7.8.13: LET FREEDOM RING!

"Christ Died to make men Holy let us LIVE TO MAKE MEN FREE!!!"-battle hymn of the republic

What a fun eventful crazy busy week! I don't have much time because I've been writ ting letters individually but I'll do my best to get everything in. YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!

Tuesday

We met with Angelic, her husband is a less active member.. when I say less active I mean like very less active. But she's met with missionaries all the time because he lets us in but isn't willing to come back to church. So we decided to just focus on her. As we walked in, it was just complete craziness, kids screaming dogs barking, too crazy! Then as we started the lesson all went quiet. We didn't have much time so we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. She knows it's true. We invited her to be baptized and she said YES! She's set for August 4th. She is working on quiting smoking but we can work with that! Ah she's so awesome were so excited for her. Then we headed over to Eddies, he's our less active. He invited his friend Mike to our lesson. We taught the restoration and he felt the spirit and we invited him to be baptized and he said yes!! bam 2 in one night!!!!!! miracle!!!!!! It's been so cool to have Eddy in the lessons with us. His testimony is strengthening and he helps us teach Mike. It's cool to see the light in his eyes come back and Mikes eyes are starting to get that light. hey are both around 24ish.

Wednesday.

We went to the anwanders. We taught a lesson about the importance of church, and keeping the sabbath day holy. I got to share my testimony of when I decided to not play volleyball on Sundays. She can relate because she plays soccer. They are very reserved people but Sister anwander opened up to us and she felt the spirit as she spoke with us. We committed them to come to church they said yes! (less active and Kellie is an investigator) then we invited Kellie to be baptized and she said yes!!!!!! that's 3 in 2 days!!!!!! crazy stuff. We are so blessed. They are being prepared. We love the anwanders a lot and they are going through a lot, but they are trying to do whats right. We then had dinner at the cherecwiches. We've missed them. We talked to them and expressed our love for them. They really appreciated it,  and they fed us which is always fun.

Thursday 4th!

Wow forth of July. so naturally my companions and I bought cheeeie 4 dollar shirts at Walmart for the forth. So we wore them and wore little matching bows that we made for our hair, and vans and jeans. We wore them to go pull weeds for Wanda. It was a beautiful HOT day! But isn't every 4th? We then all got dressed and got ready to go watch FIREWORKS! yes I have the coolest mission president ever, he let us all stay out and go watch fireworks. We all wore our red white and blue. (the sisters looked snazzy of course) and we went and got some burritos haha just like the family did on the forth, they were really good. Then we headed down to the beach to watch fireworks! yes.. fireworks on the beach! like a fairytale. As we all sat there I was so grateful for this wonderful country. for the freedoms that we have, for the men and women who have given there lives. but most of all I was grateful for freedom of religion. And through our savior, our freedom from sin. I felt so free as I looked at all the missionaries faces who where with us,  just full of smiles. The gospel is the one true way to be happy!!! I Know it. When we do what is right and keep the commandments we are as free as we can be! As I stood there with the sand in my toes, ocean spray on my face and my saviors name on my heart I stared down the beach and knew this is a fourth I would never forget. We were all so happy everyone probably thought we were drunk, but we are not, we just are happy!

Friday

We taught lots of people,  we taught 5 lessons on that day but I don't have time to write them all. They were all good. During one of our lessons an old missionary came back and popped into a recent converts house. She was so happy to see him. She then pleaded with heavenly father in a prayer that he wouldn't let us sisters leave. It made me cry (transfers in a week from Wednesday) but as I watched this exchange and as we watched finding faith in Christ I thought about how life is about relationships,  and how on missions you gain these strong relationships with the people you come in contact with. and how the Savior came to the earth and built relationships with the people he ministered to and who he healed, and how they were all there as he took that long walk up to be hung on the cross. He came to built those bonds with them to help change there lives. He came here to be personable and to be here physically to help and build relationships with. I don't know if I can explain what I felt but I was grateful for the relationships I'm gaining here,  even tho I miss home. I know that I have you all forever! These guys I only get for a year and a half.

Saturday

We cleaned Joan's and helped her sort through magazines. I had a lot of will power and I didn't look through the bachelorette magazine sitting on her table. It was hard but It will be there when I get back home.

Sunday

KELLIE AND SISTER ANWANDER CAME TO CHURCH! we all cried when we saw them! it was a blessing! Sunday was a great fast Sunday. we ate with the villanuevas and read Alma 50 with them and built a fortress for their family it was fun.

I love New Jersey! I love Toms River! I love my Savior and I love you all! I pray for you and hope all is well and happy. THE GOSPEL IS TRUE!!!

Love Sister Clark

(oh today were going crabbing,,, it's like fishing but you catch crabs.. we'll see how it goes)