37 - Still here

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815

Short on time today so this will be short. (My companions are terrible about time and spent it lingering in the clothing isle of the store.... as usual...)

We went to the LA visitors center with the Dalaguits and Dortheos, I went with the Dortheos, but sadly the sisters there had to change with their shift ending and the new ones went off the wall with baptismal inviting.... (hunting in this case).... and drove them off a bit and they didn't show up to church the next day. I was frustrated to say the least. We already know how Mary Lou felt and wasn't the most comfortable with that subject yet, and we told her that was fine right now, then those sisters ruined everything by making it sound like that is all we ever care about. So disappointing.

The Dalaguits trip went well though, they loved it and enjoyed our time with them and even took us out to dinner afterwards to an Asian buffet (which was truly Asian and mostly was all sorts of seafood. I finally figured out how to eat crab and other good foods. Asian places in Utah are very tame and boring compared to this place with food. This might become my favorite food place here in Buena park besides Portillos that you don't have anywhere else in the mission). We got to know their family real well and had a spiritual time with them afterwards discussing how the trip went and it looks very promising they will be baptized with what they told us. The mom may take awhile, but that's ok because it's on their time, not ours.

We met with Debbie and helped her a bit getting on to reading Doctrine and Covenants as well as family history. She is looking so forward to working towards going to the temple for baptisms!

We didn't find many people this week. We were focusing on the people we had and most of the people we've dropped from our teaching pool or the more part, passed off to YSA or Spanish. Good for them!

I found out that I will be staying. That is a relief, and its the first time in a long while that I will be staying in one place. There are so many people I have grown close to that we are teaching and families, it would have been so hard to leave them.

36 - Scriptures and Prayer

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


Things have been going along very well. No service due to emergency mini exchange with some other sisters, but we still got to have Tressa or Naomi for almost all day some days to work with us so we could cover more lessons and find more.

We got to meet Eddie, a Filipino elderly gentlemen who lost his wife and parents to cancer and old age 2 to 5 years ago. he lives with his black pit-bull and was most interested in how he can see his wife and family again one day in heaven (Celestial Kingdom). He loved the plan of salvation lesson and was thrilled at the thought of him seeing them all again and that life isn't the end. He even came to the first two hours of church and loved looking at all the photos of Christ in our church building.

The Cronejos all came to church, minus the father and son at baseball practice. They only stayed for the sacrament meeting, but they loved the talks and being able to have the sacrament.

Aisha and Ashley were on the lesson a few days earlier and Sister Nau came with us that day, and it was such a blessing since if it weren't for her, the mom and them wouldn't have gone to church most likely. They had met each other last year and it was so neat to see them reunited after whatever memorable time they had. Aisha is so excited to learn more and read more, I hope they all get to be baptized sooner than latter.

Sirus is so cool. We brought Marcus with us and they found out they had a similar friend and bonded almost immediately. They both love basketball, too! We went over some scriptures on baptism, and he opened up on how he had already had thoughts of being re-baptized for things he regretted in his past. He also said he picked time for our lesson over partying with some friends and other things that are losing him friends, but he said he knows it's the right path to take. He also is in the band for his church and looks forward to working with the youth in his church as well. I hope that he can come to our church some time. I know it would be a huge sacrifice for him, but it would be worth it.

Aarti and Diya are progressing along quite well. They are more and more interested in what we had to say and Aarti was excited to come to Relief Society and church to learn more on how to be a better mother and person.

The Dalaguits came and loved coming to church as a whole family. We didn't have a chance to have a lesson this week other than with AJ, but they are really enjoying the lessons as a whole.

We met with Rick again, and he asked us if there was a sin too unpardonable because he did things that he deeply regretted and felt like he could not be forgiven. He cheered up a bit when we taught about Christ's atonement and how even Alma the Younger told his son about how he had felt so much sorrow for the damage he caused before he was truly converted and obedient to what God had intended for him to do. He said he felt like he felt the bitter pains awaiting the dammed soul for bringing so many souls to disbelief in what the church and his father taught, then through Christ's atonement he was able to remember and feel those pains no more and felt the wonderful joys after. I know that no matter what, if we repent and use Christ's atonement and be baptized, we won't have to feel the pains of our mistakes anymore. The hard part is keeping up on the repentance and continuing onward in good deeds. Rick goes into Surgery soon for his left leg that after his Motorcycle accident years ago fused his bones together at the knee and now they are working on making him a new knee so he can hopefully walk one day on that and a prosthetic leg for the one he lost. It's amazing what science has come to these days and is such a blessing form God to learn continually and refine heath care so we can be happy living life more naturally.

