Monday, September 26, 2016

Give Heed Unto Their Words

Hey there, hope everyone had a lovely week!

Spanish Lessons with Hermana Clark:
Portavoz- spokesperson. As in, "Prophets are God's spokespeople here on Earth. He sends them to tell us His will and guide us to know how we can be happier and better serve Him."
Conferencia General- General Conference. As in, "In case I hadn't told you before (at least twice), prophets of God and other leaders of the church are going to speak to the world in a broadcast called General Conference this weekend! They're going to tell us how to live better and receive more blessings!"
 
 



 
Check it out at LDS.org
Saturday October 1 and Sunday October 2nd:
10am-12pm
2pm-4pm
Respuestas- answers. As in, "If you go into general conference with a question, God will send you answers through the messages of His servants. I received answers during the General Women's session last Saturday, and I'm looking forward to more this weekend!"


Two stories.
Remember the new investigator we found last week? We saw her again this week, and it was great. I went to see her with another sister while we were on exchanges. When we got there she'd read the pamphlet we left her and she had some questions about the restoration. We explained a bit more about it and focused a lot on how prophets give us guidance that blesses our families. She has a 2-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son and she's separated from their dad. When we read from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we could see in her eyes that she'd found something she was looking for. She asked us if she could have it, and we gave it to her. We told her about general conference, and she said she wants to hear what the prophets tell us. She's really interested in the restored gospel and said that if she receives an answer that it's true, she would like to get baptized! She couldn't make it to the women's session, but we're hoping to take her this weekend.

We've also been teaching the investigator we found 2 weeks ago in church, the one who's been going to church for more than a year and finally started listening to us. She's progressing well! She really has a desire to understand the restored gospel and receive an answer that it's true. We asked her on Tuesday what she thought about a baptismal date. She chose her own baptismal date in a couple weeks and we're going full speed ahead to prepare her for it! She's great to work with, and we're blessed to be teaching her.

"Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants..." 3 Nephi 12:1
The President of the church, the quorum of the twelve apostles and other church leaders are going to speak inspired words to us this weekend. Don't miss out! Listen and give heed to their words- you will be blessed for it.

Have a great week, everyone! :)

~Hermana Hannah Jo Clark

Buen Animo!

Hello! Happy new week!

First,
 

​Happy Birthday Mom!!! :) I celebrated your birthday in a stake independence day activity. I ate some delicious enchiladas for you! :)

Spanish Lessons with Hermana Clark:
Olvidarse- forget. As in, "Tuesday we were on exchanges here in my area and we went to contact people for an hour. We walked by house where an elderly member with memory loss lives. I knew it was her house and that her son was outside, but the sister who was with me didn't, so she contacted her son. He told us to come in to see his mom. We sang her a hymn and talked with her for a few minutes, in which time she asked the other sister 5 times where she was from and how long she'd been on her mission. By the end of the time we were there the other sister could hardly hold in her laughter. I'm pretty sure she'll never forget the time she did exchanges with me."
Con buen ánimo- cheerfully. As in, "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

Well, you may have been waiting to see this...
  

 

​Our awesome investigator got baptized!! Woohoo!! We're so happy for him!
On Tuesday we went to review the baptismal interview questions with him and he was so prepared. He honestly investigated the gospel with such a sincere desire to change and live the right way. He is a great example, as is the family he lives with, who helped him the whole way. I am so grateful to have been a part of helping him prepare for his baptism.

Apart from that fantastic experience, we also found a great new investigator this week! A recent convert in the ward told us that he ran into her in the store and she told him that she'd seen him with us and she'd like to learn more about us. So we went to meet her with another member this week and she told us that she feels like something in her life is missing and when she'd seen us that she felt like maybe we had the answer. We're excited to visit her again tomorrow.

We're working hard here to do everything in our power to find people who are prepared to hear the message of the restoration. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! Have a great week!

~Hermana Hannah Jo Clark


​We found this in the street...​

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Success!

Hey! Hope everyone is doing well! :)

Spanish Lessons with Hermana Clark:
 
 

​Chilito con Sombrero- Little chile with a hat. As in, " I bought a little chile with a hat because independence day is this week! ¡Viva Mexico! (His name is panchito)"
 
 

​Refrigerio- refreshment. As in, "'Sisters, I just bought sushi for the refreshment, is that alright?' I'd never eaten sushi as a refreshment in a family home evening before, but it's all good. I can get used to it. They even let us take some home for dinner."
Vencer obstáculos- overcome obstacles. As in, "Every time a baptism is coming up, investigators suddenly have to face a lot of obstacles. But if the act with faith and a true desire to follow Christ's example, they can overcome the obstacles and come out stronger."

