News of Joe

Hi Everyone

I heard from Joe today, he got permission to call and let us know that his Visa came and he will be leaving for Brazil on Tuesday afternoon. He leaves from Salt Lake at 1:20 p.m. and flys to Atlanta get there at 7:30 and leaves at 9:30 and will get to Brazil at 8:15 am on Wednesday. He want to thank all of you who have been praying he would get his visa.
Trudy

Week 2 ......WHATTT!!!

Dear family and friends,

Dang time is flying! the days are incredibly long, but it only seem like a day ago was my first couple of day. Its been 2 weeks! it is just amazing. i am not sure you can fully understand unless you go through it yourself. it is mind blowing!

I am feeling much better this week. I have actually been able to eat more the a bite or two each meal. the food is good here but i am honesty kind of sick of eating. I feel like all I do is sit and eat all day. except gym! I LOVE GYM!!!! its the Bomb (sorry sister nelson hope that is an okay word to use at 20) we get to leave the compound that is the MTC and enjoy the fresh air and sun!! it is also just way nice to sweat! we have been playing sand volleyball most days. it feels so good to just play an d compete with other districts and guys!, plus we can jump and dive and it doesn't hurt. AWESOME!!

so Exciting news!! people are getting visas left and right. mostly people that came my week. i hear of a few people about every day. 2 guys form my district found out today and leave next wednesday. its so exciting! we have been praying everyday for our visas and god does answer prayers. I know he does!! we just have to ask. He wants to bless so bad, we just need to be humble enough to realise that we need help! There is a website where you can track the visas one of the guys who is leaving, his mom found it. he get to call her tonight and he is going to get it for us. so mom heads up.

Portuguese is..... humbling. I am learning fast and improving everyday, but i am relying so much on the lord. when i dont.... OH MAN!! you should see my face in class when our teacher is talking: I Have no clue what on earth he is saying. my mind just doesn't work, But when i am asking for his help and know i can't do it with out his help. I get it!!... I don't know how he does it. I just understand and learn. this is definitely his work! speaking has been and still is a challenge. I can semi-communicate. I feel like a little kid patching a sentence together with my very small vocabulary. but Heavenly father is helping me and I am so grateful!

Our schedule is basically the set for us but for the most part what we do during that time is up to us to figure out. it has been hard and a learning experience to learn how to to best use my time. like what should i study during my 3 hour block of personal study or 2 hour language block. it hard and great!!

so last week Elder Russel N Nelson of the quorum of the 12 apostles came and talked to us in Devotional. It was AWESOME!!! He talked about the Book of Mormon, and talked about the ensign magazine that just came our about the book of Mormon. He so spoke on so many things like how the Bible and book of Mormon work together to testify that Jesus is the Christ and our saviour and redeemer I know that the book of moron is true!!! and i know that everyone can find that out for themselves if they jsut ask god with faith that he will answer their prayer!

I love this gospel so much i wouldn't be out here if i didn't know it was true.

i love you all thanks for the support you give me!!

sincerely

Elder Josiah Clements

Shout outs....

Mom- I haven't heard anything from you and would like to. I am thinking of you and love you!! could you send me or have asa drop me off a blanket the one here isn't quiet doing it for me.

Asa- thanks for the prayers and email. i hope your date when good despite the awkward moment with the slaters I also need you address

Ben i need you address!!

Everyone- if you want me to write you get on dear elder and send me something so I have you address

lauren, Rhonda and kids, Kim, and Alyse I got you letters and will have letters back soon!! thanks so much I love getting mail!!! Kim thanks so much for the package!!

Dad and Arina- I am thinking about you and love you!!!!

Boom service with a smile..... this subject is courtesy of Elder Kyle cornwell.

Dear Family and Friends,

So first P-day... wahoo. so my p-day is tuesday from now which everyone tells me is the best because we have p-day, dinner and then Devotional. so we don't have any class time today. tonight's Devotional is suppose to be a huge deal... we were all given the ensigns for October on the Book of Mormon and told we all needed to read it by today... the rumor is Prsident Uctdorf or President Monson is coming... we shall see.

So the MTC has been pretty good for the most part. I have been sick for the past 3 or 4 days and it has made for a ruff week. I am pretty sure nothing makes you more homesick then being sick away from home! but I am feeling a lot better today and things are looking up. My Companion has been a super trooper about having me slow him down these past few days. His name is Elder Hullinger from Vancouver WA hes is HUGE hes like 6'5 and thick .. not Fat by anymeans just a solid kid! we are getting along quiet well. My roomates are two poly missionaries one went to Hawaii this morning and the other is been delayed like three times because of surgery and then his blood work was bad now they are doing test for cancer and some other stuff... he is a little discouraged to say the least. He just wants to get to Samoa so bad and I hope he does because he is an awesome guy!!

So the language is coming along pretty darn good, It is amazing how fast we learn here! I know that god is Helping us because there is no other way we could do this by our self's!!

Spanish is paying off Greatly too! who would have thought? :) we didn't have a forsure teacher for the first couple of days which was kinda of annoying but I guess taking on 200 missionarys in the past 2 weeks that were suppose to be in Brazil by now kinda makes it a little hecktic. our Teachers are Brother Smith who just got off his mission in june. he served in Brazil and so did Brother dodge. both are STUDS!!! anyways we started teaching an investigator on Friday in Portuguese... needless to say communicating has been kinda hard but it is amazing what we have picked up and can say and understand!

I Love you all!! and miss you! you can write me and email on DEARELDER.com and I will get it the same day! ( mom if you could put my address here that would be awesome!

I know that what I am doing is what God wants me to be doing and am so glad for this chance! I love you all!!!

Love Elder Clements

Ps. Sister Nelson and Alyse Thanks so much for the dearElder! it made me Day!!