HEY!

I think we had the hardest, weirdest and most trying week of my mission so far--and I loved it! It didn´t matter how many things went wrong--and quite a few did!--we kept going and laughed almost the whole time and saw miracle after miracle. Obion was able to be baptized, even though almost everything was stacked against it. She told us after the baptism that she had to go to France for the weekend and wouldn´t be at church to receive the Holy Ghost. It was something she couldn´t or wouldn´t change. I invited her to pray that night about what Heavenly Father wanted her to do and then to make her decision. We didn´t hear from her for 3 days and I assumed she had left and we planned for her confirmation the next week. She called us Sunday morning while we were in consejo de barrio to tell us that she was coming to church. To see the smile on Hna Oslund´s face and her squeal of happiness was, oh, so worth it! We still had to scramble to find someone who could do it in English and inconvenienced the Elderes, but it all worked out and she left right after the Sacrament to go to France. That´s a miracle. That´s answered prayer. That´s faith. That´s why I´m here.

Now that Obion is baptized, we are going to focus on her husband, Tony. He wants to be baptized, but doesn´t want to stop drinking coffee and tea. There are lots of members in the ward that we are going to ask to help us teach him.

Alex is a CR and is preparing with us and the Bishop to receive the priesthood. The Bishop asked him to study some things, so we are focusing on that this week.

We have lots of families to visit from the Bishop and ward. One of our goals this week is to visit or contact all of them.

Another miracle from this week--Saturday was insane from an outside perspèctive, possibly the worst day, logistically, of the mission so far--but I loved it because of how it ended. We got fired on, emergency feminine supplies run to the store, late to teach  English class, missed the train to a far away pueblo to visit the Bishop, got there hours late and he had to leave for a meeting, got yelled at during a lesson from the dueño of an investigator and they proceded to yell at each other and we were the go between, got lost and had to ride a whole bus loop, then missed our stop, missed correlation with the ward mission leader...but here´s why--we talked to 2 families on the bus that we needed to meet. Fanny had the missionaries visit her family in Bolivia and begged us to come over and was incredible. Diana helped us with directions and wants us to come by, too. Sometimes all your carefully laid, yet narrowly-minded plans fall through so that you can do Heavenly Father´s will and plan. :-) Incredible!

Hna Oslund is great. One of the best friends I have found on the mission. She´s another miracle of my mission. That´s real.

Kind of scary about all the health issues in the ward back home. Tell Tricia that I´ve heard breaking a leg is the punishment for not writing a certain missionary. ahahahaha (or not? maybe too soon to joke? you can be the filter and decide...) I´ll pray for her and Emy. I´ve actually had the impression to write them both within the last few weeks. I should do that...

Mom, thanks for keeping me going :-) I love your emails. And Clecca, Haley singing is precious :-) everyone loved it. Ok, I have pics! Finally.

ENJOY!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

Alma 37:34

D y C 24:8

Hey!

Fall is in the air! We had a nice rainstorm and it has been pleasantly chilly in the morning and night. However, I think AZ heat next summer might kill me. My body hasn´t been tolerating warm/hot/humid/ heat lately. My pisomates all jokingly tease me it is "menopausia" because they think I go through hot flashes.ahahaha And they call me the viejita o abuelita (old grandmother)...they are hilarious. I´m just slightly nervous it could be true ;-)> It is weird being so much "older" in the mission than everyone else here. Hna Oslund pointed out that I was the oldest in Zone Enfoque...awkward.

Welp, our miracle this week started with District Meeting where we set the goal to teach 20+ lessons this week. We were hitting this consistently in Hospitalet...but considering what we´ve seen here for the past 2 weeks plus all the member visits we are trying to get in, this was a challenging goal. But we were able to reach it! We tried to focus on teaching lessons at every opportunity--even on the metro when Obion, who is getting baptized this week, didn´t have time to stay after church. If you are willing to go the extra mile and do everything you can think of, Heavenly Father makes up the difference. It also helps to have a companion like Hna Oslund :-)

Obion is getting baptized Thursday. We are trying to plan everything ahead, but it is different than I am used to, especially as it will be in English. She is so ready and excited. Her husband wants to be baptized as well, but doesn´t want to keep any commitments or do anything. We are praying that her baptism will help him prepare himself. She also has lots of friends that we want to start teaching as well. We have to find baptismal clothes for her and make some goodies this week for the get-together afterward...hmmmm

Collins is a recent convert who doesn´t like us :-( He won´t meet with us and asked if Hna Maxwell can teach him again. We don´t know what to do, but are going to keep trying. His English is nearly impossible to understand (he´s from Africa) and I think this may be a contributing factor.

