51 - One year older and wiser too~

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


I certainly learned that this past couple months when I sacrificed not buying something, I was rewarded with lower costing if not free better items than the one I wanted. I have a testimony of waiting for something better rather than yielding to temptations of great deals.  I have had a past with spending on great deals, I never go into debt, but I then feel regret when I spent it and know I should have saved up money a little wiser than I did. On my mission I have been trying to do without and getting into a habit of not spending and god has blessed me so much as a result. I want to be a saver, a go without today, receive rewards later kind of person; just like people a couple generations ago did.

A mormon message called Becoming a provident Provider (link: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-03-06-becoming-provident-providers?lang=eng ) made me cry inside one day about one of the apostles wanting to buy a dress for his wife, but then she put it back and did without because she knew the value of waiting. I felt guilty living in a habit of constant yielding to spending in the past and wanted that to be one of the big life impacting changes that I make while on my mission. Here I get a fresh slate and ways to try things new again with few old things to remind me of my old self. A huge blessing for me in this case.

I knew I would be trying to do without and letting go of things so I can live a simpler life with less so I can provide for my future family in order to change, which is not easy, but in the eternal sense well worth it. I think this last transfer I am 75-90% happy with the way I have gotten into spending and have learned to let go of things I got attached too. Helping out Sister Matsen and Sister Frosty definitely helped me in doing that, because they showed me their strength with letting things go, and I am honored with their examples. Letting go is never easy, but it is possible, and what better way with being a missionary. We teach about the atonement of Christ and its healing power for spiritual matters or loss of loved ones, why not the healing power of letting go of physical things as well one becomes attached to. This couple transfers our mission has emphasized change, and this last transfer I decided to make that a change as well as other things in my interactions with others and my missionary service.

I won't be perfect when I get home, and I might relapse a little and get somethings being as I went without it for 1 1/2 years, but I want to be a saver. Almost every stake president I asked what is one of their deepest regret in life, they all replied, "I wish I saved and invested more when I was your age, then I would have more means to give my family the best chance to have a future more free from worries of layoffs and losing one's home every time the economy crashes," or something to that effect. So far, I have been wiser on spending money on food each month and I got it down a lot and tried to reserve some if an emergency happens and our fridge go out, or who knows what. So far so good. I will let you know how I do as the months go by, 6 more to go.

The miracle of this week is:
1. We had met the manager of the Buena Park manor during an outdoor lesson we had with a family to give themselves as a referral (since they are a former investigator) and two girls down the road that they worried about since the member who was in the trailer park moved and wasn't meeting them for bible studies any more. We also had Sister Nau with us who knew them as well, and we got to meet them which was wonderful. It was also great because the family we were teaching was OK with it all and wants to learn more. Sadly we had to pass them off to the Spanish elders since their parents are Spanish, but it was still real neat!

2. We passed off Joanne to YSA elders, but since she let us in (when her family was still their and then subsequently left) we had to stay for the pass off lesson. It was so great, and she opened up to everyone and loved learning with the elders, so we have no worries about her. She was so impressed how we have a seminary program free to anyone (for the most part) to learn more about scriptures and bettering one's self (like pre-mission class and marriage/temple class). She also loved how we genuinely care about teaching her and want to see her succeed rather than scare tactics that she got a few days prior from some other church that shook her up in her faith. (Not bashing against other churches, just quoting her.) So many other things that made her say "wow" to each new thing we shared. It made me grateful for the things I know. It is such a blessing and a comfort.

3. We met a lady who just got home and was transporting her dog named Torro, who had cancer and who had few days left in his good long life. She was so upset and loved that dog as it were a member of her family and took good care of him. She wanted desperately to know where animals go after they die. I always wanted to know that myself since my beloved cat Oliver passed on and while we may not know everything, I do know they go to a heaven of sorts, and we will see animals up there. That within itself, while vague, was what she needed to find comfort that day of bad news and she even wants to meet with us again to talk. Just her other dog next time, but she wants to learn more of what we believe. So amazing how my background of being in a veterinary clinic came in handy and was able to testify of how we have souls and so do animals and the plan of salvation.

4. We had tony and Catherine come to church, and even Malaysia, Necie, and Zahee came as well. Even more of a blessing was that this fast Sunday and testimony meeting was the best I have ever heard (especially as a missionary you worry about what others say on occasion). A young man named Antwon came from Florida and was impressed by our ward, and was an answer to our prayer with our family since they are African American (which is a big deal seeing someone who is at church of your same background/race/hometown/ect. For me seeing someone from Utah is a big deal, so I can relate). So many great testimonies including his own made almost everyone sniffle and cry at some point of the meeting. Even during the prayer, a sign of feeling the spirit to many people (me including, proud of that, not ashamed). They couldn't stay for the whole 3 hours, but I hope they come again next week. Same with Catherine and Tony, they had to go because of his exam and study. FINALLY people at church. Took a transfer, but all our hard work is finally starting to pay off.

