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.

What's in a Name?

When I was pregnant with Hayden, Mike's Grandmother would consistently ask what we were going to name him.  We didn't know.  And we didn't know for a while. While traveling to visit her one day, I had a book of baby names in the car.  I said something like, "We are going to tell your Grandma that we are naming our son the first name I open this book and point to".  I opened the book and my finger fell on the name "Rocco".  That had a nice solid sound to it. We tried it again for the middle name.  That one ended up being "Thor".  So we literally told her that we were going to name him Rocco Thor.  She thought that was the BEST name she'd ever heard.  I don't think she got over the fact that he didn't actually end up with Rocco Thor as his name.  Perhaps we should have gone with some of the name choices Hayden shares with us this week.

I'm grateful Hayden is representing our Savior, Jesus Christ.  His name represents love, peace, mercy, justice and eternal life.  As I honor His name and keep the covenants I have made, I can and want to obtain salvation.

Alma 34:15
"15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

"Hey Guys! 

It`s been such a gnarly week! Haha this sector keeps me entertained. Like yesterday in 3 hours, we found a drunk dude and carried him into his bed, some guy shot us with a sling shot, and we saw some dude doing some REALLY weird stuff with a donkey. I just have no idea what to think half the time. 

We baptized Eva! She`s a cool girl!  She worked so hard to stop smoking and be baptized. 

The splits with President were so dang cool. I now know how to testify to people just a lot better! 

Our baptism for this week was named Djoomi!  Haha he got arrested in a drug raid, but he doesn't do drugs.  He just rents the room in back!  Haha but he got out and will get baptized next week. Our other investigators are named.. wait for it...Baby love, Love Children, Fraulic, Nadin, and Ismael. Haha they are all Haitian and will get baptized soon! 

A huge miracle happened.  We were praying really hard for our Haitian branch we`re working on, and all of the sudden we get to church on Sunday and an EX-MISSIONARY from Haiti showed up to live in our sector. He is just calling all these people to repentance.  I`d love to say we`re doing a lot, but Elder Ballard and I just kinda sit there and watch him go! 

We also had a meeting where President just opened up to two hours of deep doctrine with the ZL`s.  He just sat and answered all of our questions about the Plan of Salvation. It was so sweet! I learned so much. 

Pics

We got some Glamour shots of our dog that lives behind our house

Some baps

I kinda forgot what else I put in there.. But oh I found a Graffiti that says "Karen".  It kinda sucked, but HI MOM!"

Bonjour!

Elder Clegg did get changed and it's time for him to learn new things!  He sounds happy, but busy.  I guess he will come home speaking Spanish and a little bit of French.  We sure love and miss that guy!  

P.S.  And when Hayden says Elder Ballard, he means the grandson of THE Elder Ballard...


"Hey guys! 

It`s been a wild week! Haha, I am now comps with Elder Ballard.  I didn't leave the zone, but I changed wards.  I`m gonna be serving as ZL!  We've got an assignment to start a Haitian branch here!   There are SOOO many Haitians in my sector.  It`s like a community of them.  So, it feels like I basically just changed missions.  The language block is real!  Haha I am trying to learn french right now! 

We've got divisions with President tonight...So that like never happens and I`m a little nervous!  It`s gonna be cool to knock doors with him! 

My sector is SUPER ghetto again. I've been in almost all the ghetto sectors in the mission. 

Then we taught Lil' Wayne, Mr. T, Terry Cruz, and all sorts of lookalikes!

Have a good week,

Elder Clegg"