Fear of the Font

So no group email again this week.  It could be due to a couple reasons.

1.  His time on the computer is being used up with his other responsibilities.

2.  The group email didn't send.  (This has happened multiple times with our personal emails.)

3.  He likes to torture us and keep us guessing.

He did share his favorite missionary scripture with me.  He says that he gets pumped every time he reads this one...Alma 29:1-2

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

I also know he had a couple of baptisms this week.  He said sometimes people are super afraid of going down in the water and it ends up being an interesting baptism. I guess one of the week's baptisms qualified as that scenario.  What a sacrifice for that sweet new member!  If you were to tell me that I had to go down in a font full of snakes, I'd REALLY have to have some serious faith!

Understanding the Plan

Hayden didn't write a group email this week.  He mentioned that some of his email time is spent doing  Zone Leader responsibilities, so he doesn't always have time to send out a group one. Instead, I'll share a few lines from the email he sent me. (That's nice of me to share, isn't it?)  In my email, I asked Hayden how he handles investigators who are angry at God for circumstances in their lives.  I loved his response.  I ALWAYS need a reminder of these things, especially when life gets tough.

"An investigator who is mad at God for wronging them doesn't really understand who God is and that he has a plan for us. They don`t understand the Plan of Salvation and why God would give us trials... They don't understand that he as a Father gave his only son to be sacrificed by the world.. You just have to help people to understand. Rely on the scriptures!"

“The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven’s best gifts to mankind.”

Joseph Smith

Earthquake

As I was driving home Wednesday evening, I heard my phone buzz.  I waited until I was stopped (see, Autumn?... I was being a safe driver) and looked at the text.  It was my good friend asking if Hayden was okay after the earthquake in Chile that evening.  I wanted to puke.  I got home, found Mike and asked him if he had heard about the earthquake.  He had not.  We got online and started reading the reports.  We had no idea how far reaching the damage would be for an 8.3 earthquake.  So we waited, watched the news and we prayed.  I was able to feel a sense of peace when I went to bed that night.  I wasn't panicked, just completely unsettled.  
The next morning, we awoke to read more reports.  The earthquake occurred about 140 miles northwest of Hayden, but the damage was widespread.  In my search for information, I came across a Facebook post written by Hayden's Mission President's wife (BLESS HER!!).  She reported that all the missionaries in their mission were safe and accounted for.  Another post from a fellow missionary mother related the news that the Mission President had given his missionaries 15 minutes that day to email home and assure their families.  I must have checked my email every five minutes until Hayden checked in.  Finally he did.  He was upbeat and even cracking jokes.  That's Hayden for you...

"It picked me up and shook me like a dog!"  Name the movie, LOL. 

Haha don`t worry.  I`m completely fine, but love that I get to check in with you!

I can say I survived the biggest earthquake of the year so far... Haha! 

Love you all,

Elder Clegg

In his email to me, he asked if I had already called the Mission President.  (No, thank you, I did not. But...I thought about it.)   In his email to Mike, Hayden mentioned that he was on splits with another missionary when the earthquake hit.  They were walking in the street and definitely felt it.  Elder Ballard, Hayden's current companion, would later report that back in the Haitian sector, those people were completely stressed and frantic.  I think many of them had lived through the huge earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010. Please include the people of Chile in your prayers.  They need it.

P.S.  If you are wondering, the movie quote came from Monsters, Inc.

Independence and Oranges

"On September 18, 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence. This declaration eventually led to over a decade of violence and warring which did not end until the last royalist stronghold fell in 1826. September 18 is celebrated in Chile as Independence Day."  http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/

Hayden seems to believe it is a day for many people to get drunk.  I'm sure there are plenty of people who know how to celebrate without the use of alcohol.  However they choose to celebrate it, I hope the people down there have a wonderful day!  
Here's Hayden...



"The 18th of September is like a huge holiday down here. So everybody gets real drunk and that`s about it! 

I had a bunch of sweet zone activities.  We did some service...had a BBQ, but the Hermanas who were were assigned to bring plates, cups and such forgot!  So...we ate it all with our hands!!   We are HARD CORE down here in Chile. 

We had some super crazy lessons, like I was bawling at least 1 time every day this week. These people are so humble, but so great. Like we show up to this guy's house who has NO money.  His name's Joseph.  He`s Haitian and was baptized a while ago. He didn't eat for like 2 days so he could have enough money to buy a little bag to put his scriptures in.  When he showed up with it all proud, Elder Ballard and I were just soo humbled.  Or another time we finish a lesson with somebody who has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and she just brings us an orange to share and she`s like..."It`s all I've got"... best orange I`ve ever had. It had me so SAD! I just want to help these people.  However, it`s amazing how the gospel changes their lives!  We`re all so blessed up there in the USA. 

Love all you guys! 

Elder Clegg

Asado

Service

Ugly Dog"

A Room with a View

When Hayden looks out his study room window, this is what is there...

But I don't think that is what he sees.  Instead, I think he sees a place, people and culture he has grown to love. A place he calls home for now.  A place, people and culture that can have hearts transformed as they listen to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Hayden talks about that transformation power this week.

"Real fast.. 

Found Pablo looking for crack and cigs on the ground.. told him to stomp on his cigs and we took him to church. He dropped all of his addictions.. changed completely and will be getting baptized! 

The Hatian branch is coming along! We were in the South American church news.. SO that was cool!

We had 14 Haitians come to church!  It was sweet. 

Here`s some pics. 

Nogales.. My sector.

Just me with the 2013 THUNDER. Westbrook, Durant, and well.. Harden.  Haha!"

The Carpet Guy

Hayden didn't send a group email this week, but I still have plenty to share!

Two weeks ago, Mike got an email from Hayden saying that his ATM card had been eaten by the machine while getting money out.  (Perhaps the card had expired.)  He asked about a replacement card and how in the world would he get it fast enough.   Here's where the story gets good and you can see Heavenly Father's hand...

1.  We had just received his new card in the mail the prior week.  (Which makes me think it had expired.)
2.  We wondered how we would get it to him in a timely and safe manner.
3.  A few days later, a good friend reminded us that her Dad was going to Santiago that weekend to lay carpet in the temple and he was willing to deliver a package to Hayden.
4.  We got a package together for him and included the ATM card.
5.  The "carpet guy" left on Saturday and made it to Santiago in time to attend HAYDEN'S WARD!
6.  He delivered the package for us, gave him love from home and sent pictures and updates.  We got to see Hayden in "real time"!!
7.  Hayden had been sick a lot of the week and it was just the blessing he needed.
8.  Our hearts are full of gratitude to this family for the service they have given our family.  Thank you Carpet Guy!

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other.”
President Spencer W. Kimball


Here are the photos that they took while at church.  The numbers in the corner of the pictures simply mean that we took them off Snapchat.  If you don't know what that is, ask a teenager.  The last picture is a duplicate of the first one...I just wanted to see that happy face a bit closer.