Our investigator's baptismal date is this Saturday! We're all pretty excited for him! This past week was crazy though. Something happened in his job that made him have to work crazy hours. He had to cancel 2 of our appointments. We did manage to teach him the 10 commandments, the law of chastity and the law of tithing though. He accepted it all super well and he's excited to live these commandments and receive blessings in return. Saturday he told us that he would have to work Sunday because of the situation at work. When he told us he might not be able to go to church, we got worried. By our reaction he realized that he needed to go to church to be able to follow through with his baptismal date. He said he was going to pray a ton and ask his boss for permission to take 2 hours off to go to sacrament meeting.
When sacrament meeting started, he still hadn't shown up. We were turning around ever 5 seconds to see if anyone walked in the door. We were singing the sacramental hymn when my companion jumped in her seat and elbowed me.
HE CAME!
We just started smiling and almost laughing with relief during the hymn. We couldn't sing. We were so happy! It was an answer to so many prayers!
So we're looking forward to his baptism this Saturday!

We also found a new investigator yesterday at church! There's a returned missionary in the ward whose girlfriend has attended church with him for more than a year but has never accepted the missionaries. A couple weeks ago he told us that she finally wanted to hear the lessons and prepare for baptism, but we found out that she doesn't live in our ward boundaries. We were upset, but we explained to him and his family that we can't teach people who live outside our area without permission from the mission president. They said they'd ask him for permission.
Yesterday we talked with the president, and he gave us permission! So we taught her the message of the restoration right there in the church and set another appointment during the week. She wants to get baptized this month! We're looking forward to working with her.

We saw miracles and answers to prayers this past week. We feel blessed, and we're looking forward to working hard this week!

Have a great week, everyone!

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27

~Hermana Hannah Jo Clark

My God Hath Been My Support

Hey! Hope your week was great!

Spanish Lessons with Hermana Clark:
Empapado- soaked. As in, "Tuesday morning it rained a lot. We were walking to an appointment with the young women's president with our umbrellas, but our skirts were soaked because the umbrella can't protect everything. All of a sudden, a car passed by and splashed us with a ton of water. I barely got wet, but my companion got soaked from head to toe. We showed up in our appointment and the young women's president lent us skirts while she threw our skirts and sweaters in her dryer and we drank hot chocolate while we made plans to visit the less-active young women. There are some great people here."
 
 

​Lengua- tongue. As in, "People had told me that I would eat cow-tongue here, but I hadn't until last monday when we ordered tongue-quesadillas. It tastes ok, the texture is just wierd..."
Apoyo- support. As in, "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me." 2 Nephi 4:20-24

Our investigator changed his baptismal date to be a week earlier, so we're going full speed ahead teaching him everything before his baptism. This week we taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and obedience. He understood repentance super well, but he asked us, "is it too late for me to change and become pure and spotless like it says in Alma 5?" The members he lives with explained perfectly well that God doesn't expect us to be perfect right now. He expects us to try our hardest and keep getting better every day.
When we taught about baptism and confirmation, he was taking notes and trying to memorize the 3 baptismal covenants- take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, always remember him, and keep his commandments. It was great. He's so excited for his baptism, and we and the members are equally excited for him!

We're working hard, rain or sun (because there's always a lot of one or the other). We love being here and working together, which is good because we didn't have transfers this week!

Have a great week everyone!

~Hermana Hannah Jo Clark
 
 

​Thanks for the package, Mom! :)​

Answers

Hello! Hope everyone had an awesome week!

Spanish Lessons with Hermana Clark:
Maestra- teacher. As in, "I've become an English teacher! As a way to give service and find new investigators as a district, we've started giving English classes and classes for Bible study. I'm the English teacher, and my companion in learning a lot as my assistant."
 
 

​Conocer- to meet/to get to know. As in, "Meet the Mormons, the documentary that the church made about members of the church, is fantastic. We watched it with a less-active Sister this week, and it was awesome. It touched her heart and she's going to let us come teach her again!"
Redención- redemption. As in, "For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished." Mosiah 15:19

I have several stories I want to tell but there isn't time for all of them. But here are a few really fast.

Our investigator who has a baptismal date is doing well! We have to change his baptismal date to a week before or after because he has to go out of town the day we planned it, but he's still excited. We taught him the Word of Wisdom on Monday and it was great. He didn't complain of justify anything. He just told us exactly what he is already living and exactly what he needs to change. He's super cool. Then on Friday he showed us some questions he's asked and answered while reading the Book of Mormon. He mentioned the scripture from Mosiah that I put in the Spanish Lesson and he said, "What does redemption mean? Is it how Christ saves us from our sins and helps us to return to our Heavenly Father?" He answered his own question pretty well.
We taught him about the Sabbath Day and he thinks it's an important commandment. He's seen the difference in his life as he's started attending church and learning about the Gospel. We love teaching him.

We went to visit a less-active member this week whose husband isn't a member. We felt like we should start visiting her and teaching her the lessons again. We asked if she's be ok with us practicing the missionary lessons with her, and she said yes. Then she told us the whole story of her husband and how he's listened to a lot of missionaries. She said that he likes everything, but he says he's never received a concrete answer. They go to church every once in a while. He goes with her a lot. She told us that she thinks us visiting her is a great idea and she feels like it will help him make a choice. We're hoping we can help them and help him find an answer.

I have to go, but I hope everyone has a great week. Watch Meet the Mormons, serve your neighbors. Smile.

¡Que les vaya muy bien!

~Hermana Hannah Jo Clark