I know I've only been here 4 days but I can already see the things said in my blessing coming about...its awesome! I love the Lord and I love the MTC. I love love love that you pray for me! Thank you I feel your love and it is so nice to know.

 

This is a sacred work. I finally understand why they call over the missionaries for the inactive members and not just have their member friends talk to them. I am so thankful I get this great opportunity to preach the word of God. I am so privileged!!

 

 [I wanted to let you know that you can] use Dearelder.com its aswesome. I can get the message that same day and it doesn't cost you or me anything! Its way fun to get them.

The scriptures are AMAZING!! I LOVE being able to study them all day. 

  

[The MTC has] such an amazing spirit! What good will come of this for me, you, and everyone else in the world. It is interesting for me to compare myself with the others I know that are also going to Tacoma. We are all different...so saying that this or that missionary is called here or there because they are _____ type of missionary or need to learn _____ lesson...isn't really accurate. The Lord is planning everything and sends people where they will based on his plan. 

BUT I am glad that I have the right attitude. I think that will come off when I give my message.

Dear Family: I love you and love the gospel! It is the way Heavenly Father has laid for us to return to Him and live like He does. I am so blessed to have so much time to have the spirit of the Lord flow into my life with all the great study time I get! I love it here. I am sick...I am tired...I hate sitting all day....but when I teach-even though it is just pretend-I feel the same way I did when I shared the gospel with Austin at SUU. Such love from the Lord is poured into you and you KNOW you are saying the right thing and you WANT them to be happy.  My testimony is one of happiness and peace. I am going to bring that to the people I meet and the poeple I see. I need to remember to not be way uptight and crazy about doing everything how I think it should be done. However! :) I'm so grateful for the mission rules that allow me the opportunity to be completely obedient! I can do that 100% while here; here with my mission that is One with the Lord's. That is such a special opportunity and, just as the Lord gives us commandments and makes covenants with us so we can feel His spirit and be draw upward to better ourselves and be like Him, have One heart and One mind with the Lord has a refining power to it. I am so privileged to be here. Thank you family for loving me and supporting me here!!!

 

Love Sister Clendening

*this letter has been briefly edited for spelling and clarification

An Introduction

As a way to keep everyone involved with Sister Emily Clendening's mission, I have been granted permission to start a blog. I hope to post her email messages, letters and pictures that she provides for us all to enjoy. Emily is a beautiful, willing servant of the Lord, and I am excited to hear about her experiences!

The title of this blog may strike some as odd, so let me provide some insight about my sister as an explanation about the title of this blog. When we were younger, and learning how to pray, I remember vividly Emily's prayers. Each one, even those just for the food, would include a treaty to our Heavenly Father to watch over and bless the missionaries and the birds. While other small children struggled to remember to bless the food, or how to begin or end a prayer, Emily was surely teaching us all through example. She kept within herself a desire to do good, and to always, always, ask a blessing on the missionaries and the birds. I don't know to this day why exactly those two items were paired, but I am sure that is was for some reason known only to her. I hope that our prayers for her will follow a similar pattern, to be included in our thoughts and vocalized desires submitted to our loving Heavenly Father.

This is the last picture my Mom got of Emily before taking her to the MTC. Sister Clendening may not be as fond of this picture, but I love it. In a moment of quiet reflection (do not be persuaded that she is only looking at her new glasses frames in a mirror) I see her strength and dedication, her desire to serve the Lord with all her might and mind.