Assistants to the President's Wife

14 February 2011

My dearest momma and papa, and family,

Happy birthday papa!

About assigning to new areas. I think he is cutting down on moving people around a lot. Unless they need to, or there is someone else who needs us in a different area, he keeps us together. It takes so much time to get used to new companions and new areas that not much work gets really done the first weeks of a transfer. At least it's not as effective. So I think he's leaving everyone a bit. But who knows. We find out transfer "dodge" or news in a week. So next Wednesday I will be emailing, because of transfers. I don't really think that he cares how many areas we see though. That’s not the objective I think. But who knows? But there really isn't a place that everyone wants to go. There are places not as many people want to go to (mostly Wales, because there aren't many people and it's just farm land and sheep I think ha-ha), but I don’t' know where everyone wants to go. I bet there is an elder’s area that they want to go to, but our areas are pretty limited. But I would like to go to Harbourne in Birmingham. That’s where I have been on exchanges, and there are SO many people, it seems fun. You’d have so many people to visit, and it's a huge ward. So that would be fun. But I really love being here. I love, and I think this is my scene. Little branch, and everyone is friends, and it's just really nice, and close knit. I like it. But I don't really mind where I go next. Wherever it is, I know it's where I need to be. But I wouldn't mind staying here in Evesham for one more transfer. That would make it six months. That’s a good amount of time. I had that in Banbury. So I’d like to have that here too.


T is doing great! We see him almost every day, and it's going well. He’s getting baptized on Saturday! He had his interview on Saturday, and then that night we went to a baptism in Worcester with him. This is a cool story actually! So Sister Ogden (President’s wife) called us on Friday, wondering if there was a time she could drop off some cookie dough so that we could make it for zone conference on Tuesday. Of course we were delighted. When we tried to figure out a time, we realized that it would be hard with all that we had to do to go to Worcester for the baptism. So President and Sister Ogden came to Evesham. Dropped off the cookies and parcels for us! I got my camera! And Sister P got about 7 packages for her birthday! Lots of fun opening them that night! And then we picked up T, and all together drove to Worcester. T got to sit in the front with President Ogden and talk, and Sister P, Sister Ogden and I talked in the back. We have been suggesting for some time now that Sister Ogden has SO MUCH on her plate that she needs "APW"'s (assistants to the President’s wife), and that we would be the PERFECT candidates. And so we are very pleased that the cookie assignment is our first APW assignment! And if we do it well, President will announce our promotion! Ha-ha. We really love Sister Ogden, and so we would love to be able to be around her. And we are happy that right now we can be APW's while working in Evesham! Ha-ha. Fabulous! The baptism went great, and T is really excited for his baptism! What a good experience for him to be able to meet President Ogden and have a lot of time to talk to him! Lucky him! And lucky us. We are really teaching the elect of God!

Now, onto G. We have been trying to figure out what to do. We don't really feel that we are helping G right now. He needs to be willing to help himself and put his time into getting answers, and right now he's not. He’s just "too busy" with other things. So we talked to Jonathan Wharrad (our branch mission leader, and G's home teacher and good friend) and we told him that we don’t' know what to do. And together, we decided that we need to lay off G until he wants to do something. So sometime this week we are going to go to his home and tell him that we don't feel that we are helping him anymore. And that we have other people that we need to teach that would be able to progress. and that unless he is going to start doing something of himself and start working at finding an answer we will stop coming around to teach him. And then hopefully he'll change his mind, and commit himself to start working. But we did call G and asked him to give the opening prayer at T's baptism, and he said yes. And we also told him to bring his white clothes and towel, just in case he feels that the time is right for him to be baptized as well. How cool would that be!? G and T getting baptized!

Things here in Evesham are on fire! We are finally getting new investigators, and teaching people who want to learn! Wow, it can take a LONG time of work and prayers before they are answered. But we feel like every day, our prayers are being answered, and we are finding the elect of God. Maybe it's because we have finally proven ourselves worthy of teaching His elect, but regardless, we are HAPPY! And we are just trying to stay optimistic amid all the fire that we are getting from he who must not be named. He isn't so happy when the work is going well. And we have to fight to stay positive and encouraged about the work. But so far, we are doing ok. It helps when we keep our flat and car really clean. I’m a happy girl when my surroundings are clean and organized. It feels so good! Flat cleaning checks are my favorite day EVER! The flat looks SO good!

Anyway. Today is Valentine’s Day! We are delivering valentines to much of the branch, and are making cupcakes for them as well. And Elder and Sister Henry are checking our flats and we are making them lunch. It’s going to be fabulous! And there are awards we can win if our flat is the cleanest, and we want to WIN! Not that it really matters....but it's sure fun to win. Some elders never win. Sisters win most of the time. Ha-ha. It reminds me of our bed making contests when I was little! I loved getting the Smarties as the treats! So much fun. What a great way to get us to clean! Smart momma and papa!

Well, things here are fabulous. I am only wearing one pair of tights today, and the sun is actually shining! Knock on wood. It will probably rain tonight. But at least we have a little sun. Well, I love you! And I am sorry for the jumbled email. Hopefully you can make sense of the week. And thank you for all your prayers, and your love!

LOVE, Sister Annie Clark!

PS. mom. Can you believe my recital was a year ago yesterday?! Unbelievable!

Pss. happy birthday Scott Bingham, if you are home from your mission and reading this....




Anyway, love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much, and miss you that much too. Be good!