Oh my goodness This week has gone by so crazy fast! I can't even believe it. Your letters are all so amazing I was so happy to hear all the fun times you had and the beutiful weather.
Dad- Props on the back yard i hear it's a modern day Garden of Eden. I have decided my future carear in life has to do something with nature and weather and trees.. I don't know what yet, but I'm in love with the trees in Jersey. I say that every week but it's true. I guess I'll keep saying it untill someone believes me haha. ok, so where do I even begin. On Tuesday we had zone conference and we had Elder Koliker from the 70. Maybe not Elder Holland, but it blew my mind. All the missionaries after our meeting were just so happy and excited to get to work. During the testimony meeting after an Elder just got up and was like 'I just don't even know what to say.. my mind is just blown..' that basically describes how I felt. He talked about how we need to make sure we're strengthening those who are converted and striving to get them to the temple. He promised us if we got someone to the temple within 6 weeks of being baptized that they would NEVER GO INACTIVE!! crazy huh! He also told us that the key is to put them in a situation where they have to perform. (I'm just going to ramble off some few one liners from him now).
- "testimony is the foundation for behavior."
- "Don't trifle with sacred things"
- he also talked about how our patricaral blessings can become scripture to us. he recomended that we go through and write down all the blessings we are promised and what we have to do to obtain those blessings.
so mom and dad you're already one step ahead of the game. I loved hearing about you reading those and seeing the blessings. I speak for all the siblings when I say we love you and we are the way we are becuase of your example to us. He talked about the antidote to offense is expression of kindness. He also drew a spiral on the board.. like a bed spring he talked about the spiral of struggle and as we go up and progress we have to sacrifice to get to a new level of understanding then it starts all over again with struggle, sacrifice, new level of understanding. It's a very visual thing I wish I could draw it but hopfully you get the picture. then he talked about how important family history work is in conversion and how if we get them to pray, read, write, pray read write pray, (in that order) they will be baptised. He also told us about how essential it is to follow up. If we don't follow up Lucifer will. I can testify of that. I've seen many cases here where when we don't follow up they are gone.. it's sad but we have faith we'll find them again.
Anyways, enough about that. Just know it was amazing and I learned a lot. Then we had lunch with Wanda and Sister Spasato. I've told you a lot about Wanda and I finally got a picture with her. I can't wait to send it sometime.. ok hopefully by next week I can figure out my camera. That's the beauty of being in the states. I have like 3 at&t stores in Toms River:)
As we ate with them we had a good lesson about what Heavenly Father sees in them and we challenged them to write a list of 30 things Heavenly Father sees in them. it was great and we ate pizza which is also great. Oh man! I must tell you that I eat so much italian food here. We either eat pasta (bakezini it is incredible!! when your missing me sometime look up a recipie and make it. It's so good). Then pizza... all day everyday... and the members give us so much food. Our fridge is so full. But jersey food is so good.. Yep, I'm gaining some spiritual pounds but I'm lovin it!! yum... ok which brings me to another funny thing. So my companions and I decided to write a pledge (I took pictures) that we would not eat anymore junk food unless given to us by a member of recent convert or investigator. And if we don't follow, we have to cut our hair to our chins!! Of course I'm the only one who it would be a dramatic change for but it hasn't been going as well as we hoped. Members have given us so many treats that it hasn't made much of a difference. But the other sisters get to work it off.. I can't tho so ya hahah fun stuff.
On Wedneday we had dinner with the Leduc family (the one dad met their son) and they are so fun and awesome. We love them a lot! Friday we did service for Joan (Crazy cat lady.. ok that doesn't narrow it down... but ya) She's not a member, but we are planting seeds as we do service. Then we went to Kelle's (the 9 year old) with her mom who is less active and I did my first baptism invitation and she said yes!!! wahoo! So she's going to hopfully be baptized on the 16th. We are excited for her. It's neat stuff. Then we went to the Vilanueva's for dinner. They are a family from the Philippines. They have 4 kids and she is an amazing cook. They are the cutest young couple ever they just laugh and make fun of eachother we had a really good time getting to know their family and just bonding with them. We taught about the plan of salvation and the little kids knew almost all the answers talk about a strong family they are one of the biggest strengths in the ward. Brother Villanueva is the first Councilor.
Oh thats another thing about Toms River - Everyone has crazy last names. Like Wanda's is Mislosckiey, then we have Shimalfings, and Lafound, Laduc, Ladet, Sturgil, Allianiello, lots of others but no one has the classic, Clark, or Christiansen or anything like that. I did find a Clark street the other day. There is a family with the last name Grover! So I'm pretty proud.
Oh man! Then we had Saturday.... This is Kevin and Teddy and Edna. So their daughter Alexis, I think I mentioned before, got taken away from them and so they are super sad. We went over to their house and they made us dinner. We got to finally sit down and talk with Kevin, and as we started the lesson he told us that he didn't want Christ to suffer for his sins so he was going to suffer for himself.... we testified of the importance of christ and that he has already suffered and he can't do it alone. The best way he can not make him suffer is to keep the comandments and to use the Atonement. He was so hard hearted. all three of us were testifying and crying and the spirit was there as we testified of christ (I love when we get to do that) but I don't know if he felt it but his wife, Edna, who has never sat in before was there and I know she felt it. She cried a little bit and it gives me so much hope. Kevin even said he knew that our paths had crossed for a reason. Ah we just love them so much. I see the potential they have and I know that heavenly father loves them so much. It's been such a blessing to study the divinity of christ and to learn and strengthen my own testimony as we prepare to teach him again. I'M SO PUMPED to teach him again. Mark my words, he will be baptized!! and so will edna.. stay tuned!!! Teddy (old war veteran with mental problems who we love so much) told us that they were talking about being baptized the other day:))) so stay tuned!
