6.30.14 Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked....and Walked....and Walked!

New companion Sister Allen from American Fork 

Greetings family! Lots of changes from this last week but good changes nonetheless:) OK I guess I will start with the question where am I? Ha-ha I am now in Short Hills.. It literally is bordering my last area but I'm happy to be here. My new companion is Sister Allen from American Fork. She has been out for about 3 months and she is a rock star! I love her to death she cracks me up.

My new address is 

2 Honeyman Place 2nd floor

Berkeley Heights, NJ
07922

Tuesday

So Tuesday was a hard day, transfer conference, saying goodbye to people in Caldwell. Also transfer conference. Saying goodbye to President and Sister Jeppson. I love them both so much and will miss them tremendously. I'm so excited to meet the Tagarts, (no I have not met them yet but they seem pretty awesome).

But we had a great meeting hearing all the departing missionaries dying testimonies then hearing president Jeppson and sister Jeppson talk to us for a minute.

I was placed with my new companion Sister Allen who is hilarious our first time we were standing trying to get to know each other we were standing by the car and sister Allen was waving her arm back and forth with the phone in her hand and ended up throwing flinging it towards the car and it hit the car and fell on the ground. Yep we are going to get along just fine ha-ha.

Our area is the Short Hills area. Which has recently been combined from 2 areas into 1 so we have a lot of area to cover. We are pumped. And good news, apparently Eli manning lives in our area, we know what street but not the house.. we will find him, everybody needs the gospel right? 

Wednesday

District meeting. Our district is great and our zone is really fun. One of our zone goals is to make up a companionship handshake and do it everyday before we leave the apartment. And today we are playing volleyball against another zone. I'm very excited. I love being able to just focus on our area and get really deep into the work. There is a lot of work that needs to be done but we are excited to do it:)

After district meeting we went and dropped off our car in the shop... so for 3 days I was a walking missionary (thus the title) it was neat. When I walk as a missionary I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose. We’ve meet some amazing people as we've been walking and lots of new potentials. We also did some service for a member of the ward who has lots of cats. (Back to the days of tom’s river:)) (Thus the picture with the cat tree and the cats.) My poor companion is allergic so she's been sneezing the past couple of days. 

Thursday
So Wednesday night at 10:15 right before bed we got a call from the assistants saying they had an emergency and they needed me to give a training the next morning to the new district leaders of how to work with the sister training leaders.. #calllingneverends ha-ha it was a strange day but it was good. I learned a lot from the new leaders of the mission and they are going to be great!

So I gave the training and also brought stickers to keep the elders focused ha-ha (it worked) then we went to teach a lady named Irma. There are a lot of people in this area who are very 'Jersey' they are not afraid to tell you what they think of you and your beliefs. So we sat and taught Irma (older German woman) for a while as she talked to us about her tree's and her plants then she looked at me and just started going off about how we are so wrong and started going on about Joseph smith etc. It's amazing how in those moments when I want to just pull out scriptures and prove her wrong. But when I turn the other check my testimony of the principles they don't agree with grows stronger.

As we were walking home, it was a long, hot walk home, we got picked up by a member who took us to her house and feed us dinner. It was delicious. When she drove us home that evening I realized that my jacket was gone. I had taken it off earlier while we were walking and the thought went through my head. 'You are going to drop your jacket, take off your tag from it" so that was a weird thought but I took of my tag and walked with my jacket on my bag. When I told sister Allen that I remembered where I dropped it she was laughing at me for dropping it and we started to trek out again.

On our way there we met a man sitting in his car named Montana. We ended up talking to him for 40 minutes. And he wants to learn more. By that time we had to head back home but losing my jacket lead to finding Montana. Aka miracle aka awesome! (We found my jacket the next day no worries)

Friday
more walking and meeting members

Saturday

Every Saturday morning some of the ward gets together and plays ultimate Frisbee.... and it gets SO INTENSE there is no rules in this game. They take up a full football field. It's almost like initiation into the ward to play competitively it's funny. Then after that we went and helped a member move. So needless to say my body was just so exhausted after moving. Luckily we were able to get our car back Saturday morning! No more walking wahoo! (I love cars, and ac)

Sunday
The ward is great, they are all really tall! I love it. It will take some adjusting from my last ward but I’m excited sister Allen is a great companion and loves to talk to everyone I am going to learn a lot from her. Our day ended with a member quizzing us all night about random bible trivia and telling us we need to be better. So I am excited to grow and improve this transfer and I think this are is defiantly going to help me do that. I'm so grateful for prayer this week and help through changes and whatever the mission throws at me. I'm excited to hear from you all! Love you

Love,
Sister Clark

good-bye Sister Shear

Sister Richardson is going home!  

