64 - God's love

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. Our mission president had a zone conference and emphasized the need to knock off (limit) the knocking door to door, and use members to help find people to teach. Also, just service is for members, and on occasion for us. That one at least doesn't effect us much since we rarely do service in this zone. The first one, though, is going to be a challenge since it's rough enough to find, let alone even get a hold of, members around here to even visit. Many of the formers in our book we visited are formers for good reasons too: too sketchy for us to visit, bashers, or will only let us come to hear their beliefs and have Jesus discussions.... going nowhere fast with that section of the work unfortunately.

We did, however, get to see Stella, a recent convert, a couple times this week. We even met her grandson who has Autism who came for 1 hour of church. That was neat! Stella loves to have us and the ward missionaries over for lessons, and she has gotten to know a few members of the ward so that way when we leave, they don't, and she has people she can turn to for support. We even are hoping to go to the temple visitor's center soon, just have to get our schedules lined up for it.

Miracle of the week is that we had a lesson with Ken and went over the rest of the restoration and beginning of plan of salvation with him (which was almost a review from last time, gospel topics tend to weave in and out of each other like that). He never had religion at all in his life, but after having lessons with us, going to youth activities with Cole and other youth, and church; he loves it. He thanks us every time he learns new things, even if it is a lot to take in and learn.

It is exciting to see people learn for the first time that there is a God who truly loves them and wants us to return to him with our families. Even cooler is that He wants us to have all He does and do all He does, and sent his son to help us know how to qualify for just that.  He even sent prophets to be guides along the path of life, showing us how to live happy lives, avoid bad things that make us sad and harm us, and how to be good people, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and more.

He gave us a church to learn from, share with others, help lift and support one another at. A temple to be closer to him, seal ourselves to our spouse and family for eternity (not just till death do we part), do service at, and learn more how we can come back into his presence. Lastly, with His Son, he gave us the greatest gift of all. Jesus died and atoned for all our sins, mistakes, pains we would ever do or feel, and more.

Ken even will be attending Youth Conference, so that will be exciting.

For youth conference, it will be sort of like living the old testament with a life sized tabernacle with EVERYTHING INCLUDED (the one Moses had started and traveled around the wilderness with). Everyone will be assigned to a tribe of Israel with 2 tribe leaders for each group. SO COOL!

In September, they will move it to the stake center for a few days for everyone in the stake to be able to tour before they put it into storage. I helped make part of it, and us missionaries were sad to hear it would be set up outside our mission, so this will be an excellent opportunity to take our investigators, recent converts, less actives, and general public through it.

We somehow always manage to spend most of our day down by the ocean due to that being where people are to teach, unfortunately this weekend is the finals of the surf competition... no parking so we walked the entire day from our apartment, and the only people who stopped to talk to us were members from around the united states. We also got a few picketers who gave us trouble.... thankfully they left us alone for the most part. We also got a homeless lady with a shopping cart who followed us for awhile who swore her heard off at us and drove us crazy. I felt bad for her, she must have had a hard day, but that doesn't give anyone reason to be rude to someone they don't even know. Thankfully someone let us in so we could shake her off our tail. We also talked with a former who is interesting. Wants to come to church and learn, but won't let you share much without bashing almost, and loves to feed missionaries and takes notes of all the missionaries who taught him over the past 7 years. He loves missionaries and always sticks up for us too... such a strange combination.

We also met Ken, a less active doctor, who is the boyfriend of Debbie we met last week. He is half Japanese and served in japan and told us funny stories of the things they would do in japan to new missionaries. Like the "Ice cream truck"... which was actually a sewage truck that played music like an ice cream truck to warn you it was coming close so you avoid walking towards the smell. Or the time they would purposely tell their companion the wrong word so they would ask a cashier " Is my face pretty?" instead of asking how much money was that item (in Japanese it makes sense with the sentence structure). Other funny word mistakes like that that makes the situation funny. He even said we can have lunch or dinner with us some time with Debbie when the time is right for us both.

There was a funeral on Saturday for Lee's sister (4th or 5th cousin 1 time removed, I think) and it was neat to help out with it and see some distant related cousins. Not too much related, but still neat. Lee and sandy were happy to see us there as well.

Other than that, we helped with the tree society with some projects at the Urban Forest (nearby Shiply's I served at in HBN zone... only this one is in HB ZONE) They had troubles with a large group of youth from an organization where they take kids outside of the ghetto areas who WANT to leave it and teach them service, good works in the community, education, self discipline, and ways they can get ahead so they can move to better living conditions. We got to talk with a few and share some things with them which was great! They had so many volunteers there they had to take turns moving wood chips to places where they spread it around the base of trees. Us missionaries helped them clear up some land for trees to be planted and a water runoff area that got choked with debris from trees and weeds so it can be planted and pretty. They said that Homeless people used to live in the area down by the runoff river and would bring practically their entire house there, refrigerator, sofa, car.... until they never cleaned up at all, then they had to evict them. The Urban forest is for people to enjoy, not to trash up.

