He is in me...He is in you

July 15, 2013

Greeetings from Augustar, Maine!

 

It has been another fabulous week here in Mainer land. And by fabulous, i mean amazing. The Lord is working miracles nonstop and i get to be the tool and see all of them unfold. It started on Tuesday, when i was doing some family history work and discovered lines going to a King names Wig Wigga. I just found it hilarious... and hey mom! Our lines go back to Adam! Pretty neat huh! Back to miracles though.. We had our first interview with President Stoker and all i can say is that is one inspired man. He is so bold, so ready to get this mission even better, and so loving and caring all wrapped up in one. My comp has been struggling a lot with why she is here and with faith, and most of my interview was discussing how we can help her. President Stoker is truly helping me see how to be selfless. How to not worry about my needs, but to always be looking at how i can help others and in turn trust that my needs will be taken care of. Sure enough, by focusing not on my worries and on how to bless her, blessings have come tenfold. He told me i was a breath of fresh air, and wish he had 200 sister clowards. I had been struggling the prior week thinking about if i am making the difference that i should be. It's always amazing how inspired people are and how the Lord answers our prayers. He also said im going to be a sister trainer leader very soon, so be prepared. i kind of laughed it off and he said im serious sister cloward. be prepared! Oh boy. all that came to my mind was d&c 82:3. Even more blessings will be upon me, my area, and my family as a greater stewardship will be upon my head. I am ever so grateful for a Heavenly Father who trusts me so much, and even more grateful that i am being so privileged to touch so many lives.

 

Another miracle came this week. One morning, i prayed extra extra hard and more fervent to find new investigators that day. We had a meal appointment with Sister Johnson and Mo, and some of her friends were going to be over. We show up at the house, and immediately miracles were pouring. Erik, the father was holding a bible and was just spitting out questions. They are a younger couple with two kids, who just recently lost a baby. Ever since, Erik says there has been a loud voice in his head, directing him. His questions were truly inspired questions, and our answers even more inspired. Things were going so well, and of course he had to leave at 7 for a karate class. His wife kept asking "are you sure you want to leave" and he said was hesitant but firm with his yes... that he needed that time to be in tune with himself. So, they leave, and kid you not 5 minutes later they are back in the house. Apparently, the class was at 5:30, and even though he wrote the times down, he got it wrong. He just kept saying man, im just tripping out, i wrote the times, i triple checked. I guess the lord knew where i needed to be. So we have continue on with our lesson. They are both telling us how they weren't really accepted in other churches, how other churches weren't helping out, when of course, Bishop Dawbin knocks on the door and walks in with boxes and boxes and boxes of bishops storehouse food. Sister Johnson just started crying and said "how did you know?" Erik kept saying "my mind is just tripping" and Kristie too was just amazed. Bishop said something to the fact that when you get a prompting, you act! They showed up to church yesterday and were just so impressed with everything. They've already asked what they need to do to be baptized, and truly have humble hearts and righteous desires. Goes to show, i need to beg Heavenly Father for more investigators more often!

 

Another miracle was Saturday. James Nirza is the elders investigator who got baptized that day, and asked me to speak on baptism because apparently i said "Well if you quit smoking your breath wont smell bad" to him and he said the spirit just hit him like a ton of bricks and then he was done smoking. I hadn't had time in any of my lunch or dinner breaks to write a talk, and the day of it was just as busy so i wasn't as prepared as i wanted to be, but i knew that if i just trusted the Lord, my words would be His words. Sure enough, it was. I don't remember what i said, nor does it really matter. What i remember is looking into James' eyes, feeling the power of the spirit and Savior, and speaking to his soul. Seeing him in white, seeing him continue on to be in his temple white, and seeing the purity in him. It was just unreal. I can never deny the power that was felt. After he came up from being immersed, he had this solemn look, and then threw his fist in the air and said YES, then grasped onto elder nielsen and clapped his hands together (see mosiah 18:11). Why aren't we all clapping our hands together everyday? Why do we as humans fail to remember that each week, if we are worthy, we are being made clean through the sacrament? Why do we forget that the bread and water truly symbolizes Christ? Why aren't we more reverent during the sacrament, because Christs body is on the sacrament table. Why don't we understand that Christ is in us, He truly is in us. Why do we fall short so much? All of these questions have been a driving force for me this week. I not only wear His name on my chest, but His body is within me. He is in me, He is in you, He is in all of us. Ponder on that.

 

Sunday we had ward council, and with the elders were given 45 minutes to introduce a new program we are extending to the families to help them recognize they are just as much commanded to serve as a missionary in their everyday lives as we missionaries are when we are set apart. I have been praying to be more bold and more aggressive, and once again it is incredible to see those prayers being answered. Once again, i dont remember what was said, but i know power was within me greater than my own. I know the spirit was the speaker. I know the words were bold, and unfortunately some of the hearts were not open and willing to hear, so there was some contention on their part, but the spirit was the speaker. It wasn't me. I know that the Lord blesses us with what we ask Him for, through the spirit. I know i have been given the gift of speech and delivery, and i am grateful that i am using that gift. That i am increasing my abilities in that gift, because the Lord sees great need for me too. It's just amazing to know Heavenly Father trusts me, because He is answering my prayers and blessing others through me.

 

Ken is doing so good. He is officially off the cig's and his date is the 27th! I think ive mentioned before he calls me his sweet little angel, and guess what. Yesterday one of the talks was on the ministering of angels. All i can say is that there was so much power and so much direction from the spirit in Bishop Dawsons (the previous bishops) talk. Ken just said "now do you know why i call you my sweet little angel?" I am grateful that i have chosen to be his angel. How blessed am i.

 

My testimony is surely being tested, and strengthened at this time in my life. I know that i am such a blessed daughter of God, because He has chosen me to be apart of His great work in an area that has so much potential. It's amazing to have gone from 0 investigators opening the area, to having FIVE INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH. ahhh miracles miracles. I love this work. I love my Lord. I love who i am becoming, because i know i am a more valiant servant.

 

Sister Cloward

the guy in the suit is james nirza! the newest augustar member!

 

It's pretty great that us toro's still rule even over in the east coast. marissa is staying here with her parents until she leaves for melbourne for her mission!

 

 

the stokers!

 

anddd ken in his "domain" yes, that is where we have lessons. its great