Vegas (Week 30)

Hello Everyone! It's great to be a week closer to Christmas!

This week has been a different one! From doing the He is the Gift initiative here in Vegas and getting more used to street contacting, the other day we ran into someone who we started talking to, who later started taking the discussions with other missionaries and has a baptismal date! All because we were not too afraid to go and talk to him! It's awesome!

My companion Elder Miller along with Elder Till (who is also from Katy, Texas) and about 30 other missionaries are going home this week. Transfers are on Wednesday. I am super excited to get my new companion! I don't know how to spell his name but he's been out for about 5 1/2 months I think!

This transfer I have been assigned to be a district leader! My first district meeting is December 23 I believe, right before Christmas! Everyone I know that will be in the new district is awesome, so this next transfer I know will be a blast!

Christmas is in a week and a half and I can't wait to Skype family! Just 10 more days! The time has flown by so fast, it's crazy! I would send pictures of our Tiny Christmas Tree, but my battery recharger is still in my other ward. Pics soon!

Hope everyone is getting together with family this year to celebrate the birth of Christ! Have a merry one!

- Elder Cline, NLVW Mission

Here is the video Elder Cline is talking about. It's worth your time.

Heidi's Conversion Story

Hello my friends and family! I just want to say that this week has been one of the best I have had so far on my mission! It just keeps getting better!

I would like to begin by telling y'all the conversion story of Heidi.

Elder Clapp and I had been assigned to bike last transfer and one particular day a month and a half ago we had accidentally showed up early to our dinner appointment. We were wondering what to do, so considering our circumstances we started tracting up and down the members street. We got to a house and knocked. A lady came out and told us basically that she really wasn't interested in talking to us but she was a Christian and is a very big advocate of the bible, as are we. She politely said goodbye and then we went to dinner. A month later we got a call from a member named Winn and he told us that his girlfriend Heidi had received a knock on her door from us and was interested in coming to church the next day. On Sunday we saw her at church and after sacrament meeting went up to say hello again. We scheduled a time to meet with her.

Our first appointment with her went smoothly, and I really liked the fact that she really knew her bible really well. She said during the lesson that she had heard things about the Mormon church that she was hesitant about, but again, she was willing to listen to us. She gave us bible references to everything we were talking about which was awesome. Once we had finished teaching the Restoration, she said "So what's the next lesson?" I told her it's the Book of Mormon lesson and then she said "Can I just hear it now?" So we taught it too and committed her to read and pray about it. We had another lesson with her a couple days later and she seemed a lot more open to what we had to say. She had read 4 chapters of the Book of Mormon. We got through half of the Plan of Salvation lesson when Elder Clapp asked "So how do you feel about the Spirit World?" and her answer: "You know, I just really like it, it makes sense. I believe it's true." Elder Clapp and I paused for a moment then I asked her a little while later "So how do you feel about the Book of Mormon?" She then said "I really like it." She talked about how it went hand in hand with the Bible and how she had read it and had definitley felt the spirit while reading it. She told us how she knew what the holy spirit and how she knew what it felt like because she has felt it before reading the Bible and praying. She then said "I know it's true." We paused again. I referred her to the front of the Book of Mormon where it says once you know the Book of Mormon is true you can know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints is a true church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I asked her "Do you understand that?" She said "Yep." One more pause. I then asked "We're holding a baptismal service on November 29th. Will you be baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority of God?" She said "Ohh, that's Thanksgiving week... can we make it the 22nd?"

After 2 weeks of lessons, Heidi Ugarte was baptized a member of Christ's church. Her testimony of the spirit and the Lord answering prayers is one of the strongest I have ever seen in someone. Her true knowledge of the Bible had helped her to be on the right path, the path that Heavenly Father wants for us. I will remember Heidi and her testimony for the rest of my life.

Getting into my new ward with my new companion Elder Miller was awesome! We had a great time meeting new members and also getting to know Ciera who was also baptized on the 22nd. Elder Miller is a really awesome guy and he is going home in 3 1/2 weeks. Don't worry, we're not getting too "trunky" as missionaries put it. I had church with our YSA ward for the first time sunday and it was one of the best meetings I have been to in a long time. Everyone is so active and is happy to get to know everyone else. I was introduced by Bishop Duckworth (who is an awesome bishop!) like 4 times and was introduced like 2 other times. I felt very welcomed. I'm going to love being here for the next couple weeks!

