Last Week in the MTC!

Hola amigos!

Western Scrub Jay (Yes I still like bird watching!)

 This week has been really eventful, especially since it has been my last week in the MTC. I got my flight plans last Friday and I am beginning my journey to Argentina this coming Monday early in the morning! I am the only one going to Resistencia, but fortunately, I will be on the same flight as my companion and 16 other missionaries going to his mission of Rosario. We will travel to the Atlanta airport from 2:20 PM to 7:54 PM, then travel to the Buenos Aries Argentina airport from 9:01 PM to 9:10 AM. What a night that will be! I will probably try to call home during my layover in Atlanta or before I leave Utah. After I get to Argentina, I have no idea how I will get to my mission, but I trust both that my mission president will send someone to get me, and that the ride back will take most of Tuesday. Wow!

 

Diana (one of our practice investigators of the MTC), me, and my companion.

We have spent a lot of time preparing to our departures. We concluded all of our investigator lessons, which was sad to me because teaching is my favorite thing to do here. The cool thing was that we taught our last lessons as if we would be teaching again soon. It's cool because it shows we have trust for the missionaries that will replace us in the field. We are all on the same team, Jesus Christ's team, so investigators are often taught by many different sets of missionaries.

 

My Companion with Hermano Myers (AKA Lucas); he has a sock and tie match.

I've been busy as Zone leader. We get to interview all of the District leaders about how their districts are doing and plan all of the meetings for our Zone. It's so great to be doing so much good work.

 

We got to teach a member through Skype who lives in Columbia. She served in the same mission in which I will soon be serving! Her father doesn't go to church, which makes her sad. We invited her to invite her father to pray. Some of the most powerful experiences I have had have come through prayer. It's really cool being a missionary because it gives me an excuse to be fearless. I know though, that being a member of Jesus Christ's restored church on the earth should be excuse enough to be fearless. I invite each of you to invite someone you know to pray and ask God if He is there and if He loves them. I testify that they will receive an answer, even if it doesn't come right away. Know that after you make this invitation, it is up to them to accept or reject your invitation.

 

Our district with Hermana Ellison (AKA Sandra) with our favorite names for the Savior.

In other news, we went to the temple on Tuesday, probably for the last time in two years. Temples are holy buildings in which we make promises with God and receive blessings. We can also do essential work, such as baptism, in the place of those who have died without the opportunity to do this work for themselves. This means that through temples, people can still be saved even if they didn't have a chance to be baptized. God is so merciful! I will miss going to the temple.

 

Just yesterday, the MTC missionaries packed nearly 358,000 meals for hungry children throughout Utah. I got to lead a table of missionaries in the packing process which was so much fun! I love to help other people!

 

Elder Oaks, a modern-day Apostle of Jesus Christ, spoke to us yesterday about the importance of being grateful for everything God gives us, even the trials of our lives, because those trials bring us closer to Him and help us grow. In another meeting themed on Thanksgiving thanks, missionaries shared talents with us, including piano playing, yodeling, organ playing, and even rubber ducky sounds to the tune of "Rubber Ducky." I have no idea how that number made it in...

The coolest package ever from my family. I was ooh-ing for a good 10 minutes. Thanks so much! A missionary couldn't have a better gift!

 

I have felt the spirit countless times this week. If you want to feel God's love more in your life, you must pray with a humble heart, recognizing your weaknesses. You must be willing to repent, or ask forgiveness from God, and then change your life to live according to His will. I know this great change is only possible through Jesus Christ, who loves you personally. I promise that through repentance, you will feel His love.

Love you all!

Elder Cloward

P.S. - The next time I email, I will be in Argentina!

P.P.S - I accidentally left a read pencil in one of my white shirt pockets and that shirt is now pink. Why did it have to happen on the last week?!

A Tiny Seed Needs Sunlight and Water

Hola Hermanos y Hermanas! Hello brothers and Sisters!

What an amazing week! I have grown so much. Some of the changes I have had to make in my life have been particularly difficult, but I know I am becoming who God wants me to be.

 

District Elders being silly

Last week we learned in class some new ways to teach more effectively. We have to back up the scriptures with our testimonies, not back up our words with the scriptures. It makes sense, but it's much harder than one would think. However, it makes a tremendous difference because God's words are always better than ours. We are also learning how to ask inspired questions that invite investigators to think deeply. No more "how do you feel?" and "what do you think?" By asking inspired questions and using the scriptures to answer doubts rather than trying to explain what we think, we invite investigators to answer their own questions. I know that this way to teach invites the Holy Ghost, which is the ultimate teacher.

