I'm a real missionary now!

When I wrote y'all last week, I was in McDonald's eating some fries so I could use their free wifi. And it dawned on me that I didn't recognize the music that was being played. I said something about that out loud to the other missionaries that were there, and they all congratulated me. Because apparently it means that "I have arrived" in the missionary world, and that I am a "real missionary" now. As missionaries, we can only listen to Church music or uplifting music. It helps us to stay focused on our work here as missionaries. And I totally agree. It is so hard now to just start latin dancing in public. Shakira was right when she said that my hips don't lie.

Anyway, we were able to have our zone conference last week, and as usual it was amazing! They are always so refreshing and rejuvenating. It always just makes us want to go out and work our hardest. I also just love learning from our mission president and his wife. They are amazing! They always help us to realize our true potential, not only as misionaries, but as people.

We had the opportunity to go to La Rambla today where the attack had happened. I'm sure you have all seen pictures of all of the flowers, candles, etc. But there is something different about seeing it in person. Especially with all of the armed police that were everywhere. Life is fragile. But we also can't live in fear. It's an interesting balance that we need to learn. While we were there, I saw a girl that was wearing a shirt that says, "Hate Love, Love Hate". I just thought that that was kinda of ironic considering where we were at.

Well, my time is wrapping up here in Hospitalet. Next week I will be writing from a new area! I can't believe that I have been here for six months. It'll be weird to leave my first area, since I have been here for so long, and I don't know anything else. I have so many friends here, and I know all the streets here better than the streets back home. Well, I love you all! Also, shout out to Gabe and Emm on getting hitched this week! Wooo! Until next week!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- We were sitting outside of our apartment the other day, and this drunk man comes walking by listening to his music and rapping to himself. When he saw us, he obviously knew that we were missionaries, cause he starting rapping about the bible and stuff. It was hilarious! He didn't stop or anything, just kept walking down the street, but was singing about the bible haha. He mostly just kept saying "mantener la biblia" hahaha

Pickled Pigs Feet and Pinterest

I learned how to eat oysters this week. I have never really had seafood before the mission, but I have discovered that I like it a lot! I'm also a fan of sushi too haha. Oh, I can't remember if I already said this, but a member fed us pickled pigs feet. Aparently it is a food from Bolivia. It was very chewy and a little hairy hahaha.

Story time. My companion and I had had a bit of a rough day, and we were walking to the metro to go home. As we were about to walk down the steps into the entrance for the metro, we got spit on. That day had already been hard enough. I've been thinking about how much that little action hurt. How much every little action had hurt that day. And it made me think about Christ. "And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." (1 Nephi 19:9) Christ went through what He did, because He loves us. People have told me that I am naive, young, stupid girl because I believe that Christ died to save me. But no one can convince me that Christ did not die for me, or that Christ does not exist. Because it is something I have discovered and learned for myself. I will die believing in Christ, hoping in Christ, and putting my faith in Christ. It is a feeling that I cannot deny. That I frankly don't even want to deny. Christ is real. You can find His love for you. There is nothing you have done that will make Him stop loving you. Same with our Heavenly Father. He loves you, simply because you are His. You don't have to do anything special. He just loves you.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I sure am enjoying mine! Be good! Love y'all! ¡Os quiero!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- I just really love Barcelona. I love wandering down the windy streets and finding little random shops of all types. It's like Etsy or Pinterest in real life!

Pickled Pigs Feet and Pinterest

I learned how to eat oysters this week. I have never really had seafood before the mission, but I have discovered that I like it a lot! I'm also a fan of sushi too haha. Oh, I can't remember if I already said this, but a member fed us pickled pigs feet. Aparently it is a food from Bolivia. It was very chewy and a little hairy hahaha.

Story time. My companion and I had had a bit of a rough day, and we were walking to the metro to go home. As we were about to walk down the steps into the entrance for the metro, we got spit on. That day had already been hard enough. I've been thinking about how much that little action hurt. How much every little action had hurt that day. And it made me think about Christ. "And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." (1 Nephi 19:9) Christ went through what He did, because He loves us. People have told me that I am naive, young, stupid girl because I believe that Christ died to save me. But no one can convince me that Christ did not die for me, or that Christ does not exist. Because it is something I have discovered and learned for myself. I will die believing in Christ, hoping in Christ, and putting my faith in Christ. It is a feeling that I cannot deny. That I frankly don't even want to deny. Christ is real. You can find His love for you. There is nothing you have done that will make Him stop loving you. Same with our Heavenly Father. He loves you, simply because you are His. You don't have to do anything special. He just loves you.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I sure am enjoying mine! Be good! Love y'all! ¡Os quiero!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- I just really love Barcelona. I love wandering down the windy streets and finding little random shops of all types. It's like Etsy or Pinterest in real life!

Shakira, Shakira

I recently discovered that I only live like an hour away from Shakira. You bet your bottom dollar that if she lived if my area, Señorita Shakira would be converted to the Church. It's a good thing that I was already sitting on the floor when Elder Cantos told me how close she lives, cause I would have dropped dead like a feather in a zero-gravity tube.

In other news, today is my six month mark! Wooo! To celebrate, we went to the Sagrada Familia with my district. (A district is a group of missionaries that all serve in a city or small area.) It was so neat to be able to enter. So beautiful. It was interesting to learn about Gaudi and stuff. It's fun to be living in Barcelona!

Yesterday, the youth in the ward all talked about a religious camp they went to last week. I was so proud of them and their growing testimonies. I turned into a ball of tears when one boy talked about how grateful he was for the example of his older sister in serving a mission. It just reminded me when my brother, Cade, was on his mission. I still have a letter from him that he wrote me while he was on his mission in Puerto Rico. I read it on the hard days. I am so grateful for all the examples of my older siblings. I have been blessed with amazing siblings. So a quick shout out to Carrie, Paul, Chad, and Cade! I love you all! And I miss you. I miss talking and laughing. I look up to you all so, so much. Love you!

One other quick thought. Go out and fulfill your dreams. I'm serious. Do it. I'm living mine. Figure out what you want to do, and then do it. Actually do it. If you work hard and put in the effort, you can and will do what you want to do. As my wonderful mission president told me a while ago, "We do the things in life that we really want to do." It's true. No excuses. You have a brain in your head, you can figure it out. Use your brain, but be patient. Success and dreams aren't an overnight process. If you work hard enough, you will eventually get there. I have found that if I am not working very hard, it's because I don't want it badly enough. If I want it, I will do it.

And yep, I think that will wrap it up for this week! As always, I love you all! Be safe!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- The elders have figured out that I can make guacamole Mexicano... #thanksmom