22 September 2011

Way to go mom!  Huzzah for talking about the missionaries at work.  See?  It's seriously that simple. Of course with us, we add in teaching, but you'll get the hang of it. And when you find people like that here's what you do. Get their numbers and I'll call them, as long as I don't already know them. Seriously. I call, tell them you were thinking of them, I'm your daughter, this is part of my mission, teach a little to their needs, and invite to learn more from missionaries. I don't care how many people turn me down, I want to call more people. You can easily imagine that that's the hard part for me in this mission. Hate making calls. But it's incredible. And I want to call people in San Diego. Gets a little more trust right from the start if I know their area. Loved calling the guy from Irvine last transfer, so easy, and he really opened up. Anyway. Get phone numbers and start praying about which people at work, in the neighborhood (my friends can call), family, random strangers in Vons. Seriously. This is what we do. We're fulfilling prophesy with how we use technology to spread the gospel. So make your sheep list or whatever, but when you get numbers pass 'em on.

There's my missionary work for today. I've been telling Ricardo for weeks that the bishop can get him whatever help he needs. He's one of my investigators. Recently divorced, has a little girl, and they just found out that his finance is pregnant. He's the nicest guy really.

Gotta go.  We're having lunch at In-N-Out.  Yay!

Love
Sister Clayton

Pictures, of the silly variety 15 September 2011

I thought I'd send you some silly photos of the day I went in for a haircut.

First, me and compy, SisterS from Mexico.  Companions AND friends - the best of both worlds. 

SisterW from Scotland and her drawing.  Wonder who it looks like - haha.

Evidence that I am eating real food. Yes, that is a double-double and there is cheese on that heaven-burger. I'm branching out. And they have really good cheese.

Your favorite missionary is now a pixie. The before photo:

And after.  I love the salon I found in SLC.  I want to keep going there!

October General Conference 2011

General Conference results. Total Potential Referrals from members: 9,222.

We're going to die next Conference, if we have to out-do that total. But we'll love it. Day One we only got 2,000-something so we had a mission meeting the next morning. President pumped us up (after some ... analysing of our ... obstacles) and the theme became don't ask them to do what you wouldn't do yourself and we all had to give at least one name. It changed a lot after thinking of potentials I could give. Speaking of. I need some phone numbers now. (wink)  If there's anyone you get a prompting for, just send me phone numbers and I'll call. Well, if I don't know them already, if I do then you'll get to get a call from someone here asking you about them before they call. And I know you'd love that. SisterS loved talking to you about your co-worker, mom.   (Don't worry, SisterS will definitely be coming to visit.)

The hard part of General Conference was that transfers were just before, and SisterS was at the end of her missionary service.  But President asked her entire class to stay an extra 5 days and work GC weekend.  Not a hard choice!  After all, I stayed up late and got up at 4 in the morning to walk down to the garage with her and say goodbye. Sunday night was so depressing. No lying about that one. But they're gone and it's a new transfer and we all move on. It's hard to have most of my closest friends and all of my companions gone, either on outbound or at the end of their missionary time.  But my zone is cool and there are still plenty of sisters I love here. Anyway. My point was that while change is good, I'll never stop hating it.  My mission teaches me to shut up and deal with it.

1 September 2011: Messages, Personal Study and Christmas Lights

My companion, SisterS from Mexico, is an Apostle magnet.  She’s met/seen at least half of them.  And on Tuesday, August 30th, we saw President Packer.  The South VC (Visitor's Center) was closed randomly with about an hour’s warning for an hour in the early afternoon.  We came back from lunch/cake baking around 3, so we went to put our things downstairs, but the South was still closed.  (it was supposed to open at 2:45)  We were just noticing the Aps, a few ZLs (Zone Leaders) and the security guard at the door, when we turned and……well, hello, President Packer!  There were a couple sisters a few steps ahead with a tour and just waved and smiled as his 4-5 guard escort wheeled him into the South.  I was so brain numbed from the realization of “that’s Pres Packer” that all I could do was slightly smile, wave and nod back.  SO COOL!  We have already decided that since it’s her last transfer, we’re going to meet the Prophet.

