Hola familia!

Thanks mom for the package!!! It’s always great to get snail mail! And thank you Ali for sending me a letter! You’re the best!

I hope to find that all is well with you! Another week gone, just like that! I forgot to tell you, but last week we had a conference with all the missionaries in Tarija and Bermejo came! I got to see Hermana Crandall and Hermana Zapata. And I heard some great news too! Remember one investigator I told you about when we skyped for Christmas? Mirella? The one who wanted us to come with her to pray… well she got baptized! I am so excited for her.  Like in her dream, she will be a great leader in the church. The entire conference with President and Hermana Willard we talked about Jesus Christ, so it was a very powerful, very beautiful conference.

Yesterday at church, we talked about Family Home Evenings and how they are important. We also talked about how it is important to teach your children to pray no matter how little they are, and once again I just felt so much gratitude for you and dad. I am so grateful for the way we were raised, in a home of love and the teaching of Jesus Christ. I am grateful we faithfully had FHE every Monday night, and for family prayers. That is the foundation for the rest of our lives. We have to build our children while they are young, and I am grateful for all the time and work that you and dad put in and still put in to help us be faithful servants of Christ. So, thank you mom and dad!

So this week our goal is to kind of start over with our investigators. We are searching for new ones because our others just aren’t progressing. It’s sad, but it’s going to be a week of miracles. I know we’re about to find a lot of families that are ready to hear and accept the gospel. So watch out!

Today as a zone we’re taking a picture, and last week we tried to go to the dinosaur museum but it was closed! So we went for ice cream instead. And today, I’m not sure what we’ll do! Something awesome. That sounds fun that Jason is in town! Have fun walking the dogs and swimming!!! I have to go now, but I love you family! Thanks for everything! Have a wonderful week, and give references to the missionaries of people they can teach! Love you!

"And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." Alma 26:3

Te quiero mucho!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Clark

¡Hola mi familia tan bonita! ¡Feliz día de BOLIVIA!

It was Bolivia day here on Wednesday!

Everything here in Tarija is great! I love my area more and more every week. We have been greatly blessed this week, and have seen so many miracles. First off, I love the ward I'm in here, and I love the Bishop. He has such a vision of the potential of this ward. Yesterday at church we had a really beautiful experience happen too! So on Saturday we talked to our investigators, confirmed that they were coming to church, and then Sunday morning we went to collect a few. We ended up not finding anyone! So we went to church and we were sitting in sacrament meeting, just starting and I was just sitting there praying and thinking how we had done all we could this week to get these people to come to church, and now I was leaving it up to the Lord. I think of Sister Willard often because of the faith she has and had on her mission. She told us about how she would do all she could all week long to get people to come to church, and then she would go to church with so much faith and they would find that a family of 5 showed up to church just curious! I was praying that Heavenly Father would help me to have more faith as well. As we were sitting there, I looked over at the door as one of our investigators, Carlos, was walking in! I was so surprised because he was the last I thought would show up. But he's just been full of surprises this week because a few lessons ago he told us that he received his answer and needed to be baptized in December! But then this last lesson we were teaching, and I asked him if he really thinks that Heavenly Father wants him to wait and live longer in his sins. He sat there and thought for a minute and didn't say anything, and then my comp invited him to baptism again and he said yes and we invited him for the 30th of August and he accepted! He's the hardest investigator, but when he's baptized he'll be the best member. He has some crazy questions, so we're growing a lot from teaching him as well!

So yesterday we ate lunch at the house of one of my favorite families in the ward, the familia Montaño! As we were waiting to eat, the Hermano told me that his father-in-law's coffin is inside the house and sleeps above the wardrobe in his sons room! Haha I was a little shocked and didn't know whether to believe him or not so he went and pulled the box out.... haha and he opened the lid and there he was! It was just his head, the rest of his body had been cremated. However that's spelled. They've had him in the house for the past 10 years! But he died 23 years ago. Aaaanyway, the food was really good and the family is just the best. I wish you could meet them! You would love them!

Also tonight we have a Family Home Evening with that family and our investigator Carlos is going to go! I'm super stoked about it. Everything here is going great! I love you all so much! Thanks for your love and support! Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Hermana Clark

This is a traditional outfit from Potosi! Tt was Bolivia Day here and they did a big stake activity.
Our ward did a dance and food from Potosi!

Hola mi familia!

Well, I didn't get transferred! I was pretty happy about that! And neither did my comp! I was hoping that we wouldn't because I was really feeling that we both had more to learn from each other, and more people we needed to teach together. Apparently President Willard was feeling that way as well! The baptism for next week is being pushed back. Our investigator has a lot of fears about her baptism so we're going to keep visiting her. But two other investigators accepted baptism for the 30th of August! One is named Lisa. She's the greatest! I love her so much! I wish you could all know her. You would love her too. We had invited her to baptism a few lessons ago and she turned us down, but then the other week while we were teaching her she just said, "I want to be baptized. How can I be baptized?" Haha we were just so shocked.. and so happy for her!

