Dios es un Dios de milagros

Okay, this week was wild. I am still working in a trio, but I should have a companion tomorrow or the next day. It'll be a mini missionary, or a member that lives in our mission, and I believe the girl that is going to help me out is a returned missionary, so that will be so darned cool. 

This week, on Tuesday, one of my investigators called me, and told me that he never wanted to see us again. I was so taken by surprise, and I was like, "Wait. wait, can we come over and talk this out?" Him and his wife were having a lot of problems, and she's a member. Anyways, it was just an ugly situation, and I cried so many tears. 

Well, as time went by, I decided that we should stop by and visit them. I was like, "No way are we ending like this, no way, not in my book." We went, and had a long chat with him and his wife, and we talked about the family. The spirit was strong, because the family is of God, and THAT'S why everything in the church supports the family, because it is absolutely important. I told them that a strong family takes EVERYONE'S effort, and it doesn't take pointing fingers.

I am so grateful for my family, and my Heavenly Father sure has taken care of them as I have been gone. As we started to finish, I asked our investigator, "Do you believe that we are teaching you the truth? Do you believe that this really is Christ's church?" And he started to cry, which I was in NO way expecting, and he told me, "I am so sorry Hermana Clark. I am sorry for everything that has happened this week" and then he said, "I was wondering, can I still get baptized?" and think I choked on my own spit in that moment, like, "wait. what? UM YES OF COURSE." He went through heck and back this week and I won't go into the details, but it's cool to see, because he has a REAL testimony of the gospel. So, he had his baptismal interview  this week, and he is getting baptized this Saturday. So cool to see. 

Also, we are doing a youth choir here, and it is just so so cute. I love sharing music with the people here. I love how even when they're a lil bit off key, they sing that wrong note loud and proud. The best honestly. I've also had the privilege of teaching the youth sunday school class two sundays in a row, and that is literally so fun. The youth of the church are rockin', and they are SO good. 

One day this week, we went to visit P, she isn't a member, but she has like 70 years, and she's about to die from cancer. I thought we could just go share a message with her about Christ, and more than anything just keep her company, and sing her hymns, to give service. While we were singing hymns in her room with her, the spirit was so strong, and I know that she is pretty close to seeing Heavenly Father again. At one point, my companions received a call on the phone, so they left the room, and I was just there  singing, "Silent Night" (never can go wrong with navidad), and as  I sang to her about the Savior's birth, I felt it confirmed to me that he really did come to live and to die, so that we could live with our Heavenly Father again. With a woman so close to the veil, so close to passing on the other side, I felt the spirit, and actually shed quite a few tears. 

Heavenly Father loves his children. Gosh, I feel it STRONG every day. 

Love you all past the moon!

dos compañeras y MUCHO trabajo

Hello!  

This week was so interesting. Really fast and really long all at the same time. 

I am working in a trio with the hermanas that are serving in the other branch here. They are so wonderful, I really love them loads, and it's actually pretty fun to be in a trio. Hermana Firth and Hermana Riveros are their names, from Wyoming and Lima. The only thing that isn't fun is sleeping on the ground every night at their house, and not having enough time to do ANYTHING, because we are working in two sectors. I've been able to visit those that are progressing, and work a lot more than the last two weeks with Hermana Caballero, but it just isn't the same. I want a compi! Like, yesterday, Hna Maria accompanied me, because on Sunday we have different schedules, they go to church at 10 and me at 8, with branch counsel, and so I literally felt so weird in the chapel alone. At night, for 30 mins, this 18 year old girl accompanied as I waited for my companions, and we went to the devotional for young single adults, and that was just the weirdest thing, haha. I was like, oh gosh, so glad to be a missionary. hehe. But it was awesome, Elder Cook spoke. 

What else? B is good. T and J are good, Hermano G is the best. I didn't take time to prepare and think of things to tell you all, and now I am drawing a blank. oops. 

A bag of chicha a lady insisted on giving me in the streets, that I did NOT drink. I am learning real good here. ;)

J surprised me this week and told me that she was facebook friends with "Brent and Jenifer Clark" this week. I was like, what in the world, but she found out my name somehow and she showed me the sweetest email she sent to my family. Gosh, I love her. She also asked me if I would sing at her wedding this week. Um, OF COURSE I WILL. 

