October 12, 2015 Letter...

Haha, the McEwan's are too great. I love them. Good to see you guys are getting your hang out time in. And maybe they´ll see Packer and McKay while they´re there, hahaha. That would be too great. She is going to be the photographer... haha. Awesome.

I'll be riding dad´s motorcycle a lot when I get home, FYI. And dad told me about is patriotism speech.. that makes me happy. I love dad and I love the amazing example he has given us. What a stud :) How is Bishop Rasmussen? I think of bishop every time I look at Elder Rasband, haha. Idk why. Ya I'll send pics today cuz I think I'll have time. Peru is good, all is well. And yes we will be Skyping here very soon :) and Christmas package.. I'll start thinking now. It's almost here.. crazy.

But yeah, not much happened this week, as always. Super chill. Haha... It was a little stressing to be honest because of some of my responsibilities, but everything is good and I'm grateful for all the opportunities the Lord gives me to serve with the other Elders. I really feel like I'm beginning to understand here.. I feel like the gospel has taken a whole new meaning as I have served here in my mission. I´ll be honest, it hasn't been easy. It's taken me a long time to understand a lot of things, but as I have strove to be exactly obedient things always work out, and I can feel that the Lord´s spirit is present and guides me. As I have been guided by the spirit, I have learned SO many things. Plain and precious truths. I have been touched so many times by the spirit. I look forward every morning to reading my Book of Mormon, because in those moments, I'm able to receive impressions and whisperings and teachings from the spirit that always help me to become better, and what I can do to bless the lives of others. This week I have been studying a lot about grace. Grace is the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of "Truth and light, until [we are] glorified in truth and [know] all things." (Elder Uchtdorf). Grace is what helps us to become more like Christ. We can receive Christ´s grace, or his enabling and strengthening power, thanks to his Atonement. I feel like in the church, sometimes, we spend too much time focused on the saving part of the Atonement; how we will be able to be saved one day because of Christ´s suffering, but we sometimes forget about the other part, the part of the Atonement that helps us in the here and NOW, that gives us help and strength to become better and eventually return to his presence. His grace is essential to make it through this life. As Elder Uchtdorf explained last conference, we are flawed and limited beings. Grace helps us change that. Grace helps us separate ourselves from the natural man and become saints. We received grace, because it's a gift. When we search for it, pray for it, and when we are obedient and keep the commandments the Lord can bless us through the Holy Ghost. I wanna keep going, but I'm short on time and there are a million scriptures that I have but I'm not going to list them. I challenge you guys to study more about grace :) 

This week we also had a baptism! His named is Brandon, and we taught him only 3 times before he was baptized. He received his testimony after the first lesson and wanted to be baptized. What a stud. He is only 14 years old, but has one of the strongest faiths I have ever seen. :)

Love you guys a lot! 

Elder Cluff

 Brandon's Baptism

Fernando's Baptism

October 5, 2015 Letter...

Yes. I got to see every single second of conference, and better yet, in English. I have to say this has been the most edifying conference I have ever seen. I absolutely loved it. I love the new Apostles. They are perfectly qualified for the positions the Lord has put them in. Every single talk this conference was SPOT ON. There wasn't a talk that I didn't enjoy. Wow. And Ponderizing hahaha.. I love that. What a solid talk! I challenge you guys to start doing that in the home! I'm starting it, too! Elder Bednar.. what a stud. You have no idea how much respect I have for that man. He is one of my great heroes and role models. And wow.. Elder Holland... when he spoke.. I cried. I will be honest... it made me think of YOU mom. I love you so much mother. I'm grateful for the unconditional love you have given me, even when I have been a punk in the past. You really are my hero. :) Honestly what a perfect conference. And hey, please keep me updated with President Monson, he didn't look well towards the end of his talk, and I don't know how many more conferences we`ll be able to listen to him.

I got so much out of this conference. I cant wait to read them and go over them again. They focused a lot this conference on the importance of being obedient and keeping the commandments. The importance of doing that, so we can have the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost. The course of becoming true disciples so one day we can be exalted. I loved every piece of it. We are all in this journey to return home to live with our Father in Heaven and we need to decide now if we are going to submit ourselves to His will and follow Him. I'm so grateful for our living prophets, men of a secure and firm understanding of the gospel, that can lead us, and guide us, and give us direction. I have never felt such an inner peace and love and confirmation of these men as I have this conference. I know that this is the truth.

And my comp is Peruvian from Moquegua, southern Peru. He is talkative, but a solid dude. :)

And dad, I can't wait for you guys to finish the BOM as a family. That's an awesome goal. Also, good luck with all the CPA stuff! I know you`ll kill it. And running detection dogs would be awesome. I hope to see Kula in beast mode when I get home.

