Dear mom, papa, and family!
Firstly, I haven't taken the test. It’s tomorrow! And I’m freaking out a bit, but it'll be fine. I’ve been obedient, so I expect to pass. But if I don't, then I will keep trying, and Sister Baker gets to keep driving. Basically, the rules are that you can drive with your American license for a year, and then you have to get a UK license. And there lies the problem! But it'll all work out. I’m going to practice a few key things they will ask me to do tomorrow, and other than that, I’m going to pray!
This Saturday coming up is the day that Garry is supposed to be getting baptized. We all prayed and fasted for him yesterday, and really hope he'll go through with it. If he doesn't, Sister Pope is going to die. She just doesn't know what to do for him anymore. We really hope that for him and his family’s sake, he'll do it. But he'll do it when he's ready I guess.
Training is going well. This week has run a lot smoother, since she knows a bit more of whom people are, and planning isn't a one man act anymore. But it's still exhausting, because I still have to come up with everything we have to do, because I know the area and stuff. So that will all come in time. But for the meantime, I’m learning, and I’m growing, and she is getting used to my insanity! It’s great!
NICOLE! Congratulations on the baby! Oh my goodness, I can't wait to see him, and babysit all three. You are awesome! I loved the story of the birth, and I’m sending you off a letter today! Love you!
I can't believe that Brother Petersen is 90 years old! Wow. That’s great! We met a 99year old lady this week. She is still doing well. That’s really old!
I’m sorry to hear that Sister Fox is in the hospital! Tell her I love her, and that I’m praying for her! I’m sorry! I hope she will be alright.
All these parks sound like so much fun! Can Rebecca and the kids come to stay when I get home, so that I can visit these parks too? Ha-ha. That sounds like so much fun! And papa, I got your journal, and you said that you have a tape of the royal wedding. Can you keep it for me so when I get home I can watch it? I’d love to see it. Thanks!
So this week has been kinda crazy. It’s been good. And I am completely exhausted. All the time. But it's good! That’s how a mission is meant to be.
First off. We were at a lesson. And a member’s daughter whispered something to her mom. And her mom laughed, and repeated it to me. The daughters question was whether Elder Clark (one of the elders in this ward with us and the district leader) and I are married. How funny. It’s weird being in the same ward as an elder Clark. To say the least.
This week, Mahdi had a meeting with us and President Ogden, and president approved him to be baptized. So we are so excited! We set a date with him, and all was well. But then a few days later, he called and asked if he can keep learning and not set a date just yet. We said of course! We don't really know what changed. Maybe that he just learned about the word of wisdom? But I don’t' know. But it'll all worked out. He was at church yesterday and hasn't missed a week since his first week. And he even was sick yesterday, but he still came. So he'll be fine. He’s awesome. But the meeting with president was really special. Mahdi was very emotional when talking about his history and president could see in his eyes that he knows this church is true, when they were talking about the Book of Mormon. Mahdi is awesome. And we are so excited for him!
It’s cool how different people are good for different people. Some people that weren't really progressing last transfer, have just started to progress. And it is amazing! It’s really exciting. This week, we needed a miracle for us to get standard of excellence. A lot of our investigators couldn't come to church, and we were a bit worried. We begged father for a miracle. And a miracle came in the form of Edwin! We have been teaching Edwin for the whole time I’ve been here. But he hasn't been able to make it to church. And we didn’t' expect him to come, because he's working on his dissertation, and has only a month left before he has to be done. He’s really REALLY stressed out. But we were sitting, waiting for sacrament meeting to start, and we turned around, and there was Edwin! Oh my word, I couldn't have been more excited! We didn’t' get standard, but we DEFINITELY got a miracle, and we are SO grateful!
Another miracle of yesterday. We had an appointment that fell through, so we had planned to go to a former investigator. And even though she lives far away from where we were, we went because we had planned to go. And then that former wasn't even there, so we just flog 10'd (tracted around her house basically), and two houses later, a group of people were inside studying the bible, and they invited us right in! One from Germany, one from Ghana, and one from Togo. And they have all at one point been an investigator of this church. We had a great discussion, and they loved us, and they invited us back! We got three new investigators in the last hour of our week! Wow. It was an amazing miracle! Father is really watching over this work, and it's so exciting!
Hmm. what else? Oh! We made a snakes and ladder game this week. And when you go up a ladder, you pick up a card and it's one of the points of the gospel, and you read the scripture on the card. And when you go down a snake, you pick up a snake card, and read something that you've done that moved your progression away from God. And it's really great. And the people we've played it with so far it has worked great. Because everyone has to participate, and it's fun, and it's a big discussion on all the gospel points. It’s great! And we are excited. We keep trying to figure out creative and fun ways to teach and to find, so that people will love it. Obviously not every lesson needs to be creative, but pictures and visuals really help people understand the gospel. And Sister Baker is creative, so it's helpful!
So basically, life is great. And time is FLYING by. I can't believe it's almost June. That means it's almost July, then August, and then I leave SO soon. Oh man. The time is precious, and I love being on a mission. I have to make the most of it. I love it here SOOOO much. It’s so great to be around these people. And I get pushed every day, and I am growing constantly. It’s difficult, and tiring, and sometimes discouraging. But we just smile, and laugh our way through it, and we come out better on the other side. I’m so excited about all that I’m learning while I’m here. I can tell I’m going to be a much much better student and better at practicing well, and a better member, and visiting teacher, and whatever I’ll be in the future. I didn’t' realize that a mission would improve all aspects of my life, but I can see that it has. And I’m so happy! It’s great.
Thank you SOOOO much for all your encouragement. Thank you thank you for the postcards and the journals papa! I love your exclamations on the side! And I get so excited! And I LOVE the cartoons you sometimes send. The last one with the lady in the shop was great! Thanks! You are the best parents, and I am grateful for your support, and for providing me with the ability to serve this mission. It has REALLY blessed my life. THANK YOU! I love you!!!
Love,
SISTER Annie Clark!
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