Week 1 In Utah

Hey Family,

 

 

This first week has been crazy, lots of learning and spiritual growth. I made my flight okay, the plane left about 5 minutes after we boarded. There were four of us on the plane going to the Orem mission. After landing, we went through some great training with the AP's and President and Sister Treadway. We stayed at the Marriott for the night before heading off to transfers. I am currently being trained by Elder Kirby, which is amazing. His is from Salem, Oregon and was originally called to Toronto, Canada, but the boarder is still closed. We are staying in a 4 pad with two other missionaries – Elders Brown and Albright, in Lehi. Our area will be changing this coming Friday so we have been working with the leaders in two stakes so they understand. When that happens, Elder Albright will leave for South Africa, and I am going to be trained in a trio with my DL Elder Brown, and we will cover one stake. 

 

This area has been pretty exhausting, physically. This area is considered to be one of the hardest biking areas in the mission. The entire area is on one large hill backing to the mountains and we have been on bikes. When the area changes we are getting a car which will be nice, but we're still planning on biking some days for the exercise. Being in Utah is so different than Oregon. On one street we ride through, there are 5 churches in a row, each about 100 yards apart. One church I saw even had a two level parking garage. The members here are so cool. The amount of support and love I feel from them is like nothing else. I have already lost track of how many times I have been offered rides or food by passing members and even non-members. 

 

 

This week has also been very spiritually uplifting. While we still can't eat at members’ homes, we can go inside to share messages. Elder Kirby and I have been going to homes and sharing messages about the Book of Mormon. In part of the lesson, we ask the family, "What would your life be like without the book of Mormon?" It's a hard question to answer because every single part of my life at least has been touched by that very sacred and incredible book. It has been a fountain of truth and knowledge and a shield that seems impossible to live without.

 

 

I have had some pretty cool experiences already. We were able to go tracking with a return missionary and even though we didn't have much success, it was incredible to feel the fire of his testimony as we were sharing messages about Christ. We are working with and teaching some families with unbaptized children, which is really cool. We were able to meet a 9 year old girl Elder Brown has been teaching, who wants to be baptized so badly that she was actually in tears the last time the Elders visited because she can't yet, due to some family reasons. It is incredible to see the faith she has at such a young age. She really exemplifies the scripture in Mathew 18:4, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

 

 

Some fun stories. On one of the days we were passing around cards, inviting people to watch the Q&A with our Mission President and Kirby Heyborne on-line at "The road to hope and peace", so we ended up digging up some scooters out of the closet and using those to get around. It was fun but a bit scary since they were meant for 12 year olds and we were going down the hill at almost the same speed as the cars.

 

 

We also visited a member home and his family has mastered the art of coloring eggs. They had 25 people over (friends and family) all coloring eggs for a Easter get together. But it was a whole home evert. They had some dresses sewn to put the eggs in, people braiding rope to make their hair and others using a dryer to cook the paint on the eggs. It was a sight to behold. 

 

 

I look forward to the coming week and I testify that the Lord has put me here for a reason. 

 

 

From,

Elder Cluff

 

 

Pictures: 

1. Eggs for Easter 

2. First day at transfers with Elder Kirby 

3. On the 2^nd level of the parking garage at the church. 

4. Elder Kirby and I - almost twins

Letter From President Treadway

Dear Brother & Sister Cluff,

 

We received your wonderful missionary, Elder Jacob Cluff, today, Tuesday, March 23, 2021.  We are eager to serve together in the Utah Orem Mission as we endeavor to invite all to “Come unto Christ.”  Thank you for preparing such a faithful missionary to enter our mission field.  

 

You will receive a letter in the mail letting you know of his first assignment.  You will also hear from your missionary by email or phone every Monday, our preparation day.  Your communications to Elder Cluff will be well received here in the mission field.   Letters and packages may be sent at any time to the Mission Office address below.  

 

Here is a picture taken earlier today with the other new missionaries.  Thank you for sharing Elder Cluff with us and the Lord.  

