Prayers are Heard and Answered

Hey Guys man hows it going! This morning the power left and internet hasnt been up until like 15 mins ago really i can say i was nervous not to be able to write you this is honestly  what i look forward to most on my pday reading your emails!!!! I love it anyways it sounds like you all had a great week new tile thats awesome and yes it is kind of ridicoulous how a little stocking thing can destroy the tile but Dad and Caleb cant get it up for nada thats so typical huh. Anyways so school sounds like its really good i didnt hear to much of how caleb likes Jr High what classes does he have this semester Stetson wrote me and he seems way gnarly haha Senor si hombre and Salt City Burger ah thats so bad he has to work everyfriday night but i bet hes makin bank hes the kind of kid who is a great server always happy and will talk to you flip i know hes makin bank! So is the new tile gonna be sweet and carpet are you carpeting the loft stairs too thats a question i would like answered is that expensive to do. Yesterday in church we had a lesson and the teacher went around and asked everybody to describe to her their dream house....Honestly mine was our freaking house just a nice house with nice things thanks for always having our house so nice. The others were saying what they wanted from pics they have seen in American Magazines its different and like i dont know how to describe it but its good. Church was sweet yesterday we had 12 investigatores there and we should have some baptisms this week i hope... All i know is that your prayers were definitly felt this week so THANK YOU THANK YOU im not even kiding it was a good week. So what else is new well we had multi zone it was really awesome Pres Veirs is such an awesome guy really is i love him. 

Well i will tell you about some of our investigadores we have right now first we have the Familia Padilla well kinda familia its a single mom with 3 Kids shes living together right now so thats a little bump in the road her partner is in the gang Deciocho and a crazy guy he hates us the first time we contacted them the 13 year old girl told us to pass as we walked in he started screaming at us and her man it was awesome he doesnt want anything but the rest of the family are awesome. Then Hna Rakel this lady is PSYCHO thinks that pig meat has spirits in it and i dont even know she is crazy!!!! Maria Teresa awesome lady like 65 years old really searching for the truth shes awesome. Then Sami hes way cool and way smart to we will see what happens but ya thats whats new with them.

So ya thanks so much for you emails i loved them!!!!!!! Your questions my health im good. I havent got the package yet but still hoping for it im not even kidding im so stoked for it it is honestly better than waiting for christmas!!1 I have a question did you guys or grandpa dave or anyone gotten a letter in the past week or so isent like 5 on August 1....Dont know whats up with that

Well i hope everything is awesome keep praying for me please prayer works honestly does i have had some real expierences with that this week im not jokin around its the real deal.And ill keep praying for all of you deal

Come What May and Love It

Love Elder Clayton

.

Prayer Request & New Area Update

He's doing well, but struggling with not having a baptism.  I was able to be online with him for a bit so I'll include that, too.  Love him so much and hoping to get through to him that success is not measured in baptisms.  The scriptures say if you should bring one soul unto me, how great will be your joy.  Could even be ourselves as that one soul.  Hang in there pal.  We love and pray for you every day.

Some of the members he has met in his new area.

Elder Clayton and Elder Velasquez.  Elder V stands about 5 ft tall. 

 Some of the awesome people he met in Cofradia

Looking outside his apartment



Dang hard to believe that summer is over freak that went so so fast but it sounds like it was a great one camping bearlake NYC biggest loser flip sounded so sweet. Well i love you all thats first of all i have thought alot about all of you this week thanks for beig my family and loving me. I love you all.

Anyways this week was good we had an awesome meeting with our Zone it was bomb then i had divisiones with the Zone Lider it was good taught and talked it was good also had 3 leche cake ive had it acouple times down here but it is so bomb have any of you guys had it before its a real treat down here. So that was good then we have just been teaching and what not trying to find someone to baptize please if you could this week throw down a prayer that we can find someone ready to accept this messaje if you can anyways on Sunday we had the dedication of San Salvador Templo it was awesome really so awesome Pres Eyring did it along with Elder Christopherson Pres Eyering does not speak spanish so during the ceiling of the corner stone he was just like making small talk in English and i was laughing well not laughing but giggling but everyone else was looking at me like i was crazy he is an awesome guy i dont know if you understand that but it was awesome.

