September 14, 2015 Letter...

It's gonna be awesome to be honest to go to the BYU games and see my boys play. Me and Teej Haws are gonna live together at BYU so we gotta get that worked out lollllzz. Anyways, sounds like a good week. Good to see Cam is having fun. Lol, it's gonna be good for him to have an inexperienced team though because he´ll be able to learn how to be a leader. Little stud. Anyways, yeah I'm gonna shoot Brig a quick letter. Tell him I love him. I'm glad that Bronwen and Josh had their baby... that's good to hear :) send me a pic if you can!

But yeah, Peru is good. Everything is going good right now. Us Elders here in Rimac are working and praying and doing all we can to complete with our goals that we have made. My district in particular is putting in an extremely solid effort and they are working hard to complete with their own goals. I really am proud with their effort, but I know that there is always room for improvement. I reminded every one of them last night of the importance of obedience with exactness. In our districts, we need miracles, and nothing short of miracles. We have people that are ready to be baptized. But as always, there is a lot of opposition, and that opposition will only get stronger as these final days before the baptisms arrive. I remember clearly what our mission president said when he first arrived, that obedience brings blessings, but obedience with exactness brings miracles, and I know that to be true. We need to strive to stay focused and obedient and continue exercising our faith and putting in our part so that these people can be baptized and make that sacred promise with God. I know we are going to be able to do it. In my sector, we are getting it done. I'm learning a lot from Elder Badal and we are seeing miracles as we speak. We just got to hold out and keep working until the end of the month so we can see the fruits of our labors. :)

Anyways, everything is good :) please pray for Carolina, Enrique, Adriana, Fernando, and Evelin, so that this month they will be able to be baptized :) Love you guys!

Don't forget to be reading your Book of Mormon. I love that book. Every time I read it I receive a spiritual witness of it's truth, and as I read it, I'm more able to resolve the problems that I have during the day. Or better said, the spirit is able to be with me and guide me so I can do what the Lord wants, which in turn makes me happier and more productive:) I love it. GET ON IT :)

Elder Cluff

Me in an alley.

The last baptism we had, Jose Anselmo, I love him! We worked with him for so long in Condevilla! Now he is baptized! ;)

Me eating cow gut and chicken gizzard and giant corn.

Remembering 9/11.

 Never Forget.

Sunday dinner... (aka whatever you can find... french fry chips with mayonnaise).

September 7, 2015 Letter...

That would be awesome if Zack got a bike.. and does the scooter not do the trick? I always wanted a bike too, but the scooter always did it for me. That's fun though, good to hear everything is solid and good :) also good to hear that someone is taking care of the yard... I can't believe how fast time is going by.. I know I still won't be home for 10 months.. but that's honestly insanely quick and I don't know how I feel about it. It's super weird, but yeah, whatever.. let's just get it done. Work, work, work :)

I have started reading the Book of Mormon again in English.. (btw it's amazing in both languages.. but in English it has a more personal feel.. I'm reading it in Spanish too still tho) because Elder Bednar extended us the sickest invitation. He told us he wants us to start the Book of Mormon in our native tongue from the beginning, with a cheap economic Book of Mormon. He told us he wants us to mark and write notes wherever it talks about being "Steadfast" or "Firm in the Faith" or "Enduring til the End" that kind of stuff. He wants us to read it all the way through and ONLY mark those things. But the notes we write, should only, only, only be what the spirit teaches us, and nothing more. Then he said when we finish it, we should look back at all of our notes again and write a one page paper on what we learned, on what the spirit taught us. Then he said, take the paper, fold it in half and put it in the book. We should put a label on it saying "Steadfast #1", and put that book away, and start the process over again. When we finish the second one he said do the same thing. Write a one page summary from what the spirit taught you, and then compare the two papers. See the difference and the new things the spirit taught you as you read. Then put a label on the second book, and then start the process again until the end of our lives. This will help us learn the importance of enduring to the end and standing steadfast in the faith :)