And mom, keep working too so you can get your license. I know you`ll be able to get it done. :)

I love you guys! Have a great week! :)

Elder Cluff

September 28, 2015 Letter...

Lawn mower repairs.. first world problems. But that's good that everything is working in tip top shape :) and I love Brigham.. I hope he knows that and I love hearing he has a strong testimony. Keep helping him so it grows and grows and grows. Keep it up with him, I can't wait to help him a little more when I get home. He is a stud. And a new Cluff family! Awesome :) My cousin Elder Schade, his mom is a Cluff, and he comes from the Moses Jr. Cluff line is the new mission assissant. Super stud :) I love you though and I love your letters.. I love them simple and I really do enjoy hearing about what's going on at home and everything!

Our investigators are doing well. We had one baptizm last week, and guy named Fernando. He is a stud and his baptism was the best. A really, really spiritual experience for everyone. When we met him like a month a go, the first day we met him, we invited him to be baptized for the 26th of sept, and he accepted, and it completed and we are completely stoked here that the Lord has blessed us in such a big way. He has gained a strong testimony of the gospel and that's honestly my joy. I had the opportunity to baptize him, too. It was perfect:) We have 3 others for the next 2 weeks are so that will get baptized. They were going to be baptized in Sept., but there were some difficulties we had to get figured out, but we did it and now they are ready to get baptized :) it's gonna be an amazing month. We are pumped.:) I'm pumped. I'm feeling really, really good lately. The Lord has shed so much of his Spirit over me and I can really say the greatest happiness and joy comes from when we are obedient with exactness to the Lord. Honestly... it's the only true way to find peace and joy in this life :) Even though we didn't complete with our goals in the month of September, we will be able to do it in October and even beat it at the same time :) All is well. I love you guys a lot.

I'm going to try to send pics! Love you guys :)

PS.. my homey Elder Larson, lifting buddy in the mission finished his mission the other day, and I got all of his big weights... like 250 more pounds of weights :) hahaha transfers are gonna blow. But ya I'm ready. And my comps name is Elder Coayla.. he is from Peru :) hahah good kid :) I'll send pics! If not this week then next!

Elder Cluff

September 21, 2015 Letter...

Maammmmaaa. I love you, it is good to hear from you. And I would be lying if I said I didn't take that pic for dad hahahaha. Glad he got a kick out of it, haha. Isoseles shooting stance.. haha I miss that man. 

I'm glad Skyler is getting work done. He is my hero. I love him.

And yeah, for now the missionaries are safe here in Peru :) don't worry about it maaammaa. We are always safe :)

Grandma and Grandpa are the best.. I'm so glad they are retired and just having a blast living their lives and visiting family.. I just hope they stay super safe on the road.

And Tanner Lloyd received his call!? That's the greatest news I have ever heard. I'm pumped. What a stud. And Ebe's.. I'm gonna send him a letter. I love that guy, too. Good bros.

I love you mom and thanks for your words. You are the greatest. I really think about you a lot and hope everyone is treating you well and I hope you are just happy because that's all I care about :)

This week was very tiring, to be honest. We had to search for a lot of new people to get going for the month of October. But we are giving it our all to get these 5 baptisms this week. Please keep praying for the names I sent you, because we need to get it done :) I know the Lord is gonna bless us though, I have seen it in my mission over and over again and I have a very strong testimony of his power to help us and answer prayers. I know he is real. I know he exists. I know he lives, And I know this is His work. Carolina, Enrique (13), and Adriana (11) are a family that I just love. They are so great. Carolina is the mom, and she is such a sweetheart. Like I see her parenting, and I'm impressed. I really, really, really pray that this week that can complete with their goal, because they are going to be the best converts ever. Fernando is a young adult that lives with his mom and brothers and sisters. Like half of his family are members and he is ready to be baptized. He knows what we are teaching is true, he is reading, praying and coming to church, he is ready :) Evelyn is a single mom who has kids from 18 to 2. She is great. The only thing is that she doesn't want to change her catholic traditions. She is scared of her family and what they´ll think more than anything. Her mom hates members of the church for some reason. So we are praying really hard for her so she can get it done. Keep these names in your prayers and I know that we will be able to get it done and complete what the Lord has given us. :)

Anyways, I will be getting a new comp tomorrow because my comp will be leaving because he has a lot of time here. I'll keep you updated with who it is :) I love you guys and don't forget to continue reading your Books of Mormon. That books is changing my life every single day. :)

Love you all :)

Elder Cluff

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 :)