I hope everyone had as great of a week as I did this week. If not, remember that God loves you, and you can uplift your day by hymns, prayer, and scripture reading. Never cease to keep a prayer in your heart!

Adios Amigos, Elder Cline

Hey Brothers!

Hello Again from Las Vegas! I thought i'd give an update on all the miracles that have happened this week! One, We had two baptisms this Saturday for Paige (9 years old) and Makiah Aviso (11 years old)! We just taught them all the investigator lessons and they were totally ready. They were actually getting their mother to come back to church by telling her "We love church! Why haven't we gone?" They're both amazing individuals and they both have a good heart! Elder Clapp got to baptize both of them and for the first time in my life I got to confirm both of them with the Holy Ghost which was also an amazing experience.

Two, we have another family that started investigating our church a while back. We were biking down a street in the dark and we were supposed to turn down a street but we didn't. I called to Elder Clapp and asked why we didn't turn. Right at that moment, still biking the wrong way, we heard: "Hey Brothers!" We looked around, couldn't see anybody and kept going. We then heard "Hey, we want to learn!" Our bikes came to a halt immediately. We saw who had called out to us and swerved our bikes around towards them. There was a man on the porch waiting for us there. When we got to his front gate, we soon found ourselves surrounded by their family of 8. We taught them the lesson and since we've had over 10 lessons with them. Once they solve legal complications, they want to be baptized. Not only that, one day when we were in our apartment they brought us over a BIG cart full of food for us! We still feel like we haven't repaid them enough for what they've done for us.

By the way, About a month ago we were 20 minutes early to our dinner appointment so we tracted on their street. Two houses down a lady opened her door and told us she was a Christian and had no intention of changing what she believed. A week ago we got a call from her... I can't tell the rest until next week but it's one of the most humbling experiences on my mission so far. Our area really has started to pick up, especially because since I have gotten Elder Clapp, we have gained about 10 new investigators! Speaking of our area, I leave today (Monday) and I am going to a ward in The Lakes zone! I am covering a singles ward with my 3rd companion, Elder Miller who is going home in 4 weeks. It's just crazy.

Love ya all and miss ya all! - Elder Cline

Bikes

Happy almost holidays! Halloween is right around the corner! This week has been pretty amazing. Especially because yesterday (the 13th) was my first day on bike on the mission! It was super fun! Since our roommate Elder Heidinger got an injury on his arm and since Elder Darby is his comp, they got to have our car and we got to take their bikes for the week and probably for longer. The great thing is, I feel more like a missionary actually riding on bike though! It may take us 30 minutes to get home but that's the fun of it!

The ward is moving forward and everyone is excited about the work here! I cannot express to you how much we just LOVE our ward! - Elder Cline + Clapp

A Birthday, Conference, Shadow, Ties and Transfers

General Conference was great! So many great speakers and so much wisdom! I especially liked the Priesthood Conference Choir because I got to see Elder Christian Martin singing in it! I saw him and I had to do a double take! I'm sure he's enjoying his time in the MTC! As an update from the past two weeks since I finally remembered my camera this week, it rained quite a bit last week. If you look at the pictures, you can see a motorcycle and a car like halfway underwater. And that wasn't even the worst of it! Our car would have gotten stuck if our car lights hadn't been on getting out of our apartment cause it was flooded!

The same day we were visiting a family in the ward and their CRAZY dog Shadow kept jumping on us and was just hyper. As a distraction, I grabbed a hold of his tail and got him to bite his own tail. We took pictures right at the right moment as well. It looks tight.

It was Elder Clapp's birthday this week and he got a LOT of birthday treatment. In the morning he was given a huge breakfast with everything you could possibly want and he was given something by every person we visited that day and at night he got a package from his parents and was able to pick up a cake at Albertsons. Not to mention we all went to Yogurt Land. He was awesomely spoiled.

When transfer calls came in this week our District Leader Elder Hutchings got a call as Zone Leader (which means he has to leave this zone) and as such we ended up with one of our chairs becoming a pile of sticks. He didn't want to leave us. We love him. Also, Elder Clapp and I are staying for this transfer, my 4th transfer! So glad!

My tie collection has grown exponentially, especially from the ties Mom has sent me. 3 of the ones she has sent are untradeable just because they're so amazing. After tie trades from this week, I know got rid of all the ties that were torn or were bad quality and almost have 50 ties that I absolutely love! I think my most favorite is an Egyptian tie I got from DI. I'll send a picture with that as well.

