March 31, 2014~"Pray Hardest When it is the Hardest to Pray"

1. Last week you said there were not very many that came to church, only 6?  Is that true...only 6 people attended church?  What is the "normal" amount? 
No I meant 60 but this week we had 102.. normal is around 80

2. So why can't you email from the church in this area?   
Because there aren't computers in the church

3. Do you have to cook more meals for yourself in this area? 
Yeah.. we are kinda on our own for everything

4. How far away is the church building? What time is church? 
Like 5 minutes walking, church is at 9

5. Have you seen any different types of animals/creatures? 
Umm no.. not really.  There are the nasty dogs, geckos, lizards

6.  How are your shoes holding up? socks? 
Socks are all great...I might not have a problem with those my whole mission.. shoes~I had to get one shoe sewn back up and right now nothing huge but I'm hoping I can keep all three until like 15 months but not too sure..I will send pictures next week.

WOOOOO thats awesome about Ryan and those guys...I'm so proud of them... no tears from here though you know that haha but no thats sick. Coach Tom how is he doing?! I'm glad you got to talk to him.  I can't wait to be able to meet all those people again and Gotts too? What is he up to?  Tell him he needs to email me. I wanna talk to that guy! That is cool about Hayden.  From what I heard he was a great missionary which is awesome.  I'm happy for him... his life really changed for the better.  That is good about everyones grades and its crazy that  I have almost been graduated for a year now what the! That sucks about their Spring break haha but hey everyone needs to listen to General Conference. I am so stoked I can't even describe it! I freaking have been counting down since last conference.  I can't believe its here again already woo! Take advantage of this time everyone as it doesn't come around often!

Well my week was a lot better... more to talk about but most of it might not be for the better. There were no baptisms.  We had 6 dates for this week and every single one bailed... not a good thing as a leader. I was left to wonder what happened and what I need to do different. With my baptisms it was just the kids Julie and Marcos...they want their dad there but he is in the hospital with a serious condition but from what we hear its improving. The mom is slowly changing as that is just how she is... before we know it we will have her too. The others in my district fell in all sorts of ways but really the dates just changed nothing else. Just because paperwork stuff didn't work out but it has left the ZLs on my freakin back like crazy.  I'm so mad but they are backing off as they know who I am.  My ZLs sometimes don't think logically and will think of way out of the ordinary things.  I don't know... I need to work on my humility I know. But enough of that.

At the start of this week I got a weird call from the APs that there were doctors from the States in my area and need translating. So on Tuesday me and another gringo elder got to go translate for these college in training eye doctors which was way fun haha. They didn't know anything and sometimes would try and guess what they were saying and were way off haha. They were from a college named Pacific in Oregon and some knew a little about our church but not a ton. So after we shared a little bit with them.  It was weird though because we were doing this in a Catholic church haha and they were taking pictures of the activity and kinda weird missionaries in a Catholic church haha. Lets see what else happened ..oh the other missionaries we live with at night.. we had a cita with this part member family and randomly they brought up how I'm better looking than the other gringo elder who has a ton of pride and needs to be better than everybody... haha It was funny and we all were laughing... that was the first time that has happened and there was a lot of arguing haha. Other than that nothing else different this week.  I hope thats more than last week...Sorry I can't think straight right now..I'm still mad about a lot of things and can't think...anyways I hope you guys have a good week and to remember how much happiness we have with the gospel and also how we can change for the better thanks to Jesus... just some of my thoughts this week. Sorry I know there is more but I can't focus. Love you guys and you Mom.  Please if you guys could send some prayers for us here... especially for me and my District and Marcos, Julie, Adela and Eliza some of our investigators it would help thanks!
Elder Cleverly

Bridge that we have to frequently cross

Stairs that we have to climb every day!

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March 24, 2014~"People Don't Care How Much You Know....They Just need to Know How Much You Care"

1.    I know you use detergent to wash your clothes, what I meant was how do you wash your clothes? 
by scrubbing them with my hands but I found a member to wash them
in her machine now thank goodness because I really don't have time to do
it.

