Keep the Change

"Don't be afraid to change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something better." Author unknown



The way Mike and I approach our finances is very similar. We have common goals and our marriage has benefitted from it. What we don't have in common is how we treat our spare change. I try to get rid of mine, which results in me counting out change at the
cash register whenever possible. I'm sure it drives people crazy who are in line behind me! Mike will consistently pay with dollar bills and then he ends up with change. Every time. He throws it in a cup in his truck or stores it in his pants pocket for me to find as it spills to the floor on laundry day. Neither way is right. Neither way is wrong.

Hayden is dealing with an entirely different type of change. His whole life has changed. I have to remind myself of this every day. His schedule, language, surroundings, climate, social group, diet and wardrobe are all different than three months ago. But...he wouldn't have it any other way. He is happy and feeling joy he never knew, as he watches people change their lives! Here he is this week...


"Hey I have bad news. I forgot how to change the subject line again.

Oh also to make something clear... I didn't keep the dog from last week. Even though I wanted to. We actually left it in the street... Sorry little sisters. That's what we were told to do... But don´t worry Aubrey. It is living in Doggy paradise. Haha

Well, this week was awesome. When we arrived in our sector, the first week we managed to teach 5 lessons. This week we taught 36. So opening the sector is going great! It feels so good to see growth.

We have several investigators with baptismal dates! High school was dang fun. I love my friends and family, but never in my life have I felt better than when somebody is really willing to change. It´s like a different feeling of happy. I thought I had an idea of what it would be like, but nope. You have to go on a Mission to experience it. Sorry everybody!

The only hard part is that it is HOTTTT down here. HOT. You walk outside and feel like death. So that is fun!

Halloween is coming up! You´ll never guess what my costume is. I think I am gonna wear a name tag or something and pass out books. That will be so fun! Haha I hope you guys all have a great time. Make sure to not eat all your candy, because I think this guy behind me ate all of his for the next 4 years. That poor chair.

Haha life down here is good. I can´t complain. The only bad thing is that the garbage men aren´t very friendly. They like to walk past and wave guns in your face.. That was an interesting experience.. Haha I only tried to help him by throwing something in his truck.. Not everybody likes service.

Well, time for another week. If you guys have time, I would read Jacob 4: 4-13 when you get a chance. It really gave me a boost when I needed it this week."

Love Yall!
Elder Clegg

Pick a Team!

Taken from an April 1984 talk by Elder J. Thomas Fyans, "Who's on the Lord's Team?"

"We sing a hymn, “Who’s on the Lord’s side?” What does the word side mean? The definition of the word side is one of the contesting parties in a game or sport; one of a group of players; a team.

Based on this definition, the question “Who’s on the Lord’s side?” could appropriately be rephrased “Who’s on the Lord’s team?” Some of the lyrics that might be appropriately applied are:

Who’s on the Lord’s team? Who?
Now is the time to show;
We ask it fearlessly:
Who’s on the Lord’s team? Who?

We serve the living God,
And want his foes to know
That if but few, we’re great;
Who’s on the Lord’s team? Who?

We’re going on to win,
Nor fear must blanch the brow;
The Lord of hosts is ours;
Who’s on the Lord’s team? Who?"


Hayden has been in Chile for almost three months. He is strengthening his testimony and reaffirming his choice to be on the Lord's team. This week he found himself choosing a Chilean soccer team to cheer for...apparently it is a huge deal in Chile! Hopefully Hayden can help the people he's teaching to see that choosing to be on the Lord's team will bring eternal joy and happiness!


"Hi guys,

I hope you noticed that I fixed the number of weeks that I have been in the Mission. That is crazy that I am about to start my 13th week. I feel like its been about 6.5 days and 2314234123451345 years at the same time. The Mission has that effect on people.

It's weird to think about people from home... I have made so many new friends here in the Mission and all the people from home are just living the regular life. I forgot what an I-phone looks like. I literally don't even remember my phone number.. I don't remember my address.. What is gonna happen when I get home? I might forget which family I belong to and go home with the wrong family at the airport. I have 21 months to worry about trying to remember.

As far as interesting things happening.. John the Baptist baptized Jesus, but who baptized John the Baptist? That's right. Elder Clegg. Haha actually not yet, but we are working towards baptism with a guy named Juan El Bautista. I can't wait to put that on my resume.

My companion and I are starting to find lots of people to teach. Doors are starting to open, people are listening, and I couldn't be happier. The gospel really does change lives.

