Hey, everyone! It's the actual missionary here!
Just wanted to let you all know that I love you and miss you. It makes my day to hear news from home, but only because the rest of the time we are completely focused on the work and the people here at Temple Square. I love getting your letters! You help me see that what I'm doing matters. We've all experienced conversion, or we will. To know that I might help someone to gain the testimonies you share with me is incredible.
Sorry it's a short note this time. I'll be back soon with all the news and miracles from far-too-sunny Salt Lake City. Enjoy the better weather down there!
Love, Sister Clayton
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
PICTURES!
Catching up on photos!
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| Brother Kirk, one of the MTC teachers |
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| Sister Murphy, one of the Visitor Center Teachers at the MTC |
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| The AMAZING Br and Sister Oswald |
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| MTC District B February 2011 - Love you all! |
Thursday, May 12, 2011
20 April 2011 The Daily Routine, etc.
I thought I would tell you a little about what a normal day is like. I’ll tell you what it was like during the last transfer, since I’ve only been at the Beehive House (my new assignment) one week.
A typical day starts at 6.20am when we literally roll out of bed and pray that we’ll have a good day, see lots of miracles and my alarm will be perpetually broken. Then it’s out to the hall or down to the dungeon/garage for exercise. Usually that would just be a walk with a little jogging thrown in, but I’m working harder at it now. From 7 - 8am it is breakfast, shower, clothes and make up. Not always in that order and not always all of the above. Next comes the part I wish we had more time for - personal study.
Personal study is sometimes the best and most vital part of the day. You should see my copy of Preach My Gospel. President has told us to use it like a work book, so that’s what I’m doing and it is incredible. PMG should be the new Gospel Principles. It makes the gospel so simple and so direct. The ‘whats’ ‘whys’ and all the stuff in between. Obviously it doesn’t go into great detail, but that’s partly why it is so amazing. ‘Everything you need to know about the gospel in 20 words or less’ kind of thing.
9:00am - Companion study. Last transfer it was hard. I was not good in the morning. It’s much better now. Probably because we go to the garage every morning. Much more of a workout and time to talk/wake up since we’re in new apartments. Usually comp study is reading the daily 4 pages of the white handbook, reviewing what we learned in Pers Study, reading or studying from PMG about our weekly attribute (see my fav - chapter 6) and role playing.
Role Playing is the most effective and useful tool we have for studying. Practicing and pretending teaching situations is really helpful. We role play and real play (that’s when we’re members, not guests, so we’re basically ourselves) for situations on the phone, in the Square and now in the Beehive House. Remind me some day to explain what the Contacting Model and 2 Nuggets are - we role play parts of those, too. (I’ll have to make a T Mission dictionary/encyclopedia some day)
From 10:00am - 9:00pm we have shifts of varying length on the Square, on the phones (Motors in Square vernacular), on chat - we’re the ones you chat with through mormon.org, and teaching over the phone if we have appointments. Lunch and dinner come when you can fit them in, but never during scheduled chat time. Twice a week you can go home an hour early for 8:00 dinner. Mail comes around 1:00pm and if we all happen to take lunch around then.....well, it’s really just coincidence. At 8:45pm we pack up and head home. 9-9:30pm is planning. After that it’s journaling, praying and off to bed, usually with ice cream and fun girl-time worked in.
So that’s how I spend my days. Now, most of our time is spent in the Hive, we a lot less Square, Motors and practically no chat time. But I love the house and we’re getting the hang of it.
Dad mentioned using a talk by Elder Holland when he spoke in Sacrament Meeting at home. If there is one thing a missionary can tell you about it’s that. I’ve learned that we really can’t understand it. We can describe it, feel its power, be grateful for it, but no one can really understand it. If you thought you did, you’d be in great need of applying it to your prideful heart. (Side note: It’s been in my head a lot that there are beautiful and tragic parallels between Christ’s life & legacy, and the life & legacy of Joseph Smith. A wonderful Family Home Evening would be watching the new Joseph Smith movie online.
