Fresh and New, Again

We are missionaries.  I once again learned that it doesn't matter who my companion is, because we all do the same thing.  Sister F is great!  She is from Santa Clara, UT (near St. George) and she is part Hawaiian.  She went to BYU Hawaii for school and worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  She is friendly and sweet.  She is not afraid to talk to anyone and everyone.  She even passed out a Book of Mormon to a man at the airport.  His granddaughter is a member and she was able to share more about the church.  She is a great missionary and I am excited to learn from her.

When you are teaching someone new [to the mission], they help you feel excited about the work.  Not that I was ever really burned out or anything, but missionary work feels fresh and new again.  It is fun to teach her about how to tract, to share my stories, and to share any other advice.  As a trainer, I help her know what we do and how we can improve [as missionaries].

I have a great example of why it is good to have a companion.  I had just parked the car and we were ready to tract some apartments.  Then, we saw a guy with a push mower, the old fashioned kind…the really old ones without a motor.  He was older and I didn't really want to talk to him, but then Sister F asked me if we should go talk to him.  I knew we should because I didn't really want to and I figured that was Satan trying to stop us.  Anyway, we went over and talked to him.  His name was Charles.  He said there were some Elders who came by another day when he was planting his garden.  He also said he was a descendant from the Mormons, from when there was polygamy and so he was from the 3rd or 4th wife.  [Note:  The practice of plural marriage was not taught after 1890.  Any member practicing polygamy today is excommunicated from the Church.]  He is really interested in family history and he noticed how his extended family, who were members of the church, were more united and seemed to have fewer problems than the family that didn't have religion.  When I first found out he had recently talked with Elders, the thought of just cutting our conversation short crossed my mind.  We visited with him for a few minutes.  Really, only God knows what our part in Charles' spiritual journey was on that day.  So, that is my fun tracting story of the week

Happy Easter, by the way.  Our Easter church services were all about the Savior and his resurrection.  All three meetings were focused on the Savior.  I loved it!  I love our Savior, Jesus Christ and how he has provided a perfect example.  I love that he suffered for our sins so if we act on the Atonement we can be clean.  And, he gave us a gift which is given to all -- that we will be resurrected.  It was good to have all 3 hours focus on it.  Our third hour of meetings was a class for the Chinese investigators where we reviewed what we learned in Sacrament meeting and Gospel Essentials [a class for investigators and those who are newly converted].  The chapter from the Gospel Essentials book happened to be the life of Christ which was perfect for Easter.  The Savior makes it so you can have a fresh start.

I love you all!  Good luck with all of your travels and God bless you!  I love you and I am thinking and praying for you.  Love, Sister Cluff.