Another Letter Home

He's doing fabulous.  And his letters are even getting longer and answering some of the questions we have asked.  He's winding down on his MTC stay.  Still haven't gotten his travel plans.  But should be another couple of weeks.  Thank you again for all your thoughts, prayers and letters.  We all appreciate them.

Hola como estan? Anyways hows it going well i decided i would write some stuff down before i went emailing so its not all over the place so ya we will try it out. Well thank you so much for the package loved it and yo tambien loved the game. haha so sick so i hope you all had a Happy Easter mine was pretty good we had an amazing Easter Dinner that consisted of Day old Chicken Sandwiches and Cereal wow they really know how to make an amazing bowl of cereal here thatsa all i have to say. And then that sunday night we had some personal time and me and Peterson were bored so on a wim we decided to shave our legs. AH so muy caliente! so slick sure we got crap for a day until we told everyone how cool it was now theyre all doing it just like on Billy Madison right. It Feels good and it makes you jump higher in volleyball so its a win win situation for me. Tuesday night devotional was Dallin H. Oaks pretty gnarly. On wed we had a lesson with this guy named Javier so bomb Todo Espanol. it was bomb spanish is getting better still freakishly hard and stuff clicks everyday but ya know i can teach some lessons in it and hold an alright conversation so not to bad right. Wed. we got to host new missionaries me and Elder Killebrew had to Direct traffic in those sweet neon green jackets it was sweet to see the new elders y sisters pero so sad as well i was on the section where i got dropped off at so at the bottom pretty much and so i would watch all the cars drive away with the families some crying some holding back tears...almost got hit from some guy closing his eyes i think hoping it wasnt real haha but really as sad as it was to watch way awesome at the same time cause you know every single one of us is going to be taken care of so there really is no need to worry but ya i just waved and sent em out. What did you guys do after i got dropped off?  Um some funny things that we started was instead of asking elders and sisters "how long have you been here for" I say " So how long have you been locked up for" pretty funny gets some laughs. Then haha some of the elders in my district have like zits on there foreheads right so one day were sitting in our room and i say to elder peterson hey so like whats your background? like are you part indian family from India what are you? he answers back nah im scotish elder why? I Replied with the smart alec remark "then why do you always wear that dot on your forehead" HE WAS TICKED haha but it was a good laugh and we have definitly passed the joke onto the other new elders. Oh so also I am the DL in my district so i get to go get the mail so yesterday there was a frito lay truck parked by the mail room delevering stuff and the windows were down jammin to The Cars! You might think there was probably 10 elders for sure including me just stood there jammmin ah so awesome it sounded pretty good not gonna lie.So whats new in life oh do you know any new elders or sisters coming this Wed and what car theyll be in cause were hosting again and if there is a familiar face that would be sweet to see. Has anyone gotten there mission calls like Levi Lindsay Corbin Moore ect. i would like to hear about any cause i just like that stuff. Also did Masen ever get my letters i havent heard from him could you ask wendy or greg for me por favor. Dinner sounded fun with the Petersons I saw stetson rocking the 50MM2 so thats delicado. How are Calebs Tonsils? Hope he is doing well. Is the Yard looking good? oh AND HOW IS THE Z-DOG? havent heard about here for awhile is she still alive? whats going on there. How is Ezra Fitts stetson said he is a very smart smart baby so i guess thats a good sign right well anyways thanks for all youre love and support i love getting letters from you guys it helps me through the days some days are freaking hard so Thank you. I love you all so much thanks for everything

 

Come what may and Love it

 

Love Elder Clayton

 

ps If you could send some of the following that would be awesome.

 

A yo-yo would love one por favor

some apple shampoo but not a huge bottle so it wont take up wait on the plane

Jerky

Cheddar Chex Mix

Cheddar quaker crisp snack things

Cherries from Costco or Hard grapes from costso would really love some fruit por favor like that

a couple mac cookies from spanks

and pretty much thats it thanks so much if you could love you all if its possible thanks love you a letter will come in the mail in the next day or so Tambien

Email and finally PICTURES!!!

