Letter Excerpts from December 27th

I love the stories you tell me and take comfort in knowing you are taking pictures for me! I love it and need to be included in family life. And my bad day on Monday-really in all comparison and all reality, it wasn't a bad day...my spirit was just worn out and I lapsed back into old ways... BUT!! So wonderful that all Power is working with you when you are doing the Lords work. That spell passed and I am much better. I would not even have remembered it if Mom and you had not mentioned it. It is incredible how quickly time eats up the things of the past. The healing that the Lord offers is so complete and is intensified when we are serving others and bearing testimony. Sins are forgiven and miracles are wrought. I LOVE MISSION WORK!!!! It is a work of faith! His work of power.

 

I love my family so so so so so so much! I am so grateful that you understand how busy it is out here. I don't have much time to respond  but I know my dedication to the Lord and His work will make me a better sister and daughter for a family who deserves so much. I cannot thank you enough for everything you do and have done in being by family. Always there for me.

 

Which brings me to another thing. My love for the Lord!!! It has grown so  much. I understand how to love him with all of my heart. I think that has come because He has given me more heart to love him with while the old pieces of my untamed natural heart are being chipped off.  A broken heart and contrite spirit are what he requires of us to let Him in. I will praise his name forever and though they are imperfect praises, that does not limit the power He has to Create anew. 

 

This change of heart has been so apparent in Richard*. He is working to get baptized on Sunday. He was raised starving and beaten by his parents. He has had a rough life and was deeply involved in gangs. Now the joy of the gospel and the comfort of the Holy Spirit have enlightened his understanding and humbled his heart. He has shown faith by living the word of wisdom, desire by reading the Book of Mormon, hope by praying to God-hoping he loves, commitment by sneaking out of his house full of visiting relatives and changing in the woods so he could come to church without questions being asked, and humility to listen to Christ's teachings. HE IS AMAZING!!!!

*Names have been changed for privacy

 

There have been so many people accept the gospel in such a short amount of time. My life is only a tiny window in eternity but in that window the Lord has shown me His works. I imagine this is something like what it would be like to be taken to a high mountain and be shown all the creations of God like Moses....something amazing. God is a God of miracles. His power has not ceased among men.

 

We have so much knowledge and clarity in the restored gospel. What a great day we live in. For centuries the world lay in darkness. Still, when we have the truth on earth, there are billions who walk the Lord's creation without knowing the goodness of the gospel teachings. Think what a marvelous heritage it is to be able to learn the principles of the gospel in mortality. To practice those preachings of the prophet. Feel the power of the Holy Ghost in our little frames, burning a deeper conviction and dedication to our loving Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

 

The Book of Mormon was written for our day. I cannot tell you how much this Book means to me and to those I teach. It is a source of living waters. If a man be called of God, he shall testify of Jesus Christ who is the source of all light and life. The Book of Mormon is a pure and simple testimony of the savior. Never think of it as just scripture. It has so much power because God promised those prophets that wrote and sealed it up, that it would come forth to the convincing and converting the people of the Earth that Jesus Christ is the way to Salvation. Our Father promises in power. We are so blessed by those that have gone before to show us the way by example, teach us words of wisdom words of truth, and bless us by the strength of their faith.

 

Do not underestimate the power of your faith to influence others. People have their agency, God is all powerful, but do not let those diminish your faith and hope for blessing for the hand of the Lord. He is waiting to pour out His spirit upon those who will receive it. Keep the commandments. Keep your heart open to his love. I pray these things for you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

I LOVE THIS WORLD!!! I LOVE MY REDEEMER!! family, I LOVE YOU!!!

 

Glance backward

Look heavenward

Reach outward

and Press onward
    ~Thomas Monson

 

Sister Emily Clendening

Christmas Letter from the Mission Field

Dearest family and friends,

Christmas is upon us. What a wonderful holiday season. We all know the familiar carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". It is our privilege to hearken. Angles speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. Wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Let us open our hearts to the message of those angels and hear again that beautiful declaration: "Risen with healing in His wings."

In Gig Harbor Washington, the field is white and being harvested. Light and life to all He brings.
I love my Savior Jesus Christ and His unbounded kindness: Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Love,
Sister Emily Clendening

Pictures from Nov 2010

 The sisters bought matching snow/rain/slush boots--and they love them!

The Beautiful Sister's Serving in Gig Harbor

Pictures of Sister Gandolph and Sister Clendening from October 2010

Letter Excerpts from December 6th

There is so much power in fasting and prayer! Arthur* is 16. He has been going to church for almost a year, attends early morning seminary, faithfully attends Young Men's, and is not a member. His Dad joined the church years ago but when he stoped dating a girl...he never went back to get away from people he didn't want to see. His mom and dad would not give Arthur* permission to get babptized and kept asking him "Why do you go?"

We sensed a change of heart, a softening and acted on the work of the Lord. We fasted with the ward council for Arthur*. And his parents have given permission! That was such a powerful fast and testimony meeting as ward member shared in the missionary spirit. John the woodcarver (confirmed last sunday) bore his testimony, Jonathan* was scheduled for baptism that night, and the whole ward was focused on covenant making/keeping and the power of faith.

