STAR VALLEY

Star Valley is beautiful!!! The drive up here was so fun- we stopped two different times to take pictures of the trees in all their fall color splendor. We were singing, eating food, enjoying the good weather and the journey... road trips as an adult are actually pretty great :D

We're staying with some members of the church here in Wyoming, and we love them. The Browers are so good to us! Even though they live in _____, 35min away from Afton where the temple is, they make the drive every day worth it :) They give me hot chocolate every night they're home and talk to us like they're our favorite grandparents- what's not to love?

 

Working the temple tours is CRAZY. It's so busy, and even when it's not busy, we still have a steady stream of people going through at all times. That's what we want, so Star Valley is doing very well!

What I do here is very simple- I stand and greet people, joke around with them, ask where they're from or how their tour went, and answer any questions if people approach me with them. The temple tours are strictly a proselyte free zone, which is a different adjustment! We wait to talk about the Gospel until they ask us about it. But I've had the chance to talk with two people now who've gotten emotional and were moved by the Spirit that's already in the temple walls even before it's been dedicated. Those were some cool experiences. Then we also run the videos they show to people before they go on their tour.

 

There's a few people who get cranky when I can't answer their questions! Like, why Moroni is facing west or why is the temple not completely white- I don't even know which way is north! Yikes! But those are fun to talk to as well- I'm learning so much about how much I don't know. I have a lot to study up on, and I'm excited.

On Sunday, Sister Bueno and I went on a hike in the Brower's backyard and she took some awesome pictures of me. She didn't want her picture taken though, so it turned into a Sister Clark photo shoot.

And, at Taco Time later in the week, we met a couple who's kids survived the Cokeville miracle! I don't have much time to talk about that, otherwise I'd say more! It was really neat hearing their story from their mouths.

Missions are learning curves on steroids but being on a mission AND helping with these tours is a learning curve times a thousand! Wow! More on that later though! I'll be back on Monday :)

 

 

 

 

Love, 

Sister Clark

I'M FREE

I'm back to 100%!! I'm healed!!!!!!! I CAN BE A MISSIONARY AGAIN!!!!!!!

It's so exciting.

 

My companion is still working her way up to my level, poor thing. On Friday night we took a trip to the ER so they could pump 3 pints of fluid back into her system- she was severely dehydrated and couldn't keep anything down. But now she's up to 95% and doing much better! President Hancock gave us both blessings and promised us by the power of the priesthood that we wouldn't suffer from any lifelong effects from this illness- that was something I'd been worried about, but without even ever voicing my fears, God spoke through His servant and set my mind at ease. Priesthood power is real, and it works.

EVERYONE. I HEARD THAT S____ D____ FROM I_____ (from her first area) WAS BAPTIZED A FEW DAYS AGO. I AM SO EXCITED I AM LITERALLY TRYING NOT TO CRY AS I TYPE THIS. 

 

This Wednesday we had Zone Conference- my first giving a training in front of President and the APs as an STL (Sister Training Leader)!! So scary. But we followed the Spirit. It was really powerful to have sort of an out-of-body experience as I talked, because the words coming out of our mouths weren't what we planned on and yet it all flowed and made perfect sense because the Spirit was directing our training. It was amazing. We talked about the weekly planning session we do as missionaries to prepare the outline of our lessons and such for the next week and plan for baptisms and such. It's a great opportunity to really ponder what we can do for our investigators and what they need. For 3 hours, we get to pray and plan for our people on this day of the week. We talked about the importance of the steps of weekly planning- first you pray to align yourself with God and what vision He has that you may not have for your investigators. After you talk with the Father about what He would have you do, then you plan and take careful consideration into what you'll do. Then you act. We talked a lot about the Brother of Jared like I mentioned a while back, and how he prayed and planned and then acted and saw a miracle- he saw the hand of God. We can also see the hand of God in our lives if we follow these steps seeking after a miracle.

To put it simply, pray as if it all depends on the Father, and then act as if it all depends on you.

I applied this to myself- I did a mini Mission Planning session. I prayed, I planned out who I want to become and what I hope to accomplish, and then I broke it down into steps I need to take this week to work up to my goals. It was really valuable. I encourage everyone to do this for their lives- God helps those who take the time to bring Him a plan, and then do what they can to help themselves. I'm seeing it in action right now- I'm still learning how to apply this to my life :D but it works.

To quote Sister Bueno's quote: "Going on a mission is not the best thing you'll ever do in your life, but it's the best thing you can do for your life."