Finally we got some pictures from the MTC.  He looks fantastic.  He wrote on the back of each one of them so I will write what he put on them for those who follow and for him when I print this blog for him.  He looks like he is having a great time and so happy.  Oh, I want to fix the punctuation, but I'm not going to.  His handwritten letters are grammatically correct.  He told me he feels rushed on the computer, so I've chosen to keep them exactly as he sends them to us. 

Hola como la va el dia? Entoces este semana fue muy bien, just the regular schedule and what not. So oh freak ya Richard G Scott came and spoke to us man bomb.com he was so cool just an all around nice guy. Did you know though that he is way short i have no idea but i would guess around 5'5 ish or so anyways way cool apostole. um geeze im trying to think if really anything going on as i think hopefully some stuff comes to mind like in the trc a teaching activity we do we did it this week in toda espanol, Hijole muy dificil pero muy divertido. we taught this dude about la restaracion it was nuts 30 min lesson in total spanish minus probably 6 words or so, so that was pretty cool. Thanks so much for the package i havent opened it yet since i havent been back to my room since the temple pero estoy anemado (Very Excited) haha so we got a new district in our zone today finally we are not the new ones anymore but it was way funny cause they all asked how old we were because just like it was for us we seem alot older than them haha way funny cause we are all pretty much the same since we have been here. um some days here we have like district goals to speak only spanish for a day..........these days are very quiet as you probably could imagine except for a bien o gracius here and there. Thank you all for the letters you send me i love em they get me through the days for sure. Some days are awesome and others i walk out of class thinking ok i sat in class for 4 hours straight and i understood 10% of it ridiculous but when i get a letter from you guys it really pumps me up. So Kylie had here baby thats right on how is Ezra Fitts Doing these days? Entonces what else has gone on no se um just go to class...... go eat........go to class......gym!!!!!!... go eat......and class and that is about it to tell you the truth on paper it sounds pretty boring but you gotta live in it to really understand that it's way fun, so where are you and elder petersons familia going to dinner? oh and stetson can you take a pic of yourself with the 50mm2 on cause The elders in our room were talking about watches and sure everybody knows about the nixon 51-30 but noone knows what a rockwell is and i wanna just blow their minds so if you could take a pick of you flashin it or something that would be superbien. ummm Josh stevens is here a way good kid i talked to him the other day for a little bit hes so stoked to go to New York hes nice. So any other plans for the summer end of school flip thats almost here football? Work? Que es Nuevo? anyways love you all thanks for everything you have done for me.  Stetson and Caleb appreciate mom and dad they are so bomb even in the MTC elders do not have parents like we have.  We are truly blessed to have them. Be nice do not argue or fight with them. They know what's up for sure, so listen.

Well Love ya. Come What may and Love It!

Love Always Elder Clayton 

 Elders Olea, Clayton & Cope - buddies from school

 w/ Elder Peterson, his brother from another mother

 Studying it up

 His Desk

 w/his companion Elder Killebrew

 Elder Peterson and Westerman a.k.a. Western Burger - humor from Salt City Burger

 w/Elder Rose his last night at the MTC.  This is the same friend that greeted him on his drop off.

 Elder Cope bound for Mexico

 On one of their temple walks on a Sunday afternoon

 His district, the Hermana's left the next day for Guatemala

 Famous point where you're going...Honduras Bound

General Conference Sunday 

 Elder Whiting - Nebraska Omaha Mission

 w/his companion Elder Killebrew

 Notice the Provo Temple in the lense of his glasses.

 Elder Hillyard - Japan Suparo Mission

 Sisters left to right, Johansen, Crandall, Smith

 Me just livin the life

 Elder Wise - Indianapolis Indiana Mission & co-workers from SpankyS

Elder Porter on Left and Kruetzar on right (Cheetos Kid) 

Elder Wagners last night, such a cool kid, love him

After getting these pictures I still miss him like crazy, but I'm not worried at all.  He's just fine.

Here's another letter, this one handwritten that I am typing for our records.   It's a good one...Enjoy...

