480 Bound

 This is it. Wow. The final email you will receive from me before I am back in the 480. Our preparation day the past week consisted of a lot of sports with other elders. We ran pickleball, basketball, and Frisbee golf. The UV was 9 and you can expect where we were. The one thing I am not going to miss is the smell of elders. I am also really excited to be able to light my own candles in my apartment. 

Wednesday I decided to go through all my ties and give out the ones I won't bring home to the members here. I signed all of them and then went to the church to hand them out to some of the youth and adults during their activties. It was a good amount. We are cleaning house! On Sunday, all of the pimple I gave ties to, both youth and adults wore them to church. We got a picture and they all thought it was awesome they got a, "Clouse tie."

Thursday was my last exchange. Elder Nathan Bohn came to South Haven with me. He has been out about 9 months. He is a Spanish missionary. Nothing crazy happened. It was a chill day full of missionary work.

Friday night was relieving since we had a game night planned as a goodbye party for me. We brought some of our friends and played a handful of games. It was fun. Saturday on the other hand was a grind. The majority of our lessons fell through and it was just all finding. It was so tough. It made me never want to proselyte on another Saturday again. 

Mayra has been going all out for us since I am leaving. She has made us chicken parmesan for dinner. She has supplied us with a blueberry buckle cake, breakfast cookies, pb cookies, chicken pot pies, peanut butter cookies, and a strawberry shortcake. I have no idea why she willingly does that, but it is remarkable. She always delivers. 

The last couple days of the mission will look something like this. Tuesday, I will go about it as a normal missionary day. It will be the last day I proselyte as a full time missionary in my life. The following day is transfer day. I will get my belongings early in the morning to the transfer van. I will ride the van until Lansing. I will then get off and do all my departing activities with the other missionaries going home. This consists of dinner, departing interviews, and a fireside. It will be a very relaxing day. Then as you all know you will see me in person on Thursday. 

As I conclude this email, I express deep gratitude that I chose to served a mission for Jesus Christ. I am so excited to see all of you. I am ready to move onto the next step in my life, but I will be eternally grateful for the things I learned. I will be reporting about my mission experience this Sunday. As I return home to Arizona I now know for myself that the Savior lives and He is at the head of His church. God be with you all until we meet again.

Love,

Elder Luke Ryan Clouse

29 Days

 Once you are reading this, I have one more email left to send home before I am released as a missionary. Preparation day was one to remember. For memorial day, we decided to do a cookout at the Lakes. We ran some pickleball, spikeball, cornhole, and monopoly deal. We definitely got our UV that day. Elder Woolsey, if you are reading this, I 1v1ed Elder Stevens in pickleball and beat him 5-0. We then ended our memorial day at another cookout with members. It was last holiday as a missionary. 

One week ago we invited Mayra to teach us the message of the restoration. We sent her to preach my gospel and she was in charge of studying and then doing a practice teach to us. She studied for 8 HOURS. She literally stayed up until 2am so she can make sure she knew all the information and could teach it. She definitely delivered during our lesson on Tuesday. She has been so prepared by the Lord for this time. 

Wednesday was our outdoor zone conference. It was sad to hear that this was my final one. This was my third outdoor one which was really cool. We went on this 2 mile hike that was pretty steep, it was the most elevation I have went up the whole time being in Michigan haha. It was 90 degrees and sunny. Beautiful day for a final zone conference. I can report that everyone was very stinky by the end of it. 

We met a new friend this week named Theresa. We pulled up to her home and she introduced herself as,"the black widow." We were so dead. The reason she said that is because she has outlived three husband's and she's black. She is really willing to study out the message of the restoration and act in faith. She is just the sweetest lady and I had to bring her up. 

Friday was interesting. It was the longest day ever and I do not want to relive it again. My allergies have been acting up and it almost has been a hindrance to the work. All I want to put about this day is I am glad I do not have to relive it again. 

It happened. Saturday, Mayra Calvillo was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The turn out was phenomenal. We had around 40 people attend the baptism. She felt so loved. GUYS, I do not think you realize how insane that is. There have been weeks that I've been here that there were not even 40 people at church on Sunday. About an hour before her baptism, Mayra pulled up to the church building and she made us dinner. She made homemade Mexican Spaghetti, horchata, and to top it off she decided to make us cinnamon rolls. We are so spoiled. Mayra was found, taught, and baptized in 29 days. She spoke with us that she is thinking about preparing to serve a mission. What a glorious day it was in South Haven. The first convert baptism in 2.5 years. The Lord provides!

Fast sunday is always brutal, but we did it. My last one as a missionary. I have one more email left. This upcoming week is my final week as a missionary. That is surreal. I am not going to lie to everyone, I baptized Mayra and I feel like that's why I was sent to South Haven. It is going to be a long difficult week for me to be diligent for the Lord. I know I will do it. Additional prayers are always appreciated.

I shared this thought at Mayra's baptism. This is from President Nelson,"Once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever. God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged such a bond with Him. In fact, all those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy." The ability to make covenants with God is mind boggling. We have access to a special kind of love and mercy. Talk to you next week.