December Pictures

 Christmas Presents!

 My Cousin-in-law, Jake, works at the MTC!

 Christmas Eve outfit-wearing my Christmas PJ pants and my "Stripling Warriors Mommas Boys" t-shirt

 Snacking Christmas Eve

 Caroling? The ZL's are the ones wearing the hats.

All that MTC food and still some pretty good abs!

More snacking on Christmas Eve

 Model Missionaries!

 A district headed out to the field

 Caught a cold...the humidifier is my friend!

 Not sure how I have this picture!

Hermano Morgan, great teacher who really helped me.

Pictures!

 Alek's room

 Argentina on the famous map wall!

 Alek's study materials

 Alek's District

 Alek & his companion

 

Provo from the temple at sunset!

 Alek and Elder Olsen (his cousin's cousin!) from AZ!

 "Missionaries have more power than people know"!

 Alek's cheesy grin!

 Alek and Elder Mower! A friend he grew up with from 8th ward!

 Killing a little time....

With Samuel Smith-great missionary!

Christmas Letter!

Hey family!! :D

Since we can't call home today they are letting us email :) which is a huge blessing, I'm so grateful I get to email you today! It's so slow trying to type this :P the email keeps pausing. Every computer is being used to email families haha.  

Thanks so much everyone for all of your Christmas wishes and gifts :) They were all perfect! The picture from Lauren is amazing :) and really lifts my spirits! Thank you for the pajama pants haha, it was a nice reminder of Christmas Eve's in the past :) Thank you for remembering that and sending that to me :) 

Yesterday we had a Christmas Eve Devotional and they retold the birth of our Savior and acted it out, just like the family tradition! It was a nice reminder and I feel like I remembered every Christmas Eve that night :) We sang some fun Christmas songs and after the devotional  we watched 'A Christmas Carol' haha. It was an old version  that was super creepy and cheesy, but still was a nice story. When they kissed everyone was flipping out haha in all kinds of different ways, like covering their eyes and cheering and laughing haha. Then later in the movie when she "dismissed" him, everyone was screaming "dear john!!" haha.  Missionaries turn into weirdos when "normal" things happen in our unnatural current lives in the MTC :) 

I saw Jake!! (his cousin) which I'm sure you know haha, he was going to the house after.  It was a good Christmas present!! You should send him over more often ;) it was a lot of fun to talk for a bit :) 

So we heard from our branch presidency that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was coming here today, BUT I guess the meant they were coming through the TV haha. They sing amazing and powerfully though :) 

This morning was the strangest Christmas morning I've ever had haha, SO different from every other one I've had! so strange, but such a great experience.  I have felt everyones prayers... so deeply. I'm so blessed and grateful to have you, My amazing family :) and wonderful supporters. I love every single one of you! I miss you as well, thank you for your love and care, prayers and letters.  You're in my thoughts and prayers as well! You better be having the most feliz navidad ever!! :) 

Today I didn't pass the sacrament, however I did prepare it, and stood by as a reserve. It was actually a huge project and scary old MTC workers were stressed over it haha. But it worked out great and what better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior on Christmas than by renewing our covenants to always remember Him :) I thought that was special. Oh yeah we had a guest! Elder Bednar came and spoke, and holy cow... what a great talk! He really touched me in some places but also motivated me in others.  I think he's trying to compete with Elder Holland when it comes to boldness :) hahaha.  He is a great speaker and a great person.  Something specific he said that hit me pretty hard was that he can't be a member of the quorum of the twelve, he can't be an apostle.  But with the Lord, he can.  It reminds me of my plaque scripture :) 

