September 30, 2013

1.  What is your Companion, Elder Purser like?
 Elder Purser is a cool guy and so much better than my old comp.  We get along pretty well even though we`re not similar

2.  Do you do your own laundry or is there someone that does it for you?
  Someone does it for me :)

4.  What kind of food, besides pupusas, have you been eating?  Have you been making your own meals?
Haha umm... Pizza Hut, KFC, Wendys, pupusas...Our Branch Pres wife makes us lunch everyday and yeah some panadarias... its kinda good eating since we have all the stores in our area.

5.  What is the building like that you meet in for Church? a regular church building?
Yeah its regular... its the Stake Center and is pretty nice, but not like our buildings

6.   About how many people attend Church?
Around 40-50 people attend church... its so weird

7.  What is your P-Day schedule like?
Pday schedule is whatever the zone wants to do... like today we are going to the playa!

My week this week was so much better than last.  I'm finally starting to adjust and got over that first week fever that I have heard everyone goes through so its all good now! I'm starting to understand now the language and speaking is getting better because I'm speaking more. I have tons of weird experiences here... this place is nuts! I'm a drunk magnet... they always come up to me and start saying who knows what sometimes in English haha. We have to be home at 8 because our area is dangerous, but no huge things have happened..I'm still alive! Hah.  I have had bottles thrown at me, people not letting go of my hand and saying that they could kill me right now if they wanted...really weird stuff. It is hard because this is a new area and we have nothing to work with. The only person who really does is our Branch Pres... He is such a cool guy. He is getting me some Dr Pepper :). There is not too much that happened though just happy things.  Things are starting to get better.  We also discovered hot water... thank goodness...I'm kinda spoiled to be honest! About home..I did email Nate last week even though he didn't and he is in my prayers.  I miss everyone and hope Tys is doing good too! I'm happy for Keaton.... thats awesome and hard too haha! Well that is all I got...Thanks for everything.  I love you guys so much!
Elder Clev

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First letter in El Salvador...September 23, 2013

1.  So who is your companion? Where is he from?
 My comp is Elder Purcer from West Jordan

2.  Where are you at there in the Mission?  City?
 My area is called Layco in San Salvador

3.  What is your apartment like?
My apartment is the nicest than all of our Districts.. we live right next to our Branch President but it has cold water for showers...

 4.  Did you get to have a trip to the temple when you got there? If so, how was that temple?
 Yes we got to have a trip to the temple... its sweet cuz in the
entrance is a picture of Jesus and A Nephite and Lamanite kid ..we didn't do anything inside though.

5.  Did you stay in hotel your first night there or somewhere else?
No we stayed in the crappy AP's house and it sucked. But we did get to chill in the mission home during the day

Well mom seems like your guys week pretty much sums up mine too. I'll be honest ...this was the hardest week of my life...I got a huge wake up call with the language and it was really hard. I started to get a little homesick too and even started to think that I don't have to be out here. BUT I found my help in an investigator and while teaching I remembered why I am here... that it isn't for me and that I need to stop being selfish. So I'm fine now and you don't need to worry about me. I fasted yesterday, the whole day, for help with the language and it seems like it has helped a little now. Gosh it really is hard to read bad news on top of bad news but I know life is not always sunshine and roses.... I feel so bad for Nate and I hope he emails me...gosh I feel so bad for that guy cuz he deserves the best.   This Sunday I missed nursery too...I miss those guys sooo much! 

Well let me tell you about my week....So El Salvador is something else let me tell ya haha. The pupusas here are WAY better than the ones we had and I can't emphasize it enough!  haha.. I get approached by drunks all the time and one lady tried to even hug me haha...I seem to be the loco magnet! Also this area hasn't been opened for years so its hard cuz we have no people to really teach.  But we have this one lady who I have never felt this way about... someone that I want to help so much and I feel that something is there to  teach her. Also we met with this inactive guy who went on a mission and is just way prideful but knows a lot and is a fun guy to talk to haha... he said he likes me. Also my first cita I set up just so happened to be the crazy in the area who we have been told not to talk to because he wants to kill missionaries because one left his daughter but his whole family are members. He really liked talking to me and didn't want to kill me but I don't think I'm going back haha. The people here are weird...some speak english ...like our Branch Pres... he reminds me so much of Seth haha... but some randomly come up to you and are like Whats up and are way drunk.  Well thats kinda my week.  I don't feel like I have anything else.  Sorry, I forgot to bring my camera so I will send pictures next week.  Oh! and I also met Elder Gottschalk...He is one of the AP's.  I need to get a picture with him sometime.  I love you mom and always know I'm praying for you guys! 

