This is a great email.  Funny how I have waited patiently to see if he got his package and finally after Wayne asking him, he remembered that YES, he did get the package and it was awesome.  I'll include the email he said to forward to me that he was talking with his dad about.  Love him so much and as mentioned before, and by reading you will see he's going to have a hard time coming home.  He is loving it there!  Enjoy.

Here's the picture of their celebration of his year mark and one of their b-days.  They have an egg and flour war/fight, whatever.  Sounds messy, but he had a blast.

Subject: Elsa Ramona is the Bomb.com

Well Hello once again family how are all of you doing today i hope youre all great as ever i am bomb as we had a great weekend and everything was good. So this week we had to do so much stuff it was crazy everyday we were so busy like we had divisiones twice the one day we found this dude in the strret WORST TEETH I HAVFE EVER SEEN haha so bad so he like takes us to his house es like a drugged out drunk guy with honestly i was talking to my comp more than 200 bottles of licqour in this 1 room house with bags full full of perscription pills and dude the guys was insane always like laughing i think he was high when we found him haha so crazy. Then at a members house we ate Hamburgers ah so amazing i couldnt believe it it just tasted like a hamburger from home nuts. This week we have pumped it up at the gym the 3 oter elders have all bought creatine to pump there muscles up haha i might be buying some this week cause the results are showing. Every day after the gym now theres this HUGE black dude that sell sjuice outside we buy juice best orange and Cana juice in the world so bomb. Also Alcohol is ruining lives here and does ruin lives we found a member drunk the other night i was so mad man I hate that the thing here is that a freaking 10 year old can buy it and no one will say a thing..... What ya its kinda sad. Also i was reading the scrips this week and found something i liked so i changed the words alma 26 26 i changed deseret to Honduras and put Catratchos in front of Brothers love te scripture cause its mine this is what im called here to do.

Amazing so then on Wed Elsa Decided to be baptized we called all her fam the ward and she was baptized Saturday night it was sweet and it was my comps first baptism so that was awesome. After the bap she bore her testimony oh my gosh it was amazing she told about an exp she had that after she prayed she felt the presence of her mom and Dad around her and then had dreams about them that this was the thing to do it was the best testimony i have ever heard for sure. We ate cake and Rice at her house after it was so fun a great baptism.

So my week was good were still httin up MAGYS the gym still bomb i like it love all of you hope youre all doing great.

Caleb and Stetson 4th term so tight youre almost done!!!1

Love You all

Elder Clayton

Here's what he said about his box, after Wayne had to ask him about it.  

Oh freak ya i was gonna write totally spaced my mind i did and it was SO BOMB hahah best box ever the peanut butter cookies everything was amzing thanks so much please send mom this forward and tell her how much i love her she is amazing!!!

Alright first of all the temple (he's talking about the one in Kansas City that Wayne sent a pic of)  is so tight there looks so good its so cool i cant believe that i have 1 year in the mission this week we had like a testimony meeting with a bunch of members that are close to me and i said like one day ill leave calpules thats the area im in then i said and one day ill leave Honduras i lost it i started crying i havent cried in so long but man i love this area so much right now the people are awesome we had a baptism yesterday so awesome the lady is amazing so awesome she will be my freind for life for sure. So ya life is good in Honduras the showers sucks still bed ah its a bed its good its been there since like 2001 but hey right on and ya starting to get sdo HOT its summer and its gonna kill me i can already feel it haha 

