Week 11: Sorry It's Late Been A Busy Week

Elder Clayton being gone is weird. Normally he is the one who puts up the Christmas Tree and decorates the house, but this year he is gone and I was worried that we wouldn't have a tree up this year but low and behold there is a beautiful Christmas tree sitting in the corner of our Family Room. Keep in mind this is the only trace of Christmas you will see in my house seeing as Elder Clayton is responsible for decorating and no one else has the time to do it. Mexico on the other hand is being decorated with his presence which is fantastic he is exactly where he needs to be doing exactly what he wants to be doing. Here are parts of his letter. Enjoy y'all hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

"Haha I just read your email, I'm sad to say that you (mom) and Jason Alba are the only ones who wrote me this week.  But it's okay."

"I want to start off my telling you a funny story!  So this story started on Saturday, my companion and some members kept telling me to be ready to share my testimony some time in church, I thought it was going to be in priesthood or something.  Its wasn't a super big deal.  Well, Sunday morning came around and my comp and I were having our personal study and he kept say these three things: "Discurso, 7 minutos, Obra misional"  I didn't fully understand what he was saying so I looked them up in the dictionary, they mean: "Speech, 7 minutes, Missionary Work."  Well I wasn't making the connection between them.  So we were walking to church an hour before it starts, and he kept asking me if I was ready.. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, I had to give a Speech (talk) that was 7 minutes on missionary work in sacrament. haha I started to freak out, there was know way I could give a 7 min talk in spanish.  Anyway it all turned out good, in the MTC each week we had to prepare a 3 min talk for sacrament so I combined two of those talks and gave a somewhat good talk on Faith and Christ and Repentance nothing to really do with missionary work but I didn't care!"

"Haha well onto answering questions you ask in last weeks email, My mission president is super nice, he speaks some English but not a whole lot, so my interview with him was really short haha.  I stayed in the mission home just for one night when I got here.  I have adjusted to the food just fine it's actually really good!  I'm always carrying water in my backpack so that hasn't been a problem yet.  Our area is good and bad, the members are amazing and they are so willing to help the problem is the people, it is very Catholic here and everyone is super strong in it..  The Spanish is okay sometimes, I can understand about 30% of everything people are saying.  And the last question is the only people who write me are you and Robynn from the family."

"So we never really have to make food, in all the missions in Mexico there is a sister in the ward whose calling is to cook for the missionaries so we get food from her everyday.  We have to make are own breakfast though so I just bought a few boxes of trix and eat those everyday.  Something kinda funny there is only one really bread make here and that would be Bimbo Bakery, haha their bread is really good! haha"

"Oh so I can Skype on christmas, but only for 45 min so thats going to suck..  thats about it for this week.."

I unfortunately didn't get to email Elder Clayton I thought about it a lot I just never quite found the time to do it. It sounds like his first experience speaking in church for the first time all in Spanish was a success, there is only one way to go from here and that is up! Haha he will be preparing talks and speaking in church all the time with ease. I'm glad he is liking the food and I'm excited her is out there. I have missed him a ton this week but I'm so proud of him that missing him is getting easier. It'll be really tough once my wedding rolls around then I will really start missing him.... Oh well I need to go write him while I have the time. Have a great Sabbath hopefully next week I will blog before Sunday rolls around.

 Address and E-Mail:

Elder Ryan James Clayton 

Mexico Leon Mission
Calle Torre Vieja #128
Col. Arbide
37360 Leon, Guanajuato
Mexico

ryan.clayton@myldsmail.net

God Be With You Till We Meet Again... 

Week 10: Week 9 Got Lost In The Transition

He made it to Mexico safe and sound which is a very good thing!! Elder Clayton was able to call on Monday before he flew off to this hot country with awesome food. I was able to talk to him for a minute and before he left I used to tease him with my impressive Spanish speaking skills (basically what I've learned at the bank haha) and when he called he out spoke me on so many levels. I was very impressed and also realized I seriously need to buckle down on learning so when he gets home we can have secret conversations. Just kidding but I do want to improve and continue learning. He sounds so much older which made me miss him but I'm far more proud so it's all for the best. Anyway, that is where week 9's post went he didn't email he called, but he is excited to be there and here is what he has to say about his first week there:

"There's a lot to tell you!  So Mexico is super different!  Its like West Valley times 100.  We get $1,700 pesos each month which is about a $140 USD.  We don't tract or contact in our mission anymore.  We work solely with the members.  Which is super nice.  The people here are amazing!  The food is super good too.  I have learned not to ask what is in the food and to just eat it.  haha"

"My companion is Elder Gonzelas and he is from the Dominic Republic.  Our area is called Silao, and it is a biking area, which is super sweet!  Half the time we are mountain biking on dirt trails and the other half is like biking in New York."

