Hän jopa halasi hänta :) (He even hugged her!)

The rain came back to Finland this week and melted the snow, it is 14:00 right now and pretty dark already, it is fairly warm....just for a little update

This blessed powerful week included some of these highlights:

- The Elder's had a baptism for their investigator (this adorable older Finnish mummo). She specifically asked for the "nice sisters that always say hi to her at church" (eli us)  to come :) She is definitely one of my favorite finns. Although on the older side of life, she has such a willing and ready heart. She follows the spirits promptings with such courage. 

- Our finnish young man investigator (one of those that was found and you look back and realize how much the spirit led you to find him) came to the Elder's baptismal service. He liked it a lot, and he even gave the this sweet mummo a hug! It was ADORABLE! Then he came to church and our other recent convert was a perfect friend. Oh, it was so great. The members were so helpful with giving rides.

- Change calls: Sisar Jones is going to holding up the fort here in Tampere (her mtc companion is coming to be a stl with her...they are going to do some great work together) and Sisar DuPaix is headed to Turku ...in another tripe!! Wow she is such solid missionary.

- Our other investigator came to church as well!

- saying good bye to those members on Sunday....uh so hard. They are all SO sweet. And saying bye to especially my recent converts here as been really rough. One told me that I was a "super missionary" and that just about made my whole mission. 

- When I was in Lahti with Sisar Thayne for exchanges we met a man that lives in Tampere and we set a baptismal date with him this week! That was exciting!

- Wow we had a ton of fun this week with a lot of first lessons. I love teaching the restoration!

So....the time has come. Mission time goes faster than anything. Approaching this thanksgiving, I am filled with gratitude for the past year and a half. I am grateful for the testimony I have of our Heavenly Father. I know that he has a plan for us. On my mission I have learned much more of the importance of obedience and humility. I have gained a better understanding of faith and how to go forward courageously. I have experienced the power of fasting. Fasting brings necessary understanding and blessings. I am so grateful for the leadership experiences I have had to learn from. Through these I have recognized at a greater level Christ's perfect example of leadership. I know that Jesus Christ is the good paimen (shephard). This is his work and I am honored that I could have (and will continue to) take part in it. I am filled with gratitude for the divine help and guidance in learning Finnish. Similar to the waters of Mormon, I have come to the knowledge of my Redeemer in Finland and how beautiful it is to my eyes. (Alma 18:30) I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ's church restored upon the earth. And what exciting knowledge that is! Thank you to you all for your support and your examples. I look forward to seeing you.

-Sisar Clark

aika rientää (time flies)

Hei! sorry writing this week will be short, we are helping a sister who is really sick etc. so shortly a few thoughts from this great and crazy week--

- a few exchanges with other sisters: we found a really cool potential investigator that actually lives in our area but we met him in Lahti. He almost died three different times and has strong faith in God. He is excited to meet with us this week.

- zone training meeting: so much help from above! Somehow everything just works out.

- weather: cold, snowy, and dark---eli wonderful! :) well at least the cold and snowy is wonderful

- visit to valkeakoski (farther out area to visit members): met with some really cool less active members and felt the spirit strongly. We are excited to see what follows with that. We shared we one of them Alma 36:17-20. Remembering Christ brings power. It brings joy and peace. I'm so grateful for that. I know that Jesus Christ lives. 

I love you and hope you have a great week!

-Sisar Clark

Mahtavat Jäsenet (the Wonderful Members)

Hello Family :) Wow what a wonderful (and busy) week it has been. I don't even know what all to write about...So here are a few thoughts:

- We found a new investigator this week through our recent convert. This recent convert just blew us all out of the water during the lesson as we powerful taught the restoration and shared his testimony. It was especially fun because I was one of the main missionaries that taught him. 

- At church the members are always SO sweet. Two sweet women in our ward brought us food this week. One member came up and gave me a big hug and just kept whispering I love you in my ear. It is indescribable the true joy and love that comes from the members. 

- On exchanges we saw miracles in finding new investigators and potentials. The excitement and energy in our apartment that night was incredible. I love missionary work!

- Although there are difficulties and at times feeling of discouragement when progression can't be seen, I know that everything will work out just as it needs to. I know that Heavenly Father is watching closely and has his hand in many things around me. I know that true and lasting joy come through following the Spirit and from diligent work. I'm so grateful for the abundant work to be done.

I love you and hope you have a great week!