I can’t describe how much you need to rely on the Atonement as a missionary. There is no possible way on earth that we could do this without Christ. Missionary work or just life in general. He died so we could live. More than that, He gave every single moment of His mortal life to His Father’s plan. Every minute was for us. He never thought for himself, his own wants and needs. And us? We are unprofitable servants indeed. King Benjamin spoke the honest truth - we cannot do anything to save ourselves (see Mosiah 2-4). The analogy where we’re in a pit and there’s a ladder or whatever, but we can’t get out without Christ dropping a rope for us. Nothing we do has saving power. Only through the Atonement, only through Christ can we be saved. Our works are important, but they don’t do anything to save us. I had a session with people who believe only in grace. It is unbelievably hard to explain that it is both. I go back to that conversation often so I can plan for the next time it happens. But my point is that the Atonement is so deep and so....unfathomable that you just have to....I can’t even describe this. If Brigham Young was converted by simplicity and power and shot down eloquence, I guess I’d better stick to the “brief but clear” approach. Here it is:
A typical day starts at 6.20am when we literally roll out of bed and pray that we’ll have a good day, see lots of miracles and my alarm will be perpetually broken. Then it’s out to the hall or down to the dungeon/garage for exercise. Usually that would just be a walk with a little jogging thrown in, but I’m working harder at it now. From 7 - 8am it is breakfast, shower, clothes and make up. Not always in that order and not always all of the above. Next comes the part I wish we had more time for - personal study.
Personal study is sometimes the best and most vital part of the day. You should see my copy of Preach My Gospel. President has told us to use it like a work book, so that’s what I’m doing and it is incredible. PMG should be the new Gospel Principles. It makes the gospel so simple and so direct. The ‘whats’ ‘whys’ and all the stuff in between. Obviously it doesn’t go into great detail, but that’s partly why it is so amazing. ‘Everything you need to know about the gospel in 20 words or less’ kind of thing.
9:00am - Companion study. Last transfer it was hard. I was not good in the morning. It’s much better now. Probably because we go to the garage every morning. Much more of a workout and time to talk/wake up since we’re in new apartments. Usually comp study is reading the daily 4 pages of the white handbook, reviewing what we learned in Pers Study, reading or studying from PMG about our weekly attribute (see my fav - chapter 6) and role playing.
Role Playing is the most effective and useful tool we have for studying. Practicing and pretending teaching situations is really helpful. We role play and real play (that’s when we’re members, not guests, so we’re basically ourselves) for situations on the phone, in the Square and now in the Beehive House. Remind me some day to explain what the Contacting Model and 2 Nuggets are - we role play parts of those, too. (I’ll have to make a T Mission dictionary/encyclopedia some day)
From 10:00am - 9:00pm we have shifts of varying length on the Square, on the phones (Motors in Square vernacular), on chat - we’re the ones you chat with through mormon.org, and teaching over the phone if we have appointments. Lunch and dinner come when you can fit them in, but never during scheduled chat time. Twice a week you can go home an hour early for 8:00 dinner. Mail comes around 1:00pm and if we all happen to take lunch around then.....well, it’s really just coincidence. At 8:45pm we pack up and head home. 9-9:30pm is planning. After that it’s journaling, praying and off to bed, usually with ice cream and fun girl-time worked in.
So that’s how I spend my days. Now, most of our time is spent in the Hive, we a lot less Square, Motors and practically no chat time. But I love the house and we’re getting the hang of it.
Dad mentioned using a talk by Elder Holland when he spoke in Sacrament Meeting at home. If there is one thing a missionary can tell you about it’s that. I’ve learned that we really can’t understand it. We can describe it, feel its power, be grateful for it, but no one can really understand it. If you thought you did, you’d be in great need of applying it to your prideful heart. (Side note: It’s been in my head a lot that there are beautiful and tragic parallels between Christ’s life & legacy, and the life & legacy of Joseph Smith. A wonderful Family Home Evening would be watching the new Joseph Smith movie online.