Elder Clev

All the New Missionaries that came with Brock in front of the temple.  Brock is on the 3rd row from
the bottom...third one from the right.

Elder Clev with his Trainer Elder Purser and President Hintze and Sister Hintze

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He Made It!!.....Arrival In El Salvador!

Brock's Mission President has a facebook page where they post happenings and pictures that are going on in the Mission.  We were able to get these pictures of Brock's arrival to El Salvador so quick!  We were able to talk to him for about 10 minutes before he left the Mexico Airport.  He sounded great and so ready to get started in El Salvador/Belize.  

AP's Elder Flores and Elder Rosas ready with a banner welcoming the New Missionaries

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September 16, 2013 Last Email from MTC.....On to El Salvador!

Im so glad I leave today.  I wanna get out and do this so bad! So the sooner the better for me!!! Thats cool you got to talk to Reds parents...They really are nice people and were always so accepting.  His dad is so funny too. Yeah he writes me every week... him and Mike... its so cool...I love those guys and how they are so supportive to me and I'm happy for them... that they are doing bigger and better things. I remembered it was Tyson's farewell.  I'm sure he did great and now its starting to come where all my friends are gonna start leaving! I am sad I will never get to be there at their farewells but they know that I'm supporting them from clear out here!  Thats cool about Ryan.  I'm glad he can finally experience some winning haha...Sounds like they are pretty good and have some potential (sounds familiar) haha... maybe they can go undefeated like the last good class Northridge had when they were sophomores! Thats a bummer bout Stock. If there is one thing that shows if you are a real fighter though is what you do when you get hurt and how hard you work to get back to what you were and more so tell him this will show if he really wants it! I really hope Northridge goes and beats those guys so bad... you know how much I hate those "Cuse" kids. Nate emailed me and I gave him the talk about that haha... sounds like he is really doing well.  I'm happy for him and he knows I would be there to support him if I could. Mom I'm so ready for this.  I've been prepared and saved for this time and I just wanna be the biggest instrument in Gods hands. Something I pray for every night is for Heavenly Father to just hit me with everything cuz I don't want to waste an opportunity and want to get the most out of these two years! This week not much happened just getting ready to go and all but it was Mexican Independence and we had a Mexican Night on Saturday and then last night had the Greeto (or something like that) that the whole nation does.  It was pretty cool and to see all the dances and stuff.  I wish I took pictures! Last night was so loud and crazy too haha..Thats why I'm blessed with a deaf ear though haha! Also I got to stay up till 12 last night because of the Greeto and so everyone was tired except me haha...I guess you could say I was used to it! Well that is all I have.  I guess I will  be talking to you later if I can. Take care..I  love all you guys
and especially you Mom! Over and out from Mexico!!!
Elder Clev

The District and one of his Teachers

With the Branch Presidency...those guys are STUDS!

Elder Cleverly with Elder Woolley who was a neighbor
who use to live up the street from us years ago.  They would
play together when they were little boys and here they were able to hook up again at the MTC!

My new comp for the next couple of days is on my left....

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September 10, 2013

1.  How many teachers do you have?  Who is your favorite one?
I have 2... one is Hermano Whittaker and the other is Hermana Falcon.  I like the hermano... he is sweet and I set up a double date when I get home cuz he lives in Utah... haha...The other is a native and she is good.

2.  Make sure you let me know of your flight plans to El Salvador in case they don't send them to me.
I still haven't gotten my flight plans so I have no idea..

3.  Have you had any stomach issues?
Nope... no stomach issues... just one night where I woke up 4 times for the bathroom an hour each time but then I was fine haha

4.  Have you had your hair cut there yet?
Yep, just got one today and you know I already hate it... haha

5.  Who are some of your favorite Elders there that you enjoy being around?
The Elders I like are my roomates and Elder Williams from Idaho who goes to my mission but all the others left this week...

Well I sometimes don't know about you mom...I think I know you then you do something that makes me go what the!? haha... I'll send you more pictures in a sec. But yeah I wanna just get out already haha.. Next time we talk I guess I will be! I did find Elder Woolley.. I'll get a picture before I leave but it was dumb because last Tuesday night I finally found him and couldn't tell you haha. Sounds like everything at home is going good.  I have gotten my update on Stin he emailed me... he said he is shooting for Oct 30th or something.  The BYU game sounded cool.. glad you guys are trying to rub it in haha jk...I don't care...I would rather be out here.  Its fun and there is honestly nothing I want to do more right now! So now I'll tell you about my week!

