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. 

Mission Call!!

I definitely should have posted this earlier, but here it is anyways. I got my mission call about a week and a half ago! When the President of the church announced that the mission age was being changed for woman to be able to go on a mission, I just knew that now was my time to share the truth of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm so excited.
Well, drum roll... I'll be going to the Baltic mission on March 27!! The Baltic mission has four countries which are Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Belarus. I will be speaking Latvian, so I will probably spend most of my 18 months there in Latvia! I'm excited and spend most of my free time now learning about the area and what it is going to be like!! Here is a map of the countries in relation to Russia and Poland.

Change is in the air!!

Well, I have big changes in my life coming up. I'm sure most of you have heard how the mission age for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints has been lowered. So, men can now leave at 18 and women at 19. Well, I'm 19! So, I'm taking a leap of faith and going on a mission! I'm almost done with my papers. I've done my part of the papers and had my final interview with my bishop. All I need now is my final interview with the stake president and he'll submit the papers to the church headquarters where they will decide where I'm going to go. I'm hoping to have my mission call by Thanksgiving, but we'll see how behind they are with the many papers of other people they have gotten so far.
The first thing people ask me when they find out I'm going to go on a mission, is where do I want to go? I always tell them I'm willing to serve wherever I'm called. But in all honesty I would love to go somewhere French speaking, whether it is Canada or France or some country in Africa. It doesn't have to be French speaking, but I would love to be fluent in such a beautiful language. So, I'll post it on the blog when I know where I'm going, but if you feel so inclined you are welcome to post a comment with where you think I will go. :)

Meeting President Monson!

I shook President Monson's hand!! I know, it is something that doesn't happen often, but I shook his hand. President Monson is the prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is an amazing man who has become my role model over time. He is big on promoting service and compassion. He is someone who I look up to as someone that I would like to become like. If I could be even just a little more like him, then I would be pretty set in life. Well, anyways, back to the experience. I was at a viewing for the father of a member of my ward. I didn't know the guy personally, but I really look up to his daughter who is our neighbor. So, I went with my grandmother to support her. Well, just as we were about to leave, we were talking to her husband when in walked President Monson. He shook everyone's hands and then went into the viewing. So, even though I didn't get to talk to him, I did get to shake his hand. He really is a prophet of God! I know that God talks to him and directs him how to run his church. Below is a picture of President Monson:

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.

Photos

 So, I went to the Mount Timpanogos temple. I have never been to that temple before and it was really great! Here is a picture of the temple when we arrived.

Below is a picture of me and my roommates from left to right it is me, Kristiana, and Brittany.

The temple was a lot busier than it usually is, so by the time we got out it was night. Here is a picture of the temple all lit up.

Well, the temple was so great and I am glad that I sacrificed the time to go. It was so much fun and I felt the spirit stronger there than I have in a long time!

What a great day!

Today was just a really great day! I enjoyed myself a lot. I went to all my classes and had my homework done on time and understood everything we learned in my classes. It was so great! I especially enjoyed my church history class today. We are talking about all the great doctrine that was revealed in the Nauvoo period of the church. There was a ton that was revealed during this time, and it was crazy how much there was revealed.

Also, today I got my clicker! I am so excited that I get to finally start my new goal. I'm so happy that I already have 31 clicks and I only have had it for about five minutes. I really challenge everyone who is reading my blog to look into doing this challenge. It is so easy and so much fun! I already am so glad that I chose to do this and I haven't even been doing it for that long. For those who  may have missed the previous blog about this, the website that talks all about the clicking challenge is www.billionclicks.org. Also, my blog post that has a video about the clicking challenge is http://sarahleigh-corner.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-hate-waiting.html. I hope you decide to join me in this great endeavor!

The last thing that has really brightened my day was being able to go to the temple with my roommates. I haven't been to the temple since I came to school and I really regret this. I'm glad that I get to go now. It will be a big blessing for me, and I am so grateful that I live so close to so many temples. I have the Provo Temple walking distance away, and several other temples just a short drive away. Today we are going to the Mount Timpanogos temple. I'll share some pictures later, but in short, I'm excited to be alive, and I am so grateful to be where I'm at in life. I love life, and I love myself. I know I am a daughter of God, and I know that He loves me and I love Him. Enjoy your day and I know that you can have a great day if you put your mind to it! Here is a picture of the Mount Timpanogos temple.

Roommates and Friends

I have realized this weekend that family is great! I love mine and I love being around them, but I also realized that I love roommates that are there to supplement that love, to care, and to listen. To trust in you and support you in your struggles, but also give advice and tell you the truth when you need to hear it. They make you laugh and smile. We cry together, but we also celebrate together. My roommates are my friends and I love it! I love being able to look forward to leaving my family now, and instead of being homesick for my home in Idaho, I look forward to coming home to my apartment just to see my roommates smiling faces again.
They are all different but so great! Kristiana is always making me laugh, but she also knows how to listen and give advice when it is needed. She is so smart and beautiful! Brittany is so enjoyable to spend time with. She is not afraid to be herself, and is always honest to herself with who she is. She is also responsible and good at her job, being the RA. Ayne is a great person to share a room with. I love the times that we have stayed up later into the evening just talking about life and what is going on at the moment. While I don't remember exactly what has been said, it is just good to know that she is willing to sacrifice her sleep to share her ideas with me.
Now, I can't write this post and not include two more people who aren't my roommates, but I wish they were. Sabrina was only originally my friend through association. She was friends with Kristi and Brittany and so, therefore, we did things together, but as we did things together I realized that I really enjoy her company. She is energetic and loves to make one laugh. She is almost always smiling and laughing and I love the cheerful influence she has in my life. And last, but not least, is Shayla. While we haven't been friends for long, it seems like we have known each other for a long time. We really have grown close and already know a lot about each other. I love hearing about her life, family, and classes. I also love cooking with her. She makes sure I keep eating healthily and that is such a good thing.
Well, this has become a lot longer than I wanted it to, but I thought I should share what a great influence friends can have in ones life. My friends, old and new, have always been there for me, and I know they always will be there for me. Friends are just as important in our lives as our families are, and at times I think they can be more important. Our families are going to be with us forever, not doubt about that, but we won't always be able to be in each others companies. So, we have friends to be there to support us as we are away from other loved ones. I believe that our Father in Heaven gave us families to become who we are, and He gave us friends to provide a support so we continue to stay strong to who we have become. Friends are the best and I love all of my friends out there!! <3

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.