September 4, 2014 Letter...

Hello mom and family!!!

How is everyone? I loved your letter mom! I got my flight plans and I leave Monday, at 2:57 PM! So I'll call around that time, probably sometime before (hopefully). I hope I can call because I'm really just unsure with how it all works and stuff. I'm excited for dad and his exams, he'll pass them all I'm not worried. Captain America sounds really good! And so did that motorcycle ride! Sooo fun. I miss riding the scooter everywhere I'm not gonna lie.. that was such a blast.

Haha, definitely do not get a cow.. please. That would be weird.. and what would the dogs do with it? Haha. Just buy milk:)

Yes I'm doing well.. and the CCM is pretty great. It's the same schedule every day, so it gets tiring, but I'm learning a lot and working hard to I can become the best missionary I can be. I know I have to work as hard as i can, and be obedient as possible, so I can reap the blessings here in the field, and the blessings of when I get home, and for the rest of my life! It's sometimes hard to keep those thoughts in sight when I'm tired, miss home and friends, but I know this is where I'm supposed to be, and no matter what, I need to trust in the Lord, pray with all diligence and strength, and endure to the end. I can't wait to teach and help real investigators with this same thing. I can't wait to bring happiness to others lives. I'm starting to realize that my mission isn't going to be easy. Apart from missing home, and worries of what will happen while I'm gone, I'm beginning to realize that I'm going to be doing a lot of suffering while I'm here, for my investigators. I often think of a lesson dad taught in Gospel Doctrine, where he talked about how his mission was the hardest experience of his life. How he talked about how for the last 8 months of his mission he was a branch president, and had to remove more names from the church than add. How every night he kneeled in prayer, pleading with the Lord for help, for direction, and for comfort for him, and for the members. I'm beginning to see this in my own mission. I'm beginning to see how this "missionary work" people take so lightly, isn't light at all. When I think of how dad felt on his mission for his investigators and the members of his branch, and how I will feel for my future investigators, I need to remember I'm not the first one to walk this path. A man, much greater, much more perfect than us walked this path. His name was Jesus Christ. As perfect, as loving, as Godly as he was, It was NEVER easy for him. Jesus Christ, the son of the Living God, asked his Father, (his mission president, if you will) if there was an easier way. The point is, we have to suffer here. I have to suffer here. We need to walk somewhat a glimpse of the road he walked. Because in times of suffering for our investigators, for the work of salvation, in those times is where we are shoulder to shoulder with the Savior. He is always here for us. He knows better than we do, exactly what we're going through. Salvation was never easy, it was never cheap, and it's going to be hard. I'm ready. I'm here for nothing but to bring souls unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm ready to begin this journey in Lima, Peru. I'm ready.

Jeffery R. Holland and Henry B. Eyring gave talks that touched heavily on what I just talked about and they hit me hard this week.

Oh, this week I also gave a talk in church...yes. all in Spanish. I gave it on the restauracción and it went really well. I went like 10 minutes on accident, it was only supposed to be 5, but it was really good! My Spanish is progressing extremely well. I spent 3 hours with the Mexican workers (they prefer to be called Mexicans over anything else) and boy did my Spanish get good in those 3 hours. It's way tough to understand them with their thick accents and speed, but it's becoming much easier! The word is that Peruvians speak much faster, and more difficult Spanish.. so that will be fun:)

Anyways, I love you guys! I'll try to get some pics!

Love,
Elder Cluff