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