An Excerpt from the Mission Field

Letter dated June 23, transcribed by Marianne

I love Preparation Day! Missionary life is so simple: Follow the rules, stay focused, study the doctrine and then take a 6 hour break from it all :) Our P-Day is from 10-5. I hope that you go the SD card I sent, it is full of goodies I'm sure you will find uses for.

Hymns! I do love that you appreciate the Hymns. Just as they are parers unto God, I know they an be His words of comfort to us.

Remember that Gordan B Hinckley quote about the Father gave His Son, Christ gave His life and we must sacrifice too? I love that. It encourages me to ask people to do hard things. Repent! Change! Give up your sins. [quote unable to be verified, too many similar to this message to know exactly which was being referenced]

You are so right about Children--they have pure love. It is amazing. I just realized, we are promised if we raise our children right they will remember what we taught and turn to it again. That must be ture. Children eventually turn to their parents even if they've had a falling out. They spent that time with them, and a bond naturally develops with those sweet sweet spirits. Ho critical it is then that we have our young children spend time with the Lord! They need a chance to develop that natural bond and eventually they will remember it and it will mean something to them.

A vista within the Mission...

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

More pictures from the MTC

a bit of randomness that even the Brainwave has yet to decipher ...

Sister Bowles and Sister Clendening

Another Sister (I think Sister Fisher) and Sister Clendening

Sister Clendening with the other sisters in the MTC (I'm assuming, I didn't really get a manual with these pictures :)

"And take ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17

Sister Clendening with her teacher Sister Borg,

and with another teacher, Brother Potter.

A million pictures...

Sister Clendening in front of the Provo, UT temple with her class members from the MTC

Sister Clendening with her first companions from the MTC: Sister Bowles (and another left un-named)

Always take time to smell the flowers-

Sister Clendening's MTC class

Sister Gandolf and Sister Clendening out side their apartment!

"It may not be on the mount height

Or over the stormy sea

It may not be at the battle's front

My Lord will have need of me. 

But if but a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer dear Lord, with my hand in thing:

I'll go where you want me to go."

Sister Gandolf reveling in the sunlit, tree lined, corridors of their district...

Sister Clendening and Sister Gandolf on their P-day, enjoying the beach!

Sister Clendening with her District

Letter excerpts from June 21

So I cannot really describe how missionary life is different from the life before. But it is. OH! A good way to put it: Everything I do is for the Lord and His glory. I KEEP finding ways in life and in the gospel that Heavenly Father gives us opportunitites to reach beyond ourselves for something better.  He teaches us by showing us greater things. We are so flawed and imperfect yet are given great responsibilities to encourage us to reach our 'salty' potential.  (Remember "ye are the salt of the earth" in Matt 5:13 ...and consider how salt -NaCl- can't really stop being salty...even if it wants to...you can't change the fact that NaCl tasts like salt and that's the same with us. WE are children of God and have divinity within. ) 

Anyway. He encourages us to reach that divine potential through prayer, communication with God, making covenants with God, promises He knows we can't keep perfectly yet, calls us to serve and help his other children even though we don't do it as well as He can. Each of these [and many more] are ways that the Lord helps us look upward and improve ourselves. :) I have found much joy in realizing the way the Lord teaches us. He has such faith in us and loves us unconditionally. I know He loves you and as you work to "keep His love in your mind" as you mentioned- I know you will grow and help others!!

Wow, some what scattered thoughts there but I hope you get it. If not....plug into the BW! shehehehehe

I love Sister Gandolf. We get along great and she wants to be just as obedient as I do. We are accomplishing good things because we are unified. The principal of unity is eternal!

I am so envigorated by good gospel discussions. It is something that is...almost a natural high! And of course that comes because of the spirit. wow! Love the gospel!

So I asked 4 people to be baptized and they all said no. In the same day! Thankfully nothing was awkward for me afterwards because I know that I am doing the Lord's work. I am on His errand (with His spirit and His glory in mind) I won't stray far from the path He wants His work on. That is comforting, so remember: Plant your seeds! Share your light!

Love Sister Clendening

-letter to Marianne

A note to all: Sister Clendening mentioned that she now has an hour to write her emails! Which means that she can write more to us, but still remember that if we send her things during the week by snail mail, it still gives her more time to write us on Mondays! Remember to keep her in your prayers!

Letter excerpts from June 14

Here is a medley of experiences, each related to different family members:

The other day we visitied a sister who has a bad attitude and is bitter. That doesn't even begin to describe the complexity of the situation. But anyway, we're sitting there and she is talking about all of her principles that I find wrong....and then realized that I wasn't being the missionary that I should be. So I prayed right then and there for love, "Please I need to feel the love that Heavenly Father has for his children." Instantly I was filled with the Love of God. The woman talking was saying the same things, I had the same opinions, but I knew how God loved her. That was such a good eye opening thing for me to understand and see just how God works.

* * *

Holy cow so you know how I love cooking? Well the members here are amazing and cook awesome dinners for us all the time. hahaha its so much fun to see everytihng all laid out and try new things! I am collecting recipes and washington license plates. (weird I know, but it will be fun and my companion is doing it too.)

