Close to the Strip

What a beautiful day it is to be in Vegas!

The sun is shining bright and it is a brand new day! The week went pretty good and there is much work that is still to be had in Vegas! Our main investigator had the opportunity to attend FHE, Institute, and Church! He loved them all and loves the social aspect of it a lot. We hope to see him again for FHE again tonight. It's really a miracle! For FHE last week we got to play dodge-ball and we were encouraged to play in our missionary clothes and name tag. Although for the first half of the event we chose not to participate, we were eventually influenced by the persuasion of the two wards who were there and we played 3 quick games with them. We were all having a blast. It was a great activity! Institute really caught my interest as well. I learned a ton.

I never really have told how close we are to the strip in our area so I thought I would attach a picture. If we drove less than 10 minutes past our area, we could be on the strip. I have more pictures yet to come of the pictures we took yesterday. It's really cool because with the area we have, we get to see the glamorous view of the strip as we drive to and fro. It really is a beautiful sight. I imagined having this great of a view of Vegas before my mission, and now we get to see it every single day. I am so glad we are here.

If you haven't heard from before, Elder Shearer and I are in a singles ward. The benefit of being in the singles ward is that for one, our ward is ridiculously huge (bigger than some missions in Utah even), and two, everybody is young and on fire! I'll attach a photo of our ward to show you really how huge the area is. It's marked in blue.

Other than that life is going swell. For February, we have a couple of new implementations so it will be exciting! Will see all of yall later!

- Elder Cline

The Gospel... Every Day we're Preachin' it!

Note from Elder Cline's mom:

Here's the last two blogs... all caught up now!

Jan 5, 2015:

Hello everybody once again! Crazy experiences were had yesterday!

For one, one of our investigators Jennifer got up to speak and bear her testimony during fast and testimony meeting even though it was her first time at church! It was awesome! Not only that, she feels welcome in our church and can't wait to become the next newest member of the Spanish Trail YSA ward.

We also had something really cool happen to us last night. Last week we ran into a guy named Franchesco on the street who was helping his daughter try out her new toy for Christmas (one of those mini cars). We got to know him for a little bit and then handed him a card. He gave us his address number and after asking him, he told us we could stop by sometime. He seemed like a nice guy. Yesterday we went to go knock on his door and his wife answers. We told her we met Franchesco and that we would like to come in and share a message about our church. She said "Please, come in, it's cold outside!" We went in, got to know them and taught the Restoration lesson. Everything went perfectly. We asked his wife to pray afterwards to know if these things are true and she got an answer! We set up a return appointment. After we got out of the house Elder Shearer and I looked at each other and practically screamed with excitement. Unfortunately, we have to hand them off but it's these types of moments on your mission that gets you excited to talk with everyone.

P.S. - Happy 2015 everybody! Till next week,

- Elder Cline

Jan 12, 2015:

Hello, my good friends and family,

This week has been a blast (as always). Our investigator Jennifer is set with a baptismal date and is just rockin and rollin. We see her all the time and she is very ecstatic. I really do know that Elder Shearer and I were meant to talk to her at the library the one first day we met her. We also have a bunch of people in our ward who are super good to us, feed us well and keep the work going. A new year of missionary work has begun!

As I have pondered my time as a missionary so far and as I come up on a third of my mission being gone next week, I have grown a little scared of that day when my mission will come to an end. Never did I think an 8 month period would pass by this quickly. I've learned so much about my life and I have met so many people here that I have truly cared for and will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. The great thing is, I still have two thirds to go. I still have time to change what I could have improved on in the past, as do we all. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed of sin and we can look towards the future with a smile. I know it to be true, and I know this gospel to be truth!

(Every Day We're Preachin' it! Get the Reference?)

- Elder Cline

The Nevada Las Vegas West Mission

Christmas in Las Vegas!

Note from Elder Cline's Mom: While we were out of town for Christmas, I was unable to post the blog. So you get two in one today!

Dec 22nd, 2014

Merry Christmas everybody!

It's Christmas week and everyone in Vegas is jumping up and down with joy! I am just super excited because I get to see my family who I haven't seen in more than 7 months! My new companion Elder Shearer will be spending Christmas with me this year at the Manning's house and at our apartment with other Elders. We plan on Skyping, opening presents, board games and Hot Chocolate hopefully!

Not much to report on, I am just super happy for everything that has been going on. I really do hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas with family and/or friends! Remember Christ!

- Elder Cline

Nevada Las Vegas West Mission

Photos from the Mission Christmas Party

Dec 27th, 2014

Hello Friends and Family! It's Elder Cline again!

This week was an emotional one, especially since the realization that a companion of mine is home now, and that I got to see my family and extended family over Skype on Christmas. I miss them soo much! It's crazy how my younger brother Danny is growing up so fast and how I actually got to talk with everyone face to face via Video Chat.

My parents also sent a package with Christmas Gifts that I thoroughly enjoy and will be using a lot. It's been a long time since I have seen them but at least I will get to see them again in May for Mothers Day!

Not much to report on except for the fact that Christmas is over and the New Year is about to begin! It's pretty crazy that 2015 is going to be here in 3 days! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a great new year!

With much love, Elder Cline

P.S. - On sunday we had to teach Gospel Principles class for the first time in this ward and guess who showed up?!? The Mission President and Sister Alhander! We taught well though it was awesome!