We played volleyball yesterday at the church, and that was a blast and a half. 

Had a really cool experience of feeling the spirit work through me this week. We were teaching one of our investigators, (I won't say who) and they were clearly going through a difficult time. We were going to teach about missionary work, but the spirit told me really strong to talk about the atonement. As I shared my testimony, I felt the spirit so strong as I shared with them a quote by Elder Holland that Elle shared with me in a letter, "He suffered alone, so that we wouldn't have to". Our investigators were crying, and their countenances just changed during that lesson, from sad and without hope, to ready to conquer all. 

I love you all and know that the atonement is real. 

LOTSA LOVE!

I got a package this week! Thanks Familia

sin compi

Okeedoke, hello sweet family. 

(L went out with me as my companion) 

I am writing you in the house of a member that I am staying with, as I wait for my new comp to come. Last night, President called me, and after all of the struggles we had this week, he told me that my comp would be traveling tomorrow morning (that's THIS morning) to Cusco, where she would then return home. Right now, an Hermana from the ward is accompanying me as my companion, until I have a new one. 

This week, my companion was sicker than sick. I have never seen anyone so fragile. Honestly, it reallt scared me a lot of the time. But, never in my life have I had to take care of someone like that, my mom always took care of ME. So, I really learned a lot, and she told me, "Hermana Clark, you remind me a lot of my mom". Yes, that is what moms do. They give their children everything, and I gave Hermana Caballero my every last effort this week, and gosh, I love that girl with all my heart. Serving people makes you love them, I've learned that for sure. This morning I said goodbye to her, honestly don't know if I'll ever see her again, but wow, she changed my life. 

So, this week, if I wanted to go out and work, I had to find a sister in the ward that could go out and work with me, and also a sister to stay at home with my comp. (Because NUNCA we can be without a companion) That was not an easy task. I made more phone calls this week than I have in my life. haha. Okay maybe not, but it was a lot. 

(Hermana K was able to go out with me for a few days this week)

I got to teach about 5 lessons this week, which is basically nothing. Really spent a lot of time in the house, and if I wanted to go out, I had to find a compañera. Hermana K, a returned missionary (I sent a pic of her) was really good to help me work two days this week. Had a Family night with B, our investigator who really just wants to be a missionary. We talked about repentance and baptism, and I tried to do an object lesson about baptism with pepper, water, and dish soap. I had seen it before, but had never tried it in Peru. Well, I'll just say that it was basically a classic "Egbert" analogy by my Dad. haha it ended up being so funny because it didn't work, but gosh, we had a good laugh. (If you haven't seen my Dad do the egbert analogy, ask him to do it, hahaha, it is my favorite thing)

Went to a baptism of little R, he's 9, and was just so excited to be baptized. 

(A's Baptism)

B is getting baptized on the 8th of October, and still just pumped as ever to serve a mission. It is really cool to see. 

Hermano G is getting baptized on the 24 of September. He is learning so fast. 

More than anything, I would just like to say to those that are preparing to serve a mission. Please please do not go on a mission for your parents. Or for you boyfriend/girlfriend. Or for the praise of others that, "wow, you are sacrificing a lot". DO IT FOR THE LORD. 

If there are things that you need to get squared away, or that you need to clean up, do it before the mission. If that means you need to ask your parents for help, or your leaders in the church, or if that means MAYBE you need to wait a little longer to prepare, then please do that. Once you get out on the mission, your life isn't about you anymore. It's about helping others, so if you need to get better health wise, or moral-wise, do it before the mish. 

I love this opportunity, and feel so grateful to be in Peru. I'll have been here for 6 months this week, and that is so crazy. But, life is good. 

My love for you all is bigger than big. Hasta la proxima semana!

I Am Blessed

Hello sweetest family!

This week was so weird. They still go by so fast. The mish is crazy. 

My comp arrived, her name is Hermana C and she is from Paraguay. 

