turkey day of thanks

Subject: its a big 57

Well family
thanks for all writing me i looooooooove letters! (hand written or
email) and they were all long which is great! there is not really a
lot to do on pday here so we just read emails and play games. and
stuff so the more you write me the better my week goes! plus the
spirit helps as well.
So this week was great. allot of really really cool things are going
down here in witchcraft falls. first off on Monday it was pday
Shocking! not like that happens every week. but we just played games
monopoly mostly and then we played the uke around a little bit. making
up songs. then after that we had an appointment at a Jehovah witness
house. we were a little late by about 30 min because our dinner went
late. so we biked over there. and knocked on his door. we waited and
waited and then knocked again. the dog started barking. (that's
usually a sign that they will open the door if there home) we see him
move across the room through the window. but he doesn't answer the
door. we just about to leave when the dog goes running around the back
into the street. looking for something. (us) then we see a guy and he
has a shotgun in his hands. and pops around the corner looking at his
dog and at the street. were in the dark because its about 630. and
there is no porch light so we he cant see us. i am listening to the
spirit but it decided to be silent that night. so i didn't know ether
to say something, run, hide or duck down. i don't want to scare him
because then he would shoot. and i don't want to hide because then if
he saw us then he would shoot as well. so i just said excuse me sir.
he turned around and said o it just you guys. he told us that we
shouldn't be out this late because its a scary hood. but i told him
the lord is on our side. the rest of the night was uneventful
(thankfully)
on Tuesday we had two Spanish lessons with two family's set up for
that night and so we wanted a member who spoke Spanish to come with
us. because i cant really teach the lesson or talk to them. so we
needed a sub. so that morning we called and called and called AND
CALLED. but no one was answering their phones or able to come out with
us. so we thought we had to do this solo. then all of a sudden we
remembered that bishop spoke just a little Spanish. so we called him
up and he said he could come out with us.  we went to the lesson and
he told us that his Spanish wasn't good at all and he just knew a few
words. so we thought it was just going to be elder pugmire on his own
again. we got into the lesson and bishop started talking like a
Mexican. he didn't know what he was saying but he was speaking Spanish
better than antonio banderas. he told them and us that what ever he
was thinking was coming out in Spanish. he didn't know what the family
was saying back to him and what questions they were asking but he
answered them as though he studied Spanish all his life. no joke, gift
of tongues. super sick, the lord knows whats what. and that happened
both lessons. it was really cool. both wanted us to come back.
on Wednesday we got like three people to come out with us. so it was a
really good day. a new investigator and a lot of people to see. then
this guy invited us to dinner just randomly. he lives like five years
away. so we had plenty of time to talk. he told us his life story then
he said that he just recently married a lady and now has a new
daughter and both of them are not members and he wanted us to teach
them both. it was really cool how the lord provides people to teach.
the lesson went great and they want us to come back.
on Thursday it was turkey day. we had the turkey bowl first thing in
the morning. it was really fun i love football. not really but its the
only chance we get play on the mission. so we played our hardest. then
after that we had lunch with the babble family. they are really cool
and we had lots of food. my favorite thing was there seven layer
jello. it took 10 hours to make. then we had dinner with the dixon
family. he is such a cool guy he is willing to do anything with the
missionary. even if he hast to leave work to teach a lesson with us.
but by the end of the night we all gained like ten pounds. and we had
so much food left over. it was crazy. everybody in the ward that had
extra food gave it to us.
on Friday was district meeting. like normal the zone leaders came down
and i saw elder heartd. i haven't seen him since the MTC. he is a
great guy.
on Saturday we just knocked on a lot of doors. then we had dinner with
this recent convert. she is super crazy. like crazy enough to swear
in her testimony at church. and say the B word in Sunday school. so it
was me and elder pugmire and jones and chatman. dinner was great. then
after she was showing us around her house and there was a pair of hand
cuffs on her table. so i decided it would be a funny joke to put them
on elder jones. that when i was informed that there was no key to
those. (o crap that was stupid) so he spent the rest of the night with
those on. and the cop in the ward had to come and take them off.
Sunday we had another couple of Spanish lessons. its crazy how many
Spanish people there are in our area.
well thats it for this week. keep up the good work back home. i love
you all so much.
Love Elder Clements
Ps so for Christmas or what ever i mostly need new clothes because all
of them are getting old and stained. whirt shirts 16 neck size (slim
fit please) G's im a Medium all around (mesh if you could) and maybe a
pair of pants 34/32 black or dark gray. i think that could be it.
everything else just make it a surprise. (and i love those videos)

