Dear Family,
We had some good highlights this week! Roberto came to his wife's baptism, and then we had a lesson with them the next day! Then we had a lesson on Thursday! It was super fun because Hermana Huchendorf and I were on splits that night. I went over and taught Robert about The Restoration. I asked Veronica if she would share her experience about when she received a Priesthood blessing a few weeks ago. The next time we saw her, she said that her and Roberto had a really long conversation about how Jesus Christ has helped in his family. It was so great to hear that because I don't think that they have ever really shared about spiritual experiences before! It is so fun to see this family at church and see how they are working together to learn about the Gospel. We want to help him get the Priesthood and then hopefully we can start getting this branch off the ground! Veronica got her temple recommend this weekend. That was good :)
It is pretty interesting to see how the Spirit works in lessons. We found this man who was baptized in Mexico that moved in with one of the recent converts. We were a little surprised when we went over there! We started talking and we could tell the woman really want us to teach a lesson to him, so we did and then they invited us over for a follow-up appointment. We went over on Saturday and decided we better teach about repentance and the Word of Wisdom. We got in there and it was really awkward. We didn't know what to say, but Hermana Huchendorf asked them what they thought about when they thought of Jesus Christ. Right then we could feel the Holy Ghost come into the room. It was pretty neat because I could really feel the Spirit. The thing we have been learning is that we really have to pay attention or it is easy to miss. The longer I am here the more I realize that it doesn't matter what I teach, or how skilled I am at teaching. The Spirit of God is the real converting power that "carries the message unto the hearts of men". I am grateful that I have been taught and experienced how to feel the Spirit in my life. Thank you Mom and Dad for being such wonderful teachers and focusing so much time and energy on the Gospel. I love you all a lot!
Love,
Hermana Clark
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
October 15, 2013
There were some great moments this week! Veronica finally got baptized! And her husband came! And he felt the Spirit! And Veronica bore her testimony and it was amazing! The Spirit of the Lord was very strong during the program and baptism. Wow. I am just in awe. Hardly a dry eye. A recent convert came up to me afterwards (I had led the music) and said I looked so happy leading the music. Haha! That is one thing I always liked to do at home - smile ridiculously big while leading the music.
We got Veronica a Personal Progress book so that she can start working on that and strengthen her testimony! Roberto is letting us teach him, so we hope that he decides soon to join his wife in the waters of baptism! We are excited to keep teaching him. The hardest thing is learning how to teach in a short amount of time so that their 2 year old daughter, Maite, doesn't go nuts. Haha family. Gotta love it. We had family home evening yesterday and explained to them that it was completely normal that Maite was screaming and crying. Haha....
Another exciting thing that happened this week was that we put together an activity for the Spanish people in the ward and our investigators. We invited the mission president, President Eaton, to come do a question and answer session. We got in there, sang a song, said a prayer and then turned the time over to the President. We lined up a translator for him (Hermano Rivera, who is awesome. Convert of 12 years with a wife and 2 children, just offered to come to any lesson he can. Said he would even re-arrange his plans to help us out. Awesome. He is going to make a big difference, just moved in.). We all held our breath as President Eaton pulled up a chair for him and his wife and we all waited for a question. Silence. Silence. I racked my brain to think of a question to ask. Nothing. I asked another missionary. Nothing. I start praying that someone will ask a question. Perfect! Saul, an investigator, asked his question! How do we balance religion and normal life? What a great question! We talked about how as a Mormon, we don't balance normal life and religion. Normal life is religion! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life, we don't pick and choose when we decide to live like Christ.
All in all, it went well! President Eaton spoke Spanish well and he said quite a lot without the translator! We had three investigators go - Edwin, Lilia, and Silvio! I hope that they all can come along! Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
We got Veronica a Personal Progress book so that she can start working on that and strengthen her testimony! Roberto is letting us teach him, so we hope that he decides soon to join his wife in the waters of baptism! We are excited to keep teaching him. The hardest thing is learning how to teach in a short amount of time so that their 2 year old daughter, Maite, doesn't go nuts. Haha family. Gotta love it. We had family home evening yesterday and explained to them that it was completely normal that Maite was screaming and crying. Haha....
