Time Flies.. and I'm Just Trying to Keep Up

Hi everyone :)

yet another week has flown by. it's already the last week of the transfer super hard to believe. I could be staying in Caldwell or leaving. I hardly want to think about it because i love this people and the awesome investigators that we get to work with. so much work going on with the people in this area. One of our investigators Kelly, has had a baptismal date many times and missed each one usually because he hasn't gone to church or one of his addictions. We've been working with Kelly the last few weeks because he wants to be baptized and overcome his addictions. So just about each week we buy him a bag of lollipops to sublimate the smoking.  He loves it, and says it's working for him.He's been clean from his smoking addictions for a week now! We meet with him a ton though to keep him focused and that he is keeping his commitments. Our other investigator Merissa is doing super well, we had a lesson on real intent and asking in sincerity and the importance of the book of Mormon she has begun reading it on her own. And we are reading with her since our mission president challenged us to finish it in two transfers. I am loving reading the Book of Mormon again and it has opened my eyes to things I missed the other times. It always perfect to see how much the lord loves his children and has a desire to help them!

Tomorrow is sisters conference and I'm super excited to see all my sisters! This week I got a super interesting phone call from the stake president in the are that I am serving in. He asked if we were doing anything on Sunday at six and I though for sure he was asking about dinner. Sadly he wasn't! hah He asked me if I would be willing to speak in the stake priesthood meeting on Sunday. i gladly accepted and then hung up. Afterwards I asked myself what had I gotten myself into.. I agonized the whole week over this talk. One the topic was "How can the priesthood help in hastening the work?" and as a missionary some days you feel like you have no time like at all.. so i was getting nervous when it was Friday and I hadn't written a talk yet. I finally had a window to work on it on Saturday and ended up finishing it. What a unique opportunity to address the priesthood brethren in our stake. I felt of the love and gratitude our heavenly father has for them as they labor in his kingdom. I'm grateful to be an instrument in the hands of the lord at this time of my life. I have seen so many opportunities and blessings in not only my life, but the lives of those I serve with and teach. Last night we of course had to end the week with dessert and stories from our bishop and his wife. Its our Sunday night tradition :) 

Hope everyone has a great week :) 

Much Love,

Sister Cleveland

Unique Journey's

HEEELLOOOO  everyone!

This week had been pretty darn good. So much has happened this week. I'll try to remember all of it. The biggest is Merle got baptized on Saturday! Love that boy. I will talk about him a little later though. This week we hit the pavement teaching as many people as we could and picked up two new investigators this week. Safe to say by yesterday I was wiped out. hah But this week we went to work on the church orchard, we planted apple trees and put in the sprinklers for the trees. That place kept us busy there were so many people who came out to help which was awesome. We also had a couple lessons with our investigator Merissa and got the green light for her to be baptized. She is a foster child right now and we needed to get some approval but when we finish the lessons she gets to be baptized. She has a desire to get baptized we are just trying to help her know in her heart that these things are true and have a confirmation from the spirit. We've also been teaching our investigators Irene, Sherry,and Sebrina. They all have unique journeys to knowing the truth and are enjoying teaching them and helping them the best we can. So much work going on this week. The best way to end the week was Merle's baptism on Saturday. He is just my favorite. He came running into the church building the day of his baptism and was just super excited. This family means so much to me. They were less active for a period of time and the ward has really strive to work with them to get back to church, and get the kids to their activities. Merle has been waiting a year to get baptized by his dad. As we were working with Merle, Bishop was working with his dad so that he would be able to baptize him. As we taught Merle the lessons, his sisters would come sit in and they would answer questions they have all grown together. It has been a tender mercy. Thinking about his baptism brings tears to my eyes. Especially since after he got baptize he came up to me through his arms around my neck and gave me a big hug. That little boy has touched my heart. I know that one day as he stays active he will serve a mission and get married in the temple. Watching him make those promises with Heavenly Father reassured how I always feel, when I am serving. We mean everything to our Heavenly Father and he wants us to come back to him. All of us! I'm so grateful to be a part of so many wonderful people lives here in Idaho. I have loved serving everyday. Running out of time. Hope you all have an awesome week! 

Also I included a pic of my friend Phillpee who is going back home to Mexico on Wednesday. I may never see him again but I'm soo grateful to have met him. As we said goodbye he said "I know you a good person and I will be a good person in Mexico" How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Much Love,

Sister Cleveland

P.S.   And someone loves the missionaries enough to wash our car for us. love the people of Idaho :))

"Heaven is cheering you on Today Tomorrow and Forever!"

Everybody good news this week made me smile loved the emails :) 

Was Conference on Point or what?!