Elder Pugmire :)

HI family
how is it going this fine day? so you had thanks giving early huh? how
was it. the best turkey and gravy? we have thanks giving with the
babble family. there really cool. he is a doctor and he does hands and
feet stuff. he showed us pictures on his phone of these people and
what happens to there hands. it makes me want to keep my hands in my
pockets at all times.
life is good here
Monday we had zone pday. it was good we played a game called scatter
ball its kind of like dodge ball but everybody is on there own team.
Tuesday i emailed you. so that was fun. that night we had dinner with
this family and they cooked us a meal that the dad ate on his mission.
it was this traditional Mexican food. like really thin sliced meat
rolled in batter and fried. it was crazy they sent it home with us.
and we forgot it on the counter and it stunk so bad by morning i
thought we were going to die. then after dinner we went to see this
Spanish family. we prayed with them last week and they said we could
come back. so when we stopped by they let us in. the only problem was
that they only spoke Spanish. so i didn't have any idea what was
happening in the lesson i couldn't answer any questions and i just had
to sit and pray my heart out for elder pugmire and his Spanish. so
because he has only been out for about three months his Spanish is not
the best. but that lesson he did great. (i think form what it sounded
like he did good) they invited us to come back tomorrow so hopefully
we can get a member to come out with so elder pugmire inst the only
one teaching.
on wednesday we had lunch with this family at golden corral. and we
found two new investigators there. one was the waitress. and the other
was some lady that asked if we worked there. it was cool because they
both asked us why we were dressed so nice and that they never see
young men dressed like that anymore. that night we helped move a guy
out of his house and into a nursing home. he got surgery on his vocal
cords or something so now he hast to talk with one of thous electric
vibrating things.  he weights close to 500 pounds so he had alot of
crap around. (not really crap) but there was this bottle of yellow
liquid in a wine bottle and i was like i hope thats alcohol. and half
way through the move this crazy lady showed up and started yelling at
us and telling us that all of that stuff was hers. so we called the
guy up to make sure this lady was telling the truth. and she was not
she just wanted all of his crap. a couple of things were hers but most
of the stuff that she said belonged to her was his. its crazy how
people take advantage of others like that.
On thursday we had a mission tour with Elder Boen from the 70. (he is
the one in general confrence that his kid died and he was really
bitter about it. his talk is called "because he lives we shall live")
but he came to our mission to give us the low down. so when elder
calister came he told us that we need to raise that bar. and so our
member present lessons whet up form three a week to six. and then
elder boen came in and said that we need to get like 35 a week! holy
freaking fish piss. that's a lot of member involvement. he told the
story about the guy that first ran the four minute mile and how people
said that i couldnt be done. but after he broke the record four people
broke his record in the same year. and he compared it to us that
people say that you cant get 35 member presents a week. but all we
need is an example to show us the way. and then lots of people will
start getting that or better. he also compared us to fleas. how they
jump around but they cant walk or crawl. if you put fleas in a jar
with a lid on it the fleas will try to jump out for a wile but then
because they dont want to hit the glass they only jump high enough
were they don't hit the top. now if these fleas have baby's in the
same jar the new fleas will only jump as high as there parents so then
you can take the lid off and no fleas will jump out they will only
jump to the same height and never get out.   it was crazy but
inspirational. the lord is hastening his work and he is really busting
our butts to make sure things happen as they should. so we rode up
with this senor couple to the conference. and they forgot there wallet
so because the free way is a toll road. they didn't have money to pay
the fees. neither me nor elder pugmire had cash so we drove on the
back roads all the way from Oklahoma city to Texas. so the trip that
should have taken us about two hours took us about four. and the only
thing we ate that day was one mcdobble for McDonald. because that's
all of the money they had. should have fasted it would have been
easy-er and more blessings.
So we have been working our butt off but we didnt teach alot this
week. just lots of finding and trying people and not alot of numbers
success. so i dont think there is alot more to talk about.
o one more story so we found this lady/girl (idk how old she is) we
prayed with her and she told us to come back. so when we went back it
wasnt a good time for her so she asked for our number so she could
call us when she was available. so we swapped numbers. we didn't think
anything of it because usually you get a number and it makes it so you
can call them when they don't answer the door and you know there home.
but about an hour latter we get a call from her. i answer and she
immediately hangs up. so i thought it was just a pocket dial. then she
calls back about twenty minutes latter. she asked if this was the
missionary's i said yes. she asked what time we stay out until. i told
her 9 (i was thinking she was setting up an appointment) she said o
really that's great. then she asked is there anyway i could get to you
know you guys? i asked what she meant? she was like physically?....
awkward silence.....  i said ummm probably not.  we are strictly
missionaries. and we just teach the gospel....... another awkward
silence...... OK  then we said goodbye. you can tell she felt
rejected. we thought about leaving a law of chastity pamphlet and a
strength of youth on her door. but we decided not to.
well thats it for this week i hope you have a smashing day! congrats
on your deer dad. lauren stay away from boys. dakota stay away from
girls. i will try to send a package this week if not don't feel like i
don't love you. because i will do it next week.
you guys are the best i love you so much and i will talk to you in
about a month. dakota you be there for that phone call or i will kick
your butt so hard on supersmash bros when i get home.
Love Elder Clements
so i forgot me and elder pugmire are doing great. i dont really know