Elder Bednar told us he has done this for a long time, and the things that the spirit have taught him are sacred.... and his 300 plus BOMS are hidden in a sacred place where no one will ever find them.. haha. He said that his kids always want to see them and read them but he will never permit it.. he said before he dies he plans to burn every single one so no one can ever read it.. and it makes sense.. because it's what the spirit taught HIM. Too good. So that's what I'm doing... and it's an awesome spiritual experience :) I think he has talked about this before, but it's the first time I have heard of it.. I invite you guys to do it, too. :)

Oh yeah, this week an investigator named Jose Anselmo, the son of my converts Gladys and Felix finally got baptized in Condevilla and I was invited to the baptism :) I worked with him for 5 months and it's so good to see him baptized :) awesome experience. I'm pumped.

Love you guys :) 

Elder Cluff

August 31, 2015 Letter...

Suppp mother, father, sister, brother.. lolololz. Anyways, Sup. Yes, thank you for the money. I got the protein today and I am one happy camper :) yessss ...I love it, thanks mamma. District Leader is easy and fun. Nothing too crazy. Just more responsibilities, but it's good because it keeps things interesting and new. I like that. And yes... I do feel like I'm in the groove. I have got things figured out. I know how to work and I know how to help others work. I'm killing it. Like is perfect. (knock on wood ;) 

Jacob got a new boat.. what the heck.. that's too great. Good to see he is seeing a lot of success.. what a stud. I miss that family. That is so great. I'm not in the same apartment.. it's a different one :) but it's good. I'll send pics today I hope :)

Tell Brig CONGRATZ.. I'm still not a member of that club haha.. thank goodness.. all the kids.. (including Skyler) are, except me. I am the angel. And ah, Bro and Sis Bennett :( I'm sorry. I'll be praying a lot for them. She is awesome. Love you guys.

This week... was good. We worked hard. Like every day. We are working to baptize 5 this month. That's our goal and I know we'll get it done. It's a good time. Also, this week Elder Bednar talked to us... it was AMAZING. He is my hero. I went in thinking like, oh yeah, he is gonna give us like an hour talk and it's gonna be cool, so yeah, let's go. But that's not what it was. It was like a 4 hour training.. wait.. more like a spiritual discussion... and a question and share session. It was so weird I was not expecting something like that, but it was one of the most special and sacred experiences of my life. I'm not kidding. We got there... and okay, you always see him in conference and he looks like such a serious dude, but he was actually super hilarious. He mentioned that the Apostles are 180 degrees different from what you see in Conference. When they are in Conference, they need to be serious because they are speaking doctrine, but when they are together amongst themselves, they are funny dudes. Elder Bednar said Elder Oaks is one of the funniest guys he has ever met. He tells quirky jokes and laughs at them and his whole body shakes, apparently, and we all laughed hearing that. Haha. Elder Bednar told us as soon as we got there for the training, to not take notes. He doesn't know why, but in the culture of the church people are always taking notes of every thing they hear, and that's wrong. Instead, we should keep our "small plates" (a spiritual history), instead of "large plates" (a secular history). He said, "Taking notes in a meeting like this is stupid." And Sis. Bednar stood up and said "I have been trying to get him to not use that word." And then Elder Bednar was like "Well, I can't repent because I'm not sorry." Hahahaha. It killed me. What a stud. So he told us, only the things that the holy ghost teaches you, write down. And wow, so amazing. He talked so much about faith, about agency and how it's more than just choosing, but it's acting and not being acted upon. He talked about how we need to be our own agents and act for ourselves in all things, and as we teach, we need to let our investigators be agents, instead of us acting over them. He told us about how the 12 (Apostles) talk about topics and discuss them and it was awesome. It was the most amazing experience of my life! Oh, there is so much more that he explained that I haven't written. He really changed my outlook on so many things. He also told us his biggest concern as one of the 12 is steadfastness. Members being steadfast and immovable until the end. We got to ask him so many questions and that was one we asked him, and that's what he said. His biggest thing is staying steadfast on the path. As he finished, he told us, "Put your notebooks away, and listen to this part; it's going to be intense, but I want you to pay attention, and if you do so, the holy ghost will help you remember it when you get home so you can write it down." (which is true, when I got home I remembered literally everything he said in this little intense 30 min part... amazing). He started off saying, "If the Lord was here, what do you think would be the most important thing to him?" (something like that) and then he went on to explain if we want to know the answer, we can read about it in the gospels when he says my hour has arrived, because right before he died, he taught the most important things. Likewise in the Book of Mormon, he taught the Nephites the most important things while he was there. Elder Bednar challenged us to read and make a list. He told us the first two things he taught were in Jerusalem; the Sacrament, and the Americas; the correct way to baptize. He told us the most important things for the Lord are ordinances. That's the way we make it back to him. That a person absolutely needs to do them it they want to make it back to God. There is no maybe... there is no wiggle room... no exceptions. Every one of us needs the ordinances so we can endure faithfully to the end and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, so we can really apply the Atonement in our lives, and be changed by grace. Then he used that to practically say we need to baptize more here because the people need these ordinances. I loved it. He explained a lot more, but when I get home you can read my notes :) I will forever remember that experience.