Those who know me well know that some of my favorite things are the following:

1. Basketball

2. Fruit Snacks

3. Ice Cream

4. Anything Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says..

Not in any specific order..that being said you know that I loved his conference talk.  One thing that we challenged our everyone that we knew this week to do was to write questions, pray and look for the answers. I know that for me I received soo many answers to prayers and questions on my heart. Conference is always a spiritual experience to find hope and peace. It is a strong testament that the lord loves all his children is mindful of all of us! I love that President Utchdorf said "the sheep is worthy of rescue simply because it is loved" If you haven't watched conference I would invite you to go back and watch it. It will invite the spirit into your life and provide peace and love from our heavenly father.

This week we had two phone calls from potential investigators that we're a surprise to us! Each potential asked to take the lessons and learn more about the church. Super happy about that we met with both of them this week. They both watched conference and im sure felt the same spirit that we all did. The weather has been perfect in Caldwell the flowers are blooming and its been in the high 70's. I'm loving it. This week we also visited a woman in our ward who is less active and has many health issues that we didn't know about. We had never actually met her. We went in between our session of conference on Saturday and when we went to visit she told us her story about her conversion. She does not have any family support in fact she said "they would be deeply upset to know I'm talking to you" As she spoke Heavenly Father love for her filled the room. Tears filled my eyes and I knew this is exactly the work the lord would have us to be doing. Missionary work is finding, baptizing, teaching but with one particular quality it can be magnified and that is charity. It brings to mind President Utchdorf's talk "He will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home" Our Heavenly Father and Savior will always invite us we are the ones who choose whether to accept their love and help.  Even when we may choose the wrong path the way back to them is always there. We can choose to believe as Sister Oscarson said in conference. When we  believe these principles and teachings they build our faith and cause us to act which we come to  know them to be true. I love sharing the message of the Savior Jesus Christ. My testimony of who he is is in my personal life has grown tremendously. I know that he lives, I know he is the Christ.I know that he is mindful of the opposition, challenges and trials that come into our lives. Each is an opportunity to become more like him.  He cheers for us when we succeed and when joy enters our lives, Be Happy, Be faithful, Trust God. He will always be there to answer. Have a great week everyone!

All My Love,

Sister Cleveland

Always Remember Him

This week, This week! 

    Hopefully I can fit everything in this email. We had an Easter egg hunt this week with our ward and it was a super good turnout we got to bring our investigators and we think they really enjoyed it. This week was spring break so we were teaching Merle and Nina. Nina is a recent convert. Every time we go over we have to have ice cream and we all know that's my weakness.. so we had a little ice cream date. Earlier in the week she asked if we could go to lunch :) I love that girl. We also taught Merle. He is doing soo good. we are praying that the new date for his baptism is for sure. He has soo much faith and every time he prayers he asks Heavenly Father "that [he] can get baptized soon" it melts my heart and testifies every time how much he loves this gospel. This week we've also been teaching our investigators Irene and Fernando we watched the Restoration and felt the spirit so strong in the lesson. We also have been working out a ton in our companionship, our Relief Society president teaches Zumba so we went to that. And we went to a cross fit workout this morning. The owner of the gym is LDS and he doesn't charge us but to make up for it, we told him we wanted to clean his gym. The Spanish sisters and us workout together when we can! Our ward boundaries are also about to change and i'm sad we know that we will be losing some people in the ward so it will said to see them go to another ward :( I hope everyone go to see the Easter  Initiative that the church put out! It's super awesome. The spirit is so strong when you watch it. If you haven't seen the video I would invite you to visit FollowHim! 

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with their families and if you weren't with them, hope you enjoyed your holiday.  I love celebrating Easter and studying the atonement of Jesus Christ. I've been studying it, using it, and loving the Savior more and more each day. How blessed are we all to have an Elder Brother who loved us enough to provide a way for us to return home to our father in heaven. This week as we celebrated Passover Thursday, Atoning Friday and Resurrection Sunday I was studying Jesus the Christ alongside of the days. What particular touched me was the example of Simon. Not the disciple but Simon who had been traveling into Jerusalem  for the Passover celebration. As the Savior took the grueling walk to Calvary after his body has suffered pain unimaginable to our minds. He was told to carry the cross to Calvary and he did. But because of the impatient of the soldiers Simon who the soldiers had met earlier was asked to carry it the rest of the way for the Savior. Now I'm sure then Simon did not fully comprehend what he did for the Savior in that very moment. But for us as his brothers and sisters who understand it is my  feeling that he represented each of us who love the savior. If I could have done anything for him it would have been to carry that cross for the Savior just that little way. Fully knowing that the brother we love had to carry out the mission he was sent to perform that moment that he received some relief while awaiting to  finish the task that laid before him.  I love the Savior and know that the love for each of us is eternal and open to each of us if we let him, and choose him. We can celebrate him each and everyday of our lives and we commit ourselves to becoming more like him. Being kind to those we come in contact with helping those we may just need someone to listen, and just giving someone a smile. If we love him we will love our brothers and sisters around us!  and one day we shall see him as he his (Moroni 7:48)

Have a great week everyone! :)

 All my love, 

Sister Cleveland

6 m0nThS down..