Another exciting thing that happened this week was that we put together an activity for the Spanish people in the ward and our investigators. We invited the mission president, President Eaton, to come do a question and answer session. We got in there, sang a song, said a prayer and then turned the time over to the President. We lined up a translator for him (Hermano Rivera, who is awesome. Convert of 12 years with a wife and 2 children, just offered to come to any lesson he can. Said he would even re-arrange his plans to help us out. Awesome. He is going to make a big difference, just moved in.). We all held our breath as President Eaton pulled up a chair for him and his wife and we all waited for a question. Silence. Silence. I racked my brain to think of a question to ask. Nothing. I asked another missionary. Nothing. I start praying that someone will ask a question. Perfect! Saul, an investigator, asked his question! How do we balance religion and normal life? What a great question! We talked about how as a Mormon, we don't balance normal life and religion. Normal life is religion! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life, we don't pick and choose when we decide to live like Christ.
All in all, it went well! President Eaton spoke Spanish well and he said quite a lot without the translator! We had three investigators go - Edwin, Lilia, and Silvio! I hope that they all can come along! Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
October 7, 2013
Veronica is going to get baptized! We feel a little like the boy who cried wolf, but we are pretty sure this one is for reals. We fasted last Sunday that her husband would let her get baptized, and we talked to her on Tuesday and he had said she could! And we met with him on Friday and have a return appointment with him today! It was very exciting to feel the Spirit during that lesson. We were late, so we had run across the lawn, and my shoe fell off and I stepped in mud. We then got in Veronica's house and her husband was "taking a shower". He always does that right when we come.... We asked Veronica if we could come back in 20 minutes and she told us to stay and wait! So we did, and he finally came out and we had a wonderful talk about how he had seen Veronica change since she started learning about the Gospel. We asked him if he wanted that and he said "Who wouldn't?" We were thinking in our minds "Exactly!" Needless to say, the Spirit did the teaching and we just sat there. It was fun to feel like we had been the Lord's tools to help.
Lilia had a blessing on Wednesday and that was really nice. We sat there and listened. She said she felt a lot of peace. That is what we ask for her, because her life sure isn't easy right now.
One lesson I am really grateful that I am learning is the importance of a good home. So many children are suffering and they don't even know because their parents are not living in a way that nurtures their children or helps them learn correct principles. It makes me really want to create a good home for my children.
Love you all!
Lilia had a blessing on Wednesday and that was really nice. We sat there and listened. She said she felt a lot of peace. That is what we ask for her, because her life sure isn't easy right now.
One lesson I am really grateful that I am learning is the importance of a good home. So many children are suffering and they don't even know because their parents are not living in a way that nurtures their children or helps them learn correct principles. It makes me really want to create a good home for my children.
Love you all!
September 30, 2013
This has been a great week! Started off with interviews with the mission president. Those are really a pleasure and privilege. The sad news of the week is that Veronica didn't get baptized. :( Her husband doesn't want her to, and she is really trying to figure out what to do. Her desire to be baptized is very strong. It was so sad yesterday because she cried for a bit because she wants to be baptized so bad. It was amazing to see the members help her, because so many offered comfort, shared their experiences, and expressed their love and faith in the Lord. This is what the Gospel is about. "Bearing others burdens"and "comforting those that stand in need of comfort". I love the Valle family (Spanish ward mission leader). They are so good to me and so willing to serve. Hermano Valle shared his testimony in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Half in Spanish and half in English. Lucky me, I got to understand both! He expressed his love for the Lord and his desire to do everything right that he possibly can in this life. He said he is watching and watching for the day when the Lord will come again. I was very touched. Something that has been very apparent to me the last week is the power of hearing the Gospel in your own tongue. In D & C11
For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall ahear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own blanguage, through those who are cordained unto this dpower, by the administration of the eComforter, shed forth upon them for the frevelation of Jesus Christ.
Even when I was listening to Hermano Valle bear his testimony, when he spoke in English, my heart was touched more than when it was spoken in Spanish, even though I understood every word. I want to give that to others! It really provides me with motivation to learn Spanish better. I want them to hear the Gospel the way that will help them the most. But the Spirit is still the most important thing. I know this because Hermano Valle doesn't necessarily have the best English ever. It gives me hope that the Spirit will help carry the message into the hearts of those that I teach.