It's been a great week and lots of progress has been made! This month should be a good one! Till next time, - Elder Cline

Rain

This week it rained really hard! Our apartment complex was hard to drive through and we saw cars half under water with all the rain we had. There was one appointment we went to that I was like "Ok, we'll get out and run to the door on the count of three. One, TWO, THREE!!! We jumped out of the car and got sopping wet within like 2 seconds! It was pretty bad. We were lucky they answered the door. I also got a couple "boo boo's" this week. We were playing football and my shoes were worse than just going barefoot. I ended up catching a 20 yard pass right in the beginning of the game but then as I was 5 feet away from the touchdown line with a guy running right behind me I slipped and my knee and hip hit the ground. I slid. I now have two huge cuts. It's okay though, even though I was dripping blood for a while without any bandages, I still played out the rest of the game! It was great... Still lots of improvements to be made in our ward but we're lighting up the place! Stay strong everybody! - Elder Cline

Keep Moving Forward! All About Connie's Baptism

Dear my loving friends and family, This week I know will be one of the most memorable weeks of my mission, if not the most. Our investigator Connie Painter got baptized this past week. It was an amazing experience for us, but more importantly for her. Elder Victory and I with a member, Brother Robison first met Connie August 4th. She told us that she had completely lost her faith and that everything that had been happening to her had basically just been a mess. That day we taught her the Restoration lesson, which began to change her life and the way she thought about life. We continued to teach her the Book of Mormon lesson afterwards and she took it with an open heart. Elder Victory got to see Connie come to church for the first time the day before he got transferred out of our zone and I got my new companion. After she was welcomed in to the ward and became her new family, she said "I found my new home." After Elder Clapp got in the area, we continued to teach Connie about the Word of Wisdom which she had a hard time with because she had been smoking ever since she was little. After one week of continuing to smoke she decided it's time for her life to change and she smoked her last cigarette. Though it was very hard for her, she's been 2 weeks clean and a happy person from it and she has changed. On September 20th and 21st, 2014, Sister Painter was baptized and confirmed, respectively, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Clapp and I were very happy for her and she went into tears as it all happened. After she got confirmed with the Holy Ghost, she told us later on that night that a warm feeling had came over her during the confirmation that was so peaceful and joyful. Never had I ever had such a firm testimony of the confirmation of the Holy Ghost. I know it's now present in her life.

Elder Cline, Connie, Elder Victory

Elder Cline, Connie, Elder Clapp

Connie seeing the baptismal font for the first time

Connie is someone that we will stay in contact with and will remember for the rest of both our lives because of her commitment to change and to become a better person; someone to take the name of Christ upon herself. For someone who had no faith before, she gained greater faith than we ever could have hoped for her and she is striving to be the best person she can. Going to the temple in one year is her goal. She also told us that she wants to be there when Elder Clapp and I get married. Hoorah. As we go about our lives, we need to remember how important Jesus Christ our Savior is. He suffered and died for us so that we can return to live back with our Heavenly Father again. He gave his all so that we could learn to move forward and become perfect in him and follow his Gospel. As we follow it, and keep the commandments, we can learn to love and become eternally happy. I hope everyone has a blessed week this week! As "Meet the Robinsons" reminds us: "Keep moving forward!" - Elder Cline

Sister Cline, Connie, and Y'all

So, I met Sister Cline in our ward this week! Funny story actually... so we went over at 8:30pm one night to her house because she hadn't answered at any other times during the other days we tried to visit. We woke her up but she was not unhappy to see us that late and she told us we could come over on a later day. I made sure to tell her that we might be related! So, we came over a day or two later and she let us in! Her daughter and son in law were there as well. It was just inspired by the Lord I got sent to this area! Anyways, she is a super awesome lady and it was so much fun meeting with her and their family. I told them we're practically family already. I hope to keep seeing them in the future.

In other news, Connie is getting baptized this Saturday, September 20th! She has quit smoking for 9-10 days already! It's been really tough on her but she says she is not going back. She's a new person! We had her baptismal interview on Sunday and the bishop announced her baptism at the pulpit. As long as she stays strong and keeps away from the cigarettes, there's nothing stopping her from being the newest member of the ward! We plan to meet with her every day this week until she is baptized. She's ecstatic and is ready to make a life change. I'm so proud of her!

Lastly, I've gotten a comment this week from a member of the ward I say "y'all" a lot. Just so my fellow Texans know, I ain't quitting saying y'all anytime soon!