63 - A clean apartment?!

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


This week we moved into the Sea point ward and I have to say, it was the most clean elders apartment I have ever seen my whole mission. It was refreshing. Did have to tidy up a bit, but I was more than thrilled to do that instead of intensive cleanup that I usually have to deal with. In fact it was so clean that the area book was almost empty. So we have our work cut out for us. This is the first time sisters have been in the ward since anyone can imagine. not for safety reasons, but just because I suppose. It's also is the richest ward in the mission, and almost 3/4 of our area's are completely gated. Thankfully the members are super missionary oriented and help us out whenever possible. That is the best ward mindset's I have encountered my entire mission.

We also have some great views of the ocean and our area even has the world's surfing competition this week... and no parking for us for this whole week along with it. We have quite the interesting sandbox of tools and challenges to work with in this area. Every now and again we meet a member down by the beach, numbers area's or members from around the world, so its a nice thing to talk for a little while; then move on to regular rejections. Most people are nice here, especially when rejecting offers for service and to hear about the free blessings God has for them and their family.

Since the elders didn't leave us hardly any work, we have been trying to figure things out ourselves. In fact, on transfers, we spent a good part of the day trying to find where we live on the map and getting a car and learn who was the bishop so we could learn about the ward. This Sunday we got some great direction thankfully, but before that it was a bit discouraging. Almost everyone is on vacation in the places where we can go, and the gated areas are difficult to contact the people even in just our ward. I now can see why almost no investigators are in the gated areas. 3/4 of our area (ward), only members can help out there, and that is why it is so important for members to help with the work. We did get a big warm welcome from the sisters in the ward. That was neat. I think I will like this ward, but we will have to figure out on our own how to find people to teach outside of the members..... wish it wasn't necessary, but we don't have anyone really good to teach. We had to drop the only investigators we have since they were only there for bashing and no progress was made. Too bad.

Miracle of the week: I met a relative! Lee is less active and has Clark relatives in Farmington, Utah. I met him early on in my mission at one of the last departure firesides, and we were at his doorstep asking for another member at the back of his home, but didn't know about that fact. They let us in and gave us a tour of the house he built. 3 floors with a kids room loft, custom wood almost everywhere, spiral staircase, and he even made a small seller/basement, a rarity in California. I found out that is due to the water table or earthquake danger... or just how hard it is to dig around here. He even made a curved hidden closet beneath the spiral staircase that popped out and open when you press a button. (I just thought it was neat so i thought I would share.) We talked about family a lot and even some family history. I hope we can see him again and get him back to church. Just last week his sister next door passed away and his niece is also less active, so we hope that we can help out and visit her as well. His wife at church and other relatives in the area said I may just be sent to help their family since I am family in a way. God certainly works in mysterious ways.

I am followup training Sister Painchaud so it's been interesting. We are getting along for the most part, but every now and again I have to be the "bad guy" and let her know that we must follow the rules and what they are. That part is NEVER fun with follow up training, ESPECIALLY with white washing.... I was blessed with both. Sometimes I think follow up training is the hardest thing on the planet, because trainers teach them all they know, then I have to go in and correct, tune up, and point out other ways of doing things that the other didn't do. We shall see how this transfer goes.

62 - 9 months

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


The time has come for transfers once again. This time I wasn't so lucky and will be moving on to Huntington beach stake in the Seapoint Ward. I was hoping to stay one more transfer, but that isn't what God needs me to do. I will miss everyone here in Buena Park, but I guess 9 months is a long time and half my mission was here. Every now and again ward members would joke around saying how they should adopt me since I have been here so long, or that they should go to me to know where the best place is to live at here, or even that I have become part of the ward. So funny how that works.

We went around teaching and visiting people yesterday to say goodbye and practice for the 15 minute lessons that my whole mission has aspired to do.... but didn't since we had too many requests from members and investigators alike to see them one last time. I guess if you really need to, one can truly do anything. We even had members out with us which is even better! Today will be much the same.

Sister Bedford will be staying and training a new missionary, Sister Montague is going to Huntington Beach North stake, and I will be white washing an Elders area... as usual. Back to Cleaning up old dirty apartments and more for me tomorrow! My companion is from Canada, Sister Painchaud, and she is new so I will be follow-up training/second hand training? Still confused whether she is trained all the way or if I will be finishing up my training with her. Most likely follow up training. Lately there has been lots of confusion over companions, districts, and more so I don't know really what is going on until it's come already.

Pretty much the standard week for the most part lately, same people and everything.

