20 December 2010
Dear mom papa and family,
So first, happy Christmas! It has been the weirdest week EVER. But first of all. Mom I can call you on Skype on Saturday. At 6:30 should be good. Thanks so much! I am excited!
No camera yet. I hope it gets there. What a pain! Sorry about that!
So this week. We had pday. We wrote Christmas cards the whole time. The WHOLE time. My word. But it was good!
Tuesday. We worked hard the whole day. We went visiting teaching with the relief society president. That was great. It was a good day. Nothing to really write home about.
Wednesday. We had a zone meeting in Gloucester. It was good! And afterward, the lovely Henry’s made us a big lunch again! They are amazing! And then, Sister Henry brought out this big bag, and they passed out stockings that they made full of goodies to each one of us! What wonderful missionaries they are! My word! We love them! That night we went to the ward relief society progressive dinner. Very fun. We got to know a lot of the less active girls who went, and it was a really good thing! We loved it.
Thursday. We were both sick. Sister P had a fever and a cold. I just had a cold. And so we stayed in all day. Man. it was rough staying in. but we made Christmas cards for the whole branch. And we read a lot of the ensigns and Book of Mormon. It was a lot of lying around. But the next day we were feeling much better. Now I am totally better. Sister P still has a cold, but she’s healing.
Friday. We had a great lesson with E. We hadn't been able to contact her for a while. So we were really excited that we were able to today. And we read from the Book of Mormon with her, and it was really good. She even gave insights. Very good. We are excited! And then that night we had a lesson with T and Ta. They are an adorable couple. In their early thirties. They have a little boy. We found them in the area book, in the formers section. We are pretty thrilled about them!
Saturday. SO MUCH SNOW! So much. G was supposed to get baptized that day. But he decided he needs more pondering time. We were sad. And I told him that he just needed to do it. And he promised that he would soon. So that's good. But we went to their house to teach him. But on the way, our car got stuck in the snow. So they had to come pick us up. Then it snowed hard the rest of the day. We were stuck at the B’s almost the whole day. And then we almost slept over, but G gave his land rover a test drive to see if he would be able to get us home safe. We ended up teaching him a good lesson, and having a whole family day with their family. It was a fun day, but it was frustrating not being able to work.
Sunday. Church was CANCELED. Crazy! The snow here is not even that bad, but because they don't get it here that much, the whole country does a stand still. It’s so weird! The cars just can't cope with it. So we were told we had to stay in all morning, until church would normally be out, and then go to work. It was a long cold day. We were banned (obviously) from using our cars. Not that we had ours to even use. That night, President Retallick and Jonathon Wharrad (branch mission leader) helped us go get the car. I have never pushed a car so much in my life! I am getting good. So yeah. It was a crazy day! We were able to go to the Wharrad's to be able to have the sacrament which was really good!
Things here are going great. Still snowing like crazy. Pray that we will be able to have the Christmas party! Mom, I got the package! It already got to the mission home and then to me. It is all around our Christmas tree. And thank you for the pears! We are so excited! Thank you thank you!!!!
I am excited to talk to you on Skype on Saturday. Hopefully we get it all figured out. Thanks for everything. Love you so so much! Happy Christmas!
Love,
Sister Annie Clark
Ps the library was closed. So we are using member’s computers, so we have less time. So sorry short email and no pictures. But I will send them all next week. Thanks so much! Love you!
England Birmingham Mission
This is where I am serving!!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Loving everyone and Loving Every Minute
13 December 2010
Dearest Mum, Papa, family, and friends,
Thanks so much for the addresses! Sorry, I have a few more that I would appreciate also.
And as to the note from M, oh how I love her! I hope you emailed my address and blog back to her? But tell her I love her, and must have every detail of her marriage plans, and I must receive an announcement! Thanks!
Fun that you are able to see AE. I Love her so much! She is such a cute girl. How does she do it? Ha-ha. I am glad that you get to see her at the temple. I bet she loves that and also fun to see her . Say hi to her next time you see her for me?
No Camera yet, but I am sure it will come, and I will tell you immediately when I get it. Sorry that it takes so long! It must be because it’s electronic, or more valuable? Because Sis. P receives her parcels just fine. Oh well. Meanwhile, it will be ok.
I can’t believe you sent a parcel! I hope it wasn’t too expensive, but it will be SO appreciated. I can’t wait! Thank you SO much! And its fun, we just got a package from Sis. P’s mum (whom you would adore) and she sent us both stuff, all wrapped up. And it’s around the bitty Christmas tree in our flat that the B (G and his family) decorated and gave to us. Wonderful wonderful family.
Thank you for putting that money in my account! That’s really good of you! And wow, grandma and grandpa are wonderful! I will send them a letter. Can I just write their address on an envelope, and it will get to them? Their address looks a bit different.
We fasted yesterday for G for his interview, and he fasted as well. Good show of faith. I’ll go into that a bit later though when I go through things that happened in the week. And yes. It’s WONDERFUL that we get to stay together for the holidays. Because we just are best friends. No working at it. She’s like H, just instantly best friend status. Love her! So we are happy to be together. And it’s going to be great!
So we do cover a lot of areas. I think the furthest someone would have to drive is probably 30 minutes? But that’s way out there. And only one family of members lives in that town. But they are awesome! Ha-ha. But Evesham is pretty much in the middle of everyone.
I’m glad you liked the Christmas pictures! They were so much fun! And S is doing GREAT! When we first met him, he chained smoked the entire time we had a lesson with him. During the magical photo adventure, he only smoked twice. And then on subsequent visits since then, he hasn’t’ smoked once in front of us. And when we were working with the pictures, we spent two hours with him, on his doorstep! And so he is doing great. And he is so much happier. And he says that he wants to change his life at the new year. He has stopped doing drugs, and wants to quit smoking. And he is just happy! Or “Chuffed”! It’s really good. We see that just a little bit of love and service goes a LONG way!
We have been a bit less discouraged this week. We don’t stay discouraged for long, but it’s just when we get a lot of no’s and there just isn’t as much hope, we get sad, because we are working SO hard, and sometimes you don’t see the benefits right away. But it’s ok!
Yes! We are having an entire mission party on New Year’s Eve! We can’t wait!!! It’ll be so much fun! And there will be a talent show, and they have found me a harp to use. Ahh! So exciting! But a lot of pressure, because I won’t have practiced much beforehand. Oh well. It will be great. And sister P does interpretive dances for every talent show (they are so funny, just a joke!), and she has forced me to do it with her. We will see how that goes. Ha-ha. But it will be such a fun day! And I will take a picture with the C's. I haven’t served with them, because they serve in Wales, but they are so sweet! Amazing people.
And I can’t believe that Samuel met Sister K! CRAZY! We only spent one transfer in the mission together. She is so funny. And everyone, elders and sisters, loved her so much! She was apparently an awesome missionary!
I can’t believe that B has lice! Poor girl! It makes my head itch thinking about it. I am sad for her! Hopefully it will go away soon. Where did they pick it up from? What a bummer! I remember when I had lice. Foul. Ugh. But I do remember that papa took me to McDonalds to get a milkshake because I was a good girl while I had lice. And I was a good sport. So thanks papa!
You sound like you are so busy! When are you having the carols at our house? Invite H and A, they would still love to come, I am sure. Fun about the decorations. And the bookclub! And the progressive dinner. We have one of those with the RS this week. Should be fun!
So about our week. We saw S twice this week. And he said we could come by anytime now. When we first met him, we had to call before. He just really likes us coming. And we always read a chapter with him, and he really reads into it. And he is starting to think about coming back to church. What a good guy. He has such a hard time. But he’s so good.
We had a cool experience this week. We went out with a lady in the ward that we don’t know very well to try to find some of the less active people on our lists. So we searched for this lady, D, for the longest time. The postcode we had was wrong. And all they had was a house name, not a number. And it was foggy, and at night. And it was so cold! So we decided to knock on just one more house to see if they knew where “yew tree cottage” was, and they knew. And Diana ended up being an American lady. And she just returned from a holiday in America, where she saw all her LDS family, and she started thinking about how she should come back to church. And we invited her, and we gave her all the information, and she was so excited! She’s so nice! It just was the right place at the right time. What a cool experience for a member to experience. It was really rewarding.
G is doing great. He is still scheduled for this Saturday for his baptism. Not sure if he’s doing it or not, but he got his interview yesterday with President Ogden, and then President Ogden told him that he was ready to get baptized, he signed the forms then handed them to G and told him it’s his choice. So G is the one with the form. And last night we had dinner with the B , and he is still going back and forth. But he tried on his baptismal clothes. First time ever. So that’s good! We just are really praying and fasting for him. We feel good about it though, and we know it’s important for him. This is such an important time!
We had ward council this last week, and with the new handbook of instructions, it seems that everyone is more focused on people which was really nice! And a wonderful family in the ward, the Greaves, invited us to be with them on Christmas. So if you would please send me your Christmas schedule, so we can figure out next week when we would call, that would be great.
We had the ward Christmas party last Saturday, and the branch president and his family asked us to be in their little skit, and it was really funny. I will try to explain it to you when I have pictures of the event. Unfortunately I have no pictures from this week. Sorry!
This week has been great! We have really been trying to follow the spirit and do what we should do to find new investigators. We love our branch and our area so much, and we are so happy! Thank you for all that you do. I am so grateful for my chance to be on a mission. Best/hardest experience EVER!
All my love, heaped up, pressed down, and running over,
Sister Annie Clark
Dearest Mum, Papa, family, and friends,
Thanks so much for the addresses! Sorry, I have a few more that I would appreciate also.
And as to the note from M, oh how I love her! I hope you emailed my address and blog back to her? But tell her I love her, and must have every detail of her marriage plans, and I must receive an announcement! Thanks!
Fun that you are able to see AE. I Love her so much! She is such a cute girl. How does she do it? Ha-ha. I am glad that you get to see her at the temple. I bet she loves that and also fun to see her . Say hi to her next time you see her for me?
No Camera yet, but I am sure it will come, and I will tell you immediately when I get it. Sorry that it takes so long! It must be because it’s electronic, or more valuable? Because Sis. P receives her parcels just fine. Oh well. Meanwhile, it will be ok.
I can’t believe you sent a parcel! I hope it wasn’t too expensive, but it will be SO appreciated. I can’t wait! Thank you SO much! And its fun, we just got a package from Sis. P’s mum (whom you would adore) and she sent us both stuff, all wrapped up. And it’s around the bitty Christmas tree in our flat that the B (G and his family) decorated and gave to us. Wonderful wonderful family.
Thank you for putting that money in my account! That’s really good of you! And wow, grandma and grandpa are wonderful! I will send them a letter. Can I just write their address on an envelope, and it will get to them? Their address looks a bit different.
We fasted yesterday for G for his interview, and he fasted as well. Good show of faith. I’ll go into that a bit later though when I go through things that happened in the week. And yes. It’s WONDERFUL that we get to stay together for the holidays. Because we just are best friends. No working at it. She’s like H, just instantly best friend status. Love her! So we are happy to be together. And it’s going to be great!
So we do cover a lot of areas. I think the furthest someone would have to drive is probably 30 minutes? But that’s way out there. And only one family of members lives in that town. But they are awesome! Ha-ha. But Evesham is pretty much in the middle of everyone.
I’m glad you liked the Christmas pictures! They were so much fun! And S is doing GREAT! When we first met him, he chained smoked the entire time we had a lesson with him. During the magical photo adventure, he only smoked twice. And then on subsequent visits since then, he hasn’t’ smoked once in front of us. And when we were working with the pictures, we spent two hours with him, on his doorstep! And so he is doing great. And he is so much happier. And he says that he wants to change his life at the new year. He has stopped doing drugs, and wants to quit smoking. And he is just happy! Or “Chuffed”! It’s really good. We see that just a little bit of love and service goes a LONG way!
We have been a bit less discouraged this week. We don’t stay discouraged for long, but it’s just when we get a lot of no’s and there just isn’t as much hope, we get sad, because we are working SO hard, and sometimes you don’t see the benefits right away. But it’s ok!
Yes! We are having an entire mission party on New Year’s Eve! We can’t wait!!! It’ll be so much fun! And there will be a talent show, and they have found me a harp to use. Ahh! So exciting! But a lot of pressure, because I won’t have practiced much beforehand. Oh well. It will be great. And sister P does interpretive dances for every talent show (they are so funny, just a joke!), and she has forced me to do it with her. We will see how that goes. Ha-ha. But it will be such a fun day! And I will take a picture with the C's. I haven’t served with them, because they serve in Wales, but they are so sweet! Amazing people.
And I can’t believe that Samuel met Sister K! CRAZY! We only spent one transfer in the mission together. She is so funny. And everyone, elders and sisters, loved her so much! She was apparently an awesome missionary!
I can’t believe that B has lice! Poor girl! It makes my head itch thinking about it. I am sad for her! Hopefully it will go away soon. Where did they pick it up from? What a bummer! I remember when I had lice. Foul. Ugh. But I do remember that papa took me to McDonalds to get a milkshake because I was a good girl while I had lice. And I was a good sport. So thanks papa!