Well I have to go now, I love you all so much! Feliz navidad family :) I hope you are all well and thank you once again for everything you do  Please forgive me for not being the best brother or son or boyfriend or friend. I'm growing, and I recognize my faults.  And I know I will never be "the best" or perfect, but it gives me motivation and hope to try. Quick story, I was reading about the 2000 stripling warriors when I first got to the MTC, and I was overcome when they spoke about their mothers, and everything they said about them. They had such strong faith and love for what their mothers said.  I know that without my mom I would be lost, and that I owe so much of me to her.  So 'Merry Christmas, Mom', I love you :) I even bought a "stripling warriors, mama's boys" shirt at the store here haha because I'm a hardcore mama's boy :) Ok this time I'm saying goodbye for sure haha, I love you all, and I pray for you individually every day. Thanks for all you do :) You'll hear from me soon, Tuesday actually :) MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The Call

This is a poor picture, but it is supposed to be a map of the world and everyone wrote out their guesses, international and domestic, where they thought Alek would be called, and put their tag on the cake.

Week #3

Hey family! 

 

It's great to hear from everyone!! Thank you for writing to me :) it makes me happy when I know what's going on with everyone :) Like with Dakota, I watched the video!! [the new Bible videos from the church-Alek's brother is in the introduction: http://lds.org/bible-videos/videos/introduction?lang=eng] It was pretty neat, I flipped out and grabbed everyone in my district and showed them all pointing him out haha. And with Trestyn! that's so cool you and Dakota got to sing with Alex Boye, he sounds like a super cool guy haha.  How were finals Dallyn and Trestyn? Did they go pretty good? I agree with mom, I think Dallyn should go into Fine Arts, she's great at it! I've always noticed! Jaxson thanks for updating me with your letters! How is your nose? That doesn't sound fun if you have to get it cauterized:/ I'm sorry.  Did the tooth fairy get you anything for your tooth? I hope everyone is doing great! I miss you!! Thanks again for all of the letters and support :) How is your tooth infection mom? It's always fun to hear how Deklan is doing :)

Wow that last paragraph was all over the place haha I'm not very organized!! I'm like you mom haha I always have to write things down to remember!! My thoughts aren't the most organized :P

I got some packages from the Powells! It was so unexpected, that was so nice of them (I'm assuming Sister Powell did all of the work haha) but that was still really nice.  She sent a lot of things to do and little activities and snacks with scriptures.  It was so thoughtful of her, If she reads this, thank you so much Sister Powell for thinking of me :)

I got a card from Sister Drake! that was so nice of her. On it was a really good quote from someone. I don't remember all of it but it talked about how the world needed forgiveness of sins, so God sent a Savior.  It was a nice thought and it was so nice of her to think of me :)

I read everyone's talks! [the family spoke in church on Dec 11th] They were all awesome! What were you talking about they weren't as good as mine!! Every single one was better :) I really enjoyed reading them so thank you. 

The gloves and coat work fine haha I feel warm so it's doing its job right haha.

Well Dallyn had some questions so I'll try to answer them haha.  There are moments where we learn separately the fundamentals of teaching in English and learn Spanish, but I have a teacher who said he'll never speak English to us.  Actually the only times the teachers speak English is if they're teaching a lesson on the fundamentals of teaching.  It's really helpful but it can also be hardcore crazy! Sometimes it's like we're playing charades more than learning Spanish :)

My p-days are super nice, we get up and I have nearly all day to write letters, we have times set aside to go to the temple and do laundry, then in the evening we have a fireside! And the talks are always awesome!! Last week we had Sister Dalton (idk if you heard) and she talked about gifts, and the most important kind of gifts.  It was so good :) Like gifts of the Holy Ghost and Patience or Love, things like that.

Lauren and Erin's letters were so nice :) I especially liked what Luke said when Lauren asked him what to say to me haha. I wish I brought the letter with me! It was so funny, He was talking about his friend named Alex from school and he wanted to plays cars with him or something. It made me laugh :) Something in Lauren's letter I found super cool was the scripture talking about Charity and how it never faileth and we should trust in charity. She said to replace charity with Christ.  It is really special because I noticed how true it is.  Everyone should do that haha.  But Christ is filled with love, He is love! The purest form of love.  I agree with my Dad in believing that humility is the most important Christ-like attribute someone could have, because it seems as though everything stems from that.  Like Charity, if one is humble, then they would have the desire to love everyone with the love that Jesus Christ has for them. 

