Entry Fifty Four: Ice Climbers

January 26, 2026

Entry Fifty Four: Ice Climbers

Wow. I completely underestimated how crazy the weather could get out here in Tennessee.

But hello hello all you lovely folks! I hope these past couple of days has been eventful! It’s been as eventful as it can be for me at least. Let’s just say that nothing ever goes to plan, but we are masters at improvisation! Let’s get into it, shall we?

To begin, pieing my DL and his companion in the face was fun :)

After making an absolute mess of the gym floor (which I got to clean with my epic janitorial skills), we got to work talking with everybody we could see and being bold with sharing about baptism. Our district’s next goal was for everyone to hit 100 church invites and 1 baptismal invite every single day without flaw. If we do this, then tomorrow Elder Crowther gets to eat a Carolina Reaper in front of us all. I hope he’s not killing himself for our entertainment… 😅

We met some cool people this week. Hopefully we’ll be able to see them progress, since randomly our previous teaching pool disappeared this week.

Now for the fun stuff: We’ve had this winter storm warning for about a week now, and on Saturday morning it finally came. In terms of storms it really wasn’t that bad, but placed in an area not built for winter whatsoever, it wreaked havoc through this unsuspecting town. In short, it snowed, then it started raining, then it froze over, then it was raining again, and now we have the aftermath!

However, we’re gritty and honestly trying our best to be productive. Like today we knocked our apartment complex (in literal freezing rain (sorry Mom!)) and then later when we actually got outside, we practically ice skated around parking lots to talk with people. Lots of fun!

In fact, the only reason we got outside today was because even though church was cancelled, a member offered to have sacrament meeting and lunch for us missionaries. It was a real enjoyable time, and it was very good food.

Unfortunately, yesterday was a different story; we were cooped up like it was covid all over again. I had the brilliant idea that “a day like this would’ve been perfect back home to read through the whole Book of Mormon in one day,” before realizing that I had nothing better to do.

So I read the whole thing in one day.

Was it worth it? 100%. Was it an effective use of proselyting hours? Ehhhhh that’s up for interpretation. We still got all our missionary work done though. 🤷

Now for a spiritual thought, I wanted to share the verse that stood out to me the most during my monstrous readthrough yesterday:

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. (Alma 26:36)

Blessed be the name of my God! He truly is our loving Heavenly Father, and he is ever giving! There is so much to be grateful for! I testify that I am part of his great work; that Jesus is the living Christ, and the restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. May God be thanked for this matchless gift of His divine Son. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Glory to God on high! Let heav’n and earth reply. Praise ye His name. His love and grace adore, who all our sorrows bore. Sing aloud evermore: Worthy the Lamb!

Love y’all, and stay safe out wherever you are!

-Elder Clayton

This Week’s Discography: