Christmas in Evesham

29 December 2010

So this week has been crazy. So last week, we had three normal working days. Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. Of those days, we had to spend all of them just working in Evesham because of the terrible road conditions due to the snow. And we had no access to our car. This meant our days consisted of walking ALL day through high sludge. So this is an example of what we wore every day. At least 2 tops and two cardigans and a heavy coat, scarf, hat, and gloves, two skirts, two pairs of thick tights, two pairs of socks, a couple plastic bags on our feet to make sure they don’t get drenched, and then a pair of boots. And we were still cold. No joke. It was a good three days. Hard, but good. It was really cool though, in those three days, while we were walking around we saw so many people that we were meaning to see that week. It was so cool! The Lord really put people in our path that would help us out. It was a cool experience. On Wednesday night, we spent about three hours tracting. At one house, they asked us if we were caroling, so we just sang. It was funny. At another house, the man just opened his upstairs window to tell us “no” and he knocked icicles off the roof which hit me. Which of course he didn’t even notice. Oh gosh, sometimes tracting can be so funny.

Thursday night the sisters from New Castle Emlyn in Wales came to stay the night with us so they would not have to drive the whole next morning to get to the mission Christmas party. That was really fun. It is always good to see the other sisters!

Friday! Christmas Eve, the Christmas party! It was the funnest day of my life. We had such a good time. There was a pig roasting, which I wasn’t so keen on, but it looked way cool! And then there was a massive talent show. Massive meaning like 5 hours! It was amazing. I have never laughed so hard in my life. There was everything from guitars and singing, to ridiculous magic tricks, to Hakka’s (an ancient Maury tradition), and harmonica (one elder played it entirely with his nose…), the chanter from bagpipes, the upright bass, break dancing, beat boxing, dancing. Oh it was hilarious. So sister Pope and I decided to also contribute a little something to the talent show. So we did an interpretive dance to Brett Raymond’s “my Heavenly Father Loves Me”. Oh my word. Picture this. We both have skirts on. Sister Pope has gold shiny stretchy pants on. I have butterfly wings on. We both have yellow headbands on. Oh, we looked great. And it was so funny. We keep playing the song over and over again on the camera, because it was so great. I tried to email it to you, but it wouldn’t let me. It’s too much space, and I don’t know how to reduce it. Sorry. But just imagine it, it was funny. Yep. We received many compliments. For real! After the talent show there was a Christmas devotional. Lots of music and inspirational missionary Christmas stories. It was really nice. I accompanied a sister singing Oh Holy Night, and all the German missionaries singing Stille Nacht, and then I accompanied the congregational hymns too. All the sisters sang John Rutter's “Angels Carol” which much to my amazement sounded great! It was an incredible night. I felt the spirit so much. I really feel so at home with the mission, I love it. I just feel like I have a lot of brothers and sisters here, and that president and sister Ogden are our parents away from home. It’s really nice! Afterward, we took pictures forever, and then went home. It was sad to leave, because it was such a great time, but it’s great to know we are all going back to the same work wherever we are.

Saturday = CHRISTMAS!!! Sister Pope and I woke up and opened our presents. To avoid confusion, we awoke no earlier than usual. And we got the best presents! Our branch family loves us so much! We loved it! And oh, the presents that you, my wonderful parents, sent me were GREAT! THANKS!!! I love the long johns so much. SO much! I feel like wearing them all the time. They are so comfortable! I especially love the fit and feel of the cheetah print ones. Great! Thanks SOOOOO much!!!! We then went to the G’s for Christmas. That family is so adorable. They have two little boys. A is turning 8 this week, and getting baptized on Saturday. He is SO smart. You can ask him on what day of the week any date is, and he’ll figure it out and tell you so fast! It’s so cool. He’s a really brilliant kid. We played battleship, and he almost beat me. My word! Cool kid. The other child, H, is 4 and completely adorable. He has some learning difficulties, and is in his own world most of the time. And when we were at the table having Christmas dinner, he just kept talking about a cave. Then he looked at his mum and said,
H: “mum, do you know what my last wish is?” (Say this in your most posh English accent of a 4 year old)
C: what?
H: “Your Freedom!!!” then he points to all of us. And your freedom and your freedom and your freedom.
Apparently he was reliving Aladdin when Aladdin was stuck in the cave. Oh gosh, we laughed so hard!
The G’s gave us the best gift ever! They bought a webcam so we could Skype our families. So at 4:30 sister pope skipped her family! And I met some of them! It was so great! I love her family. I feel like I know them all so well…we tell lots of stories. I was so excited to finally meet them! And then I talked to my family! It was wonderful! It was great. I got to see Mom and Papa and D, and D got M and R’s family on Skype on his computer so I could see them through the computer. And then S and L were on speaker phones! I loved talking to everyone! I was pretty good, I didn’t get too emotional. I cried a bit after. I only really cried when L got on the phone. For some reason she makes me cry, ha-ha! It was so fun to talk to you all! Thanks so much! I loved it.

Oh, and sorry about my voice. I thought I had just lost it from all the talking and cheering the day before. But that night, I got a bad fever. And the next day it turned into a bad flu. And sister pope got it too. Actually 1/3 of the WHOLE mission has the flu. And it’s pretty bad. We are going to the doctors today for it. We have been sick inside, not moving since Boxing Day. But the branch has been so good to us. The R’s and the B’s went shopping for us, and have helped us out so much! Today we are both feeling much better. But I have a terrible cough, which we are afraid has turned into a chest infection. And it’s hard to sleep at night because of the coughing. And I still can’t talk. I answered the phone yesterday when some missionaries called, and they called me Elder Clark because I sound like a man. Nice. So I am trying not to talk much. We are doing lots of reading, and trying our best to get better. But prayers would be much appreciated! A cool story came out of it though. When we told G B that I was sick, before Sister P was sick, the first question he asked was if I had had a priesthood blessing. The answer was a yes. But that means he has a testimony of blessings. So cool!

So I am really sad, because I wanted to bear my testimony to you, my dear family, on Christmas, but it was all so hectic, that I totally forgot. But I just want you to know that I know that this church is true. God really is our Father, and he leads and guides our church today through the prophet of the world, Thomas S. Monson. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that he restored the keys of the priesthood on the earth today through Jesus Christ. I am grateful to the Book of Mormon. I love reading it SO much, and I find answers in it every time I read it prayerfully. I love this gospel. I love teaching it to people, and seeing how it changes all lives for the better. I know that it’s true. And I know that families can be together forever. I am SO grateful for that! That makes me so happy. I am so grateful for the many blessings that I have, and for the wonderful family support system I have. Thank you so much for all your love, prayers, and kindness. I know I haven’t always been perfect, but I always want to do what’s right. I am grateful for the atonement which makes that possible one day!

I love you! Happy Christmas and a happy new year! Bring on 2011!!!!!!!!!!!

All my love heaped up pressed down and running over,
Sister Annie Clark

Mom, thanks again for the package. I REALLY appreciate it! I know that was a sacrifice, but I want you to know that I love all that you sent, and I love you so much and miss you dearly! I know sister pope loves her gifts too! We can't wait to wear our aprons to DA's together. It will be great! love love love love you!!!!!