Dear Family:
What an interesting few weeks these have been. I feel like I haven't written to you in forever. The days fly by as we work for the Lord and at the end of the day I can hardly give an accounting of what happened 6 hours ago. Thank goodness for a planner! The Sunset ward had major upheavals and rearrangements in it. The Elders Quorum, YW, Primary, Bishopric and Ward Mission Leader changed. The ward council we had was a whole new experience.
We have an amazing book called the Book of Mormon! Question its purpose and then you will appreciate it more. We really focused on teaching the role of the Book of Mormon in the last days and it is astounding how one little books makes such a difference and caries so much power in it. Probably because ALL those men who wrote in it poured out their hearts to God for it AND it was His will that it come forth.
Shelia* is making progress reading every day. Marissa* left the Book of Mormon home and didn't have its daily influence in her life, she ended up cancelling her baptism until a later undecided date. The Book of Mormon makes huge difference.
Elder Perry came to instruct the priesthood leaders and since he had extra time, the missionaries met with him. It was a wonderful time. He is exactly the way he seems on TV. only taller. He bore witness of the strength of the Book of Mormon and that even though all these things with TV series, politics, and broadway are potentially damaging...that nothing is going to stop the hand of the Lord from pouring out knowledge from heaven. The Marriott owners called him with a problem, that the Books of Mormon are just walking out the door and they can't get enough of them! What a WONDERFUL problem! It is my job to teach the true doctrine. The honest will bring real questions to me and the spirit will give the answer.
So Marissa* didn't get baptized on Saturday. It was going to be really neat for Sister Grenfell to have taught Marissa* her first day here and then baptized her 3 weeks later. However this didn't happen. What more can we do? She lives in Yelm but was going to live here on the weekends... hmm
Anna* is doing amazing! Her children still are not thinking about baptism but they are still coming to church with her. She may not understand the severity of her smoking problem and I hope to be able to teach her the correct doctrine so she can fix it. In the mean time, we are visiting her every day and teaching simple bible stories to her children.
Rich* wanted to be baptized a long time ago but his mom held him up. Well this week we had a lesson in his home with her and we read the Book of Mormon! It was wonderful and she accepted an invitation to come to church! Something that she used to be so against. His mom dropped him off at a baptism on Sunday and he really felt the spirit at the service. He is going to try again and bear his testimony to her about baptism and his desire to join this church. He is 17 and there are no boys his age in the ward :(
Rochelle* is probably the most prepared heart I ever met on my mission is back. She will be moving to Federal Way with her son but we have laid out as clearly as we can a map for how she will get to baptism with the Seattle missionaries. Hopefully her son will not stand in the way of her progression! She has a shunt in her brain and needs assistance, that's why she will not be living alone any longer.
There is this lady Sariah* who is bed ridden and has MS and she wanted to come to church but her care taker is a bad influence! we aren't positive if he is the reason but she didn't come to church...but it's really sad she didn't come because she is really receptive to the spirit.
Paul* came to church! He hasn't been to church in months!
Our new Ward Mission Leader is going to be great. We spoke with bishop and he is committed to doing a better job with retention and reactivation. There will be an increased efficiency on teaching the new member lessons. And Finally the Focus Families of the ward are going to become what they should-that is families who have accepted the invitation to be taught again by the missionaries. The priesthood keys are to go out and open is, extend the invitation, and then the teachers come in. I am very excited.
Family I have such a testimony of fasting. I fasted to feel closer to the Lord and to feel more of His energy. Lately I have been feeling stressed out and un-energetic, something I never thought would happen on my mission. He answered my fast with such great mercy and calming that I cannot deny his hand in what happened. :) The Holy Ghost is the best thing that I could ever have. It teaches and guides my words at just the right time. Sometimes it might feel like we are not thinking but when we just open our mouths He will fill them.
Christie* made chili rellenos and I love them. We helped her clean. She read her Spanish Book of Mormon and realizes that reading it will put her on the path to peace and happiness.
Devon* is still hanging around.
Sister Grenfell hasn't even met Travis* but bishop has seen him twice at Home Depot where he works and he is still doing good.
*Names have been changed for privacy
I am grateful for the love and support of you my family!
Take care of everything there!
Oh! I hit my head on this little metal door covering as pressure gauge and got a pretty nasty gash. tons of blood in my hair. that was fun. Hopefully this will make scar number three for my time in Washington. Even if I forget some things, I will have these to remind me!
I love Jesus Christ so much. Who can think of His great mercy and not want to be a better person. Don't ever think of anything else. He will make you into something. Then He will perfect you into His image. That this will happen for each of us is my prayer.
Sister Clendening
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