-Sisar Clark

Sisar Watsonin ruoka :) (Sister Watson's food)

Hey Family :) It seems like there have been a couple hard weeks right in a row here. With Uncle Marlis and Roxy I'm sure there is a melancholy atmosphere at home. I'm grateful for the gospel that even through sadder times in our life we can find stability and peace. The song "I know that my Redeemer Lives" comes to mind. What great knowledge it is! And it is offered to everyone that seeketh! This week in my studies I read about Alma's wonderful example of prayer and fulfilling his calling in Mosiah 26.It is interesting how King Mosiah didn't just solve the problem for him, but rather gave Alma the opportunity to seek and receive guidance and support from the Lord in his calling. Similar to Alma, in our difficult times we need to sincerely and wholeheartedly seek. It says that "after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him" saying "Blessed art thou, Alma" continued by divine guidance to answer his concern. 

This week we found a new investigator that had such a quick and solid understanding of the power of the Holy Ghost. It was really exciting to hear his connection to our message and willingness to read and pray. He is a young Finnish student. This week we also had Interim (a five day training at the mission home for all the new missionaries and their trainers). It was awesome! I just wish I had another 18 months to apply everything I learned! Another awesome part about Interim is being at the mission home and having Sisar Watson's food! Yum!! :) Also, she gave a closing prayer one night that was so powerful. It was like having a mother pray for you. The spirit was strong. I'm so grateful for President and Sister Watson. I'm grateful for the time I have and for Finland. It even snowed twice for just a tiny bit this week(none of it stuck, but it snowed!!). I love you and hope things are going well. Have a nice week!

-Sisar Clark

pic- Sisar DuPaix's first lippupäivä (flag day)

Haravan masterit (Masters of the rake)

Hey Family :) Thank you all for your emails and letters! What a wonderful blessing you are. There was a large amount of time spent this week traveling for "sister training leader duties" but also a lot of member work. One of my favorite parts of this week was helping two families rake leaves in their yard. Not only did we get to take in Finland's fall beauty, but we got to enjoy the joyful sounds of Finnish children and improve our raking skills.

Right now we have an investigator that is a member referral. We met her through an english hour that we held. She is a single mom and has great faith in the Jesus Christ. She wants her children to learn about it as well, so we are definitely looking forward to that. 

I have read Luke 77:12-15 many times in correlation with a study of charity, but reading it this time I recognized another aspect of the story. It says, "behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her." I may be wrong in this, but I wondered when it says much people of the city was with her it probably didn't mean that she was front and center with everyone surrounding and focused on her. Instead, I pictured her very possibly blending into the crowd that came to see Christ.There could have been many more with their sick and afflicted. He had to have an eye of discernment to recognize her. Without that she couldn't have been easily over-looked. Like Christ we should all have open eyes and hearts to those that need our attention.

Thank you for the Christ like love you have shown to me all the way over here in Finland. I'm so grateful for you and love you. Have a great week.

-Sisar Clark

pic- an advertisement for a delicious Finnish candy :)

Meidän valmistautumispäivänä Ouluun matka! (Our trip to Oulu on P-day!)

Hey Everyone! So sorry this email is going to stink, but it is for a super great cause. We got a surprise trip up to Oulu to be here for the zone conference. Due to us taking over the Oulu STL's they decided that we should be there...so yep terverisin from Oulu! Love you all! I'll write more next week, but thanks for your emails :) Oh btw Laura I think you birthday is before my next p-day so Hyvää Syntymäpäivää!! I hope it is a great one. 

 In my studies recently I have continued my study on charity as a Christ-like attribute and loved in 2 Nephi 33:7 "I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat." Even though Nephi had seen the wickedness of his people, he could see their potential and had hope and faith in them. What a better example of the love Heavenly Father has for us. 

Love you have a great week!

-Sisar Clark

Yleiskonferenssi :) (General Conference)

Hey Family! Wasn't conference powerful and energizing? I was very grateful for the emphasis on Plan of Happiness and missionary work. It was such a good motivation for me to continue strong these last few weeks, but then also to not fear going home. I'm not actually "going home" I'm just going to be transferred. It may be a pretty foreign and intimidating new area, but I'm going to be doing the same work and striving to live according to the same true gospel of Jesus Christ. We also had a meeting for all the departing missionaries about setting goals for post mission life and how to apply what we have learned. It was a good reminder and addition to what was shared in conference. So now that we don't have to worry about that any more...

This week we found a new investigator that is very very strong in his Lutheran beliefs. I was honored to again bear pure testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon after we read in 3 Nephi 11 and John 10:14-16. The spirit was strong and again reconfirmed what I have felt many times before. I love missionary work! I also love exact obedience! We found small and simple tender mercies in our work this week as we strove and searched for every opportunity to be obedient. 

In connection to the plan of happiness focus, I was specifically touched in my personal study by the simplicity and light of 2 Nephi 10:23 "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." It is truly a message that should cheer up our hearts!

I hope that you also are able to feel that joy and excitement from knowing God's plan for us. I hope you have a great week. I love you!

-Sisar Clark

ps p day next week I believe will be on monday..just fyi

pics-- I got to be with SIsar Toomey for travels down to Helsinki for our meeting :) fun!