José is an incredible and strong CR (recent convert) who is now the 1st counselor in the HHJJ. I loved meeting with him and his wife.We are planning to work through him to help strengthen the youth.

We had a very powerful visit with a strong, but menosactiva (less active) member as well. I did not know she was not attending church--which is probably a good thing because it left the door open for me to listen to the Spirit and be more fuerte (firm). She feels very guilty because of the choices of her son and is punishing herself by keeping herself from taking the Sacrament and being worthy to go to the temple. We invited her to do some specific things and we shall see what happens...

I loved the miracle of the dedication of Alma the Younger in my reading this week. He gives up the judgment seat and everything to serve and teach and be a missionary. You can see the influence of his faith and diligence in his life, the miracles he brings about with his faith, the strength of his recent converts, the growth of the church and the lives of his sons and close associates (Amulek and Zeezrom). I want to be more like him.

This keyboard is driving me insane, half the keys don´t work unless you slam it...so fun...and my camera battery just died so no pics this week :-) sad day, we have some good ones. Welp, next week!

Interviews with Pte Pace were amazing. We talked about a lot of things and I have my marching orders. He gave me a blessing for my foot and it was so...sweet. I got the package with the tape Saturday, same day as the blessing and haven´t had any pains or problems since :-) And we went running this morning! IT FELT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely a miracle!

So I´m happy. I´m NOT hurting. I might be going through menopause heehee. And I have the best companion and piso in the mission. What else could Hna Dalton ask for? Hmmmm, you can guess, but basically I´m doing grrrrrrrrrrrreat!

Love you,

Hna Clarissa Dalton

¡Saludos de Valencia!

It is so fun to be here. We have had a week with a little bit of everything.haha I really love our piso. There is never a dull moment and we are having so much fun and always laughing. It is different here teaching so many Africans. I had my first taste of translating spanish>african english and african english>spanish during testimony meeting Sunday. That was stressful, let me tell you. A RC Collins wanted to bear his testimony so I went up there with him, which was quite the experience since I still don´t understand everything he says...or let´s be real, most of it.haha But Heavenly Father knows I have been wanting to build my translating skills, so here we go.

"As we have been visiting members and the ward leaders, they have each given us the name of a family in the ward that is starting to come back. We set up a visit with them. He is a returned missionary, but has been inactive for the last 8+ years. It was really easy to break the ice and we all felt comfortable. We had planned to teach about the importance of the Santa Cena, but during the prayer I felt like we should share an article I had read that morning from the Liahona. My poor companion didn´t have any notice, but trusts me and we went ahead. The article talks about how much we mean to the Lord “¿Cuanto valgo?” We were able to bear testimony and it was exactly what the wife needed to open up. They looked at each other and then invited us to teach and prepare their daughter for baptism. She is 8 years old, but turns 9 in a month and hasn´t treated past missionaries very nicely. The father looked us in the eyes and said, “Esperamos para vosotras.” It was so amazing. They said that they have been waiting for us to be their missionaries. My companion and I both felt it really strong that we need to teach this family. It was a testimony to me that we are in the right place at the right time doing the right things.

I admire Hna Oslund´s willingness to serve me this week when my foot has really been bothering me. She is constantly worrying about me and trying to make me laugh and take care of me. It´s not easy for either of us--for her to serve me or for me to let her serve me--but it is helping us both develop attributes that we need.

Obion and Tony are a couple from Africa who want to be baptized. Obion has come to church fairly consistently, but Tony has not and did not come this week. Obion is progressing in the gospel and he is not. We are trying to find ways to help them arrive at baptism together. It is very different teaching in english, almost awkward. But I like it. And it is great teaching with Hna Oslund again.