This week, I was in Cusco from Tuesday-Thursday. On Tuesday morning, I had to say goodbye to my sweet Hermana Celán. She will ALWAYS be so special to my heart, and I miss her more than words can say. But, now she's a fancy lil leader, and wow, with reason, because more of the world needs that girl's light. We were truly a dynamic duo, I will not lie. AHH, my heart just misses her. 

Got to Quillabamba on Thursday evening, taught two lessons. They went okay, but I really missed my compi. Right when you know how to teach together, boom. Transfers. 

The next day, my comp got really sick. Threw up her breakfast and her lunch. I understand that. haha. It's really just because the bacteria is different here, it's not that it's bad. I mean, if a Peruvian traveled to some other country and ate the food there, they'd probably get sick too. Anyways, went to the doctor, and she has a intestinal infection, and anemia. Spent all day Friday in the house. That was a long one, but good for her health, I s´pose. 

Saturday was A's baptism! He is an investigator of the Elders that I just LOVE.He reminds me of my little brother, Cole.  He is 14, just so sweet, and has such a desire to do good. Early this week, Alex asked me if I would sing a musical number at his baptism. He asked me to sing, "Come thou Fount" in ENGLISH. I was like, "But, no one will understand!" And he was just like, "please, please!" So that was SUCH a privilege for me. 

Gosh, I love baptisms. Every time, I feel the spirit so strong. I KNOW that this is the true church, and that THIS is the right path, and that through Christ is the ONLY way we can live with our Heavenly Father again. And baptism is the first step. 

Every Saturday, we have Olympícs in the capilla, and this week was basketball. My comp has been sick, so I thought we'd just go watch, because 4 of our investigators were there. I showed up in my dress, just like a normal missionary, but then   one of the other hermanas was like, "Hermana Clark, sub in for me", so I did. And gosh, I felt so cool. First play, in my dress, an elder passed me the ball, and I was outside the 3  and I just thought, ¿Porqué no? and swoosh it went, and wow, lemme tell you, Heavenly Father blesses his missionaries, because when was the last time I played basketball? A LONG TIME. hahaha. That whole night I was so on. I'd like to take my brother on as a missionary, because haha, I was just so blown away. I didn't miss a shot. It was wild. All the members there watching were like, "Hermana Clark! Hermana Clark!"  and to their sons, "That missionary in a skirt is beating you, what are you doing?" I was on a team with the elders and our investigators and gosh, it was just a rockin night. 

That was honestly the biggest tender mercy for me, because this week has been pretty rough, I cannot lie. Please pray for my companion, Hermana Caballero. I feel very grateful to be her companion, and am learning far more than I can say. 

The mish is so good. This week, I got a package of letters from the YW in the stake at girls camp. That was SO wonderful to receive, made me cry for sure. Shout out to the YW of the Spokane East Stake, such sweet girls. 

I like a quote that Sister Call shared with me in that package.

 "On your mission, your sorrows will OUT NUMBER your joys, but your joys will OUT WEIGH your sorrows."

I am so grateful for my JOYS. They are so easy to find, and I have so many, even when life is hard. 

LOVE YOU ALL. Be good, and keep on shining so bright.

I'm going to have a Hija

Fam-bam!

How is life in the promised land? 

Okay, I can't wait up any longer, and have to tell you. Today is transfers, and we got our emails from president, and guess what? I'm staying in Quilla, wahooooooo. And guess what else? I KNOW for sure that I'll be here until November, because I AM TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY. The training is 12 weeks, so 3 months, and I just am BEYOND excited. I feel so overwhelmed, and so underqualified. Like, I have barely any time in the mish, and am so so young to be una madre.  (That's what we call trainers, moms, and then the new missionary you train is your hija.) But, I AM SO BLESSED. Quillabamba for 8 months of my mission. What in the world. SO blessed. 

I'm also excited for my hija because she is going to have the best first change ever. My first change we had virtually 0 investigators. We spend our days walking the streets looking for people to teach, and finding members, because my compi opened sector. A lot of times I felt like there is no hope. And a lot of times I wanted to give up.

 

My hija is going to see B's baptism. She is going to see Hermano G's baptism. She is going to see M's baptism, and cooler than ever, T and J's wedding and baptism! This transfer is going to be GOLD. I am so excited for her. She is so lucky. 