You sound like you are so busy! When are you having the carols at our house? Invite H and A, they would still love to come, I am sure. Fun about the decorations. And the bookclub! And the progressive dinner. We have one of those with the RS this week. Should be fun!
So about our week. We saw S twice this week. And he said we could come by anytime now. When we first met him, we had to call before. He just really likes us coming. And we always read a chapter with him, and he really reads into it. And he is starting to think about coming back to church. What a good guy. He has such a hard time. But he’s so good.
We had a cool experience this week. We went out with a lady in the ward that we don’t know very well to try to find some of the less active people on our lists. So we searched for this lady, D, for the longest time. The postcode we had was wrong. And all they had was a house name, not a number. And it was foggy, and at night. And it was so cold! So we decided to knock on just one more house to see if they knew where “yew tree cottage” was, and they knew. And Diana ended up being an American lady. And she just returned from a holiday in America, where she saw all her LDS family, and she started thinking about how she should come back to church. And we invited her, and we gave her all the information, and she was so excited! She’s so nice! It just was the right place at the right time. What a cool experience for a member to experience. It was really rewarding.
G is doing great. He is still scheduled for this Saturday for his baptism. Not sure if he’s doing it or not, but he got his interview yesterday with President Ogden, and then President Ogden told him that he was ready to get baptized, he signed the forms then handed them to G and told him it’s his choice. So G is the one with the form. And last night we had dinner with the B , and he is still going back and forth. But he tried on his baptismal clothes. First time ever. So that’s good! We just are really praying and fasting for him. We feel good about it though, and we know it’s important for him. This is such an important time!
We had ward council this last week, and with the new handbook of instructions, it seems that everyone is more focused on people which was really nice! And a wonderful family in the ward, the Greaves, invited us to be with them on Christmas. So if you would please send me your Christmas schedule, so we can figure out next week when we would call, that would be great.
We had the ward Christmas party last Saturday, and the branch president and his family asked us to be in their little skit, and it was really funny. I will try to explain it to you when I have pictures of the event. Unfortunately I have no pictures from this week. Sorry!
This week has been great! We have really been trying to follow the spirit and do what we should do to find new investigators. We love our branch and our area so much, and we are so happy! Thank you for all that you do. I am so grateful for my chance to be on a mission. Best/hardest experience EVER!
All my love, heaped up, pressed down, and running over,
Sister Annie Clark
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Eke - it is cold in Evesham!
1 December 2010
Dear mom, papa, family and friends:
Thanks for the email! How fun that Mr. Lohss wants to get together the winners. That sounds like so much fun. I wish I could do it. But alas, I cannot. But I hope AE will be able to. Tell her hi for me. And tell her she needs to write me.
And also, would you be able to get me a couple people’s addresses? The ones that I desire are N, M, and BH. Danke!
Sister P and I are SO happy that we are staying together. She is my best friend here. So great. And we came out at the same time. We were in the MTC in Provo at the same time, but I didn’t know her. But she remembers me from when I played the harp at the MTC. Funny! I don’t know who could be my next companion. We may train. Or be a follow up trainer. But it makes me nervous to train. We will have to wait and see I guess.
We go to Worcester for district meetings. We are one of the only people with cars, so we can’t have anyone else pick us up. But sometimes, when meetings are elsewhere we pick people up. Yes, we are the only missionaries in Evesham. We also cover little towns: Broadway, Bidford on Avon, Tewkesbury, Pershore, and a few others. We have a pretty big area. And our district leader and his companion are the only ones in Worcester.
Funny what papa said about us giving V a blessing. Guys have it so easy, being able to just give the blessings. Ha-ha. We had to find someone. But it was a great experience!
The Christmas photos were so much fun! I sent a couple of them to you. They were so fun to take. And it was just to get Stefan out and doing something. He is amazing. He is addicted to drugs and smoking, and the first few times we met with him he chained smoked the whole time. I don’t know how I lived through being in the room with him that first time. And when we took the pictures he was a bit stressed so he smoked a few times. But since then, every time we have gone over he hasn’t smoked once. And we were there for a few hours a couple days ago, going through the pictures with him, and he didn’t’ smoke once. He has a hard time, because he has anxiety, and so we are just helping him know that he’s loved. And we have invited him to the branch Christmas party and to church, and now he’s thinking about it. It all starts with feeling loved though.
That sounds like Sister Wanless taught a great lesson. I love that idea! Thanks so much. I love it. And if we have more notice next time, we may adopt that I love it. I think we are teaching the last Sunday of every month from now on. Wow. We are practically in the RS presidency!
This week, N couldn’t come to church. She usually works every Sunday. But we are going to try to help her with that. But a lady we met in our first few weeks here in Evesham came, her name is W, and her daughter is C came. And her daughter loved it, and I think she did too! It was great. Oh man. So it was fast and testimony meeting yesterday, and there were some really great testimonies.
This week has been absolutely FREEZING. Literally. Ice. Snow. EVERYWHERE. Gosh. We had the funniest day the other day; I have to tell you about. So we started it out with a really hard workout, which was happy. Then we went to a less active’s home to do some service. She didn’t’ answer her door, so we walked away, and we saw a guy with dreadlocks coming up the street. We went and stopped him. He said he wasn’t interested, but that we should go to number 92. We were like, really? And he was like yeah. He said he had just got kicked out of their house, and that they still have his guitar, and that we should demand cake. So we decided, why not? So we went, knocked, and asked for R, saying that M had sent us. We ended up talking, and laughing. And finding out that they know the R family really well (the branch presidents’ family). Then M got back, and him and his friend L- the son of R- played us some stuff on their guitar. It was hilarious. We asked them if we could come back, and they said yes. So then yesterday at church, we asked Sister R how she knew them, and she said that she had given their name to the missionaries many times before, and nothing has ever happened. But she has prayed for them for 2 years. Wow. The spirit guided that! So cool!
Oh, and that same day that we met them, we went to a dinner appointment closer to Worcester than Evesham, and got our car completely stuck in the ice. I got out to push, and it was like I got out on an ice skating rink. We ended up calling the men in the house of the place we were going to for dinner, and they came and moved our car, and it all worked out. But it was funny!
Anyway, it’s been a great week. We are working hard, and are exhausted but happy. Sometimes it’s hard not to get discouraged, but we are trying so hard to stay positive. We just want to bring people to the gospel so bad! Ahh!
Well, I love you so much! And thanks for the very fun informative letter. I got a fun letter from the dyer family this week, and I appreciated it so much! Thanks M, R, and B!
I love you all! Thanks for everything! I love you dearly, and hope everything is going well! I pray for you all the time. Love you so much! ,
Love, Sister Annie Clark
Dear mom, papa, family and friends:
Thanks for the email! How fun that Mr. Lohss wants to get together the winners. That sounds like so much fun. I wish I could do it. But alas, I cannot. But I hope AE will be able to. Tell her hi for me. And tell her she needs to write me.