what to talk to him about. he is so quiet. and he doesnt really do
alot. and he has no self a steam at all so im trying to boost his
confidence as much as possible. he is super fast though we are
practicing for the turkey bowl and man that kid can run.  he is also
good at writing in his journal. he is already 3/4 though his journal
and he is just beginning. and he is constantly working on his Spanish
so that he can teach the lessons alone. he taught me how to pray in
Spanish and how to bear my testimony. its crazy but it will help me
out.
but he is a really good guy i love him
thats it
love elder clements

Understanding Spanish

Subject: good 57 your a good boy

hello family
so to start off the weather her is bipolar or going through menopause. because we keep getting hot flashes. it like 80 and then it drops down to like 28 so my body is freaking out. it cant adjust to the temperature in time. so its way to hot and then I'm freezing my name tag off. i think I'm good on winter clothing because its not supposed to get that super cold and i think it only snows once a year here. i wished i was in a car area through the winter but if I'm going to be in a bike it might as well be in Texas! 
so i guess to start off the week pday we played basketball (how original) i haven't played basketball in like six months so I'm losing my touch. i couldn't hit my butt with both hands. so i ended up messing around the whole time like running with the ball in my shirt and passing to the other team. but i guess thats the way things go. and since elder dalia found out he was leaving, he decided that he wanted to take pictures of everybody in the ward. and all of our investigators. just a big waist of time really. and the other bad thing is that he gave hugs to everybody (witch is against the rules) so now I'm going to have to deal with that when i leave. all of these people now think its OK to hug missionaries. 
on Tuesday we ate at this Japanese grill. it was so crazy and good. a member took us out. she is kind of crazy really touchy feely kind of person. like rub your arm when you talk to her. but anyways she took us to this place because it was elder dalias last day in Texas. the chief guy was flip-en stuff around and making fire on our plates and stuff it was more a show than a lunch but the food was good to. 
on Wednesday was transfers. they had to leave at about seven in the morning and elder dalia left like half of his crap. like all his underwear. his crazy WWII propaganda stuff. his crazy African sculpture and his uke. so when they left it was just me and elder jones. it was kind of awkward. because we didn't know what to do. so we ended up cleaning the place and rearranging the furniture. the house looked better than it ever had when i was there. we threw away half that crap in the house. like two lazy boys, a desk everything in the fridge and all kind of other crap. we haven't caught any more rats since last week so hopefully we got them all. i just feel bad that we sent them to meet there maker unprepared. but the lord will slay the wicked to bring about his righteous purpose.  then we didn't quite know what to do. because we didn't know whether to work in my area or elder jones. we did a mix of both. and everybody fell through. so we just ended up bike ing a lot.