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all had a great week! It's definitely been a interesting one for me! 

Our area is growing so much its amazing. We have new investigators that we are teaching. One is a family with three kids, and another is a mom and her son! We are excited. Our baptism didn't happen this week because our investigators great grandfather passed away sadly so we had to push it back. Looking forward to it coming up though in the next few weeks! Things are keeping me busy! We celebrated St. Patty's and the last week of the transfer with the Spanish sisters which was a lot of fun! Thanks for all the prayers and love. Sorry this is going to be short in a rush! Hope everyone has a great week :) Love you alll!!

All My Love,

Sister Cleveland

Gratitude in All Things

Hey Everyone :)

Hope you all had a great week I know I did! So many things that have been keeping us busy which is awesome! This week I feel like the theme was gratitude, it made me think of President  Utchdorf talk about being grateful in all circumstances of our lives. I was so impressed by the faith of the members and people that we come in contact with each day. and grateful for the evidence of the lords love for his missionaries as I had my own tender experiences this week! I'll share a few:

One came in a text message from our Relief Society president who thanked us for visiting a sister in the ward who hadn't been in a while and no one was quite sure who this sister was and why she had gone unnoticed. We were able to visit with her and she expressed her desire to come back and have home and visiting teachers come and see her.

Second, was an experience with a potential investigator who told us she has no interest in being Mormon. She can't give up her coffee and wants to keep getting her tattoos.  One night we asked if she wanted to come to our sports night (where the missionaries bring investigators and play soccer, basketball,and volleyball) she cancelled on us and said she couldn't come. We decided to stop by on our way anyway and she decided that she needed to come because she was feeling super down. We went to sports night had a great time and she left with a smile and a desire to come back.

Thirdly, was the conversation I had with a convert who comes to our YSA ward. His name is Philippe, he is from Mexico and speaks broken English. In the best English he could muster he confided in me "Being away from home I feel alone, but I know I need to learn English and be here right now. when I got to church or come here (sports night) see you and some of the other missionaries I feel happy" We talked for a while and my heart was full of gratitude for that conversation. How grateful i am to invite others to come into Christ. I'm grateful that Philippe felt the love the lord had for home through the gospel and the missionaries as we do our best to faithfully represent the Savior. 

Lastly, I'm grateful this week to have followed a prompting to visit a LA sister who has not been to church in soo long. She opened the door in her capris, red shoes bright and cheerful. Later she would say she got the call that morning that her Brother had passed away of cancer. she said "you know its coming, but your never prepared for it. But I'm grateful for the gospel and that I know where he is and the plan Heavenly Father has for his children." 

It was in the lives of these people this week that the calling of a missionary touched my heart as we prayed to be put in the paths of those who may have felt, lost, alone or abandoned. The lord answers our prayers and hears our cries and he will never forsake us. He will always send someone to our aid. Each day I'm grateful a loving heavenly father trusts me and my companion to answer the call and tend to this part of his vineyard.  

Have an awesome week everyone!  Love you all!

All My Love,

Sister Cleveland

Spring in Caldwell

Hi Everyone :)

This week has been beautiful in Caldwell. The weather has been in the high 50's and we can't believe its still February! The area is booming and we have been responding to tons of referrals from the Spanish elders who tract our area and also other people! We have some many potentials and are excited to teach them. We have been taking out friend Audrey with us to teach and she is so awesome when we teach lessons! This week we went to visit our friend Julie in the nursing home soo much wisdom she has! We helped her make decorations for all of her nursing home friends they were super cute if I do say so myself! Julie has surgery coming up and she kept telling us if it's her time to go she's ready. We sure do love visiting her and sharing messages since she can't get to church anymore. We had a ward "Come&See" at the church building and Sister Messer and I were tour guides talking about each room and the things that go on during church services. We had a good time showing people around many people loved all the pictures of Christ and it was a neat experience. 

This week I finished the book of Mormon and I loved studying it the past couple months.  There is so much richness and you can truly come to know the Savior through its teachings. We talked to some many people this week contacting and on the streets of Caldwell about who our heavenly father is and the love he has for his children. We can come to know him and the Savior through the scriptures both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I know this book to be true I profess it everyday and know that the means by which it was translated was by the power of god. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God that he was the instrument in the hands of the lord. I know that we can come to know our identify as sons and daughter of god through this book and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because his love and reals and evident in everyday of our lives if we just look for it. I would love to share with you another testimony by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Have a great week everyone :)

All My Love,

Sister Cleveland