a lesson in a manner that keeps our investigators interested. 

On Tuesday we went to teach Mauricio not super sure what to speak about. When we started, Mauricio asked a question. In the Book Of Mormon, Christ commands us to be perfect even as He or His Father in heaven is perfect. Mauricio was concerned that it was hard not to get angry when people judge others without knowing the whole story. We told him to continue to follow the example of Christ and love others, and then God will help you make your weaknesses strengths. He was so happy that we shared the message that he gave us a hug at the end. We were finally able to connect with him personally. 

On Friday, we helped him realize that he needs the Holy Ghost in his life. He wants to have it as his constant companion, but is unsure of whether or not he is ready to be baptized. We will continue to work on that.

Next week we will role play with the other people in our district and be our own investigators. Me and my companion have an interesting backstory to the investigators we will be role-playing as.

It will be fun!

There has been tons of snow recently. It is really fun, but really cold.

In class someone mentioned the scripture 1 Samuel 16:7. 

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 

I have never considered myself to be a very big, strong, or confident person. I'm small and am not very assertive. But that is not how God see's me. God looks on my heart, and he knows that I have a heart full of love. That gave me much more confidence in my capabilities as a missionary. If any of you are lacking confidence in your physical stature or social capabilities, God doesn't care about those things. He only cares about who you are on the inside.

Nos Vemos!

Elder Cloward