We had a tornado warning on Tuesday. This is pretty normal to us now because this is the third or fourth time it has gone off since I have been here. We live across the street from the fire department where the sirens go off for the tornado warning so it wrecks your eardrums. Right when we heard it go off, we ran to go up to the roof. We did a little parkour to get up there and we got it. We are definitely not supposed to be up there, but I gotta live life. Elliott, Candland, and I watched the "tornado" come closer. A tornado did not come through Bay City, but there were some near us. When we climbed down we were being extremely loud and I thought we were going to get caught. We made it back into the apartment. As we were looking out the window it started to pick up wind speeds and rain. We had to go back outside. This time we decided to just go downstairs which was the best idea we could ever have. As we were heading downstairs, the resident manager was near the hatch to go up to the roof. She asks us "have you seen this latch down?" We were like "uhhh I don't think so." She later goes on to say, "Someone might have heard people up there!" We could've made an honest decision, but we decided to stick with our gut. We said "that is so weird, I think we heard people up there too!" I know we lied, but it was for the sake of keeping the missionaries on the good side of the manager. We got outside and it was hailing. Hailing in September. Are you kidding me? I'm going to die in the winter. Being the smart missionaries we are, we raced around the whole building because who doesn't love running in the rain.
Well after many weeks of not having stomach problems, God decided to humble me. Tuesday we decided to make an Olive Garden meal from the crockpot. It was a bust. There was so much cheese in it and I thought I would be chilling. I was so set and stone that I am lactose free for these next two years, but I'm not. We were out knocking some doors we felt prompted to and then it hit me. The rumblies. We stopped preaching by the way and headed home. I thought I was not going to make it, but I did. It was like the California incident in Mission lol. We are about to run out of toilet paper and we forgot to buy some on Pday so I guess it's time to finesse the churches.
Wednesday was Zone Leader exchanges, it was hype. I had the chance to go with Elder Hunter who is a stud. He has been out for about 21 months and is the best. Since he was the first person to take me on an exchange he is known as my missionary Godfather. I went with him to the area he lives, which is in Saginaw. Saginaw is literally the promised land. The first door we knocked on this black dude let us in and we taught the full restoration on the spot. The man's name was Chevion and all he was wearing was a towel, which was funny. Elder Hunter and I had really good companionship unity which is rare. I know I won't be comps with him though since he goes home soon I was talking to him about transfer calls (which is basically a time where you figure out where you're moving, if you're staying, or who your new companion is). I know I am staying in Bay City for at least another transfer since I am being trained. The other boys in our apartment are going to get white washed (where both of them are swept out and two elders come in) which is rare. Big change is coming to Bay City and I know it ain't me lol. The speculation is that I might be in Bay City for at least 6 months, then dipsky out then, but only time will tell. Hunter and I taught another lesson that day and it was the Plan Of Salvation. I lead the lesson and it was fire. This was my first full Plan of Salvation lesson which was definitely pretty epic. This brought us to about 8 o'clock so it was time to almost head home. Elliott and the other Zone Leader drove out to Saginaw to pick me up and to drop the ZL off. Saginaw gets blessed with so much food from the members so Elder Hunter let me raid the pantry and take like four full grocery bags, bless the manz heart. We got home at 10:32…. I know I'm a bad missionary. If you are driving past 10:30 it will send a notification to President Heap, so Heap definitely got one from us. Overall an amazing day in Saginaw and now I'm back to my stomping grounds in Bay City.