A funny thing that happened this week was that Lilia came to the Womens Broadcast and told us she wanted to take Wednesday off and invite us over for cake. She didn't know if she should make tea, coffee, or chocolate cake for us. Hahaha.... time for the Word of Wisdom lesson...
We picked up Edwin again! We have felt not to go over there lately, but last night, we used up all of our back-up plans, and there were a few that were super lame. I had the thought that we should go see Edwin, so we did, and!!! His life has really stunk the last few weeks. He says he has felt especially bad to God, and then us because he did not keep any of his commitments. A lot of his friends have been inviting him to different churches, but he has felt sick going to any of them because all these friends were bashing Mormons. So he didn't go to any of them. They told him a lot of silly stuff about Mormons, like that we can have as many girlfriends as we want or if someone is already married it is totally fine to cheat. What was the really interesting thing? That morning, I had grabbed a "Law of Chastity" pamphlet for our investigator Silvio, and had the thought to grab two, which I thought was super strange. Well! I handed that pamphlet right over to Edwin! That should answer his questions! It was really exciting to see that the Lord cares about individual people. I love being here on a mission and serving my Savior. I know that the scriptures can provide revelation and answers to questions that otherwise would go unfound. I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall ahear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own blanguage, through those who are cordained unto this dpower, by the administration of the eComforter, shed forth upon them for the frevelation of Jesus Christ.
Even when I was listening to Hermano Valle bear his testimony, when he spoke in English, my heart was touched more than when it was spoken in Spanish, even though I understood every word. I want to give that to others! It really provides me with motivation to learn Spanish better. I want them to hear the Gospel the way that will help them the most. But the Spirit is still the most important thing. I know this because Hermano Valle doesn't necessarily have the best English ever. It gives me hope that the Spirit will help carry the message into the hearts of those that I teach.
A funny thing that happened this week was that Lilia came to the Womens Broadcast and told us she wanted to take Wednesday off and invite us over for cake. She didn't know if she should make tea, coffee, or chocolate cake for us. Hahaha.... time for the Word of Wisdom lesson...
We picked up Edwin again! We have felt not to go over there lately, but last night, we used up all of our back-up plans, and there were a few that were super lame. I had the thought that we should go see Edwin, so we did, and!!! His life has really stunk the last few weeks. He says he has felt especially bad to God, and then us because he did not keep any of his commitments. A lot of his friends have been inviting him to different churches, but he has felt sick going to any of them because all these friends were bashing Mormons. So he didn't go to any of them. They told him a lot of silly stuff about Mormons, like that we can have as many girlfriends as we want or if someone is already married it is totally fine to cheat. What was the really interesting thing? That morning, I had grabbed a "Law of Chastity" pamphlet for our investigator Silvio, and had the thought to grab two, which I thought was super strange. Well! I handed that pamphlet right over to Edwin! That should answer his questions! It was really exciting to see that the Lord cares about individual people. I love being here on a mission and serving my Savior. I know that the scriptures can provide revelation and answers to questions that otherwise would go unfound. I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
September 16, 2013
This has been a great week! We had exchanges, and I got to be with one of the girls I really really like. :) Heavenly Father must have planned it just for me. We had some great lessons! Veronica has not been baptized yet, but we think this upcoming week! Also, this last week two more people set a baptismal date. All I can say it, the weekend of General Conference is going to be really busy! Wow! Both baptisms are scheduled for that weekend! I have been learning some neat things about The Book of Mormon. I have been noticing that even as I missionary I sometimes shy away from talking about it because people don't always want to accept it. I should be using this to my advantage! If people won't read The Book of Mormon, then they can't get a testimony of The Restoration through Joseph Smith or the divinity of the Book of Mormon! It is embarrassing that it took this long to realize.... We had a fun experience on Saturday. We went to a Marriage/Baptism. We got there and no one was playing the piano, so I hopped on and played some songs. It was so fun! I don't know what arrangements were coming out, but let me tell you - it was just flowing out. Blessings for the family :) The two people who got married have really changed their lives around. One was on drugs, the other was in jail, and now one is baptized and the other soon to follow! The more I am here, the more I realize how important agency is. We can talk to everybody on the planet, but if they don't want to change, then what we tell them isn't going to make a difference. But let me tell you this: when they do want to change, miracles happen! Lilia had the opportunity to switch her job so that she can come to work and she always expresses how much peace she feels in the Gospel.
