Leaving on my Mission!!

I'm being set apart as a missionary in about 36 hours so here are the addresses to write me. My mom will be posting my emails here as well as pictures on my missionary blog, sistercloward.blogspot.com (you can also click the above tab, "Leigh's Mission". If you want to receive the emails when she forwards them, email sister.cloward@gmail.com. 

MTC address: (I will be in the MTC until May 28)

MTC Mailbox # 250

BALTIC 0528

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604-1793

(you can use the MTC mailbox number above to write me via dearelder.com as well)

Mission home address:

Sister Sarah Leigh Cloward 

Baltic Mission

Cesu iela 31-2K2

Riga LV-1012

Latvia

Also, my mom will be printing emails sent to sister.cloward@gmail.com and mailing them to me every other week.So, feel welcome to send emails there if you don't want to pay any money for postage.

In case you didn't get the chance, read up about my mission call here.

A Tribute

As all of you should know at this point, there were 20 kids shot and killed at an elementary school in Connecticut. This is a video I found in tribute to those who died on this tragic day in America's history.

If the video doesn't work above, click HERE to watch it as well.

I know that there are many suffering at this time because of the lives lost in this horrible act of violence, but I also know that there is peace available to those who are suffering. Through the Jesus Christ we can find peace and forgiveness in this hard time. I know that the children who died were welcomed into heaven with warm embraces and much love, and that they are at peace there. I hope that we can all find peace and forgiveness in the wake of this trial. May God watch over those families who lost loved ones and may we all be mindful of those who are suffering around us, and keep them in our prayers. 

The Moments That Matter Most

I have to thank my good friend Kristiana for inspiring this post. I read her post which got me thinking. Do we go through life too fast? Do we savor the moments that are most important? Honestly, I don't think I spend enough time enjoying the most important things in life. I'm busy with three jobs and sometimes I forget that there are important things besides the jobs. Well, anyways. Here is a video clip that shows many of the great joys in life that we get to experience and look forward to experiencing.

Eternity

I really love fast and testimony meeting in a singles ward. I love the insights that one can find from the people their own age. I felt the spirit more strongly today than I think I have ever felt in one room. I was especially touched with what one young man said. He talked about how he was feeling really homesick (like most college students) and one day he was having an especially rough patch. One of his friends (to help him feel better) said this, "what is one day in the glimpse of eternity." I really liked this, but he took it in the sense that this one bad day will not mean a lot in eternity. While I like this, I thought of it a different way. As I have felt throughout the week, being away from my family really stinks, and when I thought about it I thought how horrible it would be to be without my family for eternity. I mean think about it. If it is this bad now, how bad would it be to live in a different place for forever! It makes me never want to do anything bad to keep me from the celestial kingdom and away from them. I think about the fact that if they were in the celestial kingdom and I wasn't I couldn't pick when I do or don't get to see them. Like now when I'm at college and I get lonely I can call them whenever I want. I have family just a short drive away. If I were in the terrestrial kingdom while they were in the celestial I wouldn't be able to do that. That saddens me greatly, but at they same time gives me some motivation to do my best in this life so I will be with them forever. I love my family and to be with them forever is all that I could ask for.