9.30.13: Dunked for the Lord!!!!!

Wow what a great week!! thank you thank you thank you for your letters. I love reading all your letters and hearing about the strength and comfort the gospel brings. I have a testimony that it truly does help. I know the lord truly wants us to be happy. and he finds ways to make us smile, it might be in the little things like the changing of the leaves or a rainy day, or a letter from a friend to make you realize but He is there and I testify of that. He has answered so many of my prayers this week and for that i'm sincerly greatful. to quote high school musical. "were all in this together" I love the strength that comes from the members. It's been great to see the suport and love for those who hang low. It reminds me of mosiah 18. the promises we make at baptism. to strengthen one another.. it reminds me a lot of the general relief society meeting which was awesome but i'll talk about that later:)

so this week was another crazy, long week but just as mom and dad wrote me about, it's the weeks that are hard, that make us grow that you look back at and they beome your favorite weeks. but it truly was incredible! wahoo missionary work is great!!!:) I love it! I have such a great companion that always makes me laugh she huggs me all the time. sometimes I think all the sister missionaries like to hug me for my manly figure, it reminds them of there men back home. but it's ok i like hugs so i'll take them.

Monday

p-day. it was a rough p-day last week. a wee bit homesick but i'm so greatful for my loving companion and for my savior for the comfort and love. but the greatest cure all medicine was visiting the Higgins/ schumanns (soon to be schumanns when they are hitched) oh man the smiles of how excited eric was to be baptized and just, being in there home every monday night.. brings such a peace to my soul. I think.. ok i know I was sent here to toms river for them. I love that family so much!

Tuesday

district meeting! classic. before our district meeting we had our last apointment with michael. our investigator who became homeless. that was hard. we send him off with a good spiritual thought, and with book of mormon in hand he left. I know that lord will watch over and protect him. I wish we could have done more. sad days. the lord humbles his children because he loves them... so so much. ok then we had district meeting. which is always classic. then after eric had his interview for baptism.. he passed with flyling colors of course!!:) then we went to go teach Ray.. oh ray.. a hard man but he is changing and he feels the spirit more. we had a lesson with him and commited him to quit smoking. we promised him that if he does, the minute he gets to 0 cigarettes he will feel the spirit more. he was doubting our promise but the spirit confirmed to sister morrison and i to extend that promise. and as we did he was overcome by the spirit. it was so neat. he's now motivated. bring it on!

Wednesday

was a good day. lots of great spiritual lessons. then at the end of the day it ended with a birthday festa for the one and only sister santos! she is incredible. we love her lots. she was in our toms river spanglish trio and she's just a hoot, the ward just adores her and we had cake and feistad!

Thursday

Day of service, we had our weekly planning then we went to help sister Sosa start to clean out her storage unit.... it is full of donny osmond memorablia... it was awesome! she literally is his biggest fan. I wish i would have taken some pictures. she's got some cool donny and marrie stuff. she's so sweet we laughed and she shared her memories with us. then we headed to wanda's where a group of some of our favorite members were waiting for us to have dinner. we ate and enjoyed then at the end we shared a lesson. we ended up teaching them how to give away passalong cards. it was so much fun. they got so excited about missionary work and gave us 9 refferalls.... so cool!

Friday

we had 7 lessons... day full of crazy. but the best moments of menion would have to be sandy. Sandy is the investigator that begged us to be baptised. she's so cool. we went over and brought some members to give her a blessing and some fellowship. she is going through so much. it was so wonderful to see the power and influence members have in fellowship and to love, comfort and support. at the end of the lesson sandy was crying in brother lowerys arms. they are so so neat. luke 22: (i can't remember the exact verse) but "When you are strengthened, strengthen your brothern". I love it. we are ment to uplift, serve and love eachother. He asks us to serve because he wants us to be happy. when we forget ourselves and serve and love others we are truly happy. but we need to make sure we are strengthened as well.

Saturday.

the relief society conference. so neat! we watched it with a lot of eldery ladies in the ward in sister lowerys house. it was so fun. we had treats and just talked aobu everything. it was very different then at home. the ladies were amazed to hear i had been in the conference center before. it was so fun to express love for the prophet. the pattern I saw this week is that, people are struggling. there are a lot of trials. my conclusion of why. is becaseu the lord wants us to be truly converted. we need to be strengthened be fore the last days.

