Heather's 1st week in Vegas

Heather is really enjoying her time in Vegas! She has already met lots of people that want her to return to visit after her mission is over! They feel like family to her and she loves being there! The wards, she is in there, are very supportive of helping the missionaries find people to teach! She says that tracting there is so different than here! As some may know, she had a chance to tract here with the Sisters and she hated it because people are so set in their ways and rude! Lots of people have just slammed their doors in the missionaries faces and not said a word. But they haven't had anyone do that there. She said that at least there, most people are friendly and kind! They are not rude and some of them also tell them that they appreciate what they are doing(missionary work)! So, she is happy about that! Heather is now in a TRIO, they had a new Sister join them this week, which was very exciting! Heather said the new Sister helps her have a little more fun, she can joke with her and laugh more! She said they see the Vegas strip every day from where they live and she loves seeing that! I have got more to write about but have run out of time! I will post more later....

Pictures from the Provo MTC and Heather's Missionary family

Heather's Arrival in Las Vegas!!!

I'm so excited!! Heather made it to Vegas and is so excited to be able to serve in the Sandstone Stake in Vegas for at least her first 6 weeks! She loves the mission president and his wife and loves her first companion, who is Sister Sprouse, from Milwaukee WI! And she is very positive too, that is a plus for Heather and she will be a great trainer to Heather. That is just crazy that her first companion is from Milwaukee which is under 100 miles from here!! It is amazing! She is very happy to be there and can hardly wait to get to work! They all feel like a big family there, which is so great! The mission president said that she has a very good chance that she will serve up in the Fallon area where her Aunt Kelly and Uncle Scott live! And he asked her if she had a problem with that, and of course, she said, "No!" That is one thing that she really wanted to hear! They are also getting a new sister in next Monday! So, they will be a trio, and very excited about that too! On Sunday, they will be attending a family ward and a singles ward! They are assigned or live in 2 wards, another crazy but great thing! They will be very busy which will make the time go by faster! I even got an email from Heather's companion and she is a very loving sweet young woman! She sent us a picture that she took of Her and Heather. I am going to try to figure out how to post it on here! Heather also told us that when they do transfers, it takes them 2 days, that is just crazy! It is totally understandable because Reno is over 450 miles from Las Vegas. She is blessed every day! We are all blessed by her serving a mission! We are so grateful for her faithfulness and dedication! I will post more later! Have a great week!

Heather's Departure from the MTC

We got a phone call from Heather when she got to the SLC Airport on Monday March 21, 2011. We talked for a long time and it was great to hear her voice and to talk to her, but very hard to hang up the phone. I can't wait for Mother's Day to get here! She was happy but sad to leave the MTC. She loved the spirit she felt there but the classroom time was tough for her. It was very hard on her back, sitting for many hours a day! She was also terrified to get out in the mission field, she is hoping for a wonderful companion that will help her learn more. Her Dad told her that she would be great! I told her that she was going to a warmer climate!! I also agreed with her Dad, she will be great!! We are anxious to see where she will be serving first but have no idea when we will find that out! Hopefully her P-day is not on Mondays, otherwise we won't find out until next week!! She loves P-days because she can catch up on sleep and they have time to relax a little bit! She ended up not doing any of the coordinating sister responsibilities, they had assigned someone else to the same position. So, she didn't need to do anything after all, although she did check in on the new sisters a few times which was nice! I can't believe it has been almost 3 weeks already since she left home! Well, time to close for now! I will post again when I hear more!

Heather's 2nd week at the MTC

Here we are, almost to the end of Heather's time at the MTC. She has had  a wonderful experience there! She has said that she loves the MTC, they are very strict there but she understands why! She decided to make the best of it while she was there and apparently has, from what she has told us. She was appointed the coordinating sister for her branch for the new sister missionaries coming in! She said, "I was pretty terrified but it will be good, and its only for one week." So, we will find out how that went next week, when we she writes again. She is one amazing young woman and I am so very proud to say she is my daughter! All of the Sisters and Elders get to go on a Temple walk after Sacrament meeting(church) on Sunday which is something they all love! They got to take pictures and she said that she will send them home soon! As soon as I get them, I will post a few on here! Heather has seen quite a few people from school there, some that she has had in classes last semester, and says it is pretty crazy. And she wanted Jenea to know that she has seen Kodie almost everyday. She says she is coming to learn a lot more about herself and what her weaknesses are and where she needs to improve! Remember after the 21st of March, actually if you send a letter today or tomorrow, mail it to her Las Vegas address! It is listed on the right of this blog! Just a few more days left before she heads to the mission field and her new home for at least the next 6 weeks! We will keep you posted! Please keep our missionaries in your prayers!

Janine Clevenger 

Heather's first week in the MTC and her MTC mailing address

We finally heard from Heather! We got a letter in the mail today and she also sent an email! So, worry has been lifted from my mind and relieved to know that she is doing well! We were beginning to wonder, it has been almost a week and we hadn't heard from her, since the airport! So, now, I feel much better! She is loving the spirit that fills the MTC and she feels the spirit everyday. She is also amazed by how well the Elders treat the Sisters. Her quote, "I have never seen so many Elders being so kind to the Sisters in my life, I love it!" She said that they have you on a strict schedule everyday, it is kind of like boot camp(for missionaries), that is funny because her Dad said that exact same thing, just the other day. But she is loving how much her knowledge is expanding and her heart is growing! She did say that she can't wait to get into the mission field so she can relax a little and not have such a strict schedule! Her MTC address is:

Sister Heather M Clevenger
MTC Mailbox #165
NV-LVW 0321
2005 N 900 E
Provo UT 84604-1793

She will be leaving the MTC on the 21st of March, so after that, use the NV address listed to the left of this blog! Only 2 more weeks left at the MTC, actually less than 2 weeks! Please keep our missionaries in your prayers!

Janine Clevenger

Heather's Departure from IL and Arrival in UT

We took Heather to the airport on Wednesday, March 2 at 6:45 am. It was very early and we were all very tired. She was excited but also sad to leave home! It was one of the hardest things I have ever done! We left her at the security checkpoint, watched her walk through and waved goodbye as she walked to the gate! She was able to call me from the Salt Lake City airport to let me know that she arrived there ok. It was 11:45 am CST, when she called and we talked for almost 5 min. She said that it was the longest flight,which was what Pres. Evans said, and she hadn't slept very well on the flight. She had to get her bags and get to the shuttle in about 5 minutes, so we had to end the call! :(  She told me that she would call me again in 3 weeks, when she will be at the airport again going to NV! I look forward to it, and it will be a nice anniversary gift, Rusty and I's 26th wedding anniversary on the 23rd of March, the day I talk to Heather again. We can assume that she made it to the MTC, I haven't actually heard from her but I am sure that she is there. I will keep this up to date when Heather sends me emails and letters!  

Set Apart & Reporting

My first and last post. I hope you all find this blog encouraging and useful in keeping up-to-date with what I am doing while I am on my mission. I know I have said it before but I want to say it again. THANK YOU! I appreciate all the support I have received by everyone, it is deeply felt and I am so grateful for it all.

March 1, 2011 I will be set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I look forward to this new experience that I am about to embark on. Tomorrow March 2, 2011 I am to report to the MTC (Missionary Training Center in Provo) to help prepare me for this adventure. I wish you all the best and greatest of all happiness, and I am excited to return to report what I have gained from all of this. Till then see you all in 18 months. With lots of love and prayers, May God bless you all!

Sister Heather Clevenger