And also, would you be able to get me a couple people’s addresses? The ones that I desire are N, M, and BH. Danke!
Sister P and I are SO happy that we are staying together. She is my best friend here. So great. And we came out at the same time. We were in the MTC in Provo at the same time, but I didn’t know her. But she remembers me from when I played the harp at the MTC. Funny! I don’t know who could be my next companion. We may train. Or be a follow up trainer. But it makes me nervous to train. We will have to wait and see I guess.
We go to Worcester for district meetings. We are one of the only people with cars, so we can’t have anyone else pick us up. But sometimes, when meetings are elsewhere we pick people up. Yes, we are the only missionaries in Evesham. We also cover little towns: Broadway, Bidford on Avon, Tewkesbury, Pershore, and a few others. We have a pretty big area. And our district leader and his companion are the only ones in Worcester.
Funny what papa said about us giving V a blessing. Guys have it so easy, being able to just give the blessings. Ha-ha. We had to find someone. But it was a great experience!
The Christmas photos were so much fun! I sent a couple of them to you. They were so fun to take. And it was just to get Stefan out and doing something. He is amazing. He is addicted to drugs and smoking, and the first few times we met with him he chained smoked the whole time. I don’t know how I lived through being in the room with him that first time. And when we took the pictures he was a bit stressed so he smoked a few times. But since then, every time we have gone over he hasn’t smoked once. And we were there for a few hours a couple days ago, going through the pictures with him, and he didn’t’ smoke once. He has a hard time, because he has anxiety, and so we are just helping him know that he’s loved. And we have invited him to the branch Christmas party and to church, and now he’s thinking about it. It all starts with feeling loved though.
That sounds like Sister Wanless taught a great lesson. I love that idea! Thanks so much. I love it. And if we have more notice next time, we may adopt that I love it. I think we are teaching the last Sunday of every month from now on. Wow. We are practically in the RS presidency!
This week, N couldn’t come to church. She usually works every Sunday. But we are going to try to help her with that. But a lady we met in our first few weeks here in Evesham came, her name is W, and her daughter is C came. And her daughter loved it, and I think she did too! It was great. Oh man. So it was fast and testimony meeting yesterday, and there were some really great testimonies.
This week has been absolutely FREEZING. Literally. Ice. Snow. EVERYWHERE. Gosh. We had the funniest day the other day; I have to tell you about. So we started it out with a really hard workout, which was happy. Then we went to a less active’s home to do some service. She didn’t’ answer her door, so we walked away, and we saw a guy with dreadlocks coming up the street. We went and stopped him. He said he wasn’t interested, but that we should go to number 92. We were like, really? And he was like yeah. He said he had just got kicked out of their house, and that they still have his guitar, and that we should demand cake. So we decided, why not? So we went, knocked, and asked for R, saying that M had sent us. We ended up talking, and laughing. And finding out that they know the R family really well (the branch presidents’ family). Then M got back, and him and his friend L- the son of R- played us some stuff on their guitar. It was hilarious. We asked them if we could come back, and they said yes. So then yesterday at church, we asked Sister R how she knew them, and she said that she had given their name to the missionaries many times before, and nothing has ever happened. But she has prayed for them for 2 years. Wow. The spirit guided that! So cool!
Oh, and that same day that we met them, we went to a dinner appointment closer to Worcester than Evesham, and got our car completely stuck in the ice. I got out to push, and it was like I got out on an ice skating rink. We ended up calling the men in the house of the place we were going to for dinner, and they came and moved our car, and it all worked out. But it was funny!
Anyway, it’s been a great week. We are working hard, and are exhausted but happy. Sometimes it’s hard not to get discouraged, but we are trying so hard to stay positive. We just want to bring people to the gospel so bad! Ahh!
Well, I love you so much! And thanks for the very fun informative letter. I got a fun letter from the dyer family this week, and I appreciated it so much! Thanks M, R, and B!
I love you all! Thanks for everything! I love you dearly, and hope everything is going well! I pray for you all the time. Love you so much! ,
Love, Sister Annie Clark
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thanksgiving
21 November 2010
Dear mum, papa, family and friends,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I am jealous that L and B are home right now, and I don't get to be for thanksgiving! I am sad to miss thanksgiving festivities, but it sounds like you are all going to have a wonderful time!
It sounds like you had a great time in VA. Very fun! And the pictures that you took there of the kids are beautiful! What cute nephews I have! I can't believe M and R are putting their house on the market! That’s awesome. And stressful. They are incredible! I’m glad you stayed mom, to be with them a day more to help out. That’s great!
I’m sorry about the Messiah rehearsal being freezing. That’s how I feel here all the time. I am actually getting a cold right now because of it I think. My rain coat just isn't heavy enough for this weather. It is COLD here. Sooo sooo cold. We have to layer up everything. I wear a hat every day, and at least two pairs of tights and long socks and boots and like three tops and gloves and a scarf and a jacket, and I am still frozen. Blah! I am so grateful I am only here one winter. I couldn't handle another I am pretty sure! But I know how cold you get mum, so I am hoping that they get the heater worked out there. I feel like it was always cold in there though, no?
So you found my flat on Google earth! Way to go. Amazing. I couldn't even tell for a second if it was right, but it is. It’s a hard thing to find. When we first got here, we passed the little road about 5 times, and then had to be directed on the phone by the elders who had lived there before. Crazy!
I am glad papa spoke at the funeral. I wonder if he would send me the talk. I would love to read it. Oh, and getting the L-C report via post is amazing. I love reading it! So thanks so much for getting that off to me papa. I am going to win the next quiz. Watch out! Ha-ha.
So I curled my hair this Sunday for church, and I actually liked it down and everything. So maybe it's getting better. Pretty exciting. Sister P and I have decided to get rid of anything that isn't healthy in the flat, and we eat a ton of fruit. You asked what I eat for all three meals. For breakfast, I either have bran cereal, oatmeal, or granola and yogurt. Lunch, we don't really have a set thing. It’s just whatever. Usually sandwiches or something. We don't have much food in the house. And then dinner we have almost every night at someone's house. It’s great, because we are getting to know the branch so well. But they feed us these crazy dinners every night. But don't feel bad about me not having a thanksgiving dinner, because that's like all we eat here. Last night, Sister P notified me that in the last seven dinner appointments, three of them were roast dinners. But their stuffing is nothing compared to yours mum. And I will miss your jello. I love that jello.
