10.21.13: New Daughter...Sister Reed

Family and Friends,

How is everyone doing? It was a good comfort to hear about the funeral and the family being together. It gives me a little glimpse of our life together after this one. Thank you all for being righteous and staying strong in the gospel. It is true. I miss you all so very much. I’m so amazed by the strength and the power of the gospel can bring. But most of all comfort. It’s real.

Ok the moment you’ve all been waiting for (well probably just mom and dad have been waiting for). My new Trainee is Sister Reed! She’s so awesome! She’s 5’10 and so people really mistake us for ‘sisters’ it’s fun though. She reminds me a lot of myself. Our nickname for a while was twin towers but then,, we had to change it to be sensitive to sept 11^th. But it was a fun nickname while it lasted. My new area is……… PATERSON CENTRAL! I’m in the city. It’s so completely different. Not going to lie I’ve been in serious culture shock for the past couple of days. Basically the missionaries are the only white people who live here. So we stick out but it gives people a reason to talk with us.

The first couple of days here have basically been us just trying to find our way around.  We’ve gotten lost so many times it’s bad but its ok were learning. We live in a cute little house just for the 2 of us. It is covered with Halloween decorations thanks mommy. We bought wild life blankets and a pumpkin to make it a little more ‘homier’ but all in all our apartment is great.

It was so hard to say goodbye to Toms River. I’m still struggling to let it go, but it will take time. I’m praying to love the people here and I know it will happen.

-oh and side note for Jason.. I may or may not be teaching Lebron Jame’s cousin.. literally. I have to confirm it with him but his name is Corey and he’s great.

Ok so Tuesday after transfer conference and after getting lost for a couple hours we arrived at our apartment. I have no idea how to open an area and train.. so it was an adventure of me just running around trying to figure out what to do. We ended up going to an FHE of a ward member Shyima. She’s so awesome! We met some members and talked a little bit.

Wednesday

We went shopping, we met with some of the recent converts who are solid. And we tried to unpack a little. Later that night we met with a less active who is an old lady with 2 cats.. I was right at home. Heavenly father has a funny way to comfort me when I’m down.  She talked about her life and as we testified that she was a daughter of God she got the chills. So that was awesome.

Thursday

Was weekly planning. We planned and tried to figure out our area more, then we went out walking to try and meet some people on the streets. We met a few and also got very lost, but we ended up finding our way home. Sister Reed knows Spanish and that comes in handy a lot out here. She’s so awesome. She’s not afraid to talk to anyone.. I think she’s handling the culture adjustment better than me…actually that’s a fact she’s adjusting better than me haha.

Friday

We got 2 new investigators! Felix and Joma. They are from the Dominican Republic and they are great. We’ve met with them a couple of times this week they asked us a lot of questions about life after this one and where we go. It was a good reminder and refresher for me. They also fed us dinner. That’s another thing different about here. Every meal you have with someone is from a different country. I’ve had Dominican food, Peruvian food, and Colombian food so far but I’ll keep you posted.

Sunday

I’ve never been in a room with so many people from so many different countries before. It’s so neat! I literally am serving in every country. I’m in a foreign mission right now. I’m adjusting but it’s cool. The branch is so neat. They are strong and so supportive of missionaries. The branch president hugs everyone who comes into the door and knows them personally, then behind the scenes he whips us into shape to go out and save some souls. It’s great.

This week has been an adjustment, and still is an adjustment. It’s been a rough week but it’s defiantly a growing experience. Lots of growing, learning and changing. Well, trying to change. But It we will get the hang of it.

Things to look forward to- We have zone conference

 this Friday which will be awesome and inspiring I’m sure. We have international night. So the branches get together around our areas and they come together and showcase things from their countries, like music, food, singing dancing,, all sorts of stuff. I’m told there’s over 64 different nationalities in our ‘district’. So it’s going to be a party and we came just in time. It will be a great opportunity for missionary work.

If anything I’ve learned from this week is, Endure to the end. We must keep pushing forward and giving our best.  Some day’s the best you can give isn’t as much as the day before.. but Heavenly father knows our limits, he knows our weaknesses and he is patient with us. We must give what we can, he makes up for the rest. I know that prayers and heard and answered. I’ve had many points this week down on my knees, I know they were not in vain. God lives. He loves us, he has to, if he didn’t nothing would make sense. He wants us to be happy. That’s something I tend to forget a lot. I know Christ lives. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I know we can be with our families forever. I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Clark

Selfie 

The wildlife blankets 

The apartment

House tour

Halloween decorations

Thank heavens for Target dollar decorations

Happy girl!!!

Jersey tree

Remember your pass along cards 

Paterson has beautiful sunsets too 

Paterson, New Jersey 

10.14.13: Picture update

"My companion has a knife"

The Higgins family

< ---------FAVORITE ------------>

As "Sister of Zion"

Higgins boy in apron my sent....we are considered the "cupcake sisters"

I love the Higgins family!!!

"Funny faces"

The Villenuevas

Sister Sturgill

The Sister missionary board

Ray

Kirby

Road trip

10.7.13: Come Join Us!

Conference is seriously like christmas time for us missionaries. I always heard other missionaries saying that, but when your out in the field it really is like it. Lack of sleep the night before because of excitement.. your head pops off the pillow. I loved conference. The spirit speaks truth and peace to my heart. I loved all the talks about missionary work. We are all pumped and ready to go. Missionary work is so important! (notice the !) (i loved that talk). most of all I love the sincere love that men of God radiate. Aren't they wonderful! I just love them.

