7.7.14 God Bless America

My heart is just so full right now. It's strange but amazing how you can feel the spirit even in a little library in New Jersey. I am so grateful for all the freedoms we enjoy. But most importantly the freedom we can enjoy with our savior Jesus Christ. Freedom from heartache, pain, worry, fear, sorrow. All can be whipped away as we put our trust in the Lord... Man.. doesn't the gospel just make you happy? D

I am very proud to be an American:) it's interesting here in New Jersey that even though most the people are from all over the world. When we ask them what brought them to the states the usual response is the American dream. I've grown such a love for other cultures since I've been out here as well. But I am grateful to be serving in America and speaking English.. although I have learned how to tell people who I am and my testimony of the savior in Spanish. That’s about it..wow I am grateful for freedom:) (Sorry that was all over the place)

Sister Allen and I had a fantastic week here! I love this area! There is so much work that needs to be done, and that's what I like to do.. work:) But I think the best part of the week is no matter what happens sister Allen and I are always laughing and having a good time:). 

Monday

Such a fun p-day, we played beach volleyball in Perth Amboy. It was a lot of fun to be on the beach and to hang out with other missionaries. So after our adventure to the beach and also to an amazing farmers market (I love fruit)

Sister Allen and I hit the streets looking for people to teach. After contacting some people in Spanish we met this man named Ishan from Pakistan. He wanted to learn more about what we were doing and as we were talking to him his neighbor was trying to get our attention because he wanted to talk to us. We told him he could come over to listen.. his response.. well.. I don't have a shirt on... our response.. well go put a shirt on.. so he did and came over and talked to us. Ha-ha some people in Jersey are just crazy but you've gatta to love them:)

 Then as we were heading home for the night we got a call from a member who we've been working with and she told us that she was having some chest pains and she was worried and alone and asked if we could come over. So we did. We sat down and talked with her tried to calm her down, we called a doctor from our ward and also called the bishop and asked him to come over and give her a blessing. As we waited we read some scriptures with her. It was a neat experience as she was given a blessing and she called us the next morning telling us that all her sickness and pain was gone. An amazing testimony builder about the power of the priesthood. 

Thursday

Thursday was the day of the CRAZY rainstorm. I have never seen a storm like this.. It was classified as a tropical storm Sister Allen and I literally would be outside for 1 second and would be completely soaked.

It was also the night we went to go play volleyball at the church. The bishop asked me if I could coach his daughter in volleyball.. :) So we went to go play with the Spanish branch and man.. they are good! And intense. I'm very out of practice but it was fun to play with them and to coach Abby a little bit. 

Friday the Forth of July!

Holidays are so fun on the mission.. I realized the morning of the 4th that this is one of the last holiday's I will have on my mission. So weird. Sister Allen and I only had 1 appointment scheduled for the 4th of July so we spent most of the day knocking on doors and trying to find people. We met this awesome man named Dave. When he moved into his house it was completely empty but there was a Book of Mormon in the house. He told us that he doesn't believe in coincidences he has read a little of it and he wants us to come back and teach him:) MIRACLE!!!!:)

As we continued to try to find people we received a referral from a 'Liz Clark'.. that was a strange moment. I don't know if it was really from mom or not but it was a cool experience to think about the missionary work that is being done at home as well.

Ok now for a funny story. As we drove around we missed a call from our zone leaders, so we called them back. They didn't answer our call so as I'm leaving a message. I had been stumbling on my words for most of the day so the voice mail I left them was "Hi this is Sister Allen and Sister Clark, we are just calling you BLACK..(note.. one of our zone leaders is black).. awkward pause and laughter from sister Allen and I then an awkward hang up.. oh man.. They will not let me live it down.. ha-ha funny moment.

So for our 4th of July Dinner we headed to a recent converts home who wanted us to cook dinner with her. She is an 80-year-old woman with a bird named Chip. She loves crocheting and loved the missionaries. We helped her cook a nice big ole pile of meat and also talked with her about the title of liberty and how Moroni stood for freedom and for his core beliefs. It was a great lesson and time with 'Grandma'.

As we were heading to leave she told us we couldn't go because we hadn't seen the slide show yet. And we proceeded to watch a slide show of pictures of cats and birds on her computer. It was great. I love her she's such a sweet heart.

Then we met up with the other missionaries and watched fireworks for the night. It was a great 4th of July a wonderful time to reflect on the freedom we enjoy. 

 Oh we also met a lady from the Philippines. She was struggling to open her garage with full hands so we ran over and helped her and talked to us. She told us that she is a Mormon at heart, but her husband won’t allow her to join the church. She is going back to the Philippines next month and promised us she would find a way to meet with the missionaries. As we drove away she raised the pass along card we gave her in the air and kissed it and waved goodbye to us.. wow.. there are truly prepared people out there. We just got to find them. 

Saturday

Frisbee again and meeting more people, we are also working with a woman named Mary; she is 58 but such a child at heart. We brought her some cupcakes (the way to people's hearts) because she had been having a hard week. Then we helped her pick out an outfit for church and then talked about the plan of salvation. It was probably one of the funniest lessons I've had with someone. She is a great soul. I'm excited to see her continue to progress and change. 

The ward here is great. All very tall like me. I live among the giants. :) I was so impressed this fast and testimony meeting how when the time was turned over to the congration immediately 15 people stood up and sat in the choir seats waiting to bare there testimonies. They all were so proud of the testimonies they have and they wanted to share them. So neat.

There was a comment given that I loved. "The church is not a church of convenience. The Lord told us to put on the Armor of God.. not the Sweat pants of spirituality." I loved that quote. IT's true. We learn and grow through our trials. The lord see's our potential and is not satisfied in just letting us coast through a comfortable easy life. What would be the point in that? Life on earth was not set aside as vacation time but "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God and preform there labors" Alma 34:32.

 But also something I've really been learning these past weeks with sister Allen. It’s about doing your best, enjoying the Work. And not raising our expectations for ourselves past what the Lord has set for us. But doing our best to live up to the potential and status where he wants us to be:) 

Ok enough of my missionary soapbox, but I love you all! Hope you all have a fantastic week! :) The Church is true:)

Love,

Sister Clark

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