I know that's true. I'm learning so much from every day, every miracle, and yes every trial :) I'm learning how to learn from God. I'm so blessed.

Another blessing is that I am privileged to help with the Star Valley Temple open-house tours in Wyoming before they dedicate the building. Yesterday, all the sisters in the mission went to Star Valley and we were trained more on what they want us to do, and then we were given a private tour just for us!!! It's GORGEOUS. Oh my goodness. I'm especially excited because even just standing in the Celestial Room, looking all around us and being quiet, I felt the Spirit so strongly testify to me of eternal families and just how much God truly loves all of us, individually. It was hard not to cry. It's such a spiritual place even when it isn't dedicated- SO MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THE SPIRIT IN THAT HOLY PLACE. I cannot wait to be there in the reception area after the tours and help people with their questions or even just to ask how it went. Miracles upon miracles will be seen from these tours in so many people's lives.

This week I'll be in Star Valley from the 23rd to the 30th. That means I'll be over there during a P-Day. That means I may not get a chance to email next week. That means, don't freak out because I'm alive and I do still love you and I'll just have to talk to you the week after!! ;D

(Love you, mom!)

I'm looking forward to an amazing week next week. I haven't even been able to talk about all the blessings I've seen from this past one- Dalton came to our Stake Conference where we heard Elder Golden from the 70 come and speak, we're getting a new stake president, other investigators we know will be coming to see us in Star Valley for the temple, oh and did I mention I'm healed? B) So many great things have been happening.

I love you all! Thank you so much for your prayers- I have felt them for certain :)

Love,

Sister Clark

Bleh moments smell like miracles around the corner..!

Hey guys. Got another email for ya, and yup, I'm still stuck inside my apartment. So this is what, the sixth email now that's been like this? :P One day I'll get back to being a missionary full-time, one day...!

Please enjoy the pictures that basically describe our week.

 

 

 

Some disappointing things have happened this week. D_____, the amazing man who referred himself and wanted to get baptized so badly, is not doing so good. He hasn't been keeping any commitments, doesn't come to church, sorta dodges us, and didn't show up for the church tour we planned on Saturday with him. He seemed so promising, but... he only wants to be baptized without effort and continue living his life the way he is right now. That's not how bettering yourself as a person and as a disciple of Jesus Christ works. It breaks my heart.

Repentance is change, progress is change- from the beginning, God has required us to break away from the "natural man" and follow His will verses our own so that we can become who God intends us to be. We can be what we want, or we can be something better. I know how much the Gospel helps and brings hope and joy and peace into my life, and it hurts when someone turns away from that. But we're not giving up on D_____ :) Hope isn't lost just yet!

Prayers are needed for T____, the amazing girl who wanted to get baptized on August 20th. Her father wouldn't even talk to her about her desire to make this decision, and she's devastated. We haven't talked with her in a while, and we have a hunch that her dad told her not to talk to us anymore.

On the plus side, Sister Bueno officially has C-diff! Yay! At least we know that one for sure! I much prefer this to not knowing what it is.

Also, L_____, one of the less-active ladies we work with, wants to come back to church full-time and she's so sweet and wonderful! She's one of the few people I truly know from the bottom of my heart that I was called specifically to be here in Idaho at this time just for her. We played guitar for her in her apartment on the anniversary of her divorce to help her keep her mind off sad things, and she got so emotional when I played the lullaby (I sent a video of it a while ago). The message of knowing that Christ will always look out for us and help us really touched her. I believe with all my heart that everyone needs that reminder at least once a day. So be kind to people- treat everyone as if they were having a bad day, 98% of the time you'll be right.

 

I'm trying to enlarge my threshold for stress.  Missions are VERY stressful, but here you can't escape to a book or TV or take a nap, go for a drive, etc. You have to face stress head on.  It's been amazing, getting to know myself like I am right now.  I've learned how I react to stress, what I would usually run to without realizing when I'm unhappy, and yet I've also seen I'm much more patient than I previously thought.  You'll meet a new me when I come home. 

 

Something cool is happening to me right now!  For the first time in my life, I'm recognizing the I am a daughter of God.  I've always know it in my head, but heart knowledge is harder to come by.  I'm still learning, but I'm starting to figure out what my individual worth is.  I'm feeling more confident and at peace, and I'm not so worried about other people's thoughts about me anymore.  I took my weakness to the Lord, my shyness and lack of confidence, and He's helping me make it into a strength.  I see now that I care about what others think because I really CARE about others, and I can see THEIR strengths and THEIR potential and I admire them.  I worry about what they think because I'm not able to see that in myself so easily, so I wonder if I can fit into this world full of amazing people with so many great qualities.  That's a strength though! The Lord is helping me fine-tune it :)  There's so many other things I'm learning and seeing too, but this is my favorite.