Thursday was a weirdly special day for Elder Clouse. Everything In the morning was the same until it hit the early afternoon. During our lunch break we finished up eating and Elliott went to take a nap. Elliott was feeling a little under the weather so he needed to rest. I laid in my bed and I was about to take a quick nap because I was low-key exhausted from the service we just did. Right when I closed my eyes I felt prompted to continue to Facebook find. After I was on Facebook for about an hour we had a lesson. Following the lesson we decided to preach by the way. The urge and boldness I had for this work at that time was shocking. I broke out of my shell which was so weird. I began talking to everyone I could see. This was a turning point for preaching by the way for me. Now I look forward to getting out and about. I look forward to going door to door. A complete 180 from last week's email. Missionary work is flipping awesome. We set up so many lessons on Thursday with new people, big things are coming to Bay City! This week during weekly planning Elliott and I set out a plan we will execute throughout the rest of this transfer and the next one. Meal prepping. We might go broke, but going broke is better than getting fat. If any of you have cheap meals with high protein and gainz let me know. On Friday I made stir fry for the whole apartment. It was smelling a little dank at first, but it started to work out. It literally ended pretty fire even though we bought some knock off stuff that mom told me not to buy. Save ya monies. Living on a budget has taught me lots of things and one of them is that great value is not in fact great value. It might be considered good value sometimes, but overall average value.
Bay City is finally starting to pick up. Elliott and I are finding constantly. This week alone we began teaching four new people, that is cracked. This next week we are scheduled to at least pick up three more. Seven people in two weeks is nuts. Baptisms are coming next transfer. I'm going to become LeBron James with all these dunks imma be getting. Seeing all this success just brings so much happiness. This is just making me more determined to keep pushing forward. Miracles are coming to Bay City!
Word on the street is that big change is coming to Bay City. After calls with President Heap and going on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, Elliott and I have a solid idea about what is going to happen. As missionaries you try and predict what will happen when you get transfer calls. From rumors going around, we heard that the other elders are going to be white washed. White wash is just when two completely new elders come into an area and wipe out the old elders. This is typically really rare, but I think Heap knows that Bay City could be the most successful area. Him white washing the other set of elders here would actually be solid. Two sets of elders who are determined to work would be hype. Next email we will know what is going to happen to them.
Sunday morning was a cleaning day… Elliott and I made it spotless last Sunday, but in two days our kitchen was disgusting. The other elders do not pick up after themselves and it's rather frustrating. Today we had to tackle the bathroom. Mom spoiled us with a clean bathroom daily and so living with other people who do not clean is extremely eye opening. I almost puked on how nasty our bathroom was. I do not understand how hair could go everywhere. I was doing push-ups in our living room and there's just hair that comes up on your hands, it isn't hair from your head… Anyways I'm cleaning constantly just to keep the apartment somewhat up to par.
Mom sent me a package this week which was a highlight. She sent me a Bose speaker and some flannel sheets. The speaker was really good to have because I have been using Elder Candlands. I downloaded some mutual albums and other solid missionary music last week. Every night we play hymns while we journal so the speaker was needed! Thank you mom. Some songs we downloaded are other missionary meme songs that are world known in the mission field. One of my favorites is a song called Dear John. It is mad catchy and the song could hypothetically be my life haha. It talks about dating a girl in high-school, then she goes to BYU, then he gets dear johned on the mission. The elders mess with me about it a lot whenever it gets played and it's so funny, but it is just an upbeat fire song.
I've decided I think I will begin doing a quote of the week. This week was by Elder Candand:
"Luke you do so many mom things," (as I threw the eggshells I just used cooking into the sink).
I am going to share a light spiritual thought in this week's email. I'm going to be using the scripture on my plaque even though Weston thinks it is basic. Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"
Such a simple verse with the most alpha information. I saw this week that if I put my trust in God, miracles will come. Dad emailed me about how miracles will not come without effort. We have to put ourselves in positions to strengthen ourselves. We have to turn towards Christ and God during these times. YOU can do all things through Christ. We are nothing without Christ, we are particles of dust compared to him. Everything we have is because of him. Turn towards him because he knows what you need, my guy. He knows how to strengthen you. He knows what to do. He knows how to do it. We have to know that we are nothing without Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Elliott likes to tell people,"Humble yourselves before God has to humble you." I know I struggle with being humble, but as you become meek unto the Lord, he will strengthen you.
I love you guys. I am always praying for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment