Puno is perfect, and I am so happy.

I feel so so blessed. Like, I have cried so many times FOR JOY in the last week. 

Okay, first of all. I LOVE my companion, and I feel so so very grateful to be with her for another change. That was definitely God-inspired. I feel so grateful to be in Puno where the work is flying, with a companion that does her best to keep up with it, and is flying right alongside it. It is seriously the biggest blessing.
I am also so happy and grateful (It also made me cry when she called and told me on the phone) that Hermana Bingham, from my group will go train and open sector in Quillabamba, in my dear sector that I spent 6 changes in, La Granja 2. That is craycray, and seriously such a blessing.
I know this work is real, and true, and I LOVE IT. Last night, we set a date with Solina, a devout Adventista, and I felt the spirit so strong tell me to "be bold". We invited her for the 24th, but she will be out of town, so she is getting baptized on the 28th of June, a Wednesday, which is a little strange, but we are SO determined to get her in white, and last night, the spirit in the room and in the lesson made it happen. Our Bishop accompanied us, along with his wife, and they are THE BEST. Seriously, Bishop throws some serious fire, but with a whole lotta love. THAT is how member missionary work should get done. It was awesome.
Juan, our convert is doing good. He came to church this sunday, but a little too late to pass the sacrament. Poor guy was a little bummed, but he'll get to pass it next week. :)
We did an activity this week, una "busqueda de tesoro",(scavenger hunt)  for a Mission Night, where we get together with the ward, and they invite their friends, and we play games, and share a message about the gospel. Investigators, recent converts, and members came, and they were in 3 teams. We hid clues around the church, and labeled different classrooms different names of cities in the Book of Mormon, and then the scriptures led them to different towns on their "journey". The very last clue led them to the chapel, which had a sign that said "eternal life". We talked about how the scriptures are our guide, how they are the "barra de hierro" that lead us back to our Heavenly Father's presence. There were also some who cheated in the game, and who tried to enter without having all 12 of the clues that we hid, and we later explained how there are requirements to be able to live with God again, how not everyone will be let in, because it will depend on how firmly we grasped the iron rod the whole way, or in other words, how faithful and enduring we were to the very end. Sure, we are saved by grace, but we should also be changed by grace, and that means that our bad habits should be made into good ones in this life, and that we should follow the example of the Savior seriously, with a heart converted to Him.
It was a really good experience. I love this ward, I really do.
Sports are just so God-inspired, you know what I mean? I was thinking about soccer this week (because we play a lot of that here) and just like any sport, you have to have good form. When you shoot a basket and you miss, there was something a little off with your form. Gotta bend your knees more, gotta follow throw, etc. When you swing a bat, TAMBIEN, gotta have good form, or you’re gonna strike out everytime. I was thinking about that with life, and how sometimes in life, we shoot for the stars, we throw the ball out, but we miss our goals and dreams, and the ball sometimes doesn’t even touch the rim. In those situations, it’s really important to ALSO analyze our form. What am I missing? What am I maybe not doing exactly right?

Those things could be keeping the Sabbath day holy, a more effective study of the scriptures (or if you aren’t studying, just a study in general), being kinder to your family member, more patience, etc. Ask yourself, “what’s wrong with my form?”

That being said, I hope you all have a great week, and especially now that it’s summer,  start new with good habits. 

You all are the best, I am so grateful for you!!

Love you lots and lots,

Hermana Clark

PS I’m sorry to all those that I haven’t written back. My time is running out here, and I’ll see you all by the end of the summer. (THAT’S crazy) Love you all! 

Me and my bff. We have another transfer together, and THAT is a tender mercy of the Lord if I've ever heard of one. 

The zone, last pic together, because SO many have changes. 

We went to the muelle (the docks) and they are seriously so beautiful. 

June 5 2017

Jorge was baptized! Oh my, he is the sweetest lil guy, and the spirit was so strong!. You could just feel that he was doing what was right. And it was awesome too, because a few of our investigators were able to come. We should be having a few more baptisms this month, our goal is 3, and there are a lot of wonderful people on that right path towards baptism. Of course baptism isn't the goal, that's just the door to entering the right path, but it allows us to start on the path following Christ. 

A few words for the week (weekly)

Hello sweet familia of mine, 

Okay, I am IN LOVE with my mission. 

We had the Stake activity on Saturday night, and it was the BEST missionary work activity I have ever seen. I'm serious. In the states AND on my mission. This stake is seriously so powerful, and missionary work is a part of their every day life. All the members had been planning this activity, "meet the mormons", it was a seriously awesome church tour and it was SO well done. Something that Presidente Soto (our stake presidente) said was "The details invite the Spirit" and ain't that the truth. Everything went so well, even last Saturday we had a "dress rehearsal" for it. This stake is AMAZING. You would be so impressed with the work that happens here. 

Also, with the end of every month, we have a goals meeting, to see how we did this month with baptisms, sending names to the temple, people rescued (less actives) and how many references were given to the missionaries. This meeting is at stake level, all the stake presidencies (like from YW, YM, primary, elders quorum, etc) go, along with the missionaries. I just love this work, and left that goals meeting so pumped to preach the word! haha

We went to the condor this morning -Allen (my compi) Hermana Godown and Hermana Calvillo, some of my favorite people. 

