BRANDING: PART 2

I've decided to join all of the cute little grandmas of the world and take up crocheting. I really wanted to make an afghan, so I bought yarn and a crochet hook and I work on it before bed. It's very relaxing; I highly recommend it.

Last P-day, we were with the sisters in Pierre, and we all went frisbee golfing. The elders joined us. I was apprehensive at first, because I've never really enjoyed "frolfing," as they liked to call it. However, I found it to be extremely fun! It was probably very hilarious to watch Sister Pierce and I try to launch the disk and then watch it hit a tree. Every. Time. I got it down by the end though :) The whole time we were outside, apparently there are cotton fields nearby because there were little cotton fluffs that flew everywhere. It looked like it was snowing! IN JUNE! Also, the mosquitoes are huge. And everywhere.

Most of our appointments this week fell through. We went to see Lori on Tuesday, but she wasn't feeling well so we ended up talking to her sister-in-law, Michelle. We were excited because we thought she might want to sit in on Lori's lesson on Thursday, but when we got there we found out that Michelle was in the hospital. It was heartbreaking! She seems to be feeling better now, though. Fingers crossed.

Sister Pierce introduced me to the miracle of cake pops this week. I grow to love her more and more each day. We also found out that I met her cousin at EFY one year, which was crazy. It was one of those small-world moments.

We had a lesson with Rochelle and her family this week, and it was AMAZING! We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we shared the Mormon message about Stephanie Nielson (I can't remember what it's called). They were so attentive and engaged, which was really awesome. Usually they're very quiet and so I can't really gauge what they're feeling. The spirit was so strong! 

On Saturday, we were able to help a family move, which I always enjoy. They were moving out, which was sad, but I love giving service! It makes everyone happy. There were cookies, also, and that helped. President Orton and his family took Sister Pierce and I out to lunch afterward at Pizza Hut. I absolutely LOVE spending time with that family. I feel right at home. They bought Sister Pierce and I each a pizza to take home, so we have lots of pizza to eat this week. But it's good pizza, so it's okay.

Sundays are special days. I really love them. This Sunday's service was super great! One of our recently-not-recent converts gave her first talk! AND, she had just gone to the temple for the first time! IT WAS SO COOL. I always love hearing her testimony. She isn't very eloquent, but she has a way of quietly and powerfully bringing the spirit. The son of one of our members just returned from his mission, so he spoke as well. And, since it was Father's Day, I couldn't help but miss Papa Bear. 

Today, we had another branding. I can't believe they invited us back! But they did. AND, I'm almost ashamed to say it, I had fun. ACTUAL FUN. I participated in the activities. My initial apprehensions about harming baby calves were dashed. Plus, there was good food afterward :) this particular branding was a lot less stressful, though, because they only had about 40 calves to worry about instead of a few hundred. I would like to think that I was gentle, though... it would ease my conscience, anyway.

I read in Matthew 5 and 6 during the week, and I think it's the first time I've really studied the Sermon on the Mount on my own. I love learning about the Savior, and I love that I'm able to receive a better understanding of Him and His love through the scriptures. Personal revelation is a real-life thing.

Sister Clark

DUCKLINGS, POTLUCKS, AND ALL GOOD THINGS (FROM WEEK OF JUNE 15, 2015)

This week has been wonderful!

But it was hard.

First of all, you should know that Sister Pierce and I made cookies together for the first time last Monday. It was a bonding experience. And the cookies were divine. I'm sad to say that none made it past Tuesday. Although, I wouldn't recommend eating only cookies throughout the day... it makes for a very lethargic missionary.

We were able to teach Lori again this week, which was awesome! We taught a lesson on Tuesday, and then again on Thursday. Despite the super strong cigarette and cat smell, Lori has a very sweet, peaceful feeling in her home. I would have thought the two wouldn't coincide, but looks like I was proven wrong. She is a very loving lady! Sister Pierce and I want to invite her to be baptized this week.

The Johnsons had us over for dinner on Tuesday night, and they invited their friend, Kristy. It went pretty well, I think. We taught the Restoration and had a game for the kids. Sister Johnson gave Kristy a copy of the Book of Mormon and a couple of pamphlets, which was really cool! The Johnsons are out of town right now, but we'll follow up on them to see how they thought it went.