We saw Sister Maccay along with Zoie and Destiny one last time which was great since we weren't able to see them anytime this last transfer due to scheduling and phone troubles. That made my week! I was worried I wouldn't be able to see them again.

Miracle of the week was when we taught Chris, we saw Steven who before would bash on us, but this time he asked questions and even listened to us. He told us he wasn't ready to change, but he had a desire to someday. Long ago he felt the Spirit's influence, and it was so strong that he wanted so badly to have it again. He said it was stronger than any drink, drug, or joy he knew of before that time, and he had wondered if he would ever feel it again. We gave him 1 page from the book of Mormon to read and promised him he would feel the spirit when he read it sincerely and prayed. I wish I could know what happens with him and everyone else I met and taught, but I need to go where I am needed.

61 - Far warks!

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


This week we found quite a few great people and taught many too. That was a miracle within itself considering how long it has been since we have found. We had a few family history lessons as well here and there, TONS of service for a variety of people. It was overall a great week. We worked on making the most of every minute more than the past and it paid off.

The firework show at Knotts Berry Farm was neat, the end looked like a volcano erupting; never seen that kind of effect before. Sister Montague got all of it but the end on her camera by recording, but I got some decent enough photos. We had to cram into a small part of the window, and we barely got a view of it since we had to stay in the apartment. It was fun either way! Fourth of July is fun in Buena park, not so many all around overall than in Norwalk last year.

We also spent a good part of the week teaching all our recent converts in the area and less actives as well, since we have so many we didn't have too much time to find new people so we are keeping busy

The miracle of the week was yesterday when we planned to visit Tanya and Stephanie (we met them first at park Anaheim while at service), and they pulled up just as we were knocking and we were able to talk to them for a while and were able to talk a little about God's plan for us. Tanya was in a coma at the hospital and was told she would never walk or talk again after that. To this day she walks and talks remarkably well for all that happened. The end result meant that she needed help, and that is when Stephanie came in to be a wonderful friend and help to her.  Sometimes in life the things that happen to people may seem unfair, but because of that trial, we receive blessings, and even some of life's greatest friends as a result.

Sister Montague has to go to a funeral today for someone she knows in Huntington beach who she taught, so our P-day is cut short, but I am glad she is able to go. That also means this is short as well.

60 - Merry Independence Day! New mission president?!

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


Happy Fourth of July! Things are going pretty well this day, strange to only see poppers and sparklers only at stands and stores for fireworks...... and the only things we see and hear and are bought are the BIG illegal Arial fireworks. So ironic! Here in Buena park you only hear a few every now and again, in Norwalk and Artisia there were TONS night and day going off, it was almost like clockwork every hour. I got more sleep at least, I just miss the barrage when we have to go home and they are going off everywhere. Other than that, it has been nice and overcast so even if we had to work today, it would be cool and tolerable.

President Tew went home this week and President and Sister Patterson and their four kids came. We were lucky to meet them the day they came because of exchanges and the STL's were going on splits with Sister Patterson. They seem energetic and thrilled to start learning and doing work in the mission. Their kids, however, tired and homesick for Utah. I don't blame them to feel that way.

We got to help sort clothing at the Giving Heart store. They accept donations of clothing
 and other items to sell for a good cause. My companions found some awful old puffy Olympic jackets from the 90's and they asked to buy them so they could wear them today in spirit of the USA festivities. I was happy just to sort clothing and hang them up and tag them with the tagging gun. Probably one of my most fun service activities ever oddly enough.

We also finally made some headway in our area and found a few new people to teach and sadly had to clean out our teaching pool since many disappeared off the planet it seems. Oh well.

Miracle of the week, we were about to call it quits on getting in contact with someone, when we saw another person named Chris we lost contact with due to vacations. We found out later that the time they came to church was when they decided to become Christian, before that he was atheist. He said it was so much fun and enjoyed the activities he went to during the week after that and wants to come again. Hopefully we can continue to meet with him and others like him. You never know the impact of sharing the gospel to others, even if you don't think they care.

Amelia came to church, it was her birthday and she wanted to see me and bear her testimony of her conversion and love of Christ and the joy she found in her life that increased because of being baptized. She walked for 5-6 hours and traveled 15 miles on her own to be at church at 9am. She shared how the promise in Isaiah 40:31 helped her when she had hard times and will continue to have hard times and not give up. I was so happy to see her, especially that she would do all this on her special day! I was also happy to see so many members of our ward offer to drive her home so she could get home in reasonable time and enjoy the rest of her day.

We also got to teach so many lessons with our recent converts, less actives, and even Cindy who will be interviewed for baptism Soon.. She is so thrilled to move on in her life and find joy once again through Christ.



