Mission Week 1

Hola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been quite an exciting week so I guess I'll just start from the beginning.....

Wednesday morning the AP's picked us up at the MTC and we made the 5 minute journey over to the Mission office. We met some of the senior missionaries then went to meet President and Sister Pitts. We sang Called to Serve on their doorstop then they came out to greet us. Immediately Sister Pitts mentioned how she had met mom before. We had breakfast there and a little orientation from the Pres. and then went to a chapel directly across the street from the MTC to have interviews and meet our trainers. It was quite the intense hour as we had some more orientation and waited for our trainers. We sat in a room and all the new missionaries were on one side and all the trainers sat on one side and one by one Pres. called a trainer up and the trainer would say who they would be training and the area they would be serving in. I definitely think I have the best trainer! His name is Elder Santos and he is from Ecuador. He's the only member in his family was joined the church when he was 16. He was a foreign exchange student last year in Idaho so he's pretty much fluent in English. Also, Elder Hudson, who is waiting for a visa to go to Spain is with us so we are a Trio. I am serving in the Sharon Park area (bikes), which is great! Its in Orem and although Julie's house is out of our area, Its only a short bike ride away.

Wednesday after meeting my companions we went to where we live. Its the basement of a members house and they are very nice people. I got a little time to unpack then we were off to my first dinner appointment. It was at a family's house from Santiago Chile so there was a connection there. We had some rice and chicken and thankfully nothing too spicy or scary. After that we went to the church building for a ward activity they have every Wednesday night from 6-7. Its basically a large family home evening and my first missionary action was giving the spiritual thought at that. Next we went to visit some investigators. It was pretty difficult picking up what they were saying but I recognized words here and there. Every Wednesday from 8-9 the ward plays soccer and with a member we went and picked up Hugo who is 16 and has a baptismal date for the 9th. It was pretty fun but Im still a little cautious with my knee.

Thursday I got to do some shopping during lunch time since I didnt have any food and the rumor was fulfilled about people giving us money. We were at the store for about 2 minutes when an older lady walked up to us and handed us a $20. She said she had served two missions and loves missionaries. Later that night I met the most amazing family ever. Elder Santos had talked to one of the people in the family before but we returned and there was four other people there at the house along with some other kids. They were more focused and listened more intently than Ive ever seen anyone before. We taught them for awhile then made the long ride home. Elder Santos did triathlons in Ecuador and is insane on a bike. My legs have never been so sore but its great! One of the bike tires went flat so we had to go get a new one and we went to Park's. If you can remember, that's where Jake Mayfield worked and where we rented ski's a couple times. Its pretty unique being a missionary in the same place where Ive been so many times but its fun. Someone honks and waves at us about every ten seconds.

We watched conference at the members house above us and they were very nice. It was definitely easier to focus as a missionary. Last night we went back to the family I met on thursday and all five of the adults agreed to be baptized. A member had invited them over for breakfast and conference and they said they had enjoyed it. The members are awesome here. Today while we were shopping a lady walked up and said if we ever need anything hemmed she would do it for free. A couple times people have just stopped us and told us about people who they think would be interested in getting taught.

Thus, its been a great first week! Thanks for everything!

Love, Elder Clark

If you write to the mission office address there is a office sister who will just forward it to our house so thats the easiest thing for mail:

UTAH PROVO MISSION
2520 University Ave # 100
Provo, UT 84604