B_____ L_____ is BEAUTIFUL!!

EVERYTHING in my life feels perfect and wonderful right now! :D

Not only do I have an amazingly beautiful area with thousands of adoring members of the church who LOVE us to death, but I also have an amazing companion I talk to forever into the late hours of the night AND I also get to go on exchanges with Sister Holtermann!!!!! AND IN OUR 5 STAR RIDICULOUSLY NICE APARTMENT, I HAVE A SLEEP NUMBER BED. YEAH, YOU READ IT RIGHT. I'm living the life of luxury, guys.

It was so sad to say goodbye to Sister Fielding!!! I will miss her so much :( And also Sister John... but as I've said, I love B____ L____ :D I walked into a baptism on Friday and we apparently have two other people who want to be baptized this month and next, so this area is booming with work! We also give tours at the P____ Tabernacle, which I am SUPER excited for, and for the 4th of July we're already signed up to help with concessions and the choir and events.... this is going to be lit!!!

As I've finally hit the last 6 weeks of my mission, I've started on a program for returning missionaries called My Plan. Basically, you write about your experiences that changed you as a missionary and prepare to go home and make goals so you can keep going after your mission. All the missionaries dread it because it constantly talks about going home but also emphasizes dating and marriage like crazy.... ack! BUT, as I was working on My Plan, something happened that I never thought would... I actually received revelation from God during it! My Plan was asking about what I'll do to keep the Sabbath holy at home, and I realized that I want to make that day my spiritual P-Day. I'd be putting a twist on my current P-Day (Preparation Day) that's on Monday that we have to do our laundry, clean, go shopping, play... I can do a spiritual preparation day!!! It hit me out of the blue! 8am to 6pm on Sundays I want to dedicate purely to the Lord and to studying, and then from 6 on I could play with my family and watch gospel movies and all that goodness :) Who knew, My Plan is actually helping me haha!

Another thing I've realized is that it isn't the missionary 'mantle' (special blessings from God) that makes a mission a mission, but it's just doing all of the little things we're supposed to be doing anyway that gives missionaries power! Before I honestly barely ever read my scriptures or prayed consistently, and all I did for Sundays was show up to church and be anxious the whole time to get home and eat lunch. BUT NOW, I understand why we're asked to do these daily things. Nothing else helps us to stay close to Heavenly Father, to learn to speak with Him, and to be protected and strengthened in every moment. I'm feeling like I can actually go home now without any fears because I understand that if I keep up with the little things, I don't have to lose this amazing spiritual high and happiness that I'm on- this streak of joy and fulfillment in my life can only keep getting better and stronger even as a normal civilian again haha!

I want to live my life as a breathing testament that everything and anything you could ever possibly go through is SO MUCH EASIER with Christ on your side. Everything is going so well, and I feel so happy and close and personal with my Savior :D It is the best feeling in the universe, trust me! And I'm not the only one that feels this way!!

Keep on keeping on, everyone!

Love,

Sister Clark

6 Weeks Left....

Sister Fielding and I are terrible at taking pictures together because we are constantly having good times- it's a good problem to have!! I've loved Sister Fielding SO much, it's been a good 4 weeks :)

But now, transfer calls have come! I'm leaving B____ and headed to P_____!! Woohoo!!!!

I'm really excited for it! I'll be serving directly in B______ L______ and all the cute towns surrounding it. I used to go to BL all the time when we lived in Utah, so this will be fun! I'm looking forward to this new and final area!

ALSO, my last comp is going to be Sister Sanchez. I came out with her on our missions, and I remember when she joined us at the airport and all of us were so nervous but excited to head to Idaho. Now, we'll be "dying" (finishing our missions) together in P____ and we'll be heading out of Idaho together as well!! I LOVE Sister Sanchez- I've seen her in passing and hung out a little on P-Days and at the Idaho Falls Temple, and she seems so cool! I cannot wait :D

I'll miss this area and Sister Fielding so much... :( But, on to new adventures!!!!! Keep on keeping on, everyone!

Love,

Sister Clark

I'm 17 months out?!?!?!?

I LOVE Sister Fielding!! When I had some down days this week, she was right there to pick me back up. Not only that, but when I felt like I deserved a break or to just take time to close my eyes, she helped me to keep pushing through the day (in a non-pushy or judgy way) and in the end I was brought more joy and peace and we were able to meet a new lady to teach named B______!! The greatest cure to sadness or depression really is WORK and reaching outside of yourself! President Hinckley was right all along, and I was able to see that for myself this week.

What else that's been happening is that our stake changed its boundaries (for those of who confused about stakes and wards, please ask the nearest Mormon), and so we've been super focused on our AREA BOOK AND MAPS. We spent most of Tuesday deep cleaning our area book. In every area there's a binder that keeps track of nonmembers/less active members who aren't interested, don't want church contact, or not interested now but might be later. So we had to go through and see what we had to give to Elders who got parts of our area and also organize it for ourselves. The goal of an area book is to so any missionary that comes in at any time can pick up right where the previous missionaries were. It took so much work, and after being here for 6 months it's such an adjustment in my brain to figure out that everyone is in different wards now...!

We also obsessed over a fluffy puppy and had a few photo shoots! Hahaha I really, really love my mission and Sister Fielding is so wonderful to me- I'm very happy!

Keep on keeping on to Christ, everyone!

Love,

Sister Clark ​

The Temple has been Re-Dedicated!

This week was a little wild! Our boundaries have been changed and we have a new ward with a brand new bishop!! We're really excited!

Also, the Idaho Falls Temple is officially back up and running now!! Woohoo!!!!! It's so beautiful :D So many spiritual experiences followed! We played with kittens this week, ate Panda Express after our MLC meeting in Pocatello, and Sister Fielding made a blanket fort out of her bed! We have way too much fun playing with cards too- I love this chick!!