 

Scatter Sunshine all along your way... Every passing day!

I was released from my assignment as district leader this past week so another Elder could experience what it is like. We learn so much in leadership positions. My favorite thing I got to do as a district leader was interview other Elders in the district about their progress and their relationships with their companions. It was so cool to hear each of their testimonies about how God is helping each of them to become better. Whenever there were issues between companions, it was incredible to see how just talking with the other companion made up the difference. I know that when you have a problem between you and another person, you can resolve it if you just have a brief "companionship inventory." Discuss strengths of the relationship and of each other. Then say "you can be even more effective if you..." I know that this builds me up and I have seen it mend relationships. So cool!

 

Our District Mission tags

This last Sunday, my companion and I were assigned as the new Zone leaders. Wow! This means we now serve 4 districts. God is teaching us how to lead and it is difficult and exciting! It is particularly difficult for me because I am a sit-back-and-observe kind of person. I am also learning how to lead in a way that those I lead will feel loved and also want to do what is right. I am not very good at it, but I look to Jesus Christ, who is our perfect example of a leader. I will continue to pray for God's help and guidance.

 

I am trying to learn how God talks to me. I am learning that when I am humble, God can teach me. I struggle to find a balance between seriousness and fun so that I can hear and feel the Holy Ghost always. It is hard.

 

Elder Maisey and I got to teach a special lesson this week. The MTC staff connected us to a member of the church in Argentina! That was so exciting! We could hardly understand her because the connection was poor and she spoke Spanish so fast, but we learned that she has a two year old daughter and that her husband joined the church a few years before they were married. Wow! After seeing the light of Jesus Christ in her eyes, I can't wait to go to Argentina! We invited her to share her love of Christ's gospel with someone she knows that needs it. I would also challenge each of you to do this. Remember how grateful you are for Jesus Christ, who died to save us. Go tell someone how much you love Him and how much he loves them. You can change lives!

 

Most of the Elders in my Zone (The one smiling was the preivous Zone leader. He is an amazing example to me of a leader who helps everyone feel loved and also encourages them to do their best)

Our district had an English fast this past Tuesday. We tried to only use Spanish throughout the day. It was hard, but I know my Spanish was strengthened. I would recommend not doing this very much because we couldn't speak very much and I felt less effective because of this. Even still, it really strengthened my Spanish and humbled me.

 

Yesterday, we shared our last lesson with our investigator Diana. It was really hard to say goodbye because I have felt the spirit so strongly in our lessons with her. She is amazing and wants to learn more. After our lesson, we talked to someone who watched our lesson remotely with her, and she showed us some notes Diana had been taking of our lessons with her. She said that she had felt happy and peaceful when we prayed with her and that because of this, she wanted to pray more to receive answers from God. Wow! That is why I am on my mission. I am hear to invite all to come to Christ, through faith repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

 

I invite each of you to pray to God tonight. He is your Heavenly Father and he loves you. He will answer your prayer with peace. Begin by addressing Him. Then have a conversation with Him. Tell Him what you are grateful for and what you need. Ask Him questions. Then close your prayer "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." He will answer. You may not hear words, but you will feel His love for you. You will have His peace. This is my testimony to you.

I love you all!

Elder Cloward

MTC Halfway Point- What a spiritual week!

Buenos dias amigos!

I love it here in the MTC! It is somewhat sad to me that we have passed the halfway point. It goes by so fast. The campus is really nice, being right next to my dream school BYU. The mountains are fantastic and it has snowed a little this past week. However, even more fantastic than the snow balls, delicious food, comfortable dorms, friendly missionaries, awesome companions, and excellent language trainers, are the powerful spiritual experiences everyday.

 

At the Provo Temple. I will miss this place.

 

On 11/6, Elder Inman was sick. His companion, Elder Starr, and I gave him a priesthood blessing. The priesthood is the power of God given to man to serve God's children on the earth. It is by this authority that we can baptize and also by which we can bless the sick. I am happy that God trusts me with his power and provides me with opportunities to serve.

 

The next day, we taught Lucas again. We focused on teaching him just about baptism. Here is a portion of my journal entry for that day:

 

"After sharing multiple scriptures (Mosiah 18: 8-11) about the people of Alma desiring to be baptized and the example of Jesus Christ, he prayed with us and asked God if he should be baptized. During the prayer, I realized that the only thing I wanted in the world was for Lucas to receive an answer from God. [I prayed mightily for him]. After the prayer, he was noticeably affected, but still unsure. The spirit then prompted me to tell him that this decision is really big, that it is not our decision and we can't make it for him. It is up to him to choose. I then invited him to be baptized again. It was quiet for what felt like two minutes. Finally, he replied 'I know God wants me to be baptized. Yes.' That was the coolest thing to hear! I know it will bless his life... Hurray!"

