October 21, 2013

1.  Are the baptisms still coming up this weekend?
Yes this Thurday!!! WOO!

2.  What kinds of sodas are available there?
Coke 7UP Fanta but my branch Pres just got me Dr Pepper... but its
hard to get :)

3.  How are things going with the Spanish?
Umm its going good... always can learn more but I feel like I can do
more but everyone I talk like my zone leaders and the people here say I know
a lot and that I could be training next cambio so I don't know...I just
keep studying....I think its mas o menos

4.  When you going to send pics of where you are living? Like your house/Apt.?
Yeah  I'll do that next week but I'm scared to....its not that bad haha

5.  Do they have lots of fruit trees around? What kind?
Um just like coco trees...I have seen bananas but thats it really.  I'm
more in the city but I have had coconut water... its not bad

6.  What did you do last week for P-Day?
Just played futbol as always...haha I don't mind it because its playing
some kind of sport and that I can compete with latinos and am the 1st
gringo picked... makes me happy haha

7.  Have you heard from Tyson?  How is he doing?  
Yes... today i didn't though. He is doing really good and
can't wait to get out haha....I just told him the 1st week might not be what you expect.


Wow you actually had to talk and didn't get out of this one?! I'm sure
Dad ended up speaking for you haha. Thats sweet about Stin...I'm so happy for him and he always tells me he just wants to leave haha.  Elder Gotts (Gottschalk) is my bud out here.  I just hate how he is leaving next change.  I'm gonna see him die in the mish! I wish he was staying longer and hope he´ll be home when I
get there! There is also an Elder Fowler from Layton who is a change ahead of me and I guess really smart since he is already in Belize. 

The rat was so freakin funny! That is cool about Ryan finally getting a TD... makes me feel lucky to have Nate and how my soph year was great. But they better not end the Ridge over Layton streak now. I heard Ben has been doing good.  Tell Stock to work hard and I'm always praying for that stud! 

Now for my week...
Haha so not too much happened again.  Just trying to talk to
people and find some and we found a couple but don't know how reliable they are right now... so we´ll see. Haha this kid we´ve been teaching named Thuelly speaks English and is hard to meet with.  He studys a ton and is way funny and we had cambios again (yes again ugh) but he asked for Brock and my comp was like who? and he kept saying Brock and then my comp was like ohhh haha... its funny because I only told him my name once. But then I had to explain my name is Elder and after the mish when we
hang (according to him) he can call me that haha. We have so many cambios (changes)...I hate it because its for no reason but I'm gonna say something.
Also our baptisms are still good even though we had a close call and they barely made it to the last sacrament meeting they had to go to to be baptized whew!!! 

I have been learning each Christlike attribute each day and trying to work on it.  On that day  I was on esperanza (hope) so the whole time just kept having hope they'd come and they barely
did.  Haha they're so funny because they like confessed everything and always are worried they aren't ready. Alsilia wants me to confirm her but is like you better be ready because I want the spirit and you better not be thinking of your novia! (they joke I have a girlfriend) haha, but when they learned it was my first baptism they fought over who I was going to baptize haha. Last story I can think of is this guy ran up to us on the street and was talking to us in English (which happens a ton) and read our names and was like you guys are my friends!!! Then was protecting us, making sure nothing touched us haha... then asked where we
were from and when we said Utah he was like WOOO.. hahaha then started yelling to everyone we were his friends. Then a guy on a bike drove by and he told us that was his friend so I asked what his name was and he stopped then started chasing after him haha... the guy was nuts and all bloody and stuff it was crazy! Well that was my week hope everything is doing good at home...I love you guys so much and keep doing your thing!!

Elder Clev

This picture was taken at the New Missionary Training they had a week ago.  Looks like
they are all enjoying Gatorades...spoiled Elder

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October 14, 2013

1.  Is the Beach in your Zone?  How long did it take to get there?

 Uh no... its way far away haha... its like an hour and a half to 2 hours away so we took a special trip because my Zone is cool like that.

2.   I thought you would like to know that in the empty lot near the Subway/DQ they are building a Taco Bell...haha! One of your favorite places...they obviously had to wait till you were gone :)
Thats so stupid. There is a Taco Bell here but far away

3.  How many missionaries are in your District?
There are 10 Elders ...one is Elder Paulson...he is from Utah and is a really cool guy... I love that man

4.  What was one of the most frustrating things that happened this past week?
Frustrating hmm....probably that we had intercambios twice and we have like no one to visit and I was with the Zone and District leaders

5.  Do you walk mostly or take the bus often?
Um a good combination of both

6.  You said you wanted me to send picture in the Christmas package...what kind of pictures? (Family, Friends?)
BOTH! haha

7.  Chocolate candy melts because of the heat there...do you still want me to send it even though it will melt into one big piece? The gummy candy might do the same....any other ideas?
Ummm nah... send like skittles and starburst then and whatever else you can think of that I like.