Something I loved from one of the talks this Sunday was on what successful people all have in common. It was given at a convention/seminar for business people, many were millionaires in attendance or contributing with courses.

They said almost all have these two things in common:
1 They give thanks for all they have.
2 They take time each day to read something positive.

The speaker than said how he was stunned, the very thing that he was basically taught in seminary, church, home, and more was reading scriptures (positive material) and praying (giving thanks) was what would make him successful.

Scriptures and prayer not only heal us when we are sad or hurt, give us guidance and direction when lost, but it also helps us to be happy and successful in life. (And it's a commandment from God for our good. )

Not much in the way of finding this week, but many pass offs to other missionaries to further the work.

35 - Miracles and callings

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


Things are going well here. Sadly there won't be any more departure firesides anymore, so lots of missionaries are either relived they don't have to bear their testimony or almost devastated over losing that last opportunity to see their favorite ward members, recent converts, or investigators from their areas they served in.

We did lots of walking around in the rain this week. There was so much rain that fell that the streets in most areas were flooded on up to a foot at the curb. I am so glad I got some quality shoes, otherwise I would have been prune-ish footed all day. We had to drive a lot this month so far, so we wanted to save miles by walking, and we were on exchanges so contacting was fun and interesting in that way. So many sisters with different personalities, it gives me a great opportunity to see what is and is not effective when teaching and contacting.

We also dropped many investigators. No surprise there, but I never met almost all the ones that where dropped, so they went to the area book for some other missionaries to pick up again. We had so many at one point I couldn't name let alone remember all of them. We now have a much more manageable amount, and I really like them from what I have had experiences with them.

We watched Prophet of the Restoration (1 hour version of the restoration video plus the entire life of Joseph smith beginning to end) with the Dalaguits. It was at the request of brother Dalaguit because he said it was so inspiring and makes one almost cry because you truly feel for and love the people and stories in it. After we were going to leave a commitment and leave since it was just over an hour, then we felt prompted to stay longer. We asked Sister Dalaguit to say the prayer. Half way she switched to Tagalog, but I felt the spirit so strongly then. While I didn't know what was poured out of her heart, I do know it had to have been, as they say, a great wrestle with God, crying and pouring out of one's heart in prayer. I will never forget that experience. I was about crying afterwards. Sister Dalaguit said that she felt so conflicted because she knew that all that we taught was true, but she wanted to stay faithful to her father's request never to change her religion when he passed. Thankfully, brother Dalaguit was there to help her through and share his testimony and scriptures.

Naomi spent quite a bit of the week with us, most often for half or almost the full day. She wants to go on a mission after her 1 year mark, so she is getting a feel for what everything is like with us. She came to Park Anaheim with us as well for service. It was hand print penguins or coloring with the residents. Naomi sadly had a bad run in with a lady who has quite the reputation with her dimensia, but in the end we all laughed about what she said. She didn't know not to talk to her or she will say some of the most vulgar or insulting things ever. I don't hold it to her though. Some things people can't help when they have dimensia. I sat with a lady who I played bingo with, she is so nice and funny. She told stories of her adventures with her roommate lately.

Miracle 1 of the week, we found Sirus and his friend while they were playing basketball. Sister Skelton made a deal that if we made three shots in a row, we got to teach them. If they got three in a row, they got to pick whether or not we taught them. In the end, none of us got it, but they still let us teach them. He told us about how his father passed away and that no matter what he lost him forever, but then we briefly mentioned about the plan of salvation, and that being what we taught and after that he seemed more interested in what we had to share. He even said we can teach him again and would definitely read The Book of Mormon. It reminded me of the story about truly converted converts, in an area where they fell away quickly after baptism; found while playing basketball and taught during the game after a couple months in south america. (Though I think I won't be playing any game to try and convert any time soon or at all.)

Miracle 2 is after that we went to a more wealthy area to find a less active who moved, but we bumped into Michael walking and training his dog. (Best trained dog I have seen here in California so far.) He was talking about all these beliefs that Christian churches always get wrong, and that's why he left the Catholic church years ago. It was so surprising because he was almost LDS the things he talked about. He reminded me of brother Rex SO MUCH. He agreed to talking some other time with Brother Rex. Hopefully he will take lessons after that, sadly he got some misinformation and read some things in The Book of Mormon wrong and got a totally different idea of what we believe and are. He was real nice though.