Right now were working with some people and man i just want to have a real Baptism a real conversion just something real im trying this week i dont know if ive beaten myself up or what but its so hot so hot and i try to have a smile and everything and i do its just hard sometimes trying my best out here but i want some success.

Thanks for the emails this week they were awesome and full of info i loved em really just to have info about you guys is awesome.

So some fun things while i was on divisions we were walking into Centro and this car ran a stop sign and a bus ya a freaking bus smashed SMASHED it pushed it like 25 feet up on a curb and it was nuts we were about 15 feet away from it thats it!!! but i think noone was hurt here when things like that happen people swarm so really in 5 mins there was a multitude of at least 350 people so that was kinda fun. Other than that it was really just another week.

I love you so much thanks for your love and support and for your prayers!!! Really thank you for those. This week we have Multi Zona in San Pedro i wont see Peterson so thats a bummer but alright-

Well Love Ya Good luck with school

Love Elder Clayton

Elder Clayton:  Mom, are you on!!!!!  Mom ah ilove you how are you today

Me:  How's your companion.  Elder Clayton:  ya hes small haha but cool guy well im gonna be going but just know that i love you all so so sososososos much

Where are you using the computer at?  Elder Clayton:  An internet cafe there all over the place down here just a house with like 5 computers in it

Elder Clayton:  Are you making cookies, (first day of school)  Yes i got it it was awesome!!!!!!! i loved it thank you dont worry its all good how are you are you making cookies or anything  ME:  Me:  Yep, Caleb wanted choc. chip so not the usual peanut butter fingers. oh well.  Hang in there on the success stories.  You are planting seeds in their hearts and it will happen.  And no worries, I pray for that all the time, I'll pray harder.  And I'm doing the same BOM challenge of reading it by two transfers.  Hope I can do it.

Me:  Good, seems weird that I didn't head to Adelaide.  Caleb was quite anxious.  I felt like I was sending him to the lions.  JR high is scary.  How's your week been, did you get my update email.  I always worry now after that one time you didn't get it.

Even as I type this I get teary eyed.  I sure miss him, but am so proud of all he is learning while he serves.  He's a great son and a wonderful missionary!

Thank you for all your prayers again, it is appreciated.

New Area, Companion, Apartment and Loving it All!

I have to admit that this is one of my favorite letters. He sounds so happy and doing well.  Although his struggles are what makes him realize he can put his trust in the Lord and receive answeres to his prayers.  It's 5 months today since we took him to start his journey.  In some ways it seems so quick and others it seems like forever.  An experience I wouldn't trade.  He's doing awesome and I can read it in his email.  Enjoy!

 How many other Elders are in the area?  Does your comp. speak English?

theres like 2 other comps he can say good morning good night cat dog and Hot THATS IT!!!!! haha the other elders are from guatamala

Is there anything big around you or is it a small town like your old area? 

nah its a populated area like on google maps you would see like some big buildings with blue roofs and then a little farther away is like a subdivision of ecactly the same houses its not in my area but i can see it theres a really big populated street that seperates my area

My Area is Called La Lopez Arrellana OR somthing like that its by Cerro Verde Trincheras its in the middle of Fesitranh and Chaloma

The lock out will end, they all want to be paid!!!  I am trying to find your city on the map???

Did you see the real Elder Peterson at changes. 

Nah i didnt he wasnt there dang it how is he doing have you talked to his family  Mom, talks to his mom pretty regular  will they let you go the Temple in San Salvador?

That is cool, how long has he been out?  He will teach you a lot, and in turn he will learn from you pal.

Hes been out for like 15 months or so My new comp is great!!! We are Working its what i was doing with petersen thats why i loved it so much were working talking with all the people i love it oh interesting fact my comp stands at 5 feet no inches haha sweet huh

hey pal how are you today?

