Sister Kallie Clark
April 23, 2015
que pasa calabaza!?
Friends
Holy cow! Another week already? In the moment the day never seems like it will end, but by the end of the night/week, we can´t figure out where time went! AH! So this week was about as crazy as last...in a little different way, and all within the walls of the CCM (which btw means ´centro capacitación misional.´) Well...here we go!
So the language isn´t bad! I have been incredibly surprised at how effectively I can communicate...all I can say is TENDER MERCIES. and shout out to all my past teachers: Señora Nuñez, Medina, Ward, and Baca. YOU GUYS HAVE MADE MY CCM EXPERIENCE SO MUCH EASIER!!!
So the investigator we were teaching came to class on Friday and is actually our teacher. His name is Hermano Sanchez and he is just too great for words and totally hilarious. He speaks literally perfect english. and guess how he learned it? By watching Lilo and Stitch over and over and over. How crazy!?
We are now teaching 3 investigators--they are all our teachers (bless their hearts, they are so patient). A few of my other teachers (we have 8, and yes, that´s more than missionaries we have in our district) include:
Hermana Montoya--she´s a rockstar. Her patience is like...indescribable. Not sure how she does it. She is going through a lot of stuff in her life right now, but you would never know. She´s fantastic!
Hermana Gutierrez--just the absolute cutest thing! She helps me a ton with working out the kinks in my speaking..and she laughs at all my lame jokes...so she´s a winner in my book!
Hermano de Santiago--OH MY MY GOODNESS THIS GUY. He´s probably the happiest guy ever--literally. He learned english solely by reading the Book of Mormon. CRAZY. He has a lot of opposition in his life, but his life goals are so christlike and he loves teaching us. And he LOVES Dr. Who....like every single day its Dr. WHO..holy cow.
Ah my teachers are so great and I am just so blessed! I will take a picture with all them my last week because we are only allowed to take pictures on pday.
Ah. Being a missionary is so great. It´s definitely a challenge for many reasons, but I love it. It pushes us to really have to rely on the Lord to pull us through and though it is scary and can be unnerving, there is no better feeling! It is such a sweet experience!
So...the other district in our zone left us this week...and we are not sure what is going to happen to our single district of Hermanas now...but I will update next week... But since they left, my companion and I got called as the Sister Training Leaders! Which is going to be a huge responsibility and challenge, but I am up for it!
Okay...so for the crazy part of the week...
Hermana Chapin got released from the hospital and the presidency relocated 2 of the girls in our district to another casa so they could accomodate Hermana Chapin. So..Hermana Chapin had been praying and decided she needed to go home. But the mission presidency encouraged her to stay...so she decided to. It took her a few days, but then she was SO happy about staying and so enthusiastic...then at the end of the day (Monday) they gave her a pink slip from Salt Lake...they were sending her home. We were all devastated. She was broken. So we helped her pack up and sent her on her way Tuesday morning. It was SO hard.
So our district of 6 hermanas is now 5...and I am in a trio with Hermana Puliot and Hermana Hicks. It´s been a hard transition...but we all work well together and love each other to death.
BUT since Hermana Chapin left on a whim, they didn´t fix house arrangments and Hermana Puliot couldn´t be in a room alone...long story short (minus all the drama) they are making the other hermanas move back into our casa...oh goodness. just so much. we gotta keep things classy and new here in district 13 A!
Oh...and our district is getting bashed left and right. Hermana Siler had to go to the hospital this week too. She´s okay now...but gee whiz!
Ah. So today we were able to go to the temple grounds and the visitors center. I didn´t realize how much I missed the temple. The whole experience really made me miss my family a lot and helped remind me how grateful I am to have my family and know that we will be together FOREVER! It is such a sweet blessing that I always take for granted. I LOVE MY FAMILY SO MUCH!!
So that was my week in a nutshell...and here´s a few more random quick things!
-My nose bled for 3 days straight. Literally... everyone was saying ´como cascada´which means like a waterfall....it was ridiculous...BUT I am okay now!!
-We had a stress management class this week that was actually really fantastic (my challenge this week is inspired by that class)
-Oh dang. The latinas in our casa tried to put crazy scary makeup all over us..you had to be here..SCARY
-The latinas never go to bed on time and the crazy scary guy always yells and bangs on our door to go to bed at precisely 10:38 pm.
-President Tenorio gave a huge lesson on marriage...like detailed and deep...kind awkward right now..but I am sure I will appreciate it later
-Elder Ismael Mendoza, an area 70, came and gave a great devotional on faith and diligence. twas fantastic!
-we watched a movie call A Rare Possession on Sunday--it was SO GREAT!! EVERYONE WATCH IT
-missionarypackage.mx does same-day letters and packages. pretty legit.
BIG NEWS!!!!!! ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING TO GIVE A DEVOTIONAL THE WEEKEND BEFORE I LEAVE!!! AHHHHHH!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!
So, before I end, I extend, unto anyone who wishes, a challenge! This week I am working on making realistic and attainable goals.
´Just as we should not lower the standards that the Lord has established, we are not authorized to raise them...be sure that you do not have higher standards for yourself or others than the Lord has established.´
As you make realistic goals, the Lord will help you achieve them! I have seen this hold true especially in the past week! Physically write out your goals and specifically how and when you plan to achieve them, then pray and ask the Lord to help you! It works wonders!
Alright! That´s all for this week! I love you all! I love my Savior and I love His work. Nothing is more satisfying! I couldn´t possibly be happier and I love being here!!
Until next week!
Hermana Clark