Wednesday, September 4, 2013

9.4.13: Week of Change



deep fried oreos on the board walk
Ok first off. I have the best family ever. Thank you for all the letters and all the updates. I love hearing about the fun and challenging experiences back home. It reminds me of where I come from and how grateful I am to be here to share what I know with these people.

-Also...what is up with these kids growing up so fast... I'm not ok with it! they sound like they are just loving life. thank you for all the pictures! they all look like they are so big!

Ok I'll start at the beginning of my week

smurf fire hydrants
This week was a blur of emotions and fast paceness... (yes that's not a word but it describes my week) All the craziness started Monday night when Sister Kimball got a call from President Jeppson... The time has come. Her visa finally came. All I could do was sit there and cry. I love her so much but I was so happy for her. The expression of relief and love on her face is something I will never forget. She has been a wonderful helper here and will be seriously missed. Brazil doesn't know whats going to hit them. So the week was just flooded with craziness trying to get her packed and ready to go.

Then on Wednesday we got another call from President Jeppson. Sister Richardson was called as a Sister Training leader. (no surprise there she's incredible) so that just added to the craziness. But we still taught the people and said lots of painful goodbyes. We first taught Wanda.. funny story so we were sitting waiting to start the lesson and we found a vhs on her table. She told us she brought this home from the church but she doesn't have the 'technology' to work it. We opened it up and looked at the vhs and she said "I've never seen one of those before". We were in shock. Then Sister Richardson leans over to me and whispers "she was a nun." it was funny. Wanda thought it was funny as well. We also then went to Joans. She gave us those shirts that look like they fit on a doll then they stretch to fit you. ya we had fun with those haha. It was very sweet of her she told us it hides all her 'rumple dumbles'. Toms river people are funny. We taught brother Weignburg this week. he lives in a mental insittuion, and I kid you not, It looks like the Tower of Terror in Disney land. (i'll send pictures). but he has the biggest heart and just wants the gospel back in his life so much. so we will be back there again. 

Me and the gold spartan...Jersey style (turned out to be a jewish womans car)

Friday was RAEGANS BAPTISM!!!!! oh man she was just glowing the whole time! the ward members welcomed her in with love and with so much support. we were so grateful for the ward. It made the stressful day worth it. (background info) sister Richardson had to go to her sister training leader meeting so it left sister kimball I and a new trainie together to figure out everything we needed to do for Raegans baptism... and sister kimball had brazil on the brain so I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. but it turned out great... even though the water was green. hey it's just baptism by emersion.. it can be by green goop instead of water... can't it? ok it wasn't that green but still, we had some laughs. We love Raegan and she was so happy to be baptized. Saturday we went down to the shore and taught a less active and her husband. he committed to read. it was pretty cool! we also went and got Deep Fried Oreos...and yes they were delicious! it was bad how good they were. Sunday was a great day, it wasn't to crazy but the love and the spirit was so strong. We went to the Higgins for one last time after church and they gave us frames and expressed there love for us and all we've done for them. I LOVE THEM!!! then monday morning the transfer text came. Sister Richardson was being transferred. I am leading the area in toms river. we franticly packed and drove sister kimball up to the mission home and said our goodbyes. it was quick but hard. then we came back and packed for sister Richardson as well. We had a zone activity in there somewhere where we played ultimate frisbee. it was great!. 

Tuesday.. yesterday. Transfer Conference. We sat there nervously and waited to hear our futures. Sister Richardson is going up to caldwell. And I'm staying down here. My new companion is Sister Morrison. She is a legend of the mission. everyone loves her. so I"m supper excited. (she's friends with Elder Holland,,, no big deal) she's great and a lot of fun. I'm super nervous to lead the area but i'm excited to grow and to stretch and for the new phase of my mission. it's still surreal to me that our trio is split up. but we enjoyed every moment of it. transfer conference ended with us singing "God be with you till we meet again" ya sister Richardson and I didn't make it past the first 4 words. I'm really going to miss them. We've seen so many miracles together and they have a special place in my heart.
But life is good. Sister Morrison and I are going to light the World on fire with the spirit:) thank you for all your love and suport. It means the world to me.! Love you all! Keep the Faith!

Love,
Sister Clark

clear eyes full heart, can't lose





Shirts from Joan

cleaning the font before the baptism


REAGAN!! 

Reagan's baptism! 


Sister Brown! 

the Villanueva's