GREAT how are you

And the rest of his email... 

Well new area new comp new alot of things its crazy. Anyways Cambios were sweet suprisnly there were not alot of Elders but i guess was a good amout had some talks then it started i was about the 5th one to go Elder Clayton will go to La Lopez Orillana With Elder Velasquez haha ya i was pretty stoked. Im about 30mins outside of San Pedro so not to far with about 20 mins from Puerta Cortes so thats cool its a pretty gnarly area with some major hills alot of times i feel like i am hiking rather than walking. Its alot more hilly than Cofradia i know that but its good. Really cofradia was great i loved the people and area and Elder Petersen..... Really Padre Celestial knew i needed a change he knew thats forsure cause right now i am really happy and excited to be here the ward is cool my comp is way awesome he is from guatemala from some city thati have no idea how its spelled all i know is there is a temple being built there right now and it will be done in like Deciembre i think so ya pretty cool. We are working really i love it  talking with tons of people and really im having a great time So ya thats new with me.. Oh and our apartment its flippin nice one of the best in the missioin really a welcomed change its sweet thats all im gonna say. Also next week we have the dedication of the temple El Salvador so that should be pretty awesome to see. This morning we played Futbol  that was pretty fun and intense with some of the elders here theyre freaking good. Got some skills.

So also in Cambios pres Veirs gave a challenge to read El Libro de Mormon in 2 cambios so by Sept 21 be at Alma 24 it kinda was a downer since i was in Alma 58 but its all good right. Other than that we are just teaching its going good the people here are pretty responsive oh one funny story is we contacted this house and there was a girl she had like 15 anos we asked if we could return in like 2 days she said ya so we did when we came back there was a guy inside that said he doesnt like our church but the girl came out and told us to pass and when we walked in the guy well lets just say he....FLIPPED yelling at us the girl he was only in boxers and covered in deciocho tattoos its a gang here thtas prett big anyways the mom of the house was way chill we sat down and everything was good he left and we taught a lesson so that was cool They also came to church yesterday so yay lookin good. Also last night while walking home we had a guy offer us money now this has happened before because even though they dont want anything to do with our church were preaching for God and people think we should be paid....anyways were crossing the street and he yells to us to take this money we explain that we dont do this for money this guy was insane yelling screaming at us to take his money in the end we just walked away it was nuts but makes for good stories right. Other than that fun stuff we have had a good week of teaching and have found some people that i feel good about well see what comes of it.

So sounds like your week was good i didnt get a ton of info but hopefully New York was bomb for stetson in those pics he looks big is he he looks like it anyways. And Caleb and Dad were in Bearlake con kokene salmon huh thats pretty cool can you catch them and how big are they. and tending Ezra huh thats pretty gnarly im not gonna lie anything else fun Let Me know

Love you a ton

Come What may and Love It

Elder Clayton

ah ya hows he doing no theyre putting it on satellite at some of the stake centers so were doing that El Salvador is pretty far away from here like 15 hours are you gonna come work on Tegucigalpa or wehat how is work going...and how is the NBA lOCKOUT

A Tender Heart and the Circus is in Town

Well first off i have a change......ya i got the call this morning so tomorrow is my last day here with these awesome people awesome people im kinda sad but at the same time relieved the Lord knows me he knew i couldnt do another change here he did it has been a great change just a difficult one. I have learned so much here just in a short while 

Anyways thats whats new with me So i want to start off by thanking you all for the great emails thanks so much these are the favorite parts of my pday hearing and being able to talk to you the farewell of the hanson kid sounded like it was good super sad but good. And the Campout yeah especially with the moose thats so tight is anything fly fishable yet with all the water from this year or what, also about the scooter you can sell it im gonna buy a motorcycle anyways so ya if you wanna keep it you can but as for me im ok. que mas i dont know anyways.

