Caught on the Streets of Monterrey

Caught on the Streets of Monterrey
Watching...always Watching!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

21 Years and 3 Months...Tradition!

We have a tradition now of our missionary taking a picture at exactly 21 Years and 3 Months.  Wayne's dad, Wayne, Bridger and now Stetson have one.  He looks so great and happy and it will be fun to add to the collage of missionaries who have served in our family.

 This a tradition.  21 years 3 months pic taken of all the Clayton Missionaries that have served
 Went pellet gun shooting
 I asked him to send me a picture of his shoes so I could use them for his Welcome Home announcement.  These are "perfect" for what I wanted.  Worn out in service!
 This is a random pic, this man is a member
Can't wait until he comes home and cooks for us!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Finally an Email, and getting closer to coming Home!

Finally, a real email from Stetson this week.  The last two weeks, he's been so busy we got only a few pictures.  Not complaining.  You all know I love the pictures.  Enjoy, only three more of these things. 

Hello my sweet family! It was good to see Dallins photos, so crazy that he is home and that tanner now has his call and going to russia! Russia couldnt get enough red head burninghams haha. Well thats cool, it made me feel bad to see zoies eye all like that. That is so weird, because I saw a beagle on Wednesday and it just looked so much like here. It honestly made me a little homesick to see that dog, and now worse that I saw those photos of zoie! but its all good. Also in this area there are so many expeditions!! just like we had, its crazy, I always look at the back to find the montepelier idaho emblem, but nope. one day, I cant wait to talk to you all on Sunday, I am thinking about 4 to 6 my time, I will get on and tell you all when I am ready. Just need to find a computer first. Everything is going well in my area, we didn't have any one come to church, we are working more with members, trying to find new people to teach and trying to get my comp excited, its pretty hard to stay focused and not to think about home, but I'm hanging in there. It's worse, because I have Elder Jacobsen in my zone, and we get talking about bountiful and utah and woods cross and we both get trunky, we actually did divisions, or exchanges the other day and we were riding on bikes and we saw a cow walk into a house, that was pretty funny haha. its not everyday you see that. Oh there is a sister missionary that is preparing to serve on a mission in mexico and she leaves May 26!! She has a going away party/devotional and I will be saying a few words at that this week, its pretty exciting here. I like it alot, its a great area with great members. This area is so much different from the rest of my areas, its just like montpelier Idaho, haha thats what I always think of here. but I'm loving it, I get to see my converts on the 25th!! So I will leave the 24th to the city, and all day Monday visiting people that I taught and learned to love!1 love you all. take care and have a good week! 

--
Elder Clayton
 
 Eating the fish they caught on P-day
 With Elder Jacobsen


Mexican beagle 
 This family we are teaching the little kid, he is totally white 

This was our activity today, we went to a reservoir a fished and did a 
carne asada and then played soccer


Sunday, May 3, 2015

Too Busy for an Email, but sent Pictures...Thank Heavens for Pictures!

This week as he emailed, he was trying to figure out school stuff so was unable to send an actual letter.  Oh, I hope we get one tomorrow.  But, the pictures speak volumes.  He is doing great, and oh so happy.  That is all I can ask for!


His cousin came home this week and as we read his last email, I told Stetson about how he said he missed carpet.  Here was his reply back to me:  hey mom! Elder Soto is home now, I extended my mission, I would have been home on April 16th with him, he served a 22 month mission,. but I wanted to go another change. My companion is Elder Mendoza, the house looks nice though,. I cant wait to lay on the carpet!!

Funny the little things we take for granted that these missionaries can't wait to feel and see again.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Lots to do in Only Five Weeks

Didn't get an email this week. But he forwarded what his mission president sent to him. I think it's worth sharing. Hope you don't think it's boastful, but made us quite proud. Only a few more of these emails. I will miss Missionary Monday's.
I am in Linares, Nuevo Leon. So happy! Never thought I would get here. look it up where I am on google maps. Rancho!! THis is what my Mission Presidente wrote me.

E. Clayton, 
Thank you for all the great work you have done. I know that it may seem strange to have only one change in a new area, but you are there for a reason. Obviously I have thought of a couple, one is that you bring a great spirit to the zone and branch, two, I hope that you get your new companion pumped back up. He has been in the dumpster with his animo and he really has so much potential. I would love to see him become a senior companion again soon, but that depends on him and his obedience and animo. Help the ward members to understand that it is in the small and simple things that they do in the gospel that will innoculate them from the committing the grave errors that lead to so much unhappiness. You have a lot to do in just 5 weeks.
Love,
Pdte Swapp

it was hard saying good bye to  las puentes, it was a good ward and my converts
 Elder Wells
 Elder Brown (he is sitting next to him on the plane home)
 Elder Brown (he is sitting next to him on the plane home)
Elder Gomez took my camera and took this...ha-ha *only picture we have seen that he is not smiling
rio en linares
  Minnesota plate
 Riding in the back of the presidentes pick up 
on my way to linares

New and Last Comp, Elder Soto

 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

No Real Email, but Lots of Pictures


We set the new record of the highest baptisms of this zone with 12 this change, its a lot for this zone!




 these are a bunch of photos from the last junta of this change











Oh, how I miss him and can't wait to hug him.  He looks so happy, and for that I am truly grateful!  Pictures don't lie!!!