What's up family?   How are you guys all doing.  Well it's P-day my laundry is being washed and I am outside on a table writing dang it's nice today.  So let me tell you about all the people I am here with.  So Elder Peterson you already know, way sick.  Elder Westermann, Peterson's comp he is from Texax.  Elder Grimes 23 years old from Freson Cali, his comp Elder Brewer from Shiloh, AZ so funny.  Elder Porter from Ogden, UT nice, quiet kid.  Elder DRuetzar quiet, but nice.  Mostly everyone is pretty cool.  I will send some pics so you can all get a visual of them.  Anyways, still studying a load everyday.  Non-stop espanol is good I'll learn it soon, but it just takes time right?  So, let's see some things that go on here.  On Sundays we have devotionals and they are followed by a movie like Testaments, Joseph Smith, ect. Sundays are the best, not gonna lie.  Music and the Spoken Word, study w/no teacher, temple walks, Sundays win for sure.  Also on Tuesday we have firesides this last one was Elder Rasband from the 70's  Remember about his talk in Priesthood last year on mission calls being inspired.  He talked way bomb.  Oh by the way it is very true about in two weeks you will learn more Spanish here than in 2 years of school.  Ridiculous, I know.  Pero es verdabdero.  Other than that days are just days.

Thank you so much for the Cheetos, he loved them.  Words really can't describe how awesome it was giving it to him.  He was stoked.  Don't know how he eats them, Cheetos w/Lime nasty but whatever.  Thank you.  Also, thank you for all the notes and letter I love everyone of them, thank you.

27 years since you were here huh Dad.  Man, that's crazy to think about.  Um oh before I forget should I buy a calling card from here or what for the airport.  I know it's still pretty far away but just a head's up.

How's 4 Pillar Fitness going, do you like it?  And it sounds like Boston Rob is at it again in Survivor.  My license is in here, please keep it, I love this pic.  Did you get my message about the quote on the plaque?  Well, anyways, seems like pretty much all is the same at home.

Stetson can you get the Harry Potter book off of my desk the 7th one and give it to Jake Brown at school.  It's Morgan's and she was wondering if I still had it.  And I do/did so please do that.

Ok all is good, love you all.  Tell everyone Hi, including Zoie!

Come What May and Love it! 

Love, Elder Clayton

English His 2nd Language

Today's letter was awesome.  He says it might not be that great.  But I love every word and especially all the Spanish.  He was promised the gift of tongues and as you can see when you read his letter, he is getting it.  I so look forward to Friday and receiving a note to let us know how he's doing.  He sounds like he is doing just fine and having a grand time. 

Hola como esta? still here in the mtc nothing to new has been going on freak except ive been here for a month can you believe that freaking nuts! But i just want to let you know now that this email is gonna be total weak sauce i just got back from the temple pretty bomb right, and ya but ill write a letter letter today i like doing that alot more for some reason. Ok pics ya they are getting devolped should have them in like 3 days or so, so you can see that im still alive. Well this week ok on sunday i blessed the Santa Cena en Espanol, muy loco pero el Espiritu Santo fue muy fuerte entonces que fue bomba. not the best at writing spanish yet can understand it like no other its freaking crazy pero me speaking it and spelling is different but divertido man i hope stetson can translate this stuff for you, also i have been reading my scriptures in spanish and predicad mi evangelio en spanish as well so that is pretty gnarly. um ok i also had to get a shot for Hep it was like a 3rd doseage or something anyways i owe 97 dollars should i put it on my card pay with the 100? give me some feedback, por favor. Me and peterson bought new watches from the bookstore so now were both rockin TOKS ah so sick so cheap though but freaking love it, im probabaly gonna send my others home so stetson will probably have to wear them lo siento. um what else has happened this week um......................................went to class ate some food learned some spanish taught a lesson and that is about it may sound boring but its hectic! this week we have to teach people in full spanish ahh but it should be ok. oh walking out of the temple today they were cutting the grass i asked one of the kids if i could edge for a minute but he said NO! man bummer ok well thanks for the letters absolutly love em by the way on my plaque id the saying "Come what may and love it...Do youre best and leave the rest to the lord?" Or however that video ends thats what i would really like it to say if that is still at all possible Thank You. some other things going on here Chad Hillyard leaves on monday, Adam Bishop is here going to freaking russia! um yeah ill write later love you all and ya .

Love

Elder Clayton

ps what do you post on the blog? do you put stuff from my hand written letters because i like those too and those seem like i do a better job with what i write in email i just feel very rushed. Ok love you pics coming soon in an envelope near you.