59 - Smoothies

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 are finally moved into our new (old for me) apartment. Took forever, but we got that done. We also on Sunday had 5 lessons, the most we have had for the entire day out of this transfer, out of the week, or even at all. It has been most discouraging to have to move one's apartment, shuffle beds around (we had the bunk bed and no one wanted to be on it and it was needed elsewhere in the mission. Our apartment is just big enough for us to fit three beds in nice enough in). Made contact with lots of investigators, and at the very least met most of the less actives we teach. (Sister Montague approves of our teaching pool, she is so funny.)

Not much to report on since almost our entire week was family history lessons once again and moving, but we did help out with the St Irenaeus catholic Church's 52nd annual Fiesta (Olympiad theme this year) carnival. We were working in the Smoothie booth with two ladies and had a blast. It was especially fun since every time they had to clean out the blenders when there was a lull in a particular flavor combination and someone wanted a special one they had to empty it of it's contents. When that happened we got the extra's. I ate almost 3 smoothies, definitely was hydrated and had my fruit and dairy intake for the day! It was lots of fun just to talk with them and every now and again they would ask about our mission life and what we do without getting into doctrines or anything. it was fun! Unfortunately we could go only that one day due to family history lessons and other things going on at the same time, but I am glad we could help out that day. We also sang at the Anaheim crest nursing center to new people who recently came this last week and played lots of Uno with the residents at park Anaheim. Lately they have wanted to play Uno more than do art's and crafts, but that could change next week with the usual residents coming once again.

Our miracle of the week is that we were able to see Aarti again. When we first came, she had a bad headache, but she still wanted us to come share a lesson briefly with her. She even put some calls on hold that were important, because she knew what we had to share was more important than a phone call or two. Afterwards, she said her headache went away and said she would love us to come again and talk more with her. So good to see her again.

This week our companionship is considering a reboot on the transfer since the last three weeks has been madness. Hopefully we can get more things done in our area's and see more people.

Sister Bedford's birthday is today! Went to Ferrell's earlier to celebrate.

58 - Father's day and baptism!

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


This week has been absolutely crazy with slowly moving Sister Bedford into our apartment, managing two area's at the same time, and doing several hour and a half long training's on family history this week for the entire mission. We made it through though and most everyone enjoyed the lessons, and it seemed to adequately work for simplifying family history lessons so that any missionary with good notes will be able to do what we do, possibly more even with their own stakes' family history centers.

We didn't have many actual lessons because they all seemed to fall through or they dropped us since Sister Price and Sister Hinckley left.... so we went around trying to even set return appointments for those people who we didn't have the phone numbers for or wouldn't answer their phone so we could see if they even wanted to meet with us anymore.

Miracle of the week was that Debbie, my recent convert gone less active, came to church! We were told by her husband that she didn't live there anymore and we were told that she was now a do not contact for everyone else living there. We then didn't bother going by and Sister Nau (a member in our ward) felt like she should come by and see how she was doing. We then found out she was sad that we didn't visit anymore and wanted to come to church but still doesn't have a car... and still lives there.

It was an amazing father's day program with children singing and lots of great talks (many were quite informative for ways we can help dad have a better Father's Day). Some examples I can remember were to say, "Sure thing dad, I would love to do [fill in chore here]," or to allow your dad to have 1 channel of the radio that is in his own car he lets his children use, have a desire to try out or enjoy your father's favorite songs, like [name bands and singers here], be nice to your father and his geeky haircut because he is trying to fit in with his fellow coworkers, not your friends.

Lots of other great stores like one of this father who is an engineer and his asking his wife the purpose behind a Wonzie for their baby daughter that had cute lace ruffles on the bottom. The wife said it was purely for looks and design, while the husband said, " Oh I thought it was to make it skid proof." Things like this make up fatherhood and the many fun and funny tales. Also they talked about our Heavenly Father and Abraham and how he had to wait for forever to have a son of his own, even though he showed for his time the best examples of fatherhood despite his own father trying to sacrifice him to idol gods in Egypt. He surpassed his upbringing to become a role model and got close to his Heavenly Father (God) and learned what it means to be a good and true father.

We also got told this same week that Sister Bedford is our official companion now and we are a Trio. We got to pick which car to drive (we picked the Toyota over the Chevy for many reasons) and which district to go to for meetings, and preference of apartment... in the end that wasn't our call unfortunately. we will be moving AGAIN to the more central apartment, but its louder, has a loud parrot squawking next door 24/7 and loud everything. We do get to see Knott's everyday though. The other one had faster travel due to freeway which made up for the fact it was outside our boundaries. So frustrating to move back and forth.

We had a Baptism! It was Sister Price and Sister Miller's one, but they both left so it became ours and at least I got to teach a few lessons for it to feel like I did teach Guillermo. He is just old enough that we could teach him even though his mom is a member and help him get baptized (and get his mom active again coming to church). Everything that could have gone wrong did, but it worked out well and lots of his family that aren't LDS came and even had church tours of the building. That was real fun to do!