Alex is a recent convert who was baptized here a few weeks ago. He is great! We taught him last week and we were late...lost in the new area...and he didn´t have much time. But after we introduced each other, prayed and sang a hymn, he told us that now he was there in the chapel with us he didn´t want to leave and his other appointment didn´t matter. Instead of moving on with the lesson, I stole a moment to make sure he knew that what he was feeling was the Spirit and how important that is. It changed the whole feel of the lesson. He is working to receive the priesthood."

This week was Hna Oslund and Maxwell´s "hump days," halfway marks. We had some fun :-) I´ll have to "leave you hanging" on the stories ;-) HA! Two can play that game, Connor! Cesar really wants to talk to you...I´ll give him your email when you give me the details...

I am waiting for the package. I expect the Pace´s to bring it down when they come for interviews this week. It has really been bothering me...I had to rest last night because I just couldn´t walk on it anymore...or at all. I am going to ask Hna Pace about inserts or a boot if the taping doesn´t work...or I´ll just proselyte in my adidas.haha We shall see, but I don´t think my body can handle so much ibuprofen for an extended period of time...thanks for the prayers. They help.

love you all, can´t believe October is halfway gone! I still can´t believe that Dianna is engaged-and getting married before I get back! And Caleb might leave before I get home...those are hard to swallow but I´m so happy for them.

Smile.

Love,

Hna Clarissa Dalton

I´m a little excited. ahahaha If you couldn´t tell.

Miracle story...so embarrassing..."I love Valencia and the members and my companion and our pisomates. I am seriously so happy :-) I think I just smile and laugh all day long. But the miracle story is from my last area, Hospitalet, right before I left.

So this is embarrassing to admit, but it makes for a great story, so I guess it is worth it. We were heading back to piso after Singing of the Angels and there were 7 of us. We got in the elevator and there was plenty of room so no one thought to check the capacity or say anything. The elevator made some weird noises, started shaking and then dropped a foot. The emergency light started flashing. We all froze and didn´t know what happened. Then everyone looked at me, which is terrifying because I am claustrophobic and had no idea what to do. So I said "Let´s pray"--always my first answer. Good heavens, I never know what to do--I´d be lost and unable to function without praying all the time. We prayed and then tried calling on the phone,...but there was no service, of course. So I decided to pray again and this time I asked that someone would hear the alarm bell I planned on holding down. We held the bell down and right after the prayer, someone heard us and called the Pres. We were stuck in there for 29ish minutes and I was fighting claustrophobia, but we talked and laughed and it helped. Everything worked out and Heavenly Father answered our prayers immediately, again. He never gets tired of us, thank heavens. From now on I will check the capacity limit of elevators before we get in!"

Oh huckleberry, here´s the rest of the letter too:

"I love Hna Oslund! I love the changes that I see in her since we were companions before, especially how much she loves me :-) She teaches me a lot without knowing it. The other night I was talking and goofing around with Hna Goodman and walked back to the room and Hna Oslund was laying on her bed, reading the Book of Mormon and writing down the miracles she found. It really impacted me. She doesn´t get the credit she deserves from other people who just see the funny, crazy side of her, but she tries and works so hard to be the missionary and person she wants to be. I have lost some focus on that and want to follow her example and be more diligent to improve daily. I also LOVE Hnas Goodman and Maxwell. They are so great and I am learning daily about the kind of person I want to be from their examples.

We met some recent converts here at conference and set up visits for the week to come. There are a few progressing investigators in our area, but they live in a pueblo and were unable to come in. We will visit them tomorrow. We are excited to find those who are prepared here! We know Valencia is full of them!

I love General Conference and just love being a missionary! I received so many answers and much personal revelation this weekend. Heavenly Father loves me so much-- I just can´t comprehend it."

Wow, how am I so blessed? It must be all the prayers from family and friends at home because it´s not me. Miracles:

"There have been too many miracles to count this week. I try to write them down and remember, but I feel like I miss so many! (What a great problem to have, right?) I am so blessed by the Lord. Ok, two simple yet profound examples of my Heavenly Father´s love for me and how he knows me personally. Mom sent me some of my missionary pictures while I was in the MTC to give to people during my mission. I had 6 left yesterday. I cut 3 out to give to 2 recent converts and 1 investigator. I put one in Ruby´s triple combination that we gave her after her baptism and another in Maria Rosa´s Bible that we dedicated for her. Her son Julian wanted one for the back of my superman keychain that I gave to him, but I really wanted our investigator, Xavi, to have the last one for the triple combination that I wrote in for him and marked my favorite scriptures. I said a quick prayer and decided to give the last one that I had to Julian. I felt like it was the right thing to do. Xavi came to the baptism that night and I was writing in his triple and decided to check the empty envelope one more time, even though I knew there was nothing in there…but there was another picture!!! When I got back to the piso I checked and still had 3 pictures left. I don´t know how, but I had enough and Heavenly Father knew how much it meant to me and answered my prayers.