2.  So now you email from an internet cafe?
Yeah it sucks..I hate it

3.  What was the most inspirational thing that happened this week? 
Ummm nothing really Mom... this week sucked

4.  What are the stores like there? 
There are tiendas which are like tiny corner stores with everyday
needs then there are Super Selectos which is like the grocery store like
neighborhood Wal Mart

5.  Can you get American candy items there? 
Yeah but not all... but your average candy yeah

Im glad the package got there.  I was wondering about that.  I'm actually glad
everyone liked it too. I'll try and get you one through my hook ups
don't worry haha. The drive thru was divine mom and you know I lived
that moment up haha.

Thats cool Austin got to meet with his mission buddies.  I can't wait to do that
after.  It will be way fun because there are some chill guys here. Thats cool
about Ryan and Stock starting yet another sport haha... wish them good
luck for their seasons. Dang people are already getting calls?!   Have I
been gone that long? Its weird.. actually this week is my year mark of
my call! Where has time gone...  I really don't know.

Sounds like a lame week though mine was too... sorry I don't have too much
to recount.

This week kinda sucked.  My zone leader got changed randomly for things
that happened with another zone and now I have weird ZL's haha ..but its
all good I guess. My district does work but we had some baptism dates
fall and almost no one came to church which sucked! We only had 6.  I
was so mad. But we do have a baptism this week with 2 kids.  We are
still working on their mom who I think with time will get baptized but
the kids are awesome. I also had my first baptism interview and it was
weird.  I felt like a Bishop haha but she didn't pass but will get baptized a
week later than we thought so all is still well! But honestly nothing really happened
AGAIN.  I need to start spicing things up a bit don't I? Also sorry I
don't have any pictures either.. crappy week but things are all good.  I will
get a better week this week! We did have this old white man with long
hair and beard stop us and hold our hands and said a prayer haha but
other than that normal haha. Love you guys...I promise this week will be
better.   I'm doing great as always... loving life! Peace out...Love you
Mom!
Elder Clev

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March 17, 2014~ Patience is not the Ability to Wait, but the Ability to Keep a Good Attitude While Waiting"

1. So do you have a regular church building or do you meet in something different? 
 A regular building.. its pretty new too

2. How far away are you from Layco?  So is the city/town called Zaragoza? It doesn't look like you are very far on the map.
Yeah I am like an hour and a half by bus and hour by car

3. Is your area jungle like?
Yeah its part city and part jungle... its cool..There is a big bridge we
cross..I will have to take a pic

4. How did the Baptisms go?
Great!

5.  Since you have to do your laundry by hand, what do you use?
Laundry detergent but i'm mad you sent a package..I wanted a Tide to
go or something cuz its hard.. and being a leader I don't have a lot of
time to wash my clothes...I can never sit still.

6. In this area, do you still have to be in earlier like Layco? 
No... its a whole lot more safe

7. Do you like having other missionaries living with you?  I would think it would be kinda fun to have others there. 
Um yeah I do... at first I didn't but now I do

Dang sounds like nothing really happened this week.. haha not too much to
comment on haha ...The Cafe Rio and Panda news kinda hurts but its all
good. I got some dumb kids playing Zombies right now its freakin
distracting haha.. might have to play with them....kidding but I guess
onto my week!