The FHE we had last week with the less active family was great! They have a new baby and want to bless him in church next Sunday... they just can't figure out a name yet! We were also visiting another less active yesterday, and she's just awesome. It was her second Sunday back at church, and she wanted to pay her tithing for the past few months that she wasn't going to church. When we visited her in her house yesterday she was asking me about Family History, and her family and I was helping her write out dates and stuff. We were looking through old documents and I just miss family history so much! I can't wait to get back into it again.

Sounds fun to have the kids in town! And I cannot believe Jamie is going into 6th grade... and what Brody is old enough to be baptized?! Haha I forgot he was the same age as Ivy.... I can't wait to see some pics of Ivy's baptism!! I'm so excited for her! I did have some of the teachers Jamie has! I had Mr. Tikasingh, however that's spelled. and I had Mr. Plantier for PE. I remember liking having him for a teacher. If I remember correctly he had a black goatee and he was one of the "cool" teachers. haha so that'll be fun! I think I had Mrs. Stanford.... but now I can't remember. Choir will be fun for Jamie!

That's so fun you got to go to Relief Society and Sunday School!! Sounds like really great lessons were given!

These past few weeks I have been memorizing The Living Christ in Spanish while we walk around. I'm only about half way done! But I'm getting there! Next I'm going to memorize it in English! I also have been carrying a Book of Mormon around in my hands. I like doing that because it helps to share it more. We use our hands so much for things so it's a helpful reminder. We also have a really awesome bishop here! He and his wife are amazing and I love them so much! They don't have any children yet like I had thought. Also, when we have people who aren't coming to church we need to visit them that day! Tell them they are missed! Help the missionaries!

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Hermana Clark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLLAND FIDLEFALLEND!

Well, Bolivia is just what I needed! I love that you said that mom! You're absolutely right! Every missionary that is called, is called to a certain place for a reason. We have a purpose here and we have people that are searching for this message. I've been feeling really good. Just full of health! But we didn't have the baptism on the 26th, the investigator picked a new date for the 9th of August. Our investigators are good, but we need some new ones. The best part of my week was that we had ward conference this past weekend and I loved the meeting Saturday night.

Sounds like you had a lot of fun in Utah!! That's awesome you guys got to go. I loved all the pics too! It's great to see everyone! And I'm so proud of you about the plane ride!! I'm sure Jamie loved the free snacks and TV all the way! haha That's the life! They celebrated Pioneer day here too! The youth learned a pioneer dance, and all the wards performed! We didn't end up going, but I saw some of the practices, and they looked great! Tonight we also have an FHE lesson with a less active family, and an appointment with a new investigator, and I'm super stoked for them both!

I can't believe it's been a year since we celebrated Holland's birthday at the beach..... That doesn't seem that long ago! Aw sounds like the celebration was fun too! And gluten free cupcakes sound yummy!!

It's hard to believe that this transfer is over already. It's been the fastest yet I think. Probably because I was learning a whole new area, but it's been a transfer of learning and lots of blessings. We have been blessed to teach some really great people this transfer, and I know we will be blessed with even more miracles this next transfer. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers! I love you!

Love,
Hermana Clark

Hi fam bam

 

First off, my exclamation mark button is broken, so sorry... But HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAISY.

 

It's been quite the week. We had interviews with the Mission President this week. That was my favorite thing ever. He is so awesome I just want to be his best friend. He told me some pretty awesome things, and we got to chat for a bit. When I came in I shook his hand, and then he asked me to offer the opening prayer. Then the rest of the time we just chatted. He then told me, "Hermana Clark, I'm going to tell you a little secret about these interviews. The actual interview is when you walk in the door, shake my hand, and say the prayer. The rest of the time is just time to chat. I knew how you were doing when I shook your hand, and you said the prayer." And he talked about how he could feel the spirit so strongly when I prayed, and he knew that I was doing really great. We talked about goals that I have and concerns that I may be having. He told me a cool story about how with his kids, or his students when he was a seminary teacher, how they could read any two verses anywhere in the Book of Mormon and he had 60 seconds to find where they were, and he got it almost every time. Haha isn't that awesome?? That's my goal. To know the scriptures so well, just like that. And then we ended with a prayer and he prayed, and it was such a beautiful prayer. He blessed me, and said that he unlocks all of the blessings and talents that I received from the pre existence. It was just all so wonderful. And then after that I left and my companion went in and I went and talked with Sister Willard. She is so awesome too. She was just wanting to see how my health is, and then she told me, "Hermana Clark, we are so glad you are here. I remember the day we first met you and afterwards President and I talked and we just knew you were this quiet leader." And then the next day we had a conference with President Willard and Hermana Willard. It was a great two days. Super awesome.