Anyways, love you all!

Elder Cluff

 Martha's baptism, her son baptized her with Elder Badal and me :) 

Elder Badal and me at Larcomar in Miraflores :)

August 24, 2015 Letter...

Heeeeeyyyy mom how are you?! So yeah, I'll be buying protein next week.. and it's gonna be around $110 dollars. Yikes, I know that's a lot. Don't kill me. But like I said, just go take it from my piggy bank or something haha. LOLOLOL. But yeah, next week I'm gonna go buy it. Love yaaa :) anyways what else.... good to hear the boys are still playing lax... that's fun. That's good for the bones. Also, I'll send pics today yaaaa? Also.. what else.. my clothes are all good.. my shoes are ya gross but I polished them the other day with a shoe polish that was super dark so they were reddish brown for a while, but they are good now. Everything is GOOD. I'm easy to please. Anyways, thanks for the pics you sent me too.. I loved them. And yeah, the tie clip... I loved it. Cool as BEANS. So sounds like the boys are doing good. I'm doing good. For real.. it's insane being district leader.. I have to make a lot of sacrifices for my own sector to help out other ones, but it's good though and I really enjoy it. I enjoy helping people.:) This week our district had 4 baptisms.. I'm proud of the lads.. one of them was like a last minute thing that I had to work my trash off to help them get it, but they got it and it was awesome. Hard work, and diligent faith in the Lord Jesus Christ really does pay off. Also, I have a blast doing the baptismal interviews. They are such a spiritually uplifting experience. We also had a sweet conference with president Larson this week. He talked to us a lot about the faith and got us ready for what's going to be happening this Wednesday.. you'll never guess what opportunity we are going to have, that's right.. you guessed it.. A VISIT FROM Elder Bednar (and Elder Soarrez from the 70 pres, and Bishop Stevenson, the presiding bishop of the church)...Elder Bednar is my hero.. my favorite apostle (you prolly shouldn't pick favorites, but I just did) He is a pure teacher.. such a Christlike good man. I CANNOT WAIT TO LISTEN TO HIM. What an amazing opportunity I'll be honest. So get ready for next Monday cuz I'll be updating you with everything.

