"Another Brave Soldier has Fallen"

Dear Family and Friends!

I guess I better go ahead and explain the title of my email first of all.  This week, another brave soldier fell to the 

pants this week jaja.  We were on divisions and coming out of the food appointment.  As we were walking back, he turned to me and said "I need to use the bathroom really bad".  I casually just put it off and said sure, we will be back at the house in about 20 minutes walking... He turned back to me and said "No, this is urgent, and real emergency, we are taking a taxi."  So we hopped in the closest taxi and headed back to the house; still I wasn´t too worried, just thought it was a little bit of that Mexican Diarrhea and that we would get back to the house in time.  I did think I smelled something a little fishy though in the taxi ride, but all of the windows were open so I thought it was just something outside or my imagination... I mean Mexico always smells like something.  Well, I didn´t really grasp the intensity of the situation until this missionary walking out of the bathroom and proudly/shamefully (yes, a little of both) announced exactly the phrase, "Today, another brave soldier has fallen".  I knew exactly what he meant and just started busting out laughing.  Ugh it was sooo funny, and we got it all worked out, a change of pants and luckily our house has a washing machine so that was nice but it really made me realize something... Ever since I have gotten out here, everyone has told me that every missionary poops their pants at least once in their mission.  I was even talking with this elder the other week about this very situation and how we both thought it would never happen to us.  Well it happened to him, and I am definitely not going to jynx it by saying it won´t happen to me, but I guess I can at least hope and pray that it doesn´t happen to me... I´ll be sure to keep you guys updated though and I hope to be able to endure as a brave soldier throughout my whole mission.  I must admit though, we had some pretty fishy carnitas this week that a member gave us- basically every part of the pig- some intestine, liver, and I am sure there was some bladder or stomach in there too.  Here everyone just eats every part of the pig.  More efficient that way I guess and even though the taste wasn´t too bad, it was all just slimy and I couldn´t get the thought out of my mind.  I ate what I could and suffered the consequences of it coming out, but I am still a standing soldier and somehow I didn´t really get sick!! What a miracle!

Anyways, now onto this week.  Honestly it was pretty great, super fast too!  I am not really sure what is going on with the time right now but it seems to just keep picking up more and more momentum.  In a couple weeks I will finish 8 months!  This week started off great at the centro.  We got 5 tacos for 42 pesos (about 2 dollars) a really good deal especially for hungry, poor missionaries, shopped and looked around a little and all got some matching ties (Elder Nadauld, Rodas, Achá and I).  On Monday night we had a family home evening with Henrry and Luz and their whole family.  It turned out really good, we had a good message and then played a fun game.  I taught everyone the game that we used to play as a family where we all write a sentence and draw a picture and keep passing the paper around.  They turned out super funny and it was a lot of fun!  Moments like those I just feel so happy, lose myself in serving and loving others, and just feel like myself too.  Afterwards, sister Luz made us BACON-WRAPPED HOT DOGS!!! They were suuuuper good and I don´t know what inspired her to make those but it was truly a tender mercy.  Also on Tuesday I recieved confirmation of something.  I have the BEST family in the WHOLE WORLD!!! I got my package and it made me sooo happy!  I am loving the sweet new Reppin Y basketball shirt, the awesome Spurs stuff, peanut butter MnM´s (Sooo good!), hair gel and lots more!! I loved all of the letter from the ward so quick shoutout and thanks to the River gardens ward back home!! Love and miss you guys!  And of course my new camera! I can see clearly now and it is awesome!  Not to mention my family made some of the BEST videos on my camera that make me so happy.  Thanks so much fam.  Today our trip to Teotihuacan got cancelled because the lady that was going to take us had something come up, but she said she can for sure take us next week so that is the plan!  Today we ended up going to a shopping mall and had some more Walmart adventures! This time with Elder Nadauld and Elder Rodas.  It was a lot of fun too.  This week Elder Achá and I have decided not to pay for another gym membership and save the money.  Since there is only 3 more weeks left in the cycle we decided to run every morning in the big soccer field outside out house and it does feel great.  Also I am still making myself eggs every morning! Learning to cook and clean for myself!

