Transfers: Grand Teton and Cedar Springs!

March 30th, 2015

Hello again! The sun continues to get warmer, and the teaching pool continues to get bigger! I got the information this week that I am actually covering two wards here in the Elkhorn Springs Stake: the Grand Teton Ward and the Cedar Springs ward! It was awesome getting to know new people from each ward this Sunday. We have 5 hours of church each Sunday because of the two wards which is new. Transfers came and went. A lot of missionaries went home that I knew and the number of new missionaries I have never seen before increasingly gets bigger.

Posing with the departing missionaries

My trainee, Elder Clapp, is training once again, although this time he is not just half-training (meaning getting a companion after his first transfer), he gets to be the "official" first companion of his trainee's mission. He is now training Elder White. In the picture from left to right, we have Elder Victory (My Trainer), Elder Cline, Elder Clapp (My Trainee) then Elder White (Elder Clapp's trainee). In the other picture we have Elder Gray who was half trained by Elder Clapp. Our posterity is growing!

Our new apartment is awesome and has a great view. In my first area, I remember coming to the apartments I am at now and I thought "man, I wish I live here instead!" and now, I get that privilege. We live with Elder Stoker and Elder Bogle.

View from our new apartment

This week Elder Chesler and I basically prepped the area for the next coming weeks. After splitting up our area into different sections and colors, we assigned ward members according to their respective areas and we have gone to visit them. Not only does this save miles for our car, but it saves time as well. Speaking of a car, I still have only been on bike for 1 month of my mission so far, and it was during the best time of the year so we've been ok as far as the heat goes.

Elders Chesler and Cline

That's about it for this week. Many things in store for later! Love all Yall! - Elder Cline NLVWM

New Companion and Lots of Photos

March 23rd, 2015 Well, this week did not go as expected. It was interesting... First off, I am going to be a district leader in the Elkhorn Springs stake, in northern Las Vegas! I was kinda bummed to leave the singles ward, but I have heard the new ward I am going to, the Grand Teton ward, is super awesome. My new companion is going to be Elder Chesler who I don't know yet. Transfers will be tonight (March 23rd). I have been with Elder Shearer for over 13 weeks now which makes him my longest companion yet, and it's crazy to leave him. I'll miss that boy! The work here was/is going great as well as the work is in my last ward, Meadows 4th! In fact, Austin Smith was baptized a member of the church this Saturday. In October last year, when Elder Clapp and I were first on bike, we accidentally passed by a street we were supposed to turn on. It was weird because we just kept biking the wrong way for some reason. All of the sudden we hear out of the dark night "Hey... Brothers!" and then " Hey, we want to learn!" Our bikes turned around pretty quickly towards the direction of the noise. A family of 7 was out on their porch, waiting to hear what we're all about, and the rest is history. Austin, who's in high school, is the first to get baptized, will get the Priesthood soon, and hopes to baptize the rest of his family when they're ready. We're so proud of him and I am glad I got to be there at his baptism.

Going back to Meadows for Austin's baptism

Everything turned out great. It was also interesting this week that my first companion Elder Victory went to be Assistant to our Mission President this week as well. I'm happy for him.

Miscellaneous Photos from Vegas

Awesome Vegas Scenery

Bishop and Sister Duckworth and I

Ciera our recent convert and Us

Jacob and I

Mackenzie L. and Us

Talbot and I

The Amazing Billy's Barbecue

The Amazing Larsens and I

Vegas Cars...

The Mannings and Us

Zach and I

Hope everyone else had a great week and I hope to hear from y'all soon. Keep the faith! - Elder Cline

Keepin' the Faith

This week was quite an experience, and a joy. First off, our investigator Biunca Tables was just baptized a member of the church by our Bishop, Bishop Duckworth. I thought I might share a little bit of her story as best as I know it.

We met Biunca from a referral given to us. Missionaries in the other Vegas mission had run into her while she was driving her friend home. While the friend told Biunca she didn't have to talk to us and related to her how they were just out sharing a message of Christ, Biunca was intrigued and talked to them. Once she was referred to us, we went up to her door one night, knocked, and what seemed like the happiest most outgoing person stepped outside. We talked with her for a while, set up a day to come back and left. Once she started taking the lessons, she started soaking in all the information like a sponge. She began to know everything we taught her. Only knowing of God and Jesus Christ before hand, we shared the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Plan of Salvation, Temples and so much more to her as new information. As she read, and prayed and went to church, she felt the spirit more than ever in her life, has prayed more than ever in her life, and came to know of the messages' truth. She was baptized 2 days ago, and she loves the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt she is going to be great in many things as she gets older. She's just amazing.

Other than that, our week went by as just any other week on a mission. Right now we're working on helping less-active members finding their way back. It's a journey for sure. Things are heating up a little in Vegas still and summer is on it's way. I hope I get to stay in this area for another transfer because I have really loved the Spanish Trail Young Single Adult ward. If I stay this, next transfer, I will have served just about my first year of my mission in two wards! Transfer calls come out this week and transfers are next Monday, so we'll see!

The things you find in the church library...

National Treasure reference. Get it?

To all, Keep the faith, Elder Cline

Heating Up in Vegas

March 3-9, 2015 Hello again! It's another beautiful day down in Vegas! The cool breeze has come and gone, and the Vegas heat is almost back again! This week has been an amazing ride, and the work here is definitely a thrill. We have had an amazing couple weeks, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! First of all, it's scary to know that after this transfer (March 23rd) and the next transfer (May 4th)ends, all the missionaries I have known that came out a year before me are all going to be home, and my group of missionaries will all be at a year. It's also been weird that getting close to 10 months now, people have started calling us "veterans" in the mission... I am not even at a year yet people, come on!

Elder Koluse from Tonga who just went home

Elder Shearer and I have found a common interest in ties these past couple transfers and keep changing which ones we like the best and which ones we are going to wear the most. I've found that gray, blue, red, and black are the colors of ties I love most. I have to tell you, It's hard to pass up some good looking ties at the stores a lot of the time.

Elder Shearer and I in front of the church

Our main investigator of the church, Biunca Tables, is just flat out the bomb diggity. She was referred to us by some missionaries over in the East Mission, and I have seen that she is one of the most, if not the most prepared individual to hear the gospel. Having a knowledge of just God and Jesus Christ before, we helped her to understand about the truths of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost, and the main points of the Church. She gained a testimony so quickly, and I know the Lord is proud of her for her faith. She is getting baptized by our Bishop, Bishop Duckworth this Saturday. She's so excited for her baptism! The work is hastening and the gospel is true! Never forget that! Jesus Christ lives and latter-day prophets lead and guide the church. I have a testimony of that. I love all y'all! Keep it cool, in Texas, Utah, Idaho, or wherever y'all other people are! - Elder Cline NLVWM

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!