Love Y'ALL! - Your friendly neighborhood Elder Cline

Progression Comes Through Obedience

This week has been one of the biggest weeks for us as far as stats go. We've got 3 baptismal dates set; 1 in September and 2 in October. We're hoping they all turn out great! Our investigator we've been working with the longest time (with a date), Connie, has been working to quit smoking and come to church for a 3rd time. Her baptismal date had to be pushed back because she has to come to church one more time and she's working but she loves the members of our ward and really has grown since we first saw her! She's keeping all the commandments (except word of wisdom which she's progressing in) and can't wait to get baptized! We also set our friend Maurice with a date this week. His family got baptized except him and his younger sister with whom we're working with right now! They're so great and he's a great athlete! We set Justin with a date as well this week. His dad has been trying to work with him but nothing progressed really until we had the first discussion with him! He totally opened up and we've really sparked something in him. There was some referrals that came in this week so we've been trying to contact them all. We're getting to it! Most have just not opened the door. But we're trying! The most important thing I learned this week is that prayers really can be answered and real progression can only come through obedience. I love everything that's happened this week and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Love y'all and have a great week! Elder Cline

Elder Clapp's First Week in Vegas

Hello my amazing friends! Let me tell you these past two weeks have been a blast! This week I had the opportunity to start serving as a missionary trainer! I had been so anxious and nervous to get my new companion for a whole week, but when it finally happened and he burst through those doors, I knew that we were meant to be together as companions! I got Elder Clapp, fresh out of the MTC Monday. We at transfers were able to take a 4 generation picture at transfers with Elder Clapp, Me, My Trainer, and my Trainer's trainer. It's super cool!

Elders Ballard, Victory, Cline, and Clapp

Me and my mission parents

Elder Clapp is a funny guy and a hard worker. Just coming out of the MTC, he told me someone had mentioned my name. It turned out that one of my friends from college, now Sister Bills, was in the same zone as Elder Clapp was! So, we know we already had one mutual friend once we figured that out.

Me and Elder Clapp at transfers

It's been great training! Elder Clapp had his first street contact approach already and he did super. We have lots of ideas to put in place or the Meadows 4th Ward so the next 3 months we'll have together will be an awesome experience for both of us. I can't wait for what's in store!

- Elder Cline

On Finishing the Book of Mormon

Hello everyone!

This week has been a blast. I've finished reading the B.O.M once on my mission! My favorite book is definitely Moroni. I like it because it summarizes up what needed to be mentioned before the full Apostasy began, and because it tells you the most important thing to know... what to do after you read the Book of Mormon... pray to know if it's true! I love it!

I also was able to get a haircut this week which looks "tough" apparently. We also got to help a lady change her tire this morning! A nail went through one of them and it went flat so we helped her fix it up. She asked us if she could pay us and we just told her we're here to help others. Community services are the best!

- Elder Cline

P.S. I forgot my camera cord again this week. It will be brought sooner or later!

Just a Snippet

This week, a short snippet of a letter from Elder Cline. He says he's spending lots of time responding to emails and may revert to blogging every other week. He thanks everyone for their emails and letters!!

We have baptismal dates set for two investigators! They're asking a lot of questions and it's great! I really hope they do end up getting baptized. Nothing much has occurred really. Lot's of busy work. I just got done through Helaman in the Book of Mormon! 115 pages left to go until I am done reading it once on my mission! Next I am going to start reading the New Testament. Not until this past week have I understood SO MUCH more about the Book of Mormon and even the Apostasy. We listened to a talk "Why 1820?" which explained so much about why there are different churches about. I recommend it.

Elder Cline's mom here... I'm attaching a link to the talk "Why 1820" which I found online as a pdf file. It's semi-lengthy, but a great read! Why 1820?

First Restoration Lesson and My Testimony

How great has this week been? Pretty great! As from previous blogs you may have seen that we in our ward have been focusing on a lot of less-active and inactive families in the ward. Well, this week I was pleased to have my first restoration lesson with a member present to an investigator! Yes, it took us a while to get there but our ward has a low retention rate and our bishop has told us to be focusing mainly on less-actives, so that's where we are! The lady was super nice and she's been wondering why certain things have been happening in her life. We taught her the lesson, answered her questions and made an effort to make her feel loved. I think the main thing that's important to do as a missionary is to just bear your testimony and I love doing that. A lot happened this week, but that's really what I loved the most, is visiting that investigator.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church on this earth today and that it is led by a prophet who receives revelation by our Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and that he died for us. I know that the Book of Mormon and that whoever will read it and will pray to ask of it's truthfulness will come to know by the spirit that the book is true and that Christ's church has been restored on the Earth. It's such a simple thing to do! All God asks to find the truth by reading and praying about the truth. For anyone who has questions about which church is right, I encourage you to find the missionaries in the area. They can lead you to a happier life and will they will help you with the trials in your life. I know this to be true.

