Sister Sarah Clark

August 5, 2013

 

Well this week has been so eventful, I moved into my first area. It's a few blocks away from the Spokane temple, the city is called Evergreen and it lives up to its name. There are gorgeous Evergreen tree's everywhere you look! We live with this cute Elderly woman Sister Mulloy. She's a sassy little old lady, we love her! She was a convert to the church and she told us her conversion story, and she said the missionaries just came in and threw her coffee away, but she was glad they helped her overcome her struggles. We live in her basement, it's like we have our own cute apartment it's wonderful! I got a wonderful companion, her name is Sister Knowlton. We clicked right off, she actually went to Utah State this last year as well, her first name is Sarah, and we are so much alike. I just love her! She is originally from Preston, Idaho and she went to Preston High (The High School where the movie 'Napoleon Dynamite' was filmed) and what gave me a good laugh was to learn that she worked moving chickens, the same job Napoleon has in the film. I got a kick out of that. :) Anyway, she is such a sweet girl, and a wonderful trainer, I got so lucky. She is so organized, and has helped me so much in smoothly transitioning into the mission field.

This week our work has consisted of working with less actives, and visiting them and encouraging them to come back to church. We have also been teaching a few investigators. We visit one woman at an adult home, (a place where those who are struggling because they are out of work, or struggling with other issues can come stay until they can get back on there feet again.) We teach a woman named Ann, and she has been going through many struggles... We were able to teach her that she has a father in Heaven who loves her and wants to hear from her. Ann is kind of distant, she is mentally there, but I feel she must have struggles mentally. Yet, It's so neat to see light come into her eyes when we visit her. We've taught her about Faith, and the Restoration, and we visit her daily. My favorite moment this week was when we helped Ann clean her room so she could feel the spirit. We told her we'd help her clean, so the spirit could be there. After we helped her clean we taught her about the Holy Ghost and how it could comfort her, teach her, and help her know of the truth of the Book of Mormon. After the lesson, and helping her she was so happy. Later during the week, we invited her to be baptized, and she is now on date! We are so excited for her! We are also teaching a man named Levi, and he is Christian, and he used to be Omish, so he has searched and searched for truth. When we read the Book of Mormon, he says he knows it's good, and that it motivates him to become better,  yet he thinks someone just copied the bible, and put it together in a different order to create the Book of Mormon. He started bible bashing with us one night, and I felt we needed to drop him. Yet, we went to give him a lesson on faith,and how we have to keep an open heart the spirit can let us know the truth of all things. Lately, my favorite scripture is Alma 32: 27-37. Just that through faith, it starts out small just like a seed but if we nourish that seed daily, we can gain that deeply rooted testimony. Yet we have to remember to nourish it every day by reading the scriptures. 

One of the less actives we teach in particular has strengthened my testimony of the gospel incredibly! His name is Max, he is about 60 years old. He has been through a lot... He served in Vietnam, and ever since to rid the memories he began drinking. (Don't worry Mom, we only visit him when we can take a member with us.) But Max has had so many trials, his girlfriend stole his car, and he is so hooked on cigarettes and beer. He really does have the desire to change. He used to start drinking at 8 a.m. and now he doesn't drink till 4p.m. I really believe in the power of prayer. We pray for him all the time, and he is improving! He even came to church this Sunday! From Max, I have watched and have seen that drugs really over take your whole life. It breaks my heart.... But I know that if Heavenly Father can part the Red Sea, he can help Max overcome his addictions. 

Anyway, we seriously have an incredible ward! They have all signed up for a 40 day fast, so each family has taken one day for the next 40 days to fast that missionary work will progress. After there day of fasting, they have us over for dinner, and we break the fast with them, and share a message about missionary work with them, we have asked them to pray about who they could share our message with, and some of the kids have even wanted to help out in the missionary work. I was so touched when we were brainstorming idea's, one little boy said he was going to invite his non member friend to scouts, and one young girl said she was going to invite her friend to girls camp! I sure love the ward here! So fun story, my Bishop, Bishop Clark is related to Ezra T. Clark! So we are somehow distantly related to him! Also, the other night we had dinner with the Jensen's and they used to live in the same ward as the Gregory's and the Jensen's! What a small world! 

Anyway, I love mission work, it's a lot of hard work but it's sure neat to see how the gospel touches others. 

Hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all so much!

Love, Sarah