In a Blink of an Eye...

March 9, 2015

My companion and I put all of this tile here!

This week flew by unbelievable fast. The work here is super-fast too. The thing about this area that we are learning is that people accept our message and let us come into their homes, but they pretty much only will do that. They are willing to listen to our message but they aren’t willing to do the things they need to do. They just like to hear the good word of God and do not really understand the importance of our message. I am not complaining because we are teaching and the days are full of appointments but it makes the work hard to keep up because in one week we will find lots and lots of people to teach, and in that same week we stop teaching them too because they have no desire! But, it’s always a process and we are having a lot of spiritual lessons.

Elder Dobner and I teach really well together. We are able to knock on doors, walk into a home and teach the first lesson in about 10 minutes if we need to. It’s been really great to teach with him. Our normal message is about 30 min on the dot from the time we walk in to when we leave. The best part is that we don’t seem like robots, because that’s one of the things that I worry about a whole lot.

Elders!

We travel a lot here too. This area is super far from all the other areas in our zone. Our zone is basically the city of Ceilandia (which is the biggest city in DF) and our city that’s about an hour away. So for all our meetings and interviews, we travel for a long time.

I got super sick for the first time on my mission. I am still recovering with a small cough. I don’t even know what I had, but its passing and I am able to work normal again!

We found a super sweet couple that we are super excited about. They are so ready for the gospel! The only thing is that they need to get married and the process here in Brazil takes forever! Almost more than a month! But, good thing comes to those who wait!

I love the work and I love my Savior!

Until next week,

Elder Clark

Discoveries

 Feb 2, 2015

What a week. This week passed by super-fast but at the same time, when I look back on it, it seems like last P-day was forever away. But, what a great week it was! (P- Day is preparation day, the day missionaries prepare for the week – do laundry, grocery shopping and the day they write home.)

We had our zone conference and interviews with president where we watched ``Meet the Mormons`` which was incredible! I love it! I can’t wait to watch it in English because I know it will be even better! After we had training from the assistants and president! I LOVED presidents training. He had one part where he talked about Alma chapter 5. And I love Alma Chapter 5. I learned and discovered even more about one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. It’s amazing how you can always discover new things in just one chapter that you have already studied and studied and yet there is still so much more to learn! Then we had interviews.  During the interviews it started to hail! The weather here in Brasilia is crazy. We had to stay until everyone was interviewed. We did not leave until about 6 pm.

Shade!

During the week we walked a lot... like always. haha But, we found lots of new people to teach. The thing is that everyone is willing to let us in their home, but they are not receptive to our message. This is always the pattern. But as the Lord always provides a way to have success and blesses you for the work that you do. We have found a young women that is incredible. Well, we did not find her, she just kind of appeared. She showed up at church with her friend that is a less active member. Last week he was in the park when the other Elders passed by and he called them over and they talked for a little bit. The next Sunday, he was there in church, and he brought a friend! Her name is Adrielle. She is about 20 years old, she plays basketball, and she holds the Brazilian record for the 100 meter dash, and has gold medals for the Olympics....... and she does not have legs. She is in a wheelchair but is a 2 time Olympic champion. She LOVED church and we will go visit her Tuesday!

Companions

I learned a great lesson from my companion this week. One morning about 11:00, we were walking in the killer sun, I was so hungry and I started to complain a little. I wasn’t too happy. My companion kept joking around with me, telling me that the sun is a great thing and he was smiling and saying hello to everyone on the street. His example was very impressive. I stopped to think about how I was feeling and how terrible my perspective was. I started to think that if I am not HAPPY because of the gospel and this work then I am not living my life right, the way God wants me to live. Like it says in 2 Nephi 2:25; We are here to be happy. In that moment I changed my thoughts and the day was a great, fun day! Almost all of our appointments fell through, we walked almost the whole day and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky but it was a wonderful day! I love the mission and every lesson I learn.

I LOVE our time to study in the morning. This week was a great week of learning and discovering. I think I could write a whole book with my discoveries of the gospel during my mission. I love to study and I love to link everything together! The gospel is amazing and never ceases to blow my mind!

Speaking of new discoveries, I can’t believe my family is moving to Utah! I know that Mom and Dad have wanted to go there for a long time now, but Virginia is my home and I love it there! I am so grateful for the time I had to live there and for all the people that I love there! I am excited for a new adventure and can’t wait to see where it takes me.

All my love!

