Temos um Apostolo aqui!

May 26, 2014

First off, today I ate the heart of a chicken! It actually was really good! A bit chewy, but tasted real good!

On Our Way to See Elder Anderson

Brazil is great, the highlight of this week was the visit of Elder Andersen! We had a meeting with him on Saturday as missionaries, and then on Sunday we got to hear from him again with our stake! That was a neat opportunity because only our zone, about 20 missionaries, got to hear him twice! He was great! He speaks Portuguese but whenever he got really serious or excited about something he would talk in English and have the translator translate. It was great, I came into the meeting with a ton of questions and ALL of them were answered! I also really prayed that he would share with the members during conference things they needed to know and he did! It feels like he was specifically here to answer my prayers. What an amazing experience, I tried to get a picture with him but he was way busy....BUT I have shaken his hand three times now!

For more information about Elder Neil L. Anderson follow this link:  

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets/bio/neil-l-andersen?lang=eng

Elder Anderson

One thing he talked about is something that I have seen my whole mission here and in America that is SO important. So many missionaries baptize people before they are ready to make that covenant. Not that the missionary did it on purpose but it is something we have to be so careful about as missionaries. This work is real; the people we are working with are real.  I am writing this to try and help other missionaries or future missionaries. Sometimes the covenant of baptism is sometimes taken ´´lightly´´ as missionaries. We are here to baptize so that’s what we will do, ready or not. But we really have to help people prepare for baptism. I have seen too much on my mission, people who are not keeping their covenants because they were not ready, or they are keeping some but don’t understand the WHOLE picture. As missionaries it’s our full time job to prepare them. As a missionary don’t be afraid to continue to work with them either. Members aren’t counted in your weekly numbers but they are so important, and you will have such great experiences with them because they have already had that light with them before and they will desire to have it again. President Monson said if you have any doubt that they are ready, wait. There is no rush, this gospel; especially the atonement needs to be understood to be able to live it! That’s something that I have grown to be really passionate about. Baptism will come, just don’t force them, please!

We Made Pastels!

The work in Recanto Das Emas moving, we are just trying to find new people to teach, this week was really busy with a lot of different things happening. But, it was good. We walked a lot this week trying to find houses of people. Elder Queiroz  and I have many funny moments together which always makes the work fun! Thank you for all your prayers and love! Love you all! Elder Morochi says hello to every one too!

Much Love!

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!

Feliz Dia das Mães!

Elder Clark with President and Sister Gaertner
At His Arrival in the Brazil Brasilia Mission 

May 12, 2014

It was so wonderful to speak with my family yesterday! I love you all so much and am so grateful for you all!

Thank you Chris and Ari for the example to me of how to live this gospel in every way!

Thank you Abby and Gregg for the example of how to treat one another!

Thank you Jenny and Kofi for the example of love you show me with your family!

Thank you Sarah and Chris for the example of just working hard and getting it done!

Thank you Melanie the example of faith and how to live happy!

And of course, thank you Mombo and Dad for your incredible example to me in all things. For the love and support I feel from you every day. For raising me the way you did and for raising me in this gospel!

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you guys and your examples to me! You have shaped who I am and who I will be. I love you all, forever!

I don’t have much to tell about this week, We just did a lot of trying to find new people to teach, we found some success but we will really see how much success next week when we follow up with all of them.

I want to just share a simple testimony.

I know that this Church is true with all my heart. Every day, something happens that just continues to confirm that for me. All that this Church does is not possible without an all-powerful, divine force directing it. I know that. I have seen the Church function in different parts of the world now and how incredible is it that I can sit in a class on Sunday in Arizona, and then a couple weeks later, learn the same thing, the same principles in Brazil. It’s unreal to me. I know his church has the authority of God and was established by our Savior. I know we have a living prophet today, who speaks with God and leads His people. I am so grateful for eternal families and the power the family has. It breaks my heart to see people not accept or fall away from this Church because I know there is no other way. Everything just makes sense and the feelings you can receive through the Holy Ghost are real. The Gospel is not easy, but that is why we have a Savior. With Him, it becomes so much easier. I know He lives, I know He loves us, and I know He will always help us. He guides through prayer and through His holy scriptures. I have grown to adore the scriptures and the stories they contain. I love this work, I love this Gospel, I love my family and I love My Redeemer.