But yeah, we also had a baptism here in our sector this week.. it was a complete miracle :) The sisters name was Martha. When I got here, her desires to be baptized were very low. She had all the lessons, but didn't care much about baptism, but me and my comp knew that it was the Lords will for her to be baptized this week. We kept her in our prayers every night, we did follow ups with her every day, and we were able to show the Lord that WE had faith that she would be able to complete with her baptismal goal. I think the biggest thing that made a difference was when we were in her house, she was telling us she just didn't feel it.. she was still in doubt. So knowing it was the Lords will that she should be baptized, we told her.. okay Hermana, we are going to kneel down right here, and you are going to ask God if all these things that we have taught you are true, and we promise you, that in this very moment, you will recieve the answer you are looking for. We felt inspired by the spirit to do so. We did it, she prayed, we then gave a moment of reverence and silence kneeled, and the spirit testifyed to every single one of us in that circle that this gospel is true. She felt it. We asked her how she felt, and sure enough, she had recieved her answer. She was then baptized this week. I know that the faith is so important. I know it requires constant work, constant trust in the Lords will, but it works miracles. To complete our goals with the Lords help, faith is essential. I know when we actually put it into practice, we will see miracles like we saw, and like we are going to continue to see here. 

Anyways, love you guys a lot!

Elder Cluff

August 17, 2014 Letter...

I love you mom that sounds great. Honestly sounds like you guys had a great trip and I can't wait to go when I get back. We are gonna have a blast. But yeah, it makes me extremely happy hearing all that. Tell all the family I really love them and I'm always praying for them :) Anyways.. yes being district leader is super fun. I love helping other missionaries and now I get to do it even more. I'm in a district of 6 elders and we are killing it. You'll never believe what zone I'm in though... BACK IN RICO RIMAC BABY. hahaha. I'm in the Rimac 2 ward that shares the church with my old ward... so I've seen every member of my old ward and the bishop (who I love) and they're like, what are you doing here, and I'm like idk, but here I am. Like this never happens... a missionary leaving a zone then going back... but it happened with me. I'm sure there is a wise reason as to why :) there are a lot of people to teach here and I'm pumped to start working. It's like a refreshing start. I love changes. My comp is awesome. He is white. His name is Jacob Badal.. he is from LA and has like 9 months in the mission. This week we had ward conference and we brought an investigator, and it just so happened that an area 70, Elder Costa was speaking.. pure teacher.. that man is a prophet of God.. and anyways, he gave many inspiring and amazing sermons and afterwards Elder Costa personally went out and searched out our investigator and talked to her a bit and gave her some inspiring words and personal encouragement. It was AMAZING. What a blessing it is to have living prophets today. And how humble... he probably had a million things to do, but after the conference he came and found us just to talked to our investigator and give her loving words. What he said to her made SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON HER. She has the goal to be baptized this next week :) I'm extremely happy and blessed here in Rimac and now we just gotta put our shoulders to the wheel and do what the Lord expects of us.

The package came! I love it. I absolutely love it. Next week I will explain what I especially loved. Ties.. socks.. the treats.. the pics.. LOVE. I LOVE YOU GUYSSSSSSS. Go missions!

Love you guys! Sorry this letter is short I gtg soon :) but love you all. Read the Ensign always please.

Elder Cluff

August 10, 2015 Letter...

Lake Powell trip... I'm so jealous mother. I want to go to Lake Powell when I get back please. It's a dream there. I'm glad you guys are gonna go do something fun tho :) And that's good too that the boys are starting school soon, they need to do something productive. And I love Sky and Ash and miss them a lot, please take a lot of pics :) Ya transfers are this week. We will know at about 7. I'll let you know what my destiny is. Alpine Dayzzz was too great. Everyone wants horses again... hahaha ME TOO. Not kidding. I want to get back into roping... that was the life.

And yes, keeping the Sabbath day.. so important... one thing I do admire here in Peru is that they do a pretty good job at keeping the Sabbath day holy. No TV, no games, nada. But they do buy stuff and that bugs the tar out of me. But keep it up :) Remember also that the Sabbath day doesn't mean only "refrain from doing things" but it also means, and even more importantly "doing things that are important" such as go out as a family and visit people who are in need of your visits. It could be a grandma (I love visiting grandma's) who doesn't have much family or is in need of help. Go get your visiting and home teaching done, go give service to those who need it. It could be a number of things. Don't ever think that we can't give service on Sunday because it would be "work" and we´re not supposed to "work" on Sunday. Remember, it's the work of the Lord, not ours:

Mosiah 2:17  And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.

