Brownsville, Letter 2

Sister Clarke with her trainer, Sister Riley

Looks like a district lunch?

I am told from other missionaries who have served in the McAllen mission that they are allowed only an hour to be on the computer each week. For part of that time, Rachelle is required to write to her mission president, which leaves little time to read and respond to emails. You will see that in her emails home, she doesn't include many details, which means, I think, that she is pressed for time. She did mention that she would love to receive printed letters in the mail as she is allowed to read those in the evenings throughout the week. Her physical address is 

Sister Rachelle Clarke
1900 Coffeeport Rd. Apt. D-5
Brownsville, TX 78521

Sister Clarke did send a couple of pictures this week, but there are no explanations. You will notice that the Sisters in her mission are required to wear pants instead of dresses. This is because there have been reported cases of Zika in her mission boundaries, and the mission president is trying to keep the missionaries safe, healthy, and mosquito-bite free. 

Here's her weekly letter.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hi family and friends!

This week was another busy week, full of learning!  There is so much to learn and do I'm trying to figure it all out at warp speed!  The people here are so amazing.  I know that I'm in the US, but everyone down here knows that's a fable and we're actually in Mexico.  (Except that we have clean water and a Wal Mart here.)  What an awesome area to be in!  I get to serve in Mexico - English speaking!  What a blessing!  Haha.  We get to use our spanish plenty though, especially when talking with people on the streets.

There's not a lot of time to write this week, it has mostly just been full of learning about the gospel and my calling, coming closer to my Savior, and loving the people.  I have especially been studying the Atonement this week, to come to understand it better so that I can help others understand how to access its power in their lives.  I have come to realize that one of the sweetest experiences there is in this life is to stand  on someone's porch, or on the street, after just meeting them, and to testify of our Savior Jesus Christ - that He is there, that He knows and loves them with perfect knowledge and a perfect love, and that the way to peace and happiness is through Him.  This week someone we had met and were talking about the gospel with said that they didn't believe in Christ because she didn't need Him - in that moment my heart broke a little, because of how much we ALL need Him - but I knew that that was precisely the reason that I was there, to tell her that she did need Him and that he was THERE, walking beside her and carrying her.  

Something else I've learned this week is that as missionaries, we are rejected a lot.  But it is important to remember that every time we are rejected, cast our, yelled at, "spit upon, made a hiss and a byword", that we are THAT MUCH MORE LIKE OUR SAVIOR.  Because that is what happened to Him and all those who carried His word.  So every time that happens to us I just think how I am a little more like my Savior  in that moment, and my heart is humbled and my love for Him grows.

I love my Savior and I love His work - I have been studying too about the great missionaries in the Book of Mormon and every time I read, I find it such an honor to wear the Savior's name on my heart and to carry His message!  He is real, and He is here with us, and I love Him!

I love you all!

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Clarke