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... 

Week 7: Picture Time!

We got a picture this week!! This needs to go down in the history books people, an act like this from Ryan as been so unheard of these past few weeks. See it's only one picture so you must cherish this moment, not only that, he also sent a caption! That is really unheard of. I'm training this boy to do exactly what I want as far as sending me letters and what I would like them to entail. Haha I am actually missing Elder Clayton a lot this week, he is my go to guy, but I am proud of the service he has so selflessly devoted his life too. I won't waste anymore time this letter was full and exciting!

"Everything is going pretty well, my companion and I were called to be the Zone Leaders on Sunday so that's been pretty fun.  Our job is basically to look over the zone when the Branch presidency isn't here and make sure everyone is being nice.  We also get to teach all the new missionaries that come into our zone all about the MTC and what not to do here.  We didn't get any new missionaries in this week to our zone so well see if we get any next week."

"Yesterday my district got to host for the first time.  It was way fun, I met a lot of awesome families and saw a lot of moms crying.  It's funny how much enthusiasm they have coming in and how fast they lose that.  It's kinda sad but a mission is hard work and you grow so much through it."

"So, Anothony Bivens (who lived in our home teachers house) just came in yesterday.  Got to talk to him for a bit.  It nice to see someone that I know!"

"It's been super cold here, we see snow in the mountains, but no snow has fallen to us yet.  That super awesome how much you love the temple, I love going every Thursday it always brightens up my week!"

"So, cool fact of the week, the church is going to start giving missionary iPads so they can do all their paper work on that and send it to the Prez.  I hope to get one! haha"

"Well, that's just about it for me, not much else going on, I'm really tired of doing role plays 20 times a day.  I just want to go talk to really people!"

"Travel Plans:

November 5,

Flight #2012 LV: Salt Lake City, UT

                     AR: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX

Flight #3211 LV: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX

                     AR: Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico"

Elder Medina and Elder Clayton, hosting yesterday.
That's totally the tie I bought him in London! :)

We were all jumping for joy at the Clayton household when we found out he will go straight to Mexico and he has his travel plans. You best believe my cell phone will be on at all times on the  5th of November, he promised me a roll of quarters, we will talk and it will be much needed! So excited!! :) Not to mention if y'all know Elder Clayton at all you know how much he loved and valued his computers, iPad, and iPhone, which are currently in my closet (he must not realize by the time he gets home all of them will be super outdated), if he gets an iPad on this mission of his he will be very euphoric. Haha Well that's all for this week folks only a week and a half left before he will be in sunny Mexico! Thanks again for the prayers and thoughts. Have a great week! :)


Address and E-Mail:

Elder Ryan James Clayton 

MTC Mailbox # 302

MEX-LEON 1105

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

ryan.clayton@myldsmail.net

God Be With You Till We Meet Again...