This week has been super fast! I can't believe I am coming up on 5 months now We just had my birthday cake and lunch over at Esteban's! I am not even exaggerating, he has the BEST food! He made some steak that was super good, french fries, guacamole, and a bowl of cheese all from scratch! He also made a homeade pina colada, and it was amazing! The best pina colada I have ever had. Wow it was sooo good, and then we had my birthday cake! The bottom layer was brownie from scratch, then it was an italian cheesecake from scratch, and he put some pecans, cherries, and a chocolate drizzle on top (Which you can find on his Instagram). I felt like I was at the cheesecake factory, or even better! I guess the 5 years of cooking school really payed off. Plus it was so nice to talk to him he is just the coolest guy. I am sooo glad I got to go to his house, it made me feel so happy, and I will have to make a trip over to his house every once in a while. I feel like Esteban is my uncle or something, he is so funny and is kest friend on my mission. I told him he would have to come visit me in the United States someday and I would show him around. I am so grateful for him in my life.
Anyways, this week was pretty good. I don't think I wrote about her last week but there is this lady names sister Maru Rama, I like to refer to her as the peach lady. My first day here we went to visit her. It is kind of sad, she has NO family to take care of her, she lives alone with 36, YES 36 DOGS!! She used to have 50 but since then they have died off. She is in her 60s or 70s I think, doesn't have very much money and is struggling a lot right now. She absolutely LOVES when we come over and usually has a super long story to tell us and we sing her a hymn because she loves hymns. We offered to bring her some fruit the first visit with her, because she can only eat fruit and vegetables. We were listing off fruit to see what she likes and when we said peaches, she starting licking her lips and making a funny noise. It was super funny and so we went to buy her some canned peaches and other fruit that she likes. So this week it was really sad... She fell down her stairs, broke some bones in her arm and is all scratched up. Luckily she was able to make it to the hospital but when we went to go visit her Saturday, I just felt soo bad for her. She told us her story, as normal, and we sang to her "Oh Todo Está Bien" or Come, Come Ye Saints. While we were singing the hymn tears just started streaming down her cheeks. The spirit was so strong and my whole heart was sad, but also happy for her. After the hymn, she said she was just filled with gratitude, that all is well, and she is so greatful she is still living and can still walk. I really wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad, but I really just wanted to give her a big hug. What a humble lady, and what a humble experience. We organized a service project with all of the men in the ward to go and clean up her house this Wednesday!
So yeah, there were a few dissapointments this week. The baptism fell with Sergio... His wife just called us one day saying that Sergio is not ready for baptism and she wasn't going to be accepting us anymore. We were kind of shocked and didn't know what happened, we have been knocking on her door, and even fasting for them, but so far we haven't been able to talk to her more. I hope something changes with her. Also with Javier, his parents won't sign his baptism papers until he his 18. He wants to get baptized, and is already, we could even have his baptism this weekend, but we might have to wait until his birthday on April 29. It is only next cycle, so I will probably still be here, but it would be nice to baptize him sooner. I guess the Lord has his time for everything though. It was pretty cool though, the same Henry that I found and prayed for in the area book last week, came to church again yesterday, and we were able to visit him and put a baptism date with him the beginning of April!! I am super excited for that and I am pretty sure he will get baptized. I must admit, sometimes I still don't know what I am doing as a new missionary, but I am trying and working my hardest, and Heavenly Father is blessing me so much with success and tender mercies.
Another pretty cool miracle happened this week. One morning we had an appointment with Alejandra, the super cool investigator who came to church last week and we just found by knocking on her door. We called her a few times, and knocked on her door, but she just wasn't there. We were dissapointed because we really wanted to answer some of her questions and doubts because she had come to church, but we didn't have much time to talk to her afterwards. Well, we went back to the house to study, but we both got a powerful prompting. Lopez told me we were going to pray specifically for her to answer her phone even though we had been calling her throughout the morning without an answer. So we prayed, and then we called her, and I was fully expecting an answer this time. Well, she answered, and said she had a little time right now, so we literally ran the half mile to her house, with our backpacks and missionary attire. I guess I am pretty out of shape because I thought I was going to die and the elevation is a lot higher here, but it was well worth it. We talked to her about some of her questions and about baptism too. She said she will read the book of mormon, ask God, and keep coming to church to see if she should get baptized in our church, and that is all we can really ask her. I continue to see miracles, prayers answered, and tender mercies every since day of my mission! God is directing the work through His Spirit.
Well, besides teaching people and the normal missionary work, I still made a lot of memories and had some fun times this week. I went on divisions with Elder Tristan from Houston, Texas this week (though he only speaks Spanish). It was fun to talk with him and an investigator gave us a face cleaning treatment. Also, one day Elder Lopez and I were way up on the hill when it started pouring rain! I had always secretely been hoping for a rainstorm out here because I love the rain, but after walking down the hill for 30 minutes in the pouring rain, we were both soaking wet, literally like we had just jumped in a swimming pool, and I think I got enough rain to last me the rest of my mission. I guess I will have to start carrying around my rain coat if the rainy season is starting... Also an older lady we teach has 3 cute grandkids that we visit often and read with them the book of mormon. The grandkids can't read yet, but they listen, and draw pictures, and then explain the pictures to us after we read a chapter. They are sometimes funny, but also pretty cool. Some of the pictures got a little graphic when we read the story of Nephi getting the plates and having to kill Laban haha.
Well, I am preeeety good. I am starting to love Elder Lopez and we are talking more. He likes to run and it is easy to go to the gym every morning, and I think I might start running some days this week too. He said he has ran a half marathon before! He is really funny too, we laugh together a lot in the streets and we are working hard. I am grateful for him and that we continue to grow our companionship. I hope all of you guys are well back home, I still miss you lots and pray for you every day! I love your emails and support and am truly so grateful for such wonderful family and friends back home. Thanks so much and have an AMAZING week!!
-Elder Clark
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