May 19

Sorry I did not write yesterday or tell you we were going to write today! We had Zone Conference yesterday! Yay for awesome leaders in the mission!!!

First, a funny thing. On Sunday we had 2 return missionaries speak in sacrament meeting (we seem to have that a lot here in the stake).  It was also the last Sunday before the Cano family will move to Texas to start Medical School.  They have a little boy, Miguel, who is 1 or 2.  Hno Cano is a ward missionary and their family was willing to do anything we asked them. Pick up investigators, noche de hogar, come with us to lessons .... they were just awesome! Such a help! They were invited by the Branch President to share their testimonies before they leave and as they walked up (after these two RMs had spoken) their little boy is really really excited! Hna Cano goes up first and tells us exactly WHY he's so excited. He thinks one of them is Joseph Smith and the other was a prophet! He was so excited and was so happy to shake their hands! HAHAHA it was so cute! Man, you don't question the teachings in their home! He's being taught the gospel!

Anyway, also, last week we celebrated Hna Nielsen's birthday and I can't believe I forgot to write about it! She had heard from others that birthdays on the mission are a hit or miss. Well I DID NOT want it to be a miss! We woke up and I made a scavenger hunt for her of little things through the apartment.  It was funny coming up with them "you put this on everything ... therefore we don't have any left" aka Nutella! hahahah The fun was definitely in finding all the hiding places, not the prize, of a giant hershey kiss that has been sitting in our room for a few months. We even video taped it! It took about 20 minutes to do! Hahaha We'll have fun looking at it after! Ashley and Claudia, recent converts, surprised her with a little cake and a balloon and we all sang! We were in a lesson and something came up about birthdays so we told them it was her birthday ... so they burst out in singing happy birthday! One thing about Hna Nielsen is she's not much of a cake person ... more of a pie person! So in my mind the only thing that seemed to be missing was a pie. Well ... we just happened to be eating across the street from the Stake Presidents house and his wife was walking by when we were going in for dinner. She was very friendly and we told her today was a great day because it was Hna Nielsen's birthday. She was really excited and then said .... I have something for you! President Ostler made two pies for mother's day .... and we have this pie ... that does not belong in our house! So later that night they dropped off some really delicious homemade pie (I forget what kind ... but it was gooooood) and a little extra stuff for her birthday! The Bryson's had a bag of sourpatch kids! We got phone calls from the Asistants and other Sisters we love with different birthday songs!  She got letters from friends, family, and the Bassett's! I am pretty sure this birthday was NOT a miss .... but it was a HIT! To top the night off, we even contacted a family we'd been trying to contact for a few months AND taught them. We challenged them to pray to know that we were representatives of Jesus Christ. We asked them how they would know or recognize the answer to their prayer. The mother tried to describe how she received an answer to her prayer. She didn't know how to describe it though.  We taught them about the Holy Ghost and how it testifies of truth. Anyway, it was so cool! Horray for people recognizing answers to prayers and recognizing the Holy Ghost! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMANA NIELSEN!

Ok so this week. We had Zone Conference yesterday and we talked about how weekly planning coordinates with daily planning and with personal and companion study.  PLANNING is something I have always struggled with. How to plan effectively. You'd think it'd be easy with 13 steps as a missionary, but I still struggle! Well yesterday was quite brilliant!  There were excellent trainings, insights, the Spirit was there teaching! What ties it all in are THE PEOPLE! We plan for the people because we love the people. One Elder going home bore his testimony of charity and he certainly is one that exemplifies that.  It is cool to see so many different missionaries and see how we're all doing the same work, and we're doing it with the Lord's help, while using our talents and gifts to bless others lives.

We studied (I think I mentioned this before) Mormon 9:27, Mormoni 7, and BD Miracles.  I also looked a lot at Ether 12. FAITH -> MIRACLES. Ether 12:12 without faith, God cannot perform his miracles.  Miracles are not not ordinary, they are manifestations of God's power, and part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Miracles are a product of great faith. I know right now my faith is a bit lacking. I love this area we're in but it seems we've run low on investigators. We've taught our investigators, we've contaced formers, even those who missionaries just talked to before and didn't even teach. We have faith there are more out there though. We will keep working hard, praying and "working out our own salvation with fear before God" (something like that).  Work in Philipians 2:12-13 is good works. We cannot be saved without serving others, being Christlike. Anyway, I love those chapters. I loved being reminded to focus on THE PEOPLE yesterday. That makes planning, studying .... so focused and worthwhile. I love studying. i love the scriptures.

Yesterday we got the Ensign and today we got the Liahona!!! GOLD! Love it! I love the work! Thank you for your prayers and support! I love each of you! Keep working hard, serving, and giving your heart!

Love always, Hermana Clark