Elder Clark

The Return....

Nov 3, 2014

This week was absolutely nuts! But, that is my life on the mission, haha when I really get in my groove and I am comfortable, EVERYTHING changes.

The beginning of the week was great! The rain started and almost every day we have had rain! It’s been wonderful, and not nearly as hot. The last few weeks we have been searching really hard for people who are ready for the gospel and we finally found a few of them and things were looking great for our area. We had been praying and praying for ideas to help our area and we came up with great plans and we set up meetings with different leaders and everything was going so well! We marked a couple baptisms for the weeks to come, the first baptisms in this area in over a year!

Everything was perfect, and that is why the Lord changed everything on me! Friday we were making lunch in our house when the assistants called, I answered it and they told me that me and Elder Magana will go to Recanto Das Emas... and I said ``cool, what are we gonna do there´´ and they told me that we would be working there from now on, and that we will leave tomorrow.... what...? So we spent Friday packing our bags and cleaning our apartment. Saturday we arrived here in Recanto... yes, I returned to my only other area. We also split up. He is working in the south part of Recanto while I am in the north part. I am now companions with Elder Bento from Sao Paulo. Sunday was real funny, no one believed that I come back to stay. So I will be here in Recanto for at least the next 4 weeks. As for our people in Taguatinga, we passed them all on to Elder Beale and his companion so now they are missionaries of almost 3 cities. I hope they can continue to help the area there grow!

Elder Magana and I are still Zone Leaders, but we are separated now and spend a lot of time talking on the phone. We don’t live in the same house so that makes things a lot more difficult but we will figure out how to work with it. The Lord is full of surprises but life is good, and it keeps me on my toes. I love this work and it doesn’t matter where I serve.

I love you all and until next week!!

Elder Clark

Just Keep Working

October 27, 2014

Each day it feels like the alarm clock go off just a little bit earlier. Man, have I been tired this week. Elder Magana and I are working real hard trying to find and teach and help people. But, to be honest, we haven’t been finding the success that we want. It is a little discouraging at times, but there is no room for discouragement on the mission so we just have to push it aside and work even harder. This week me and Elder Magana have been trying to discover new ways to work, because the things we were doing before have not worked. We have seen a whole lot of miracles but at the same time, it is amazing how some people we work with don’t recognize that it really was a miracle. But there is nothing we can do but keep working and trying to become better every day. Brazil is shaping me to be a better man and I am grateful for that.

This week we did a lot of walking and teaching on the streets. We had a family night in Elder Pinho´s home (The Seventy) and it was great! And afterwards we had chili, American style; It reminded me so much of your chili mom. The Pinho’s lived in the states for 10 years, so they are very ``Americanized`` and I am not complaining. It was a little taste of home, literally! haha

The rain started this weekend and I am pumped, because Brasilia has a season of rain. It will be really rainy here until almost February! That is a huge blessing because I will walk in the wet, rainy weather any day. It’s so so so much better than the heat. Also, more people have been giving us rides! Like today! We were coming home from buying food and two random strangers gave us a ride! Turned out they were our neighbors and are missionaries for their church!

Our Zone is having the same difficulties that we are having too, so this week we talked to everyone and made the theme of our transfer ``Diligence`` because all we can do is work with diligence and then the Lord will do his part. I have been studying how I can become more diligent almost every day and I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be.

Young Men from the Ward

We are teaching a whole lot of people right now, but really none of them are progressing, but we are working hard to help them, or some we have stopped visiting because they just aren’t that interested. Life is sweet and I am happy, tired and frustrated at times, but really happy. There is no place I would rather be. 

Love you all!

Elder Clark

Jacob 1:19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

Moroni 9: 6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

Tan Lines and Blonde Hair

August 11, 2014

This week has been unbelievable hot and dry, the sun has been 10 times stronger this week. My hair is turning more blonde every single day and I now officially have the missionary tan lines. I have a line in the middle of the neck were my collar is and my arms are… we will just say farmer tanned! The hardest thing to do now is to work right after lunch. We finish lunch at about 1ish and with stomachs full we walk and try to talk to people in the blazing heat.

Baptism!

This week was good and we had some little miracles. Our mission president is really emphasizing talking to EVERYONE so we spent a lot of time talking with people on the street. It was crazy that as soon as we started talking to everyone, everyone started talking to us. Lots of people have stopped us, asking if I am American, and if I can help them with English, and others have yelled for us from across the street. It’s been fun too because you never know who you will meet. We met one lady who has quickly become one of my favorites. She is not mentally all there but she is so great and sweet. She is a member but the rest of her family isn’t. She is so smart and knows American history better than I do. Her name is Creoza and she has quickly become a good friend of ours!