I know. I hope I marry someone I get along with as well as I get along with Sister P! Ha-ha. We really have not had one argument. It’s beautiful. And President Ogden called us today, and basically told us we are staying together for longer. So we have at least two more months together! Yay!
Oh, and you asked who drove to Wales for our zone conference. Sister P drove there, and I drove back. It was about a two hour drive. Not too bad. It’s beautiful there! And we crossed on a bridge which reminded me of home. Very fun!
So what's been going on here. We have had a crazy week. We had a zone meeting in Gloucester with the whole zone. We are still learning our new training. It went really well, and we have such fun elders in our zone, it was nice. They actually talk to us, and we play games with them and stuff. It’s fun!
We then had just a long week of really trying to make all the members feel loved, and really getting to know them. And we have had so much success. We have had two new investigators come from member referrals, which is great! Here is one story, which was amazing! So we have been going over to a less active woman’s house to help her around the house. We clean her kitchen for her sometimes. And she has an active daughter who's 17, but she is struggling. So we went over to have dinner in their home. We were their first EVER dinner guests. And the ward was shocked that we even got into their home, let alone invited to dinner. And then on Sunday, we went over again to have scripture study with the daughter charlotte. When we went over, there was their friend/referral that they had given us the week previous. And she (sally) stayed for a lesson, and she kept asking questions about the church, and she loves everything she knows about the church! It’s awesome. We have another appointment with her this next week. And sally has been trying to convince Vicky (the mum) to get a blessing, because she has been really ill. And they have been trying to convince her for about 2 years, and finally, she succumbed. And we called a priesthood holder, and he is coming on Wednesday night to give her a blessing. And sally is so excited. It’s so cool!
Anyway! Sorry that this letter is so all over the place. I will write a better one next week. I love you! And thanks for the letter! Have fun with L and B! And take lots of pictures!
Love you so so much!
All my love, heaped up pressed down and running over,
Sister Annie Clark
Dear mum, papa, family and friends,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I am jealous that L and B are home right now, and I don't get to be for thanksgiving! I am sad to miss thanksgiving festivities, but it sounds like you are all going to have a wonderful time!
It sounds like you had a great time in VA. Very fun! And the pictures that you took there of the kids are beautiful! What cute nephews I have! I can't believe M and R are putting their house on the market! That’s awesome. And stressful. They are incredible! I’m glad you stayed mom, to be with them a day more to help out. That’s great!
I’m sorry about the Messiah rehearsal being freezing. That’s how I feel here all the time. I am actually getting a cold right now because of it I think. My rain coat just isn't heavy enough for this weather. It is COLD here. Sooo sooo cold. We have to layer up everything. I wear a hat every day, and at least two pairs of tights and long socks and boots and like three tops and gloves and a scarf and a jacket, and I am still frozen. Blah! I am so grateful I am only here one winter. I couldn't handle another I am pretty sure! But I know how cold you get mum, so I am hoping that they get the heater worked out there. I feel like it was always cold in there though, no?
So you found my flat on Google earth! Way to go. Amazing. I couldn't even tell for a second if it was right, but it is. It’s a hard thing to find. When we first got here, we passed the little road about 5 times, and then had to be directed on the phone by the elders who had lived there before. Crazy!
I am glad papa spoke at the funeral. I wonder if he would send me the talk. I would love to read it. Oh, and getting the L-C report via post is amazing. I love reading it! So thanks so much for getting that off to me papa. I am going to win the next quiz. Watch out! Ha-ha.
So I curled my hair this Sunday for church, and I actually liked it down and everything. So maybe it's getting better. Pretty exciting. Sister P and I have decided to get rid of anything that isn't healthy in the flat, and we eat a ton of fruit. You asked what I eat for all three meals. For breakfast, I either have bran cereal, oatmeal, or granola and yogurt. Lunch, we don't really have a set thing. It’s just whatever. Usually sandwiches or something. We don't have much food in the house. And then dinner we have almost every night at someone's house. It’s great, because we are getting to know the branch so well. But they feed us these crazy dinners every night. But don't feel bad about me not having a thanksgiving dinner, because that's like all we eat here. Last night, Sister P notified me that in the last seven dinner appointments, three of them were roast dinners. But their stuffing is nothing compared to yours mum. And I will miss your jello. I love that jello.
I know. I hope I marry someone I get along with as well as I get along with Sister P! Ha-ha. We really have not had one argument. It’s beautiful. And President Ogden called us today, and basically told us we are staying together for longer. So we have at least two more months together! Yay!
Oh, and you asked who drove to Wales for our zone conference. Sister P drove there, and I drove back. It was about a two hour drive. Not too bad. It’s beautiful there! And we crossed on a bridge which reminded me of home. Very fun!
So what's been going on here. We have had a crazy week. We had a zone meeting in Gloucester with the whole zone. We are still learning our new training. It went really well, and we have such fun elders in our zone, it was nice. They actually talk to us, and we play games with them and stuff. It’s fun!
We then had just a long week of really trying to make all the members feel loved, and really getting to know them. And we have had so much success. We have had two new investigators come from member referrals, which is great! Here is one story, which was amazing! So we have been going over to a less active woman’s house to help her around the house. We clean her kitchen for her sometimes. And she has an active daughter who's 17, but she is struggling. So we went over to have dinner in their home. We were their first EVER dinner guests. And the ward was shocked that we even got into their home, let alone invited to dinner. And then on Sunday, we went over again to have scripture study with the daughter charlotte. When we went over, there was their friend/referral that they had given us the week previous. And she (sally) stayed for a lesson, and she kept asking questions about the church, and she loves everything she knows about the church! It’s awesome. We have another appointment with her this next week. And sally has been trying to convince Vicky (the mum) to get a blessing, because she has been really ill. And they have been trying to convince her for about 2 years, and finally, she succumbed. And we called a priesthood holder, and he is coming on Wednesday night to give her a blessing. And sally is so excited. It’s so cool!
Anyway! Sorry that this letter is so all over the place. I will write a better one next week. I love you! And thanks for the letter! Have fun with L and B! And take lots of pictures!
Love you so so much!
All my love, heaped up pressed down and running over,
Sister Annie Clark
Zone Conference in Wales
15 November 2010
Dear Mom,
Thanks for letting me know about Sister Kincaid. I am so sad, but at the same time so excited for her. I will miss her though. I love her so much! How sad. I hope Papa is doing ok, I think he was like a mom to her a little bit. Sorry papa!
So it sounds like you are having a good time in Virginia! Those boys are all so cute! I love the pictures that M and R attached to their email! It was wonderful. And their Halloween outfits are SO cute! What cute cute nephews I have!
I hope B is doing okay. I am glad M is home now, and that he had a forced 5 days at home. That sounds really nice actually. And I am glad he got back safe. It made me nervous that he was there, even though I don't even know what he was doing.