This week not a ton happened... but a normal week in El Salvador is
crazy compared to at home! haha.   Our investigators are doing so good they want to be baptized and are doing everything they need to.   They struggle with cafe, especially the mom, but when we taught the WoW they accepted to give it up just like that! I said I would give up soda with them but they won't let me haha...
they say I need that to survive here haha! But their names are Alsilia and Gabriella...I don't know last names haha.  I'll find that out! But I did have intercambios twice this week... once with my District Leader, who's a latino and then yesterday and
today with my zone leader Elder Ralphs who is from Idaho.  He is going to BYU after.  He is a pretty cool dude to say the least and a great missionary.

Umm really not too much happened.   We killed a rat with my Branch President haha.. and they are building a Wendys to replace the KFC right by me now.  Also we met this crazy Asian guy... yeah an asian in El Salvador who speaks English and who says he can cure cancer and went on to explain how easy yet complicated it was... it was so hard to not laugh! Then he said how he studied our church when he was 9 and that its wrong... those are the normals here mom.   Other than that just livin the missionary life.   I saw Elder Gottschalk, my bro from home.  It sucks that he leaves soon though! Also we had our newbie meeting and I got to see everyone I came down with ...all still doing good. The only thing that is hard is that we have like no one to teach and are still trying to find people and it sucks because you get rejected a ton but thats what you gotta do.  Its hard to be diligent but I know it will pay
off.  Thanks for everything mom... I love you and everyone at home and keep doing what you guys do! and yes we drowned the rat hahaha and broke its back.
Elder Clev

Elder Cleverly and Elder Gottschalk, who went to Northridge High and is from Layton

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October 7, 2013

1.Where are my pictures? You haven't been sending any :( 
There they are.... hope thats enough haha

2.  Are you just eating fast food? Isn't it expensive?
No and No... but my comp is broke so we eat pretty poor haha

3.  What was your most exciting experience this week?
Most exciting was going to the beach for sure!

4.  Who are some of the people you have taught or been teaching?
Um I teach random people right now... 2 kids who can speak English
haha and a lady and her daughter are our for sures right now

5.  How was your first General Conference in the Mission? 
General Conference is the best!  I don't know what the heck I was doing at home

6.  Since you have to be at home earlier...what do you do...Study? 
Yeah study a lot and kinda plan for the next day.

This week was AWESOME! The beach started it out and we ended with Conference, which I loved every session and left every one thinking why did I never listen at home?! Also I have 2 Baptisms for the 26th for the 2 investigators who I have wanted to help so bad! Its made me so happy to see people changing and I'm just grateful I get to have a tiny part in it. Also we are starting to get more help from the members mostly because we went around and met with them and I just straight out told them we need their help. Haha my Comp was like dang you were pretty bold and I just said I had to...I'm tired of waiting for others haha... you know me. Also I had intercambios with the Zone Leaders for a day on Friday and that was fun.  I was with a Elder Rubio who leaves this month. He is a Latino and a really good and helpful guy.  I kinda wish he wasn't leaving so soon. Other than that though nothing way huge
besides the baptism dates! I'm glad to hear home is doing good and
during Conference  I thought everyone better be listening even though they probably weren't... haha. And during Priesthood thought that there probably was no one there since me and Marshal are gone now.   Make sure Austin takes it slow... like 2 years slow so he doesn't get married haha..JK but I freakin love this crazy place and have a new starting line with the people... I sit down and say you should feel pretty lucky because you are sitting with the only Gringo in this part of San Salvador haha...I love all the weird looks I get too! Well thats all I have... oh and also for that package, I want peanut butter M&Ms, a big thing if you could and gummy bears and pictures for sure!!! and then food like shells and cheese if you could! Thanks for everything 
Love you Mom!

Elder Williams, Elder ?, Elder Cleverly, Elder Roberts

Baseball lives on...

El Salvador Temple

Elder B Clev with Elder Purser

Obviously he isn't eating too crazy of food 

" Poolside chilling on the Mish" 

BEACH!!!

Going COCONUTS

#1 Elder BEACH BUM

Leaving his "mark" on El Salvador

El Salv

 Pool side... going swimming...not

There are some Tranquil gentle moments.... haha

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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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