so it got about time that they were supposed to be here. so we called them up to ask were they were and they got lost and went to the wrong apartment. they ended up in Seymour Oklahoma which is about an hour in the wrong direction so needless to say they ended up showing up at our house at like 6pm.  
so as soon as they got here they were hungry Lucky we had tons of food in the fridge. because elder dalia asked like ten people if they would feed us on Tuesday so we had a tons of left overs form everything. so elder chatman (elder Jones new comp and my room ate) says o just so you know I'm allergic to gluten. so everything we had in the fridge had gluten in it so we had a fridge full of food and he couldn't have any of it. tho only thing we had was mashed potatoes. and he couldn't even have the gravy. 
so my new comp his name is elder pugmire. he is from west Jordan Utah, he is about six foot a buck ten. and black hair. he probably doesn't have a pound of fat on his body. just skin and bones like no joke. he does track so he had to be super skinny. but he doesn't have any muscle on him ether. he has been on the mission for about three months so he is still green as can be. he is a Spanish missionary so we have to do language study every morning and i only know one hundred words in Spanish max. he has the gift of tongues though. because elder chatman has been out about a year and elder pugmire can speak better Spanish than him.  he is a full blood Aggie  so you should like that. 
so we have been knocking doors a lot something i haven't done in three months so it was really good for me. we have been working in a Hispanic part of town. so every other person we talk to doesn't speak any English. its kind of frustrating because i can only understand half of what there saying and i can only say hello and nice to meet you and i have a black shirt. but the lord can help me though it. 
so we have been working with this girl she is Mexican but she speaks more English than Spanish. and on Thursday we committed her to baptism on December 15th so if all of these dates go through we should have three baptisms in a month. we have to explain alot of the book of Mormon to her when we read because she doesn't understand religion at all. we had to explain Jesus and the atonement and bible and the house of Israel. just lots and lots of stuff. its good because at least she is asking questions. 
O and i found my memory card! so i lost it at the other elders apartment and i thought i drop ed it on the ground outside or something but it ended up being in there couch. they found it when it tipped over because it was going to be thrown away. and it fell out of the bottom. really really really sweet i am so happy that it was recovered. i thank my heavenly father every day because what matters to us matters do him. and he is all ways looking out for us even it is something as small as a memory card. 
Idk thats about it for this week sorry i emailed to day instead of yesterday the library was closed. 
thank you so much for emailing me this week. like no joke i love to read whats going on with your lives. and everybody else has a ton of emails so i if don't have emails to read it can just get super boring waiting for everyone else to finish. 
well i love you so much and i will talk to you next week! 
Love YOur favorite missionary 
Elder Payton Carter Catfish hosea (do you remember when i said that was my name in scouts when i was little?) Clements

