Thanksgiving

Hey momma,

So good news and bad news. We had a great Thanksgiving. I made cornbread, deviled-eggs, shredded chicken, and potatoes with gravy! It was AMAZING!! Unfortunately my camera went weird and all the pictures are hard to access. I don't know if I can get them from my camera. It was great though! My companion and I about died from how much we ate! It was just my companion and I though.

We had a big district conference (like a stake conference, but without the stake), and there was no one there to translate so I translated for them. It was fun, but really tiring.

Its really weird. I only have three planners left for my mission. Its getting closer. Also I got your letters! Send more! Letters are WAY better than emails!

Im doing good, I promise. There is not a single thing I can complain of. I am given everything to the Lord and He has given me so much more. Im doing really good.

Our week was good. We had that two day conference. We had to take a long three hour van ride with all of our members to the city where the conference was being held. It was a cramped ride. We actually had to take four "vans" to get there though, and a couple of cars.

-elder clement

Just a few pictures

Grilled Cheese Hamburgers

Lunch. That is a fruit drink (in case you were wondering) :)

Transfer

Q: How was your first week back in Erdent?

A: It was awesome! I know so many people, and many of them had fallen through the cracks after I left so it was great to come back and be able to help them. I also have changed a lot since I've become trainer. I want my trainee to be the best missionary in the mission so I know that I have to show an example of excellence to him and give him a good experience to base the rest of his mission on. I'm not letting this second chance pass me by. I'm working harder than I ever had in my entire life and the blessings are definitely following. Church was great, our attendance is a lot better and the branch is working with us really well. Yeah I saw a ton of our members this Sunday.

Q: How do you like your new companion?

 A: My companion is awesome, he's trying really hard to adjust to the mission and to the new standards required of him. I know that his future companions may not be perfectly obedient so I am making sure that we are EXACTLY obedient in every way so that maybe he can be an example to his future companions.

Q: How are you feeling?

A: I'm feeling great momma. Like I never have before. I have another scripture that I am memorizing and trying use to strengthen me even more. Its Helaman 10:4-5

"4 Blessed art thou, Clement, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness (Diligence, a Christlike Attribute) declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared(Trusted God) them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will."
They are, ive eaten at their house twice already. They're awesome! They didnt, what did you post on Facebook?

The baptism I missed. That's me on the far left (the one you can't see)

Back in the country

I'm really good. Yup already got the package! Got here in ten days!!

Transfers: I am back in Erdenet (which I am very grateful for), I'm training a brand new missionary, and I'm District Leader. So far it's been awesome.

The work here is disheartening. When I left I had got each branch from 30 church attendance to 50ish. After I left it went lower than where it was before. We only had 25 members at church this sunday in the Erdenet 2nd Branch, and 36 in the 1st Branch, and neither branch president showed up. It broke my heart. We got to work though. We got branch lists for both branches and had many members check and update it. We will use the new information (its so outdated its not even funny) to meet with members and get a lot more less-actives to church again. I want to get the ward attendance above 100, and I fully believe thats an achievable goal before I finish my mission.

I also have a new scripture that is fueling everything I do. I've been given another chance, and I know it. I will make the most of it. Ive got a chance to make a lasting and big difference on this branch. Maybe enough to make it a ward. The scripture that has really helped me is:

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me".

I have been learning about Fear and Faith from the scriptures, and Im have no doubts as to whether or not I can do something anymore. Ive had a thought thats been going through my mind lately, I dont know if ive heard it before or just made it up myself but its been really helping me. "Through submitting our will to Him, we in turn are made free". I am truly renewed in Spirit and Mind and im not worried about sicknesses or bumps in the road at all. Im ready to work.

My companion has also been a really good experience for me. I told myself if I ever got a brand new missionary I would be the perfect example to him in obedience and Christ-like attributes. Because thats happened ive kept my promise. I havn't given myself a moment of rest, I've been using all my time effectively and leading my example. This is the chance I needed, and im not going to let the Lord, my companion, or you down.

