November 20, 2014
Holy smokes I love being a
missionary! This week was seriously so great, TONS better than the first and I’m
glad a good amount of the adjusting to missionary life is over. First off on
Friday I think, we had an EARTHQUAKE! Well actually a sismal which I think is
like an earth tremor. Anyways... just chyillin and learning some spanish when I
started to feel the earth vibrate under my feet and then my chair started
vibrating and shaking against the wall behind me. The teacher told us to follow
him so we evacuated the building. Holy smokes was it scary! First time I’ve
ever been in one and apparently they get them a lot, so that was fun!
Then on Saturday we got to
teach some young men from our maestros ward, btw our teacher is the bomb! He
just got home in March and is so funny and spiritual it’s amazing. Anyways, we
taught his young men just to practice strengthening members and such and one
kid we were talking about why it was hard for him to get to church and he said
because he didn’t have enough money... its like half a sol which is like maybe
eight cents! Then we were talking about maybe getting help by calling one of
his leaders and he just looked at us like we were nuts! He said he didn’t have
a cell phone! Duh! I felt like such a dumb rich American and it was such a humbling
and real moment for me. You can hear about all that stuff, but when you have a
fourteen year old in front of you saying it, it is crazy. My companion was
confused and thought it was a mock discussion and invited him to come to church
with us and he said yes... but I was like, that wont happen cause were in the
CCM... so I called my teacher over and he solved the whole thing. I felt bad
because the kid looked kind of frustrated and embarrassed... but he said that
he got it all work out for him to come with his leader.... still figuring out
what 3rd world means!
ALSO mostly for the fam,
but an Elder here looks JUST LIKE PEETA MELARK! And everyone tells him so, it’s
a little creepy. Anyhow, I bust up laughing almost every time in basketball and
soccer or see him because of the Studio C haha...then today at volleyball
he passed out a few extra churros and I said Elder Melark, the boy with the
bread!! and we all just about died... so funny and reminds me of those
last fun days with the fam, haha. Girl I got your back mmnn!
We had Elder Evens of the
70 who is over all the missionaries come speak twice on Sunday and it was
awesome!! I also sang in the choirs, which was really fun to sing and feel the
spirit in spanish. AND we had a chocolate fountain at lunch. Best. Day. Ever.
That night we also watched Ephraims Rescue and for some reason every spiritual
thing as a missionary is like Christmas. IT WAS AMAZING! I loved watching it
and seeing how the lord prepares people in their lives for the work he needs
them to do. Especially cool thinking in the terms of a missionary.
And as of this week I am
officially and INTERMEDIO! I actually feel really comfortable with spanish, I
cant conjugate much right now but I can definitely hold conversations and
understand lots. The gift of tongues is more real than I had ever imagined!! I
also did the session at the temple today in spanish and understood almost all
of it, crazy how much the Lord helps me through the Spirit!
Okay, by far the highlight
of the week was yesterday. We went to migraciones earlier this week for visas
and stuff and the whole time we were there I was like, I just want to talk to
these people, but I don’t know how! You see people so differently as a
missionary. I just wanted to tell them all how much the gospel means to me and
can change their lives. Oh that I were an angel haha.... Anyhow, I decided I
was going to write my testimony in my extra LDM (book of mormon) and bring it
with me to interpol yesterday, and prayed that if I was prompted I would have
the courage to open my mouth. And guess what..... with the help of the Lord and
another sister I PLACED 3 LDMS!!! It was sicker than skydiving or anything!
Like and adrenaline rush of the spirit and excitement! First off it was a super
nasty place where they check your teeth and take fingerprints with stray cats
running around. I love it here haha.. And we were just talking (hermanas) to
two nice men in their 40s about life and stuff, why we were there, etc, and I
asked if he was interested in learning more, and to my surprise he said YES! So
i pulled out the book, showed him Moroni’s promise, my simple testimony i had
written in the front, some other classic explanation scriptures and gave it to
him. Then his friend wanted one and luckily some elders that had been out for
forever were there and had more books of Mormon! Talk about loaves and
fishes.... anyhow, we were also talking to a super nice man who just moved here
and got married and he was so interested. We gave him all of the elders info
and another book and it was just so good! I have no idea how they understood
me, but they seemed to and were so interested! They were super excited which I
was not expecting. Then I was sitting again next to these two girls going to
school that were friends and we started talking and I started teaching them as
well! A fluent missionary came over and we taught the first lesson and got their
information. Sadly we were out of books of Mormon, but they were so excited for
the elders to come to their house. Truly an amazing experience. I almost threw
up after because I realized they were all REAL! I just did what we’ve been
practicing on teachers, but I knew that the Spirit had helped me and was so
grateful I got the experience.
Everyone in my district
after was like, wow you are so cool! But honestly, I just wanted to share it. I’ve
been waiting a while to be on a mission, and now that that is my job full time
I was like, what is holding me back! (besides my caveman spanish) but it truly
was an answer to my prayers this week and a lot through my life. Can’t wait to
learn more and do that every single day! The people really do want religion
down here and are so prepared and loving. It’s incredible.
We went to garages today,
super sketch mall of just garages and got some jerseys and candy. Besides that
just a fun week at the CCM. I LOVE it here and will be sad to go. There are so
many amazing missionaries and I’ve learned tons.
Thanks for all the emails,
prayers and love. I truly can feel it and am grateful for all of the support. I
know that as we try to give more to the lord, and humble ourselves, he opens
the windows for blessings beyond our comprehension. Have a great week!!
-Hermana Clegg
PS
Mom- did we pack the scooby
doo fruit snacks? I can’t find them and think either I forgot them or the
cleaning lady stole them... let me know so I don’t lose my mind. Thanks for
your recordings... I bawled. Love you!
Dad-Thanks for your email,
it was great to hear from you and how things are going at home, some people asked
what you do and I said an inventor. The sad thing is when I say Caratucus Potts,
they say, who? Your welcome haha
Dawsen-Chicks like super heroes,
but it sounds like you are getting a little crazy haha... let me know how
school and all that stuff is going!
Tanna- Congrats on making
the top mtn west Team!! That’ll be tons of fun, tell dad you are sorry he has
to drive all over the valley again haha.... your awesome!
Andie- congrats on your
concert and YW night, and thanks for your email! Hows your new friend
Brookie- Glad you replaced me with a fireplace haha.... I slept with my suitcase on my bed last night to pretend I was with you and you were hogging the whole thing. Love you!
Brookie- Glad you replaced me with a fireplace haha.... I slept with my suitcase on my bed last night to pretend I was with you and you were hogging the whole thing. Love you!