This week was the rivalry soccer game between the thug team Colo-Colo and the cool team LaU. You could say that I am a fan of Colo Colo. Haha not like missionaries ever watch, but you need to have a team down here. I prefer to talk to the more poor and a little bit more thug people because usually they are more humble. Plus, If you know the difference between Wiz Khalifa, Bob Marley, and Snoop Dog.. You can probably be their friends.
Long story short, Soccer Fans are crazy and Colo Colo won.. Like BYU vs. UTAH... That is nothing. These people go CRAZY.

The last thing I will say this week, is that I love Spanish. I think I am going to switch languages. I love learning it and speaking it. It is the coolest thing to be able to chat with people who 3 months ago, I would have walked right past them.

The Church is True, The Book is True. Keep me in your prayers! Thanks for all of the support.

Love,
Elder Clegg

PICTURE: We walked out of our house today to find a tiny little puppy.. It got in through the gap in our fence and it's name is Misericordia. I feel like if you mixed African American names and South American Names, that's what it would be. It means mercy in English. Sorry. Missionaries are weird."

Some Weeks Are Like That

One of my favorite children's books is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Alexander, the main character, tells the story from his perspective. I'm sure you've all read it. It has also been a favorite for my kids to read. While the book focuses on the terrible things happening to Alexander that day, my favorite part is how it ends. "It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My Mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia." Hayden hasn't had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, or week. But from all the emails we received yesterday, it sounds like he has had a pretty good, nothing too exciting, frustrating at times, figuring it out, kind of a week. And this Mom says, "Some weeks are like that. Even in Chile."


"Hola Amigos y Familia,

Hi guys. This girl is trying to talk to me right now and I am just really not in the mood to talk about anything. Good laws I am trying to type. Haha ok she is done.

This week. Absolutely nothing crazy happened. Haha how weird is that? I guess I´ll take the chance to tell you a little bit about Chile.

The food here...It´s really good. I am gonna get fat guys! We have a really big lunch every day.. Pretty normal stuff, but we eat a ton of bread! Haha Chilean bread. Try it if you get the chance.

My sector. It´s in the suburbs of Santiago. It is literally just a bunch of houses. We are in a ward called Nueva San Martin! Haha there are soooooooooo many inactive members here! We are always trying to help them.

My companion... he is a good guy. We just are not the same type of people! He likes to play soccer and that is the only thing he talks about. He isn´t great at Spanish, but Chileans are.. so it's not hard to learn! My favorite piece of advice from him was, "Hey, if he is using sign language, that means he can´t hear you." Thanks man! Also, when dogs and stuff come after us, he likes to hide behind me. Hahaha oh well. I am learning patience, and I should be nicer. I am sure I am not the easiest person to live with.

That´s all for this week guys. We are working hard! Haha we got the companionship of the week for the mission! So I guess that means we are doing something right. Not sure what that means..

Love you all!

Sorry I was boring this week."

Con Amor,
Elder Clegg

Hayden wrote his own captions...

There are lots of stray dogs here.. Haha some of them are really cute! Others try to bite me. (Not sure which category this one falls into. He's not looking too trustworthy to me...)

Chilean Sunsets are better than Cache Valley Sunsets. I am sorry guys, but it's the truth.

Reaching New Heights

Height has always been a topic of conversation in the Clegg home. My parents are average height. Mike's parents are not. In fact, they are short. (Were short...not sure how to respectfully address the height of people who have passed away.) That being said, my kids are surprised at Mike's height, despite having incredibly short parents. My kids have enjoyed keeping track of their height with marks on a wall or door frame every few years. Hayden couldn't get tall fast enough. He felt it was his key to making the high school basketball team. The majority of his height came after tryouts and by then he found joy from biking and skiing. Autumn's height came fast and furious and she lamented being taller than all the boys. That gap is now closing and she is owning her height a little more. (I even got her to wear her adorable black boots with a heel the other day!) Aubrey just wants to grow. She sees her tall brother and sister and has great hopes of joining them someday. It is fun to look at the marks and dates on the wall and compare heights over the years.

If I were to be measuring Hayden's spiritual height he is gaining, I would need to make a mark every week. Each letter, I am the one in awe at the growth he is making. I am humbled when I read his letters and feel the Spirit testify of the truth of his words across the miles. Here he is this week...


"Hey its Monday and Stuff,

This week was a crazy good week for multiple reasons.. Conference, splits, and not having anything too exciting happen. Haha my only weird story for this week is that one night I got into bed and was like "Wow I love it when I can get into a bed that has been made. It makes sleeping on the floor great.." Then I was like.. "Oh wait.. I didn't make my bed. Hey Elder, did you make my bed? No..? Ok.. who made my bed?" Haha then I went to sleep in my nicely made bed. I love it when ghosts and robbers and stuff are nice to me.