Some of the happenings this week so we are teaching a family they are so awesome and will get baptized just they have to get married thats a big problem here is marriages noone gets married they just live together its nuts at times we talk to people that have kids that are like 14 years old they have lived together for 20 years and havent gotten married or wont so ya thats a little different anyways they live in a little campicino its just a field and they live in a house a way sad house that consists of 4 poles and garbage sacks with a tarp roof its pretty sad anyways we were teaching them and they have 2 kids one is like 4 the other 2 years and so were in the lesson and the 4 year old said he was hungary and the 2 year old was all ya me too then we got on the conversation of what have they eaten today all they had was 1 cup of orange juice thats it they have absolutly no money nada i felt terrible we finished the lesson and me and Elder Richardson looked at each other and we just said listen we cant do this anymore were missionaries were poor and were not here for this but the church can help you anyways long story short we gave em like 5 bucks and left i was about in tears i love these people and to see them like that was so sad they were at church lastsunday as well so ya they are a great family just sad but honestly they are and will have blessings its just a fact, But honestly just be happy for what you have for what we have its amazing even with nothing these people are so happy all they need is family.

Also this week i went on divisiones with Elder Castellon he is from Nicaragua Minagua I dont know how to spell it put im sure connie memmott knows anyways he is so cool i love the guy we worked way good together it was a really good time.And also in Cofradia this week is a circus the most sketch city circus i have ever seen its sketch anyways they drive around each night in a toyota truck with a lion and a monkey in the back for promoting it and oh this was sweet i shook the monkeys hand it was cool it was like a little person the wild ones are cool but to shake hands with it was way sweet. And also we were with a momber this week and for money they cook and sell tajadas its like a banaba thing anyways they have their kids peel em for them ya its only about 1500 a day no big deal!!!!Freak its like 6 wheelbarrows full flippin ridiculous like Dad always says stay in school and honestly im gonna do that i do nnot want to work like that for my life.

Anyways thats whats up everything is good i will have a change wed i dont know where im going but we will see right. I love you all so much thanks for everything the package will get here dont worry thanks for it im so stoked love you all so much

Love Elder Clayton   Peacin out de Cofradia

 Road kill even in Honduras!  I'm sure he feels right at home from his hunting experiences.

 This is the house of the people he mentioned in his letter.  Very humble surroundings.

Bridger out standing in his field.  Funny thing I took a picture just like this many years ago when he was about 4 years old.  Brings back memories.

We love the book Summer of the Monkeys and I read it to the boys when they were little.  This is why he felt like Jay Berry Lee in his last letter.  This touched my heart as I loved the story from my childhood when my mom read it to us.  You may have to look hard but they are there.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and support.  It is appreciated and felt. 

Feeling like Jay Berry Lee with Wild Monkeys

Hey Family!!!

It sounds like it has been a busy week just full of stuff huh i was sad to hear about Grandma and Also Gabe Hanson dang just like Dad honestly has always said there is so much sadness in the world so we always need to look at the good stuff its so true on that note I have been wondering for a while how is skyler beckstrand doing i have 2 of his songs that were on his blog with  me on my ipod so i was thinking a little about him the other day i hope he is still doing good or hopefully hilled.

Ah you got the letter awesome thats way sweet i also got the stickers this week yeah thank you so much they are working great, so while i am on the subject of mail i wasw wondering if possibly you could throw in 2 more items possibly 1 a rain jacket with a zipper a zip up one and a hood the Mr. Mac one just isnt doin it for me really ive looked for one here but cant find one. Also ya my sweet watch it broke got water in it so i was wondering if you could buy a like NIXON chronicle or something like that just cheap and send it in if possible i would love the blue one with red in the face but honestly just one of those im sure stetson knows which one im talking about im not 100 percent on the name but there just like rubber always at zumiez and i think they run for like 48 bucks yeah believe me i havent forgotten about watches haha but ya if possible that would be sweet. Last thing sorry but possibly a Hole Punch just a small one so i can punch holes in a paper for a three ring binder not a 3 hole punch just a single if posible and with the package just make sure you put some pics of Jesus or mary stuff like that on the edges where you open it and they wont touch it they wont cut jesus

Also there was a couple things i was wondering 1st how much is gas its way expensive here like pushin 5 bucks american and haha yeah PATY on the FB i told em to look you up she is a way tight lady shes cool but her kids are cooler they have like 9 and 7 años and theyre way cool love em.