"A few things, Dear Elders still work out here so if you want to send me one go ahead, it takes about a week to 2 to get to me.  Also if you are going to send me a Christmas package send it now!  It takes about a month in a half to get here.  Also with emails to make it so I have more time Im not going to read the emails you send me before I email.  Im going to print them out and read them at my apartment and reply to them next week!"

"The weather he is super nice, it gets to about 90 during the day and about 60 at night.  haha have fun with that Utah weather, its short sleeve for me every day!!"

"So church was interesting on Sunday, we have a branch of about 50 members. And we meet in this teeny house thing..  We also had the Primary program on Sunday, the whole 10 kids did an awesome job! haha"

"So there's everything here you would find back in the states, including Walmart, Costco, Dominos, Blockbuster, McDonalds, ect.  I really could use a Castco card.  haha."

"My president wanted me to inform you about this popular thing called virtual kidnap.  Basically the steel missionaries information call their family and demand a ransom.  If that ever happens (which has never happened in our mission) call the mission home immediately!"

"Anyway, I'm doing super well, and Im lovin' every minute of being out here!"

Ryan and Companion Elder Gonzelas

Church Building

Statue of Christ Like in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It would appear that he is having a great time on this new adventure. I'm so excited for him and I will have you know that, that purple shirt he is wearing in the bottom picture is the one I picked out that my Mom said he wouldn't like so there you go Mom he wears it, whether or not it's by choice or a lack of clothes I'll never know but I still win. ;) He is doing so well and I'm so happy for him I can't wait to Skype him on Christmas which is only 41 days away! Holy cow it's so close. Keep him in your prayers and thank you for your support. Have a great night guys and please shoot him and email if you get a chance he would love it.

 Address and E-Mail:

Elder Ryan James Clayton 

Mexico Leon Mission
Calle Torre Vieja #128
Col. Arbide
37360 Leon, Guanajuato
Mexico

ryan.clayton@myldsmail.net

God Be With You Till We Meet Again... 

Week 8: Last Week In The MTC!!

It's Elder Clayton's last week in the MTC!!! Come Monday he will be on his way to Mexico to embark on the rest of his mission experience in the sunny warm taco eating country. We are all so excited!! I think the best part is he gets to call on Monday while he is at the airport, I can't wait to talk to him!!

Time for the best part! Enjoy his letter...

"So today we went to the temple at 7 because we wanted to go with Harmana Olsen (one of our teachers).  It was amazing like always, sad though it will be my last time for two years.  Not much else has happened in the last week.  Just getting packed up to leave on Monday."

"A few things, One: As far as I have been hearing we only get a half hour to call home on Monday, I'm going to check with my branch president tonight to find out.  I want everyone to know that I love you all and I will try to call you all but Mom is #1 on my list to call.  Second: Thank you for the bags you sent it's made so much more room in my bags.  Third: Here is the mission home address:

Elder Ryan James Clayton
Mexico Leon Mission
Calle Torre Vieja #128
Col. Arbide
37360 Leon, Guanajuato
Mexico"

"Send any letter or packages you want to that address until I get my residency address.  As far as I heard letters get down there just fine, few things though: don't put any kind of money in letters (they'll cut the corners and sniff and they'll know if there is money in it), people say it takes about a week in a half for a letter to get there and that a regular US postal stamp will work (check with the postal office for more info).  For packages it's a bit different, they are ify if they will get to me.  If you want to send a package you will need to put this phone number bellow the above address, 52 477-715-2595 (this is also the mission home phone number)."

"We are allowed to check our email this last Sunday so if you feel the need to write me go ahead."

"So I have been doing a lot of family history (it's a class we have), and I just have to say, having Clayton on my name bag if a huge honor!"

There you have it folks his last email from the MTC that will be posted on here. I will probably post again on Monday after he calls depending on what he says. I'm quite excited to talk to him even though my mom is number one on his list as she should be.. I thank you guys for following Elder Clayton on this blog the support is incredible and much appreciated. Prayers go a long way and I know that the prayers being sent his way will keep him safe and he will find much success in Mexico. He will create friendships and relationships to last through the eternities. I'm excited to hear about the lives he will touch and change for the better. Have a great week y'all thanks again! 

 Address and E-Mail:

Elder Ryan James Clayton 

Mexico Leon Mission
Calle Torre Vieja #128
Col. Arbide
37360 Leon, Guanajuato
Mexico

ryan.clayton@myldsmail.net

God Be With You Till We Meet Again...