From Personal Study:  1John 5.  It just…..it blew my mind this morning.  It just clicked.  Not the “oh, I understand everything now” kind of click, more the “I understand, maybe it means this, hmm, it’s kind of like that scripture…hey, maybe I can do this to…”, etc.   I love how one scripture leads to another to another, etc.  1John seems really awesome and I love 5:3 (For this is the love of god, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous) when it says basically that the commandments are easy.  It was referenced in Matthew…the scripture that says “my yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:30 – For my yoke is easy and my burden is light)

People comments:
   Awwww, Ethan!  There are times when I really miss those kids, and The Twins.  Sorry I missed Ethan's family when they were here.  That was when Compy was sick.  I have several notes they left and I keep them with me.  Kjersta - it doesn’t matter how “late” a letter is, I love getting them.  Definitely send stuff.  And seriously – Emma is incredible.  Watching her grow….I definitely want a daughter like her.

  Brother Clement I am so happy you are working in the Temple.  It’d be awesome if I got to work the same time when I get home.  My Friday Morning Shift is calling!  Hopefully next P-day we’ll get to the temple.  We couldn’t today because of the motorcoach tour and mission meeting – we’ve already started counting down and prepping for General Conference.  I share about Br Clement and his wife and the Cash’s quite a bit.  They’ve inspired many a visitor here – members, non-members and other missionaries.

   WOW – L1 – thanks for the novel!  It took two stamps! Tons of your half-page stationary front and back! I'll write you today of course, but you are an amazing sister. I can't complain after getting massive stuff like that.  I talk about you and your family detective work at least a few times a week.  People are very impressed with the 500+ people you have found.  And huzzah for that number being too low!


I love that God has an order to things.  That comes up a lot in the things we planned regarding things our guests would have this last week.  “Why can’t you go in the Temple?  Well, God has a plan and He requires us to do things in a certain order, etc.”  If anyone has good scriptures about that, please share them with me, because that question comes up A LOT.


They're putting up the Christmas lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I'm Ethan's age. Oh my goodness. You should just see me. I seriously feel like a little kid. I love Christmas!!!  I can’t wait for the holidays.  From Halloween to New Year’s is going to be the best, at least that’s what I’m expecting.  And if I go into it like that, it can’t fail being amazing.


Conference!!! We just started a Conference count down this morning. So weird! That means I'll have been on Temple Square for 6 months and out for 7. I feel old and like a baby all at once. (The countdown is hard for the departing sisters though, it's a count to when they leave. Really hard to keep compy's mind off of that sometimes.)  And don't forget - if you have the name/phone number of any relative or friend who would like a Book of Mormon or Church video, pass that info along to your local missionaries.  You can do it!  Everyone knows someone!

Loving the Work

Sister Clayton

25 August 2011

On Sunday, Sister Ma did the special music and OH!, it was the most beautiful and heavenly praise I’ve ever heard.  She is a trained opera singer, but she doesn’t push it.  She can hit and hold the notes with ease but it’s not at all overbearing.  And when she’s in a group, she doesn’t stand out, unlike some other singers.    She sang a medley of sorts – the first verse of The Spirit of God and all of Battle Hymn of the Republic.  It was amazing.

I saw something about a new Relief Society book being sent out.  It sounds really cool.  You’ll have to tell me about “Daughters in My Kingdom” if you get it.  We say it a lot and it mostly comes from me – “I can’t wait to read Church books”.  I am going to have to make time for a lot of Church reading.  Jesus The Christ being first.

I love when people give me letters with ideas to look at during personal study time.  And can I just say about our Kiwi – my goodness, I love her!  It rocks to have the same P-day as the roomies.  We sat on my bed for almost an hour looking at pictures today, after she sang for me.  And I just did some practicing with the poi she made.  Arm exercises disguised as Poly dancing.  My Kiwi’s gonna get me in shape!  And I’m joining Sister So and Sister F for Poly dancing tomorrow.  Sister M from American Samoa and NZ teaches it.  Should be interesting.  We’ll see if I can actually dance at all.

