Mission Week #43

Sent: Mon, Aug 1, 2011 1:23 pm
Subject: Otra Semana

Hola,

 

We had another good week.

 

We met with Uribes again. I basically told them... Well, you know everything and you are ready so are you willing to make the changes necessary to be able to be baptized and have more blessings in your family? They said they are willing to do it. We talked about all of the blessings they have already received as they have made little changes in their lives and the additional blessings they can enjoy. A couple weeks the priesthood lesson in church was on the importance of prayer. Hno. Uribe raised his hand and explained how much closer his family has been since they began to pray every night as a family. It was awesome from my perspective to see how he was applying the things we have been teaching and is able to recognize how it is helping his family.

 

We finished up teaching Wilbur this week and he came to church yesterday so everything is looking good for his baptism this week. He has been very golden ever since the first time we started meeting with him. I don't know if I mentioned this but he works as a mechanic for a stake president so that definitely helps.

 

On Tuesday we were driving back from an appointment with Wilbur and we drove past a house we had visited before but they never had answered. For some reason I felt like we should go there so we flipped around, knocked, and met this guy named Roberto from Peru. Elder Santos had taught him over a year ago but he had moved. He seems pretty open and was very grateful that we stopped by. The same kind of thing happened on Saturday. There was a house we had visited in Myton like a month ago but since then nobody was ever home. We went back and met a guy named Sebastian, also from Peru. He was just sitting on his porch when we drove up. As we left he thanked us for coming and said he was kind of lonely and hoping someone would come.

 

The Vasquezs were busy all week with family but made it to church yesterday. I think it was a good experience for Hna. Vasquez because during Gospel Principles class a lady shared her testimony about how she took the lessons in Costa Rica as a ten year old and was the only one of her family to join the church and still is the only member as a 30 year old. She now is married and has a couple kids and is still going strong in the church.

 

Yesterday President called and asked me to speak at the zone conference we are having next week. Elder Malm of the 70 will be there. I thought I would be free since I spoke at the last one but oh well. For some reason it is being held on Monday so I wont be emailing until Tuesday. We will be driving down in the van Sunday night and staying in the mission home.

 

Well, it sounds like everything is going well at home. Staying nice and busy. One year down, one to go.

 

Love, Elder Clark

Mission Week #42

Sent: Mon, Jul 18, 2011 1:40 pm
Subject: Una Semana Excelente

Hello,

Last week was awesome! Saturday we had Gabe and Erika's baptism. The Branch auxiliaries are just getting started and Gabe became the first young mens member. The young mens president is an awesome fellow shipper and baptized Gabe and Elder Meakin baptized Erika. Their dad gave the opening prayer, their aunt gave the closing prayer, and their mom gave her testimony. They should be getting baptized next month. There were a lot of investigators there and it helped them see what a baptism is like and feel of the Spirit there.

Thursday we met with Wilbur again. He is the man! He read 3 Nefi 11 and prayed and felt his answer. We were on exchanges and I was the only one who could speak Spanish so it was weird but it was a great lesson. We taught about the plan of salvation and I asked him what he thought God wanted him to do in his life. He said...i don't know, tell me. We opened up to 2 Nefi 31 where it talks about the commandment to repent and be baptized. I gave him the invitation and he accepted. It was awesome to see his faith and willingness to follow God. Right after that we saw Fernando and had a similar lesson. He also accepted the invitation to be baptized.

The next day we saw Hector. Did I talk about him? He is one of 3 guys from Chile in Roosevelt. The other 2 are members. It was our first real sit down lesson with him and he had questions about baptism. We were on a roll so we invited him to be baptized too. He accepted.

The fam Vasquez is doing awesome. They now have a date for next month as well. They said they weren't sure still if they feel ready but 2 of the kids said they are good to go at the baptism. The fam Uribe's family is coming to visit in a couple weeks so we are hesitantly planning a marriage for then.

The area is doing great! I am excited to be here while all of this is happening. We got transfer calls on Saturday night. Elder Meakin is going to Sharon Park, my first area and I will be getting a new companion from the MTC. I am glad this time the "hijo" will be coming to a more successful area. We head down to Provo tomorrow in the afternoon and have dinner and a trainers meeting at the Pitt's house. We are going to sleep there and we get to go to the temple in the morning. I should get to know the new companion well with a 3 hour car ride back to Roosevelt!

Have a great week! 

Love, Elder Clark 

Mission Week #40

Sent: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 11:36 am
Subject: Fourth of July

Hola,

Our 4th of July was pretty sweet here. We met Sunday night around 6 here in Roosevelt with the Missionaries from Vernal. The AP's came and picked us up and we made the long trip to Provo. Each companionship stayed with a family in President Pitt's home ward. We stayed in a really nice home up above the Provo Temple with an older couple. We got there around 9, had some ice cream, then went to sleep. They drove us to the parade in the morning. We all congregated at the high school but they dropped us off a block away because they wanted annual spot. Walking though the crowd to the school was just a prelude of what was to come. "The missionaries!!!"  was heard left and right. It was fun to see the whole mission together. Elder Ramires says thanks for the socks. After awhile of standing around we joined the parade. We starting singing "Called to Serve." It was really one of the most awesome, crazy things ever. Every other participant in the parade got nice applause but we got yelling standing ovations for an hour. I then understood why president told us many times to stay humble. All the kids were screaming and wanted high 5's. It must be how a rock star feels to be every day. I don't think they get that kind of treatment in Spain, or anywhere else. About 5 minutes in I saw the Cosgraves and we had a 10 second conversation.  After it was over we got in the van and headed out. We had pizza on the way. President drove this time and I was in the front seat so I was pleasured with listening to him tell stories and answer deep doctrine questions most of the ride home. We had a district activity from 5-9 and we got to watch Mega Mind and Tron. It was nice to have some relax time.

Last week went well. Saturday we did service working in the yard with the Fam. Uribe and Vasquez. We came back for dinner and had an amazing carne asada dinner.

We are teaching this lady named Flor. She is like 30 and her husband who is inactive is like 60...... pretty wierd. She is very Christian but things are going good so far. Our last lesson was on the Godhead. That is one of the most difficult things to teach to a creed believing Christian. All of these creeds have got most of Christianity confused. We talked about how when Jesus was one the Earth he frequently used the phrase "My Father who is in heaven.." and how when he was in Gethsemane he wouldn't pray to himself asking himself to remove the bitter cup, but in the end we just explained that a testimony of the Book of Mormon would let her know if everything we are teaching is true. She seems pretty sincere so hopefully she just prays and asks. It really is not that difficult of an equation.

I am glad you are enjoying time together. Those are the best times!

Love you!  Elder Clark