I love and live through my music. I prepared my ipod very carefully and meticulously before the mission with only uplifting, edifying songs, all the scriptures in Spanish and English, and the last 4 years of conference talks. I was adding some more music to my ipod in the locutorio from cd's I found in the piso left by other missionaries. But when I got back to the piso, my ipod was empty. All 14GB of music and talks were gone. Nothing. I had a minor panic attack. I sat on my bed and thought for a long time and realized that I had the chance to choose how I was going to react. I could get mad, cry, freak out…or I could let it go, have some faith and know that God is in control and would take care of me. This is how much my music means to me. But I decided to let it go and moved on. Hna Stephenson and I talked and decided it was my test of faith--if I could live and serve normally without my music. I actually forgot all about it during the week--something I NEVER thought was possible for me to do, but hey, life goes on and is SO much more than music. This morning I decided to put a few cd's on my ipod, just so I have something for when I leave to Valencia. I plugged my ipod in…and ALL my music was there. EVERYTHING! I have NO idea how, there is no way logically--I checked the ipod multiple times during the week and it was empty--zero GB used. There is no explanation other than a miracle. Heavenly Father knows me, so well, so perfectly.

I kind of feel like these are selfish miracles because they are just for me, but they are very specific and personal 'divine signatures' that Heavenly Father has written in my life and I will never forget them."

Those miracles are real, I promise. I couldn´t even make them up if I tried. There are so many more that I don´t have time to write, but I WILL write them in my journal. Haven´t missed a day yet and I am filling up journal #3. haha My future self will thank me...maybe.

So transfers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are crazy! Are you ready? Firsties, I went in and talked to Pte this week. There is a lot going on in the mission, especially with the Hnas and I needed counsel, advice and help. Such a sweet experience. We talked about some transfer possibilities and I have been waiting to see what would happen....are you ready?...some changes I was prepared for and some I was not...are you sure?...haha I´m heading to Valencia tomorrow!!!!!!! With...Hna Oslund!!!!!ahahahaha But really! We are going to whitewash and open an area down there. And my daughter, Hna Maxwell, will be a pisomate! As well as Hna Goodman--who is a hero and really good friend of mine. I still can´t believe it. Hna Pazuengo is taking it really hard...but I´m kind of the "rip the bandaid off and roll with it" kind of person...and she´s not. haha Gotta cut the cord sometime, right? She´ll be fine. And my first comp, Hna Farrell, is coming down from SanSe to take my place here! I´m excited and a wee bit nervous and kind of dazed. We have done lots of running around and visiting CRs (recent converts) and trying to say goodbye to everyone. Singing of the Angels should be good for that tonight. I´ll be thinking of Connor the whole time :-)

I´m just...happy. Tired beyond belief and my body is aging and falling apart right before my eyes, but I am so happy that is doesn´t matter. haha And it´s Conference this week. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! Superbowl for the missionaries. We are inviting everyone to bring specific questions to the conference to get specific answers. DO IT! I am for sure. I am so excited. Test the Lord and He ALWAYS comes through. So the real question is...what do you want to know? 90% of the challenge is always asking the right questions. I can´t wait to hear about your questions and answers!

Thank you all so much for the emails this week--there were so many! haha I love it and they will all be read and reread during the week. Love General Conference. I can´t wait to go in April. I´ve already decided :-) Isn´t it about...time?ahahaha I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Hna Clarissa Dalton

Hey Mom, thanks for the package. The office is on the lookout for it and will send it on to Valencia when it arrives. I´m excited about the blue tape...but you will be shocked to know that I have a sudden love for bright hot pink. Europe has really worked me over, I know. ahahahaha The 2nd Coming should be any day now--Clare Dalton likes pink!!!!