They are staying with us until the end of the transfer, and it has been the best thing ever. 

Last night, we were talking about the world, and how it is such a scary place these days, how the last days are THESE days we are living, and how Christ's second coming is so soon. All the signs, especially lately I read in my scriptures about how in the last days, there will be "wars and rumors of wars", and THAT is so true. Because in these last few weeks, I have heard a lot of rumors of wars. Sometimes I feel like I am very cut off here, but those news, of wars happening in the near future, and not any small war, but a HUGE war, are very present here, even in Peru. It is no joke to anyone. We 4 were talking about it last night, and how scary times will come, but how great of a blessing the gospel is, and I felt the spirit very strong. 

I don't feel scared about the future. In fact, when I think of it, I am SO excited. There is so much good ahead. But, there is also so much sadness and so many scary times, and THAT is why we need the gospel.

Do you think that it is a coincidence that the prophet, Thomas S Monson, talked seriously about reading the Book of Mormon every day, how if you don't have a testimony of the Savior, get one. We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. There are trying times ahead, and those things are very very important. This is what I have felt through the spirit this week: the words of our prophet, whom I love very very much. I have heard that his health is failing, and I pray for him every every night without fail. To end, he says, If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far." Please follow this counsel. 

I love you all, and I LOVE this work. I love my Savior. I LOVE the Book of Mormon, and I know that it contains the fullness of the gospel. I KNOW that it is true. 

Thank you for all your prayers. 

I pray for you always. 

Love always, 

Hermana Clark

May 23 2017

We planned the sweetest missionary work activity. This ward is unbelievable, and we did a bonfire. That is not a normal thing at all in this here pais, but it was sweet. We roasted marshmallows, everyone loved that, and frunas (wannabe starbursts) and got hotdogs, and then we sang songs of the restoration around the fire with the ukulele I bought here. Our ward mission leader gave a message on the restoration, and we had like 7 investigators there. It was SO rad. 

This Saturday that's coming, we have a "Capillas Abiertas" or church open house, and it is gonna be awesome. We are gonna contact like a mad house, it is gonna be so awesome. I'm serious, this stake here in Puno Central is incredible. 

Me and a paloma this morning. Just call me Snow White.

PUNO. Love this place. 

Me and my comp. 

 We went to Cusco for Concilio, and we went to the Mcdonalds in Cusco for the first time in my mission.

Also, a pic of "4 gringas in Puno". I seriously love Hermana Godown and Hermana Calvillo SO much. They are staying with us for a little while, and it is SO fun living with them. They are so wonderful. 

It's so interesting how my whole mission I've never been with gringas, and now I live with 3! Crazy deal.

best mothers day ever!

Okay, it was the BEST thing ever talking to you all yesterday. Seriously, that was the highlight of my week, thank you for that.

 

Went on divisiones with Hermana S, and we stropped for salchipapa, the BEST junk food ever. She is the sweetest , and is enduring to the end through tricky times. Love her. 

PUNO! 

This week was good, right now we are in Cusco, and have concilio tomorrow. 

Went and did service this week for M, an investigator that I love, this week. We swept and cleaned out the house She has a lot of things that she is struggling with right now, one example being giving up going out partying and drinking with her friends. She expressed to us that she knows that the church and all that we have taught her is true, but she has to leave things behind that she hasn't found the strength to do.- 

She said that she didn't feel very in control in her life, like there were a lot of things she wants to improve. 

So we left her with a challenge I have never left before: 

To get up on time, and always make her bed. 

It's something so small, but it's helping her a lot to be able to keep her other  commitments, and that's the point, right? To get people covenant ready. 

This transfer, Hermana Allen and I have decided our theme is "Put on Christ" and every week we do something different to strive to be like Him. 

Love my companion a whole bunch, she is my fave. 

Anyways fam, love you a LOT. Keep on keepin on. 

Love, Hermana Clark

May 8 2017

New area is Puno, Peru! 

Saying goodbye to this sweet family was super hard.

 For that matter, this sweet compi too 

First sunday together (bad hair day too, but whateves, it happens)

Love my new companion Hermana Allen

Today Pday, 4 gringas in a mototaxi. THAT'S something different now. I have been with puras Latinas for the last 3 transfers, and now there are so many from the states with me. It is so strange, but don't get me wrong, I love it. 

Did service with a contact that we made in the streets, it was awesome, some good manual labor. 

 

These people were playing volleyball in the streets, love that. 

May 1 2017

 Last week, we had gran P day, and it was so fun. We all got together and went to a huge beautiful soccer field in oropesa, and played all sorts of team sports. It was the best. 

This is a pic of us with the sisters that we work with. They are all such good missionaries, and I really have learned so much from each and every one of them. 

 My hands got wrecked in tug a war. I had no intentions of losing, and my hands hurt so bad, and we almost won, but we lost in the championship, so i don't know if it was even that worth it. They are healing up really well.