PresidentH talked about taking our problems and "whatevers" from the past and saying “so what?”, then turning “so what” to “now what”.  My brain went straight to “what’s next?”.  That’s my motto this transfer.  What’s Next?  Time to let past be past and think just about the future.  What am I going to do now to change?  It just reminded me of an old favorite scripture: 3Nephi 12:47 “Old things are done away, and all things have become new.”  I look at it like sins, mistakes, grievances, etc., even though Christ is talking about the old/new law.

I am getting an amazing genealogical/bloodlline lesson from my pure Mannassah Kiwi here.  It’s incredible.  I am going to love sorting out my Dad’s line.  Even if it kills me!  But it is time to wrap up now.  Hopefully next week I’ll be able to tell you about my Transfer Conference report.  And taking Sister So to In-N-Out.  She's never been and I can't believe there is one here in SLC.  A little bit of home right here!  So happy.

Love

Sister Clayton

18 August 2011 - Transfers, etc.

I think it's obvious what my first news should be. I'm sitting with my new companion ... Sister A. S. from Mexico! I was so happy. She was in my district when I was with Sister Mz and I love her. I'm also back living in DA which is really fun. Well, not so much with the bathrooms, but you can hang out with more sisters, borrow stuff easier, you don't have to walk the extra hill, and it's easy to go down to the garage/dungeon for exercise. I like my room and my new roommates, Sister H and her trainee from New Zealand, Sister K. The Kiwi is so awesome.

Our assignment this time is back in South 2! Yay for Square time. Our assignment is opening and closing the Joseph Smith movie here in the JSMB. It's nice to go back to an assignment I know and to get better at it.  Only 4 went outbound this time. Sister Li went to Alabama (which is cosmically awesome because Mg trained her and went to the same mission on her outbound), Sister A from Vegas and my beloved Sister S from MD are now in New Hampshire, and *drumroll* Sister G is in Houston South! I was so excited for her. And the funny thing is - that's Mg's mission. The sister that just got back from there was serving in Mg's old ward. So they we're already talking about how she's going to find her and they'll go on splits, she'll give them rides, etc. It was fun. It's so weird, though. Now I finally get what Sister G was talking about when she told me how weird it is when the people coming back from outbound are ones you know pretty well.

Transfer Conference! My goodness. So much fun. I won't give details cause I don't know how much time I have, but it was so cool. We met in the Tabernacle and we got to sit in the choir seats, get the lowdown on the organ from Clay Christianson, and got the backstage tour of the Tabernacle. It was like a behind the scenes of the Paris Opera House or something. The womens dressing room is underneath the lawn between the Tab and the Assembly Hall. The lair down there is huge!  I'll get pictures from one of the other sisters. Stupid me didn't grab my camera when we went up to the choir seats.

Love the Work

Sister Clayton

13 August 2011

Transfers are next week.  I learn a lesson with each one and so far one transfer is all I can handle of that particular lesson  And today we get pday ALL day. We're going to have so much fun.  I like being busy on pday.  We're going to a baseball game tonight. It's our zone activity. Should be pretty fun. And we're watching a couple church movies with some friends (one of the sisters in my class, actually, but not one I knew/know very well). So it's going to be a fun day. 

Yesterday was so awesome. The senior couple that had to go home a couple months ago to take care of his parents came back for a visit! It was so awesome. I love them sooooooo much. I've already made plans with them and Sister F to road trip up (or down) the west coast and spend some time with them in Portland. Elder and Sister Sgs. They are exactly what my mom talked about when she told me how much I would get attached to senior couples. He is soooo funny and reminds me a lot of dad. I love them so much. He was even the one who brought up the fact that "since we visited you on the mission, you've got to come see us when you're off the mission." Of course that's directed to all of us. But it was so fun to sit with them for a while. Elder Sgs and I were talking about how fun it would be to go up the coast and train rides and he loved the story I told him about taking the train to EFY and how we got the guys to announce that all the EFY kids were having a party in the restaurant car. I'm totally serious about wanting to go up and stay with them in Portland. At least a day. 

Off now to do some shopping, etc.

Love you all

Sister Clayton