Stake conference was interesting with one of the area 70 who came. He would stop every now and again to call someone up to bear their testimony on something, to teach, or to even read a song. One thing I thought was interesting was he called on the stake presidency to act out and relate Moses and his holding up his hands and how the presidency works supporting the president up. It was neat. Lots of families and a couple LOUD kids running around at the back, great testimonies on how sacrament meeting should be used to come closer to the savior and feel the spirit give you guidance, peace, and comfort. To not focus on your faults during the sacrament, but to move on. To be mindful of your kids' behavior and others around them. An amazing talk on temples and how visiting the temple is one of the best ways to strengthen your families and children from the things that are out in the world trying to tear down morals, families, and good teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So many ways to be a member missionary. For example, California on average have 50,000 people that aren't members in stake boundaries. Utah has much less than that. Hopefully this will encourage our members to do ?more and find lasting memories and friendships while reaching out to others. (And possibly finding more service projects we can do... we only have 1 right now......I miss doing so much service) And lastly singing the Cyprus Stake anthem.... yep, I have seen everything here. This stake goes above and beyond the call of duty with art gallery like hallways, anthem, fundraising for the ysa to go to Palmyra this summer..... such a stark contrast to my first stake where they had to have a fast so the members would accept even a single calling. They are right next to each other, but so different. I am convinced that the more the members are involved as a ward family, the more love, service, caring, and fun happens. It just takes some time and effort, but when all are putting in a little bit, it makes a world of difference. I can now see why it is so important to accept a calling. It makes everyone happier!

34 - Finding the fold

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815

It's a new year, and my birthday went real well. Very busy at the Australian Outback restaurant.

We have been finding like crazy this week. Each day we seem to find 2 or more people accepting Book of Mormon copies. Some more excited about reading it than others. We have been extra fortunate to get not only 1 person but parts of families and whole families being taught. I can't tell you how many times we have redone the restoration lesson so that everyone is mostly caught up to speed... and the restoration movie as well.

Aarti and Diya went on a church tour and it went real well. They loved the artwork everywhere in our building, and the spirit they felt in the building, especially the chapel.

The Dalaguits sons are real excited to learn more, even more so than their mother and less active father. Hopefully this will unite the family more and help their mother come closer to baptism and all the blessings awaiting after. Their boys are so neat!

Tiffany fell off the face of the planet then we found her again and have been going over the restoration video this time, emphasizing the priesthood to help her come closer to a baptismal date that she can meet.

Many lessons with various members to get to know them, less actives, and more. It's been quite the busy week with little time to spare.

The miracle of this week is finding Jose. I picked the night before a street that I noticed had no potentials on it, so on my birthday we went by and found out the day before many elders went by on the zone wide blitz to help boost the work in each area. Jose's family had previously slammed the door on us multiple times, but he hadn't seen or heard about us and was excited to talk with us, accepted a Book of Mormon and pamphlet. At first he didn't know anything about us, then as we talked, he remembered that a relative of his was a member and on a mission. After that he steadily became more interested. He wants this year to grow closer to God, so we will be helping him attain that goal for the new year. Hopefully his wife and daughter may through him sit in and learn as well. We shall see, anything is possible with prayer and our message softening hearts.

Lots of silly challenges to contact creatively, or for us missionaries, being an awkward subject by nature and often taken strangely odd for a religious belief turned into a powerful message that helps people want to learn more. Like Chastity being made for the uniting of a couple and family and holding family, trust, loyalty, and more at its center than the world does around us at this day. The saying is true, it's how you present things that make the world of a difference.

33 - New year

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


At the of this 2015 year, although I am sure that this new year won't feel that much different from this year with being a missionary. Almost every day seems to be a repeat of the days before.

I had a fun Christmas day, the oddest one ever. McDonald's breakfast since everywhere else was packed or closed in our area. Watched a bit of The Work and the Glory movie before
Skyping my family. We had 100% phillipino food for Christmas dinner, my favorite was adobo chicken because this kind smelled and tasted sort of like wassle chicken, but it was really good! (I may have to find the recipe for that one.)

Many people were busy with family and away, but we had saw miracles nonetheless with those we talked to and shared Christmas carols with. Many people were softened with us being the first people to EVER carol to them. We met some hopeful investigators that way and are beginning to teach them now. They aren't looking to convert as usual, but they will let us in, meaning it isn't a lost cause. Many even referred us to friends and neighbors. Sometimes we caroled to a door, but other times they let us in. Many, as soon as they realized we were LDS, let us out just as fast, but some took time out to listen. It was amazing!

