Sister Sarah Clark

Hey There Everyone!

Thanks for taking the time to write me, it sure means a lot. :) I just love all of you, and I know each of you was guided by the spirit, with the things you said. Mom and Dad thank you for your prayers in my behalf. After much prayer, I did decide on coming home on December 30th. (Sarah's 18 month mark is January 17th- so she was choosing between coming home a few weeks early or a few weeks late.)   Thank you so much for all of your prayers. I do think it will be wonderful to get back into school quickly that will be a wonderful transition. I sure have loved being a missionary, and it's hard to think of this badge coming off, but I am so excited to see all of you again. :)

Well- On another note- I thought I'd start off with some comic relief. You know you're in Plummer when.... You are teaching a cute elderly lady, and you're having a lesson, and there's scratching against the window, it sounds like a bear pawing at the window. Then she tells you that they have pet wolves in their backyard. She wasn't kidding, she let's them into the house and everything haha. You also know you're in Plummer when you're off to a lesson, and there's a Moose Buck and Dow on both sides of the road, and you have to wait for them to cross, so your car doesn't get bent up. Oh, good ole Plummer. :) I sure love it here, out in the middle of nature, with such humble people. It's grown on me.

Events of the Week

So many great things have happened this week! President Mullen surprised us at our training, and got a screen copy of "Meet the Mormons" which was incredible, It makes me excited just thinking about those not of our faith, seeing these conversion stories. <3 Great film!The so I'm so glad you guys got to see it too!  

Our Cultural Event was a great Success! There was a roasted Pig, we had good weather, and we met some great potentials that we'll be following up with. :)  We heard and saw song and dance, from Samoa, Martial Islands, Native American, and at the end, we went up and sang "Come, Come Ye Saints." and President Clark- from the mission presidency, and a few other people dressed in pioneer clothes, and even brought a beautiful red hand cart. Then President Clark challenged everyone there to look in to their family history. It was incredible!

We were able to see two less active members this week that we've been trying to see ever since I got here. We had an incredible family night with one of them, Sister Wilson, and the Morefield's who drive us up to Couer D'alene on P-day came with us. :) Bry our investigator is almost done with the Book of Mormon, she's still just trying to get work off, after she comes to church two more times she can be baptized! She told us this week, she found out she has depression, and I feel like Heavenly Father has given me my challenges so I can now help others with these same challenges. We also had a potential named Rebecca randomly show up at church, and she loved it! :) Oh, so many miracles.

Today, I got to go to the temple with Sister Ridge, Huang, Larsen, Richardson (From the MTC! :) ) and Sister Jensen. It was wonderful and well needed.

Our New Investigators- and their Stories!

Anyway, we've had a wonderful eventful last week and a half. We have some incredible new investigators. Sister Ridge and I, during the last week of our transfer together saw this kid walking down the street, we felt prompted to pull over and talk to him. We learned his name was Jed, that he was 16, and that yes, he would love to hear a message about Jesus Christ. :) We were so excited! Sister Larsen and I had tried his home the first week of the transfer and as we knocked on the door, we heard a teenage boy say, "Oh, haha. It's the missionaries.Great." Then they turned the lights out. We kind of gave up hope after that. Then about a week and a half ago his name just kept coming into my mind, over and over. We decided to go see him again. As we went to his home, this time his Mom answered, and she invited us in. Jed was there, and was excited to see us. We then saw his older brother on the couch, he was playing away with his video games. We figured he must have been the one who hadn't been excited before to see us. As we taught them the first lesson, "The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" I was so humbled to see their circumstances... They pulled out some camping chairs for us to sit on, and you could tell they didn't have much at all. As we started teaching, we began with "How to Begin Teaching." Which is found in Preach My Gospel chapter 10. It is so inspired! He understood our purpose, and he had a sincere desire to be baptized. I always love being able to tell those we teach, "We aren't perfect, we have weaknesses, as everyone does. We may not be able to answer every question you have. But, we have been called by a Prophet of God to share what we Know, We Know our message is true." The spirit always bears such a strong witness of our divine calling.

As we taught, his friend Dennis, and his brother Bishop sat in. His Mom was cooking but listened in from the kitchen. At first Bishop didn't want much to do with us, but as we started teaching his heart softened. As we talked about how God has worked in patterns all throughout the times called  Dispensations, it really caught his attention. I absolutely love quoting Joseph Smith's own words in sharing about the first vision. After that all of them were paying attention. They are all Christian and love the Bible, and asked us- "So you just have a different bible then?" I answered, "Well, we use the King James version if that's what you mean." as we explained that the Book of Mormon is just another testament of Christ, given to us to know that the gospel is restored they were all excited to begin reading it!

The other night, we went over, and they have really been struggling. Lisa their mother, is a single Mom. At first she had been a little stand off-ish. Jed had mentioned that they only had one bed for the three of them. So on Sunday in ward council we asked if anyone had a twin bed they'd like to donate? A kind member Brother Lowe said they had one they were going to take to a thrift store. That he would love to deliver it to them. As we talked to Lisa, and told her about this, she started tearing up. She couldn't believe someone could be so kind. She explained to us, as she pointed to a chest of drawers in the corner, that on the day of a blizzard, she didn't have a truck. She found a sled, and put it on the sled, and tied a little piece of rope she'd found to the sled and the car. She drug it all the way home. A man had followed her all the way home in his truck but hadn't even offered to carry it for her. As we talked with her, her heart had been opened for a message, she only had a moment- She began to tell us how much she loved her boys. She just wants what's best for them, but she doesn't have much. Her car's windshield is completely broken, but she still drives around in it.

We felt prompted to share Moroni 9:25

 25. My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

That was Bry's favorite verse she'd shared with us the day previously. Then we shared with her the story where Peter wants to walk on water, but as he loses faith, the Savior immediately reaches out his hand to help him. We testified that the Savior is there to help her, and we told her it was no coincidence that God had sent us to her, we then sang "Be Still My Soul" and she was brought to tears... She said the most faith filled prayer I've ever had, and she prayed that she knew Heavenly Father had an incredible plan for her Son Jedidiah, The spirit overwhelmed me. I know God has a great plan for Jed. He has such a humble heart, he's the kindest kid, he always thanks us for coming, and loves meeting with us every day. I know that Heavenly Father has answered our prayers. <3 

I'm so grateful the Savior has the power to heal lives. I'm so grateful for this gospel, I don't know where I'd be without it. I love all of you and hope you have a wonderful week! :) 

Love, Sister Sarah Clark