This week was great!  I guess I will just get right to the point. So on
Thursday we went to the baptism and in the morning this way cool
member who always stops by our house wanted to go with us after
hearing the whole conversion story of these converts, but he came
a little late so we were late leaving.  The whole time I was stressed
out of my mind that I got a huge headache.  We got there a tiny bit late
and thank goodness that people here aren't punctual at all. When we got
there it was so cool to see all the people from Layco again and they
were all way excited to see me.  I never knew how big of an impact I
made there except I was bummed because Alciria and Gabriella didn't come
because they didn't wanna have to say bye again haha or that is what Stin
told me but its all good. Right before the baptism I found out I would
baptize the daughter and the mom but the thing with the mom is that
she has had 2 spine surgeries and can't bend back normally. I thought
well great this is going to be interesting and was super stressed but
I just went slow and everything went good. After in the bathroom
you know me and Stin danced haha.. it was so cool to be able to baptize
a family with one of my best friends... not too many people can say that...
none that I know of! After my buddy Elder Reynolds who is now an AP came
and picked me up in Prez's car haha... you know I still have hook ups even
though Gotts left haha... and we jammed on the way back. He turned on
Imagine Dragons and I was like what the heck you doing?! He was like
no dude I have permission from Prez to listen to this. haha I didn't
believe him and asked him why and how? He said because this singer is my
brother! Prez told him that he can listen to his brother as long as it
doesn't get out of hand and it still has to be uplifting haha... so it was
fun.  I felt like at home driving at night with a bud jammin to music
and you know I took advantage of the moment.  We stopped by the McDs
drive thru! haha it was definitely a good night even though I had the
biggest headache of my life and when I got home I still had to do all of
my leader duties.. it sucked! But now I have some Imagine Dragon concert
plans to go with my bud Elder Reynolds after the mish...I didn't believe
him till he showed me pics and everything but it must suck because when he
left they were nothing and now they have won grammys and everything and he
had to miss out. It also sucks because he gets home in 3 months and lives
in Las Vegas but he is way sick and you should be friends with his
family haha! Honestly not too much more happened this week.  We had
Stake Conference which was like for the whole region and Elder Oaks
and Elder Scott talked to us.  It was weird to hear Elder Scott speak
Spanish and understand it too! a part family (mom daughter and son)
came too and at the start when I came to this area the mom was super
negative and after yesterday she loved the conference and we can
really see a difference thats changing in her life. Well thats all I
really have for this week.  I can't think because I'm so rushed and distracted
in this place but I'm doing great... couldn't be any happier and loving
life.  I hope everything is going good there! Love you mom! Love everyone
else too!
Elder Clavel

Old Zone Leader Elder Cotrina... he leaves this next change ...and my comp Elder Gonzalez

My Area

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March 10, 2014~ "Remember You Are Braver Than You Believe, Stronger Than You Seem, and Smarter Than You Think"

1.  So Where Did you end up getting transferred to? 
Zona Santa Tecla, Area Zaragoza

2.  Who is your Companion (Name, Where from, How long they have been out)
Elder Gonzalez from Guatemala.  He has been out as long as Stin

3.  Did you get to say goodbye to everyone you wanted to?
Yeah..I kinda did.. the big ones at least

4.  So Stin was made a Trainer?
Yeah..I'm proud of that guy and we talk on the phone at nights sometimes haha



Yeah it was really hard leaving Layco... almost like I was leaving home.
All my family is there and literally my friend haha. But yeah I
definitely miss those people there...Thats sick about
Ryan.  He didn't bring shame to the name thats for sure! Glad to hear you
guys enjoyed yourselves... onto my week...

Man was it a week. Let me tell you something.... breaking up sucks. Haha I
feel like I broke up with my girlfriend or something and seeing Stin
leave was so weird... the bright side is we will get to see each other
occasionally and are keeping in contact so its all good but still not
the same. Also I realized how much Layco meant to me and I know, that
place and people will always have a place in my heart. The good thing
is I'm going back there this week to baptize the family! I got
permission and I'm super stoked!

My comp is my first Latino and while I have already had my best comp, I'm
still looking for my best Latino comp and Elder Gonzalez might be it.
I didn't get any pictures with him because I was way busy...I'm still DL and had to get
established. But he is from Guatemala and he is really short but a humble
way cool guy.  I definitely am grateful he is my comp and that I haven't
had a crappy comp. He can breakdance too.. its sick! haha I'm teaching
him English haha and also we have 3 Dominican Repulicans in my zone.
My District is awesome, hard working guys and we might be the best District
in the zone.. no thanks to me. We all are in the Rama Zaragoza and Prez has sent me
here with one mission...Change this Rama (Branch) into a Barrio  (Ward) so thats
what im gonna do.  Its a huge responsibility but its my goal since I failed in my last
area.

Here is really different than Layco.  The Zone consists of a nice rich
city and country side to the beach. My area is in between the beach
and the city ..so its country.. just what I wanted! But it freaking sucks
because we pretty much climb mountains all day haha, but the people here
are a whole lot more accepting and the climate is a little more
fresco (cool). My house is pretty nice... I have a couch...and you know I have
already claimed that...I live with 2 other elders one named Elder
Goodman he went to Alta and Elder Correas...he is from El Salvador waiting
for his Visa. Also we have to wash our clothes by hand yeh yeh! its
kinda fun when you have music haha... oh and hot water is gone. I take
bucket showers and let me tell you they are cold and the other Elders
think its funny the yell random stuff while pouring it on my haha. To
be honest its a huge change but I have been sent here for a reason and I
can feel that I belong here.  Its fun still.. just a different feel to it.
I feel like I'm missing something but really this week was crazy so I
probably did forget something but just know I'm doing great guys.. the
mish is fun when you get into it! Don't worry Mom all is good.  I
love you guys especially you Mom and know I'm always praying for you
guys!
Elder Clavel (how the people say my name)

Me and Stin at the beach

Shirts Thuedy's bro made for us for free... we customized them Lion and
Tiger, Greek Gods, Indians and Wizards are on them haha

"Jean Tie  Crew".. we added a member named Elder Larsen... he went to Lone
Peak... another AP

My great great grandad haha...He is  an AP, Elder Munez

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March 3, 2014~ "God Doesn't Give Us What We Can't Handle, God Helps Us Handle What We Are Given"

1.  My main question would be if you are staying or leaving, but I know that you might not even know the answer to that yet and I might have to wait till next Monday.
Chances are I'm leaving...

2.  Did your week fly by?  Did you and Stin do anything special or exciting knowing that this might be your last week together?
Yes this whole time with Stin did... But we partied and have a party on tuesday

3.  There was a picture that was shared on Sister Hintze's facebook page by her son who had just left from visiting them in El Salvador and it spoke about how if we had a loved one serving there to know that they were in good hands with Pres. and Sister Hintze.  I responded to the post by saying that I had a son serving in that mission and how much you loved them.  Then their daughter Michelle posted this:   "Sister Cleverly- I am the Hintze's daughter and I have been visiting the last 3 weeks. Elder Cleverly and Elder Smith are so awesome!!! We love them! What a great story!!! They are so happy and work so hard, and are having a great time together! They have also impressed us with their sewing skills! My dad loves his jean tie ! You have an incredible son! It has been the highlight of my trip to meet all of these wonderful missionaries!"  
So you got to meet some of their family?  What was that like?
Thats sick! It was awesome... they really are like another family to me... like MORE brothers and sisters... they are a sick family though

Yeah being with Prez was awesome.  I love those guys.  They really are some of the nicest people I have ever met and are a great example of love. Their place is way nice and don't think that El Salvador is like that because its not haha.

I actually had a little sickness this week... a tiny cold... nothing more haha.  I have never been one to get sick so I wasn't too worried even though everyone else was haha. Dang this week sounds like my kind of week where I would stay home and get to relax...dangit! Lets hope though Ryan does get some Varsity time. Thats awesome for Dallas.  I'm happy for that guy.  I'm sure he still loved Ohio but its a relief to finally be out to where he was called to be. Cloe is in the same mission as Abbey no?

Those pictures of Mike are priceless... what the heck things really have changed...I'm proud of that guy.. freakin love him to death. Thats cool you finally got to meet my other family haha..We have been wondering when you guys would get together! Well onto the week!

Dang Mom I can't bring myself to believe that I'm probably leaving this place. Its honestly the place I call home here and the people are my family. Well to start this week off... honestly the thing I wanted to do was to just work and work hard. Also I have been visiting all the families and people I have grown to really love and adopt as my own family. But really no big huge stories. We did put down 3 more fechas bautismales with a family who are way cool... After they helped me fulfill my dream here....Which was to eat at one of the nice restaurants that I have passed by everyday for the past 6 months. They took me there and we ate so good... it was amazing... that was a way good day. If there is one thing we did its eat really good this week haha...I even had Oreo cheesecake that Gabriella made so hah eat that Cass! Honestly nothing too huge happened though. Im just glad that I know I'm leaving this place better than when I came and also that I'm leaving Stin with things to do unlike my trainer did. I love Stin and really am going to miss him but he is keeping the tradish I started and training and I know he can do it. Who knows whats going to happen to me haha..I'm kinda scared.  Hopefully I just get sent to the boonies though. I hope you guys have a good week.  I wish I had more but really cannot think of anything. Love you and be safe on your trip!
Elder Clev

The apostasy in my area

My  Capilla (Chapel)

Cool converts that we always have noche de hogares and adopted as my converts

The boonies in my area

A Gaborro

Other Cool Converts

Crazy Grandma haha

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February 24, 2014~"Sacrifice is made sweet to us when we treasure the joy it brings to another heart."