So here is the description for where I live. If you are looking at the church, I live to the left of it. I don't know south or north, sorry. But it is heading toward Pershore, and away from Evesham. So just left of the church is a scout building. And then left of that is a little drive that is like a place people can walk their dogs along the river. Then just left of that...barely 10 feet of that bigger drive is where the drive is into my flat. And it looks like it's just a drive up to a house, but it leads to three separate places. You pass a house on your right; it's a bungalow, or a one story house. And then you pass a little set of condos on your right that is white thatched houses. And then at the end of the drive, straight in front of you is where I live. And I live on the top story. On the left. Yep. It’s great. And it has the biggest window and it is the top left window, and that looks straight into our living room and onto our study desk. It’s great!
We had cleaning checks today, and we won. I am pretty happy about that. We have been cleaning a bit each day and then today we barely had to do anything to get it ready for today. Just tidying up and things like that.
This week T H was baptized. That was amazing! We are really excited about him, and we are so happy. He is a 12 year old boy, and he is so clever. He and his dad have us for dinner once a week and we have loved getting to know them. Even though we haven't been around for much of his learning (only a couple weeks) we just are so excited for him!
Also this week we had zone conference in WALES! Yep, we went to Wales, and it was awesome. On all the signs there is English and then there is welsh. Weird language. Zone conference was absolutely amazing. We felt the spirit so strong, and it was so much fun. Because we have always gone to the zone conferences in Birmingham we have always seen those missionaries, but this time we got to know a whole bunch of difference elders. Which was really fun? Zone conference was amazing. President Ogden is so inspired, and I learned SO much. He taught all about how important members are in the work, and how we have to serve the members every day, and we have new goals on how to make our members feel as loved as possible. We started this already. it's actually really cool, because President Ogden brought up a lot of new things that he wants us to focus on, and Sister P and I in the last few weeks have really been feeling inspired to do these things already and already focus on them, so we literally didn't have to change anything from before. We have been so striving to follow the spirit constantly, the spirit must have guided us to do what President was about to tell us to do. It just reconfirmed how led the president is in his calling. Amazing! We had such a good time. And I once again realized how grateful I am to be able to be companions with sister P. We work harder than we have ever worked before, we laugh more than we ever have, and we are led by the spirit more than ever before. We are learning to follow the spirit every day, and it's completely amazing. I am SO happy here. I feel like we are supposed to be here, and that we are really doing our best. And when we do all we can do, God will bless us, I know it.
One cool experience that we had this week was when we were finding on the main street of Evesham. It was on Saturday, and so everyone was busy with their shopping and nobody was really talking to us at all. And so we stopped on a side street and prayed and asked for guidance to which way we should walk back to the car. After not really feeling much of an answer, we decided to go by the river so we could talk to some people that were walking their dogs, and in less of a rush. But then when we started walking, neither of us felt good about it. So we turned around and went back up through the high street. We weren't sure why, and then all the sudden we run into this lady. We didn't know her, and had never seen her before, and we stopped her and talked to her and found out that she is a less active. She was baptized years ago, served a mission in Ireland, and is now living in Evesham. She doesn't want to be an active member anymore, but has no negative feelings for the church. Before we left, she gave us her address and number and invited us for dinner. We went home and looked her up on the ward records, and she wasn't even on them. What a blessing! So we thought that's why we were led that way, but to our amazement, we ran into two more people that we needed to see that day, and it only happened because we tried to follow the spirit. We are striving to be able to feel that more and more, and President Ogden promised us as we follow the promptings of the spirit, we will be able to hear the spirit's voice louder. And we are thrilled that we are trying so hard to do that.
Things are going really well here. We are so happy! We are busy all the time, but striving every day to do what's right. We laugh all the time. It’s sometimes embarrassing. We had to call someone in the ward to make sure we were still having a dinner appointment with them this week. And I left a message, and left it without thinking with the number from Banbury instead of an Evesham number. And when I realized, sister P was laughing so hard, and so it started me laughing, and then I had the giggles and could barely finish the message. Sister P had to call back and apologize for making me laugh and give them our right number. How embarrassing! We had dinner with them last night, and they just said it made them laugh. Oh, the embarrassing moments.
Another cool thing that president has asked us to do is to have a blessings journal. To write down all the spiritual experiences, and times that we know we have been led by the spirit. It’s really cool! So we are starting to do that, and I am excited to see the differences it will make. I am so excited to be on a mission. It’s going by so fast right now! It seems that we just got here to Evesham, but we have already been here three weeks, and transfers are coming up way too soon! I hope we stay here for a lot longer together. I am growing as a missionary so much, and I can really see how the gospel really changes people! It’s amazing.
I love this gospel, and I love love love being a missionary.
Thank you so much for letting me have this opportunity mum and papa. I really am so grateful to you! Without you, I could not have been here. I am so grateful. I love it so much here, and I know this is where I am supposed to be. Thank you!
I love you!
Love,
Sister Ann(ie) Clark
Ps. so my hair cut. I kinda hate it. But I was SO fed up with my long outgrown hair, it's better than that. I decided I just will keep it up every day, and I like my bangs, so it will work out. I hope it grows out well. Regardless, when I get home, I am going to need an emergency repair hair cut as soon as possible! Maybe book Eliza right now? Ha-ha. Just kidding....kinda.
Dear Mom,
Thanks for letting me know about Sister Kincaid. I am so sad, but at the same time so excited for her. I will miss her though. I love her so much! How sad. I hope Papa is doing ok, I think he was like a mom to her a little bit. Sorry papa!
So it sounds like you are having a good time in Virginia! Those boys are all so cute! I love the pictures that M and R attached to their email! It was wonderful. And their Halloween outfits are SO cute! What cute cute nephews I have!
I hope B is doing okay. I am glad M is home now, and that he had a forced 5 days at home. That sounds really nice actually. And I am glad he got back safe. It made me nervous that he was there, even though I don't even know what he was doing.
So here is the description for where I live. If you are looking at the church, I live to the left of it. I don't know south or north, sorry. But it is heading toward Pershore, and away from Evesham. So just left of the church is a scout building. And then left of that is a little drive that is like a place people can walk their dogs along the river. Then just left of that...barely 10 feet of that bigger drive is where the drive is into my flat. And it looks like it's just a drive up to a house, but it leads to three separate places. You pass a house on your right; it's a bungalow, or a one story house. And then you pass a little set of condos on your right that is white thatched houses. And then at the end of the drive, straight in front of you is where I live. And I live on the top story. On the left. Yep. It’s great. And it has the biggest window and it is the top left window, and that looks straight into our living room and onto our study desk. It’s great!