Fernanda was baptized too! Her friends are investigating the church too and when she heard about that, she started to look around on LDS.org, she became curious and tagged along to church with her friends. She stayed for the baptism of Cristina after church and loved it. She gained a testimony of the church, and was baptized! It all happened super-fast but she was ready! She is 24 years but wants to serve a mission. She is already visiting people with the Sister missionaries.

Super Elder

The Lord is kind, and every day he opens my ears and loosens my tongue a little more with Portuguese. The mission is a lot more fun and passes by a lot faster when you understand and can have conversations with people! Now people don’t laugh at me they laugh with me! ahah for the most part. I know this church is true and the power within it is the greatest thing ever. I love you all and until next time!

Elder Clark!

Working and Walking

August 4, 2014

Family Night

This week we worked and we walked. I do know how we were able to get up each morning because I felt like we walked 1000000 miles each day. We made a whole lot of visits this week, and lots of them were with members that have fallen away from the church and we soon discovered that there are a TON here. Its wasn’t our intention this week to find a lot of these members but it just kind of happened and many are very receptive to us. It’s crazy how my mission has really been focused on helping people return back to church, no matter where I am, Brazil or the states. But it’s also crazy how much I love it. I think I feel a greater joy when someone who hasn’t been to church in years walks through the doors of church than I do for Baptisms.

I just want to tell you all about one of the people that we started working with. His name is Junior and he has 17 years.  His younger brothers are super active in the church and we passed by his house to talk with them about visiting some people with us. Only junior was home, but we welcomed us in and actually was really excited to talk to us. He told us that yesterday he was thinking about the happiness that his brothers have and that he wants that too and that he has a desire to serve a mission! We left him with some scriptures to read and told him we are going to help him prepare to be a missionary. The next time we visited him he told us that he knew that the church was true, and that after reading the scriptures he got a feeling like never before. He is awesome and his family is great too!

Miracles big and small happen every single day of the mission. I am so grateful for this time I have to serve and what the mission is doing for me. It’s amazing how much the mission shapes you while you are working for all those around you! I love this gospel and the mission!

Elder Clark

Brazil!

May 19, 2014

Really good news! An investigator I was working really hard with in Ft Apache was baptized last Saturday! Hurrah to Andrew!!

Anyways, here in Brazil, life is good. We spent a lot of time this week finding new people to teach and we found some success. We found a big family who live all over the city and they are neat. We hope to work more with them! We are also starting to work with Paloma’s family! They are awesome and all seem so prepared. They love the change they have seen in Paloma and are very interested! We also found this wonderful family. They are wonderful not just because they feed us the best food every time we go over but because they are unbelievably sweet and kind. The parents are not too interested in the church but their two teenage children have shown real interest. Marta and Mateus. Marta is 19 years and Mateus is 16. They are so smart, a lot smarter than me. Marta is almost done with her 3rd year of college and is planning on going to study in England. She learned English from Americans when she was 5, and still speaks well! They are awesome!

We have a baptism too, set up for this Saturday! His name is Manuel and he has been looking into the church for about 4 months. Sunday was really neat. He lives about 20 minutes (walking) from the church. He has really messed up legs, so walking is hard for him. This weekend he didn’t have his car so he walked the whole way, even though he was 30 minutes late to church!

The language is coming. I have had some real blessings, I was able to explain the Atonement to Manuel and he understood EVERYTHING! He told us he had never looked at it that way. Another blessing was that yesterday we had family home evening with a family and friends. I was super nervous cause we had the lesson and were not very prepared and there were a bunch of people that came. I had no clue what I would say... but, we taught about eternal families. When I spoke, I was able to say everything that I wanted (which was a lot) and to me it felt perfect! I sure I made a lot of mistakes, but again, everyone understood! One man said he thought I have been here for at least 6 months. What a blessing! The Lord gives us sweet tender mercies every day! Life can be frustrating but I know through the Lord, it is SO much easier and sweeter.

I had McDonalds today! That was very delicious! Sorry, I don’t have any pictures, I am in a different city today and I left my camera at home.

