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. 

A New Discovery

So, I haven't written in a while, and Thanksgiving break has passed in that time. Thanksgiving break is one of my favorite times of the year, because all my family does is play games and eat food. It is really great. Well, this Thanksgiving break I brought home two friends, Ryne and Giselle. It was really fun to share my traditions with my friends. One new game that I discovered was Spot It. This game is incredibly genius. The game consists of circular cards that have only one exact match. The math behind the game blows my mind. The best part about this game is that there are six different games that can be played with it and it can be played with a wide variety of people. Below is a picture of the game:

 

It is such a great game and I really recommend it as a new family favorite.I would recommend that everyone try it out. :) Enjoy!

My New Blog

So, recently I started a new blog. It all started with a family history class that I am in. For this class we have to do a six hour project on anything that has to do with family history. I was kind of stuck on what to do, and was commiserating to my roommates when my roommate Brittany suggested I do a family history blog. I really love blogging and I love family history so it turned out to be a great mix. So, for those who are interested, my new blog is http://familyhistoryconnections.blogspot.com/. I'm going to probably be spending most of my time on this blog getting it started and going. I hope you check it out and if you have any suggestions of things to add to my blog, shoot me an email. :) Thanks!

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.