Blessed to Know

Sisters: Jefferies, Smack Clifton (ME!) & Grant

Hey Everybody,

It's been a great week. I don't think I can share too much but during this week I learned a lot. I learned more about the gospel, about myself, and how to be a better missionary.

On Thursday we had Zone Training and President and Sister Bowen came! In the training we learned a lot on how to work with the members more in our finding. Since then, Sister Jefferies and I have had met with 3 different families. It's cool because we've been thinking about some members we want to talk to. As we have gone to these families and have asked them to fast and pray about people to invite to the gospel they already have someone in the back of their mind that they have recently been thinking of. They just needed a push from missionaries! We set a date with them- just like investigators with baptism and we are going to help them along every step of the way. It's actually really exciting.

We have been teaching 2 of our regulars and they both came to church! It's so amazing when someone that you love and care about finally comes to church. It made me so happy to see them there! It's un-describable.

I did an exchange with Sister Parkinson on Saturday. She has such a sweet personality and her testimony is so strong. You cannot argue with what she says because you know what she says is true. She knows how to answer people and help the with their questions. She's also a great listener. I learned a lot from her!

Just something real quick that I want to share. Sometimes we take advantage of the small and simple things that we know to be true. As I have been teaching and learning about the religious backgrounds of many people I have come to realize how blessed I am. I am blessed to know. I am blessed to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. Blessed to know that He has a beautiful plan for me. Blessed to know that I lived with my Heavenly Father before I came to this earth and that He loves me more than I can comprehend and He wants me to live with Him again. Blessed to know that the church of Jesus Christ is back on earth, that we have a prophet that leads and guides the church today, that the Book of Mormon is true. Blessed to know that I can be forgiven, to pray, to ask if things are true. The list continues but I am happy that I am serving the Lord and so blessed that I have this knowledge in my life.

I know this email was not too long. Hopefully next weeks email will be more full of information. Most of this coming week is already planned. It's going to be really busy. I'm excited!

Happy Are We!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry this email is late. The library was closed on Monday due to Labor Day and there were some scheduling conflicts on Tuesday so now on Wednesday I finally have the chance to email!

Well this week has been really good. I'm no longer the newest missionary in the mission. Transfers happened last Tuesday so we have a new group. I love not being the newest. It's really nice.

On Wednesday I got to have dinner with Brother and Sister Pugmire (Emme's parents- my freshman year roommate). They moved to California a little over a year ago and they live in my area/zone and they wanted to treat my companion and I to dinner. It was really nice and so sweet. I loved seeing them and they have such a sweet and welcoming spirit. They are absolutely amazing.

We did a little exchange with some sisters in my zone (my companion is the Sister Training Leader so as part of her job she does exchanges and I'm along for the ride). I enjoy the exchanges because it's really interesting learning from different missionaries. I was with Sister Grant again and I learned more from her. I love her so much!

We got a new ward mission leader. It's a little sad because we loved ours but we are also excited to see what new ideas come to the table! We had dinner with him and the Elders earlier this week and he came up with some great ideas for the area and with the ward. It's getting me really excited for the missionary work!

Here is one of my Favorite Mormon Messages. I cry basically every time.

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#mountains-to-climb

Random Fact of the Day:

Did you know that the California Anaheim Mission is the smallest proselyting mission in the world?! We are the 2nd smallest mission in the world- Salt Lake Temple Square is the smallest. 

I think every week I have an increasing love for doing missionary work. I learn more and more and as I learn, my love for my mission, for my area, and for the Lord grows. It's an amazing experience and I am so blessed to be here in California!

I think that's all for now. Once again thanks to all the support that you have shown me! It means a lot!

Me with the Pugmire's- Awesome people! I love them! 

Love Always,

Sister Clifton

Loving My Mission

Hello Family and Friends!

This week was crazy, long, but really good. It seems like a lot of the stuff happened forever ago but in reality it was only this past week. I am going to include everything that I can remember.

On Tuesday we had a Sisters Lunch. All the Sisters in the Mission went to President Bowen's house and we had a lunch there. It was so nice of the Sister Bowen to plan the whole thing and it's so nice to see the other sisters in the mission. I'm sure it will be even better once I'm not so new and know more people but I still loved it! Definitely a highlight of the week!

On Wednesday we did an unexpected exchange with Sister Grant and Sister Smack. I went with Sister Smack in her area for the first part of the day and it was really fun. We did some service at the Zoo. We were there for 3 hours so Sister Smack and I just talked the whole time as we did the project of managing the maze. Then we met back up and I went with Sister Grant into my area.The whole exchange was really fun! Love those Sisters! They are amazing! Sister Smack went back to ASL today so we're going to miss her but she covers the whole mission so she'll still be around.

Saturday we did a half day exchange with Sister Jensen and Sister Larrabee (my MTC comp). It went well and we got some missionary work done! It's a little nerve-racking when you run your area when your trainer is gone but we got through the day!

Quick Rant on my companion Sister Jefferies- I love her!!! She is amazing! She is a great teacher, influence, mom, companion, everything. She goes home on November and it makes me sad that I won't see her around the mission when we're transferred. But I have at least 6 more weeks with her so I'm really happy about that! I'm going to try and learn everything that I possibly can. I feel like I'm going to cram it all in because I have so much to learn from her because she's absolutely amazing!!! Love her to death.

This week I have come to love the mission even more. Not that I did not already but this week something clicked and I have a stronger love for my area, for the people I am serving, for the Lord, and for the opportunity in serving Him. It's such a wonderful blessing and I am so grateful to be here in California!

I think that's all. Until next week!

Love you all and thanks for everything that you have done!

Love,

Sister Clifton

Hola Famila and Amigos!

I am so sorry that I did not email on Monday- but it was not our P-day. Today is because we were able to go to the temple! Oh my word- it was so wonderful to go! It's the Newport Beach Temple and it was amazing! It's a smaller one but the members paid for it themselves. The Stake I am currently serving in (Orange Stake) had all their wards announce that if it were possible if they could contribute another 10% for the building of the temple. And the Orange Stake had the most people contribute. How amazing is that?! And it was beautiful! It was such a blessing to go there! It's been forever because the Provo Temple was closed when I was at the MTC. Loved it!!!

Well let's see what else... oh I went on my first exchange yesterday. I went with Sister Grant and my companion went with Sister Smack (the Sisters we went to Yogurt with). We met at their apartment Tuesday night at 8:45 and I did daily planning with her and I slept there that night. And Sister Grant made me pancakes that morning! It was so nice! We taught some of the people that they are currently teaching. I met the family of 8! They are such an amazing family!! But they are going to pass them to the Spanish Elders because the kids have to translate. They are really sad about it but they know that it's the best thing for them. And that is what matters. The Exchange was so much fun and I love Sister Grant (and she's from Springville by the way). When the exchange was over we met with our companions at 8:30 last night and then that brings us to today which I have already told you about. And I'm going on an exchange with my MTC companion on Saturday so that will be fun :)

We went to a baptism on Friday and it was amazing! I loved seeing someone come to this Gospel and witness the change. Ah! Loved it!

Love you all!!!

Love,

Sister Clifton

Sister Jefferies, Me, Sister Smack, and Sister Grant

Sister Jefferies and Me