Every day, while walking the streets, I practice my soccer with rocks. I kick them around until I find a gutter hole in the street and I kick it, trying to make a goal. I do have to say my soccer skills are improving. We played this morning and I scored! That’s a big deal because the Brazilians and Latino missionaries are very, very good...

Life is hot and dry, but great down here in Brazil! I can’t wait for the world cup and for Elder Anderson’s visit! But, not in that order... of course, I am much more excited for Elder Anderson!!

Elder Neil L. Andersen:an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

 https://www.lds.org/church/leader/neil-l-andersen

Miss and love you all!

Elder Clark!

It's the final countdown!

August 27, 2013

Sup.

   Hmm, I do not have much to update one, just another great, powerful, spiritual week at the MTC. I can’t believe I have less than a week and then I am in the field! I think the most nerve racking part is that I have no clue where I am going to end up. I could miraculously get my visa this week and could go to Brazil! or I could be sent ANYWHERE in the USA. I think I am going to Colorado Springs... dunno why, I just got that feeling. Everyone else thinks I am going to go to Texas, I wouldn't mind that for the fall. All I know is that no matter where I go I am getting off the plane running and ready to work. I AM SO EXCITED!

   I am so excited to hear about Derek and his new calling. He will be such a fantastic Bishop! That is a lucky Ward. (Sam's cousins husband was just called to be the Bishop of their Ward, the ecclesiastical leader of their congregation)

   So my favorite part of the day is quickly becoming the hour we get for personal study each day. I learn so much by reading the scriptures. I have had more personal revaluations and ah'a moments by just studying the words in the Book of Mormon. I absolutely love reading the stories of the prophets and the people and realizing that they are written specifically for us. There are times that I feel like Moroni is talking directly to me, and I can imagine so vividly what is going on at that moment. I understand the words so much better here and feel the spirit each time I open the book, willing and ready to learn all the The Lord is willing to teach. It always makes me realize how much I STILL do not know. It amazes me that I have living in this gospel all my life but I still have so much to learn. 

   Sunday was really good this week for so many different reasons, but the part of the day that was the best was watching a talk Elder Bednar gave to the missionaries at the MTC on Christmas morning, called "Character of Christ."

It was so inspirational and I learned a lot from his words. He explained what it takes to become more like Christ and it all really comes down to turning your love out towards others when the natural man wants to quit and only help himself. Christ was the perfect example of that, especially as he suffered during the atonement. Then he healed the soldier’s ear, the same soldier that was taking him away to have him killed, that was unbelievable charity! Especially after he just suffered for ALL our sins. And then when he was on the cross, he is first concerned for his Mother and then he asked the Lord to forgive the people who put him up on the cross! That is the perfect example of turning outwards with love when the natural man wants to fall. Only Christ can show that kind of love and all we can do is try as hard as we can to be like him every day. "I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH LOVE IN MY HEART"- Og Mandino (Thank you dad)

  So I have been looking for Sister Moyes everyday but I have yet to see her. It is nuts how big this place is! I hope I see her before I leave. I did however see a face that I recognized but I couldn't quite place it... Then it hit me. The elder was on the Disney Cruise with us! He is the super blonde kid that hung with the teens. What are the odds of that?! It was so random, the chance of us going on a cruise at the same time and then to the MTC at the same time is soo random. Pretty cool though.

  So, two great things have happened this week. My district and I discovered the game of KOOB, and we also discovered the pillow room. Yes, a room of pillows. First lemme tell you about the game. It is a Viking game that we can play at gym time out on the field, the concept of the game is basically throw wooden cylinders at shorter fatter wooden cylinders on the ground. It is so fun, and with the Elders in my district we get so competitive with it. It is played by teams and we have yet to finish an actual complete game cause we suck. But we like pretending like we are manly Vikings throwing wood at... wood. Trust me, it is fun! Now for the pillow room discovery... it actually wasn't the pillow room when we found it. It is the old bookstore that been abandoned in the basement of the old main building. They still use the other floors for class but the basement just has a computer lab and this huge empty room. We would go down there to study because it was cold and really quite. One day we all went down there and we couldn't believe the blessing we received! Hundreds of pillows were stacked up in the corner of the room. Of course we all were responsible and went straight to our spots to study........ OK that was a lie. We all looked at each other, dropped our stuff and ran and jumped in the fluffy pile of heaven. When you jump into, you just vanish because you get engulfed by them. So much fun! Since then, every day more and more pillows arrive. Now the entire room is full of literally thousands of pillows. We don't have much time to hang out there anymore but some times during transition time we will "check" to make sure the pillows are still there and in working order. 