6.23.14 "Finding Strength Beyond my Own" Last week in Caldwell

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week has been a growing week for sure but I am so so grateful for my Savior and for the strength love and support has shown me this week. This week would not have been possible without him:)

Note worthy events

So on Wednesday we had a very busy day, it was funny because most of our week didn't turn out how we had planned it at all. Just a testimony that God's in charge and his plans are always better then ours. We met with our new investigators we met last week doing service. Jean and ray, this week they invited a friend. As we asked them if they were able to read the introduction of the book of Mormon Jean went on to explain (in detail) the first 11 chapters of the book of Mormon, describing the differences between the small and the large plates.... what? Ha-ha it was great we taught the plan of salvation and they just loved it. They are just some sassy old people and we love them to death. 

Thursday we receive a call from an elderly man named Peter that we had met at the beginning of this transfer. We found peter standing in a river cleaning it out. When we asked him if he worked for the town he told us that he is retired but he just loves the town so much that he goes around and does little projects to help keep it beautiful. He called us on Thursday and asked for our help to plant some flowers. We drove up to the designated meeting spot.

It had been a while since we had met him so we waited for a while until we saw this really old van painted with pictures of Elvis Presley pull up and an elderly man in a tank top hops out to great us.. It was peter. He is just the greatest. He is an Elvis impersonator for the 4th of July parade. Anyways we helped him plant some flowers in front of the school and it was fun to be able to do some service. Something that I learned from Peter. "What good is a crooked petunia?" it's true.. not good at all..ha-ha

Friday I was able to have my last appointment with Luis and Denise (recent converts) we had a pizza party they are so solid and I love them both so much. They have become some of my dearest friends. We talked about the importance of staying strong in our testimonies and continually nourishing them and strengthening them. 'If you don't use it you lose it'

Saturday was just pure craziness. So we helped out a member with her daughter’s baptism. Sister Shearer was later to the church then expected and had to start filling up the font. It was not looking like it was going to be filled in time for the baptism but it turns up that the member was running really late to her baptism because her car broke down. So that was a blessing in disquise.

Sister Shearer and I were running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to get everything ready for the baptism. It turned out really well. So this member happens to come from a Hispanic family so for the closing hymn they wanted to sing it in Spanish... I happened to be the one conducting the music.. So I opened up the Spanish hymnbook and tried my best to lead it.. My companion was just laughing at me the entire time but it was a good learning experience.

Then we went and taught Alyah our 10-year-old investigator we played the plan of salvation board game with her and by the end of the game she was asking us if she could get baptized on Sunday.. we almost said yes but we want to make sure she's fully prepared but she is awesome we love her. 

Sunday was the day of miracles!

I have never seen the Caldwell chapel so full. It was a great experience for my last Sunday in Caldwell. We had a lot of people who came to church and lots of less actives as well. Franklin (our recent convert) blessed the sacrament for the first time.. so rewarding so see. He was so happy. The sacrament meeting was centered on the restoration. It was a powerful meeting and the spirit was really strong.

Sister Shearer and I were asked to share our testimonies of the restoration and it was just a confirming experience to me that this is all true. Reminding me of why I’m out here on my mission, even when it's hard. It’s worth it:) then after a lot of goodbyes at church we went to go teach franklin's mom, who agreed to be baptized! It was just a day full of miracles.

I'm going to miss Caldwell so much but I know that these people are in good hands. I'm so grateful for the people here who have helped me grow and strengthened my testimony. This is also the last day of President Jeppson:( tomorrow is our big transfer conference but it will be exciting change makes us grow. Thank you all for you love and support and prayers. They are felt:) love you all

Love,

Sister Clark

Cards I made for missionaries 

6.9.14 Makin' it Rain ;)

It’s a great day to be a missionary! The weather has been so beautiful here in the garden state! The humidity hasn't kicked in yet but we've enjoyed the pleasant weather as we share the gospel. And this week looks like lots of rain:) so I’m a happy camper. I don't have to much time to write today because our p-day is being cut short due to our TEMPLE TRIP this Friday! I love going to the temple and I’m so excited to go and to receive some more revelation.