We also taught Wayne this week. He is older (in age and past investigator). He's the biggest sweet heart and he want to be baptized but he wants to be sincere and he's not willing to keep the law of chastity. so I will say that I never thought that I would be teaching an 75 year old man about the law of chasity. That's the fun of the mission tho. Everyday is SO different so you never know what to expect. No lesson is the same. No people are the same. It's just so fun! I forgot to tell you about sister Nava. she is the S.T.L. for our mission (like what I was in the mtc) and she is the most amazing missionary I've ever seen. She talks to everyone she's so kind and loving and bold. She was originally in the Peru mission then after 11 months she got sent home because she was so sick. Then she came back to New Jersey and she works so hard. She gave me so much encouragement about my knee and just seeing how hard she worked and pushed through and how it all worked out for her. I can't explain it but she changed my mission along with my perspective on everything. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I got to be with her this week and learn of her goodness and spirit. The Lord has such strong missionaries out because this is a sacrad work... I mean this is the salvation of souls! Sometimes I forget that but I'm trying to be better.
Our monthly focus (can you believe i've been in jersey for a month? I can't) has been on prayer and repentence. My prayers have become so much more sincere. Just like I said as the subject line. The power of a prayer is measured by heart throbs. I know as my prayers have been more sincere and trying to align my will to Gods, they are more powerful, and more comforting. In the bible dictionary under prayer it talks about as we understand our relationship with the father our prayers become instinctive. I've seen that so much. Through my trials out here as I understand my relationship with him, prayers just come. We pray all the time. Sometimes I'm about to get in the shower and I stop to say a prayer and I'm like.. wait.. I don't need to say one right now. It's been such a blessing in my life. My knee has been such a blessing. It sounds weird that I say that, but the more it hurts, the more humble I am, the more willing I am to rely on my Savior and happier I am. But I find when it feels better I become more selfish.. It's weird how the lord humbles us but he works in mysterious ways.
Nothing has really been happening with my knee. We've called the doctors but nothing is being done so prayers are much appreciated and I'm learning to rely on my savior. He is my crutch. A crutch I know I can trust my whole weight on cause I know he is strong enough when I'm not. The scripture strengthen the feeble knee's takes on a whole new meaning to me but I have such a testimony that he cares and loves each one of these people. And Sister Nava told us that all these people we see and don't talk to.. that could be the only contact they ever have with a missionary. It was a slice of humble pie.. so many lessons learned this week. So many blessings, so many fun adventures.
I'm learning my role in the companionship. Believe it or not, I'm the quiet one out of the group... ya it's hard to believe but since theres three of us you don't get much time to testify but when you do you have to make it count! I was happy to hear Christopher is in a trio! thats so cool, cool beans! But I've learned that one of my important rolls here is to mediate. We all have leadership personalities so it's been nice to sit back and be a follower and learn trust in others leadership as well. I'm trying to strengthen and support as much as I can. I love them both so much. we all have different personalities (sis Richardson and I are a lot a like) but sis kimball is so different but she's so fun and personable to people so we learn from eachother.
Sunday I gave a talk about how the feild is white already to harvest. As I testified I stared at the big sliding doors in the back of the cultural hall and just had a sense of determination to get those doors open- to fill the seats that have been emptied in in activity. Anyways when I was in relief society after (keep in mind my ward is all elderly people except 2 families.. like I'm talking all over 70's and with cats.. lots of cats.) But sister Lafound was giving her lesson and she commented about my talk at one point I said "I look out and I see white. I see purity the feild is ready" or something like that and she made the comment that "ya you see white because we're all old (white hair). and it was funny. I guess you had to be there but it was funny. I was so grateful I had to give that talk which we didn't have prepared because we had no time through the week but the spirit led me and I was so grateful. I know in missionary work we are not the only laborers. The Savior is with us.
Then on Monday we had a surprise BBQ for Elder Benson. He was so excited I made him a sign and sister kimball made him a balloon birthday hat. I forgot about Saturday- the ward bbq/ bake sale -that's when the ward loaded us up with food and goodies and random old nicknacks but they were cool and we were happy.
Anyways, I've got to go but I'm sorry I couldn't write yesterday. It broke my heart knowing that you'd be waiting and you wouldn't get it. I hope this letter suffices untill next week. Family just know how much I love you and how happy I am to be here even when it's hard. I've never expereience such a hard thing but the reason it's so hard is because I've never done something so important in my whole life. I know it is worth it and I pray for you often. I hope heavens blessings poor down on you like rain in New Jersey. I encourage you to move the umbrella sometimes and let those blessings fall down on you. Rain is a testimony to me of Heavenly Fathers love for me. So thats why it's been raining so much. He knows I need it. When I'm happy I can work hard and forget myself. I know that the power of prayer is real. I know God loves his children. I know that missionary work is so important and that we should never let Christ's atonement go to waste. I love you all so much! thank you for your examples and love! I'll write you next Monday I promise!
Clear eyes full heart can't lose
Love Sister Clark