   

Pillow Room - Elder Clark is not in this picture...unless he is lost in the giant pile of pillows!

   Well that is all I really got, next time we we will all know where I am headed! I will keep you updated! Eu amo voces!

- Elder Clark

Alma 26:12-  "... Com Sua força posso fazer todos os coisas..." 

 … in his [God’s] strength I can do all things…

Week 4, Complete

Me and my companion, Elder Porter

    Week 4 is now complete. It was a good week with many more great experiences. The first one was last Tuesday night at our devotional. Elder Scott came and spoke to us! It was awesome to hear from him. He talked about prayer and was so powerful with each statement he made. He became super emotional many times and the entire Marriott center was silent with attention. It was one of the best talks I have ever heard. The best part was that he gave everyone watching (This was the first MTC Devotional to be broadcast worldwide to every MTC in the world!) an Apostolic blessing that we would all be able to learn the language...not once but TWICE! It was so cool and such a great feeling that this man that directly talks to the Lord promised us the blessing of the gift of tongues.... twice. At the end... as he was leaving and we were all standing waiting for him to leave, he was about to go through the door (very slowly cause he old) and then he stopped... look at all of us and cupped his hands around his mouth. At this point, all 4000 people were getting ready for some divine Revelation but he proceeded just to say "BE GOOD" and then continued on his way. but then he stopped again and said "I LOVE YOU" which made everyone in the congregation say it back. It was a pretty light hearted and fun way to end the evening. 

Elder Richard G. Scott
Apostle, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

  

    I finally found some missionaries going to the DC south mission. They should be there now.. so if you have new missionaries, ask them about me. I told them to say hi to Bishop Clark for me. I told them they are going to the absolute best mission with the best mission president, after mine of course. I met some missionaries going to the Chesapeake area too, I guess that's kinda cool. 

Me and Elder Manu

     Me and Elder Manu (My Tongan) are having a great time. Last night we compared English scriptures with the Tongan ones. Communication is pretty hard because he speaks SO little English but I was able to share my favorite scriptures with him. Tongan is such a manly language, I was just reading from his scriptures and I felt powerful. I think this is my favorite scripture in Tongan... we could not translate it because he didn't know the words in English but I think its right... "he te u lava ke fai 'a e me'a kotoa pe 'i hono mafimafi." Its the middle of Alma 27:12. 

             Alma 27:12 Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for Satan has great hold on             the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to              slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this people in this generation, for            I will preserve them.

     So I was coming back from the temple this morning and guess who is at the stop light waiting to cross the street with me and my companions.... Michelle Peets. I don't think I have seen her since we left North Carolina! It was really cool and fun to see her! She apparently just got a job here and today was her first day. It really is a small world, spiritually speaking.  

Michelle Peets and Me

   For our Sunday devotional we had a speaker named Vai Sikahema. He was a BYU football player and was the player to return the kickoff for a touchdown in the Miracle Bowl. He is now a news anchor for NBC. He was awesome, He just told us stories and showed us a slide show of pictures. He told us the story of his mission to North Dakota and how he played in National Title games, NFL games, Pro-bowl games and went to the Olympics all over the world to broadcast but how none of those experiences even come close to his mission experience. He could remember the date he entered the MTC, left the MTC and the day he got home but he couldn't remember a single date of any specific game he played in. It was awesome to here that and it just reaffirmed my testimony of this is where I am supposed to be.

Vai Sikahema

 Why I Believe: Vai Sikahema, from the Mormon Channel

So for the last like two weeks, I was staying awake til way late just laying in my bed because my mind had so much running through it after each day, I wouldn't ever fall asleep before 12 and I would wake up in the middle of the night all the time. I had started to drag throughout the days and it was getting to a point where I couldn't learn because I was just so exhausted. I started to get sick, but like the sickness you get when you don't get any sleep. It was getting bad but I would push through each day just to lay in bed for hours each night. Finally on Friday I was laying in bed at around midnight and I was so mad. I could here everyone else snoring and I just wanted to sleep. As I was lying there when I heard a voice say "Get a Blessing"... I wanted one but I didn't want to wake anyone up so I told myself in 30 minutes if I am still awake I will ask my companion. No more then a minute went by and the voice came back, stronger, "Get a blessing now, I want to help you." I took that as my 30 minute warning. I woke up my sleeping companion and Elder Harris and asked them to give me a blessing. They administered it to me and then we all went to bed. I feel asleep so quickly! Ever since then, I fall asleep so fast and sleep all night and I am never too tired to learn. I understand the language so much better and I just feel better. Its amazing how the Lord wants to help us with even the little things, all we have to do is ask and put our faith in him. Its the little things that build a testimony. 