Staying in Texas

Hi family 
so to begin yes everybody talks about the election with us. for some reason everybody things were campaigning for Romney and we kind of sort of are. we have a Romney poster in our house. most people down in Texas want Romney. but there is a couple of Obama fans (not to be racist but mostly black people) o here is a crazy  story. so there is a scary apartment complex that we work in alot. and there is one apartment that has an Obama sign in the window. so one day we went by and guess what the apartment was on fire! it was the only one in the complex that burnt and they also happened to be Jehovah's witnesses. elder dalias family knows MIT Romney so every time he sees a sign he yells ROMNEY! 
so we got transfer calls last night and i am staying in Wichita falls Texas and elder dalia is leaving he is going to be a Spanish missionary in the quail creek district. which also happens to have like 6 sets of sister missionary's. we call it the relief society zone. im getting a new comp named elder pug-myre (i have no idea how to spell it) he has only been out 3 months so im going to still be training him. i was really scared for transfer calls because elder jones and elder beams both guessed that we would be shot gunned out of the area. (that means we both leave and two new ones come in) they do that to keep the area fresh and if its a small area like the one we have, it happens every six to nine months. 
so i guess we will start out with the week.  on Monday we went over to the smiths house to make belt buckles. they shoe horses for a living and their one of the top in the country.  so we started out with a flat strait piece of steel and then we sheered it. forged it in 3800 F, hammered it on an anvil, bent it, welded it and shinned it up. they look sick. and we made them our selves :) one of the coolest pdays of the mission i felt as if i was in jewelry class again but alot bigger. 
on Tuesday we worked in our area found some people to teach one of there names was domingo he is a really cool old guy that works on the air force base. 
on Wednesday was Halloween we wernt really supposed to go out that day because Halloween is the devils holiday. jk but really lots of bad stuff goes on. so we cleaned the house and visited a lady named sister Charles. she has been taught the lessons like five hundred times. i told you about her last week. her husband is a preacher and she is thinking about going our church but is scared what will happen. so on Wednesday we taught her and the spirit finally convinced her that this is what she needs to do. so she will be baptised on December first.  the rest of that night we helped a family with there horses and did some farm work than we went home and waited for little kids to knock on our door. none did so now we have tons of candy in our apartment. 
on Friday we had district meeting and we found out that we are getting 86 new missionary's, so our missionary total will go from 130 something to 216! crazy Crazy face! that means that 43 new areas will have to open up and that some time soon the mission will split in half. the Lord is hastening his work like a boss. i cant wait for the second coming. after district meeting we at a place called Ganges grill (do they have those in Utah?) but super good food. and then  we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. elder nesbit came with us and we tried, and tried, and tried people but no one was home. then we were just about to go back and i thought of a girl that we met the another week that we could visit. so stop ed by and she let us in. we started talking about the book of Mormon and then we taught her about prophets and Joseph smith. she loved it! and now she is getting baptized on December 17th (you have heard of 17 miracles but you ain't never heard of miracle on the 17th) 
 on Saturday we had dinner with this one family that were helping her quit smoking and they fed us burgers. there a little crazy but super nice. they have the gift of see ing spirits. so they have interactions with dead people all the time and they happen to see demons every once in a while.  O and did you get that moving to Utah stuff yet? they want to move in like January or something. so if you could get that to me that would be help full or get some websites for them.  
      one more thing (hey Lauren do you know what that's off of?) it been getting semi cold out side. so the mice/rats decided that our house would be a great spot to camp out for the winter. so we bought some traps and we have caught six rats in about 48 hours. crazy! we caught one and it just got knocked out by the trap so we had to kill it. and since no one wanted to man up i had to do it. we thought about ways that we could kill it  in a most horrific manner but we decided a nice stop on the head would do the trick. (elder beams wanted to water board it so that it would tell us were the others were) 
so life for you guys it sounds crazy. how is your health doing? how is dakota, jake, tyler, ryan, zack, brenden, jared, luke, tyler tullis, and everybody else. you should get them to write me! that would be great! what are you doing for thanksgiving?  anything fun? 
Lauren your a good girl just remember that. and put some Periods in your letter. 
thanks for all that you do for me i love you and i will talk at you ladder gadder. 
Love Elder Clements