Sincerely,  

    

Gordon L. Treadway and Kristi Treadway                          

Mission President

612 West 100 South (rear of Church)

Lindon, UT 84042

801-796-3422

Goodbye Family And Oregon

On a whim, I took this picture as we were walking over the sky-bridge at the Portland airport. I had no idea it would be our last photo of Jacob. What a crazy morning it turned out to be.  

  

The plan was to leave at 4am. But by the time we were ready and had prayed, it was 4:15. We got there before 5 and thought we had plenty of time, as his flight was not until 6. As we walked into the airport, we noticed super long lines to check in and it was dark. We soon discovered there was flooding in Delta’s electrical room – and yes, Jacob was to fly Delta. All the computers were down and people were standing in long lines in the dark  - waiting to check their luggage at some counters farther down. Jacob had expressed that he was feeling nervous on Monday, and then especially that morning – so I was a little stressed for him as we saw the long lines. Well, we got in line and kept shuffling along as the clock ticked on. Then Mitchell mentioned that when Jacob got picked up, that the new missionaries luggage would be taken and they would only have their carry-on until the next day. Jacob and I were shocked. What was he supposed to sleep in and what about toiletries? Jacob had fit everything into his 2 big suit cases, so he just had a small carry-on with scriptures and pens and things. So now we were opening up luggage and laying it out on the ground. Luggage that was very well packed to keep the suits and shirts and dress pants from wrinkling – with the casual clothes in the center. Ugh! Finally, with the help of a flashlight, we were able to find and dig out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt he could sleep in and a tooth brush. (I guess he gets to wear his clothes 2 days in a row.)  

  

Just then, this friendly lady introduced herself and said she was farther up in line with her son who was also a new missionary. We were a bit distracted, as we were trying to reclose the suitcases and keep moving along in line, but it was nice to meet her. Later, at about 5:35, she came back again and said we could go up in line by them, so Jacob didn’t miss his flight. Well, I didn’t want to cut in line, as I was sure most of the people around us were also booked on the 6:00 flight, but Mitchell, Ethan, Rog and Jacob followed her until they were closer to the front of the line. I made my way closer, but still back a ways. When her son, Elder Phelps, went up to check in and get his boarding pass, he talked to the ticket agent and then turned around and said in surprise, “Jacob Cluff, come up here. You are on my boarding pass!” What? So I came up with his suitcase and sure enough, Jacob’s info was on his phone. Jacob laughed and said, “When you checked in on-line last night, did you click on my name? I saw other names, but just clicked on my own.” Elder Phelps said, “Yea, I guess I did.” What a tender mercy!! Not only were we able to check in much sooner, but now they were able to be together.  

  

After luggage was tagged, we all walked as quickly as we could to security. Jacob turned around and gave us each the quickest “I gotta go” hug and he was off. There was no time to get sad. He was running! Elder Phelps’ mom said good-bye to her son and he ran after Jacob. We watched as they wound their way quickly through the line and were able to get through security by 5:50 or a bit after. Then we couldn’t see them anymore. We were so grateful they were with each other. Elder Phelps was called to Peru, but is also going to the Orem mission to wait for his visa. It was troubling to know they had phones that didn’t have sim cards or were not hooked up yet, to call us if they didn’t make it, but we had to assume they would either make it, or get on another flight later.  

-Mom

My Virtual MTC District

My Last P-day And Sabbath In The MTC

With p-day being on Saturday, when morning class was over at noon, we (Jacob, Mitchell, Rog and I) decided to go down to Depoe Bay to visit and stay with Grandpa and Grandma Cornilles. We had fun playing foosball, ping-pong, card games and just talking. While Rog and Mitchell watched the BYU basketball game, Jacob played the piano and spent time with grandparents. Brooklyn was unable to come, but Ethan came down Saturday night, after work, too. 