I can’t describe how much you need to rely on the Atonement as a missionary. There is no possible way on earth that we could do this without Christ. Missionary work or just life in general. He died so we could live. More than that, He gave every single moment of His mortal life to His Father’s plan. Every minute was for us. He never thought for himself, his own wants and needs. And us? We are unprofitable servants indeed. King Benjamin spoke the honest truth - we cannot do anything to save ourselves (see Mosiah 2-4). The analogy where we’re in a pit and there’s a ladder or whatever, but we can’t get out without Christ dropping a rope for us. Nothing we do has saving power. Only through the Atonement, only through Christ can we be saved. Our works are important, but they don’t do anything to save us. I had a session with people who believe only in grace. It is unbelievably hard to explain that it is both. I go back to that conversation often so I can plan for the next time it happens. But my point is that the Atonement is so deep and so....unfathomable that you just have to....I can’t even describe this. If Brigham Young was converted by simplicity and power and shot down eloquence, I guess I’d better stick to the “brief but clear” approach. Here it is:
I know that Christ is the Creator, Saviour and Redeemer of the world. I know He used His life to show us the way to live. He did all that His Father, the only true and living God, sent Him to do. He is the Only Begotten of the Father. He lives.Sister Clayton
13 April 2011 Transfers!
Surprise! Guess who survived her first transfer?? And guess who's trainer is home in Japan by now? And who's new compy used to live in Temecula/Murrieta (but claims Palmyra, NY since that's where she was living before the mission)? Yep, that'd be your missionary. So pdays are Wednesday, I'm in the Beehive House, and I'm living in the spiffier apartments behind the main apartment building. Oh and her new companion is Sister G. She's awesome. Already. Getting a new companion is much less stressful the second time round.
Yay for packages! I love how often y'all send packages. It's very much a greenie thing, but I love it. Besides, President Brown (MTC Pres) counseled us to always stay green. So keep the goodies coming. ;P
Happily
Sister Clayton
Yay for packages! I love how often y'all send packages. It's very much a greenie thing, but I love it. Besides, President Brown (MTC Pres) counseled us to always stay green. So keep the goodies coming. ;P
Happily
Sister Clayton
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
7 April 2011 Post Conference and Austin
Guess what? I'm driving. Yeah, your missionary is now a missionary driver. It's scary. But I figured it would be better to do it than not. And I absolutely love Sister S now. She's one of the sisters in the companionship in charge of driving, etc. We call them Fleet. Sister S was the one I passed off with. The "test" includes driving to the airport, Walmart, and then home.
You can’t imagine how down and disappointing Monday was after the high of General Conference Weekend. But I hope I’ve changed because of the experience - that I’ll be wanting to talk to everyone and have a greater desire to share our message with everyone. Funnily enough, Sister C committed us to invite everyone we contact. The day after Conference was so weird. But that's because we got to sleep in till 9, they provided dinner, and we watched a movie that night. Secretariat. Disney, but based on a true story and actually pretty good.
I promised to write you about Austin. We weren’t the first sisters to meet him, actually. One of our current APs took him on a tour and recently he’s been talking to Sister K and B, from Korea and Australia respectively. Austin is from Korea, although he grew up in the States (hence talking to Sister K a lot). Then we met him when we were on exchanges with Sister C. He was trying to get a (free) Book of Mormon for his friend. We talked to him, answering questions and trying to get a referral for him or his friend, addressed his concerns, etc., and finally just gave him a referral card with our names and number. He called us about a week later, maybe less. When we called him back, his story had changed from “I read the Book of Mormon twice and *shrug* I didn’t get an answer” to admitting that when he read it the second time he felt something. He as good as testified that he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet. He said that he didn’t believe Joseph could have written it on his own, that a normal man couldn’t have written is w/out God’s help. Austin has done a lot of “research” about the Church, met the missionaries in North Dakota where he is going to school, and even gone to church once there. But his experience with the ND missionaries and ward wasn’t that great. He loves the Temple Square sisters, though. Because we’re so dedicated and enthusiastic about what we do. He’s served a few missions for his Christian church. He even wants to serve a mission if he can when (sorry if) he joins our church. We spent a huge chunk of that first phone call talking about missions, etc. To make an awesome story short, every time we talk to Austin he is stronger and more ready to be baptized. Not in any extreme way, but enough for us to notice it. Now he has met his bishop, gone to church, watched some of General Conference, met the new missionaries in his area, and is going to decide for sure by Sunday whether or not he will be baptized. I was worried when he put a date on it, but he’s going about the decision in the right way. He is praying and reading the Book of Mormon every day. He said that his decision will be what the Lord wants.