So yeah, this week B told us that he received answer to his prayers, and before he asked to be baptized, he was like, "hermanas, I'm just wondering, what things do I need to do to be a missionary? I have been thinking about my life, and I would really like to be a missionary like you two". Wait. what. um YES. So yeah, we told him that first he would need to be baptized, and he was like, "When?" and we set a date for him for the 3 of Sept. He is super excited. so cool to see. 

T and J. You already know. They are so good. T helped me teach the Word of Wisdom this week in gospel principles. There were a lot of speculative less actives in the class, but T bore powerful testimony that the word of wisdom is God's will for us. He is going to be a stellar leader in the church. 

Hermano G. He's the very best, oh my. His wife is a member, and after attending N's baptism, he decided for sure that he wanted to be baptized. He is so good, so smart and active, like really ready to help and lead in any situation, so I am very excited about him too. Reminds me a lot of my Dad, I don't know why, but this morning at breakfast it made me cry because of how much he reminds me of my dad. Because I miss my dad. (PS dad I think he send you a friend request on Facebook. He's literally the best.) He'll be getting baptized on the 10th of September. Really progressing faster than ever. He asked me to sing a musical number for his baptism, and was like, "There's this really beautiful song in English", and he looked it up, and it was "My heart will go on" from the Titanic. haha that made me laugh, but he really wants me to sing it for his baptism. We'll see what I can do, SO funny. 

Had Olympics here this week with all the youth, Quilla 2016. SO SO COOL, and tried to rep the best-country-in-the-world well. (Because who can NOT be proud of a country that won 121 medals?!) 

Anyways, my mish is gold. Love my life more than words can say. Please pray for me in this new endeavor. I know that training a new missionary isn't super easy, so I am praying for the capacity to teach her to be the best missionary quillabamba has ever seen.

 

Love you to the moon!

NORI GOT BAPTIZED!

Okee doke, best week in the mish by far. I can't even explain my feelings. I LOVE being a missionary. 

N's baptism was the best day ever. I was stressing hard core for a little bit, because I organized everything for this baptism. Then I thought, wow I wonder how my mom must feel, because she is always doing everything for other people, she does a ton for me. So I just thought, I'm preparing to be a mom, haha. 

I'll be honest, it was a lil bit messy, because the baptism was supposed to start at 10, and N didn't get there till after 10:30 (peruvian time, you know how it is...haha)

And then the Hermana giving the baptism talk had to leave early, and we didn't have a knife for the cake, and just a lot of lil stressful things. haha. 

But, as N went down into the water, with just the biggest smile on her face, all of my little stresses just left, and I felt so much peace. As she was baptized and came back out of the water, my heart was just filled with love, and I think I felt the love that Heavenly Father must feel for Nori. It was SO SO strong, and I know that this is the right path, for ALL people. No matter your age or color or background, the gospel can change YOUR life for the better. I know it. 

I honestly just think I am going to have diarrhea for the rest or my mission. Normal. When I poop normal, that'll be the day, and WILL happen someday. 

So for my mom and my health, I was on a prescription the first time, and then that ended. Got really sick again after that, and went to the lab again. Parasites round 2. Same thing again. It wasn't like a different thing, it was the exact same. Okay, but it's so weird because usually I feel normal. Now I am totally fine. I was on a prescription again, that I took for two weeks every eight hours. I think that wiped it out, but I've honestly just accepted the fact that diarrhea will be the way for a good long while. And that's okay. I am willing to pay that price, because I LOVE MY mission. 

Started teaching B, he is a modern day Joseph Smith, really looking for the truth. He told us her attended the adventist church for a while, said the preacher was really nice, invited Brian into his home for dinner, and Brian said he felt good. But he told us, it was just confusing, because he didn't feel in agreeance with a few of the things they were teaching. He told us that in the church (our church) he felt good, but was still just so confused about the adventist church too, and old us that he was actually baptized catholic as a child. Anyways, I told him, "B, I can tell you as many times as I want that this gospel and this church are true, but you know what? You have to learn that for yourself." All matters of our faith are between us and the Lord. I challenged him to pray to know the truth, and he said he definitely would, and I promised him that he would receive an answer. Heavenly Father wants his children to know the truth. 

