My Foot

I'm sorry i haven't written for awhile, if you have not heard, i broke my foot 6 days ago. two days before Christmas. It happened as i was walking and stepped onto some un-level ground, i twisted my ankle and it made my foot go onto its side and all my weight was to much for the bone. 

so, i have been hearing from doctors that i need surgery. the plan was for me to go home to Oregon, get the surgery then come back to Brazil after 2 to 3 weeks. but when i got to Salvador to go home, i heard that if i ended up going home, i would have a very small chance of returning to Brazil. so i told my mission pres. that i wasn't going to leave if i couldn't come back. 

so we have been working with another option of getting the surgery here in Brazil. we have gone to 3 different doctors who all said i needed surgery, but today i just got back from a specialist who suggested not getting surgery. we have another consultation tomorrow and we are talking with other specialist to make sure i get the best help there is, to get back to work as soon as possible. 

so as of right now, we are working hard at keeping my in Brazil, and it looks possible for sure. i will keep everyone posted so you know whats going on.

i attached a couple picture so you can see what it looks like. not to bad. just a small bone.

i have had a few super special experiences with this foot problem so far. first, 2 days after i broke my foot, i felt no pain anymore. I'm not taking my medicine and the pain never came. to me it is a huge blessing, you can see from the X-Ray that the bone is broken all the way across. yet, i can put pressure on it or pinch it without almost any pain. i feel like this is a huge blessing on the part of all those who have been praying for me and i am SO very grateful for it (as the doctors here gave me medicine less powerful than Tylenol)

the second miracle i have see from this is that i was initially supposed to go home. if you need surgery as a missionary, you almost always go home. my mission president told me i would be back in 2 to 3 weeks, but latter we found out (the night before i was supposed to go home) that if i went home, the chances would almost be 0 of me returning to Brazil. but i needed surgery.. i made it clear to my president that i didn't want to go home if i wasn't going to come back. i told him that i will use my pocket knife and we will have my foot fixed real fast. he doesn't want me to leave either, so he has been calling lots of people and finally, and miraculously, got permission for me to have the surgery here. i felt that was a huge answer to my, and mine family and friend's prayers. 

so right now its not for sure 100%, but it looks as though i will be staying here and getting the treatment i need in Brazil. :) and ill be recovered soon. 

so thank you to all that have been praying and fasting and all for me. it has helped so much and i am so grateful.  i am doing good, my foot is not hurting and I'm keeping busy doing what i can do for the mission. 

i love you all and hope everyone had an amazing Christmas! 

Elder Cluff

A Note from Elder Cluff's Mother

Elder Dallas's Mother here,

Just got a call from Dallas's Mission and talked to Dallas.  He stepped off a curb and broke his foot.  The doctor said it is the worse kind of break for a foot, and he has put a cast on it but it may need surgery.  If it does, Dallas has to come home.  He doesn't want to come home, he said for sure.  I am asking Dallas with this email to please consider getting a blessing for your foot, if you haven't already.  I am asking all of you to please consider a fast and for sure pray for Dallas's foot, that it will heal without surgery, and he won't have to leave his mission.

 It is so nice to have people to call upon when help is needed.  Also pray for Weston, as when ever Dallas gets hurts, or breaks a bone, Weston has the same accident a few months later , even the same arm, finger when they had their fingers cut off by doors etc.  It has happened all their lives over and over, so hopefully with prayer, this time Weston can be spared and Dallas will heal without surgery.  Dallas is buying crutches right now, so he is working on the problem, sounding cheerful, posituve and telling me not to worry.  Dallas wares size 15 shoes and Weston 14.  Be thankful for smaller feet, they might not be in the way, so much.  Ha Ha!

Thanks again for all your prayers,  Dallas gets to Skype home Sunday, Christmas, at 12pm at Danes home after church if anyone wants to talk to him.  He will be on for two hours.  Weston is still in the MTC in Brazil so he can't call, Skype, etc.  200 missionaries can't all call.  The Brazil MTC is the biggest in the world.

Diana Cluff

"It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas"

Christmas is just a couple days away and it shows here in Brazil! Christmas lights are all over stores and trees and shops are full of Christmas time sales!  my companion and i are looking forward to this Thursday when we will go to Salvador for a part mission Christmas conference. it will be super fun! my last companion Elder Luna left a Santa hat at the apartment but it was super dirty! so after some scrubbing i got it white again and ill wear it to Salvador. I'll try to get some pictures there also.  this last week we went to Salvador also, but it was raining real hard so i couldn't get any good pictures.  i couldn't believe the rain is Salvador! it was SO heavy and it wouldn't slow down! you could see sheets of rain blowing in the wind. after only a few seconds the streets had 2 inches of water on each side moving quickly down the hills. it was really cool to see, but i got soaked!  this week we found a few new people to start teaching and working with. we had a few appointments fall through until Wednesday, but we are working hard and watching as the Lord sends us more and more help to push forward this work that brings such happiness. it has been crazy hearing Weston go into the MTC in São Paulo. he had a good first week. he said that the people that work at the MTC knew who he was when he walked into the doors. i guess everyone remembered me and thinks he looks just like me.. weird haha that would be odd to have an Elder there for 2 months, than a few months latter another Elder comes in that looks exactly the same and has the same name... its wild that right now weston and i and going by the exact same name! if we were in the MTC together is would be insane..  I'm sorry this weeks e mail is super short, i don't have much time this week but i promise to give a report on Christmas next week. i really hope everyone has a wonder Christmas and i hope you keep the Savior in mind as you celebrate with your families. remember to give thanks for the things you have and the things you receive. "let gratitude be the hallmark of this Christmas season" com amo Elder Cluff