1. Does your Branch President have kids? If so, how many? How old do you think he is?

Yeah he has 2. ..one is like 3 and the other like 3 months. he is like 24 years old. 

2.  Who scratches your back during Sacrament since you don't have Cass to do it? Stin? haha. 
Nobody... its the worst thing ever

3.  So the guitar pics...where did the guitar come from? 
My zone leader Elder Ralphs gave it to us before he left to Belize...
its the wizards in Layco guitar

Yeah Elder Fono is a cool guy.   I remember talking to him a little when
we left the MTC.  I hope one day I can be comps with him because he is a
chill cat. Yeah with Gaby and Alciria its getting better.  They came to
church and felt bad that they have struggled a bit.  I love those guys and
they really are my family here... they always take care of me. Sounds
like a bummer week haha... glad sicknesses aren't really a problem here but
I'm still crossing my fingers. Sounds like not too much happened
though. Yes Austin did tell me he got called... its good for him so he
keeps working hard. Enjoy your stupid nice weather just remember
I'm always sweating haha. onto my semana (week)

Well this week was a good and bad week but mostly good! First we met
with this convert family who got baptized in another area but live in
ours so they can't meet with the Elders there but they like us more
anyways haha... but go to the other church they were baptized in. Every
Pday we go and see them and they always feed us and we have good noche
de hogares. They only can meet on Pdays though... it sucks but we have
adopted them as our converts haha. On Tuesday we met with our
investigators that came to church and put down 2 fechas to be
baptized! The mom and the daughter accepted and the youngest daughter
is only 5 so yeah. But they have been having problems paying for their
house and so the Mom is looking for a job. It sucks though because then
yesterday the mom had a job interview during the time of church and
didn't go so that fecha fell and now me and Stin can't baptize
together....Sad but I learned my lesson of humility... that its not who
does it but that it is done ...because they still wanna be baptized just have
to put new fechas for them. We also found a couple menos activos (less actives)
 and yeah a pretty good week. Also we found this family that the dad is
less active and the rest of the family non members. We have been
teaching them and they are way cool. They all accepted to come to church
and they all did ...it was awesome!  The most investigators I have had come to
church... this family and the other without the mom. This week we are
gonna try and put all these fechas down before I leave and have Stin
reap the benefits haha. I learned that as an instrument of God its not
how I want to be used but how he is gonna use me. Well that kinda was
our week. Its sad because this is probably my last week here in my
hometown...don't worry I'm gonna get pics with all the cool families I
like to visit and some of the area before I boogey but here's to a good
week!

Something else I learned this week is how mens hearts fail them because
they don't remember who they are and where they are going. To me this
is important to always remember and we forget it a lot. Always keep
the Spirit with you! Love you guys and always try to be an instrument
in our Fathers hands! Love you... especially you Mom! Makes me sound like a
momma's boy but oh well haha! Till siete dias! (7 days)

Elder Clev

This pic is golden.... At the multizona we talked to Hermana Hintze and she told us when

Pres b-day was...it was this past Tuesday... and so we made a jean tie for Pres and

last p-day went to his house and chilled with them for a couple hours

haha ...it was so fun and nice to be in luxury for once! haha they all

loved it and all the missionaries are jealous haha ...just doin us!

loved it and all the missionaries are jealous haha just doin us!

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February 17, 2014~ "To Testify is to Know and to Say, to be Converted is to Do and Become"

1. Have you met Elder Fonoimoana? Just wondering because his mom is in my facebook group and his father passed away several weeks ago and he stayed there to serve and I was impressed with his thoughts he sent his mom.  Sounds like a great Elder!
Yeah he came with me.  He is a way cool guy and dang that sucks.  I hope
to be comps with him someday because he is way chill...that is sad but a strong
dude

2. Has having the Elder Latinos living with you helped you with the language? 
Nah... not really.  I haven't really had problems learning at the moment
to be honest but always improving

3. When you mentioned seeing a man on a motorcycle with an Orange Iguana, I expected you to have sent a picture of it.
Nah I was too slow...first time in my life...