What's Happening this week at the MTC

This week's letter is amazing.  I love this boy and can already see so many changes in him.  Loved the part about the Flaming Hot Cheetos.  They're already on their way to his buddy.  Love that he has such a kind heart.  Thank you so much for the prayers for him and his spanish.  They are helping!

 

Well another week down, its wierd here the days go by so slow sometimes but then the weeks just seem to fly. Pretty much nothing is new just vivir la sueno (livin the dream) its not too bad um some questions you guys aked were como es la comida? The food is pretty good they have a sweeet salad/wrap bar where you can have it youre way, it definitly is the one thing in the church you can have youre way jerrefry r holland just forgot to mention it in his talk haha, man im a freaking missionary.  Ya general conference is so sick in the MTC i have no idea why but it was bomb. I watched every bit of it 10 hours! plus an hour devotional and an hour movie the inside the MTC that you guys saw so dang 12+ hours of sitting the plus because to get soft seats you have to be there at least an hour early, also you know what is way sick is the music and the spoken word. we watch that to get out of class on sundays man so bomb, when they sing they have video of outdoors and stuff last week there was a nice buck on it. man that really is pretty sweet and the music is bomb too. um espanol es muy dificil pero este es mejor. i loved the postcards from st. george sounds like you guys had a way bomb time also did you use google translater or something for the last message because it reads, " You Want, and Smile depends" haha its way tight though love it. Where did you go to lunch with petersons mom she sounds pretty cool , ya i will send some pics can you send me that pic of parker being dropped off. So i go to the temple every friday our scheduled session is at 7 so we have to get up at 545 HIJOLE but its cool i go to the temple with JIMMER FREDETTE i know no big deal or anything. How is gates doing do they think he will be alright do they know? whats up with that. Elder Wise left for indiana on Tuesday i know he will be the bomb.com he took classes in the george Q building i thought that was tight. I had a lesson this week where we taught a couple about the plan and baptism, absolutly got bashed bible bashed that is to the flippin extreme at points i just smiled and looked at them cause i had nothing to say man i love it. Did you get my letter about the kid with maybe cancer and he would like some jerky and the elder in my district who still has got nothing form his parents i really would love it if you could send some flamin hot cheetos WITH LIME i guess he loves those. He s really nice and deserves to be recgonized so if you could do that that would be amazing. um, Grandma,and grandpa are selling their house? what thats insane, are they excited? How is school for stetson and caleb are they still rulin it. Oh ya and a freaking iPhone huh? so sick i love it do you love it? do you play some angry birds in sacrement meeting? So you also asked what sundays were like well we go and study from 7-8ish then break for the music in the spoken word then class 10-2 then 2-3 district meeting 3-4 sacrement (in freaking spanish) then temple walk then dinner at 5 devotional at 7 and a movie at 8 the movies are sweet 2 weeks ago we watched the Joseph Smith movie way good but its a nice time to just relax. How was the championship game it sucks that butler lost again man that coach is good though taking the same team minus a huge star back to the final 2 amazing. well dont know what else to say oh im still thinking of a scripture there are some good ones, but was wondering also if i could put like a saying on it like " Come what may and love it, do your best and leave the rest to the Lord" just wondering such a bomb quote i love it well hope to hear from you soon love ya Come what may and love it.

 

Love

 

Elder Clayton

Letters Home

How could they possibly turn this boy down.  Go get'em Elder Clayton!

Here are some letters that came in the mail.  I really want to document them so I'm typing them as he wrote them to us.  Love this boy!!!

March 20, 2011

Hey thanks so much for the letters.  I love everyone of them.  Oh and will you FB Miss Taylor and ask her for her address.  There is a Hermana here that know her from Heber.  It's funny how you make connections here.  Also FB Letia Peterson that is Elder Peterson's mom, FB her if you want to.  He's way cool.  I could see us being tight when we get home, if I get home, ha-ha.  Just kidding, honestly, it's pretty fun here.  Es muy dificil but very fun.  I don't really understand it all yet, but I love that we just laugh me and Elder Peterson it's so rad.  Way cool kid.  Well thanks for the news and the package!  That was great.  I love you talk to you later.  Elder Clayton
p.s.  Maybe if you could send me some cheddar chex mix and/or Jalepeno from Walker's if not that's cool too.  Love ya, Oh and Caleb I want to hear from you, love ya!

