to Val, me

Hola Familia!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER PANTALONES, WESSY, AND DAN!

Week 2 is over. Weird. The days go by so slow, but the weeks are flying. I'm having a hard time remembering what happens throughout the week.

I got a little sick this week. Nothing bad. But the Hermanas made me go to the doctor for it. Like I thought, it was just a cold. I spent a few days of gym time to sleep to help me get better faster. I'm almost all the way better. Just a little cough. I had to get a flu shot today. It's been a little annoying being sick because it slows me down a bit. But, I'm working hard.

I started a study journal the way one of my teacher's taught (who was also Andres). It is so much more organized and has made me have more of a desire to study. So that's good.

Valentine's Day doesn't mean much as a missionary. But, Hayley send me some delicious cupcakes that I shared with my district. The Berriman's also sent me cookies. Everyone is so nice!

We got a new investigator named Jose. He's one of our teachers as well. He really loves his family, but they're struggling right now. Our 2nd lesson was terrible, so we're hoping our next lesson will be better. 

Read 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 about repentance. It's awesome. 

Funny story...and of course it's about Hermana McMurray. She decided to put corn rows in her hair. Apparently someone got offended, took a mug shot of her, and then she had to go talk with one of the Branch presidents. He said he loved her hair, but others didn't so she should probably take them out. It was hilarious. I laugh so much with my district. We have the greatest time. Probably a little too much, but we've made a goal to spend more time studying and less time messing around. 

Read Romans 8:35-39. Awesome. We will never lose God's love!

Sunday was so cool. We had a really good sacrament meeting. Devotional was the best though. I had been looking forward to it all week. Matthew Holland spoke. His mother and father just so happened to be there. Elder Holland introduced his son. Brother Holland spoke about Joseph Smith. An auditioned choir was also there and would sing in between his talk. It was so cool. He told so many different stories about Joseph that I had never heard before. The choir got to sing with the auditioned choir for the last song. That was so cool. I love choir. Even though I sounded like a smoker because I was still a little sick. I feel like my testimony of Joseph Smith is what has grown the most so far at the MTC. I love him and I am so grateful for him and all that he did to restore God's true church on the earth again. I know he really did see the living God and His son, Jesucristo!

I was telling all the Hermanas on Sunday to pray for a miracle that I would be healed for that hour of the devotional. I didn't care if the sickness came right back after it was over, I just wanted to be able to really listen to it because I was looking forward to it. I didn't want to focus on my sickness. God answered my prayer, but not in that way. He blessed me with the ability to forget about being sick and to really tune in to what Brother Holland was saying and what the Spirit was saying. I'm super grateful. 

Hermana McMurray started snoring during Personal Study on Monday. We got a good laugh out of that.

We also have a less active that we're teaching. His name is Jack. Our first lesson with him went SO well! It was awesome. He's awesome. I was surprised it went well because the other Hermanas went before us and said it went terrible for them.

We had devotional last night. It was great. Elder Perkins talked to us about Christ-like attributes. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is not just for the "bad" to become "good". It's also for the "good" to become "better".

Sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm learning a lot, but I know I am. I don't have super big spiritual experiences. But the little ones are always coming. 

Spanish is coming along, but it's hard for me to see any progression. I know it's happening though. Hopefully someday I'll be able to speak fluently. My teachers are all so great so I don't have any worries. I just have to work super hard. 

Sorry for the lack of details this letter. It's so hard to remember anything. 

 I am enjoying being a missionary. There's a ton of great times. I'm getting along with Hermana Horne.  I'm warm enough. I was going to ask for a blanket, but now I'm fine and don't need one. 

Everyone comments on my skirts about how cute they are and I proudly tell them my mom made them. They're always super impressed. Why don't you have a dependable car? Is the trailblazer acting up again?

Dad, that's so cool you get to be in Mexico! I hope I get to meet some awesome Latinos as well. Thanks for you letter. They make my day! Both your's and mom's and everyone else's. Mail really is the best thing. 

Questions for you...

Do you remember what the promises were when I was set apart? My branch president asked us to write them down.

Dad, what is your family history? Like who and how did they join the church? I have mom's history book here, but I want to know about your's. I probably should already know about it. Whoops.

Ok, I think that's all I've got for you this week. I didn't take like any pictures. Lo siento.

Have a wonderful week and I can't wait to hear from you again!

YAY!!!  Sister Clay's first letter since arriving at the MTC.  Lots of pictures as well!!!

Hello Family!

It's finally P-day so I can write you all. I'm not allowed to say "guys" anymore. That's a struggle sometimes.

Well, I'm going to try to quickly go through what has happened throughout the week. It's been sort of a blur.