 

I must have invited him three times during that lesson to be baptized. My companion thought I was really pushing him, but I know I felt and obeyed God's promptings to me.

 

Snowing!

We sang this past Tuesday, an arrangement of "Nearer My God To Thee" for the devotional. This song applies so powerfully to me right now. If I am not coming closer to God each day, I am falling away from Him. I especially love the line "Angels to beckon me." I know that angels are with us daily to protect us and invite us closer to Christ. During the song, I was able to focus on the words of the song and felt the spirit very powerfully, as I plead with God to help me come closer to Him. What a great song!

 

 

 

My companion and I had a contest to not look at the screens while we were singing. If I looked, I had to do 10 push-ups, him, 30. Even though we focused really hard, me 10, him 90 (he is really built!)

We are learning to teach more specifically and with more power. My companion and I have a long way to go, but we are on God's side and have great love for our investigators and desires to follow Christ. I invite each of you to come closer to Christ this week. Read the scriptures, serve someone in need, or give a heartfelt prayer of gratitude. I know this will bring you greater happiness and peace.

Have a happy day!

Elder Cloward

P.S. To answer some questions, my departure date is either Nov 30, or Dec. 1, I'm not sure which yet. My Spanish is coming along nicely. I can communicate, but at this point, every sentence I give has at least one error in it. I'm getting all of our recent language lessons confused and there is little time to review or fully incorporate what I am learning. Still, it's fun to pop a Spanish word that the rest in the district don't know and have them decipher what I'm saying. Next Tuesday, our district is doing an English and food fast. I am excited for this opportunity to develop.

 

This is my last week as district leader. It has been a great, but difficult experience. I am excited to see who will be assigned this next week.

Love you all!

 

Spike Ball With Elder Maisey

 

Second Week- Awesome!

Buenos dias!

 So much happens in a week at the Missionary Training Center, I have to look back at my journal to remember anything.

 

This week, Elder Maisey and I continued to teach Lucas and Diana, and a new investigator named Sandra. Even though these people are members of the church pretending to be investigators (people who want to know more about the church), they have become very real people to me. I spend all of my time and effort thinking about them and preparing lessons that will invite God's love and spirit into their lives. Lucas was our first investigator, and this week, he surprised us all. One day we showed up to class, and there he was, ready to teach us! His real name is Brother Myers. He's probably my favorite person in the whole world right now, partly because everything he teaches us is so profound and personally powerful that I just want to write everything he says down. He has taught us to be misionaros imparables, unstoppable missionaries, who don't let excuses get in the way of working hard and doing their best. However, I love him even more because I have felt the Holy Ghost testify through me to him of the importance and power of Jesus Christ and His gospel in our lives. He was the first person we taught to pray, even though we didn't even know how to pray in Spanish ourselves. Just yesterday, we taught him how to repent and be clean from sin by praying for forgiveness from God. As he prayed with us, the joy of the Holy Ghost was so overwhelming, I almost cried. I remembered all of the times I have repented and become clean. I invited him to continue on the path to the savior and be baptized. There was a long pause as he thought about it. He almost said yes, but told us he wanted to pray about it before he made the decision. I told him I know God will say yes.

 

In other news, A lot of medical issues have come up in our branch (a group of districts or classes each consisting of about five companionship). About two weeks ago, I got a little bit sick, but pushed through. Now nearly everyone except my companion and Elder Starr have gotten sick in one way or another. Elder Inman used hydrogen peroxide to clean his contacts, put then immediately put one in his eye. Needless to say, he had to leave the MTC to get medical attention, but he is okay now. An Elder from another district was rushed to the hospital to get his appendix removed. That was scary, but he is okay and recovering too.

 

Today it snowed briefly, and Elder Inman, who has never left Florida, was so excited to see snow for the first time. Snow is so clean and pure. I want to help my investigators feel this same way.

Elder Maynes, the President of the Quorum of the Seventy ( a group of 70 church leaders) visited on Tuesday and taught about going out each day to find new people to teach. God is preforming miracles for people in Argentina so they will be ready for me to teach them when I arrive. However, if I don't do my part by searching and opening my mouth, I may miss my chance to serve them. I know that as I am brave, God will speak through me to His Children and they will feel His power and peace.

 

The food is good here. I eat a lot, but still weigh less that any of the other Elders by at least 5 lbs, even though I am taller than most of them by several inches.

 

Time is flying by, though we do so much each day here. I am happy and well and hope to hear from more of you. Thank you for your support!