It sounds like all of your conference experiences were just as uplifting and motivating. I love it:)

so it's fall in toms river. The tree's are changing and it is beutiful. This could potenaly be my last week in Toms River.. Transfers are in a week. This morning as i was studying for our investigators I was just overcome with the sincere love for them and a desire for them to succeed and grow in faith. It was to the point that it literally hurts to think this could be my last week here.:( but as the song says. "i'll go where you want me to go dear Lord." I am also coming up on my 6 month mark... 1/3 of the way... wow... too fast!!! SLOW DOWN!!! haha good think I have a lot of time left but it's weird to think i've been out this long. and I can't believe Christophers almost home. (i'm sure mom is counting down the days:)) I love all the pictures from home! it's so fun. the kids are growing up way to fast as well! I told Breya not to grow up haha. Ok I'll get down to business now.

This week was great. it was a little long but great. My companion tore her Rectus Femorous rigt before she came on a mission and it's taken a while to heal. the weather change has been hard on her. It's hard to see her in pain but we are keeping on top of the work. the Lord is blessing us:)

Monday

Classic monday nights Raegan and her boys. they are doing well. Her boys have decided to get baptised the last monday of the transfer just in case I'm not here:) I"m so excited for them both. they are cute. Raegan is an incredible mother. Love her a lot. then after raegan we went to Krystal and Erics. so we wen't and taught about General conference. We commited them to prepare by writing down questions. Eric informed us that he had all of the sessions recording on dvr and he has a meeting set up with the bishop about getting the priestood. (this is a week before conference) this is how incredible they are!!!!! wow. we just don't know what to teach them anymore they are incredible! love that family!

Tuesday

Oh get pumped! so we met a Man his name is Jeff. He is what you call GOLDEN!!! So Jeff was a media referral. We stopped by his house and no one was home. So my smart companion had the idea to leave a note. He called us back the next day.(this never happens)  Told us a little about himself and we set up a time to meet with him. As we met with him. Jeff had met with the missionaries 5 years ago, at the time he was a heavy smoker and he told us that he told the missionaries he was reading the book of Mormon but he really wasn’t. After he stopped meeting with the missionaries he joined a catholic church. He just felt like it wasn’t right for him and his family. As time passed on he got in an accident at work which put him out of a job. This time in his life took a spiritual 160 turn. Somehow he started looking on the church websites; he would pass his time by watching past conference talks and watching the District.thats right,,, the training tv show for missionaries!!! He told us, every time he hears the prophet speak he feels something... “I think it’s the Holy Ghost” He is incredible. He was the one who referred himself because he lost his book of Mormon and he really wanted to start reading it. His son came up to him at one point and said “daddy are we Mormons now?” so cool!!! He is a miracle. The Lord has completely prepared this man. It is awesome. he was sick our last scheduled apointment but as we were telling him about the book of mormon and moroni's promise he said.. so I think i'm going to know its true.. he already started talking about the temple..... we were in awe!!! ya....... wow.....

Wednesday

So we saw Sister Rowe wednesday morning. this is the woman who love us missionaries so much. She's an elderly lady, and we went to do service for her. she mentioned something to me about wanting to adopt me.. I jokinly replied she could adopt me... I think she took me seriously.. everytime we see her she tells everyone I want her to adopt me. let me be clear.. I love sister Rowe.. but I love my family a lot more.. MOmmy please don't let her take me from you! It sounds like a joke but sometimes my companion and I are really concerned that she's going to take me away.

Friday

we had a full day planned but the best part of friday was teaching sister Argust the plan of salvation. she is a less active member we are working with. she is so wonderful! we taught the plan of salvation and as we taught she remembered an experience she had where her friends came and visited her and begged her to do the baptisms for him and his family... so neat! the spirit reminds us in interesting ways. so she's getting back into doing family history work and all that good stuff! the lord cares about every soul individually. each of them is 'precious' to him. that's something I'm learning out here. we are so imperfect yet he loves us in our imperfection, we are worth everything to him.

Saturday

inbetween conference sessions we met katie.... she's a hoot. at one point in the lesson we were singing sound of music together. and she was laying down singing "nobody knows.. the trouble i've seen" this woman is funny, she is ready to hear the gospel as well. it's so neat how so many hearts have been prepared. most of these people aren't instantaniously... like jeff it was 5 years.. for katie it's been 50 since they have been introduced to the church. it takes time. but it down the road that seed becomes fruit...:) so for everyone who feels like there missionary work isn't effective. I testify that those seeds that you plant. even a smile.. although you may not see the fruits. THEY WILL COME! it takes time for true conversion. you are making a difference just by walking down the street. the spirit you hold toches hearts.. keep moving forward.. keep opening your moths.keep sharing the gospel:)

Sunday was great.:) I love watching conference and feeling so connected to home. I saw sister Child a lot! I kept leaning over to my companion. and showing her. I love the unity of the entire church for those 2 days. it's magical!

well that brings us to today. we are planning on going crabbing if the weather alows. it's a bit windy and rainy... hey but i like it that way:) fall is beutiful here. I'll wait till the tree's change more before I send to many pictures but it's great! I love you all so much! keep pushing forward. the main thing I got out of confreence well.. one of the main things. was the importance of strengthening our testimonys. so when trials come, and we face hard times we have the power and strength to endure. I love this gospel with all my heart. I love my Savior and my Heavenly father.. I would not be able to survive a day out here without them and the help from prayer. love you all! so much

Love,

Sister Clark

Clear eyes full heart can't lose!

P.s. happy birthday Christopher! The best missionary mexico has seen!

Anikan and Ellas Higgins