 

And this week... I have a story. A story of horror. So if you're not ready for it, don't read. But one night, I was sleeping away, just dreaming of something awesome like gumdrops. And suddenly, I woke up. Something was tickling my finger. My hand shot to finger, fastest reflexes I have ever seen while I am sleeping or awake. And half asleep I grab the thing on my finger and throw it on the ground. This all happened so fast it was like a ninja, I'm not even kidding. Anyway, so I throw whatever it was out, and half asleep I think it was a hair. And then I start to wake up a little more and realize I grabbed something bigger than a ball of hair. So I shine the alarm light on the ground, and I find a BUG. It's a bug. And in the light of the alarm the bug looked white and just gross. It was about the size of like a penny or something. And I have this passing thought, blah a bug, at least it wasn't a cockroach. And then I smashed it with my shoe. Then in the morning, I get up and pray, and afterwards I remember the incident from the night before and I flip on the light to find that it was not a little white bug at all, but a nasty dirty cockroach. Just crawling around while I'm dreaming of gumdrops. The nerve of some bugs. Since then I have put plugs in all the doors, and we keep a thing on the drain so that none can come out of there. And then I just pray every night that I won't see another. And it's worked thus far. Haha I'm happy to say that the experience doesn't seem so bad to me now. For a few days after it happened, it was all I could think about. But I'm good now.

 

But it's been a good week. Lots of hard work, and some new families to teach. We are being greatly blessed. I love you all so much. Have a beautiful week. Talk to you next Lunes.

 

Love you a million billion twizlers,

Hermana Clark

sitting at my desk doing some important paperwork. haha

Our beautiful one room house!

It's great to be 8! Happy birthday Ivy girl!!!!

This week has been the fastest! I'm not sure what's happening but I've never seen weeks pass so fast before in my life! Tarija is super sweet! It's really beautiful here!! And my new comp is good. We are working really hard here. The two ladies with the baptism date are good. One came to church yesterday, and the other went on vacation so her date fell through. Last Monday after emailing, we took some money out and I bought this super sweet Bolivia bag! Then we went food shopping, and did laundry and napped. I'm pretty sure we'll do the same things all over again. In that order. Minus buying the Bolivian bag again. There are about 20 missionaries here in our zone, and three companionships in my ward! The people that are here from the states are Jehovah's Witnesses, and they're all really nice. I saw some girls yesterday speaking English, I think they were just traveling.

So we have a washer here but not a dryer. You can't have it all! :) The clothes actually dry super fast so it's not a problem. And feel free to send Twizlers if you feel so inclined! Haha.

Mom your new calling sounds like it will be great! You'll be perfect for it!! I'm so excited to see what sort of things you do! And that will be fun to be in Relief Society again. That's too bad you're not teaching Jamie's class anymore, but I think you'll love your new calling too! That sounds so fun about flying to Utah! Don't be scared mom! Everything will be great and you'll be able to see the kids!! I can't wait to hear about your adventures!

Yesterday we met with this super awesome family, but they only can meet on Sundays. Bummer. But we're going back next Sunday! And we'll probably try to stop by sometime this week. Our area is really awesome, and has so much potential to grow! I love being a missionary, and being here in Bolivia. This is such an honor and blessing to be here. I love you all so much! Have a beautiful week!!

Love you a million billion 100 grands,
Hermana Clark

Happy Birthday Johnny!

TARIJA!

Hola from my new area! It's great here! I'm loving my new area, and I have found that really amazing people just live all over Bolivia. :)

Sorry in advance, this is going to be a short email, but a little bit about my new area... I am living at the Bishop's place, but it's this separate apartment so not in their house. We eat lunch with them everyday though so that's really fun. I hear that they have 5 or 6 kids, but I've yet to see any of them!!! Haha. Also, best part.... they have a washing machine! It's been really awesome! I think my clothes are cleaner than they have ever been! There are also a lot of people from the states here, but are here for other religions, but it's still fun to chat with them. It's been really exciting here too with the World Cup going on! We don't even have to watch it to know the score or who wins! You can tell by the fireworks! There is this less active member from Argentina and when they won the other day he was running up and down the streets with his flag tied around him and banging pots and pans. Haha it was so funny. Also, I found a cockroach in the bathroom the other day, so I've been having cockroaches in my dreams! Haha it's the worst. I was showering and he came out of the drain and I just had to brave up and kill it. Hard work. But I haven't seen any since... so that means there aren't any more........ haha... And they have jellybeans, snickers, and nutella here! It's all really expensive though. I do miss necco wafers and pinks though. :)

We have had a lot of success here in my new area. My comp is new here too. She only has one week more than I do here so it's like we're opening an area. The sisters before were just visiting the same people over and over so we're trying to start over. We found this amazing lady the other day! We were buying something to drink and started chatting with her, and she asked if we could sit and chat a while. We were like, heck yes! So we talked with her, she's about 30 and is planning her wedding, and has two kids, 12 and 15. She accepted baptism for the 26th of July, and came to church yesterday! It was a lot of miracles! She also asked us if we could come back and teach her everyday. So of course we're going to do that! We also had another woman accept baptism for the 26th last night! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation, and she really loved it. I am doing really great here in my new area, and I can tell I'm going to grow a lot from this next transfer! I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support. It means the world to me.

Have a beautiful week full of miracles! Keep praying for those missionary experiences!

Love,
Hermana Clark