MTC Week 1

About to get on the plane.

Hola amigos! You soy un misionaro de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Utimos Dias. I am a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am in the missionary training center (MTC) in Provo Utah. I love it here! I have learned harder and felt the Holy Ghost with more power and frequency than ever before in my life.

 Before entering the MTC, I visited my family in Utah. One of my favorite visits was with my great grandma Price. She is very old and speaks a lot, but nothing she says makes any sense. There is a good chance that I will never see her again. I sat with her and held her had as she spoke. The entire time, I felt an intense love for her that I know was from God. I told her I love her and that I was going on a mission. She smiled and said, "I'm proud of you."

Me and Elder Maisey, my companion

 

My first day in the MTC, our teacher spoke only Spanish. I am glad I took 3 years in high school; it's really making a difference. As missionaries, we have companions with us at all times. My companion is Elder Maisey. He is from the opposite side of the US in Alaska - so cool! He is very social and outgoing and he feels like the other half of me. Thursday or Friday, we met our Branch Presidency (the three leaders that take care of our "Branch") and they assigned a district leader for our district (our district has 8 Elders and 3 Hermanas). That night,we shared our testimonies with each other. I was last to share. The spirit told me, "you are very likely to be assigned as the district leader." I told God, "I don't want to be the district leader." I told him though, that I would be myself, and if he wanted me to be a leader, I would. I shared a powerful testimony full of the spirit. Later that evening, I was asked to be the district leader and I accepted.

 

Our classroom

My companion and I have already taught five lessons to two different investigators. Our lessons are only in Spanish (God does so much for us!) It is hard because we can understand for the most part, what the investigator is saying, but not how to reply. We have gotten Lucas and Diana (our investigators) to pray with us and read parts of the Book of Mormon. We can't speak, but the Holy Ghost testifies through us of the truth of our words. We have invited both of them to be baptized. They feel God's love for them, but are not yet ready to make the big step.

 

 

 

Our district. (Elders Cambell, Andrew, Cloward, Wandry,
Maisey, Shaffer, Starr, Inman, and Hermanas Riley, Davis, and Bryce)

Last Tuesday, Neil L. Anderson, a living apostle of Christ's restored Church, visited the MTC. He bore his witness of Christ and our district bore ours through the MTC choir. That was incredible!

 

While at the MTC (five more weeks), I read and respond to emails only on Thursday. If you sign up on DearElder.com, (for a small fee), you can send me letters any day and I will get them. That would be great!

 

 

 

 

God has blessed me with a small but powerful testimony. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know God wants everyone to come to Him in faith, repent, be baptized by proper authority, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know that God loves me and that my entire family is supporting me, not just those who are alive now, but also those who are in Heaven.

Our zone leaders decorated our door!

Elders Inman, Starr, Me, Maisey, Wandry, Shaffer, Cambell, and Andrew at the temple.

Good MTC food. I eat way too much!

Six Weeks of Training

Elder Cloward started his missionary training today.  He'll have six weeks of intense Spanish language training in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah before he heads off to Argentina. Here are a couple of pictures:

Elder Cloward in the Austin Airport

Elder Cloward was able to visit with lots of family members
in Utah before starting his training.  Here he is with
his Grandma Cloward.

Elder Cloward arriving at the Missionary Training Center

Church Talk & Leaving Tomorrow

I'm leaving tomorrow morning early to begin my mission!  I'm nervous and excited and working hard to get everything packed up today.  Here is the talk that I gave in church on Sunday:

Hello! My name is Matthew Cloward and I have been called to serve a mission for Jesus Christ in the Argentina Resistencia mission. I love Jesus Christ. I know that He loves me and you. I hope you can feel that.

I would like to teach about why it is important to learn about Jesus Christ. I pray that the spirit can confirm the truthfulness of the things I say.

Jesus Christ plays a central role in God’s plan for us. Before our lives here on earth, we lived in Heaven with Heavenly Father, the father of our spirits. Our Father created a plan, known as the Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Happiness. In His plan, we would go down to earth and receive bodies, learn, and grow. In Job 38:7, it says that when we heard His plan, “all the sons of God shouted for joy.” We were so happy to have this great opportunity. We were given the gift to chose right from wrong, so that we could learn for ourselves to chose the good. However, we knew that we would make mistakes and because “no unclean thing can enter into [God’s] kingdom,” we would be stuck, cast away from God forever. We needed a savior, someone who could free us from the mistakes we would make. The center of God’s Plan of Happiness is the Savior, Jesus Christ.