We are really working to get the branch together. Yesterday, there were 10 women in Relief Society, and about the same in the Gospel Principle class. Little by little we are finding Spanish people to fill the branch. It is truly a miracle to see so many people fall into our laps. Really that is how we feel. The people who are ready - we don't do anything. They just fall into our laps and read The Book of Mormon. The thing we are really working on now is getting them to stay in the church after they are baptized. A lot of them come from homes where they are not supported, so they don't have any friends. Members are so important! Without a support group, a lot of these recent converts stop coming because they feel lonely and they plain don't know enough to be planted so firm as to not let their roots get pulled out. Here it come - the commitment: Will you go introduce yourself to every person you don't know this coming Sunday?
Love you all,
Hermana Clark
We are really working to get the branch together. Yesterday, there were 10 women in Relief Society, and about the same in the Gospel Principle class. Little by little we are finding Spanish people to fill the branch. It is truly a miracle to see so many people fall into our laps. Really that is how we feel. The people who are ready - we don't do anything. They just fall into our laps and read The Book of Mormon. The thing we are really working on now is getting them to stay in the church after they are baptized. A lot of them come from homes where they are not supported, so they don't have any friends. Members are so important! Without a support group, a lot of these recent converts stop coming because they feel lonely and they plain don't know enough to be planted so firm as to not let their roots get pulled out. Here it come - the commitment: Will you go introduce yourself to every person you don't know this coming Sunday?
Love you all,
Hermana Clark
September 9, 2013
Hi Family!
This has been a great week! We had a referral from some the elders for an awesome family up in Muckleshoot, the Indian reservation here. We went over there and taught a lesson. The dad and son were there and really felt the spirit. We are so excited to help them learn about the Gospel! Lilia is just a jewel and we can hardly believe how faithful she is. She has a hard life, but she is willing to make the sacrifices and changes so that she aligns her will to the will of her Heavenly Father. She is a really great example to me of faith. We have also been running into a lot of Spanish members here that have never been to the temple before. We are trying to help them get there so that they can enjoy the blessings and help their ancestors enjoy the blessings of the temple as well. I love the temple! We are starting to teach Elvia's husband, Silvio. (Elvia is who got baptized last transfer). He is a good man and we can hardly wait to help him accept the Gospel. I just want them to get sealed and be a happy family :) We are hoping that Veronica can get baptized this upcoming Saturday. We just love her and her family and want her little daughter. Maite, to have the opportunity to be raised in a home where Jesus Christ is the center. One thing I have really grown to love here is our district and zone meetings. I love hearing other people share experiences and advice about how to better help the people. I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Jesus Christ wants everybody to come unto Him and partake of the peace and happiness that comes only from that source. One lady, Maria, is such a good example. She has had some ridiculously hard things happen in the last month, and when we were talking to her she said "I am not happy, but I feel peace." What a miracle. Her world can fall apart, but because she has a foundation built on Jesus Christ, she feels peace and tranquility. I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
This has been a great week! We had a referral from some the elders for an awesome family up in Muckleshoot, the Indian reservation here. We went over there and taught a lesson. The dad and son were there and really felt the spirit. We are so excited to help them learn about the Gospel! Lilia is just a jewel and we can hardly believe how faithful she is. She has a hard life, but she is willing to make the sacrifices and changes so that she aligns her will to the will of her Heavenly Father. She is a really great example to me of faith. We have also been running into a lot of Spanish members here that have never been to the temple before. We are trying to help them get there so that they can enjoy the blessings and help their ancestors enjoy the blessings of the temple as well. I love the temple! We are starting to teach Elvia's husband, Silvio. (Elvia is who got baptized last transfer). He is a good man and we can hardly wait to help him accept the Gospel. I just want them to get sealed and be a happy family :) We are hoping that Veronica can get baptized this upcoming Saturday. We just love her and her family and want her little daughter. Maite, to have the opportunity to be raised in a home where Jesus Christ is the center. One thing I have really grown to love here is our district and zone meetings. I love hearing other people share experiences and advice about how to better help the people. I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Jesus Christ wants everybody to come unto Him and partake of the peace and happiness that comes only from that source. One lady, Maria, is such a good example. She has had some ridiculously hard things happen in the last month, and when we were talking to her she said "I am not happy, but I feel peace." What a miracle. Her world can fall apart, but because she has a foundation built on Jesus Christ, she feels peace and tranquility. I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Clark
Septmember 3, 2013
Hello there!