Amy, thank you so much for surprising me! It was seriously the best. Brian and Brittany, thanks for coming as well. Mom, I'm SO glad you were there with me! I hope you didn't have too big of a break down ;)

When you guys dropped me off, I got a little sad when I hugged you all goodbye. But, as soon as I walked away with the sister, I felt SO happy and excited! I went through lines and stuff to get my things. I then got shuttled to the West campus. I put my stuff in my room and met my companion, Hermana Horne. She is from Orem, Utah and is super nice. We get along well and are learning how to work with each other. Then, I went to my classroom and met my teacher, Hermano Loiza (I think that's how you spell his name). He is really awesome. They put me in the intermediate class. What the heck? I don't know Spanish that well! I can understand most things that are said, but speaking the language is a whole different story. That night, we went over to main to sort of group teach. I had a very powerful moment there where my heart was pounding and I knew I needed to tell the "investigator" something. It was crazy. Sadly, we ran out of time so I couldn't share. The last investigator was wanting to know about something and one of the missionaries said, "Would you like to pray right now?" And he said yes, and then pointed to me and asked me to say the prayer. So I had to pray in front of loads of people. Awesome. Just kidding. But it was kind of weird because I had this feeling that I should offer to pray and then he called on me.

Day 2 was a long day. They're all long days. I've discovered that gym time is one of my favorite times. It's a nice break from sitting in class all day long. That day I gained a stronger testimony about God's love for us. If you have a chance, do the activity on page 2 of Preach My Gospel.

Oh yeah, my district is AWESOME. I love them all. It's all Hermanas so they call us the "sistrict". It's Hermana Concidine, Day, Horne, Clay, Weeks, and McMurray.

Day 3, we taught our first "investigator", Andres. IN SPANISH. Wowzers, that was rough. Even though we could hardly speak any Spanish, the Spirit was there. I learned that I really needed to focus on Andres while teaching and try to understand what the Spirit is guiding me and my companion to say. That night we got a quick class from Hermano Griffin, who told us that Spanish is only a tool. We need to focus on bringing other closer to Christ. The Spanish will come. I've learned a lot about my purpose this first week. But it's not just my purpose; it's God's purpose.

Day 4, we taught again. It went better than the day before. I can't remember what we taught him. One thing that he said that I thought was awesome was that he was a doctor for the body and we are doctors for the Spirit. We challenged him to baptism, but he declined. Our "sistrict" had a much needed break that day. We laughed a lot and just had a great time talking to each other. I got my package from Mom and Dad that day! Thanks so much! The candy is gone and the money is spent. I bought Hermana Concidine candy for her birthday and used the rest on laundry detergent. So thank you! It was really fun to get.

Day 5 = church. Our branch president is super awesome. You can really tell they love all of us. I'm doing choir here and it is so great! I love it and it's such a nice break. We had devotional up at main that night. Then, we watched a video of a talk given by Elder Bednar. Oh my word. That talk is seriously incredible! I learned so much more about my Savior and how I can be like Him. Turn outward, not inward! I'm trying to work on that. 

Day 6: Hermana Horne and I were planning to teach Andres a lesson on the Plan of Salvation, but then we both felt that we needed to go in the direction of the Restoration. I had such a powerful experience during that lesson. I memorized the First Vision (in Spanish!) and recited it during the lesson. Wow. The Spirit completely filled the room. It was amazing. Joseph Smith was a true prophet and he really did see God and Jesus Christ! Here's a funny story from that day: We were walking home and all the sudden Hermana McMurray's skirt is ON THE GROUND. Hahaha seriously the funniest thing that's happened here so far. Hermana McMurray is awesome and just laughed it off. She's very theatrical. Luckily, no one was around except our district. 

Day 7: Last lesson with Andres :( I don't think it went as great. We really had zero time to prepare. The Spirit was definitely there when we bore our testimonies though. We invited to be baptized again, but he said no. But, he said that he is very willing to continue learning and discover for himself if this church is true. So that's good. We had choir practice that night before devotional. Once again, I love choir. We sang "Jesus Once of Humble Birth". Those words are so powerful and with music it's even better! It was really cool to sing with a whole bunch of people. We sang that for devotional. Which by the way, the chairs there are SO uncomfortable. My butt was killin' by the end. I know you really wanted to know that detail. The Zwick's spoke that night. Sister Zwick talked about being patient, which is an attribute that I really need to work on. Elder Zwick spoke about the work of salvation. He asked us what "hasten the work" meant to us. I believe that we first must hasten the work in ourselves before we can hasten the work in others. I thought about Dad and how he has been such a great example to me in this area. Dad, you are always serving others and have such a strong desire to share the Gospel with any and everyone. Thank you for your example. We sang "How Firm a Foundation" for the closing hymn. It made me feel so overwhelmed with love for this work and for the chance that I have to be apart of it! 

Today: We went to the temple. Dad, I got your package. Haha it was SO great and I totally was not expecting it. The Hermanas got a good laugh out of it. I will definitely use it. Some of the Hermanas didn't see it, so I'm going to pull a prank on them. We did laundry and now I'm writing you! It hasn't been so relaxing, but I think it will be better once I get the schedule down.

The MTC is going great. It's very challenging, but very rewarding as well. Spanish is difficult, but I'm going to keep working hard to get it. The food is no bueno. I can already feel that I've gained weight. Sweet. This letter is kind of a long one. I wouldn't expect it to be this long every week.

Thank you so much for all that y'all (now I have to be southern) have done for me. I am so grateful for your prayers and support. I hope things are going well! I love you!

Love,

Hermana Clay

Pictures!! 

I love Lexi and I thought this was a cute picture

Hermana Horne y yo after a long first day

Thanks for the headbands, madre! Hermana Horne wears her's all the time

My district that I love

Hermana Horne

Hermana McMurray, the crazy one

Life in the MTC