Besides it being a hard adjustment after Christmas, this week was amazing! I think the best part was I didn't get robbed, and I didn't throw up lol. I am finally starting to blend in as a native down here. Anyways, this week was also awesome because I am starting to adjust and we had a ton of success. On Monday, we went to Esteban's house and made donuts! Esteban is an awesome chef and he is cool, they were honestly the best donuts I have ever had and we got to help him make them! We took pictures and videos, and I also helped him find a instagram caption that would give him the "most likes" haha. Go follow him and like his picture! After we got done making donuts, I gave him a Preisthood Blessing because he was feeling a little sick. When we left, he gave me the biggest hug ever haha! I am a little dissapointed though because in the missionary world, they are changing our schedule and so we won't have district meetings in front of his house on Monday Nights anymore. I hope we can still find some time to go visit him!
Anyways, this week has been kind of an adventure. One day we went to a part of our area called "Las Vias" It is literally built on the side of a railroad. It is pretty sketchy, everyone is so poor they literally build houses out of whatever they have- cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, sometimes even blankets. We also found a house with a wall built out of baby dolls. We don't go here very often since it does feel a little dangerous, but that is where we can find some of the most humble people and people who need the Gospel and are willing to accept it. We did some contacting, and found a family of four. They are just so humble and happy. Right when they opened the door, I already felt an overwhelming love for them, and I know Heavenly Father loves them even more. We shared a little message, prayed with them, and are going back next Sunday. We will probably only go there one day a week for appointments we have, and only during the day. This week, we also went on splits with our district and taught in some other areas. I realized how aweome our area and my companion is and how much I have to be greatful for in my area. It is probably because it is just where home is for me now too. Also this morning, we went to the mission home for pouch (That is how we get packages). It was really awesome taking the metro and riding through all the other areas and stuff. We walked through the teanges, and before I go home I am definitely going to buy a fake rolex watch because they are fake and super cool! This morning made me really excited for the rest of my mission and made me realize how much of an adventure this will be. I see and experience so much each week I can't even write it all down in my emails! I am really starting to be so glad I got called to another Country, and this mission is just awesome. My Spanish is really great too!
So now onto some Spiritual Lessons and experiences I had this week, and then I will talk a little bit about the food. This week, I really focused on making goals and having faith to achieve them. On Thursday, our goal was 2 new investigators and 1 lesson with a member present. We contacted a bunch that day (55 contacts) and that is a lot because our weekly Standard of Excellence is 100. It wasn't until contact 54 that we actually found a super cool new investigator! We are so excited to go back with her this Wednesday. Also, the day was winding down and we had only found 1 new investigator. I wasn't dissapointed, but I started to doubt that we could reach our goal even though we had worked our butts off. We had one last appointment with a member. When we arrived, she had her daughter there, who wasn't a member. Somehow, God had provided a way for us, and we got our two new investigators for the day and a lesson with a member present! After that, I thought that is was just the greatest day ever, but I wasn't even prepared for Friday. In the morning, we went to a part of our area that no one usually likes to go to because it is so far, but we went, contacted, and found another awesome new investigator right in the morning. We were so excited because we set the same goals for the day too! Later that day, we were walking, and didn't know where to go because all of our appointments had fallen through. For some reason, we had a feeling to go to Guerrillera street. It was pretty far away, so we had to walk a ways, but we decided to follow that prompting. We walked there and started knocking on doors again. After our 3rd door, a lady from across the street yelled at us and told us to come into her house. Turns out she is a member, but has been inactive for a few years. Her husband is not a member though. He really wants to get baptized though and so we put a date with him!- February 4th. I think the coolest part was that they have two kids. One served a mission and they are both living in Orem right now!! The Husband we are teaching and his wife are going to visit Orem in July! So if all works out, my family will have to go up there in July and see one of my converts! That would be cool! So the lesson I learned was that if we set goals, and ask Heavenly Father to help us achieve them and we have faith. Anything is possible. In fact, I read in 1 Nephi 16:28 that Lehi and his family were guided by the Liahona according to their faith and diligence. I believe this week we had faith and diligence and we were definitely guided by the Holy Ghost in several other occasions this week too! This week, we worked so hard, and had 10 new investigators. (The Standard of Excellence for the mission is 8 each week). We also have a ton of appointments this week with potential new investigators and honestly, I am super excited. This week will be awesome, we are going to have a ton of baptisms in February. Elder Johnson said we might just have a white night on February 4th where the whole ward comes and we just baptize like 10 people. That would be so great!
So on New Years Eve, we went back to the house early. We played games (It came to Pass, Sushi Go, and Elder Johnson bought Monopoly Mexico Edition!) It was fun, and we played with our zone leaders too. Midnight hit, we were excited, and went up on the roof to watch various fireworks around the city. It was a little weird and overwhelming to think that this whole year I am going to be in Mexico, but it is pretty cool too. This week I bit into a super spicy chili at the Almas. I started crying lol, but it was good! Our Landlords also brought us Tamales on New Years Eve. He gave them to us, and then said he was going to call the Fireman. We were confused at first, but we soon found out what he meant. I ate about half of my Tamale before my throat started burning and my eyes started watering. It was super hot haha but it was really good too and I was hungry so I just kept eating it. Also, we just went to a Chinese Buffet for lunch, and I had some octopus! It was actually pretty good, but was super chewy and fishy. It was definitely worth trying it though.
Next week for P-Day we will probably go to the Centro! I am excited for that, but yep, those were some of the highlights of my week! I hope you guys all had an awesome New Years! I am glad Dad's surgery went well, Elder Johnson and I have been praying for him! I also started a old coin and bill collection because in the Teanges they sell some super cool old money. It is exciting to collect them and see what country they are from and how old they are. Also, I am continuing my pushups everyday and I am almost to 90! Last thing, my ankles are starting to feel pretty good so I think I might have to start practicing my backflips again haha! Have a greeeeat week everyone! Hasta Luego!
-Elder Clark
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