Letter from April 11

Dearest Family!

This is the best time ever! The Lord has revealed his gospel in its fullness to us. Those who went before learned some of the lessons of mortality. The had experiences in the flesh and with the light of Christ. They will be judged according to the knowledge and truth they had. However, it is for us in our day to live with the fullness. We are the generation of the earth that is to prepare for the second coming of our Savior. What does that really mean? How can man and his puny arms do anything that would benefit the coming of the Son of the Almighty? It is a question we should all ponder and apply the revelation we receive in our respective spheres.

If I may briefly share a moment that has touched my soul and lets me know it is truly Gods will to send this message to all those of this earth that will hearken unto it:

About 7 months ago while serving in Gig Harbor, I found Elizabeth* She was living on her own for the first time in her life and was unstable in every possible meaning of the word. Though she heard the truths of the restored gospel, she lacked the faith for action. She turned us away and I never heard from her or about her again. Then 4 weeks ago, I met her! We were outside of our area but she saw me and knew me! She happens to be living right next to our ward house. WHICH this ward has not had sister missionaries in it for YEARS. She moved here. I moved here. She has become more stable,and I have a stronger testimony. The mercies of the Lord are extended to all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He is willing to give us a second go around. As I brought Anna to church, she began to remember everything I taught her before. When she came to Church and partook of the sacrament, her face light up and she looked like a child who is pleased when they have done the thing they know they should be doing. I have been blessed with such feelings of love for her. The Lord is infinite in his goodness, showing to me that he has a plan for her and will not forsake her. I love being a missionary!

Heaven bless and keep you all!!

sister clendening

Pictures from February 2011 (I think)

Letter excerpts from April 18th

Sister Clendening and Sister Fox

Do you know what it is like to be serving out here? Well life is pretty normal, but then if I take a glance at what normal really is...it is completely different! Always I am thinking about who to find, what they need, what responsibility I have! There never seems a moment not involved in someone else. It's quite interesting and exciting! I love it! probably something of what it feels like to be in a parenting role.

 

hm hmmm!

 

So Sister Fox got an ultra sound and they couldn't see anything wrong. So we are going to try and adapt her diet to fix her stomach problems. I am really learning a lot about patience and nurturing. How grateful I am that these things can be worked on here at the SAME TIME that we are helping people come unto the Atonement of Christ. I love growing and advancing. Our God is and awesome God.

 

I was reading in Daniel this morning, so interesting that Nebecanezzer  recognizes that Daniel's God is the God of Gods but he will still not live up to the commandments of Daniels God. If we ever have a question about if we will follow God's command or not, think of the positive. Think of all His goodness and mercy-ponder on the happy state of the righteous. He wants to shower that goodness down upon you but you have to be open to receiving it.

 

Ok sorry for the side note: really I wanted to talk to you about what it is like to be in the Washington Tacoma mission under President H Kent Bowen. Well I love him!

 

In Tacoma, Sister Fox and I serve in the Sunset ward. It takes in area in university place (where the mission office is) which is pretty safe and relatively affluent and also takes in parts of town that struggle more. Each week we have a meeting reporting the progress in each of our wards or areas. It requires faith when our teaching pool is near to empty: we have to remember believe and act on the promise of the Lord that the field is white already to harvest.

 

I know this is true!! Steve* got baptized. He quit smoking, loves the Book of Mormon,and cried when we was confirmed.

*Name has been changed for privacy

 

Mission standards weekly numbers are thus:

2 New investigators, 2 Church tours given to non members, and 30 lessons taught to investigators/recent converts /less actives. We shoot for 2 referrals received and contacted each week but actually get much less (at least from what I have seen-its not a number we report on in weekly zone meetings) We discuss "the spread" or people working toward baptism on any dated 3 weeks out. It is amazing! the brethren of the church expect investigators to meet us, hear the word, and join the Church in 3 weeks! To missionaries that is a very long time, but think of it in your own life. How much really goes on over 3 weekends? Do you think you could learn even a quarter of what you know about the gospel in 3 weeks?? Now this is how a recent convert feels. Please help anyone you know who has recently joined the church. Even if they joined 5 years ago, they are still in need of constant support! My greatest concern after baptism is that our new friends do not have a friend!!! As missionaries, we move on! There is still the love there but we are not constantly calling them, meeting with them, teaching them. THEY NEED SUPPORT! wow. umm once again I have gotten distracted.

 

Well I hope that if any of you have questions about what happens here in the field: ask. It is all just normal to me and I can hardly think of what it is like to not be a missionary. So love you all and pray that you are being kept in the Lords loving arms!

 

peace

 

sister clendening