The day after Christmas was interesting with my companions needing to go to an STL meeting, so I was with another set of sisters and a member. It was fun, though. People WE'RE NOT HAPPY to hear about Christ, Christmas, had time to watch a 2 minute video, or wanted to hear a message of peace or hope. Too busy returning the gifts that made them unhappy that they had to let us and the whole world know. Besides that they were too busy to see anyone in the world, or drank too much and were sleeping the day off. How sad that the spirit of Christmas is utterly killed the moment it turns 12 on Christmas night.

We had more lessons with Aarti and Diya her daughter. Aarti wasn't able to come to church, because of patients she had to take care of at some hospitals since she is the head nurse. she told us how hard life is being single with two ex husbands who left her days after marriage and wanted only the green card or her money and house. She is so prepared, she didn't quite understand the Bible at first, but slowly does more and more each time. She had a very hard time getting up and going to work on Sunday or doing anything, but we promised her that if she would read a little more each day in the book of Mormon, it would give her the strength and energy to get through her day. Later, she was full of energy and got more than she thought she could ever accomplish and she told us it was because she read a page of the book of Mormon. She knows that helped her like we had told her, and she feels so much peace and comfort every time she does and when we see her! She especially loved The Restoration movie because it answered a question she had in mind but never asked us before she showed it. It's truly amazing to see how investigators gain a testimony of what we show and tell them that we saw in our lives as well.

Dianna came to church finally this week. We sat down with her and tried to lovingly get down to the core problem of why she wasn't coming. We also said things to her that was in line with the Spirit's direction and something in what we said got her to decide for herself to come. It was so good! I hope she keeps it up despite all the roadblocks and hurdles.

32 - A Savior is Born

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


We have met quite a few people and a ton of new investigators for this week to teach and visit using A Savior is Born, it has been so neat! It never ceases to amaze me how a short 2 minute video changes the hearts of people we meet. Most of this week has been spent contacting on the streets and knocking doors.

We missed out on service due to moving. Our special downstairs neighbor finally made it too difficult to live on top of so we did ourselves both a service by moving just down the street. I have found that I'm not the greatest fan of moving an entire apartment.... Last couple times it was just my items into an already existing on. Our new one is almost exactly the same, only squeakier in different areas, better condition than the last, and brand new soft carpet. It also has us sharpening our parallel parking skills vs the other, which is the downside, but upside is we have peace and quiet finally. That last one is the best upside!

Debbie was feeling better this week so we sang some Christmas songs and other songs that my companions Sister Miller and Skelton like using for teaching in lessons. Her husband seemed more open and honest about changing and going to church one day hopefully soon, so that is super cool! I know that her example and baptism changed his heart and softened it. He even tries to teach his party buddies to come closer towards Christ in general, but got discouraged when they didn't want to like he did. He said to Debbie he is getting tired of the party life and wants to clean up, but needs time. He will come in his own time, and for now we just keep inviting.

Tiffany will be able to meet with us more often soon after her job lets her go for the season. She said it was stressful and it made her realize that her answer from God to which she should do (school or work full time) is to do education. She looks forward to going back to school, and it's amazing to see how our investigators' understanding and application of what we teach into their life and the blessings they experience because of it. We also got to teach David her brother last time with the A Savior is Born video. He looks forward to studying the scriptures with us and tentatively going to church and lessons.

Miracle of the week is when we were almost done with walking for the hour before dinner IN POURING RAIN getting soaked (because we didn't expect rain and wasn't prepared for it). We knocked on a door and Aarti and Diya her daughter invited us right in. We only said we were missionaries, and we were shocked that she just said come in, sit down at the table, and have a drink of water. It was almost as if they were expecting us! She is Hindu and said how she grew up in India where in her town they had many religions and was open to learning. She even recounted all she knew of Christ and it was amazing how she knew more about Christ than most Christians we meet! She even said she prays to Jesus when her prayers to the many 3,000 plus gods they have doesn't work. When she moved to america for her nursing and doctorate degree, she asked her mom what was the god of America was, her mother told her Jesus. She she prays to him, mostly. She told us how she yearns to learn more of any religion and that our badges with the church of Jesus Christ caught her eye. I can't wait to come back and teach her, she is so nice! She reminds me of DP, so brilliantly smart and humble to learn. She even pointed to us a great potential just serve project, it may not happen due to it being through a service agency, but we will never know unless we try and work things out with them through just service.

We did our Christmas songs in choir on Sunday. O Come, O Come Emanuel was my favorite song we sang.

I also loved a story someone shared. I wish I could recount it as wonderfully as it was written, but here it is. Hopefully you can find the original somewhere out there in the wide internet.