I'm excited for the many opportunities that lie ahead.

-elder clement

Horse Meat Burgers

I'm cold but doing great! No more snow, but its still cold. Wearing a jacket everyday almost. Actually the last two days have been awesome!!! Super warm and great! Every night it gets cold though. I havn't had to use it yet but I pulled out my big winter jacket yesterday. I'm super jealous of your beautiful Utah weather!! Feel free to send some my way! 

(In response to a comment I made about having a picnic in the mountains today after church)

That's it! That is the exact meal I want when I get home. That right there! That is what I miss more than anything!! I mean don't get me wrong, I definitely want Tori's "cut-diagonally, mayonnaise-on-one-side-and-mustard-on-the-other" turkey sandwich, but what you just said sounds amazing!

This week not too much happened, but no I think the sisters from my group leave in a little less than a week. And the new group will come. This week is also transfers, so wish me luck with my new comp and area! I found an awesome scripture though. For the last month or so ive been focusing my studies on Fear and Faith. I was reading in the Bible and found this: "whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear" DC10:55. It really made me realize that we have no need to fear. Fear is of the devil and has no place in us if we are righteous. It was a cool realization for me.

I'm feeling really good. I've gained 10 lbs. Im up to 145ish now!

Both of my companions are doing really well. My sign language comp is working hard and learning lots and my American companion is not too trunky. All is well. haha.

No, my old Mongolian companion isnt in my Zone. My sign language is coming along really well. Im a visual learner so im picking this language up a lot faster. I feel pretty confident speaking it.

Haha yeah its weird how close I am. When my american companion goes home, it will almost be the three month mark for me. Crazy!

Thank you momma. I re-read the scripture you wrote on that pillowcase yesterday. Its kinda like what you just said. I'm glad I am living up to what I should be doing. I'm thankful for the examples and teachings you and Dad were able to get into my thick skull. love you too.


-elder clement,

Horse Meat Burgers

Email to his Dad

Its going good. Yeah its still cold. No snow anymore but still really cold.

We only got one new investigator this week. His name is Maygmardorj. He's 18. He looks like he can be a really good investigator. The biggest problem though is that he goes to school at a Army school and his free time is really restricted. Mongolians dont have any problem with 12 hour work days all week. We met him one time but they are having a really hard time.

The sign language is going really well. Im learning a lot and been translating a lot too. Its really fun, I like it a lot, but its one of those things that gonna be really hard to keep up after the mission. No new adventures but here are some funny stories from my deaf comp:

- So first mongolians as a whole are very uneducated about sciences, but deaf mongolians basically have NO knowledge of sciences or things like that. So my companion saw a Solar Eclipse a couple years ago with a bunch of other deaf friends and they all started freaking out. He thought the world was ending and Jesus Christ was coming back. He was expecting earthquakes and stars falling from the sky, etc. haha

- So one day he was trying to start something one fire (didnt catch what), but he didnt have any matches. So he decided to take some glasses he was wearing and try to light it with that. He saw it once on TV. He said he just held his arm there forever and was thinking about random things when all of the sudden it lit on fire and he said he was really grateful. I realize writing this that it doesnt sound that funny in english but if you can imagine a 21 year old kid with very vibrant facial expressions signing this all out with his hands its a lot funnier.


love you dad!

-elder clement

Short and Sweet

This week has been awesome. We watched General Conference and all the Americans got together. I love this beautiful wonderful country but its nice just to spend a few moments with Americans watching something so sacred. It was great. And even though we spent two days watching that we still were able to teach 18 lessons! I still love the threesome thing a lot. I'm learning a lot about how to train and be better, and he is so humble and awesome. I love being with our deaf trainee!.

We are going to the bookstore today for my companion. and we are gonna get some fried rice and shrimp!! We found a little new york style roadside stand that sells some awesome food!