In John 3:16, we read:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

Jesus is God’s only physical son. Heavenly Father sent him both to live as an example for us and to save us from our sins. God promises us that if we have faith in Jesus Christ, we won’t perish, but have the greatest gift God can give, which is eternal life. That is a happy promise!

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life free from sin. He provided an example for how we should live our lives. He said in John 8:12:

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The Savior can be compared to a light house. 

A light house shines brightly. It warns sailors of dangerous rocks that could destroy their ships. It helps them know where to go so they can make it to the harbor safely. Likewise, the Savior is a guide in our lives. While on the earth, he taught his gospel, which is the only way by which we can return to Heavenly Father. That’s why the most important thing we can do in this life is learn of Jesus Christ. He is the only way we can return to live with God again. If a sailor chooses not to search for the light of the light house or chooses not to follow its warning, he won’t make it back to the harbor. If we don’t search for and then follow the teachings of the Savior, we won’t make it back to Heavenly Father. In order to return to God, we must first learn about Jesus Christ so that we can follow His teachings. And as we follow his gospel, we will have great happiness now as well as in Heaven.

I would like to share some examples of people who have had great happiness in this life because they had desires to come closer to Jesus Christ. Enos was a prophet of the Book of Mormon. 

We can follow his pattern as we search for Christ in our own lives. First, he studied the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Enos studied God’s words from the scriptures. He also prayed about them and received a testimony for himself that they were true. Second, his “soul hungered.” He remembered the words he had studied and desired to have the same joy as the people in the scriptures. Next he acted on his desire and prayed in faith for a forgiveness of his sins. He prayed all day and into the night. After “mighty prayer and supplication,” God told him that he was forgiven. He didn’t stop there though. After his guilt was swept away, he was filled with a deep love and a desire for others. He prayed for his friends and even his enemies. That’s what learning about and applying the teachings of Jesus does for us. It fills us up with the love of the savior. It causes us to want to share our joy with everyone.

Alma the younger was another man from the Book of Mormon. His steps of coming to Christ were similar to those of Enos, except that at first, Alma did not want to learn of Jesus Christ and actually worked to destroy Christ’s church. As he went out spreading lies with his friends, the sons of King Mosiah, an angel appeared to him and said:

“if thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God (Alma 36:9).”

Alma was paralyzed with fear for three days and three nights. During this time, his soul was “raked with all [his] sins” and he was filled with “inexpressible horror (Alma 36: 12, 14).” He could not bear to see God again because of the many sins he had committed. As he felt these feelings of despair, he remembered the things his father had taught him about Jesus Christ. Alma says, in Alma 36: 18-20:

 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

 Alma felt the power of repentance in his life. He knew that Jesus Christ had saved him and from that time forth, he went to the people throughout the whole land inviting them to repent as he had and feel the same great joy he had felt.

I too have felt the power of repentance in my life. I have made mistakes that cause me to feel terrible and lost. When you feel these feelings, know that God has not abandoned you, that he is always there, but that you have to seek for Him. The first step of repentance is recognizing and acknowledging your mistake. You must have a desire to repent because if you don't want to change, Christ can not help you. Sometimes you have to humble yourself to take this step because it is hard to give up some sins. However, after you choose to confess your sin to God, and sincerely repent, the love that comes from Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that you just want to share it with everyone! Just like Enos and Alma, I have felt the happiness that comes after repentance and I want to invite everyone to feel this peace and joy. God has called me to share His gospel to the world. Repentance works! I will invite everyone I can to learn about the Savior, who is the only source of lasting happiness and peace on this earth.

I would like to invite each of you to come to Jesus Christ. Learn of Him every day so that you can find peace from Him every day. Remember that coming to Christ is not a one time event, but a every day process. The gospel of Christ is a gospel of becoming. After the Sons of Mosiah repented and came to a knowledge of their Savior, they still had trials and hardship. God called them to preach to the Lamanates, a people who were their enemies. Their mission was exciting, but also very frightening. As they traveled to their mission, they began to be afraid of the great work that the had been called to do. However, they fasted and prayed much to come closer to Christ. Then Jesus spoke comfort to them. It says in Alma 17: 10-12:

 

 10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

 11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

 12 And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God.

I too will be going to teach the Lamanites. I am afraid. But Jesus Christ brings me comfort and I know that I will be okay.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior! He loves each of us! I know that God is real and that he loves us too. Because they love us, they restored the fullness of the Gospel to the earth through a young boy named Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know this because I have prayed to know and the Holy Spirit has testified to me that it is. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost that brings me peace and happiness when I share truth. I hope that you have felt the Spirit's quiet and peaceful message. God loves you!

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.