Well this week was..... interesting first i went on divisions twice once with the ZLs and other with Elder Partridge they were both way good honestly anything to get away from my comp is welcomed haha i know thats bad but the kid is such a downer i dont know how to change him im doing all i can but get this heres something that ticked me off so the other day we didnt have any lessons planned so we were walking around contacting and we talked to some people then i stopped at a door and was like lets do this one and he kept walking and i said hey hey here here and he just kept walking i watched him till he was about 35 feet away what the freak alot of the time he pulls the Who is Comp Mayor (Señor) WHAT is that whatever im just praying for patienct and love but its hard. Whatever come what may and love it right so a cool thing was this same day we were contacting and this kid asked me if we were going to see the monkeys? what are you saying ya there are wild monkeys here in my area who the heck would of known but ya i saw em they are howling monkeys and are so loud i felt like Jay Berry Lee it was so cool so that kinda brightened my day a bit no actually alot so that was good.

So other then that we have just been teaching and teaching trying to find pepole who are ready im trying to find em its way hard but noone said this would be easy in a lot of the lessons this week i have felt the spirit really strongly and i have felt that my Spanish at times was at the top of its game but other times its not like when its not i just smile and bear my testimony the thing thats harsh is we walk out of lessons and E. Richardson will say straight up what happened to your spanish that sucked.... nice right hes got like no patitnce and if its not his way there is no way his wife should have a great time with him haha.

Neighborhood campout ah thats gonna be so awesome thats so cool i love that place but again huh there is alot of water thats cool oh ya i took money out the fee must have been like 5 bucks cause i took out like 25 american so ya i cant get around the no fee problem so sorry and ya other than that i am just stoked to see a package from you guys sorry i cant  write everyone a good letter i try but there just isnt always time

I hope the funeral was good tell the Family HOLA and that i love them thank you for all the prayers they work i know they do they work thank you so much

Love you all is Well

Love Elder Clayton

thanks for everything the package i got the pics of the funeral and the house both looked good in their own way thanks for being my mom and being with me i love you

 

And my letter to him: 

Hello Pal, & Happy Monday.  This email will have a lot of info as quite a bit has happened since our last conversation.  Hopefully this email finds you well and happy.  I am sure that you have had President Veirs contact to you as to the passing of Grandma Duke.  On Wednesday, Grandpa Howard called to tell me that Grandma had just passed away due to a heart attack.  It was quite fast as they took her by ambulance to Lakeview around 8:30 a.m. and she passed away at 9:20 a.m.  One thing that was fun was on Friday they had come to take her to do a filming for the resident of the year for the care facility she had been staying at.  They did her hair and gave her a new blouse and asked her several questions.  She was happy, but anxious as she hadn't done anything like this before.  But, they loved her.  There will be a viewing tonight (Sunday) and then a graveside service for her Monday morning.  I will be sending you a box this week with a new flashdrive (16mb) and I will include a copy of her program and obituary.  She is I'm sure so thrilled to be Grandpa again, along with her parents and siblings.  We can't be sad, she had a long fulfilled life and we were so blessed to have her in our lives for longer than most have their grandparents. 

Other sad news was last night Gabe Hanson, 2nd son of Tyler and Kristin Hanson was killed in a car accident.  They had just came back from youth conference and 7 of them were traveling on a dirt road west of the freeway to what they say was to get snow cones.  Three of them did not have seatbelts on and they were thrown from the car, an Expedition just like our old one, when she lost control and it rolled.  Gabe was killed at the scene and two others are in the hospital.  What a tragedy and sadness for so many people.  Not only the Hanson family but all the kids and families of those in the car along with them.  It will have an affect on so many.  There are so many praying for them, but I think the most sad was to think they had just came back from a three day youth conference and had had marvelous time.  They had done something similiar to what our stake did when they had Quest.

