Happy 20th Birthday Elder Clawson

June 15, 2015 email

Dearest Family and Friends, 

Looks like a little lemonade with some street contacting!

This week was full of blessings and shinanigans. One awesome thing that I must mention is the fact that our investigator Xhemil is AWESOME!!! He has been reading and soaking it all up. We just need to get past the whole mindset of "I'm Muslim and I can't change." So I exhort you all to pray for his heart to be softened to the message of Jesus Christ. But he was reading this week and had some pretty good questions. They're a little deep so I'm not gonna get too in depth in them but Elder Wilcox and I had to go and do some hardcore studying. But he is a great guy and we are so excited to see where the Gospel is gonna take him. 

We also started teaching two young couples this week! The first one is Erik and Anisa. They are a very young couple with a super cute 2 year old girl named Erisa. If you don't notice that's Erik and Anisa put together. I just thought that was hilarious when they told us that. Anisa is Muslim and Erik is Catholic but Anisa really wants to be baptized. We are working on her a little bit more than Erik. He doesn't pick it up quite as much as Anisa but he still pays attention and reads a bit. They are having a little struggle with the First Vision and accepting it but we are praying for them and they are also praying for an answer so it'll come in God's time. But they are fantastic people. They are super young and just love to laugh and have fun. 

Birthday haircut.  And it was free.  What a kind lady!

The other couple is Ton and Arta. We tracted into them using the Family Proclamation and Ton wasn't home so we had to wait for him to come home so we could go into the house. But we just shared the message on eternal families and they loved it. Ton seems a bit older than Arta and he is super tall. Arta is short and kinda quiet but they have some super cute kids. We have a meeting with them tonight and we will be sharing the message of the Restoration with them. I have big hopes for them.

You asked about Filip, he is doing great. He stopped smoking for a bit and he has been coming to church and learning from the Elders still so he is chugging along like a champ. Genti is actually coming up to Shkoder in a couple days for work so he said he'd come and see me real fast. That should be fun. 

Elder Clawson and one of his awesome investigators.

These next coming weeks are gonna be good. I don't feel like it's ending yet but I had a reality check last night actually. Elder Rawlings called me at 3:30 in the morning to wish me a happy birthday. He was just about to get on his plane home. It took me a while to get back to bed because the fact just smacked me in the face that I don't have a lot of time left. My deadline is coming and it's coming incredibly fast. I have loved my mission and I have never been so satisfied with anything I've ever done. I love being here!

Love, Jed

Dearest Mother, 

I would really like to go to Glacier! That would be really cool but Lake Powell would be fun too. Let the children decide. Don't worry, I'll work my guts out these coming weeks. And yeah if Kell wants to come then she totally can. I'm glad to hear that the garden is coming along well. I'm excited to work in it with ya! I love ya mom!!

Love, Jedediah James