May 4

This was quite a sad week for us. In one night, we had 2 families tell us we don't want you coming by and a menos activo ..... drop us as well.  The Sanchez family is moving. Now. .... has moved. We went by Thursday and they moved Sunday. AY. We walked away somewhat with our heads hung low but in reality we knew we did all we could in this time with them. It's not quite their time ... but it is close! The menos activo is a really nice guy named Hector. His little cousin has been coming out everytime we come by to tell us he's sleeping/at work/just left. This past week we happened to see him walk in his house. She came out (she's 9) and told us he wasn't there. We told her to go in there and tell him that we know he's there and we just want to talk to him (it was said really nicely).  After 3 times of her going in and out, she came out and said ok, he told me to lie to you. Muy triste que children have to be the ones who are taught to lie and the ones caught in the middle. This little girl is a doll though and everytime we pass by (which is at least every other day) she runs up to us and gives us each a (or a couple) big hugs! So .... sad that people made a decision rechazar las ensenanzas de Jesucristo. 2 Nefi 2:27-28. Liberty or captivity -> it's your choice. I just pray we are deliving the message in a pleasing way to the Lord!

Right now we're really focusing on our teaching skills so that people are able to understand what we are trying to help them do.  When you understand the gospel, you want to live it. When you understand the doctrine, you want to follow the principles. Ether 12:6 -> sometimes much live before you are given that testimony though.

Random funny note. I think I mentioned before a woman who came up to me my first week here saying she lived behind Rosa and Sal's for a long time (how small is this world???)  WELL it turns out, not only did she also live in Brooklyn before, but her name is ROSA and she was the Rosa in Rosa and Sal's! She and her husband got a divorce and so that's when it just changed to Rosa. She sold it about 6 years ago though.  Too funny though???? How many times did we walk in there? She joined the church just a year ago and has found some dear friends in the Relief Society and loves to study the scriptures and learn more! She is from Venezuela! I just thought that was funny though! Her son and daughter would work out in front a lot!

Oh yeah .... new transfer this week and for once I'm staying! Same companion, same district leader, same zone leaders! WAHOO! Hna Nielsen and I were quite relieved! Sad that we lost some of our most promising investigators but we know there are others out there! Just yesterday we started off the week and it seemed we had miracle after miracle of being in the right place at the right time! Miracles are real, we just have to have faith and look for them!

The last two transfers our baptisms have been way down. Though we don't just focus on baptisms, that is our purpose here as missionaries to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end" The gate, described so many times by Christ, is baptism. It is narrow and strait. 2 Nefi 31. Anyway, they've been down the last two transfers and this transfer our goal is to have 200 baptisms. It will be a miracle to get close to there, but like I said, with great faith and hard work (to show our diligence in desiring, not saying we do anything really to do the miracle) they do happen! So yeah! Plus it's the last transfer with President Bassett! Quite ... weird!

Ok last but not least, last night. We went to go visit Juan Ferrer, recent convert. Saturday we went to take pictures of he and his kids (he has none! que lastima!) and he could barely walk. He was given a blessing and Sunday came to church with his kids.  He looks miserable though, he's in so much pain.  Well, last night he told us he has some health problems and he really doesn't know how much longer he is going to live. His greatest desire is to be able to see all of his kids (here, Mexico, Italy, and Spain).  It felt like I was sitting down with dad and he was telling me he was going to die soon. Oh my goodness! He said it with soooo much faith though. Earlier this week he was very upset about everything. His exwife is moving to Oregon and ... oh it's just a mess.  He was so content though. He has great faith, through the pain (physical and broken heart).  Oh I just pray for this man! We are also going to work with him so that he can do baptisms for his two sons who have passed away. Oh the plan that our Heavenly Father! It is so grand and covers ALL!! The Atonement is far reaching and infinite!

The Atonement is what we've been studying to know how to help one family we are teaching progress. They don't seem to quite be getting the bigger picture and it makes us sad.  Are we not teaching it effectively?  Do they understand the significance? It is their doubts and fears holding them back? What is sad is they are not applying it and receiving those blessings from their obeidence to laws and commandments.  The gospel principles class and relief society were RIGHT IN LINE this week with what they need and would've helped them .... had they been there. Not making a decision is infact making a decision. Oh how much sadness there is in the world! How much could be avoided if we heed to God's commandments and put aside our fears and seek to serve and love Him!

There was one thing I wanted to say and I don't remember ..... hmm I will send some pictures!

Oh, the law. We kept trying to contact a referral this week and we always talked to the son. Well, this boy, for some reason reminded me soooo much of Adam Carmack (mostly the Mexican accent) and kind of freaked me out ... but certainly everytime we went it was like talking to a little 14 year old Adam carmack. Anyway, last night we saw them cleaning out their truck and they're going back to Mexico because of the new law and what part are they going to .... Verracruz! I just laughed. Anyway, I laughed! Funny NJ moments with Rosa Merchan and the little Mexican Adam!

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers, letters, prayers, love, prayers, and being you! Prayers really are heard and answered! Spanish is coming! Talk to you Sunday!!!! Love always, Hermana Clark