This week, Monday, played some volleyball with some missionaries, always starts the week of right. Then on Tuesday we had our zone meeting where sister shearer and I gave training on vision goals planning and accountability. The lord blessed us and helped us a lot in that training and we had a lot of fun. Which lead to the start of a great day. I just can't ever describe how amazing it feels to share the gospel with others and when hearts are opened and touched. It’s incredible. So we met some really neat people. 

I think the underlining theme for me this week was love, and gratefulness. Seeing a lot of families here and just people that I’ve met who haven't always had the gospel in their lives and just feeling so grateful for our family and the blessings of the gospel. When you have a Christ centered home it changes everything. 

This week was crazy as we had 2 exchanges back to back so my companion and I didn't see each other for 4 days straight. But it turned out great. I was able to have an exchange with a sister from Uruguay (?) and she taught me some Spanish phrases to contact people with we had a lot of fun. But also the greatest was being able to go on an exchange back to Paterson!!! I love Paterson, I miss it a lot but it was strange as I was there I found myself missing the people of Caldwell. I'm winding down my last couple of weeks here in Caldwell and man this separation stuff hurts! I love these people but I’m looking forward to a new adventure as well.

This week we also taught Franklin (our recent converts) mom and she told us that she wants to be baptized!!! Pacheeeee wahoooooo! Franklin is excited, it will take time to prepare her but hey that desire is there. Aleyah (10 year old) is still working on preparing. Our recent convert Jean and Jean jr. shared a lesson with us last night about having high expectations and when you dream big and have faith and trust the lord, the more he will bless you. It was a neat experience.

 Nothing to eventful to report on but I did want to update you all on the first family I taught on my mission.. Krystal and Eric, they sent me this letter and it just made me so happy and I felt like sharing it with you

Hi!!! 

It's so great to hear from you!!! That's so awesome to hear! Well I'm not sure if I told you but both Eric and I have callings, Eric is 2ed councilor in YM and I'm 2ed councilor in YW. Elias is almost a year can you believe it! And Anakin is 4. We just had our vow recital and reception on the May 10th. 👰 it was so nice, it was calling for thunderstorms that day but we had a beautiful sunny (but humid) day! Oh and not to mention Eric and I have gained strong testimonies on the power of prayer and the power of fasting! Want to here why? Of course you do lol!

So here's the story on how I (and Eric) got a true testimony of fasting, so Eric and I have been contemplating moving out of New Jersey for a while, so we decided that we would fast about the following Fast and testimony meeting (this was right before General Conference) Well as I started my fast, I had the question ready and before even really starting my prayer I started to tear, and as soon as I asked the question, "should Eric and I move..." I was full out crying, I felt the Spirit sooo strongly in that moment that I knew my answer, that Heavenly Father does want us to move. We aren't positive when, but we are hoping by the end of this year. 😊

 Ok and now the story on how we gained a True testimony of prayer.

Ok so this just happened within this past few months, Eric and his brother Matt got into an argument in the beginning of April (more like his brother was angry with Eric and I and screamed at him and called the church a cult, etc.) we were both very upset and hurt and were almost like well if that's how he feels than we don't want to speak to him anymore (and if we weren't members that’s prob what would've happened). 

Then the same day when Eric was on his scripture app and searched the word "brother" he came across Matt18:15  "¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." And he knew he had to talk to his brother. 

Well two weeks after they talked and everything was set right, Eric lost his job at CVS, we were both scared but I told him, we just have to have faith and it will be ok. Well that night I knelt down beside our bed and prayed for Heavenly Father to help us, not expecting an immediate answer, well the next day Eric got a job bc of the help of his brother working for his brothers best friend. And as of right now that's where he's at until we figure things out. 

Anyways I love sharing those two stories BC it just truly strengthens our faith! We are so blessed and thankful that you guys came into our lives, we love you so much! And please keep telling us how you are doing!

Love,
Krystal Schumann

And Family! 

I love this family^. I love my mission. I love this gospel, I love my savior. I don't really know what to write about this week to everyone but I just feel so much love right now. I know, and I am grateful to be apart of the work of the Lord. Nothing beats it:) love you all! Next week's letter will be epic. Temple trip. All mission party and 2 exchanges.. Stay tuned:)

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Clark