What a week it was.  Not a ton happened but the things that did are worth telling. So the District we would play volleyball with left this week and it was kinda sad in a lot of different ways. First it was because those guys were like part of our District and they were  fun to play with....and second and more importantly was what happened Saturday. They and their Teacher came into our room and apologized to us. They did that because they said they hadn't been good examples to us and didn't show us the right things.  They would sometimes slack and not study and weren't ready for the field... Huge respect to their teacher who took the whole blame and said he should have been better. All of these things were true and they are great guys and will be great missionaries but they weren't ready. But then later that night they had a Zone meeting and apologized and talked to us just as Missionaries. They talked about exact obedience and how they were a bad example to us. Now to me it kinda hit me hard. I have gotten too comfortable and its been my fault that I have been slacking and didn't really think it was them at all. Something their teacher said was that he was sorry that he let all the people down who are connected with us. I want to say sorry because I haven't been doing my best and this past week that seems like it has been the theme and it really kicked me in gear now. I'm trying to be exactly obedient now and I heard it all before I left but it doesn't set in until you learn it for yourself which I have done now.

The 2nd story is better though... so this past Sunday we go to priesthood and find out my comp didn't get told he was teaching priesthood so next week he has to do it.. so the whole time I'm just making fun of him and laughing and he tells me its gonna come back to bite me. Well then I find out later I have to speak in that next Sacrament... well that didn't bug me.. you know me I had my talk prepared throughout the week just in case and it was only for 5 minutes.. half Spanish half English. Well little did I know that when I walk into the room who of all people is there?! Of course the freaking MTC PRESIDENT! This guy is in charge of everything and was an apostle and knows Elder Holland really good..  I think they were comps or something and I just go oh crap! So I wasn't the 1st to speak but one of the kids started telling a story in English and President Pratt asks him if he can do it in Spanish... now I'm really like "I'm dead".  So I start translating my whole talk and when I get up words started just flowing from my mouth... it was so cool and everyone said it was a really good talk with only a couple of English words! I guess everyone said after that the President leaned over and asked my Branch President who I was and was like oh great please no... but I haven't been sent home yet! haha ...My talk was on nothing other than Exact Obedience and after he said my talk was really good.  I felt so relieved and humbled haha. Well that was my week.  I can't wait till next week.  I really am counting down the days.  I love you guys and hope everything is going good back at home! Can't wait to hear from you guys... Love you Mom!

Elder Clev

City Views

More city views while driving

"Green Indian"

Cool Truck

Streets of Mexico

Man with a machete

"Mickey D's" mexico style

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September 3, 2013 "Happy Birthday Elder Cleverly"

1. Did you ever receive your donuts?
Yes...I received my donuts and yes they were all gone that night thanks :)

2. Have you taken a picture of you and your companion?
I will today..I'm getting back on to reply to others emails and will send you one

3. Do you get to spend much time outside?
Yeah I get to spend a lot of time outside and the campus is big so we walk a lot

4. What kinds of foods have you been eating there in the MTC? Is it mainly Mexican food?
Um.. the food is good but its a combination. Like tonight is pizza night but there is always refried beans and rice and tortillas and then usually  like chicken or some kind of meat. But one day we did get curly fries and they were way good! I also eat cereal almost every meal as well and a banana (yes I eat some fruit) but i want like a taco or chips and salsa but they dont have those. We do have a Mexican night my last week for Mexico Independence day so we´ll see.

5. Have you met an Elder Fridal? He will be leaving when you leave and I have met his mom.
Um...I think..I'm not sure...I think he was on my flight down and also I haven't seen Elder Woolley which I think I would by now or he would've heard of me (my name is kinda big here ill explain later)

6. Have you received your flight plans to El Salvador yet?
No..I think I do next week

7.  What are Sundays like there in the MTC?
Sundays are the best! We have priesthood then sacrament then a devotional then watch a movie at night ...they are awesome this Ayuna Domingo (fast Sunday) was kinda hard cuz you don't get cena (dinner) on sabado (Saturday) or desayuna (breakfast) in la mañana. (morning)