I never really understood these things before the mission, but now I do. It's the Lord's day, which we should dedicate to him by trying to be as much like him as possible. Remember the Lord, remember his example, that is what we should do on the Sabbath day. Keep it up, go give service and help on Sunday AS A FAMILY :) that will help you guys soooo much, I can really promise you. I know if you guys make goals to help people, to give service, to keep the Sabbath holy, the family will be more united than ever.

This week not much happened. To be honest, it was rather difficult. But yeah, what am I gonna do about it. Just smile and keep working. I gave a talk yesterday and it was sick and everyone was like, "Who is this white Peruvian?" And I was like, yeah.. that's whats up PERU. I'm so blessed that the Lord has loosened my tongue to such an extent that I can speak clearly this language, because at the beginning, it was IMPOSSIBLE. Anyways, love you guys! I will keep y'all updated. Keep kicking baby's!

Elder Cluff

August 3, 2015 Letter...

I love you mom.. I love Skyler, too.. I'm pumped to hear that they got to visit you guys! And you are going camping? As a family? That's awesomeeee. Have fun! Cam's a beast and I'm glad that he is scoring... as a goalie? [There are annoying girls in this computer lab place and I want to yell at them cuz my headphones don't work and their yelling and screaming, and my heavens, stop it please.] Sorry about that.. anyways mommaaa.. I love you. Jacob bought a boat.. what the shane the dude is a legend. I love that guy. I hope Uncle is doing well. How is all the fam? Uncles and aunts? Anyways ... package.. it´ll come Wednesday.. I can't go get it but yeah, I'm sure it´ll come :) And gooo mom teaching little kiddies about the priesthood is the dream! And how lucky are you?! You are surrounded by a lot of priesthood holders. One perk to having all boys. :) [and my heavens, people are standing over my shoulder watching me and it's like, kids leave.] Anyways, Diego is a pure bread coon.. I love him and he is always watching out for me. Solid buddy :) Anyways mom, I'm glad everything is going well and tell Ashley I told her happy b-day and that I hope she had a good one.

This week not much happened, to be honest... we worked... and worked... and worked... but we are working so that this week we can have two baptisms. Pray please for Omar Mendoza and for Enzo Chapi.. Omar is a teenager of 16 years old and so is Enzo. Omar needs permission.. or better said, he needs to convince his mom because she is a strong catholic... and with Enzo... we just gotta work hard with his desire to be baptized. So if you guys could pray for them so that this week, the 8th of August, they get baptized :) I know we´ll be able to get it done.. we just got to put in the work and follow what the spirit tells us to do... :) This isn't my first rodeo...:)

Oh yeah, also transfers are next week and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have one cuz I have 6 months here...I'm ready to go. I'm ready to work with new people and get my focus redialed. Changes are always solid because they help us get focused and all that good stuff again :) I really do love it here though and was able to see so much success. The Lord has blessed me substantially here and it is probably the best sector and area I'll have in the mission. I love the family I live with, and all the amazing experiences I've had. My convert, who was recently baptized.. Jose Luis Mongilardi is doing amazing! He bore his testimony again yesterday on the truthful of the Liahona (the church magazine) and the reading of the scriptures... haha he scolded the members and it was hilarious... because he recently was baptized. I love seeing people becoming converted to the gospel mom.. I just love it. The greatest feeling ever. Anyways, all of my other converts here are doing AMAZING. Everyone is active :) we´ll see what happens when I leave... but they are all rocking it. I love you guys so much. Keep reading your books of Mormon. Every night. Keep saying your prayers. Every night. Keep happy :)

Elder Cluff