Ugliest cake Ever. Good things happening in Birmingham

Dear momma, papa, famiy and friends,

I hope when Kristy is there I can see her!!! That’s awesome, and I love her. And you will love her.

You sound like you had a good week! I can't believe how much is changing; I won't know the house by the time I get home. Fantastic about Samuel's room being a sewing room. But that will mean you can't have movies on at the same time, doesn't it? But that sounds nice to have a master bedroom back. It hasn't been like that for some time. 



We made the AP's a cake. Ss APW's. They had "try out's" for APW slots. But obviously there is no competition. Sister pope and iIare the REAL apws. :) . Ugliest cake EVER!! And we burnt it. hahaha. 

Glad papa was able to go to trinity Alps! I can't believe Anthony Celaya has a 13 year old son! I guess I’ve been gone a while...

How fun that you were able to see your high school friend. It sounds a bit like a Hailey.

Fantastic about the piano being in the dining room. Did you do that All by yourself?! You are going to hurt yourself. Be careful! But that sounds great. Where will my harp go? Oh...yeah...I don’t' really live there anymore. Weird. 

Funny about the vegan restaurant. I guess what would you expect? Vegans are supposed to be tree huggers, right? Ha ha. I want to go there though. Where was it? I would think there would be some vegan restaurants in Berkeley. 

Papa, do you remember a sister missionary from Birmingham, England. Sister Hamilton? She’s black, and cute, and thin? She was in the Berkeley singles ward for a while serving and she sometimes brought investigators to institute. Ring any bells? 

My favorite meal of the mission is baked potatoes. They call them jacket potatoes here, and they are somehow better than the potatoes at home. But when people feed us baked potatoes, I’m a happy girl. They are safe, healthy and delicious. Ha-ha. Oh, and we are in a tuna phase right now. Eating TONS of tuna. With great things in it. Relish, spicy mustard, celery, green onions, on top we put tomatoes, avecados, and cucumbers. All this on crackers. It’s delightful. 

You said in your email that you'd send pictures, but you didn't. You want to pop them into the next email? Thanks! 

Well, you sound like you've had a great week. It sounds GREAT that you are going to the church sites with mama pope. She’s great! I already love her. 

Well, onto this week. It’s been great. With some stress thrown in the mix. But that's part of the mission I think. Sister Baker sometimes wonders why I get so stressed sometimes, but I feel like I’m more responsible to get things done that she is. If it doesn't happen, it's my fault. And everything has to be perfect. But she doesn't get it. And just tells me to stop being stressed. Easier said than done. 

There was a stake BBQ - I love bouncy castles!

But this week really was a good week. 

WE GOT STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE!!!! 
And we are thrilled about it. We worked SO hard till the very last second for that one!

But one of the most exciting things that happened this week is that MARCELA CAME TO CHURCH!!! Hallelujah! For real. This is a miracle. She is SO busy. And so stressed about work and her kids and everything, she always has an excuse not to come. But this week, she and her friend Anna came. And it was great. We had to drive to their house to show them how to get there. They followed behind in their car. We were late, but it didn't matter. She was there. And they loved it. And there is a family in the ward, the wards (the one who's Skype I used...from Camarillo), and they both happen to know Russian, so they are going to have Marcela and Anna over to their home. Fantastic. Thank you wards! She loved it, and loved the people. Couldn’t understand a word of the talks given...he had a bad Brummie accent. But it's ok. She still felt the spirit. It was good. 

We had another cool experience. So remember Mapfumo and Julia? Remember how they were terrible to us, and we wondered why we had gone for so long to their home? Well, we found out at least one of the reasons this week. We met a Chinese guy on the way to one of our appointments there a few weeks ago, and got his number, and were going to meet up and have a lesson when he was done with exams. Well, we called him this week, and we asked if there was a time that we could see him, and he said...yeah, what about today? And there was actually time we could see him. So we went to his home, and it was great. It was an awkward sitting situation. We just had to meet in his bedroom (don't worry, we had a member with us), but us three sat on his bed, and he sat at his desk at the end of the bed. So I was closest to him, and couldn't really see sister baker or the member. So basically I just mostly talked the whole lesson. And when we got to prophets and dispensations he asked "well, then, shouldn't there be a prophet today?"  WHAT?!?!?!? That never happens. It’s always supposed to, but it doesn't. He was just so good. and then at the end, when I was really testifying that all we had talked about was true, I looked at him and said "I KNOW this is true." he paused and just looked at me. And then said "YOU know that is true. But I don't know...yet, but I’ll find out." oh, it was great. I wish it could have been recorded. It was epic. But I hope heavenly father records the good clips from our lives so someday we'll be able to replay them. 

Another great thing that happened this week was we found the greatest little family. We were waiting for a member to come out with us, and we waiting in our car on the street. So we decided to street contact while waiting. So we got out of the car right as a man was walking by our car. We offered him a card, and he looked at us and told us he knows a bit about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He said the full name. And we were a bit taken aback. But it was great. We asked if we could see him sometime. Well, he just gave us his number and asked us to call him the next day, because he was busy right then. Usually when this happens, there isn't much hope. But we called, an appointment was set, and he was there. With his wife and adorable baby. His name is Bureh, and his wife is Hawatu, and she is a former investigator as well, who used to study in London with the missionaries. They were really great. We taught the restoration, and they are going to read and pray. They are AMAZING. And they are a family. We pray for families to teach! Fantastic! They are great. And someday when they move back to Africa, they will bless those lives down there. 

We are also working with a less active - Jack. And he is cool. We met him for the first time about a month ago, and since then, he's been reading the Book of Mormon every day, and praying, and going to church. He works at a bar, and someone threw a glass, and hit the wall and glass got in his eye. He was temporarily blinded, but he still made sure he came to church, and read.with one eye. Last week, he said he had lots of questions, and if we could meet with him. And we met with him just yesterday, and he said that all of his questions were answered during his prayers and reading, and by other people at church. It was awesome. He realized that he needs to change his lifestyle to he can be all the way in at church. And he wants to talk to the bishop. He’s awesome. 

And last night, a family had us and Mahdi and jack, and the elders, and their investigators and recent convert, and we had a cottage evening, and it was great. All is planned for Mahdi's baptism. He is SO excited. And life is good. We are thrilled. I can't wait. It’s going to be the best!!! 

Sister Ogden came to our flat to have weekly planning with us this week, and it was really great. She came out tracting, which scared her apparently, but she was great! Mom, you should go out with the sisters. Do we still have sister missionaries in the 4th ward? They were there when I was last there...a few years ago.

Well. Life is great. Time is going fast. August is swiftly approaching, and that means transfers are soon too. First week in august I think. Please pray that I’ll stay in Harborne. I LOVE it here. I want to serve here until the end. Only two more transfers...it's possible...right? We’ll see! 

Well, I love you VERY much. Thanks for everything. Thanks for the fun email, and for all you do. I love you so much. 


Love, 
Sister Annie Clark
(APW*) 


*assistant to the president’s wife