    Everyday here exhausts my brain but the language is coming and my knowledge and view of the Gospel is ALWAYS growing. I love all that I am learning here but it is time for me to get out into the field!! I am ready to be out of these walls and actually doing his work! I know God needs to prepare his soldiers for battle and I am really trying to do the best I can to prepare but I have been caged up in a classroom for TOO LONG! Time to go out into the world! Only 2 weeks left! I love all of you and thank you so much for the love and support! 

-Elder Samuel Payne Clark

Halfway Through The MTC

Oi!

    I am half way there! only 3 more weeks and I am out of here and actually in the field! From the looks of it though, I am most likely going to be reassigned to an instate mission because NOBODY is recieving their visas in time. About 20 missionaries that are assigned to go to Brazil left Monday to various places in the USA because none of them had their visas. I am actually not to stressed about it though because I think that would be such an amazing opportunity to be able to (in a way) serve two missions for the price of one! and speaking in English does not sound to bad right now. But now that I have said that, and knowing that the Lord has quite  the sense of humor, my visa is going to come before I leave this place! Either way I am perfectly content with going where ever the Lord wants me to go.

  

   This past week has been the best week by far. I have had so many memories made and experiences that I will not forget. I had the opportunity to give two blessings this week. The first one was to one of the sisters in our district. All three of the sisters were feeling really discouraged and each asked for a blessing. They did not want it to be a public thing so three of us Elders went and our teacher went into a room with the three sisters. Each one explained their needs to us and we gave them each a blessing. The spirit that was in the room during and after the blessings was incredible. Everyone just had the overwhelming feeling that was we are doing is exactly what the Lord wants us to and he was proud of our progress. The second blessing I gave was to my good friend Elder Harris, a cowboy from Idaho that would give Chris Moyes a run for his money for being the most cow-boyish person I have ever met. ANYWAYS he didnt take any sort of language in school or anything so learning Portuguese has been really hard for him, and even though he is one of the most diligent workers we have, he was ready for a little divine help for his studies. I gave the blessing with 4 other Elders standing in. The power I felt with all us Priesthood holders together was undeniable. I know that each man in that circle was called of God and possessed the power to do anything through him. Elder Harris is progressing with the language like a champ now! God really does help those who work hard but recognize that they need His help too. I was able to go to the temple this morning too! It just opened up yesterday and we all went with over 400 other missionaries. It was packed but never felt to crowded. What a sweet experience that was to be in the temple with literally just other 18 and 19 year olds. It is so hard to fathom sometimes why the Lord trusts teenagers with spreading his word, but it was so easy to see the light of Him through each missionary in the temple.

My District at the Provo Temple

      This week a bunch of missionaries left from our floor in our residence and all the foreign missionaries that are learning English have moved in. They are from everywhere and its so cool! There are elders from Ethiopia, Tonga, France, Japan, Fiji, Mexico and even Brazil! We like to "talk" to the Brazilians, they laugh a lot at us. One of my favorite is Elder Manu, from Tonga. He is a rugby player... and boy does he look like it. This man is probably 5'10 and weighs almost 300 pounds. He is so solid. He is so funny and so friendly. He walks around the hallways yelling "YEEAAAHHH MAAAYYN" because he knows very little English and that's his favorite phrases, that and yelling professional wrestlers names as he tries to wrestle people. He is so kind though and always wants to help when he's not trying to play tackle rugby in the hallway with me.... One of our elders tore his quad playing softball (dont ask me how) and we live on the fourth floor.... with no elevator. So Elder Blalock has to hop up four flights of stairs. One day Elder Manu was coming down when her was going up. Manu goes "you no good. Hop on my back". he then proceeds to toss elder Blalock onto his shoulders and takes this 220 pound Elder up all the flights of stair, while in his church clothes. The Tongans have got to be the strongest people on the planet. 

My District

     I have learned so much this week. We have a class each week where we go and teach members of the church that speak Portuguese. The lesson is completely in Portuguese and we were able to have spiritual and meaningful conversations with the people. It was so awesome. It made me SO pumped to get out into the field! 