I hope every Mom had a wonderful Mother’s Day. You all deserve it!

Love you all and thanks for everything!

Elder Samuel Clark

Happy Cinco de Mayo

May 5, 2014

Just kidding, Brazil doesn't celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but that’s ok! Happy Cinco de Mayo anyway! We had transfers this morning and I am staying in Recanto das Emas for another 6 weeks with Elder Quieros! I am excited and relieved!  

Baptism!

This weekend we had my first baptism! It was really sweet! It was a 21 year old named Paloma. She was the girlfriend of a member. Key word is was. This week was really hard for them, we don’t know the details but they aren’t together anymore. BUT she still went through with the baptism, which was a testament to me. She wrote down the sweetest testimony about how she believed this church was true. After she came out of the water, she was crying and said that she knew. She knew that she had just changed her life forever and that so many amazing doors had just opened up for her! I am so excited for her and grateful to help her! It has been amazing to see her transition from being a little timid about church and everything to knowing and being very open and bubbly! I love this work!

Our District

That’s pretty much all the news for now. Everyone here is preparing for the World Cup and all the missionaries are preparing for 1. Elder Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve, is going to visit our mission. Yes, the same Apostle I met at the airport in Arizona. 2. For a new Mission President!

The language is coming; I can have conversations with my companion now which is good! I can pretty much understand everything I read in Portuguese, but understanding what I hear... I am still working on that one!

The sun is very bright here but the weather is nice, and it gets a little chilly at night! During the day, we go out of our way to walk in as much shade as possible... haha

Our Zone

A missionary came up to me today that started his mission the same time I did but came straight here, and told me that after this transfer, we are nearly half way done with the mission. WHAT?! Where the heck did the time go? It’s crazy, cause I have just over a year left, but I really am just starting all over again.

Well, I hope the states are great; I miss all of you dearly and can’t wait to speak English with you all! (EXCEPT CHRIS! My brother I will speak Portuguese with you)

Com Amor,

Elder Clark

Beleza

April 28, 2014

 This week flew by. The work is moving and it’s actually really cooled off! It rained EVERY single day, literally every day. But know the weather is perfect!

I spent the first couple days of the week on a trade in a city called Santo Antonio, it is very different than Recanto das Emas. It was a neat experience! The people there were really cool and talked with a lot of slang, so it was kind of hard to understand...

A Local Vendor

We walk a lot and talk to a lot of people here but like any other city, the people are a little cold and really busy so it is hard to find new people to teach, but we are trying!

As for the language, it is getting better, little by little. I am actually able to tell words apart when people talk! It used to be just a big slur. But now, even though I don’t understand, I can tell when a word starts and ends.

This is the last week of the transfer and I do have to say it’s been the strangest transfer ever. I started in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Then Sao Paulo and now and I am in Brasilia. Dang. What is my life? Mormons are crazy, sending their children to foreign countries. We sure do have a lot of trust in the Lord.

About Brazil! The people here only eat lunch, and then kind of have a snack for dinner. They love soccer. It is pretty much only sport here, which makes me very excited for the World Cup because it is gonna be nuts here! They drink an herbal tea “capim santo” (lemon grass) It is so good! The traffic here is nuts, and the cars are all tiny. Our area is in the middle of the city. The people are like any other people that live in cities around the world. They are all in a hurry and are a little more cold and rough. But that’s ok! I am enjoying myself, even when it’s pretty frustrating! I don’t know why but it still hasn’t hit me that I am in a completely different hemisphere. It is crazy to think. Earlier I was playing soccer, IN BRASIL!

Elder Clark and the World Cup (Chocolate!)

So this is my life, walking all day, in a shirt and tie, in the heat, talking about Christ to people I cannot really understand! Life is good. God is great. I am so grateful for this adventure!

I have been really thinking about how to complete my mission the best I can, and I am just going to follow the apostle Peters example, when the Lord called to him to COME and walk on water, Peter just did it! There wasn’t any room for doubt or fear. When he did he fall into the water, who was right there to grab him? Our Savior.  I know that the Lord has called me to come here to Brazil and he will help me do the impossible, like Peter.

Love you all much!

Elder Clark