You can see why we’re so excited. He keeps every commitment and he is really progressing. It is amazing. I’m worried about continuing with our investigators when I___ leaves, but I’m sure it’ll be ok.
To my Facebook friends: Conference is amazing. Members are really the reason missionary work moves forward. Thanks for trusting us with your friends. Utah weather is insane! Happy Spring!
Time to go. I have to get compy to pack so she'll be ready for Wednesday. I can't believe it's already week 6. And she's going home next week. This time next week I'll have a new companion, zone, and probably Pday, too.
Love,
Sister Clayton
You can’t imagine how down and disappointing Monday was after the high of General Conference Weekend. But I hope I’ve changed because of the experience - that I’ll be wanting to talk to everyone and have a greater desire to share our message with everyone. Funnily enough, Sister C committed us to invite everyone we contact. The day after Conference was so weird. But that's because we got to sleep in till 9, they provided dinner, and we watched a movie that night. Secretariat. Disney, but based on a true story and actually pretty good.
I promised to write you about Austin. We weren’t the first sisters to meet him, actually. One of our current APs took him on a tour and recently he’s been talking to Sister K and B, from Korea and Australia respectively. Austin is from Korea, although he grew up in the States (hence talking to Sister K a lot). Then we met him when we were on exchanges with Sister C. He was trying to get a (free) Book of Mormon for his friend. We talked to him, answering questions and trying to get a referral for him or his friend, addressed his concerns, etc., and finally just gave him a referral card with our names and number. He called us about a week later, maybe less. When we called him back, his story had changed from “I read the Book of Mormon twice and *shrug* I didn’t get an answer” to admitting that when he read it the second time he felt something. He as good as testified that he knows Joseph Smith was a prophet. He said that he didn’t believe Joseph could have written it on his own, that a normal man couldn’t have written is w/out God’s help. Austin has done a lot of “research” about the Church, met the missionaries in North Dakota where he is going to school, and even gone to church once there. But his experience with the ND missionaries and ward wasn’t that great. He loves the Temple Square sisters, though. Because we’re so dedicated and enthusiastic about what we do. He’s served a few missions for his Christian church. He even wants to serve a mission if he can when (sorry if) he joins our church. We spent a huge chunk of that first phone call talking about missions, etc. To make an awesome story short, every time we talk to Austin he is stronger and more ready to be baptized. Not in any extreme way, but enough for us to notice it. Now he has met his bishop, gone to church, watched some of General Conference, met the new missionaries in his area, and is going to decide for sure by Sunday whether or not he will be baptized. I was worried when he put a date on it, but he’s going about the decision in the right way. He is praying and reading the Book of Mormon every day. He said that his decision will be what the Lord wants.
You can see why we’re so excited. He keeps every commitment and he is really progressing. It is amazing. I’m worried about continuing with our investigators when I___ leaves, but I’m sure it’ll be ok.
To my Facebook friends: Conference is amazing. Members are really the reason missionary work moves forward. Thanks for trusting us with your friends. Utah weather is insane! Happy Spring!
Time to go. I have to get compy to pack so she'll be ready for Wednesday. I can't believe it's already week 6. And she's going home next week. This time next week I'll have a new companion, zone, and probably Pday, too.
Love,
Sister Clayton
3 April 2011 General Conference
It’s now 10:00pm on Sunday. General Conference is officially over.
I LOVE CONFERENCE! We are all on such a high right now. I can’t even describe it. This is the kind of joy Doctrine and Covenants 18 must be talking about. And this is just for potential referrals - the official name for referrals from members. We haven’t even met, let alone baptized these people and I am FLYING. I have never been so happy. So I should probably explain.
Conference Weekend is all about the members. With our calling program here (calling non-members anywhere in the world and teaching/offering a free gift from the Church to them by the missionaries), it is so important to get referrals from members. And that’s what General Conference is focused on - uplifting the members and helping/getting their help with missionary work. As a mission, we set a goal for how many potential referrals we will get from Friday to Sunday. A year ago, the goal was 3,000 - killed it (mission-speak for success). Last October it was 5,000 - killed it. So this year, after a lot of prayer, etc., the goal was set at 6,000 potential referrals. Honestly, there were times I thought we couldn’t make it. But President and the APs are right - we don’t even know our potential! We got.....are you ready for this?......6,455!! I’m screaming and cheering inside just thinking about it.