I've really grown and learned so much since I've been here, this is already a crazy but enlightening experience haha. I'm so excited to go to Argentina! I'm nearly halfway there haha but I know that I love them already.  We teach "investigators" and when  the Spirit is there man, there is so much joy. And I am just teaching my Teachers haha.  But spreading the Gospel has been a great experience so far :)

I'm out of time, I love you all so much.  Thank you for everything you do, You're always in my prayers :) I hope you are all doing well. 

 

Elder Clubb :)

 

PS: We don't memorize DC 4, I don't need a pedigree chart, and Patrick McLean goes to the Brazilian MTC haha :)

 

 

2nd Letter! 12-13-11

Hey family!! 

How is everybody? Did you get my pictures? [we did and will post them after they are scanned!] This is the close of two weeks, it's crazy! Thanks so much for the back pack :) It's great! It's really usefull, even though I can't wear it everywhere haha. 

How did everyone's talks go? I hope they went good! I'd love to hear them :) maybe you can send them to me in a letter haha.  

Thanks so much for everyone's letters! Dakota and Jaxson's letters were so sweet, they really touched me. I feel like Dakota is way more mature than I was at his age!! Sorry buddy but my Spanish is still horrible... Maybe in a couple of weeks! And Jaxson's letter made me laugh and cry at the same time haha half the letter was about how he hurt his knee, then talking about how random it was.  I'm so proud of both of them :) They are the coolest! 

If Trestyn could send her letter back to me, that would be great haha.  I'd like to keep it on hand.  That made me laugh so hard what mom said about everyone wearing my clothes everywhere haha that is such a funny visual!  Hey if it makes you guys happy then go for it! 

Thanks mom so much fior everything you've done for me while I've been here! I love gettting your letters about everything that happens everyday :) Thanks for your supporrt and love. And mush is fine with me :) Thanks everyone for your letters! :D 

I'd like to talk a little about the MTC.  It's so weird! And by that, it's just weird to be so close to Provo, J Dawgs, BYU and everything, yet still be so far away haha Iit's like 'The Village', we're in our own secluded village :) But I love it.  There are trials but I know I'm being strengthened and lifted up to do the Lord's work, it's a tremendous blessing having everyone supporting me as well! 

The food... maybe I'm just used to great food from home but the food makes me feel sick.  But it's all you can eat! and I'm always hungry so I eat a lot, I'm probably going to gain so much weight! haha! I try to munch on some lettuce when I'm here :) 

The gym is nice, I change between playing basketball, volleyball, lifting weights and running.  I'm not consistent with anything though haha so I suck at everything altogether, but they're still fun to do :)  

My teachers are awesome, one of my teachers is Peruvian and went to Argentina on his mission!!  That's like me! Probably more like Jordan, but I'm a Peruvian at heart haha.  Actually my companion has been going through a rough time since he's been here, like he broke down during a lesson and couldn't stop crying, he was just under a lot of stress and we've talked a lot and I've been able to help him. I think I was talking about how Bishop Sanford talked about how he was hoping I'd go to Peru and how I personally wanted to go there when he said that I'm going to Argentina for him (my companion - who by the way is Elder P, from Arizona, sorry for the confusion!) to help him out.  It hit me hard, one thing that he thought so highly of me and for another that I could actually have an effect like that on my companion.  I thought I was only here to help members and investigators :P it was a humbling experience.  We still drive each other crazy though haha with our little flaws.  We seem to work well together overall though.

I can't call home or anything on Christmas :/ I already knew that but it was still disappointing. I wish!! But I'm looking forward to the Devotional on Christmas Day, That should be awesome!! All of the devotionals and firesides are super spiritual and all around inspiring.  My companion and I were chosen to pass the Sacrament with 60-something other Elders on that day! It should be a neat experience :)

If someone could let me know when Jake comes to work that would be great, It'll be good to see some family! Oh and it doesn't work when you plug in the camera :/.  It doesnt recognize it.  And you can't send hot food haha they're afraid it'll smell or go bad or something. 

