I Got Lastimated

Hello receivers of my weekly emails 

Happy Halloween everyone! I must say, this week was pretty darn LOCO! And I will probably end up looking like I dressed up as a zombie. I will start by saying that I basically had plastic surgery this week... Yep I got lastimated pretty good in my nose (lastimar is Spanish for getting hurt). We will start from the beginning of the story though. So Friday morning, I went to the gym for chest and tricep day. It was going great and I had got about halfway done. I was doing the tricep pull down machine with the rope and I finished the set. I guess I let it go a little fast and my head was a little too close to the machine because the rope shot up, and the metal clip cut my nose. It obviously hurt, but Elder Kay was working out with me and all he told me was, "Oh, you're nose is bleeding". So I ran to the bathroom dripping blood everywhere and let it all out in the sink. Then I finally looked up in the mirror and couldn't believe it. My right nostril literally split apart and ripped upwards like if you were to rip a piece of paper. It was pretty gross. I actually started feeling super light headed and super nauseous. If I didn't sit down and take some deep breaths, I probably would've passed out. But definitely my favorite part of the story was that after I felt a little better, I stuck a tissue up my nose and FINISHED THE WORKOUT. Yep, some people might call it stupid, I call it dedicated. So I made sure I got the full, good, workout in, and then went back to the house to take the next steps which basically went like this. I took the tissue out and all of the Elders were just looking at it, disgusted. I made sure I took plenty of pictures and we were almost 100% I was going to need surgery. So I gave a call to Pres and Sister Mann who sent me immediately to Hospital Cami (remember that place?) in an Uber to save my life. If you guys would like to retell the story to others, I would appreciate it if you could add a little twist like I was just lifting too much weight and broke the cable, or that I was attacked by a bear while we were tracting but I beat the bear and came away with only a little cut on my nose. Some believable version of the story like that would be nice. So anyways, I went to Hospital Cami and after an hour of waiting and paperwork, they examined me and told me I was going to need plastic surgery. I am really grateful for my great Mission President and his wife who made sure I got the BEST plastic surgeon for the job. I love them so much and I know that they love their missionaries. So we finally got a great plastic surgeon to come and sew me up. Elder Kay was there with me the whole time and watched everything. It wasn't too painful except the beginning when we put in the Anesthesia. He basically said "This is gonna hurt a bit" and Elder Kay said he was not gentle when he violently stabbed 3 different needles in my nose to numb it up. As soon as he gave me those shots, blood was going everywhere including my shirt and all over the floor. After that painful experience where I was shaking and groaning, my whole nose went numb. Elder Kay told me that he really enjoyed watching the plastic surgeon, not very gently, yank and pull the needle around my nose to sew it back up; he put in 4 stitches. After he finished the operation he uncovered me and I was just sweating buckets. He had a good laugh and I was glad it was all over. Although I'm still a little upset that they didn't get me a lollipop, I'm glad my nose will begin recovering and I really hope I don't end up with a big, fat, ugly, scar there. I had about a 75% survival rate and I'm glad I beat the odds, but I was a little concerned that I shoot free throws better than my chances of surviving. Anyways, now I don't even have to dress up for Halloween since I look like a zombie anyways, so I guess that's a plus right? Elder Kay really enjoyed watching the whole thing and said he is convinced that he could do stitches now. I still wouldn't trust him though. I guess the important part though is that I'm still alive and hopefully it will all recover fine. Plus we had interviews with President Mann that day, but I suppose getting plastic surgery is a good way to get out of interviews. I just hope he doesn't catch on to my strategies though, don't tell him but it was well worth it to get out of interview with him. Haha only kidding I sure love him lots and truly am grateful for the support of him and sister Mann. They were basically my parents through it all and I couldn't ask for better Mission Presidents in our mission right now.

Alrighty... So apart from that crazy experience, I suppose everything else sounds pretty boring right? It actually wasn't really my week at all... The night after getting stitches, I was walking in the street and totally banged my head on a pole. Pretty much all of our appointments fell as well, and worst of all, the baptism of Francisco which I was so excited for this week also fell... We had to postpone it for 2 more weeks so I hope, pray, and fast, he comes through then. So pretty much after Friday I was done with the week... I suppose I was due for a bad week though since I've been loving the mission so much lately, and I guess Satan was just really trying to get my down, but I don't go down that easy. You know what they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I also suppose though that I should focus on the good things that happened this week too though. Even though I didn't get to baptize Francisco this week, I was still blessed with the amazing opportunity to return and baptize part of Damian's family, which was a wonderful experience. I just love that humble family so much and they were so excited to see me come back for their baptism. Even though the water was freezing cold, the Spirit was definitely present and it was such a great joy to see their smiling faces enter into the waters of baptism. Also Sunday was a tender mercy because even though the work is a little harder here, a brand new family of 5 came to our ward for the meetings! We later found out they are not in our area (huge bummer) but it did lift my spirits a little to see some investigators at church with us! Love the Lord's work as always.

So finally, yes, I did celebrate my one year mark this week too. On Wednesday I did divisions with Elder Kay and we got tacos and cookie and cream magnum bars which probably won FOTW this week. Nothing much more was really exciting about my one year mark, just another year of work and I'm excited for it! I know this year will be faster than ever and I can't believe I am actually going to be going back home eventually, right now the mission just seems like my life. But as always, I love, miss, and appreciate you guys so much for everything, thanks for still reading my emails too those of you that actually get to the bottom every week. Have another great and safe week and remember to read the Book of Mormon!

Your favorite missionary,

Elder Clark

Warning:  Graphic Pictures (Not for those who get queasy like me).  When I first got these pictures I had my youngest daughters look at them and tell me how bad it was.  I can glance but not look for long.