We had cleaning checks today, and we won. I am pretty happy about that. We have been cleaning a bit each day and then today we barely had to do anything to get it ready for today. Just tidying up and things like that.
This week T H was baptized. That was amazing! We are really excited about him, and we are so happy. He is a 12 year old boy, and he is so clever. He and his dad have us for dinner once a week and we have loved getting to know them. Even though we haven't been around for much of his learning (only a couple weeks) we just are so excited for him!
Also this week we had zone conference in WALES! Yep, we went to Wales, and it was awesome. On all the signs there is English and then there is welsh. Weird language. Zone conference was absolutely amazing. We felt the spirit so strong, and it was so much fun. Because we have always gone to the zone conferences in Birmingham we have always seen those missionaries, but this time we got to know a whole bunch of difference elders. Which was really fun? Zone conference was amazing. President Ogden is so inspired, and I learned SO much. He taught all about how important members are in the work, and how we have to serve the members every day, and we have new goals on how to make our members feel as loved as possible. We started this already. it's actually really cool, because President Ogden brought up a lot of new things that he wants us to focus on, and Sister P and I in the last few weeks have really been feeling inspired to do these things already and already focus on them, so we literally didn't have to change anything from before. We have been so striving to follow the spirit constantly, the spirit must have guided us to do what President was about to tell us to do. It just reconfirmed how led the president is in his calling. Amazing! We had such a good time. And I once again realized how grateful I am to be able to be companions with sister P. We work harder than we have ever worked before, we laugh more than we ever have, and we are led by the spirit more than ever before. We are learning to follow the spirit every day, and it's completely amazing. I am SO happy here. I feel like we are supposed to be here, and that we are really doing our best. And when we do all we can do, God will bless us, I know it.
One cool experience that we had this week was when we were finding on the main street of Evesham. It was on Saturday, and so everyone was busy with their shopping and nobody was really talking to us at all. And so we stopped on a side street and prayed and asked for guidance to which way we should walk back to the car. After not really feeling much of an answer, we decided to go by the river so we could talk to some people that were walking their dogs, and in less of a rush. But then when we started walking, neither of us felt good about it. So we turned around and went back up through the high street. We weren't sure why, and then all the sudden we run into this lady. We didn't know her, and had never seen her before, and we stopped her and talked to her and found out that she is a less active. She was baptized years ago, served a mission in Ireland, and is now living in Evesham. She doesn't want to be an active member anymore, but has no negative feelings for the church. Before we left, she gave us her address and number and invited us for dinner. We went home and looked her up on the ward records, and she wasn't even on them. What a blessing! So we thought that's why we were led that way, but to our amazement, we ran into two more people that we needed to see that day, and it only happened because we tried to follow the spirit. We are striving to be able to feel that more and more, and President Ogden promised us as we follow the promptings of the spirit, we will be able to hear the spirit's voice louder. And we are thrilled that we are trying so hard to do that.
Things are going really well here. We are so happy! We are busy all the time, but striving every day to do what's right. We laugh all the time. It’s sometimes embarrassing. We had to call someone in the ward to make sure we were still having a dinner appointment with them this week. And I left a message, and left it without thinking with the number from Banbury instead of an Evesham number. And when I realized, sister P was laughing so hard, and so it started me laughing, and then I had the giggles and could barely finish the message. Sister P had to call back and apologize for making me laugh and give them our right number. How embarrassing! We had dinner with them last night, and they just said it made them laugh. Oh, the embarrassing moments.
Another cool thing that president has asked us to do is to have a blessings journal. To write down all the spiritual experiences, and times that we know we have been led by the spirit. It’s really cool! So we are starting to do that, and I am excited to see the differences it will make. I am so excited to be on a mission. It’s going by so fast right now! It seems that we just got here to Evesham, but we have already been here three weeks, and transfers are coming up way too soon! I hope we stay here for a lot longer together. I am growing as a missionary so much, and I can really see how the gospel really changes people! It’s amazing.
I love this gospel, and I love love love being a missionary.
Thank you so much for letting me have this opportunity mum and papa. I really am so grateful to you! Without you, I could not have been here. I am so grateful. I love it so much here, and I know this is where I am supposed to be. Thank you!
I love you!
Love,
Sister Ann(ie) Clark
Ps. so my hair cut. I kinda hate it. But I was SO fed up with my long outgrown hair, it's better than that. I decided I just will keep it up every day, and I like my bangs, so it will work out. I hope it grows out well. Regardless, when I get home, I am going to need an emergency repair hair cut as soon as possible! Maybe book Eliza right now? Ha-ha. Just kidding....kinda.
There's a Spider on My Head, on My Head
8 November 2010
Dear mom and papa and family and friends,
This week has been great. Very hard work. But good. Monday, I saw David and that was awesome. But I am pretty sure I wrote about that in my last week’s letter. Then after emailing last week, I got my hair cut. I was so fed up with it being long, but now it's pretty short and super British, and I am not very much in love with it at all... but I guess now I have it for a while. That’s what I get for being in England. Then that night we had dinner with R and T Hopkins. T is getting baptized Tomorrow on the 9th of November, which is my 14th anniversary of my baptism! We are pretty excited for him!
Last Tuesday we spent all day in Tewkesbury. When we first got here, we thought everyone was saying Chukesbury, because that's how it sounds with their accents, so when we found out it was actually a "T" we were shocked! But Tewkesbury is lovely. And we had a lesson with a little lady named E. And she is adorable. We taught her part of the plan of salvation for her first lesson, and it went really well. And then we had a lesson with a less active man who has decided to start his own type of religion and sings these weird yet awesome folk gospel songs. He sang for us the whole time we were there, and then gave us two CD's to listen to. They are hilarious.
Wednesday I turned 22! Very fun. Sister P is the best companion in the whole world. She made me cake and breakfast, and gave me the most hilarious card ever. We went to District meeting, which was a great meeting, then we all had cake, and we got mail and that was fun. I got some surprise mail from people I hadn't heard from in a while, so that was exciting. Then we brought the district leader and his companion back to Evesham with us so that they could interview T for his baptism. But first we did some finding, and got some new investigators, which was great. And then we walked up to R and T's home. But when we got there, the elders realized that they forgot the sheet they needed for the interview in the car. So we went finding, while R took them to get it. After the interview, we had to run (literally) about a mile and a half back to the car to get them to the train station. Quite the workout when you are wearing heavy boots and have a backpack on. That night, K, a less active 19 year old made us dinner and we had a lesson. It was a good day! Thanks to all the friends who sent birthday cards. I so appreciated them! And Hailey! Thanks so SO much for the gift. I love it so much, and you have a letter on the way. Gosh, you are the best friend ever!
