Dearest mum and papa, and the rest of the family and friends.
Your week sounded exciting and eventful! I didn't even know Samuel was moving to Utah. When was that decided? Wow, I feel out of the loop. How long will he be there?
So this week has been completely unbelievable. Seriously. I don't know if I have ever had a more spiritually wonderful and draining week in my whole life. So basically. K had a scheduled date of baptism on Thursday, the 7th of October. So last Monday, we spent all preparation day at their house. We went bowling. And we ate. And we talked. K was stressed out of her mind the whole time, poor girl. The district leader and zone leader came to her house that night, and came to interview K. We felt prompted to ask Ch if he would also like to have an interview while K was having one. He was like, sure why not. Ha-ha. So both of them went in for interviews, and came out with baptismal dates for Thursday! How exciting. Ch wasn't even worried.
The next day, we went back to their home, and while we were there, Ch called his mom and told her that he was getting baptized. He was so excited. It was completely awesome! But on the other hand, K was so anxious. She didn't know what to do. She was so scared to tell people that she wanted to get baptized. So we decided to start fasting for her. We fasted for two days, eating dinner between. We just really wanted K to be able to figure it out. We weren't pushing her to do anything.
The next day she called us, freaking out. crying. Basically telling us she couldn't do it. Then she'd go back and forth. The poor girl had a pretty bad week. She went back and forth the whole time.
Thursday finally came up. We were planning on having the baptism in Banbury, of course. But then we got a call, and the pump in the font wasn't working. So we had to move the service to Warwick. Crazy! Just one thing after another.
Well, K and Ch showed up at the church. K went into the chapel to pray some more, and Ch was just happy as a clam. It was so interesting. I talked to K for a while, and she decided that she wouldn't do it. So we had the whole service. Ch was baptized! So so exciting. He was so happy! I just love how happy this gospel makes people. And M, their four year old was so excited that his dad was just baptized. While Ch was changing his clothes, K was walking with her kids in the hall to keep them quiet. And it was an amazing thing. M wanted to know why his dad was baptized. K told him that he did it for Jesus, and to show Jesus that he loves him. Then M looked at K, and asked "momma, then why aren't you doing what daddy did?” After the service, K went up to brother sellers and asked him if she could still do it. So after refreshments, and some people leaving, K got baptized. Most exciting moment of my mission. seriously. she was finally so happy! So she wrote us three a letter, and I am going to copy some of it, so you can hear this from her perspective.
So this is her letter to us about her baptismal day.
"So, gals. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about yesterday...I had basically resigned myself to making the wrong decision. All day long I prayed for help, looked for signs, waited for an epiphany. And what did I get? Nothing. On the car ride? Nothing. At the church? Nothing. I wanted to vomit and I thought I would spontaneously combust because I couldn't figure out how to make it okay. I was drowning within myself.
And then He helped me. I was calm...crazy calm. I knew right then that nothing else mattered. Everything else fell away and I was fine. For the first time, in what seemed like ages, I was fine. My struggle was over and, at least in that moment, seemed very insignificant.
God helped me and then the innocent words of my sweet baby boy helped me. M asked about the baptism he had just seen and was curious about it. I explained to him that daddy was baptized because he loves Jesus and wants to try harder to live a good life like Jesus did. So, M said, "So, daddy loves Jesus?" and I said yes. Then M looked confused and said, "well, momma, then why didn't you do it too?” and it occurred to me that it really was that simple. I do love Jesus and I do want to live my life according to that. I needed a four year old to point it out.
Then I was able to be baptized whole-heartedly and joyfully...as it should be. "
Talk about miracles! I have never seen anything like it! And since their baptism, she has been so happy! She knows that she made the right decision. Well, they received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday, and it was amazing. And C is getting baptized this Saturday. He is actually getting baptized in Oxford...which is out of our area, but we are allowed to go! Yeah!!! Can’t wait. It will be awesome.
And another fun piece of news. I have a harp concert next Sunday. The 17th. I have practiced two days so far, and I need a lot more, but it will be great. Hopefully. I need prayers. My blisters are coming up, and wow. It will be a miracle if I can do this well. But it will be good, because people can invite friends, and it will be wonderful! And I love playing the harp. I have missed it. It’s been good. And not distracting at all. It’s been very nice. And lovely Sister B has been driving me to go to practice the harp, so that my lovely companions can still work while I am gone. It’s perfect! I love it.
Things are going great! We are going to K's right after this email session, to spend time with her. I cried so much in church yesterday, because I realized that she is leaving, and she has become one of my best friends! I have taught her my WHOLE mission. I love her to death. But then I also realized that when I get home, she will be able to go into the temple, and she will be in America. I am pretty lucky, because I know I will see their family more. I love them!
Things are going great. I am dreading transfers, because I realize that I am most likely to move. And I don't want to. Banbury feels like home now. I love the ward. I love the people. And I feel like things are really going well. But I guess wherever I am needed; I will go, because I know God has a greater plan for me. I know I have been here in Banbury for K. And now that she is leaving to Mississippi, I will be needed somewhere else.
I love the gospel. This week is my 6th month birthday. Crazy. One year left. I have to make the most of it, because the time has gone by so fast. Kinda scary actually. I love the time that I have to study, to learn, and to become closer to Christ. I have really felt my faith grow this week especially, and I feel really blessed to see the miracles that I have. I know this church is true, and I know that it blesses lives. It’s the only way to be happy!
I love it!
I love you!
Thank you for everything! You are amazing.
Love,
Sister Clark
ps. mom, I haven't received the package yet, but I’m looking forward to it. And I think you can keep using his address, because he can just give it to the Sisters who can get it to the zone leaders, who can get it to me. Everyone is so connected!
Well, I love you! Lllllooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee youuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Muah!
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