Sunday was eric's baptism! ah i'm out of time but it was INCREDIBLE!! krystal cried and bore her testimony of them being an eternal family some day. eric is happy and beaming. he bore his testimony of gods love. he asked me to speak as well. it went ok. :) I love this gospel! the church is true! i love you all!

Love,

Sister Clark

Clear eyes full heart can't lose

New Tom's River Gang

Sandy and the Lowery's

The end of a long day! 

Eric's Baptism! 

Sis Santos' Bday!

Tallest and shortest sisters

9.23.13: Tom's River Spanglish

Tom's River Spanglish Sisters

so... I'll explain...

This was a verrrry interesting week. It was different then all my other weeks in the mission. (that's the fun of being a missionary, you never know what's coming) but in sad news. One of my best friends on the mission went home this week. IT was a total blindside. So we were in a trio all week. not just in a trio, but a spanglish trio. So I served as a spanish and english missionary this week. it was fun. haha I atempted to learn a little spanish but I wasn't super sucsessful.

Ok i'll just go throught the highlights of my week.

We met a lady named Sandy. We came over and she was so greatful to see us. She cried and just hugged us and was so happy to have us over. her life is just falling apart. Her house looks like wes and ems house (from huricane sandy). and is being infested with black mold. We sat and taught her a lesson. as we taught she just completely understood and said "So my baptism didn't count?... I need to be saved! when can I be baptised?" this is our first time meeting with her. we set her for the 20th and she wrote it on her calander and just is so excited "to be saved". man she is incredible. what a blessing to meet with her. goodness after the lesson we were all in shock. wow. so cool!!! we also had dinner with Jeneen and her family. we love them so much. her family is going through a lot right now. that kinda was the theme for the week. Trials, but how the lord and the gospel can strengthen you. we met a family who is being kicked out of there house. we've spent the past couple of days helping them back up there life into a pod and they have no place to go. On tuesday they will be homeless. So much heart ache. As we sat down with them to teach a lesson. the spirit consumed the room. I could feel and was overwhelmed with heavnely fathers love for these people. I know he loves us each so much. He is completely aware of our circumstances. sometimes we don't think of see or feel that he is. But I testify that he does. cause those feelings of love I feel for these people i've never met. It's so hard to comprehend but it's real. SO COOL TO BE BLESSED TO FEEL THIS LOVE. This week was just complete and pure craziness. i can't really even describe it but it was good. we had fun being in a spanglish trio. wahoo! it was a good week. oh and on other good news ERIC'S BEING BAPTIZED THIS COMING SUNDAY!!!!!! The cute adorable higgins family,,, oh man. they are so excited and I'm exicted for them. just so much excitement all the way around. wahoo. Missionary work is great.

sorry for the short letter. I just have a lot on my mind right now. a lot of souls to save. but just know I'm so greatful for all the wonderful suport and strength of all you back home. I'm so amazed by the power of righteousness and obedience. Testimonys are a fraguile thing. unless they are nurished and coninuely growning they can wither away. I'm greatful for a loveing heavenly father that brings us safety comfort and love. He is amazing. I'm grateful for my savior. He is so invested in this work. Sometimes I just sit back and look at all the miracles he does here and it's just... wow. I love you all so much I pray for you always. The atonement is real. How much love did one man have for each one of us... to the point that he would die for us. so much love! love is what makes this all work and worth it. the plan of salvation was founded from heavenly fathers love. and I love you all

Love Sister Clark

Clear eyes full heart can't lose

Biking Day! 

Nephite Leighs

Comp 

Add caption

$20 from a stranger

Sister Moe shoving a cupcake in our investigators face

The Higgins! 

9.18.13: A Evening of Pictures

9.16.13: "That's the Ghost"

Sister Morrison and me

ok so you may have heard me say that sister Morrison said we were going to set the area on fire...but just to clear the air we had nothing to do with the fire in seaside.