We got to try Korean food at the Honey Pig dinner this last week. Smaller portions than most places (which is OK when you are trying to lose some weight from big member dinners) and it was either fermented/salty or hot and spicy. All in all it was pretty good. Not my favorite, but I could do it again. It was Korean BBQ style on a WOK style pan on top around a round table. It felt weird seeing food cook on a wok top looking cooker, but neat. I can now say I had Kimchi (fermented cabbage) not that bad, just a little odd. Whatever leftovers they turned into fried rice (hot of course) and it was mostly kimchi and some little amount of bean sprouts that was left over as well (we liked those more.) Met my goal of trying one more ethnic food this transfer, last one was a flop...

50 - 100 x .5 blog posts = 50

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 got the two new pamphlets!!!! Temples and family history and the teaching and serving in the church one. They are a little larger than the usual ones we have now, but they are full of amazing pictures and quotes. I love it! We are currently in our mission the only missionaries that have them! They will be introduced to the mission soon, but since we are over family history, we got a sneak peak, not even the AP's got to see them before us. Pretty neat! We hope to use them to supplement the family history and temple lessons soon and help missionaries use them in their lessons regularly and FULLY.

We got to meet quite a few wonderful people who just got baptized this week while doing the lesson with them. Some even had family who were effected by the earthquakes in South/Central America and still managed to pull through with no immediate extended family hurt. It brought the topic of "families are forever" real home that time, and the comfort that even if they did die, they still would see one another again.

The miracle of the week was seeing Catherine and Tony her boyfriend at their home while knocking the complex and while we only were able to stay for a few minutes, we got to talk about how church went, and Tony was excited to hear that next time he could ask questions and contribute to the lessons in Gospel Principles class all he liked. We also talked about the similarities and differences of times during Christ's time and now days and the teachings being taught. Sounds encouraging that he will continue to show interest towards learning. I also hope to see Robyn again, I miss seeing her.

We did a service project this Saturday for the Cypress/Buena Park service day. We helped clean up the Cypress Nature Park (flood water land). We filled an entire 40ft dumpster and still had bags lining a fourth of the park. It was lots of fun working alongside other members of the stake we never usually meet. Despite the efforts we took passing out hundreds of flyers in the community, no one outside our skate showed up to help. I did hear a couple did for the other projects, but not much. More fun for us!

We also helped Sister Matsen with cleaning and organizing one of her bedrooms. We hope to help her once again next week. Because of that we missed out on a next project at a local rest home to sing to the residents, but there is always next time. It is so neat that we now are getting more regular community projects to help with. This zone in notorious for having barely any projects to help out with.

Transfers are this week. Surprisingly we are staying in the ward and together. I thought for sure they would at the very least assign us to the other ward since sisters were taken out.

49 - Greater unity and pizza

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 much better this week with Sister Hinckley and I. Still have some trouble every now and again, but with so many people we have been tracting/teaching, so we now have more possible lessons to keep us busy. Still haven't broken the barrier of more than 4 family history lessons in a week. Work in progress. One funny yet unfortunate thing is we WERE going to break that record, then just as we were going to scarf down a pizza dinner a member gave us in the church parking lot, we accidentally between us two managed to lock ourselves out of our car. The Spanish Anaheim sister missionaries came also for their dinner since it is closer than their apartment. We shared stories and kept one another company during their dinner hour at least while we waited for our spare key to arrive. Thankfully the STL's were closer to the office so they were a big help.

We met quite a few people this week, some promising, other we shall see. 

Miracle 1: We met Michael (a new one) and had Sister Nau come with us. He was the first person I ever met that actually took time to look at our website that we gave him from the card. He is a special ed teacher for middle school/elementary school children and loves the kids he works with. So many of them come from homes that never show love and only feel like love or kindness is a weakness. His role is to help them see that there is another way to life, despite what they go back to at home and to be good people to themselves and others on top of his special Ed students. Sadly, because of testing, we won't see him for another month, but after that he would love to learn more. Not committing to anything, but wants to read as much as possible of The Book of Mormon we gave him in the meantime till then. We are excited, and hopefully we will still be here when that time comes. Sister Nau's son also works the same job so they had quite a lot in common to talk about and how our message would help him so much with those students, himself, and others around him. How neat to have members come with us that work out perfectly.