I don't have a lot to say today, but I testify that no matter what you feel like is going on in your life, no matter what storm hits you, if you rely on the Master our Savior Jesus Christ, no storm or troubled sea can ever wreck you. When you can't stand your problems, try kneeling :) I know it works.

Keep on keeping on, everyone! Thank you to all who support me and thank you for your love!

Love,

Sister Clark

God Knows Me

God really does know me. He knew that I was getting a little tired at the end of my mission but that I still wanted to continue on, and so He sent me someone I needed at the perfect time. Sister Fielding is so diligent and hardworking and also FUN and hilarious- she's teaching me how to be a better missionary and I LOVE her! I am just feeling jipped that I only get 4 weeks with her! President hinted that by June 21st I'll go to a new area for my last area...

I've learned a lot more about how to really pray this week, and how to have fun while working your tushie off. I thought I knew how to do that ok, but Sister Fielding is teaching me so much. There's still so much I never knew I never knew!

This week L_____ demonstrated that you can put a dog in a baby carrier.... I never knew. LOL. And we also were able to eat out at a Chinese buffet place, YUM. Enjoy the pics!

I've been studying Faith in the Book of Mormon for a while now, but when I brought up that I'm trying to have more faith, Sister Fielding commented that she's assuming that I'm praying for more faith... I looked at her in shock. Have I been praying for faith as I've been studying faith? NO! Why not? I have no idea!!! Hahaha it's the simple things we tend to overlook. The Gospel is so simple but it'll take a lifetime to get it right. Thank goodness for practice!

I love the Lord and I love Idaho. I've been so blessing in so many ways. We met a lady that had been through the Temple and made sacred covenants with God but then decided that she didn't believe in Him and turned the other way, and now she's very bitter and angry and she kept us on her doorstep trying to justify her lifestyle and beliefs to us for a long time... it was sad to see, and our spirits ached for her. Yet, it was a huge testimony for me and what I believe in. Those experiences with people who are "anti-Mormon" only solidify my belief that I am truly serving the One True God hoping to bring as many as I can into His One True Church. I believe it with all of my heart, and it brings me so much joy :) Life is glorious with God's grace.

All y'all have a good week and stay strong to what you know!

Love,

Sis. Clark

Can't Take the Trunky...

The temple tours finished off with a bang! It was some real fun, but we're so glad to be back in our area. 

We got transfer calls this Saturday!! Sister Holtermann is leaving me for Star Valley..... I'm going to miss her with all of my soul. I'm really sad, but.... at the same time, I found out Sister Fielding is coming to be my companion and that's super exciting!! :D She's so fun and such a genuine missionary- I can't wait!

Well, the closer I get to the end of my mission, the more people can just sense it I think. The questions have changed from "How long have you been out?" to "How long do you have left?" HOW DO THEY KNOW?! It's so painful to answer, so I just tell them that I've been out for over a year, but when they ask that question of how long I have left there's no escaping it! Argh. It was a rough week in that sense, and I swear that every person in the world was trying to make us "trunky" aka excited to go home...

Let me describe a taste of what this last week at the temple was like- Us sisters, sitting in the Idaho Falls temple bride's room on a special tour before the day starts, President guiding each of us to the mirrors and telling us to prepare now because it's all about the bride on the wedding day. Then they take us to the highest sealing room right under Moroni's feet, sit us down in front of the mirrors of eternity, and President gives a big tearful speech about how wonderful and special it is to be sealed to your sweetheart forever and ever and ever, and the married couples in the room all kiss, and then we listen to a video play all day over and over about eternal families and how it's the whole purpose of life to be together with our families forever............. need I go on? 

I'm so glad to be back to normal missionary work, I don't want to be trunky! Thank goodness I still have time. I just want to proselyte, that's all I want!! I'm so PUMPED to be teaching and preaching again!!!!!!!

I'm going to miss Sister Holtermann more than I could ever say with words, but at the same time I'm excited for this new chapter in my mission. Bring it on!!

Keep on keeping on, everyone!!

Love,

Sister Clark

I'M HOME!!! (in _______)

I'm going to quote Sister Holtermann's email for a minute, because we're almost the same person anyways.

Sister Holtermann:

"This week was wonderful! Many spiritual experiences, many funny moments. I hope your week was wonderful as well! 

This week, we were up in Idaho Falls at the temple again. It was such a good week! Sister Clark and I visited a Japanese Garden and sat by the Falls almost every day. Woo! 

We found a taco truck in IF, so we went and enjoyed some delicious Mexican food. I had an elote for the first time in a looooong time. And it was GLORIOUS. 

We had a lot of wonderful spiritual experiences this week at the temple! 

First, we were able to sit in the celestial room of the temple before our shift in the mornings. It set the tone for the day and helped us to focus on becoming more Christ-like. I also received a lot of super awesome revelation that strengthened my faith in Heavenly Father. The temple is so wonderful!"

Ditto to everything for me! It was a really good week :D We go back for the last two days of the tours on the 19th and 20th- we're almost done!!!

We're not supposed to proselyte during the tours, but on the last tour on the last night, the tour guide stood up after the video we show and he started to talk about his conversion story to the Church. He looked at us and said, "Now I know this is out of the ordinary, but..." and he continued to testify of what he knew to be true, and he invited everyone to have a prayer in their hearts and promised that they would have a spiritual experience if they did. It was really powerful!! 

Here's an awesome quote our mission sent out to everyone that I love:

Professor Harold Hill in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, cautioned: “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

From President Hancock: "He who has a desire finds a way; he who does not finds an excuse."

Making the days count, not counting the days here in the wonderful IPM!!

Love ya'll!!