The Burning of his Shirt, and more Brotherly Advice

Welp what up fam

How are you guys all doing i hope youre all bomb as ever well this
week was awesome i loved it. so awesome this week alright first on
wed. we had a multi zona super awesome we had elder Martino come and
talk to us it was awesome really loved it. I learned alot and it was
good i got to see all my buddies and that was awesome minus Peterson
cause the kid is in freaking the ceiba like 4 hours from San Pedro so
they dont go to the multi zonas they have their own so that was a bit
of a bummer but all good. That was wednsday then on FRIDAY I TURNED
1YEAR hahaha ah so tight i cant believe i have a year so wierd we went
and ate a hamburger then at night we burned my shirt it was super fun
we took some pics and a video so it was fun man we also had another
bday celeberation with Elder Diego where we sang but then a tradition
here is to smash eggs like real raw eggs on em and pour some flour now
usually its only like 1 or 2 eggs and a handful of flour happens to
everyone. But we went big we went 13 eggs and 2 pounds of flour hahah
so funny it was so tight also ate pizza and icecream it was such a
mess but awesome we left it for a night and the next night cleaned the
house for 3 hours haha so bad but super funny we got a pic ill send it
to you it was a super good time look at the floor and imagine it with
with 2 inches of caked on eggs with flour hahah so bad but super fun.
It really was a great week too for working in case you were wondering
too we have the people we got em now we are just waiting to have them
accept the fechas and i really need em too cause if not im gonna get
the machete and thats not what i want right now so hopefully we can
get all these done one of the only problems is the cousins with the
paperwork so ya other than that its all good but ya praying for a
miricle here.

But i was thinking the other day aboput the year thats gone bye and
how great it has been i have learnded so many things and absolutlry
love the mission everyone has got to do this its awesome sure its got
its rough days and weeks but lifes got that everyone has got to go.

I love everyone of you and pray for you everyday I love you all make good decisions Stetson and Caleb it starts now in high school and jr. High make good friends and always go to church
love you all i hope you have a great week.

Love Elder Clayton

ps did not get the package but im guessing tomorrow love ya thanks

One Year Down & One to Go

A year come and gone.  Some say it has been so fast.  Ummm, not so sure about that.  Somedays it seems quick and others it seems longer than a year.  All I know it is truly worth the sacrifice to watch who he has become.  Amazing how you forget about yourself and think about others and watch the progress and love take over.  He's doing awesome.  He has made us so proud.  He's a wonderful son, and an even more amazing missionary.  We love you so much Elder Clayton!  Happy Hump Day!

 Right before he left, one last ride on the scooter!

Packed and ready to go.  All he needs for two years in three small bags. Good luck Bridger!

 A true tender mercy.  Greeted at the MTC by one of his buddies, Elder Rose.  

Made it somewhat easier leaving him in such familiar hands.

Telling Dad goodbye!

 One last hug, hope it will last for two years.  I still cry when I see this darn picture?!?

 Him and his companion, do they send them at age 12 when they are natives???

Love this boy/man!

Showing his fun personality as always.

McDonald's in Honduras, he says the fries taste them same.  They look the same!

 Another answer to prayers was this young man, Elder Peterson.  Truly a brother from another mother

The Peterson's whom we have grown to love and cherish through this entire experience.  One of the choicest blessings of Elder Clayton's service.

Two moms sharing the same experience.  Love Letia, she's so awesome.  I'm just certain we met in heaven and knew we'd find each other on earth.  It took our sons to get us reunited.  

What a difference a year makes.  I have a hard time sitting down to write my feelings without tears running down my face.  It has been a year full of faith.  Who knew that 20 years ago when they placed that little boy in my arms that I would indeed send him to a land to teach his fellow brothers and sisters what he learned all of his life.  When he was little I worried about him having friends to sit and eat lunch with, play at recess with and others being kind to him.  Now I pray for his safety, that people will be kind to him and that he knows how much we love and miss him here at home.  I sent a boy out into the mission field and I have watched that boy become a man.  I am certain he has experienced things he will not tell me about until his arrival back home.  But, with every fiber of my being I know what he is doing is true and right.  That it is making and molding him into the man he is to be for the rest of his life.  I couldn't be more proud.  I pray every day, several times of day for his safety and that he is well and happy.  With every email that comes I am assured that he is fine and pictures show he is happy.  For that I am eternally thankful.  I have had several tender mercies from a loving Father in Heaven that keeps assuring me he is in His hands.  

