Week Dos under his Belt

With his pday being on Saturday, it seems like almost forever until we received his next email.  However, by the sound of it, he is doing just fine.  Enjoy...

This place is wild, I can't believe that I have been here for 10 days now! The days feel like weeks but the weeks feel like days ha-ha time is going really fast here. 

I love my district, I have a picture that ill send to you of all of us at the temple its so crazy that I just met these guys but I feel like I have known them my whole life! There is ten of us and its nuts because four were supposed to go to Mexico MTC and four were supposed to go to Columbia MTC and than two to the Argentina MTC but we all had our visas not come so now we are all here instead!! freakin wild how stuff like this turns out. I'm really glad I didn't go to Mexico ha-ha or else I would have missed all these great elders. 

Sunday- I went to sooo many meetings ha-ha I really missed my five hour Sunday nap that day but its all good we had a Devotional that night and the Espiritu Santos was really strong, after words we watched a video by Elder Ballard and it was super sweet! He was talking on Christmas day in the MTC. 

Monday- Went to class and tried to teach my Investigator a lesson but its so hard because I feel like I can understand every word that she is saying but when she asks a question I know how to respond but I can't because I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH YET! its hard and can be really stressful but its fun.. most of the time. 

Tuesday- We had Tuesday night devotional and Elder Clayton from the Seventy came everyone thought it was like my uncle or something. I played it off and said he was! People were amazed, but I mean we are all brothers and sisters so it's not like I was lying or nothin. 

Wednesday- I was playing some basketball with some kids in my zone and I was doing really well when I went up for a rebound but this big guy heading to Boise jumped with me at the same time and he threw me off balance and I landed hard on my ankle. Freakin killed. I walked it off and I'm all good now. 

Thursday- We have a weekly service assignment that we have to do every week and ours is really easy all I had to do was clean the picture frames in the new building ha-ha but it was sweet because all the pictures they have are amazing! And they are really beautiful so I don't mind it. Also I had to clean the elevators so me and my companion both took an elevator and we were wiping it down when the doors closed on me and I started going up. I did not think much of it because I just thought someone would get on but I went like three floors up and the elevator just stopped... and the doors did not open or anything. I was Stuck! so I was sitting there for a minute and I was just like baffled because I've never been stuck in an elevator before. So I was sitting there stuck for like 15 minute when someone pressed the lobby button and I finally came back down. I'm not scared of small spaces or nothing but I was getting freaked out after a few minutes. 

Also the tour was fun. I'm glad its over because like Elder McKinley said you feel like a zoo animal. 

The days are pretty much the same but I just wanted to tell you about the highlights. Anyways love you. All is well 

- Elder Clayton

I saw the eclipse it was Sweet! those glasses made me the most popular kid in my zone! ha-ha also with my packages I'm like not eating any of the candy because you might not have known up I go to an all you can eat buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its cool tho I like the caramels and so does my district so if you want to send some more of that, that would be sweet. 

This is Elder Utrila from WX he is a stud

Few from my class room in the new building

Standing by the picture of Joseph Smith's when he was in the Liberty Jail (Caleb's dad served in the Independence MO Mission and has slept in the jail)

On the tour they said they switch the flags out every night but I've been here ten days and this is the first time Bolivia has been here so I had to take a pic of it. 

A moral of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail ( My district wanted me to have awkward hands.

Dave's scriptures

Also funny story.  The new buildings are designed for more light so they have huge windows and birds keep running into them all the time and killing them elves haha I've seen like 5 dead birds on the ground and I've seen two run into the glass hahaha super funny!

First Week, or actually First Three Days

We were excited when the Fenns stopped by to show us his videos they had of him and as they were able to have him say that his Pday was the next day.

That morning, Saturday was our first official email.  He sounds so great and already learning and growing.

Oh man where do I begin! This week was crazy wild. 

The MTC is way fun I walked into my class on Wednesday and we have a rule where it is nothing but Spanish.. I understood maybe two words the whole time haha Its a lot of fun here and I see so many kids from Woods Cross its cool because the only kids that I see are the good kids that should be out here and are doing what is right and serving the Lord, which I think is FANTASTICO 

The food here is alright I thought it would be amazing like everyone says it is, but meh. However I have had more chocolate milk in these last four days, than I probably have my whole life! My comp Elder Dalton can testify of that, Elder Dalton is a cool guy he is from Elkridge Utah and has a strong testimony of the gospel I like him. My district has ten people in it with 4 going to Ecuador, 2 going to Argentina and three other Elders with my headed to Cochabamba, it stinks that we are all so spread out because these guys are way cool. I will just need to take advantage of the time that I have to get to know them. 