 

Another cool thing - you don't have to worry about my faith :)  It's in MOTION.  It's hard to go through tough experiences, but there's no comfort in the growth zone, and certainly no growth in the comfort zone.  Pushing through my struggles is making me strong.  I don't love it, but it's so invaluable to me that I want to go through more to keep growing and become even happier because I'm coming closer to my Savior.  Stagnancy is scary.  If I'm stagnant, I'm in trouble.  But I'm determined to never go stagnant again in my life.  I really am doing well.  I'm actually in the best place and position I've ever been in my life.  I feel 20 years older than when I started my mission, and I haven't even really gone through much!

 

Another cool thing - I was reminded what I've learned about peace.  John 14:27 is Jesus explaining that the peace the gospel brings is unique.  Satan says peace is an absence of trouble - so does the rest of the world.  But true peace is calmness of mind and soul in the MIDDLE of trouble.  That's how I define peace now.  It's amazing. 

 

I do know that I have a Father in Heaven who LIVES and LOVES me.  No matter how many bitter anti's, Bible-bashers or words from the gates of Hell itself try to tell me otherwise, I only know this for certain: He is more real and loving than I now realize.  While talking with Sis. Bueno, I was crying and talking about my lack of confidence and love for myself was the root of a lot of my problems that I desperately want to change, and she said, "I know it's hard to love yourself sometimes, and then it feels like God doesn't care, but you can't..."  I cut her off there and said, "No.  I know He loves me.  I may not love myself sometimes, and I'm trying to change, but I KNOW God love me."  She kind of stared at me and then burst into tears.  She said my conviction really hit her and then we were having a mini testimony meeting in our apartment right there. 

 

Sis. Bueno and I have been entertaining ourselves.  We got roses from Sis. Mansfield and after they died we collected all the petals and had a "snowball fight."  We smelled so good.  We also smack each other a ton and get into water fights a lot.  Oh, and we keep locking each other out of the car and turning up the music really loud with the windows cracked, and we say, "Dance."  Dropping ridiculous moves is the only way to get back in.  It's been super fun :)  

Sorry if this email sounds a little down! I'll be honest- I'm frustrated. I want to get out and be a missionary full-time again. I want it more than I want to breathe. I know that if nothing else, if this is the only thing I gained from being sick, carrying this desire back into the field will bring so much fire into my service. I'm really looking forward to it :)

Love,
Sister Clark

E Coli? Nope. Not that either..... and so it continues...

Is it Giardia? Nope. Is it E Coli? Nope. Is it C-Diff? NO ONE KNOWS. Hahaha it's been an adventurous week at the doctor's, sitting around, running full speed to the bathroom, sleeping, eating food.... yeah, it's been really busy. So busy in fact, that I don't have much to write about this week.

I do know one thing though: one small decision can change the course of your life. Whether that's just taking a sip from a stream, or going to just one party, or just cheating on that one stupid test that really doesn't matter that much, right? I'll refer you to our prophet President Monson's talk from this past General Conference titled "Choices". He says the rest perfectly.  Choices talk

One thing that did happen this week is that I gave my first training (like a talk) at Zone Training this week! I talked about the scripture in the Pearl of Great Price in Moses 3:5, and I focused on the line talking about how all things were created spiritually before they were naturally on the earth. God always starts with a plan and then uses His power to reach the goals He has set. Planning, goal-setting, having vision and organization has been the pattern of God from before the beginning of time. Whether it's making a plan for your day, or making a plan for your life, do all that you can and then take what you came up with to the Lord. Like how the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon needed to figure out to have light in the barges they built as they went across the sea; he cut several stones from the mountain and took the time to make them clear and glassy- he put as much effort and time as he could into what he could come up with. Then he took those stones to the Lord and asked Him to make more of his idea than what he could do on his own. That's when the finger of the Lord came down and touched the stones, and they gave light in the barges so the people could see as they crossed the ocean.

When you put time and effort into your plans and then take your "stones" to the Lord, that's when miracles hit, after everything that you can do. I've seen that for myself. The Lord helps those who help themselves! So let Him into your life, and I can promise you that you'll start to see miracles and blessings pouring into every aspect of what you do or hope to do and become. Make a plan today of how you can improve and then ask the Lord for His help, and He WILL help you!

Whale, that's it for this week. *confetti*

Love you all! Keep on keeping on :)

~Sister Clark