And you know what? I didn't leave my home and everything I love at home, take a year off of school and work, to come to Peru, and lie to people. I didn't come here to lie to the people, No, what an absolute waste of time that would be. (Even though Peru es tan bonita) I came here, because I know that what I teach everyday IS TRUE. That God loves us so much that he provided us with the gospel, a foundation for our families, and for our faith. That he provided us a way for him to return back to Him some day, because you know what? I'm sure he misses us. 

Anyways, I asked B, "B, if you pray and you find that this really IS the true church, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ, and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood power of God?" And he said YES. WE set a date for the 27th of August. And I can't wait to hear his answer. The recent convert that came with us to this lesson was just so confident, and she said, "I'll be there at your baptism Brian!" Like, she already knew the answer that he will receive. Because the gospel is TRUE. 

Anyways, best week ever. Love you all forever. Keep on keepin on, and don't be afraid to share what gives YOU the greatest joy in your life with others. LOVE YOU

Cinco meses, how did THAT happen?

Ah, hello familia dearest!

On Tuesday, I went to the lab again, had another good round of throwing up, so I still have my parasites, and it honestly just isn't that fair. I'm like, okay lil friends, move on, I'm sure there are other people who would like to lose weight or get the full Quillabamba experience, but they are my most loyal pals. And had the good ole poop in a cup opportunity again, gotta love that. For these last two weeks, I was only allowed to eat rice and chicken whenever I ate. Nothing else. Every single meal, and I literally never want to see a plate of rice with a lil slab or chicken again in my life. The diet was rough, but the medication is strong, and I honestly am feeling a lot better, so I think that my pals might be gone for good. (Hallelujah.)

I've never told you about one of our investigators,M, the cutest Machiyanga 13 year old girl. She's from a native community, like the people who live in the jungle and are still practicing all their traditions (really makes me think of the Lamanitas) but now she had been living with some members here in Quilla. This week, we set a date for her for the 3 of september. I help her with her english homework, and she is just so cute. 

 Also, I saw my first baptism this week! B, one of the elder's investigators was baptized on saturday. He asked me to give the talk on baptism and that made me feel so so special, so I gave the talk on baptism. It was such a special day, and I felt so much love in my heart as B came up out of the water. Even though the neighbors of the capilla were having a party, and "bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do" in english (what in the world, haha) was blaring, and the windows of the capilla don't do much, the spirit could be felt SO strongly. T and J came to the baptism to see how it was, and afterwards we were walking home with them, and I asked T, "What'd you think of the baptism?" and he said, "I'll be honest. I'm a little envious that it wasn't me that was getting baptized." They are so ready. The wedding is coming along, and we are so so excited. Honestly, SO glad it isn't my wedding because it's a lil stressful. We're really trying to get the branch to help out, and there are people who are starting to step up, YAY. I love my branch. There's a lot that's a lil tricky, and we're about to see lots of changes, but I can honestly say that each person here has taken a lil of my heart. They are my family. 

September 30th (their wedding) is going to be a special day, but an even more special day will be in a year, when they are sealed in the temple for time and ALL eternity. I know that we can be with our families for all eternity when we are sealed in the temple. The priesthood has been restored upon the earth, and families can be together forever through that power. It's way cool. 

Anyways, I'm "too blessed to (ever) be stressed" anymore. My life is a huge wonderful blessing to me, and I LOVE being Hermana Clark. 

 

My Distrona, literally the BEST! 

LOVE YOU ALL-. 

Read the story of Peter when he tries to walk on water with Christ. 

"I have needed the rescue of the Savior and his hand SO many times. I need Him now, (more than ever before), as do each of you. I have felt confident at times, leaping over the side of the boat, figuratively speaking, into unfamiliar places (my mission), only to realize that I could not (and can not) do it alone. 

-Elder Ronald R. Rasband of the 12 apostles. (with emphasis added by Hermana Clark ;) 

Cleaned the chapel this week in prep for the baptisms, super fun, super funny, a few things that made my stomach a lil weak, but all's well, haha