Mission Week #46

August 22, 2011


Hola,

Last week felt like everything was in fast motion. The Birthday went well. Wilbur took us to Pizza hut. The Fam. Vasquez had their baptismal interviews and brought me a very delicious tres leches cake. We did have a pretty disappointing lesson with Fernando. He was getting so close but basically told us he isn't ready to change. I guess the path is called the "straight and narrow path" for a reason. Not everyone is willing to live that type of lifestyle. I told him that he is living a very good life right now, but the only thing left he has to give to God is his heart. He thought about that for a second then concluded that he wasnt ready to do that yet. We will keep working on that.

The Vernal temple is shut down for cleaning and Wednesday morning we went with the Vernal district and did service cleaning it for a couple hours. It was cool to get a tour of the entire temple and to see it from another perspective.

Thursday night part of the Fam. Vasquez got baptized. The mom, one son, and the daughter. They were all very happy and it was a great night. Hna. Vasquez really is converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was pretty emotional during most of the service. I baptized Arely, the 9 year old girl. She was the most excited anyone has ever been to be baptized.

Sebastian, an older guy from Peru that we have been teaching, is doing awesome. When we went last week he was kind of unsure about things so we talked about prayer for a long time. It is pretty amazing that all we want people to do is pray and ask sincerely if what we teach them is true. It seemed liked it clicked for him that he really didn't have to take our word for it but that he could pray and get his own answer. Wednesday we went back and saw him and he told us that he had been praying daily and that Tuesday night when he prayed he felt that he received his confirming answer. He said he was willing to follow the answer he received. Saturday we went back and taught him about baptism and he accepted. He said he wanted to come to church yesterday and did. He even got there an hour early and stayed for an hour after for the 3rd Sunday potluck dinner.

The Riveras are doing well. They are coming to church and we have pretty much taught them everything. They don't feel all the way ready yet so they will probably get baptized in 3 or 4 weeks.

I can't beleive my Hermano is getting married this week! I hope it all goes well and you enjoy the time together. Once again I am glad I am at least in Roosevelt, not 5 minutes away from everyone. When we went down to Provo for zone conference we drove by Julies rode on state street. It has almost been 13 months and it is still very interesting to consider the fact that I am indeed serving my mission in Utah.......Utah. Have a great week!

Love, Elder Clark

Mission Week #45

August 15, 2011 (Tanner's 20th Birthday)


Hola,

Another mission birthday! It has been a great year. Lots of unforgettable experiences and lots of growth. I think I have learned more in the past year than in the other years combined. At least when it comes to the things of real worth. Today should be a pretty good day. Wilbur wanted to take me out to dinner so we are going to go to Pizza Hut tonight. The Vasquez's are having their baptismal interviews tonight and they said they are going to make me a cake. Hna. Vasquez is awesome. First because of how strong of a testimony she has but also because she gives us food all the time. After the lesson Wednesday she made enchiladas. Saturday for we went over and helped them in the yard and she made us something which I don't remember what is called, but was good. She was at the Uribe's last night and her and Hna. Uribe made Quesadillas Mexicanos. Then she made the comment that it looked like I was gaining weight. I wonder why.

We had a good Sunday yesterday. We stopped by the Riveras before church to make sure they were coming and at first Aldo, their 15 year old son, said he didn't feel like going but we talked him into it. Some people need a little coaxing. The meetings are reversed in the branch so we have Sunday school, Priesthood, then Sacrament. We walked into Sunday school and Presidente asked us to give the class since the teacher didn't show up. I always wondered how people were able to just give hour lessons without preparation. I guess being a missionary just prepares you because it was surprisingly easy.

We used our 2 allotted temple trips last week. We went Wednesday with the district and Saturday to the Spanish session with the Branch. Presidente drove us up and took us to Cafe Rio after for a wonderful dinner.

Thursday is probably going to be the baptism of the Fam. Vasquez. Still not too sure on timing. The Riveras are looking good and have a date for the 27th. Last week we taught the Word of Wisdom and Chastity and thankfully there are no problems there. Hno. Uribe has cut down on drinking but is still having a little problem with that. I was pretty direct with him last night so hopefully he will be able to give it up and they can get married soon. We are planning on September 3rd for their marriage because they will have some family in.


I got Taylor's wedding announcement this week. It made it seem more real. Enjoy the family time-

Love, Elder Clark

Mission Week #44

Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 1:48 pm
Subject: Hola

Hello,

It was a fast week. Wednesday we had exchanges with the APs. Elder Robles from Mexico was with us. Thursday was Wilbur's baptism. He had awesome support from everyone at his work. The entire room was full. His boss' son Tony baptized him. Sunday I confirmed him. The last couple weeks he has shared more of his life us. Among the interesting facts is that he got married and had his first kid at age 16. His wife was 21.

Sunday night we met up and took the van into Provo. It was great to have Elder Malm with us for Monday's zone conference. He and President Pitts spoke for around 3 hours on the importance of the Spirit in missionary work. The only not so great part about that was that my topic was on teaching by the Spirit and they had covered mostly everything. It turned out all right though.

All the investigators are doing well. Roberto from Peru that we started teaching a couple weeks ago accepted a date. The Fam. Rivera and Fam. Vasquez are already like members. They both signed up on the dinner calender to feed us. Hna. Riveras made us some amazing enchiladas this week. Fernando finally came to church which was a relief. He had been doing well with everything we had left for him but hadn't made the step of going to church until Sunday. The only person we have not been able to see is Hector. He is working until around 9 and going to Colorado every weekend thus leaving us no opportunity to see him.

Sounds like things are pretty busy at home. Lots of weddings! Have an excellent week.

Love, Elder Clark

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

Mission Week #39

Sent: Mon, Jun 27, 2011 1:42 pm

Hello,

It is very sad to hear of the passing of Grandpa Clark. I had just finished reading the email from mom when President Pitts called and talked to me. I'm glad the email was titled "Open First." It is weird being so out of the loop for something like this. I am grateful that we were able to go and see him and spend some time with him before I went into the MTC.

We had a pretty busy week here. We drove down to Provo Monday night and stayed at the mission home. We had a little devotional with President. He always seems to have some sort of amazing scriptures or deep doctrine. The next morning we had zone conference. There was a theme scripture (DC 109:22) and everyone is supposed to prepare a talk then President just picks 4 people to speak. I was number 3. I was kind of thinking I would get called because I hadn't yet. I just talked on taking the name of Christ upon us.

We did service with some old people on Wednesday. While we were working we heard a weird noise that turned out to be a woodchuck hiding under a trailer, trying not to be eaten by two dogs. In the end, he was unsuccessful because my companion aided the dogs and poked the woodchuck with a stick. It was quite the event.

Sindi (Cindy) got baptized Saturday. Elder Santos served here when he started his mission and evidently had taught her dad so he got permission to come to the baptism. The Branch President, President Spencer, did the baptism. It was a great experience after not having one for awhile.

The Fam. Urive and Fam. Vasquez  are progressing well but also had a death in the family last week. On Friday we were teaching the Urives and Hno. Urive told us how is mom wasnt doing to well and the next day she passed away. That is Hna. Vasquez's mom. They were sad at church but the branch members were good to them.

Wednesday we went to the Temple and Cafe Rio after. Two of my favorite places. The Vernal temple is really small but awesome nonetheless.

I love you all, keep me posted,

Elder Clark