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Listening & Understanding Better in Spanish...his First Language Now

It is apparent that he is very immersed in his work and the language as you read and see that he understands and listens better in Spanish.  Oh, how I love this.  He is doing so well, and getting closer to the end of this journey, and yet I know how hard and sad it will be for him.  Not slowing down and very focused, he is doing super.  You can see as you read this week's email.  It's awesome...

Hola Familia! Well I was very inspired this general conference, I loved it! The first session on Saturday I watched it with some other Elders in English, but it wasn't the same, funny huh? It didn't feel like the talks where getting to me, so then the rest of the sessions I watched it in Spanish and it clicked, funny how that it. I enjoyed all of the talks, I really liked the stories, especially about the seventy who called his sister and she was reactivated because he invited her to watch conference and he related it to the Prodigal son. I liked the classic Jeffery R Holland and the talk of the prophet, it it was very inspiring. This week went by fast, we are trying to look for new people, our converts are doing excellent, still waiting confirmation, but that will be held on this Sunday. A cool experience my companion and I had yesterday, we had talked with about 20 people who didn't want anything, and sometimes it kind of drains you when people don't want anything or you don't see that people are going to progress. So we sat down on a bench in a park and I asked my companion, What does it take to get a new investigator around here?! ha ha because in these last few weeks, we haven't found very many. and my comp suggested a prayer, so we prayed, and after the prayer we contacted 2 more people, nada, then rounded the corner and there was a lady with her little daughter and I decided to talk to her, she was just coming from work, and she was super nice, after getting to know her, she is a widow, she is from Guadalajara and she was very interested in what we had to say. Honestly, after meeting new people like that, you just want to pray again to give thanks to God and sending people like her in our way. We will see her in a few days, and she was very excited. I have a habit to pray for people we come into contact, maybe they will never progress, but we may have an impact on them. Well changes are coming up this next week!! We will see what happens, I now have 5 changes as zone leader, I am thinking I will be made mayor, and I am excited! ha ha  I love you all, I cant believe that I have flight plans, but I am excited and still focused. I don't know why, but I have always had the wish to go to Atlanta, and I will be flying there! Its just a stop, but I cant wait! love you all!

--
Elder Clayton

 This last week we were walking and I looked down and saw my name on the black part of the box!! I was going to take the part of the box that said my name home when I saw the rest of the box just sitting there. It's funny the little things you see that make your day!


Found this on the wall walking, says a scout is always prepared but in Spanish. actually about a month ago, there was a family walking and they were all dressed up as scouts! Like boy scouts, just like I did, but with different badges, I went to go approach the dad to strike up a conversacion, and he totally ignored me and lead his family away from us haha. It's its what a scout would do, but whatever.  We talk with so many people that don't want anything, but its worth it to find the people that need the message we have.

Went to the temple with Elder Mayo so we heard from him on Wednesday this week.

My conversation with him included this:   wow that is crazy, I am good, just looking at slcc stuff, everything worked out, i have had problems with my feet this last week, I think I got rid of the fungus,but the shoes that i bought weren't that good, so i started to get blisters!! if its not one thing, its another, but its all good. i have one my black shoes from Mr mac, the original. 
I feel like I am new with how my feet feel, its all good I bought some new soles for 2 dollars haah


Saturday, April 4, 2015

We Need the Book of Mormon & Three Baptisms

 This week's email told of the baptism of Sonia, Samantha and Alejandro.  These people that they have been working so hard with and to see their changes is so great.  Stetson had asked me to pray for them individually in my personal prayers.  Which I did each day.  So, exciting to see this happen and know that in someway, I may have helped with their understanding of the importance of this wonderful change in their lives.  We were so excited to know that it happened on Sunday.

Here's his email.  They just keep getting better and better. 

Hello Family! Well I am glad that we had our baptism yesterday! Wow, so many things came up in this baptism, they had to meet with Presidente, but it was all good, and later, well this week on Friday they cut the water for the church! So we were going to baptism in the stake center, but then they fixed it, and we filled up the pila. A lot of events, but everything turned out well! I baptized Samantha, how we found her was a miracle, and just at the right time of coming out of her place to be received by us. The Lord truly prepares the people, its amazing to see how they come prepared to receive the Gospel and to see the true desire and need for the church. Oh and next week we are going to the temple, so I will be writing on Wednesday, hopefully we will be going to Costco again! The Costco trip with the zone was super fun last time. oh and I talked with Elder Gomez about our family in Mitras that are going to be sealed, he said they will have a date really soon, we are excited to see them get sealed. Oh and I read the Book of Mormon another time, finished it just this week, now I am reading the Bible for Easter, man its so interesting how many churches there are and how far they can get from the truth. We talk to people all day that just don't get it haha. We need the book of Mormon, I love the people who are humble and accept the book of Mormon, and understand the need for this book. I look forward to general conference to see what the prophet and apostles say to the world. I love this time! love you all! 

--
Elder Clayton




This is my third baptism of three people, and one year ago today was the baptism of Joel and Joel in Mitras with Elder Gomez!