Miracle 2: We met Alma (Mom) when we came to a complex we had trouble getting into. No potentials or anyone were in there, making access almost impossible. We felt impressed to go there and walked to a specific area near the back and saw a little girl playing and went to her and asked for her mom. That's when we met Alma and her mom who used to be taught by missionaries years ago. She said she missed us coming and wanted us to come back and teach her and her kids. The best part is when we looked at our schedule. That place wasn't in the plans at all, yet we could have sworn we read in in our plans.

We have been teaching Vianniy and her daughter this week more. We even had Sister Spencer come and she helped SO MUCH, especially since we aren't mothers yet or older with experience, or very knowledgeable about catholic belief. She was able to connect with her and explain things to her that made the connection and so much more sense and hopefully helped her find ways to come closer to those in her family who are very devout Catholic and her own journey towards God.

Tessa Davis is going on her mission now to new Hampshire. We will miss her.


Its been a good week all in all. No one at church yet, but it's a work in progress.

48 - Feelin' Filipino

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 better this week then last. We had more family history lessons, each one we learn something new and how to alter how we do things so we don't run into the same troubles again. Just when you think you have figured it all out, you find out you haven't at all.

We did our first multiple person lesson with family history as well. I ended up helping some prospective missionaries out with their family history so they can take some people to the temple with them next time their youth goes while Sister Hinckley helped the elders in that ward's investigator. It ended up a success. Wouldn't try that again though unless they had as much information to enter in as they did, but it was quite the surprise to come see more people than we first imagined.

We also managed to use up 500 miles already this month on our car! Thankfully we get our miles deducted for the lessons and those miles used up, but that still is a ton considering regular missionaries get 1050 per month. We also taught our first all Spanish lesson, took much longer than we thought in translation, having to pause and not lose thought, and to simplify even more so the elders could translate better. So far so good!

We had to drop lots of people in our teaching pool this week. During our exchange with the STL's they put an emphasis on the need to find quality, not quantity, which was hard at the beginning since we only had 1 quality person to teach, now we have three.

The miracle of the week was when we went by a potential we met at an apartment complete a couple weeks ago, and when we came by she let us right on in! Veronica is a young mom of two adorable kids. She wants nothing more to have the childhood for her children that she never got growing up and is a stay at home mom. She said she would try and come sometime soon and learn more before committing to baptism, but is open to it. I love when we meet people who are so family oriented, honest, and wants to improve their own life and their families life. We need more people like her in this world! I just hope we can continue to meet with her and other people we found this week. Some days you find such amazing people, but after 1 lesson, they disappear off the face of the planet it seems. Or are done with learning more or aren't willing to act on any invitation we give and progress towards the happiness they see they could get to potentially.

Something neat that happened on Sunday. I saw Catherine Delos-Reyes from my first area Cerritos 1st ward! She ended up getting a divorce in the end, but moved here and is excited for her boyfriend and to possibly have us teach him since he is from another church. What is also exciting is that she seems stubborn on going to our ward every week. Be foreI  was just she could hardly go a singe week due to work and other things. It think that over time, one notices the difference not going to church makes and then makes a big effort to go regularly after that withdrawal period, some times that is, not always, but sometimes that is true. This is so exciting to have another person to teach AND I already know her!

I have just figured I must have made a promise with the Philippines before I was born, because somehow I inevitably end up teaching almost exclusively Phillipino people. I love them and their culture because of the time I spend with them all, I just find it ironic it ends up this way so often. What a small world we live in.

47 - So cold!

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


General Conference Weekend, lots of amazing talks given, and time sitting in a VERY cold chapel. My favorites are always the ones with stories from their life, it means so much more coming from their life. Also amazing ones on fatherhood which was a nice change from last one's focus more on mothers. One's on self improvement and making wise choices, and not giving up when we can be fixed through Christ's atonement when we do make unwise choices.

This week we had 3 family history appointments. One that was super prepared, one that went way off topic, and one that was not that helpful for the missionaries since it was all advanced information that most missionaries won't EVER encounter. The variety week. We did however see that the more prepared the person was, the better it went. The more they learned, and the better the environment was for the spirit to testify of the truths we taught.

We didn't have any appointments this week work out as we helped Sister Lambson move to her new area, general conference took up the better part of two days, cancelled appointments galore and people not showing up, and sadly us needing to not go by them any more. I hate dropping people as a missionary, but sometimes it is for the best. Lost of less active people, but almost all of them were either busy, sick, or unwilling to do anything to help get them out of their current situation.

No matter what it was a alright week.

Photos from the temple trip. My companions both were busy then we had to leave, so I got one with sister Webb instead.

Fun Easter activity

Black Bear Train! Fun place to eat at

Photo from Knotts market place

46 - Easter

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


Where do I start for this week. Honestly, all that has been going on in our area is getting to know literally everyone on the few streets we have, lots of cancelled appointments, and lots more cancelled family history appointments. Yep, lots of tracking!