  

On Sunday, we spent quite a bit of time sharing stories about Porter Rockwell and other early members of The Church. Then we were able to watch Mitchell give a talk in his Young Single Adult ward – in Lake Oswego. (One of the perks of on-line church - we can watch other wards’ meetings through Zoom.) Then we played more games; Sequence, Wizard, Scum, and Probability. It was a very unique game of Probability. Jacob not only won, but never even lost one die. When has that ever happened?   

  

 

Despite the wind and drizzle, we took the opportunity to walk out on the rocks one last time. I was wearing a skirt and boots and was going to change, but Jacob started leaving, so I just went as I was. I can’t say that I have ever walked out to the end of the rocks in a skirt and boots before. But, Jacob needed a companion – so I did and thankfully I didn’t slip and fall.  

  

 

We drove home Sunday evening and then spend the morning on Monday packing up Jacob’s suitcases. Just one more day of classes and the MTC was over. 

Home MTC Begins

6:30 am, the alarm went off and Elder Cluff woke up and asked Mitchell to go running with him. They both came home looking hot, sweaty and exhausted . . . as if they may have been racing each other. Lol

 

After getting ready, it was time for personal study, and then companion study with his companion, Elder Wright, from Thatcher, AZ. After class, when I asked about his companion and what he knew about him, Jacob replied, “I don’t know, we didn’t talk about ourselves. We studied the scriptures.” I was worried they might not actually have an opportunity to get to know each other at this online MTC. But after about 4 days, I asked Jacob again how companion study went and he sheepishly said, “Well, we actually didn’t study. We just talked the whole time. I guess we better set up another time to do the studying part.” (Mom thought that was great!)

 

About a week into the MTC, he started having lap top issues, so he had to come down and do the MTC on the computer in the dining room for a day – which was a little tricky, as he needed it quiet, and Ethan needed the computer for his on-line high school classes. But, crisis only lasted a day, new lap top was purchased and set up and then he was able to go back into he and Ethan’s room to do the MTC. 

 

Most days, Jacob had TRC (training resource center – roll play practice with investigators) or devotionals, videos to watch and study time in the mornings. Then, afternoon class (12:30 – 4pm) with Brother Clay, who served in NY, and evening class (4:30 – 7:30pm) with Sister Christensen, who served foreign and in the states. His district had 4 Sisters and 4 Elders. Elder Wright and Jacob are both going to the Orem, UT mission, where as the Sisters were going to Yakama, WA, and Tennessee.

Set Apart As A Missionary

After going through the Temple, we came home and our new Stake President, Pres. Dummer came over to set Jacob apart as a missionary. Jacob was given a beautiful blessing that talked about how he would be blessed, safe guarded and protected as he served. He was told he would be able to see others with new eyes - as God sees them. He was told that as he strove to connect with Christ, that he would become more bold, confident and be able to speak freely. 

 

After President Dummer left, Mitchell stepped in to start giving Jacob advice – on how to wear his different name tags, on how to use his phone to plan, etc. Jacob was a good sport and took the opportunity to humbly listen to all his big bro had to teach him.

Going To The Temple!

When Jacob got his mission call, we e-mailed the Portland Temple to see if he could make an appointment to receive his endowment before he left on his mission. The Temple was closed for a long time, due to COVID, and while it is now open, they are busy allowing current missionaries to come and receive their endowments, first. We felt very blessed when they said that they had one opening, March 2^nd, the day before he starts the MTC. He was told that he could invite 13 guests to go with him. He invited all the family in the area; Aunt Shellie & Uncle Mike, Aunt Alisa and Uncle David, Grandpa and Grandma Cornilles, and us. Then, he invited our Bishop, Bryan Boynton, and our previous Bishop and neighbor, Scott Eddington, and his wife, Traci – who was Jacob’s first piano teacher and family friend. We went into the temple as a group, waited while he met with the Temple President, and then were all escorted to the endowment room – with just our group in the room. It was so nice to be in the Temple together! 

-Mom