We went on exchanges on Thursday! One of the sister missionaries from Pierre, Sister Mower, came down and stayed in Valentine with Sister Pierce for 24 hours, and I went to Pierre with her companion, Sister Anderson. It was cool to be able to see what a day in the life of another missionary is like and how she teaches. I stayed the night in Pierre, and in the morning, Sister Anderson and I went jogging around the Capitol building and the cute little pond in front. There was a mama duck with all her little babies crossing the sidewalk to get into the water. There had to be at least ten of them. Adorable!

The Elders were on exchanges as well, so we carpooled down with them to meet the other two missionary sets at the church building in Rosebud, where we had a glorious lunch that doubled as a belated birthday party for Sister Pierce and Sister Mower. Afterward, we had our district meeting. I definitely love spending time with missionaries. The meeting was very productive, and we were all able to bounce ideas off of one another to help each other with the problems we each have in our respective areas. We have a great zone! Top notch missionaries, in my opinion.

Later that night, we went walking with a lady who's trying to stop smoking (we walk with her when she's most tempted), and she sent us home with two cases of McDonald's-style hash browns! I don't even know what we're going to do with all of them.

We went to bingo on Saturday morning. There were a ton of people there! Every time I go, I always think of the stereotype of old people playing bingo, because that's exactly what was happening at the nursing home. I love it!

My mission president and his wife, President and Sister Anderson, came down for our branch conference in Valentine. It was SO COOL. Since we're in a district, President Anderson acts as a Stake President, so he can give temple recommend interviews and other such things. This was probably the last time I'll see them because we're getting a new mission president in July. 

After church, we had a potluck, and let me just tell you, everything there was good. I ate entirely too much food, but it was most definitely worth it. Someone made lasagna. If that's not happiness, then I don't know what is.

We weren't able to do our normal weekly planning on the designated planning day because of exchanges, so we planned on Sunday night instead. But it was probably the most productive planning I have ever done. This week is going to be marvelous! It's already off to a great start. We get to spend our P-day in Pierre with the other sisters in our zone. I am so beyond excited.

This is Sister Pierce's last transfer. EVER. She's going home in August. I'm so excited for her to experience the real world with the different perspective she has gained from her mission! I seriously hope I am as awesome as she is by the end of mine.

Love,

Sister Clark

FAST SUNDAYS ARE THE BEST

We went tracting on Tuesday and knocked on a former investigator's door. She was very welcoming and agreed to meet with us regularly! We'll see her every Tuesday and Thursday. She already has a wonderful understanding of how much God loves her and how much he needs her to help uplift others. It's really cool! I love her a whole bunch!

 

We got to help a new family move in, which was exciting! Our branch is growing! We hardly have room in our little chapel to put everyone. There's supposed to be another family moving in sometime next month as well.

 

We were invited over for dinner at the Graves family's house, and we shared a message on being divine daughters of God. They had 3 little girls, so we made princess tiaras and let the girls decorate them because they were daughters of a king! It was really fun. They showed us their garden, which was magical! Their back yard felt like a fairyland. It was marvelous.

Sister Pierce and I heart-attacked the door of an investigator named Rochelle who just got home from the hospital. Thankfully, she didn't have a heart attack, because that would have been poor taste, indeed. Except, they pulled into their driveway just as we were about to put the hearts on their door. We were caught! 

We were able to visit the Williams' twice this week, which was awesome. They had us over for dinner on Saturday, and Sister Williams makes SUPER good enchiladas. She sent some home with us, and I'm so grateful that she did. It's a little bit funny, I've grown to love mexican food while in the middle of Nebraska (well, upper middle, technically). I never really hated it, but I've realized that I really, really like it!

 

We had Zone Training Meeting this past Friday, and it was really awesome to see other missionaries. All the sisters went out to lunch afterward at Guadalajara, and I ate the best nachos that I have ever had. Seriously. The best. I'm telling you, man. Mexican food is great.

Yesterday at church, we had fast and testimony meeting, and it was nice to hear everyone's testimony and be uplifted! I really love Sundays. I feel like I appreciate them more and more while on my mission. So many questions answered!