Being a missionary I am so much more receptive to the Spirit! I think it comes from having such a purpose and being set apart. We pray a lot and its just part of life! I am so grateful for prayer! There is power in it! I pray for my companion when she is teaching. I pray before I teach. I pray for the investigator. I pray for the people we might meet. I pray for you!! Praying is a gift from God! I am so grateful for it.

The spirit has such a power. It is playing such a big role in my life. When Joseph Smith said we live far beneath our potential...now I know a little of what he was speaking of. It is such a blessing from our Heavenly Father...to have our own personal teacher and guide. I hope I can keep it with me always. Then I will be an effective missionary. The scriptures and prayer do an excellent job at bringing it into your life. Please take advantage! I know it will strengthen you. And on that note...if you are looking for strength, remember who is cheering for you and then you will find it.

* * *

Mom!

 

That is so awsome that Elder Holland came [to your stake conference] and gave that awesome blessing! I wish I could have been there but you are right I am a servant of God and I know that he will be blessing me because i know you are praying fror me hooray!~!!

 

OOOHHH :) you have no idea how much I love mail!!!! I was SOOO happy happy happy to get your package. First of all: it was mail and I love mail. Second: it was everytihng I needed and hadn't asked for. you knew I was sick and as soon as you got my address you sent me some help for it!! You are the best best mom ever and I love you so much! It is great to ha ve a companion who I can tell my love love stories of Europe to. It is so fun because now I am finally getting the chance to talk about our time together with people. Yaya

 

cool cooking eh? Wow! there are AMAZING dinners provided by ward members out here. Everyone wants to feed us and nope its not casseroles or spagehtti. It's Alaskan salmon with lime and fresh home-garden herbs, pepercorns, roasted pecans, fajitas, pinapple muffins, homemade mango-orange-banana-pinapple?? juice, HOMEMADE sausage (with apples!), and 0h wow the list doesn't end. Im serious I am eating a quizine style meal 3X a week. It is awesome! I love love cooking and so chatting with the members about that is fun. It makes me want to cook:) AND whoa! hahah It makes me worried about my health...but thats ok. It's fun.

 

When a missionary is "set apart" they are set apart from the evils of the world. It is amazing how true that is. I feel the spirit so much so often. 

 

I played ultimate frisbee this morning...did pilates...sat on a pier, took pictures, and am now emailing! YAY!

 

I love the gospel. there is soooooo much to study so much to learn and it is different having to study FOR someone ELSE! It is something new that I am adjusting to...usually I just study whatevevr I don't know or what intrigues me but I need to start connecting my work with the study topics I pick.

 

Sister Gandolf and I get along amazingly! It is great fun. She is from North Carolina...about 45 min from Marianne in Smithfield.

sister clendening

Letter excerpts

"It is Memorial Day, we have been so blessed to be given this country. I hope we all remember family and the men who died.

I love the MTC! I am in a [three-part companionship] and it rocks!! I get along so well with my companions. After an unusual beginning it is so great! Sometimes at the end of the day I will spontaneously go crazy out of control with giggling! (ed note: This is what I love about Emily!)
But luckily I have the much needed gym outlet. :)

I love this gospel. I learn so much everyday about new/different & better ways I can present this beautiful message to God's children. Thank you for your support!

My calling and responsibility sinks in deeper everyday that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. Everything I say is authorized of Him & needs to be consecrated unto Him. I want to strive to my very core to do and say that which He would have His servant do.

Elder Christopherson came and spoke to us. He said we have apostolic power and are his companions in this work. He kept expressing gratitude for us accepting this call.

I feel so grateful, so humbled by my call. I keep learning from the Spirit about the atonement of our Savior and how I (and everyone else) have a choice to take His name upon us."
-From a letter to Marianne

"Well I am in Tacoma. I have a trainer who has only been out with 2 companions..I am her third. So :) four months after she started she is training. I think that  means she is awesome and I am going to learn a lot. 

Wow! we already have a goal of 2 baptisms for June! Yeah! E

This is my address for the next 6 weeks: 

Sister Emily Clendening 

1201 NW Tahoe Ln. # 204 

Silverdale, WA 98383 

It will be better to send letters there since it will take 6 weeks fro me to get anything that goes to the mission home. (ed note: so much for the letter I sent this morning! :( oh well, she'll get the package some time!) So spread the word to my friends.

Its been sunny all day and I can see the beautiful mountains. I went tracking yesterday and set up a church tour! "by myself" says sister Gandolph but really she helped. But..I was the one who brought it up! It was sooo exciting to say that to someone and have her react positively. I hope to be able to invite MANY others to come unto Christ.

My interview with the mission president went very well...I guess. It was short but I suppose he found out what he needed to know! I told my President that I want to work hard and not waste one single minute.

Have faith, I will pray for you and you will be blessed with success. Its so wonderful to see the fruits fo the gospel. It is uplifting and sustaining...even when you are sick and tired! The Lord is our Savior and has the power to carry all of us if we will just come to Him. Pray for the apostles!!!

 

I love everyone so much!

 

Sister Clendening"

-From a family email

A few status updates from the MTC...

Elder Christophersen came and spoke to us! IT WAS AMAZING! 

Oh I played the piano for sacrament and accompanied some elders sisnging a musical number. yay! life time goal..

 

Set goals, Be happy. Ready your scriptures, and I love you so much. thanks you for your letters and thoughts.

 

sister clendening!