This week was SO awesome!! First off, you´re probably wondering who
my new comp. is..... His name? Elder HILL. (he tells me he has no relation to
the Hill´s in our ward) This guy..... dang. What an amazing
missionary!! Mom, I loved how you shared that experience with me last week
about how The Lord knew exactly who I needed as companions - and I can TESTIFY
to that!!! Elder Hill came exactly! the right time, and was exactly! who I
needed as a companion. Some of the things he´s already taught me I will use for
the rest of my mission. Elder Hill is another gringo from Kaysville, Utah, and
he has 23 months in the mission. I am his last companion in the mission!! Last
change, he was a zone leader, and has been for the past 6 months. He KNOWS his
stuff. Like... wow. He is SUCH a good example to me. Farewell to Elder Rich... I
will greatly miss him here in Barrio Centro, but he is now off to bigger and
better things in Davíd - working as a district leader.
So about our investigators.... The Lou family should be recieving
their marriage date this week!! :) :) We are so dang excited for them. They have
been together now for 18 years and finally getting married!!! Elder Hill became
quick friends with them, and we can´t wait for these guys. Just last night, we
started delving (?) deeper into the lessons - this time with both Chino Lou and
Vielka together, and we read 3rd Nefi when Christ comes to the America´s. The
Spirit was there and I KNOW Chino Lou felt it. We could both see it in his
countanence. He knows he needs to get baptized in our church, it´s just a matter
of them (his wife included) changing some of their old ways and really
receiving a confirmation from The Spirit through prayer. After we read the
chapter, we had a very progressive lesson with the both of them where we talked
about the importance of families and why a truly happy family with The Spirit in
their home is the best kind of family. I pray for them every day - please pray
for them!!
The sad news.... Aldaír didn´t come to church again for the 2nd
straight week.... we met with them this week and asked him why, and he told us
he´s been thinking about it and he wants to stay with the catholic church....
gah.... we told him all we could do as missionaries and as representatives of
The Lord was encourage him to just ¨probarlo¨ - just test it out for himself!!
The Lord wouldn´t try to force/pester anyone to do anything, so we´re not going
to either :( He´s closing the book before he´s even read anything, before he´s
even attended church!!! We are somewhat discouraged but hope he will just
probarlo.
The good news to even out the bad news.... remember those girls I was
telling you about? 12 and 16 year olds, friends of a member? Well, we got one of
them to commit to be baptized the 12th of May!! Melanie, the 12 year old :) we
are so so excited for her and really have high hopes that her sister, too, will
commit to do the same. They have attended church and mutual every week for about
a month now! I´m so happy - seeing people come unto Christ is easily the best
thing to be a part of!! Baptism is such a incredible step. It´s like I think I
mentioned last week - it is everlasting, o sea, it is not a temporal thing. I am
continuing to try to be ¨temporal¨ in all things, and focus on the things that
matter most - the eternal things.
I´ve also had a few rough days here the past few days.... when people
say the mission is hard, they are definately not lying. With Elder Rich gone, I
am the one right now who leads the planning, calls the investigators, and
directs where we go every day (cuz I know the area). I also am trying to insert
myself more in the lessons. It´s all very hard right now, but I know it will
bless me in the long run. Just like dad counseled me in one of his letters in
D&C 122 - our trials will be but a small moment, and if we endure them well,
we will be delivered and strengthened! I have already seen some of that in the
past couple days - The Lord lifting me up when I had nothing left. I am
¨welcoming the task that takes me beyond myself¨ - Louise Yates Robison. (Mom -
I read that quote in the quote book you sent me for Christmas - thank you).
Well I´m gonna try to write a personal letter to Mom before my time
is up here, but I love you all so much and I´m excited to talk to you
soon!!
Love, Elder Clarke
P.S..... in other news, the sink broke this week in our house.... water
flying everywhere....but we got it fixed.... haha. I had to spend $11 more
dollars of my own personal money... I´m sorry. Haha.
P.S.S.... Tell Matt CONGRATULATIONS for me!!! Bulgaria! Yikes.... dunno
what language that is. How exciting :)
P.S.S.S.... Mom, I´m glad you got a shout-out from Elder Alley!! That´s
exciting. Yes, I did meet him at changes and he seems like a real great guy. He
was happy to hear you follow his blog. Haha.
No comments:
Post a Comment