I'm almost out of time (there is hardly any time to write haha) but I wanted to talk about something I've learned.  I have always had hope! Sometimes that hope fades, but I know without a doubt that I will be with my family forever. I hope for a good life, I have a hope that I can change and become better, I have a hope for a life without the burden of sin.  I can't even imagine in the slightest how people can live their life without this hope.  So that has really motivated me to be my best and do my best, to love and serve the people of Argentina because they need and deserve that hope.  I love my Savior so much for the hope He gives me.  My heart has really grown in love for the people I haven't even met yet!

Well I hope I've made some sense haha but I love you all so much! Thanks for your support and love :) I miss you all so much as well, and you are all in my prayers every day.  Until next week I suppose :)

Elder Clubb

1st Letter!! 12-6-11

Hey everybody!

 

Well this first week has been crazy, every single day here is so long, I feel like I´ve been here for weeks!! Thanks so much to everyone who wrote me letters, they really helped! 

Well I´ve seen a lot of friends! Elder Nickell, Elder Mower, Elder Cottle, even Elder Olsen! I thought he was already in the Honduras! It was a cool surprise :) I have not seen Jake (his cousin) yet though. Someone should let me know when he's here and where so I can look for him :) 

I was able to send letters to everyone in the family! I may just use one envelope next time, that wasn't very smart of me haha. There are 8 people in my district, one of them is from Christmas Island! He's a great example, always smiling and happy. He barely speaks any English but he's here to learn Spanish and preach the gospel to the people of the Dominican Republic.  He was baptized just a year ago! Unfortunately when he got to Utah, his body wasn't used  to the cold, dry, or altitude.  He had to go the hospital because he had constant nose bleeds and they cauterized (I think that's right?) his nose.  The only thing he asked for was a blessing, so after we got permission we all stood around and gave him a blessing. The spirit was so strong! It took him another day to recover but now he's back to his fun, happy self.  We had a missionary go home as well, it was a sad day.

So I can't upload pictures :/ but I would like to develop them here and send them to you in a letter. Then can you guys digitalize it and put it online? That's be great :) 

Elder Milheim isn't in my district.  

On Sunday we had a mission devotional which was great! We heard from the MTC presidency and it was great :) But they said some bad news! The 50th anniversary of the MTC is the day after we leave... and the entire first presidency will be there!! ONE DAY!! To talk to the missionaries there!! I was pretty disappointed... still am haha. 

We watched the Christmas devotional which was great :) I'm glad you guys and Katherine and Lauren watched it together :) Thanks everyone for taking care of Katherine, that really means a lot!!  When they sang 'Silent Night' I started to cry because I immediately thought of Deklan and I just felt so sad after that.  I started to miss everyone so much :( But after we watched a short film on Joseph Smith.  And it hit me, Joseph Smith went through so much, his trials were far greater than mine! 

I've been lifted up, and strengthened, because this week has had its great moments and its difficult moments. Everyones letters helped so much :) they were all perfect! I think of this quote: "Definition of a missionary: Someone who leaves their family for two years, so that other families can be together forever".  It's been difficult but this quote is true (I hope I have it right haha).  

We have an investigator already! Of course he's getting paid to be there, but it's still intense! Spanish stresses me out hardcore, but I have my purpose as a missionary memorized, testimony and prayer down pretty good.  Which is all I need right?? haha send me now!! haha jk, no way I'm ready.  Thank you all for fasting for me, that meant so much as well, I was fasting for all of you as well :)

Well I'm out of time, remember you're in my heart and prayers.  I love everyone so much.  I know this church is true, don't forget me!! Oh, and I would like my plaque scripture to be Alma 26:12 :) Thank you!  It's a humbling scripture but also motivating in my mind.  

If everyone could use the 'Dear Elder' service that would help a ton because we can only email family I guess and I'd like to respond to everyone.  I love you!!! Thanks for your letters and packages again!!

Elder Clubb