Friday we had to teach an investigator, and that would have been fine and I would have been down with it but trying to teach a lesson in Spanish when you just started learning the language on Wednesday is kinda hard, I know both my brothers speak it so you would think that I would be exposed to it enough and and pick it up really quick but its totally different when you get thrown into it. But the spirit was extremely strong when we were talking to her and for about half the lesson (10 minutes) I could understand what she was saying because the Spirit just took control of the lesson and it was just the most amazing feeling! I then asked her to read Moroni's promise and we did that but after I couldn't remember how to explain it... so I just kinda shut down, which sucks because you need to open your mouth and the holy ghost will help you. 

Oh and I saw the Fenn Family! That was way awesome I thought they were coming at four so like the whole time I was watching the tour so I could see them but then five o'clock came and I knew they were not coming so I went back to class and didn't think about it, but as I was walking by the tour around seven they saw me and yelled "ELDER CLAYTON" hahaha that was way fun to see them and I'm glad they came also Allie and Sarah. 

 

Anyways all is well, I'm loving it here and I love all the knew people I am meeting the Spanish is hard but its also really fun, also they are extending the tour another week and my district is on tour duty on Thursday so come say whats up. Love you all.

- Elder Clayton 

Elder Dalton and I

The art work of Moses crossing the Red Sea

Me and Elder Utrilla, he went to Woods Cross with me That one did not come through

Random Sightings of our Elder Clayton

With the open house going on, it has been fun for random videos and pictures being sent to us of our missionary being "found" it has been so awesome.  I can not begin to thank these people enough that they would take the time to do this for us.  It makes this a little bit easier knowing that he is so happy, that is what is most important.

 This is Elder Fisher, going to the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission with our missionary and Ryan Olsen who was able to see them playing basketball on their Pday while he and his family were touring the MTC

The Fenns were so excited to see him!

Elder Clayton and Elder Dalton (Elkridge, Utah)

The Big Day, Dropping him off at the MTC

Wednesday was the day we were to drive down and take him to the Provo MTC.  As he didn't need to be there until 12:30 p.m. we decided to go and have breakfast.  We went to the Sunshine Cafe, a place Caleb had never been to.  It was a good morning, but to be honest, most of us weren't that hungry.  We went back home to grab his luggage, the two bags that everything he would need for the next two years had in them.  Take the obligatory pictures and head to the big drop off.

He was ready!

Each missionary has a host to help him get into the building with their luggage.  This is Elder Busdicker who we all knew and were grateful he was there to pick up our missionary.  Elder Feller had let him know that he was coming and he had been watching for him.

 This has to last me for two years.  Although this was hard, I wouldn't want him anywhere else.  

Our last family picture for two years.  He will do great things!  Of that I am certain.

Before we were even half way home we received this email from him:

Whats up so I just got here and I am safe and sound, I bet you guys are about point of the mountain now. Love you don't know when my p-day is but ill keep you posted. love ya 

Setting him apart as a Missionary

It is always a very special evening when a missionary is set apart.  We are blessed to have such a wonderful and loving Stake Presidency.  Presidents Webster, Humphries and Cowley were all able to be here on this evening.  As well as both grandparents, Bishop Savage, Brother Titus and Carl and Cindy.  President Webster was able to set both Bridger and Stetson apart as missionaries, so this was so awesome to have him be able to do the same for Caleb.  We were able to have all who were present bear their testimonies of the gospel.  This is a night filled with the spirit and of course there are tears. It's something to be expected of what is coming and although it is hard, it is a wonderful evening.

 Y

 Third Elder Clayton to serve as a missionary

 He will be missed by all of us

 Five Elder Claytons 

See you in two...

Touring the MTC Openhouse

The Missionary Training Center has had a big remodel and addition since Stetson was there.  With this there has been an openhouse where any who get tickets are able to attend and see where the missionaries stay while they are there.  On Friday, August 11th we found out at 3;00 p.m. that Caleb did not get his Visa and would be reassigned to the Provo MTC.  Although he was looking forward to going to Mexico, we all understand, including him that everything happens for a reason and going to see the MTC was something that we were hoping would make this easier.  Caleb's good friend Jace, Elder Feller was still there before he was going to leave for his mission in Spokane; they had communicated and we would be looking for him as we toured the facility.  As were were going in the newer part of the building there is a large lobby area.  Next thing you hear he Caleb saying, "there's Jace!"  It was the most awesome thing as they embraced and were so glad to see each other.  Jace told him a few things that were ahead and as we finished, we saw another fellow WX friend.  Elder Adams was there, too.  It was a great day.