Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

I am grateful for my Savior and His sacrifice for me. I'm grateful for my family and the love and support they give me. I'm grateful for the gospel and to be able to bring the blessings it provides me to the people of Argentina. I'm grateful for my health and the ability to function everyday. I'm grateful for scripture: both ancient and living through modern day prophets. I'm grateful for modern technology and to be able to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving all the way from Argentina!

Poco a Poco....

Well this week was a week of ups and downs. But it was great! 

This week we had many miracles. We did divisions with our Zone Leaders and we saw a lot of miracles. The biggest happened on Monday. The other ward just had a baptism and the guy asked us if we could give a blessing to his nephew who lives in our area before he had surgery on Thursday (everything went well). So we went and the kid was there with his grandparents. They are very prepared. We had lessons with them a couple times this week and they have baptismal dates for the end of December. It’s great. They are really prepared. 

With the Zone leaders we also found lots of really great people but haven’t been able to find them again. That is problem number one with the work here in Argentina. Well, I don’t know how it is elsewhere but it’s hard to find people at home here. Very busy people.

Well, I don’t have much time and I can’t think of other things that happened. But we are seeing miracles! This truly is the work of the Lord. He is preparing his people always. I invite each of you who are members to be more open with those around you. Your influence can be great and the Lord trusts in you to be able to help. For those of you who are not members, I invite you to investigate. Invite the missionaries to teach you. Its 15 minutes and if you don’t like what they say, tell them to leave, but I promise you it is 15 minutes that will change your life and bring you closer to Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love you all and thank you so much for your support. Keep up the good work!

Elder Clifford

11/24/14

Another day in the life of Elder Clifford!

(Email from 11/17/14)

Sorry for not writing last week! I got a bit distracted!

These last two weeks have been more of the normal! We are working hard and meeting a lot of people. We are in a state of trying to find people and have met many good potentials.

One of our investigators, A, is progressing very well! She is the daughter of a member and has been meeting with the missionaries for nearly a year now, but we have seen major changes in her! When I first got to Roca she didn’t really want to talk with us at all. But now, she is participating in lessons and yesterday, she came to church! It was such a miracle because she basically told us the night before that she wouldn’t be there, which meant that she couldn’t get baptized the 29th. But she was there! And told us that she enjoyed it! We are very excited.

We also have another investigator that is progressing well. She already has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is taking nearly everything we say and straight truth and is praying and everything. We only have to help her get to church and get permission from her parents to be baptized and she will do it! The last time we talked about baptism, she told us we should do it tomorrow! It’s pretty good.

The weather here is blistering hot. I am dying. Ok so it’s not blistering. 80-90s but for those of you who know me, that enough for me to die. But I am surviving and drinking lots of water. 

Know that I love you all and I appreciate your support and love! Keep on doing great things!

Elder Clifford

 Picture of my district from last transfer. We are all dressed in black because Hna Taylor was dying, aka, she was finishing the mission and is now home so it was her Funeral.

 My watch line suntan 

My Companion - Elder Stoker

The One where I realized how blessed I am...

Welcome to another wonderful entry in the life of Elder Clifford. I hope you leave satisfied!

This week was another pretty normal week. The weather finally died down a little bit so we have clouds and cold and rain which, having grown up in the Seattle area, I was greatly pleased to see. It was great improvement from the scorching sun and burn skin that I was faced with two weeks ago!

Our area is still....well its just there. Haha But we are getting to know lots of great people that seem interested but we can never seem to find them in their house again. Sometimes its frustrating but we just remember that its the work of the Lord and it comes in His time. I have truly gained a testimony of that in the mission. We can and will always have the blessing of the Lord, but certainly NOT in our time. In His. But its better that way. Prayers for The Universitario Ward!

Well, this wee we had a very solemn experience that helped me remember truly how blessed I am. We were knocking doors while discussing our area and we came across JCA. He was working a bit on his house and stopped to talk with us a little. He ended up telling us that he was very religious and as a child wanted to be a missionary, but all of that changed about 9 years ago. His family left for a vacation but he stayed behind to watch the house. During the trip, there was an accident and his entire family passed away. He expressed to us that he feels so alone in his life and has turned to alcohol and drugs to ease the pain. He told us that he has tried to kill himself several times but every time a friend showed up to stop him. We expressed that we want to help him and have been passing by everyday.

I am so grateful for the blessings I have in my life; to have my family; to have the gospel in my life and to have the hope and knowledge that whatever happens, there is a life after this and I don't have to worry. I am grateful to be a missionary. I gained a testimony that although we may not feel guided, we are. Heavenly Father puts us on certain paths so that we can be of use to someone else. I am so grateful for that. I am grateful to be able to have met JCA and be able to help him through this difficult time. Please pray for him. 

I love you all and I hope you know it. Thank you for all that you do for me.

Elder Clifford

Another Week in the Mission

And, behold, it came to pass that another week had passed in the mission of Elder Clifford....

Well this week was just as exciting as every other week has been in Roca. A whole lot of contacting and looking for people to teach. With my new companion Elder Stoker from American Fork, Utah, we are working super hard. We are talking with every person we see and have seen a little improvement. I think we should have a lot of success going into these next couple weeks.

So this week was also REALLY hot. I'm dying. It was in like the 30's all week. And the sun, I don't know why, but its much stronger here. I am struggling with the heat but I'm surviving. Ive been told it should get better this week. Lets hope, eh?

Funny Story of the Week: We went to meet the Zone Leaders at the chapel to let them borrow our phone charger. We unlock the chapel doors and a super loud alarm starts going off. The Zone leaders start punching in whatever numbers they can think of to shut it off while they are yelling at us to call the District leader for the code. It was so funny. But you would think the zone Leaders would know the code. But no.

Anyway, Things here are truckin' along. Keep the prayers for The Universitario Ward coming. We need it. Pray for less heat. Please and Thank you. I love you all and couldn't be more grateful for your support. Until Next week,

Elder Clifford

P.S. Sis Burnham, I got your package and card. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts! Those rings will go to good use! 

Happy Mothers Day!!

I want to wish a special Happy Argentine Mother’s Day to my wonderful mother whom I love dearly!! Happy Mother’s Day mom!! Get used to me wishing you Happy Mother’s Day in October because your son is Argentine now so you're gonna have to adjust. Mother’s day here in Argentina is in October instead of May. Don’t ask me why. It’s just Argentina. They’re a little odd here, but I love it.

Nothing mind blowing to report this week other than it was transfers today. My comp was transferred. I’m sad to see him go but excited for the future. My new comp is Elder Stoker. I think that’s how it’s spelled. Still haven’t met him yet. But I’ve heard good things and I am excited to get a fresh start on this area. I think we will have a bit more success this transfer.

I want to thank you for all of your prayers in my direction and would ask that you keep praying specifically for Elder Clifford and Elder Stoker and the Universitario Ward. It’s really does help. I want to confirm that this truly is the work of the Lord. And it truly comes in His time, not ours. I’m learning this very quick right now. I can’t tell you how much I want to be teaching people and seeing great successes, but I know that the time isn’t now. But it'll come. 

The Mission is a crazy thing but I love every second of it. I am having the time of my life. It’s an experience indescribable. It’s stinkin' hard sometimes but that just makes it that much greater. I love you all so much and know that you are in my prayers. Thanks for everything!

Elder Clifford

P.S. Stefani Lakic I got your postcard! Thanks for writing but you didn’t put a return address so I can’t write you back... You should send another but with a return address, eh? :)

Pictures in Roca