I am so looking forward to the next year.  They say it goes by faster, that I am hoping.  Although with his year coming to a close, it will bring us closer to sending Stetson out on his mission.  Thank you so much for following his journey and asking how he is doing and meaning it.  We have truly been watched over and protected for his service.  A sacrifice for all, and yet I wouldn't want him anywhere else

Married Cousins & Happy Hump Day, 1 Year Down

This week marks his "Hump Day"  One year.  Hard to believe in someways and then sometimes it seems like it definately has been a year.  He is so happy and you can tell by his email that things are progressing.  I do know he has paid for several weddings and this was a little sad to have cousins who are married already.  Presents a small problem, it will be interesting to see how they fix it and if they'll be able to be baptized.  We sent a package full of fun things to celebrate his milestone on this journey.  I don't think he'll get it in time, but whenever he does he'll be reminded how much we have missed him and love him.  Now let's see if what they say is true about the 2nd year going faster...

 Funny how the food looks the same...even in Honduras McDonald's is McDonald's

Hey family how are you guys doing well this week went so fast i cant believe it we had  a great week working, We have some great people we are workig with i thought in thsi email i would tell a bit about em ok 1st we got Elsa SO TIGHT a lady thats like 65 but so cool she always goes to church or family home evengong with the members so bomvb and always feeds us gives us like choclate milk and churros so bomb!!! I love this lady we are going to baptize her the 25th of march that will be AWESOME!!! Also ESAU super sick he works in modificacion of cars and motorcycles so tight has an awesome wrx sti love the thing i wanna go for a ride in it so bad. Anywaysa hes tight and baptism for him this 24th of march . Also this Teen named Jorge 15 years old reading the Book of Mormon knows its true so awesome hes a great kid 24 of March. Ok now for the good part we have this FAMILY ok this family theyve gone to church all that good stuff want to get baptised but theres one problem they told us they were cousins to the 2nd grade or 2nd cousins right but we had to make sure so we went to centro to sack these partidas and they are COUSINS COUSINS what the freak i only thought that happened in like missisisip or kENTUCKY but apperently in Honduras Too so thats a little problem we gotta fix but like they already have a kid so....what can ya do right ah ive seen it all here i think but ya we have way good possabilities for this month im lovin it.

Anyways we had a good week it went so fast we have a multi zona on Wed SO THAT will be cool and ya were gonna BURN MY SHIRT FOR 1YEAR IN THE MISSION so crazy i cant believe that i love it.

Im sorry i dont have alot to write i love you so much ill be on for a while love you all

Love Elder Clayton

1 YEAR DOWN BOI SIMON

A Wild Ride & Hard Work is Paying Off

What a great week it has been.  I love watching the video he sent us and find myself smiling as I  know he is loving his mission and getting more and more comfortable with all he is doing.  This is big week.  One year mark on the 16th.  Fast, maybe.  Depends on the day.  I know he is doing what he was meant to do and we are being blessed for his service.  Here's some pics that were on the jump drive.  He looks awesome.  Enjoy...

Alright had a litle adventure this week so insane so yesterday after church we had to go to this one cita but it was like out in the middle of nowhere at night in an area where they dont have light right so we ask this one member if we can get a ride hes like ya thats tight i just have to ask my daughter cause its her car alright sweet so she drives and we all jump in the member Hno Mejia super funny guy so we go out there and it its all good until she makes a wrong turn and we cant turn aroubnd cause if you do that theyll stop you so we just went forward in a ford focus haha when we came upon the path from ·$%" ah just like the windrivers man it was so bad we start scrapping bottonm having to lean to different sides it was amazing the whole time the car just scraping the ground haha so bad but we got to where we needed to go and it was all good in the end. Anyways all went well we had our lessons and it was all good.