I don't know if you have heard anything about it but keep the people of Jersey in your prayers. Heavenly Father is humbling them and they need the gospel. thats why were here:). The fire was pretty bad from what i've heard. we have an apointment with one of our investigators in seaside tonight so we will see for sure. but a lot of our investigators live by the boardwalk. anyways everyone is doing good tho.:)

Wow what an incredible week. It's always so fun to open up my e-mail and to see my inbox full of stories and family letters. You all inspire me. Jason when I read about team chad I cried. I love the example and the sincerly good people you are. family thank you. I loved christophers letter as well. He seems so happy and just loving the work.. i'm jealous they get to go to the temple so often but i'm so happy for him.

So, it has been said by many people that we work with that I am a lot happier. I was never unhappy, but needless to say I love sister Morrison. we have so much fun, but do work at the same time. I'm just so happy to be here and loving the people. LIFE IS SO GOOD. missions are the best! Sometimes I just feel so much love for these people it literally hurts. I feel like my heart is going to explode, there possibly can't be anymore room to love them then boom it happens. we meet someone new and heavenly father makes room:)

Sick Movie P-day

Monday

my companion and I were sick so we stayed in and watched 17 miracles. I always love bragging about our ancestors and how awesome they are. no big deal. We had an appointment with Raegan and her boys and one of her boys brended committed to be baptized!!! we are jazzed. he's so excited to start coming to church. we're excited for him.

Tuesday

we were still getting over our sickness but we still worked hard. we got frosties at one point and danced to joseph and the technicolor coat. the sickness is nothing that a frosty and some dancing can't cure. we went to go teach Jeenine. Aimee and Raegans friend and as we walked in she just asked us in all seriousness. if we were brain washed. hahah we laughed. she just doesn't think it's possible for people to be so happy about something. she asked us if we have to take something before we go into appointments. we just laughed. she really is a great investigator, she's trying to figure out whats going on in the church. we love her a lot she makes us laugh.

The Boardwalk

Wednesday

I was on a spanish exchange with sister Stevens. she's basically one of my companions. we go on lots of exchanges together it's fun to pretend I know spanish. I love the people. they are so nice. I wish I could speak to them but i've learned my ablitiliy to learn a language is nada. haha it's ok tho i'll stick to english. props to other fam members that spoke a language.

Thursday

we rode bikes and commited marco to be baptised! he's 15 and after we meet with him he locked himself in his room and read for an hour.. his mom then came in and took the book of mormon from him and read untill 4 in the morning............... yes how incredible is that. they want to come to church and see. wow so many miracles heavenly father is blessing us with. I just am in awe at his love and mercy.

Friday

ok so friday We met with Ray.. he is one tough cookie... sister morrison and i were at a complete loss of what to teach him. I pleaded and pleaded with my heavenly father all morning to guide us and help ray feel the spirit. and as we taught the restoration he listened, and retained. we then talked about joseph smith and I bore testimony of him. ray felt the spirit and just shook, literally the holy ghost has to bulldoze him over so he can feel it. and he smiled and opened his eyes and said "that's the ghost" I started to cry out of gratitutde to heavenly father. Ray then told us he knows JOseph smith is prophet and he will not deny it..... so cool. prayers are answered.

Saturday

We had set a goal to teach 3 lessons other then the ones that were set and heavenly father guided us. It was either a neighboor or some one we just meet. but he guided us and helped us. we had a man we had given a book of mormon to forever ago, we stoped by him and he just without a word took us in the back and told us he's read 1/2 of the book of mormon and he has some questions for us. so neat.

The Promised Land Sisters

Sunday was incredible

we had stake conference.. now all you utah people wouldn't believe it but for us new jerseyers it's an all day experience. driving up and then the conf. then going home. President and sister Jeppson spoke and rocked the chapel with there spirits.... when your in president jeppsons presence you just feel the spirit immediately hit you. man it was superb! Krystal and Eric came. I love them so so much. We are teaching them tonight and are extending a baptismal invite. pray hard for us. he is ready. he just needs some spiritual strength.

This has been an incredible week. this work is true. the Lord hears and answers prayers. I love missionary work. i'm having a lot of fun. :) I got to go!