Thanks for reading! Until next week!

- Elder Cline

Doctor Who and a Musical Fireside

Good afternoon my Houstonians and friends! Another great week in Las Vegas has come and gone!

A couple of highlights happened this week. One being we got to go on exchanges again. I got to go with Elder Hutchings and from that we got to get a new investigator from street contacting. It was great!

Elder Heidinger in his pajamas

Elder Hutchings cold during personal study

A couple days ago Elder Victory (who is a big Doctor Who fan) went over to a members house and brought his "sonic screwdriver" with him because he hear they were doctor who fans too. So for the next hour after dinner they had a whole discussion about it which I had no idea what they were talking about because apparently this TV Show that I've never seen before is the jam. We took a picture with him and the kids with their screwdrivers.

The Doctor Who Fan Club

We also got to attend a missionary musical fireside which was also tight! There's a lot of talented missionaries in our area! Our car broke down and wouldn't start so we had to ride in our zone leaders car for a day too.

It was a cool week. What else will be in store next week? - Elder Cline

Tallllooooooffa!

Tallllooooooffa! Hello my friends and family! My 2 month mark was today! I'ts so cool that my days of being trained are more than half way over. I'll attach pictures of my "Mission Dad" Elder Victory.

Me and My Mission Dad, Elder Victory

I've learned so much these past few weeks and I can teach the first 3 lessons along with the Book of Mormon lesson a lot better than I could before. I don't know if I told you this before, but we're probably going to get missionary mini ipads soon! That means most of the area books, traveling books and records are just going to be digital now. Mostly everything except planners from what I have heard. I can't wait! We got new Elders and Sisters in our zone. We also got new roommates; Elder Heidinger (Alberta, Canada) and Elder Clark (Ogden, Utah). It's fun having them with us, and they are excited to do missionary work.

Elders Heidinger and Clark

Transfers Day

From L to R: Elder Patterson (transferred) Elder Cline, Elder Matheson (transferred), and Elder Murphy

We've been visiting a lot of less-actives still. Apparently, I've been getting more forward with my commitments. There's a potential investigator we have now and I really hope things can go well and that she will remember her appointment to have us over for us to teach her the first lesson. I'll give more details on that next week.

Apartment Unity

We also had another family that invited us over for dinner and they had two non-members over with them. After dinner, we taught the first lesson and I felt the spirit more strongly than I ever have on my mission teaching a lesson. I felt loved and at peace, and our teaching just fell into place. I hope Elder Victory + I have more experiences for this most likely last transfer we have together. Love All Y'all! - Elder Cline

Just Call Me Calvin

Good day my fellow brothers and sisters! It's been a wonderful week out here in Las Vegas as always. We got to street contact the other day and met Walter. He's a Catholic and was wondering about our church. We got to explain to him what we believe, why we believe it, and we answered a lot of his questions. We also got to visit a family and taught a lesson on keeping our bodies clean after the mother said her young daughter was picking items off the cat that shouldn't be touched with bare hands. It was an interesting lesson. We had tie trades this week and I got to have free new ties since it's my first tie trades. I got some really awesome ones and I had to sacrifice one of my special ones but it was worth it. I now have 30 ties.

Some ties during tie trades

Our missionary roommates are going to both be gone today so we're also getting two new ones today! Elder Pyron gets sent home because his two years are up today. He's also been Elder Vic and I's companion for the last three days. We also got to see Autumn, an investigator get baptized. She was being taught by Elder Pyron and they committed her to be baptized about two months ago. As for transfers, I have a lot of friends moving to a different area but as for me and Vic we're staying put.

Saying goodbye to Elder Pyron

Saying goodbye to Elder Patterson

Missionary Lesson Role-Plays with a wig (Left, Elder Patterson, Middle, Elder Pyron, Right, Elder Murphy)

My new mission planner, "Tommy in the Woods"

Lastly, I've acquired a nick-name this past two weeks. "Calvin" seems to be it, and you could probably guess why if you know your underwear brands. I hope everyone's had a great week. Love all y'all!!! - Elder Cline