March 28, 2011
Hey guys how's it going.  I know I just emailed on Friday, but I really just wanted to talk to you again!
Thank you for the package and the notes, the cookies are AMAZING!  The jerky bomb, too, I love it.  Well really Friday night and all day Saturday were so hard on me.  First the Espanol on Friday was so hard and everyone in my room was so frustrated we didn't even open my package because...well honestly I just felt like I didn't deserve to open it.  Like it's been way fun just frustrating.  Anyways today is Sunday and we had Fast Sunday since it's General Conf. next week.  We had a bomb testimony meeting.  There is a district leaving for mexico and it was awesome.  Then tonight we had Stephen Allen give a devotional, so sweet.  By the way I'll be out of jerky by Tuesday.  But then we got to watch the Joseph Smith Movie.  It was so great.  While I was watching it, in the first of it when the Smith boys are hanging out and I just thought of our family and how great you are.  You guys are the best.  Now while reading this don't cry because everything is good.  It's just hard sometimes to think about you guys and how awesome you are.  I have taken for granted Mom and Dad so much.  I'm so sorry.  I love you  so much.  And I miss you, but know that I'm alright.  The MTC is a great place to be.  And I know it's the right place.  Stetson and Caleb I love you guys so much don't even forget that.  It's so awesome to think that we will be brothers forever!  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Thank you guys for everything you have given me and blessed me with.  Just please promise to pray for me to help teach as best I can and to learn espanol. I love you guys, you're the greatest.
Also, how is Four Pillar Fitness and San Diego.  Did Stetson get a new muffler on his car.  And who are the final 4 teams. 

I love you guys, hope to hear from you soon.  Love Elder Clayton

Come What May and Love It!

Como esta? well another week dos down y siete to go but its all good i just got back from the temple it was pretty nice so how are you guys doing and whats new? Stetson said you were going to St. Jorge for spring break thats way sweet, and when is it or have you already had it? Anyways thanks for the package with my jacket muchas gracios i really needed it so thank you and the CHEX MIX!!! ah so bomb i dont know why but i love it now so thank you, also thank you for the jerky heck if you could send a pack or 2 down today possibly so i could get it for conference that would be way sweet. We'll be watching it in the auditorium/ gym and so over the weekend i will be sitting in the seats for a total of 15 hours!!! since devotionals and everything as well but its all good so if possible to send something by today that would be sick if not es no big deal.

Well how is Work going the C.O.B. and the SOB still there? have you played any fooseball or airhockey lately? And thats way sweet youre walking up eaglewood as much as you can, thats awesome. How is bountiful orthadontics? funny fact one of my spanish teachers hermano evans looks exactly like Dr. feller its tight haha but ya just thought id mention that and how is 4 pillar is it workin ya? Stetson said SCBC is teetering on failure hows that going. And caleb i hope school is still bomb are you pumped for jr. high? well seriosly if you can keep writing letters are way sick.

 

So another week about the same just getting harder and harder spanish what a freaking language way hard but my motto is " Hey a million mexicans can speak it so really how hard can it be?" but whatever i still struggle with it tres of the sisters are leaving for guetemala this week for the MTC there it will be sad to see them go they're all pretty rad. Um volleyball is bomb as well, still fist pump champion (jersey shore) ! We sang come come ye saints the other day oh by the way whenever we sing its in espanol its cool i guess even though i dont know what the freaking words are. plus little fact espanol does not have words in it that translate to spanish so its..........................................well its crazy lets just say that but hopefully one day ill be able to speak it. alright funny story so you let me rephrase this YOU have to make the mtc fun if people didnt have fun here it was their own fault so at meals we'll ( me and elder peterson) will slip knives forks napkins spoons salt and pepper shakers into others pockets then while were in class watch them relize they walked out with em hahaha so freaking funny maybe dumb for you but everything is funny here we watched a mormon message the other day that i have really taken in not only here but i think you should always use it in life its by joseph b. wirthlin and he says " Come what may and LOVE it" so thats my attitude come what may and love it whetether its the languase that blows comp food people in general COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT i wrote it down and put it in my wallet bomb saying

 

Well i hope everything is good i love you guys so much thank you for everything

 

Love Elder Clayton

.