 

I love being a missionary!

 

Sister Clark

EPHESIANS 6:19

         SISTER CLARK IS READY TO EAT THE GREENIE MEAL PREPARED IN HER HONOR

This week was a bit slow, but that's alright! We were able to see Jessica, a mom who we meet with every Wednesday to read the Book of Mormon. She's not entirely sure if the book is true, she is mostly reading it for its historical significance, but she's such a sweet woman! She has definitely felt the spirit, though, that's for sure. Her daughter, Kimber, drew us a picture that I have taped to the wall beside my study desk. It always makes me smile. I just want them to have the gospel! Sometimes I wish I could shout it to the mountain tops.

On Friday, we were invited to the Johnson family's home for dinner. They're so awesome. Sister Johnson is super good at pretty much everything crafty. Her house looks like it could be on Pinterest. And she loves flowers. She is such an awesome member missionary! She is really great at talking to her friends about church and offering to help them come to know Christ better. Sister Johnson impresses me every time I see her. President Johnson is the Ward Mission Leader, and conveniently we had an appointment with a part-member family right after dinner that President Johnson was coming to. The lesson was SO AMAZING. It was the first time where I felt the spirit so strongly and I knew that the family we were teaching felt it, too! It was amazing. We read out of the Book of Mormon and talked about how all of the questions we have can be answered through diligent and sincere study of this book. It's true, everyone! The Book of Mormon is inspired of God and it testifies of Christ!

I love being a missionary. LOVE IT.

We were able to go to dinner at Branch President Orton's home Sunday night. Let me just tell you, his family is the best. As soon as we walked in the door, I felt right at home. They live on a ranch, as do a lot of members out here in Nebraska, and they have a whole bunch of cows!  His daughter, Cailin, showed us her flower bed and the family garden, and the little sons were super eager to show us the snakes they had killed and hung on the fence... which was a bit gross, but their desire to share was endearing. Everything we had for dinner was home grown, including the meat, which was awesome. We laughed through the entire dinner! It was awesome. I was crying from laughter.. but I guess that's not too surprising :)

We shared a message with the Orton family about how, when we prepare questions that we have about the gospel, we can find answers at church if we listen intently. Afterward, we ate what was probably the most delicious thing I've had since being here: strawberry rhubarb cheesecake. Sister Orton started making it when we got there, and she missed the part where it said to let it hill for 8 hours, so we just ate it hot. I'm so glad we did! It was divine.

Today (Monday), we were able to go to lunch with a couple of ladies in the branch, and the place we ate at has the best quesadilla that I've ever eaten, barring my Nana's breakfast quesadillas. I love food. We'll be going to help a new family move in this evening. I'm so excited! They have six kids, two of which are youth age. There's another family of eight moving in either this month or next, so that's super cool.

I was reminded this week of something one of my MTC teachers said about how it's not necessarily important what we say to our investigators, but what the Spirit teaches through us. I think that's pretty true. I've been learning this week about how the Holy Ghost helps us to emulate Christ's love for everyone. I read President Henry B. Eyring's conference talk in the May Ensign entitled The Comforter, which talks about how, when we were baptized and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, we were given the ability to love and care for those around us. This confused me slightly, because there are plenty of good, compassionate people that I know that are not members of the church. On Sunday, a brother in our branch gave a talk, and in his talk he referenced Mosiah18:10 where it mentions the Lord's desire to "pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you." Through that, the Holy Ghost was able to help me better understand in President Eyring's talk that receiving his constant companionship will increase our predisposition and capacity to love and have charity, and to also bear one another's burdens as we are charged to do. I think that's a marvelous blessing! 

That was a pretty cool experience. I love learning new things! It's so amazing every time I come to understand the Savior even a little bit more. It's pretty crazy how much He loves us.

Being a missionary is the craziest thing.

Love,

Sister Clark

                                        LOOKS PRETTY GREEN!

 

SISTER CLARK WITH HER COMPANION AND TRAINER WITH A FAMILY IN THE BRANCH.

  

            SISTER CLARK'S COMPANION SMELLING THE FLOWERS.

                            A STREET SIGN IN VALENTINE, NEBRASKA