We did however get to have Sister Lambson from the La Palma ward over because her companion Sister Apple had to go home because of major migraines for 3 months straight and it wasn't getting better at all. Because of her leaving, we are short more sisters, and we had to work in Sister Lambson's area and ours, juggle two cars (because our car miles are sky rocket high and we are running out. Normally it isn't bad, but with so many family history appointments cancelled, we can't count on those free miles saving us). We also helped her clean out part of her apartment since a couple days ago we were surprised again when they said they will shut down her area and move her to Cerritos 1st ward, my baby area. We were hoping she would stay a week since our companionship got along so well with her, in fact better than usual odd enough, but that's life.

Easter went super well. I got to see Debbie once again, and I missed teaching after baptism lessons with her... In fact, with all my recent converts as well. I also got to see people from the La Palma ward I haven't seen in a long while since I am no longer with the STL's and don't get to go on splits some times when they were in meetings.

We didn't get to do service at the Habitat for Humanity after all this week, sadly, due to some miscommunications, and we got booted out because they had too many volunteers. We did however get to help Park Anaheim with making big paper eggs and decorating them with the residents.

Today we did get to go briefly to Virginia's gift shop and the bakery at knotts marketplace, it was real fun! I got a book and squashed penny, my other companions got a bracelet and a coin purse. The chicken dinner restaurant was too packed to even be able to try and get food there sadly. That was the highlight of the week as far as P-day fun goes, especially for Sister Lambson since it's her last day in this zone.

Sister Hinckley and I have just been going back and forth for lots of odds and ends this last week, weather it is meetings last minute to things for Sister Lambson, all the way to picking up things for family history. Lost of unexpected things, so not much in the way of progress with our investigators. It's also hard when it is Easter weekend and hardly anyone wants to spend even a minute with us.

Miracle of the week, we met Mike, a father of two adorable girls who used to date a member. He also works as a chef at Walt Disney land. He never finished reading the Book of Mormon from when his ex-girlfriend gave it to him, but he listened to us for awhile and thought it would alright to listen to more of what we shared with him this week. He is super prepared, so we are excited to see how things go with him and hopefully his family as well!

45 - Mexican party and Easter eggs

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 had 3 family history lessons this week, it was so much fun. We also got a nice GPS to use from the office that we are in the process of customizing no go zones so it will never take us outside our mission boundaries as well! I was worried we might get stuck with a cheap $30 one that constantly breaks and takes you the long way around and in the wrong direction (which happens very often).

We have gone to Long Beach West (bro zone as it is termed, which is cool to be the ONLY sisters who have ever been there) to teach a bilingual family, helped the Elders in our ward, Buena park; with Jessica. Don over in Huntington beach, who has the darnedest stories you have ever heard that are all true! It has been a blast this week. I hope we can get to the point were we schedule 2 a day, that would be the greatest!

One of the greatest things to see is the missionaries and investigators/recent converts change when they go on and experience it. So many comments on how easy it is, how fun it is, they love how similar it is to Facebook, only for people living and dead! The biggest is how you can put on memories of anyone you put in there and can connect with everyone around the world for free! Spanish is a bit hard since there are VERY limited records available, but other than that, it is great! So many missionaries after the lesson are excited, or at least less nervous about doing the first lesson we do with other people, Which is good!

Other than that, we haven't found many other new investigators. We met with Reynold a couple times this week, sadly last minute he cancelled on church, but we hope to see him next week!

AISHA IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!!!!!! FINALLY, this is so exciting. I get to help out with a talk and come. Even though I wasn't the missionary over her to the end, it still counts in my heart.

Its been an interesting week. We also got to do service at park Anaheim making baby ducks and baby chickens for the residents.

Miracle of the week is when we crashed a Mexican party (talk with everyone commitment, so awkward in this case) and just as we were about to leave, Johnny came up and asked who we were. He was confused how two young fair skinned girls were lost at their party and was about to offer directions if we were lost. We talked about the new Easter video #Hallelujah and how we and our loved ones will be made alive just like Christ did one day. He was stunned that a Christian church believed in that and had this look like he hit the lottery since just before seeing us he was just thinking about his cousin who died less than a week ago and missed him a lot. After that, he really became interested in our message and church, and even though he was Catholic, he was open to listen. Sadly he lives out of our mission, but hopefully he takes the lessons wherever he lives. Earlier we had an option to go there, or stay on that same street, and I felt we had to go to another street. If we didn't, we would have missed him. So amazing how if we follow the spirits promptings, we won't miss out on opportunities to share the glad tidings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Today for sports we are dying Easter eggs! Fun stuff. I am trying out Ukrainian egg style, hopefully it works!