When It Rains It Pours

 Hello ladies and gentlemens, my first full week in the home MTC is officially complete. I can say that I actually love it. My district is awesome, I get along great with my comp and he is pretty cool i guess. Elder Jorgensen if you are reading this, I did not say that;). Also, a running joke in our district is that my companion looks like Juni Cortez from Spy Kids lol.  Here is a little look at my schedule:

6 am wake up

6:30-7 comp study

7-8 workshop

8:30-11:30 class w/ Bro Dewberry

11:30-1:30 lunch/personal study

1:30-4:30 class w/ Sis Evans

7-8:30 meet with district

You can say I am a pretty busy Elder. This week has been tough adjusting and saying goodbye to some things... @Brooklyn Larson , but I can confidently say that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I have no doubt in my mind that I am not supposed to be here. 

The first day we had a workshop titled,"Welcome to The Work," and over 450 missionaries were on this zoom link that was starting their mission as of July 19th. FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY WHATTTT. My classes have been awesome, both of my teachers are RMs and they are phenomenal teachers. Also, big shout out to Elder Moore because that man can spit some juicy spiritual insight in a matter of no time. Crazy fact about Elder Moore, he and his sibling are the voice of the tv commercial pillow pets, v subtle flex. I believe I am the youngest in my district and basically all of them are 19 because they all went to a year of college. We have three sisters in our district and we had 11 elders, but that changed as of yesterday because Elder Ervien and Elder Snell had to be moved out of our district due to traveling to Provo MTC. I will miss Elder Ervien, I was really close to him in our district, he was the only other AZ boy and man he was fun to chat with. Fun fact about Elder Ervien, if Magnus and Mason were combined into a person, it would be him. Homie lived in the middle of Snowflake and you could tell he could live outta the woods if you put him there. 

I never really talked about my setting apart that much. It was such a cool experience, all my tears were drained thanks to brooki... smh. "Hey Alexa, play JuiceWrld." I am just teasing, but I loved all of your testimonies. Jared's and Mag's stood out so much to me. Jared really said "I have a simple testimony" then spit bars for 5 minutes straight. I never really heard Mag's so that was really cool for him to share with us. The blessing President Jones gave me was unreal, I will list some of them out because I doubt you remember. Shoutout to Dad for texting them to me... lol:

-Blessed me to be humble to my comps

-Blessed me that I would speak with the Spirit and know that God spoke through me

-Blessed me with a deep love for the people that I will serve in Michigan

-Blessed me with safety, both spiritually and physically

-Blessed me to obey my mish prez w/ exact obedience

-encouraged me to devour the gospel,"Read, read, read the BOM."

I feel like I need to tell you guys so much, but then I blank when I am writing to y'all. My district thought I was the secret DL just because when no one would be talking like I would call on someone not participating to answer. Elder Gray probably isn't fond of Elder Clouse. I had the ability to go to the temple on Tuesday with Mag, Breck, Brooki, Weston, Breck's brother, and her mom. I confirmed Weston and Brooki for the very first time. Super cool experience that I could do baptisms in over a year and a half AND confirm people. 

I didn't really talk about my companion too much in the other email, but he is a chiller. He lives in Highland, UT. He played varsity soccer at Snow College. He is the same height as me. I said he looks like Juni from spy kids lol, we get along almost too well. Sometimes when we are in a breakout room together we will just die laughing because we are doing something stupid. Also, he can grow a killer beard which is highkey a flex, but not as cool as Dallan's.

I wanted to kind of wrap up and share a spiritual experience I had the other day. As you know I found out info about someone that I didn't need to know and probably shouldn't have known. When I found out that I was angry, I had feelings of anger and sadness. When it rains it pours. I began to be super emotional and ask myself these questions. Why am I here? Why don't I just stay home? Why does this person get to be with their family and I won't? I miss Brooki. It's so hard adjusting. and bleh bleh bleh. Just more of Luke complaining. So as I had these harsh feelings towards The Lord I was like okay I should just get on my knees and ask. I knelt beside my bed in tears and asked out loud,"Heavenly Father, I just need some comfort and love. I just need that love to know that what I am doing is right." Right when I finished saying this an angel came down... AHHH gotchu so good. No, but immediately after I ended the prayer this overwhelming amount of love came from the head to my toes. It was indescribable. That was my first spiritual experience I really have ever had. I can testify that God knows us personally and loves us. I can preach the whole first lesson rn if you want me to. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and provide blessings for all of you. I love all of you and since it is my P-day feel free to call me, even though I can do that throughout the week I can call all of you except brooki (:(

 

Well it is only appropriate to end with a spiritual thought. I know most of my friends wanted to be added to my email list, but they will not make it this far (I never did). Can we just start off by saying how awesome 3rd Nephi is. Christ was like okay it’s just my turn to be the prophet and teach these 12 disciples, like go off.  But in all seriousness I needed to hear what was in 3rd Nephi 12:44. “But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;” Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good. Kill them with kindness. It’s a simple thought for the first week in the MTC, but that’ll change. I love you all and I hope everyone is staying safe!!!!!

-Elder Clouse