This story is about an art collector who also shared it with his only family, his son. They would go and find, buy, and display only the finest and world famous art in their estate. War hit, and later, his son went to war causing his father to be worried about him each day. One day a telegram came, and left him with a broken and empty heart just before Christmas that year. He would be spending that and every Christmas after that alone. His son was shot after saving a fellow soldier on the way to a paramedic station. Latter, that soldier his son saved came to the man. He told of how brave and honorable his son was, doing all that he could to save others and constantly brought them to the paramedics. He also said how him and his father collected fine world famous art. He presented that man with a painting of his son. Strikingly accurate, but no where near world famous or notable. That man placed it prominently above the fireplace and spent his Christmas and many years after looking at his son's painting. It became more precious than any that he ever owned. When the man died, he held an auction as stated in his will, of all his artwork. Many collectors and museums came to bid on the prized collection. First up was the painting of the mans son. The auction fell silent, and even complaints arose in the crowd, to move on and stop wasting people's time with the painting. No one wanted it, until finally one neighbor said he would part with 10 dollars, for it was all he had for the painting, since he was a close friend to the family. Once, twice, and sold. The auctioneer then said that the action was all over. He explained that the will stated that the ENTIRE collection would be given to the winner of the painting of his son, because he held it higher than any other. Millions of dollars of art meant nothing more than that man's son.

Just like this man loves his son more than anything else, Heavenly Father loves his son, and those who choose him over anything else will gain everything. This Christmas season, choose Christ, and you will have happiness worth more than anything else material this world has to offer.

31 - Same nice area, moving yet again

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net 

Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


We finished our last exchange this week with Sister Foster and Apple. We found LOTS of great people to teach and put in the area book for some day later to teach. It was so neat to see the change in people's hearts when we showed the video A Savior is Born. One lady was VERY firm in her beliefs and was adamant she didn't need any more teachings of Christ because she was set. After talking for a while she shared her story of triumph over breast cancer and how we can use those trials to bring others to Christ, and she said she would be willing to watch our video. Then she even agreed to be visited by missionaries in her area. SUCH A CHANGE! I saw this many times as we shared the video and/or talked with them for a while. We also get invited back on occasion to be taught by Jehova's Witnesses, but that won't be happening ANY time soon.

I got to teach quite a few lessons to bilingual families who sadly we had to pass on to the Spanish or YSA wards. I know it's a big help to them finding people, but its sad when you have to pass them on. If things fall though on the Spanish or youth side, we do get them back for the English and family wards, though, but I hope that doesn't happen as fun as it would be to go back to teaching them. It was so neat to see the hope that our message did bring to people that were going through divorced parents or uneven parenting in the home. I love being sort of like Santa, bringing joy to all the world, only we get to do it with the gospel 365 days a year!

Tiffany got a job at Walmart seasonally, so we haven't had a chance to visit her, but other than the stress of a job and juggling child care, she is doing OK, but I know that she misses church and friends at church instead of being stuck at work or home. We did teach her father. He was drunk sadly, but we talked while waiting for Tiffany to come home. He had to be the most miserable person on this planet. He was so deep in drinking long term and sorrow of the world that he refused to see anything good in this world or life in general. He even talked about suicide like crazy till we got him off the subject (though people saying stuff like that aren't going to any time soon generally if at all). Talking with him, it's truly like how the video "A Life Without a Savior" (the sister video to a savior is born). One can't force someone to feel happy or accept the gospel. It's God's gift of free agency, but some days it's discouraging to see that there are people feeling like that every day. Thankfully we weren't there long at all, and the spirit being felt when we testified was the strongest I have ever felt in a lesson. We were loving but VERY bold in declaring the truth as it is.  I just hope one day he will snap out of it and fix himself up and believe in God once more.

Good news is that I'm staying in Buena Park!!!! Bad news is that we STILL will be moving due to one obnoxious downstairs neighbor who breaks all the rules and blames us for the darnedest things. She finally stampeded up the stairs (and we knew it was her because NOBODY goes up the stairs that loudly) and tried to get us to listen to her rant on and swear at us late at night. Because we ignored her, she called the police who were winking and almost laughing at the situation as they came to tell us to be quiet, then left us to listen to her rant. Because of that, and the fact that she WILL call till we get removed (or any future sad person who lives there because she is an unhappy person) we are moving. People like her need the gospel and learn to be happy with life and others. I thought this would be my first time without being moved and packing up, but I guess not... At least it's clean to move out.  The rest of this week will be spent partly looking for apartments hopefully nearby and moving. Just another interesting story for the mission book I suppose.

Other than that, its been an eventful and spirit filled week.