Hey mom!
Mike Dieter is coming to church
again! If I remember correctly, Michael Guirsco and he and I wanted to start a
band back in the day...good time ;) Ask him for me if he still plays the drums!
And please give him a huge hug for me and tell him that I love him.
The weather actually isn’t too bad
here. It’s been pretty warm...but then again, I don’t have a thermometer to
check, just the amount-of-time-it-takes-until-my-face-is-frozen-meter ;).
This last week the holidays were
almost completely over with New Year's, Christmas, Old New Year’s (by an
ancient calendar they used to use), and so many fireworks. Seriously everyday
was like the fourth of July for a while ;) Investigator wise, we lost Tamara
the other day because of her daughter who is against us meeting with Tamara. It’s
just so sad to see the devil at work. However, our member Loodmila, with whom
we were working with Tamara, is not giving up and going straight to the source
to talk with the daughter. We'll be praying for the conversation. Other than that,
we started meeting with Alexander and Alla again since they are back from the
holidays (and Alla on the last lesson recognized that she felt the Holy Ghost
before in her life when praying! Its small, but still progress!), Sergei and
Andrei are both learning English with us to make up the time while we don’t
have English class...guess the Lord puts people in our paths for a reason!
This last week was a little better in
regards to my patience and attitude but I still need some work. It’s amazing
how much I truly focus on myself and how much the stress and hardships I have
really only come out of my own selfishness. That's what I’m working on this
next week.
This last week also, amidst the
crazy stresses and fun times with a ward Book of Mormon party and being with
Sister Semonova all day (due to the incredible package you sent me!!!! Thank
you so much by the way especially for the blanket and PMG! You are seriously
the best mom! and twins too ;) ) I was really able to learn more about
missionary work and what that really means. Service needs to always be our
focus. When we serve others, naturally Heavenly Father gives us success. This
last week we literally just went around trying to serve people and not just try
to get their contact. I can testify that that is what the Savior would do. He
was just there with the goal to help all and make all know that there, yes, is
a way, but more importantly that they were loved. I feel privileged for this
opportunity to become more like Him...He was incredible.
I love you all so much and know that
the Savior really is the only way to happiness. If we want to be really happy
with out that empty feeling that comes when the temporal happiness is gone,
take on the form of the servant, Strive - don’t try - strive to be the best you
can, and then in studying and acting like the Savior, rely on his grace to
actually accomplish it. This is what I’m going to strive to do, because I don’t
quite know this to be true in my heart. I will though.
I love you all so much and pray for
you!!
Elder Claypool
Elder Claypool
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