Thursday we gardened with a member in the morning, and then visited some other members and less active members, and then had dinner at the Wharrad's home. It was so fun! Sister Wharrad made a big birthday meal, and there were balloons and a cute cute birthday cake! It was so much fun! I loved it. What a sweet sweet lady! And her two kids, E (4) and Th (2), were adorable. They made me a very pink cake, and E helped me blow out the candles! Such sweet people. Then we had a lesson with the B family. G B married a member and since then has been looking into the church. And since about 14 years ago, he has been basically a member. He comes to church every Sunday, and reads the book of Mormon every day, and prays and does everything. But he hasn't been baptized. He has been investigating seriously for about 3 years, and we had an amazing lesson with him. He had major concerns about the atonement, so we had been studying for him all week to be able to answer his questions. Well, we taught, and the spirit was so strong, and we actually dissolved his concerns. It was amazing! I think he was really surprised. But it was so powerful! We thanked the lord when we got in the car for the spirit that was present.
Friday (the 5th of November. you know, "remember remember the fifth of November") it was bonfire night, and it was really fun. We had weekly planning, and then we tried to visit lots of other people, and nobody was home. But the fireworks were really cool, and we could smell the bonfires for a few days after even. Very fun!
Saturday we met again with J. She was baptized in February, and since then has started smoking again. So that day she decided to stop smoking. So we started that on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, we started our fast, and we fasted for the missionary work in the Evesham area. We asked the ward, 2 weeks previous to also join us in fasting for the area. That night we visited an 88 year old woman in the ward and I saw a huge spider behind her couch. And so I was brave, no screaming or even showing any fright, and I got up and stepped on it, and got rid of it. I am so proud of myself!
Sunday we had church which went great. And then a dinner afterward at a members home. Then we went to J’s and did the stop smoking workshop with her. Now we are pros! We did so well, and she is committed! It’s awesome! We are so happy for her! Then that night, we went to the B family again, and again had a very spiritually powerful lesson. We ended by setting a date for G's baptism, and he is working on his faith to be ready by then. So prayers for G would be lovely!
This week has been great. We loved it. We tracted a lot, and did lots. We both got seriously fed up with our clothes. But oh well. And we laugh all the time. I love it here. And I love serving the lord.
Love,
Sister Clark
I hope you had a great birthday mum! Love you!
Dear mom and papa and family and friends,
This week has been great. Very hard work. But good. Monday, I saw David and that was awesome. But I am pretty sure I wrote about that in my last week’s letter. Then after emailing last week, I got my hair cut. I was so fed up with it being long, but now it's pretty short and super British, and I am not very much in love with it at all... but I guess now I have it for a while. That’s what I get for being in England. Then that night we had dinner with R and T Hopkins. T is getting baptized Tomorrow on the 9th of November, which is my 14th anniversary of my baptism! We are pretty excited for him!
Last Tuesday we spent all day in Tewkesbury. When we first got here, we thought everyone was saying Chukesbury, because that's how it sounds with their accents, so when we found out it was actually a "T" we were shocked! But Tewkesbury is lovely. And we had a lesson with a little lady named E. And she is adorable. We taught her part of the plan of salvation for her first lesson, and it went really well. And then we had a lesson with a less active man who has decided to start his own type of religion and sings these weird yet awesome folk gospel songs. He sang for us the whole time we were there, and then gave us two CD's to listen to. They are hilarious.
Wednesday I turned 22! Very fun. Sister P is the best companion in the whole world. She made me cake and breakfast, and gave me the most hilarious card ever. We went to District meeting, which was a great meeting, then we all had cake, and we got mail and that was fun. I got some surprise mail from people I hadn't heard from in a while, so that was exciting. Then we brought the district leader and his companion back to Evesham with us so that they could interview T for his baptism. But first we did some finding, and got some new investigators, which was great. And then we walked up to R and T's home. But when we got there, the elders realized that they forgot the sheet they needed for the interview in the car. So we went finding, while R took them to get it. After the interview, we had to run (literally) about a mile and a half back to the car to get them to the train station. Quite the workout when you are wearing heavy boots and have a backpack on. That night, K, a less active 19 year old made us dinner and we had a lesson. It was a good day! Thanks to all the friends who sent birthday cards. I so appreciated them! And Hailey! Thanks so SO much for the gift. I love it so much, and you have a letter on the way. Gosh, you are the best friend ever!
Thursday we gardened with a member in the morning, and then visited some other members and less active members, and then had dinner at the Wharrad's home. It was so fun! Sister Wharrad made a big birthday meal, and there were balloons and a cute cute birthday cake! It was so much fun! I loved it. What a sweet sweet lady! And her two kids, E (4) and Th (2), were adorable. They made me a very pink cake, and E helped me blow out the candles! Such sweet people. Then we had a lesson with the B family. G B married a member and since then has been looking into the church. And since about 14 years ago, he has been basically a member. He comes to church every Sunday, and reads the book of Mormon every day, and prays and does everything. But he hasn't been baptized. He has been investigating seriously for about 3 years, and we had an amazing lesson with him. He had major concerns about the atonement, so we had been studying for him all week to be able to answer his questions. Well, we taught, and the spirit was so strong, and we actually dissolved his concerns. It was amazing! I think he was really surprised. But it was so powerful! We thanked the lord when we got in the car for the spirit that was present.
Friday (the 5th of November. you know, "remember remember the fifth of November") it was bonfire night, and it was really fun. We had weekly planning, and then we tried to visit lots of other people, and nobody was home. But the fireworks were really cool, and we could smell the bonfires for a few days after even. Very fun!
Saturday we met again with J. She was baptized in February, and since then has started smoking again. So that day she decided to stop smoking. So we started that on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, we started our fast, and we fasted for the missionary work in the Evesham area. We asked the ward, 2 weeks previous to also join us in fasting for the area. That night we visited an 88 year old woman in the ward and I saw a huge spider behind her couch. And so I was brave, no screaming or even showing any fright, and I got up and stepped on it, and got rid of it. I am so proud of myself!
Sunday we had church which went great. And then a dinner afterward at a members home. Then we went to J’s and did the stop smoking workshop with her. Now we are pros! We did so well, and she is committed! It’s awesome! We are so happy for her! Then that night, we went to the B family again, and again had a very spiritually powerful lesson. We ended by setting a date for G's baptism, and he is working on his faith to be ready by then. So prayers for G would be lovely!
This week has been great. We loved it. We tracted a lot, and did lots. We both got seriously fed up with our clothes. But oh well. And we laugh all the time. I love it here. And I love serving the lord.
Love,
Sister Clark
I hope you had a great birthday mum! Love you!
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