Love,

Sister Clark

clear eyes full heart, can't lose

Look at the book I got

'Nuff Said (Cat Hair)

Meat! 

9.9.13: Mucus...

Ok the kids are just to cute! the reunion sounds like so much fun, and JAN AND JASON!!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU BOTH! It sounds like life is good out west. It brings my heart so much comfort and joy to know all is well and everyones happy.:) Remember that one time after this transfer I will have spent 1/3 of my mission in toms river? crazy huh? That went by fast!! but that's at the end of next transfer so i'm still only at 4 months old (till the 17th).

Well from the title you may guess what my week consisted of.. haha my companion and I have been sick all week. It has been fun to get to know each other on a very vulnerable level but it's been hard. I just want to work hard and to introduce her to all the people and teach. We are doing our best. It wasn't the most productive week, between transfers and meetings we only had 3 real days of missionary work this week. but they were great! I'm going to keep this letter short so I can go home and rest but know that with every fiber of my being I love you all. I know the church is true and Heavenly Father loves us.

So this week was good.  It's so funny my companion has only served in Jersey city and Patterson area. All up north very city like areas. She is going though some serious culture shock down here. It makes me laugh. It makes me think i'm in for a real treat when I leave Toms river. My companion is sister Morrison. She is wonderful. She is strong and she's been out for 14 months. She is from California and she's a shortie. We have fun even when were sick. She is so perfect for some of our investigators, they needed her. It amazes me how Heavenly father knows all of his children so perfectly and plans for them so perfectly. My mind can't comprehend it but I know it works. I've seen it. We met some people who are so prepared to hear the gospel. As a companionship our goal is to strengthen the ward. there are a lot of familes that need our help and I'm looking forward to be able to work hard and give it my all. It's been a strange week, being sick on a mission is not fun. it makes you realize how greatful you are for your health.

Most spiritual experience of this week was probably yesterday. We went to go see a recent convert and as we finished praying we got a text from her mom saying she wasn't home. We sat for a second contemplating what to do. We then decided to go try to see a less active member who lived close by, as we were walkilng we ran into our recent convert and her friend. We asked if we could share a message and invited her friend Marco to listen. Talk about prepared! He's only 15 yet he reads the bible everyday and takes care of his family. He is a very special spirit and he was so touched and grateful for the Book of Mormon we gave him. He asked if he could come to church and our recent convert (Ashley) testified of the truth of the church and the Book of Mormon. It was so neat! As we left we asked him what he was going to do for the rest of the day. He told us he was going to go tell his mom and his family about the church. He is so cool. He was our biggest blessing this week.

Oh also Raegan recieved the Holy Ghost this week. Her smile consumed her face. She was so happy. I'm so happy for her. We started to teach her boys this week and one of them just said "Can I get baptized already?" they are all so cute. I LOVE THAT FAMILY!!! Speaking of love and families we get to go see the Higgins tonight! always a highligh of my week!:) 

Yesterday at church the hermana's (spanish sisters) had a baptism. as they were filling up the font they forgot about it or something so my companion and I spent a good hour with buckets and pitchers from the kitchen trying to empty the font enough so it wouldn't overflow. it was pure craziness but the spanish program fed us after so it was a nice reward.

This week I've been so greatful for the help of my Heavenly Father and his help, strength and support. It's hard to lead your area, for a while you are the only one who knows these people, and have an idea of their needs and remember who we need to see when, but it's been such a blessings to know my Heavenly Father knows them better then I ever could. As I trust in him He will help and guide me and my companion. He is so wonderful.

I'm doing my best to be obedient and to work my hardest. This week will be a lot better then last week I just know it. Hold me accountable people back home. There is a work to be done! Well family and friends, what can I say more? The church is true. There is truly nothing that brings more happiness then the gospel of Jesus Christ. and by sharing it with others. I know he lives. He is real. I love testifying of him everyday. I know heavenly father doesn't give us anything we can't handle. He did not, and will not set us up to fail. He Gives us chances to prove ourselfes and to grow. how grateful I am for those experiences.

This is so fun. I love being a missionary:)

Love you all!!!

Love, Sister Clark

Clear Eyes, full heart, can't lose.

The Hand off!