Brownsville, Letter 8

Her pictures didn't come through this week, so we get a map instead. Sorry.

Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week has been wonderful, as always! The weather here has been absolute perfection. Heavenly Father just loves to rain down the blessings on us. This week has been filled with miracles as it always has! 

This week has been full of adventures and doctors visits! Haha we took Sister Riley to the doctor this week for pretty much the first time, that was definitely an adventure! Doctors down here are definitely interesting. 

It's been amazing to see this week how God directs us missionaries by the Spirit if we let Him. There were so many miracles this past week where the Spirit has directed us to just the right place at just the right time, and directed us to say just the right thing someone needed. Heavenly Father has led us to some amazing people this week, and has also guided us very specifically in our words in order to answer specific prayers of the people we see. Sometimes it just amazes me how exactly aware God is of every circumstance of His children, and directs our lives perfectly in order to bless us or use us to bless others.

I have learned a lot about personal revelation this week. I took heart at the Prophet's words from this past General Conference, about how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will to us if we will only Listen! It's inevitable that everyone has questions but the difference between a Nephi and a Laman/Lemuel is where we turn when we have them and how prepared we are to listen. Nephi doubted too, but when he did, he turned to the source and was prepared to listen. 

I always remember the words of one of my MTC teachers who told a story about how during his mission, he was SO focused, but when it came time to Skype his family, the Skype call wouldn't work. He could hear them, but they couldn't hear him. So he spent the entire time listening to them tell their stories, and at the end could only hold up a sign that said "See you in six months!" And hung up. On the way back he thought, "I am so focused on my mission and work so hard! Why couldn't I have that one small time with my family?" And he heard in response, "Now you know how I feel." He said he learned that most of the time our prayers are like a one way Skype call, when we talk and talk to God and then hang up and forget to listen. He said ever since that time, whenever he prays he has a notebook and pen open right next to him to show God he is ready to listen. That's something I've started doing as a missionary too. I have a journal specifically for prayer, and when I pray I have it open right next to me to show Heavenly Father that I am listening. I often ponder too about how President Nelson, when speaking about personal revelation during conference, told us to Listen! Since I have begun listening more, I have seen a huge difference and have felt closer to my Father in Heaven and allowed Him to direct me more. I am so grateful for a Prophet and for personal revelation!

I love the work! Brownsville is the best area in the whole wide world, there are people here who are so prepared to hear the Gospel! The work is going great and I find joy in it every day. Yasmin is now preparing for baptism on May 6th so she can be baptized along with her stepdaughter Alexis, and we are so excited for their family! We think Brother Reguenes will be ready to baptize his wife and daughter by then! They're the best! 

I love you all & have a great week!
¡Les quiero muchissimo!

Con amor,

Hermana Clarke

Write to Rachelle at rachelle.clarke@myldsmail.net