We just got two new sister missionaries serving in our ward so that we can make a branch for the Spanish people here. THAT MAKES 6 SPANISH SPEAKING SISTERS IN THIS WARD! Wow. Unreal. There are also two English elders. If this ward doesn't get some people, that is just ridiculous. I just finished my first transfer, and am still here in Auburn with Hermana Huchendorf. We are thinking about putting together a cultural activity for the ward here and bringing some investigators. It is really interested here because the ward is a little divided because of the language barrier between the Spanish and English people. We have been bringing more members to the lessons, which is pretty interesting as we try to translate for them. It is all good :) We had to drop Edwin, but we just know he is going to be a stake president in El Salvador, so we are hoping he starts wanting the Gospel soon. I never before realized how important it is to read the Book of Mormon. We talk to all these people, and all these people who say that they don't believe in the Restoration and all that. We ask them if they read the Book of Mormon and they never did. Sad day. If they would just read! Veronica has a baptismal date for this weekend. We are hoping that it comes through. Her husband came to church on Sunday (first time ever) and then they prayed together last night to help them through the hard time that she is going through right now. Lilia is just a dream. She is the one that called us. We set up a church tour with her last week. It was the most sacred experience I have had here. We took her around the church and showed her the baptismal fount, Relief Society room, classroom for Sunday school (where we watched a short video about The Sacrament) and then the chapel. We went to the front of the chapel, where we had set up a picture of Jesus and the sacrament trays, and just looked at the Sacrament table. The Spirit was very strong there and we sang a song and she prayed. She started praying and had to stop because she was crying. She said she couldn't pray, but the member we brought (Diana) encouraged her. She did. We talked about how she wants to come to church and can't because of her job. Diana really helped her by encouraging her and I read her 1 Nephi 3:7. Her desire was so strong and we just left praying really hard that the Lord would help her find a way. It was so neat to talk to someone who does want this and is willing to follow Christ. I have met a lot of people here with great faith. I look up to them. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World.
Love,
Hermana Clark
We just got two new sister missionaries serving in our ward so that we can make a branch for the Spanish people here. THAT MAKES 6 SPANISH SPEAKING SISTERS IN THIS WARD! Wow. Unreal. There are also two English elders. If this ward doesn't get some people, that is just ridiculous. I just finished my first transfer, and am still here in Auburn with Hermana Huchendorf. We are thinking about putting together a cultural activity for the ward here and bringing some investigators. It is really interested here because the ward is a little divided because of the language barrier between the Spanish and English people. We have been bringing more members to the lessons, which is pretty interesting as we try to translate for them. It is all good :) We had to drop Edwin, but we just know he is going to be a stake president in El Salvador, so we are hoping he starts wanting the Gospel soon. I never before realized how important it is to read the Book of Mormon. We talk to all these people, and all these people who say that they don't believe in the Restoration and all that. We ask them if they read the Book of Mormon and they never did. Sad day. If they would just read! Veronica has a baptismal date for this weekend. We are hoping that it comes through. Her husband came to church on Sunday (first time ever) and then they prayed together last night to help them through the hard time that she is going through right now. Lilia is just a dream. She is the one that called us. We set up a church tour with her last week. It was the most sacred experience I have had here. We took her around the church and showed her the baptismal fount, Relief Society room, classroom for Sunday school (where we watched a short video about The Sacrament) and then the chapel. We went to the front of the chapel, where we had set up a picture of Jesus and the sacrament trays, and just looked at the Sacrament table. The Spirit was very strong there and we sang a song and she prayed. She started praying and had to stop because she was crying. She said she couldn't pray, but the member we brought (Diana) encouraged her. She did. We talked about how she wants to come to church and can't because of her job. Diana really helped her by encouraging her and I read her 1 Nephi 3:7. Her desire was so strong and we just left praying really hard that the Lord would help her find a way. It was so neat to talk to someone who does want this and is willing to follow Christ. I have met a lot of people here with great faith. I look up to them. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World.
Love,
Hermana Clark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)