As a district leader I had the opportunity to do a few baptism interviews this week and those are always special.  I am really excited and happy because our district has been having a lot of success lately.  I have a really fun and hard-working district and the meetings are a lot more fun now too.  After the first meeting playing companionship ping pong, this last meeting we played Book of Mormon charades which turned out really funny.  Everyone had to act out two different chapters in the Book of Mormon without talking and we had to guess it.  If you got someone to guess it within the minute timer you got a point and the person guessing got a point too.  It turned out great and a good transition into the lesson, and of course the winner got a good old Mexican coke.  District meetings are definitely a lot more fun and keep everyone´s interest when I think of activities.  Tomorrow I am trying to figure out how I can tie in some basketball but I am struggling a little bit.  Maybe I will recieve some inspiration overnight, but I am hoping it is another fun one!  We also taught English classes this week and a lot of new investigators came for that so that was good! Everyone likes my english classes even though no one really learns that much by coming to my pretty bad classes for only an hour a week haha.  Still fun though and a good idea to find new people.  I have definitely learned that the people/investigators who progress the most are those who feel comfortable in the church, who have some friends and people they can talk to and depend on.  That is our biggest problem here in Mexico.  We usually find a lot of cool, interested people knocking doors who come one or two times, like Julio, but if no one really takes them in and befriends them, it is very hard to keep them active... Speaking from Julio, it is a little sad, but we are kind of losing him.  I will never forget how we found him and how much he felt the Spirit in that first lesson, but sometimes it is better to just leave someone behind when we have more people to help.  The cool thing is we are planting a lot of seeds for these people who I know will one day accept it all.  We definitely have been blessed with SO much success here in Atlicpac.  A ton of baptisms lately and this week we are having one more!! Our converts are doing great, Henrry and Ramiro just got callings in the Young Men´s Presidency with an awesome young men´s president so I am very happy and excited for them.  Also, Elida was asking me to help her fill out a tithing envelope this past week.  You know, for people who just found out about the gospel not much more than 8 weeks ago have really changed a lot and just have so much faith.  I am so greatful for them and sometimes seeing the faith of some of our converts is a great example and inspiration for me.  We were able to put a baptism date with Elida´s mom Alicia who is now also excited to learn more and come unto Christ.  Ramiro will be baptizing his daughter, Abigail, this Friday and we are so excited to be helping these families be together forever!! I truly feel grateful and humble to have these experiences as a missionary and to be blessed with so much success. Life is just GREAT!! We also have a baptism scheduled the following week for a lady named Maria who is also very humble and prepared and will be an awesome member of the church.  Seeing all of these miracles and blessings certainly humbles me and really makes me sad thinking that I might be leaving soon.  I have learned to love these people so much and I wonder how much harder it will be to leave my mission at the end of two years!  Lots of work to do so I better work hard while I have the chance!

Well, this week was really good, and even though I have gotten some bad news I am happy.  Elder Achá and I have been praying lots of Creighton so I hope you are doing a lot better man!! I also have heard Brigham has to go home for knee surgery so my prayers go out to him too.  Also, Elder Boyer, one of my best mission friends, had to go home this week for back surgery.  I have been a little sad from all of this news, but I hope, pray, and wish the best for all of them, also the McKee family.  Sometimes sicknesses, injuries, and death can be so hard on us, but the wonderful thing is through the great Plan of Salvation, we really don´t have to be scared of anything.  I guess the hard part is just keeping that eternal perspective and keeping our eyes and focus on Christ.  This week we have kind of had some of our own problems and my patience has been tested a lot.  Luckily, like always, everything worked out and Elder Achá told me at the end of the week that I am really good a solving problems... that make me feel good :) In the end I have nothing to complain about.  We have had some fun playing some other games with some little kids too like cat and mouse and duck duck goose.  One time I lost and they all made me eat a piece of a raw onion! gross!! Haha, but it is all got good laughs and memories and I love the people here.  I am so greatful for all of my blessings, my success, my leaders, and my supportive family and friends back home.  I am happy and doing well and I still keep all of you guys in my thoughts and prayers everyday.  I miss you tons.

One more thing to finish.  I hope my flippin´ genuis, jedi knight, Dad had an AWESOME Birthday!! Happy Birthday Dad!! To celebrate, I made a strawberry-banana malt with Elder Achá Friday night (by the way thanks for the malt!).  I must admit, it turned out REALLY GOOD! Elder Achá loved it, it was his first malt in his life, and I can assure you Dad that you would have been proud.  Also Happy Father´s Day to all of the Dad´s out there this Sunday!!  I love and miss you guys all tons and have a GREEEEAT WEEK!!!!!  

Love,

Elder Clark