4. How is Gaby and her mom doing with church?  Do they still have their callings?  I have spoken to Gaby through facebook when she posts pictures of you and Stin...and you guys are always eating!  haha!
They had been struggling to be honest but we had a good lesson
yesterday with them

5. About how many people attend church in your Branch?
Well it was like 70s 80s right now though 40s 50s

6. What have you learned from serving with Elder Smith (Stin)? or What have you learned from him?
Um I need more time to think about everything but one thing is
exact obedience.... having a friend as a comp you can't slack
and we have both learned that.

Seems like a better week this week.  I guess not too much to
comment on other than I always pray for Ryan and all you guys so
nothing to change really.

Well onto my week....

I will probably jump around a bunch because I don't know where to
start. First off and sadly is we were walking this week and twice we
saw this person feeding this dog that lives on the streets more food
than we get for lunch...Welcome to El Salv. After that I felt like we
should stop by Alcirias so we did and turns out that her sister who
lives right by her needed help opening her door because she was locked
out. So since I was tall enough to get to the window and with a broom
handle clicked the door open ...it was so hard haha and took awhile. Also I
couldn't do it because her dang sister is creepy and was holding me up to
the window by pushing my butt !! haha.
Also this week we found yet another new area that I never knew about
and had a lot more success. There we found a family!  Well
technically not a family because there is no dad but a lady named Reyna
her 2 daughters and her son. They are the nicest family...very receptive
and also came to church woooo!!!! Also the members did a great job
fellowshipping for once haha. During sacrament her daughter Sarai who
is 5 years old kept bugging her and she couldn't listen so I started
drawing pictures with her so she could pay attention.  It reminded me of
Sacraments at home ahha but her daughter is so cute and the sweetest
little girl. Also we found another young family who are receptive and
wanna know if the church is true. The wife Liticia had a way cool
story. She told us she was talking with one of her friends and her
friend told her about someone she knew that got baptized by these
young guys who were called Mormons. So Liticia was kinda thinking
about that and an hour later we randomly contacted their house...so
weird!!! Honestly being led by the Spirit! We also had a Multizona (multi-
zone conference) this week and talked about being instruments in the hands of God so
weird how everything connected this week. Also at the Multizona, since we are tight
with the AP's, we got picked to do a practice of putting a baptism fecha (date).
Hah Stin was way serious and explained everything. Then I came in and pulled out
my baptismal pictures and said like this guapo (handsome guy) you can be happy  
(while showing the picture of Kae's baptism)  and Yes this is that same guapo (handsome guy)
I have experienced 2 up close baptisms... haha everyone especially Pres was laughing haha
You know I had to do me and they said we did great. After that one of the APs commented and
said "you guys have a really good companionship" and it got me thinking about
how good I do have it. I honestly feel like we can do miracles and take on whatever
like Alma and Amulek... its so awesome.

Well onto my last thing... about Gabriella and Alciria, they have been
slipping a bit... actually a lot... so we planned to stop by yesterday. When
we did there was a huge fight between her, her brother (an ex
missionary but he has his problems), her sister (menos activo (less active) that doesn't
want anything to do with the church but loves us), and her daughter
all arguing about how us missionaries haven't been helping them. Her brother
is a grumpy dude and really judgemental so there was a lot of yelling...
we decieded to leave and wait till they were done.  We then had a lesson with
Alciria and Gabriella. We said a lot of things and it was great.   I know
the Spirit was there because Gaby was crying and she never cries haha. I
talked about how I would lose my life to save a soul and as my very
first converts I want the best for them and know that what they are
doing isn't their best. You could really see a change in them and I know
they are doing their best. That is the trial in life though.. is enduring
to the end...a short phrase with a lot of meaning.
What I would like to leave you with is this ...that if you are here to save your
life you will lose it like God has said. I was thinking about this and couldn't sleep.
I kept thinking about my converts and can't live knowing and seeing them fall away
then I tried thinking its alright because I am on good ground so then I could sleep
but it still bugged me. I can honestly say I don't think I can be selfish anymore. I would rather
lose my life saving a soul and that is what I hope you guys feel too because
once you have that feeling you can never try and deny it. I love you guys and hope you
 keep pushing on. Love you Mom.... keep everyone in line!!
Elder Clev

p.s we got new jerseys again better ones and cheaper too, jerseys here
are way cheap.  Also we made a jean tie for Prez for his bday tomorrow and we are stopping
by his house today

Grass! we found Grass!

Clev and Stin

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