OOOO BIG BOOOO......

 HOLA MIS AMIGOS

WOOT WOOT, last email in the CCM. One week left is this jon and ya boy could not be more excited. I know what you're all thinking, Elder Clouse your emails are so good in the CCM I can't wait for when you're in the field. Trust me I know. But I have never been more excited so let's just jump right in to probably the LONGEST week of my life.

You know I always got to entertain you guys a little bit, to start, On Sunday's they give you a ton of "Missionary Directed Time" which in other words is do whatever the heck you want. Sunday's are lit. But our house gathered in our living room and decided to play...... BIG BOOTY. If you don't know what that is then I'm sorry. But it was so funny, idk why but the thought of 15 missionaries all yelling big booty and trying to mess each other up just makes me laugh. Also let's just say me, Elder Jackson, and Elder Westwood have been getting a little crazy ever since Hermano Rojas left. Class is SOOOO boring now and we can't help but go a little crazy during class. But those are for real my best friends here, idk how I'm gonna go my whole mission without seeing them fools. 

Something exciting that did happen this week is that ya boy got his flight plans for ARGENTINA. It is official. On Thursday morning at 5 Am I fly out to Panama City and then go from Panama City to Buenos Aires and get there around 10 PM at night. Words cannot express how grateful and excited I am to get out of here and go find some people to bless with my amazing smile haha. 

On Sunday, the best day of the week, have I mentioned that before. My friend sent me some document called The Ricciardi Letter. It is basically some guy telling his experiences with his trainer who in other words is the Michael Jordan of preaching the gospel. For reference, bro had 60 baptisms in 8 months, I know that is not how you measure success but that is just unheard of. All missionaries this is a must read. If you have not read it, shoot me a text and I will send it to you but it truly changed the way I look at missionary work and the way I look at life. And for all future missionaries that is for you too! And Luke, you are not him.

Something exciting that also happened this week is I gave my first priesthood blessing of healing. My boy Elder Springer, my future companion, has been having a cough for quite a bit and he asked me if I could give him a blessing. I don't think he realized how much that meant to me. All I can say is the Power of the Priesthood is real. I am so grateful for that opportunity I had to be worthy and to administer that. I am grateful for Elder Springer. For those of you who don't know him I'll talk more about him when we are comps in like a year so. 

Ima be honest this week was really boring and long. The classes are really boring and I am ready to experience culture shock. Something about sitting in a class for 7 hours everyday really starts to take a toll on you. That being said, this experience has changed my life. I made a goal with myself to read the entire Book of Mormon before I left the ccm. I'm not gonna lie I thought it would be a lot harder haha. Yesterday I finished the Book of Mormon all the way through and I loved it. I have gained such a powerful testimony on that book. I know with a surety in my heart that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It testifies of truthfulness, it has changed my life and I know it can change yours. Read it, study it, ponder about it and you will have direction in your life.

In closing, I wanted to share what I learned this past Sunday in a devotional from Elder Bednar. Some of the apostles better watch out because he is creeping his way to one of my favorites. He talked about the character of Christ and what separates him from us, is that when the natural man turns inwards, Christ turns outwards. He then talked about how true conversion comes when you stop looking at your wants and focus on others needs. THAT is conversion. He shared that "It is not enough to have a testimony, you need to be converted....and when you are converted you will never fall away" At some point in your life, you have to start piggy backing off of others and find out for yourself if it is true. You will not be able to survive spiritually in this world with just a testimony, become converted. How true that is, how true this gospel is. Focusing on others is living like Christ did. Love like Christ, serve like Christ. My invitation is to go and make an effort to serve someone everyday, watch the impact Christ will make in your life.

Sorry if this email wasn't as exciting as my others, but just wait till next Monday. I love you guys, shoot me a message today i would love to talk to you all!