Well this week has been way better than last! First of all I think I should've gone to an ASL mission cuz I can pick up sign language fast! Hermana Huff, who teaches me  is awesome... honestly she kinda reminds me of Cass and is like my sister down here!  I freaking LOVE the mission call updates.... that is so awesome for all of them! Tell Zach and Spence I'm so proud of them and tell Spence I never doubted his decision to go on a mission... he's an awesome guy! Thats so cool about football and Ryan.   I'm glad everyone survived school. I'm not stressing too much on the language anymore and I have been doing really good in our lessons which brings me to my week...
So I don't even know where to start! So I have been bored with the whole same routine schedule and you know me and am not just gonna sit and be bored so I got some ideas. First I set up the 1st corbata (Tie) exchange with an Elder named Elder Peacock (he went and played football at Dixie) this week and word spread pretty fast.  We snuck out at night to the casa and it was pretty fun.  I only traded 1 tie but it was a good one! Then the next night I started Caliente Papas (Hot Potato) every night before we go home. Now others are starting to do it haha. Then last Saturday I told our district we were going to do Español day.. where you can't speak any English the whole day and if you messed up we had to buy our teacher a treat from the store,  I didn't say any and everyone did pretty good.. some messed up though! So then other zones have been doing it now and so then the other I have been getting all these Elders and Hermanas come say hi to me and stuff ... my name has spread and people I know say they hear people talk about me all the time (kinda creepy). Then we capped the week off yesterday night by I setting up another corbata (tie) exchange but this time more than half the MTC knew about it and was there...it was so awesome! On Sunday I also bore my testimony in English cuz I was the last one and was already over time and just told everyone that we have made it this far to get on our missions and have gone through a lot of stuff and pretty much that God is telling us that we need to show him more so to stop saying this is too hard. I didn't say it in a mean way and I'm glad no one took it that way especially since the newer districts are way homesick and I guess it helped. I may sound prideful right now with saying my name is becoming big and all of this stuff but its actually the opposite..I read in Alma about Ammon rejoicing when they thought he was being prideful and I want others to look up to me cuz I want to be an example and even though I know I'm far from perfect, knowing that I'm being watched helps me want to be better and pressures me to be my best. Well that was pretty much my week in a nutshell haha... its weird today is my birthday.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm just glad it is P-day... my District is calling it B-day haha but thats everything.  I'll send pictures later! 
I love you mom and everyone back at home is in my prayers!
Elder Clev   

Elder Cleverly with his cousin Elder McAllister...They were able
to spend a little time together at the MTC before he left for
Honduras.

Brock said these were "earthquake circles"

Elder Cleverly and his companion Elder Winegarder

Today is Brock's Birthday!!

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August 27, 2013

1. Have you seen Alec Woolley?  He is there now.  He arrived a week after you did.
 No I haven't but I swear I've seen someone familiar... maybe thats him!

2. How is the Spanish coming? Be honest...
Español is difícil sometimes and other times isn't. I'm really good at understanding people just not being able to speak what I want. One of the Hermanas in my district has taught me some sign language too and I pick that up fast haha.. it helps with Spanish too... its weird... so soon i'll be fluent in 3 languages! haha

3.  Have you received the Dear Elder I sent that had your blessing in it?  I sent it about a week and half ago.
Yes I got that last week.. thank you

4.  Have you been receiving emails from friends?
Yes ....its nice to see how they're doing

5.  Besides Volleyball...do you play any other sports?
Um no volleyball is the best especially when you have a nickname!

6  Did you get your "donuts"
No

That picture is so cool! (Picture of Devin) Tell Cass to tell him thats awesome.  I couldn't think of a better person to wear my number! So this week has just been another week haha..I'm learning more and loving it more. We had another Devotional by Elder Holland that was awesome as usual! It was really weird too cuz he reminds me of Grandpa Smith.  I don't know why! I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to feel the Spirit everyday.  I'm loving this! I got the opportunity to go to the temple today too and it was easier this time but still a little hard. It is hard when you know what you want to say but can't because you don't know how to say it haha. There is sad times down here too though. The District we play volleyball against had 2 more people go home (they had 1 go home my first week) and its different when your at home and you hear about someone going home then when your actually out here. It affects us all here because we are all a part of this army together. I just feel so blessed that I'm able to be out here and be ready to do the things God has prepared me to do. Keep me updated and Davy wants to be able to read my blog...I don't know how to do that so yeah. That's sweet about the mission calls and if you see them tell them I say congrats and that I'm proud of them! Sorry this is short.. its just nothing really happened this week. I love and miss you guys so much but I know I'm supposed to be here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Love you mom!
Elder Clev

p.s. Don't worry about the syrup.. oh and I heard that on my mission traveling from both countries you take the panama canal by boat that would be sick!!!

I think he is trying to trick us to see if we pay attention to the name tag...haha...and he probably also did
this for one of his best friends"Tyson Roberts" who will be Elder Roberts next month!

Mexico City Temple

This sweet boy's mom works at Northridge as a teacher as well as the sports trainer
for the sports teams at Northridge.  Brock was her Teacher's Assistant last year.
 She is a great lady and has this cute boy who
has special needs.  He idolizes all the football players and gets to dress and go to the
practices with the team.  He picked Brock's number to wear for his jersey this year,  I knew
Brock would think it was COOL!

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