     Tell Jeremiah I miss him too and that I wear my Tiki necklace his Dad gave me everyday too! I love all of you and love hearing from you with your updates! Thanks for the support and the love!

   -Elder Clark

Week Two, The Adventure Continues

      Week two at the MTC is now complete and man was it a good one. I forgot to tell you this last week but within the first couple days of being here, without any hinting from me, my nickname soon became Elder Superman, and that is was all the Elders on our residence floor call me now. I have to say its pretty cool. haha Nothing like being called a super hero to keep me humble at the MTC! Seriously though, the MTC is truly a humbling place. I cannot believe the amazing people that come through here and the amount of work I am able to get done. I know none of what I am able to accomplish here is because of me, its because The Lord has taken my hand and is guiding me completely through this. Without his help, I do not think I could be doing as well and be as happy as I am every day here.

       

     Every Tuesday night is the big devotional for all the missionaries to go to. We all have to march to the Marriott Center because there are so many missionaries! I am so sad I didnt bring my camera but one of the best sights I have ever seen in my life was the thousands of missionaries walking along the side walk after the devotional in a constant stream all the way to the MTC. I cant even describe how it made me feel to be part of so many and I will for sure get a picture of it tonight! The devotional was amazing too, the speaker was a former member of the 70, Brian H. Richards, and he spoke just about how hard missionary work is but the things that are worth the most in life do not come easy. I loved it so much. He kept quoting Elder Holland telling us that "you are the Army of Helaman, Today. You are the hope of Israel, today. We are the greatest generation of missionaries to serve" It was such a powerful night and got me so pumped to get out there and try and be the greatest missionary of the greatest missionary generation.

    I have come across so many people I know its kinda crazy. I've seen Sister Ward, Sister Cotton, and Elder Wiegel (all from our stake) and I have seen two sisters from pageant 3 years ago! It seriously is a very small world, spiritually speaking. The most important person I have seen is Elder Christensen of course! I have seen him twice this week and boy is he a sight for sore eyes. I love seeing him here and I love thinking about all us 94's soon being out in the field all serving all over the world!

Elder Christensen and Elder Clark - Cousins!

     This fast sunday was really cool. We had a lot of special meetings that were really good. During testimony meeting, most of the missionaries that are about to leave bore their testimonies and were so good at the language! I am so excited to be able to speak like that. I am already at a point where when I think of a word it comes to my head in Portuguese first! (like first, i though primera before I thought first!) Just another thing God is personally helping me with.

    So during the little free time we have in between classes and what not my companion and I have found the best source of entertainment at the MTC. Its kind of mean but it is such a stress reliever! So at one of the walkways in the middle of the MTC, so there is heavy traffic there all the time, one of the pieces of sidewalk is lifted higher than the rest. So yes, people trip on it ALL THE TIME. And there is conveniently a couple benches that are all set perfectly for optimum viewing pleasure. Me and my companion will just sit at the bench, pretend to be reading or something and just watch, Watch all the hopeless and clueless missionaries stumble on the sidewalk. It never get old and its terribly funny. Sometimes if the action gets a little slow. we'll start to say high to them just in time for them to stumble on the raised part. Don't worry momma, no one has completely fallen..... yet.

    I love  love love getting Dear Elder letters. I promise you that I get them even if I don't always respond. I just like hearing about everyone and knowing that I am being thought about. Make sure everyone knows what it is and have everyone send me some! And also let everyone know that I do write back to letters, they just need to know how slow snail mail really is. Also thank you so much Miss Abby for the package! it was awesome and all the guys in my room use the grip exerciser and we are seeing who has the best grip by the time we leave! Speaking of competitions, at dinner they serve jello cups basically every night. All of us take the jello out of the cup and set ion on our trays. Then you have to suck it all up in one bite, and yours truly is the only one to have successfully completed the entire cup in one suck. I am the champion.

    I hope all is well at home. I fasted for a lot of things this Sunday. One of them was for Zach and his family. I am so excited for him and I hope his travels go well today! His letter was aweome and I need to MTC adress to answer him! I also fasted for my Visa, one member of our district got his last week and he left bright and early this morning for the MTC in Brazil. Lucky Lucky, even though it feels like a member of our family died.. we miss him already! Not as much as I miss all of you of course!

    Eu amo voces!!!!

        Elder Samuel Payne Clark