So this week we worked hard and paid off we have 2 families that are progressing and 5 other people so were gonna have some baptisms in Marzo SI HOMBRE JE im so stoked it should be reallly good We are working with some tight people this one kid 23 years old named ESAU so sweet he races subarus and bulletbikes and has some sick STI WRXs sickest things ive seen here so cool though. Also this Hermana named Ramona so awesome shes like 60 years old everytime we teach her she goes and buys us like chocoleyde and churros so tight. They just have to accept the fecha to be baptized it the only thing so pary that they can happen. Also the Family Nunez a family that is MARRIED here super rare she wants to get baptized and he doesnt so were working with that also this one new family they have been to church two times and wanna get married and all have a kid that ok heskinda special right anyways they told us theres a little problem i wasnt thinking anything that big....but its that theyre cousins oh freak talk abnout backwoods Honduras but dont worry there 2nd cousins oh boy so thats a diffuculty we have other than that things are going bomb.com sweating to death at night here it was 102 degrees its so HOT and will only get hotter but its good i like it .

Anyways whats up with you guys im glad you got the flash ill try to send another one but ya love you guys youre the best

Love From Honduras The Hottest country in tempeture and Crime on Earth

Elder Clayton

 Pizza Hut in Honduras

In memory of his friend Gabe Hanson a pink wristband that he tied to his backpack and carries everywhere with him.

Wake Up and Exercise!

I need not worry, he's having a great time and it shows!

Broken Hearts, Broken Keys and An Awesome Week

I look so forward to each Monday and having an update on what's happening in Honduras with  Elder Clayton.  As you will witness from his letter he is doing awesome.  He loves his mission, the area and the people.  He has also again had to realize the heartache and sadness of transfers when you grow close to someone. 

An awesome BONUS came yesterday in the mail.  We received a full flashdrive of pics and a few videos.  He looks great, and sounds even better.  I still miss him like crazy, but I do not worry about his safety or how he's doing.  He's fine.  And for that I/we are eternally grateful.  Enjoy...

Well this week was super bomb it got super hot this week here comes
summer the hottest parts of the year is the last week of march and
first week of april everyone says they are terrible so we will see i
got here in may and it was super hot i dont know how it can get hotter
but itll happen so cant wait. and ways ive decided im gonna try to
title my emails from now on to be more legit anyways. On Wednesday
were out working and we go to stop by a ladys house and here son who
is like 25 comes out and says she is not home ....ok side note i went
on divisions with Hafen when we met this lady and i knew her son this
25 year old was SPECIAL NEEDS he has down syndrome right. ok anyways
he even looks special so i dont know what my comp was thinking he says
his mom isnt home with the tongue thing and all and then my comp asks
if we can pass in and share a message....WHAT oh ya we are going to
Hell for sure for this one. i just sat there kind of like this is
ridicoulous like we taught him a lesson about how jesus loves him
super sweet and it alll went good after my freaking comp challenges
him to baptism and BOOM accepts my comp was stoked i told him well see
what happens but freak it was funny but nice to see that everyone is a
child of God right no matter how you are what you look like everyone
is .

Anyways well continue the week so we are going home and i put my key
into the gate and boom breaks in the lock so ridicoulous so the Land
Lord is telling me all this crap i have to do and its just like the
guy is crazy so thats broken key right not a huge problem but well see
how much this fool is gonna make me pay but wee all gonna go in on it
since the dude is wierd. Also we all have broken hearts cause Elder
Hafen got a call that he has an emergany change to go be ZL out in
colon sucks super bad and we are all bummd saturday night we canceled
or dinner and went big and got some pizza hut delivery and had a good
time super bummed though sucks hafen is so tight like missionarys do
right we traded stuff i gave him some glasses and a tie and he gave me
a jersey and some sweet VANS that im rockin today hell be missed but
ya its all good we will see who the new zl is but man had some good
times with Hafen the last funniest thing is there is this black dude
that sits on the corner and its only missionaries he does it to the
gringos but when we pass he runs im talking books it until hes like a
foot away from us ad puts his hand up to our face and says ADIOS super
wierd but the other day he like rubbed Hafens arm it was so funny man
i died laughing inthe streeet good times i love this area and love
calpules its so bomb.

Love you All Sounds like you had a great week i hope everything is
awesome love you thanks for everything love

Elder Bridger Clayton