"Hope on, journey on"

First and foremost,

 

HAPPY 27 TO YOU DALLAN!!!!

 

What a beautiful day it has been, reflecting on the past almost 21 years of my life with the worlds greatest older brother. Dallan, you have brought such a pure love into my life. You have lifted me so many times, especially here on my mission. I am so grateful that i get to be your legs and voice, serving the Lord full time and i truly feel your strength. I do, and i will never be able to deny nor forget it.  Happy birthday to the happiest boy in the world. Know that your little sister LOVES you, prays for you, and relies on you so very much!

 

And now, about my week!

 

Well unfortunately, i was super super sick. The elders tried quarantining me all week, but that didnt even last a few hours. When there is work to be done, you just gotta forget yourself and go and do (while also taking breaks). This week was incredibly hard and i swear i have probably 3 new wrinkles and a zillion gray hairs but the joy and the blessings and the change in my heart has definately been worth it. It always is worth it.

 

So, Ken was just in a really rough spot. He was being super prideful and wasnt opening up his heart to listen, and i was already so worried because we hadnt heard from him for days, and the last time we talked he called to cancel because he wasnt doing so good. We called everyday to check up on him, and his sister said she hadnt seen him in days. Well, Ken doesnt drive, and he walks with a cane. He also doesnt have a phone, and he was also pretty hurt inside and out, so of course me being the crazy worrier that i am, i assumed he was dead. I prayed so dang hard for days, and then i was so sick i had to send the elders to go try and find him. FINALLY they got ahold of him, and i guess things went downhill. So the next day, we met up with him and he just goes off. I cut him off and just start baring my testimony, the spirit was so strong i just broke down and was crying and he totally stopped and got all soft and said stop crying, you cant do that to me stop! Sister wray took over and just said ken, we cry when we feel the spirit, and if you only knew how worried sister cloward has been for you. He finally understood. It was like Christ Himself was in the room, preaching to Ken Himself, that's how big of a change we saw in Ken in a few moments. We boldly testified of the gospel, and he listened, felt, and understood. At the end, he showed me a coin. He said on Saturday this coin will be on its way to Arizona, to you mom. On the coin both sides it has an angel, and he finally told me why He was so shocked the first time we came knocking into him. I guess i look just like his daughter, and act like her too. He said he could never have turned us away, because he saw her in me so strong that it could not have been a coincidence. Wow does the Lord work in mysterious ways or what... So, after a million phone calls of asking us if the baptism was still on, me and S. Wray both on our own felt like the Lord wanted it to happen.

 

And boy am i glad it did. His sister came, and for one the spirit was unreal, and two, she just may be the next member in the augusta ward. She was always super anti mormon and gave ken a hard time, but as soon as ken came up from being immersed, she ran to the font, grabbed onto the bars and knelt down and then tried to throw herself into the font to hug him, sobbing. The spirit was THAT powerful. While Ken was getting dressed, i talked to her and just held her, and she just kept saying "if you only knew the hell he has been through.. if you only knew. he is finally happy and i can see why!"

 

And then last night. Wow. We had dinner at the Maschino's, and Ken came with. I have never seen him so happy. So pure, so rich, and so vibrantly shining with SO much happiness. The light of Christ was unreal. I have never laughed so hard in my life, and wanted to cry with so many happy tears before. It was just unreal. I have finally seen the power of conversion from start to finish (but not finished... still gotta get him to the temple and endure every day!) I am one happy sister.

 

I also have felt my heart changing. The Lord is challening me, and He is shaping me. I am becoming His masterpiece. The work is hastening here in Augusta, and it isnt just hastening with the unbelievers. It is hastening within me.

 

I love this work, it is brutally hard. It is immensely painful. But the work is worth it. I am being ever so blessed as i "hope on, journey on".

 

Thank you for all the love, thoughts and prayers. They are pushing me through.

 

Sister Cloward

one of our investigators daughters lily! cutest thing ever.

 

yepp. i made them trump cards.

 

sister hovance!! ahhh i love this woman. she is moving to the damariscotta branch. not liking it.