Let's not DIY

The mission is no picnic or a nice stroll through the park. (Even though we live next to a park and walk through it quite often.) There are a lot of disapointments and rejections on an hourly basis. But the reward is so very worth. But, (there's always a "but" isn't there?) we only receive "the reward" if we work for it, and at the same time are changed through the process. I'm not gonna lie, this week was really hard. As life and the mission often are. I am learning just how resilient I actually am, and where and how I can improve. I have also learned these last few weeks that asking for help is important. I think I've always been a little more than independent, and I apologize, Mom, for all of the times when I just wanted to "do it myself". It's too bad that I had to come on a mission to learn that principle, but I am now grateful for that I have learned it, regardless.

I hope that by the time I come home, I am a better person. I am so grateful for all of the people that I have met here on the mission, taught, and served. But I know that Heavenly Father knew that I needed to come on a mission. I think back to how I was before the mission, and a lot of things I feel sorry for and embarrassed. I never want to forget what I have learned here in Spain up to this point. It is so very important to be kind to EVERYONE. Even the lady who yelled at me because I didn't realize that I wasn't in the bike lane today, and so I accidently was riding in the walking people lane. She didn't know that I didn't realize I was in the wrong lane, just that I was in the wrong, and putting possible people in danger. Maybe she didn't have to get mad, but I can't control that, she just reacted. I just have to make sure that I control my actions, because not is it my responsibility, I WANT to be in control of what I do and say. There is a scripture that I like a lot that says, "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hast of spirit exalteth folly. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but griveous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 14:29; 15:1)

Anyways, keep plugging along in life. Be good. Be kind. I promise it's worth it :) The Church is true, the book is blue, and I love you!

-Hermanita Clark :)

Ps- Halloween isn't really thing here. I was kinda sad haha. But Happy Halloween!

Paraguay!

Holy cow! Santo baca! What a week! First off, my new companion is named Hermana Bravo! (Yay!) And she is from Paraguay! I could listen to her accent allll day long! Well, I guess I do listen to her accent all day long, haha. We live together! Haha I'm so clever! ;) Anyways, picking her up in Barcelona was so much fun! We got there the night before, and stayed with some of the other sister missionaries. Then in the morning, we had a training on how to be trainers, then we ate lunch with all of the new missionaries. That part was soooo hard! Because we are all sitting together talking, but we don't know who is companions with who! After lunch, we  take some group pictures, and then we have another group training, and then we finally get to know who our companion is!! Seriously though, Hermana Bravo is the best! She is sooo ready to work like crazy! I looove how she teaches! I have learned sooo much from her! Also, she straightened my hair last night, and I had no idea that my hair could be so soft and silky. So of course we took a video with me flipping my hair haha.

Well, I hope you have all had a wonderful week! I love you all so much! Take time to stop and smell the roses! Be good! Don't do dumb things, cause you're stuck with the consequences!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- I learned how selfish I am this week, and it scared me. So I've been working on that.

I cried a lot this week

My Dominican companion left for Girona today. We have transfers this week. And so I am staying herr in Valencia, but I won't know who my companion is until tomorrow. I leave for Barcelona today to go and pick her up tomorrow, because she is a brand-new missionary that I will be training. When President Dayton called me on Saturday to ask me if I would train, it made me feel old. I almost have 9 months in the mission now. Half way. I swear I just got here haha.

In other news, our investigators got baptized on Sunday! My favorite part was watching the mother watch her 10-year-old daughter be baptized right after she had been baptized. I cried a lot. I also cried when her daughter shared her testimony afterwards. She later told me that she wanted to share her testimony so that everyone could know what to do so they can be as happy as she is. I love this girl. So much. Such a steady, good girl. She knows. She also told me that she is preparing to be a missionary some day. I love that.

We've started teaching two boys from Mexico that are my age. I was so excited when they said that they are from Mexico, because I had literally just made homemade tacos that day. Thank you Mom, for being Mexican and teaching me how to make Mexican food, because of you, we had something in common and were able to start teaching them.

Hermana Chas told me the other day that I was laughing in my sleep the other night. Aparently I have some pretty hilarious dreams. But I do feel bad that I creeped her out haha.

Well, that's it for this week. We're pretty busy with transfers going on and everything. I love y'all! Have courage and be kind!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps- The bakeries in Valencia are amazing. I have never seen such pretty pastries before.

Lucky Charms

Lucky Charms. I had the glorious opportunity of eating Lucky Charms for breakfast this morning. There is this little restaurant near our apartment called Cereal House. Think of an American cereal, and they have it. I mostly just enjoyed the Lucky Charms, because it was a cereal that my mom wouldn't let us have growing up haha. I guess you could say that I am "adulting" now haha.

Speaking of adulting and growing up, I realized this weekend thay humility isn't an achievement. There isn't a point that we can get to and say, "I'm humble now." Is a continued growth of an attribute. And that everything I do is contingent upon my level of humility. Hermana Dayton, the wife of my mission president, told me that "forgiveness is the power for true success." Something that I think goes along with humility is remembering to also forgive ourselves. We need to be humble enough to realize our weaknesses, forgive ourselves for our mistakes and weaknesses, and then move past them and try and do better. This is a continued process. Day by day.

I love you all! Sorry that this is a little short this week. Not much to report. Be good! Don't be too hard on yourself!

-Hermana Clark :)

Ps-In case you're wondering, I couldn't eat colorful cereals as a kid because the food coloring made me sick. If I remember right, and I could be wrong, once we were camping and my sister gave me some Blue's Clues fruit snacks. That night I threw up on my brother Paul in the tent. I think it was blue...