We had a fireside kind of thing tonight to close the weekend. President had us invite the people who gave us potentials to come as well. We met in the Tabernacle. It was the most amazing thing. First, when we sang ‘We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet’ and one verse of ‘The Spirit of God’ as prelude - no piano/organ - CHILLS. And the APs just...they’re amazing. There was lots of cheering, applauding, testifying and a spirit that just fills you to the core. Not unlike when the Prophet walked into the Conference Center this afternoon. As soon as he enters the room, the CC goes silent and everyone stands up. Awesome. For now, my voice hurts, my feet are numb and I’m way too happy to sleep. But we get to sleep in until 9 tomorrow! Jesus Christ lives and I am honored to wear His name. I want every day to feel like this.
Sister Clayton
PS - All my love to Brother Morgan and everyone at Institute. Apparently most of Institute just wrote me. I love it. Brother Morgan - you're the greatest, ever! Miss you!
I LOVE CONFERENCE! We are all on such a high right now. I can’t even describe it. This is the kind of joy Doctrine and Covenants 18 must be talking about. And this is just for potential referrals - the official name for referrals from members. We haven’t even met, let alone baptized these people and I am FLYING. I have never been so happy. So I should probably explain.
Conference Weekend is all about the members. With our calling program here (calling non-members anywhere in the world and teaching/offering a free gift from the Church to them by the missionaries), it is so important to get referrals from members. And that’s what General Conference is focused on - uplifting the members and helping/getting their help with missionary work. As a mission, we set a goal for how many potential referrals we will get from Friday to Sunday. A year ago, the goal was 3,000 - killed it (mission-speak for success). Last October it was 5,000 - killed it. So this year, after a lot of prayer, etc., the goal was set at 6,000 potential referrals. Honestly, there were times I thought we couldn’t make it. But President and the APs are right - we don’t even know our potential! We got.....are you ready for this?......6,455!! I’m screaming and cheering inside just thinking about it.
We had a fireside kind of thing tonight to close the weekend. President had us invite the people who gave us potentials to come as well. We met in the Tabernacle. It was the most amazing thing. First, when we sang ‘We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet’ and one verse of ‘The Spirit of God’ as prelude - no piano/organ - CHILLS. And the APs just...they’re amazing. There was lots of cheering, applauding, testifying and a spirit that just fills you to the core. Not unlike when the Prophet walked into the Conference Center this afternoon. As soon as he enters the room, the CC goes silent and everyone stands up. Awesome. For now, my voice hurts, my feet are numb and I’m way too happy to sleep. But we get to sleep in until 9 tomorrow! Jesus Christ lives and I am honored to wear His name. I want every day to feel like this.
Sister Clayton
PS - All my love to Brother Morgan and everyone at Institute. Apparently most of Institute just wrote me. I love it. Brother Morgan - you're the greatest, ever! Miss you!
31 March 2011
Sister Ishijima's dad and oldest of her three younger brothers are here for Conference. I don't know how it happened but they were in President's office and he and Sister Holmes and the APs were there. We had a little chat and basically President told us that we could spend as much time with them as they needed/wanted, etc. We took them through God's Plan (a cool thing for families) and we're giving them the full-blown-all-out-everything-included tour tomorrow. Tomorrow is when the Conference madness really starts. Friday through Monday we're on the Square all day. 20 minutes for meals. I'm anxious. Both kinds. Excited and totally dreading it. I'm just used to the quiet, the time, and all of that. This weekend is going to be loud, packed, and FAST. But I can't wait. I don't know which session we'll be in, I'm hoping it's Saturday, preferably afternoon. That always seems to be my favourite.
I can't believe it's week 5!! I'm so sad about the sisters that are leaving. Almost all the closest of the friends I've made are going home this transfer. The zone leaders, my trainer, Sister Terry. Half the people I know are leaving. But that's the mission, especially here. Always changing.
Love
Sister Clayton
I can't believe it's week 5!! I'm so sad about the sisters that are leaving. Almost all the closest of the friends I've made are going home this transfer. The zone leaders, my trainer, Sister Terry. Half the people I know are leaving. But that's the mission, especially here. Always changing.
Love
Sister Clayton
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