So, I hope you understand that is why I always say be safe and obedient.  I don't know how Kristin is going to get through such a test.  Thus being said, I need to tell you Thank you so much for the letter that I received in the mailbox this week.  It was a true tender mercy that it came on the day we had just lost Grandma Duke.  Dad brought it in to me and I was so excited to see that it was addressed to me.  Can I tell you how much it touched my heart.  As your mom I can tell that you are growing so much and learning to trust in our Heavenly Father, but oh how it saddens my heart to know that I can't be right there with you.  And can read through the lines sometimes to see that you have a few obstacles in your way. When you wrote that you can feel me with you at times.  Let me just tell you, I pray that Heavenly Father will touch your heart to know that I am there with you.  He does answer my prayers and yours too.  I am walking right along side you, everystep of the way. II think that is why I sent that Winnie the Pooh saying with you, that is exactly how I feel.  A piece of me will always be with you.  I couldn't be more proud of the man you are becoming and the lessons you are learning.  Today in church we sang, How Firm a Foundation and it was again an answer to prayer.  As we sang the words, Fear not I am with thee, oh be not dismayed.  For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.  I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.  Remember these words, Pal.  He is with you, he will give you strength to get through whatever it is that is hard.  But, know that everything is only for a short season.  Although sometimes it doesn't seem very short it will pass.  The scriptures always say and it came to pass, not and it came to stay.  I took the letter over to Brother Monjai and had him translate your the Spanish portion.  He was impressed that you are writing as well as you are for only being there such a short time.  You may think you are not getting it as fast you wish, but you were promised the gift of tongues and I can see you are receiving that gift and promise 10 fold.  You are being obedient and doing the Lord's work and He will bless you, I have no doubt.  Hang in there!!!'

We also received an invitation to be a friend to someone in your mission, one of the members, Paty?  She posted some pictures of you and it was so great to see them.  It was one in I think her home, one with a couple of kids and one with a ceiling fan.  You look great pal.  I hope all is well and you're doing fine.

This week was also the Summer party for Bountiful Orthodontics.  Remember last year when you saved the day and brought things to me that I didn't know I needed.  This year was even bigger.  We had about 700+ people there.  150 pizzas we picked up.  It was a blast.  He's such a great guy and the kids love him as their orthodontist.  I'm so lucky to work in such a great place and have such an awesome job.  I'm already planning ahead for next year's where it shouldn't have any glitches as it will be the third time and I'll have it mastered.

So glad you were able to go to Pizza Hut again.  Does it taste the same?  Just wondering.  I'm glad you're able to somehow have a few things from home, or that at least remind you of home.  Do you need anything.  I will be mailing this package this week.  Toothpaste, face wash, dental floss, toothbrush???  Ask now and pray that it gets to you.  The other moms on the missionary site say they have no probelms with their missionaries getting what they sent.  But, I want to send what you need.  Should reach you in about two to three weeks and I'll mail it on Wednesday, August 3.

This week is also the big Neighborhood Campout.  It will be fun this year once again.  With all the water the river should be fun and full.  It is something we all look forward to.  It will be different to not have you and Ryan with us, but you will be there in spirit. And we are all so proud of all that you are doing as you serve our Heavenly Father.

Do you email others?  Just wondering.  I so hope we'll be able to be on to at least say hi, but it will be Grandma's services tomorrow and I will do my best to try and say hey.

I love you so much.  Hang in there pal  And remember this:  You are the missionary your mom thinks you are!!!  I can see it in your letters, and your pictures.  I couldn't be more proud. 

Be safe and obedient as always.  Know that I pray for you and am with you on this journey.

Love,

Mom