My first time doing splits was such a great experience. Elder Kimball from California came over to my sector to stay the night and work the next day. The two of us have a combined experience of less than 5 months.. I was a little unsure of how we were gonna be able to do! Haha but greenie luck.. We taught the most lessons of any day I've had.. and even put down a baptismal date with some dude we found! Haha I am here to tell you that "The Gift of Tongues" is a real thing.

Also, there's this holiday in the Mission that nobody tells you about.. General Conference. We still work and everything, but we get to listen to all of the sessions at the chapel in a room full of the gringos from my zone.. In English.. It was awesome! We all paid super close attention and tried our best to receive the revelation that we need! My personal favorite talk was the one about the night sky by Uchtdorf. He blew my mind. We have a God who knows our name. He loves us. This has never been more apparent to me. God loves all of his children! Even the really rude Catholics down here in Chile. Haha I am sure everyone has tweeted the crap out of all the good quotes.. So I will try to not bore you with that.

However, I will tell you about my personal conference miracle. Haha as missionaries we try really hard to bring investigators and such to the conference, but not many people were successful with that. My companion and I were settling in for our last session of conference in the gringo room when he looks out the window and sees one of the families we have been teaching randomly show up..This was a miracle in its own right! Haha we talked to them and had them sit by some members in the ward.. Returning to the gringo room I started to pray! I just wanted more than anything for them to hear something they could understand and like. I was getting a little discouraged with one talk left.. Then I remembered.. "Hey Bednar is gonna talk." I said one last prayer.. Probably the most sincere prayer of my life that they would hear something they needed.. Right after I said amen, Bednar stands up and says that his talk is going to be to the people not of our faith. I just started crying. It was embarrassing! Haha but by the time he said "Every Knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ." The 20 other missionaries in the room joined me. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life.

Right now, few knees are bowing and fewer tongues are confessing.. As missionaries, it is hard, but I can't wait for the day when we realize that all of our trials and work was worth it. When we can say, "I told you so." I have a new love for conference.

Hope you are all doing well.
Con amor,
Elder Clegg

P.S. I have only eaten Oreos for breakfast twice in my mission and one of those times was today. A man's gotta survive."


Hayden is inspiring me to try to reach new spiritual heights. I am going to need to find more ways to strengthen my faith and testimony, so I can grow as well. We miss him so much, but we also realize the plentiful blessings our family receives because of his spiritual growth and sacrifice.


Hayden being domestic. It sounds like he is good at cooking Oreo's!!
Hayden showing us what he puts in front of the door to feel safe at night. So comforting...
Hayden in his front doorway. He barely fits!!

Waves and Winds

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.


"Hi guys.

This week was much more calm. Haha I don´t have many scary stories to tell you this week. Sorry! I´ll try harder to have terrifying experiences more often.

Oh here´s one! I remembered. Haha one night we were walking back to our house and some lady starts to talk to us.. Well it turns out that she is hopped up on drugs and saying "Yo quiero matarme y mis niños. Yo levantame cada mañana con pena y cortas en mi piel. Hay algo mal en mi casa." I´ll let you figure out what that means, because I don´t want to write about it in English.. Anyways we were like, don´t do anything. We will be back in 10 minutes.. So we took of running as fast as we could to the Bishop's house.. He wasn´t there, but we ended up finding another priesthood leader and two other missionaries. We returned to the house to give a blessing and dedicate the home.. During the dedication she passed out and it was either a really big show, drugs, or something really really bad was kicked out of the house. The mission has made me a believer in the other side...

That night we got back to our house and I was still feeling a little off. We decided to sing a hymn. "Be Still My Soul" was our choice and I found a line in it that I love, "The waves and winds still know his voice, who ruled them while he dwelt below."

This is true. Christ not only died for our sins, but he knows us personally. He is the perfect example. Knowing that he knows exactly what we are going through and that he has felt the same way we are feeling has been the biggest boost to my testimony. Whatever we go through in life can´t be bad.. "The mission isn´t easy, because salvation isn´t a cheap experience." - Elder Holland

Life isn´t always gong to be easy, but it´s not always going to be hard. I love the comfort that the gospel brings to my life. I love being able to watch it change lives. I love knowing that the mission is exactly where I need to be. It´s so cool to think about all my friends out serving the Lord in their own way, in their own place.

The church is true guys! I wish I had more time to share my experiences with you. 1 hour is really short with a foreign keyboard."

Love,
Elder Clegg