*Names have been changed for privacy

I am so happy that I know a little of the situation going on so that I can exercise my faith too. Miracles do happen and as we live worthily, we can call down angels to help us.We have made covenants, therein lies the promise and we have the power of faithfulness. I love my family so much and will do everything I can (while focusing on missionary work) to bless them.

 

Today for P-day we played ultimate frisbee! yay it's been a long time and I didn't get way intense running in the game because...my knees have been acting up. Yucko, but its all good. I am loving loving being Sister Gandolph's companion. We are seeing so much success. President Bowen has taken special notice of the work we are doing here AND as always the Lord has us in His watchful care.

 

There is only so much our little brains can handle and when we have fourteen non members in our sacrament and only two missionaries and like 150 ward members who love us and want to talk to us...AHH!! It's overwhelming and worrisome that we are not getting everything done that the Lord has for us!! But wow D&C 101 is great great great. And the Lord really does bear us up when we have gone to the edge. Being on the edge (in a spiritual capacity sense) is where I find is best to be because it is there that you can KNOW the Lord's hand is with you as things happen and you do things that you couldn't do normally! CRAZY!! The whole principle of the atonement is applied in everyday life, what we CANT do, whether it be pay for our sins or be 10,000 places at once, He has promised to plead our cause and establish His purposes.

Letter Excerpts from November 29

It was weird, the week of transfers kind of fizzled by. OH MY!!!!!!!!!!! yes yes yes yes yes yes yse. I am amazing! Never could I have been better in my life. Even when I went to the temple for the first time and it was like a contant fire all around me- it feels that way now! No wonder I used to wonder about the "constant companionship" of the Holy Ghost...was He really with me? Well though he was, I was not treating Him as my companion. Now it is amazing! Miracles are happening all around and it is by the power of God. I am led to help them come about by the divine companionship of the Holy Ghost. I am strengthened, guided, inspired, and given words from Him! 

Church yesterday was the culmination of a week of miraculous events in the missionary work. I was in simple meetings all day and yet I felt like I was in the temple-the spirit was that strong, the whole time. Why you  might ask? WELL!!! we had 14 non members at church and 7 of them are our investigators. Whoa. Just to put this in perspective for you, the whole transfer with Sister Nybo we saw 3 investigators come to church in a 6 week period. AHHH!!! And plus we got two member referrals this week! They are so prepared!!! And just like a baptism happened with Jake* and the Lord trusted us with him to help him make those covenants, the Lord trusts us with these souls he has prepared. Jake* got confirmed on Sunday! yay!

*Names changed for privacy.

It is such an honor and comfort to know that I am on the Lord's team and that He blesses me with enough strength and power to do His works. Something like bringing a person fully into the grace of the atonement through covenants which make the Savior their own could only be done through his power and wisdom. I love the scriptures and guidance from the Holy Ghost. What could we ever ask for more?

 

Wow! Well ok, I could ask for family. I love you guys so much! I love hearing about what you did, what you're thinking about. What's going on! I miss you. But there is nothing I would rather do that be here serving the Lord. A nice thing we can think about though is that I will only be away for ONE Christmas! So next Christmas I will be home! wa ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!

 

I love the gospel! It is amazing the power of the atonement. Even when I am imperfect and thinking unchristlike things, the Lord still blesses me with his spirit and a stong testimony because I've covenanted that I am willing to become like Him. He asks for a broken heart. He does the glueing back together and in the mean time I just have to trust in Him and continually come to his cross. He is the most amazing person I know.

I don't know the essence of anything. But He is the essence of everything.

 

I went to our Relief Society President's house for dinner and for the first time in my life I truly enjoyed stuffing!!! yummo! Made with cinnamon bread it looks like? Don't know but Gandolph is going to get me the recipe. AND! whoa, Utah has a bad rap for jello salads? K this was interesting: cherry jello, cream cheese, coconut, cherries, walnuts, and celery! BLAGH!!! hahaha but we had live burning candles on the table. my dream! it was fun. and also for the first time in my life I am appreciating pumpkin pie!

Sister Gandolph and I made Mom's fruit salad for Thanksgiving and took it to a part member family that we're teaching. They liked it. Also I ate this thing that is about 3 inches of rice on the bottom with a cheesy chicken sauce layer on top of it...and it was way good! sounds and looks questionable to me, but it was yum.

WHOO! We were handing out water at the half way mark of the 10K Turkey Trot race. SO funny! I got so excited when I saw the first running coming along. Of course they didn't want to be bothered with any water. well the cones were out but the mad -fast runner went right on, not taking our water. Ak we thought. and so the rest of the runners continued to come and go, some taking water, others not. Eventually they came back after about 200 yards more and then turning around in the cul-de-sac to pass by our water station again. Then about 40 minuntes into the race, the creator of the race Dr (and brother) Holmes runs up and says "WHoa, where is everybody going, this is the half way mark!?"  . .....woops. We let everyone in the race run more than a 10K hahaha, I guess what they don't know can't hurt them right?

 

OH!!! And had a miracle! Monday was this huge storm and yuck and I don't have a coat so we went to target and I found THE ONLY, MEDIUM, CLEARANCE from last season, long warm coat. So I didn't freeze that day, or any since. Oh my. Really I know it was a gift from God. and I'm so thankful for it! And! So thankful for my family who is so faithfully supporting me at home! 

 

Sister Cheeseo Clendening!