Well it sure seems like this week went by like lightning. I've learned that time in life always goes by faster when we are enjoying it, being happy and working hard. And that's just what I did this week. I especially enjoyed being a missionary this week, specifically because I had to opportunity to testify of the Restored Gospel to many families and new investigators this week. I love the Restoration and am so grateful for it. I was inspired by a story I heard this week of a vision that Brigham Young had. He said one day he had a dream where he saw Joseph Smith running back and forth, without ever stopping. Brigham Young asked Joseph Smith why he was running everywhere and Joseph replied that there was even MORE work to be done in the Spirit World. When I read this story, something really hit me. Just shortly before finding the story, I had the blessing of teaching two awesome families (Rocha Family and Colin Family) the Restoration for the first time. The Spirit was so strong in each one of the lessons and we were able to teach clearly and give our testimonies and it was amazing how much it touched their hearts and how well they understood. Even though they are members of different churches right now, they asked us at the end, "So if what you're sharing is true, we need to get baptized again in your church!" I was excited that they understood our message and we left them with the homework of reading the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. I left those lessons feeling so happy, filled with the Spirit, and truly felt that my Heavenly Father was proud of me. The next morning I woke up full of happiness and gratitude. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith and the pioneers, for the Restored Gospel in my family, and the Book of Mormon. I remember just looking at everything and everyone and feeling so grateful for the mercy and love of our Heavenly Father and full of love for His children. It rained that day too and I'm not sure why but rain always seems to make me happy too. But with all of this happiness and love with me I felt like Joseph Smith, just wanted to run from place to place for all the work that has to be done! I was thinking about all of the people we are teaching and how much family history work they can do once they are baptized and how many people are waiting for their family to do their work. Basically my point is I caught a small glimpse about how much work there really is to do, and it made me really reflect on how important our calling is as missionaries. I think it's really been the last few months, now that I'm really used to missionary life, loving Spanish and this people, and really just enjoying my time as a missionary is when I've noticed just how important my job is right now. And I wish I could've understood it this deep sooner on in my mission. Not to say I have any huge regrets about earlier in my mission, or that I didn't take being a missionary seriously, but I think it has really been these last few months where I have really spiritually matured and have just a small glimpse about how much work there is to be done and how little time there is to do it. And I am just so grateful in all of my weaknesses and imperfections that my Heavenly Father has been merciful enough to let me be an instrument and part of this great work. I have a burning, growing, and sure testimony of missionary work, the Restored Gospel, the Book of Mormon, and I testify that each one of us has a unique role to play in Heavenly Father's work for the Salvation of His children. As members of the church, WE have SO MUCH work to do, and I want to give it my all, just as Joseph Smith, running and praying and keep trying when I fall until I make it home and help as many others as I can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Eternal Family.
This week I also started some really good study habits. For personal study each morning I spend 20 minutes studying a weekly specific topic or attribute of Christ (this week was patience) and write what I have found in my study journal. Then I spend 20-30 minutes advancing in the Book of Mormon with the Seminary guide, and then I read and mark a conference talk or two from last general conference. Every week I am going to focus on a different topic or attribute of Christ to develop, and I've already learned so much in just one week. I've always studied hard in my mission, but sometimes I think we can get even better with the way we study, and something that's really helped me is keeping a study journal. Plus I'm working harder than ever to take my Spanish to even another level and of course, study with my companion. Sometimes I feel like I can study for hours without every getting bored, I have just fallen on love so much with the scriptures, the words of our modern prophets and apostles, and the feeling of the Spirit guiding me with personal inspiration as I study. I always feel so spiritually fortified after I get done studying. And since I had made the goal with Elder Warnick since the beginning of the year to read the Book of Mormon everyday of 2018, it has been a huge blessing in my life. I invite all of you guys too to develop strong, regular study habits of the Book of Mormon specifically. Maybe it's just a combination of the Spirit and so many blessings in my life, but I'm not even sure if God can bless me more than He is now, and I'm so so grateful for such loving, strong, and so many examples in my family and friends that I have in my life. What a time to be alive!!!
Also, if I live through this week I will have successfully lived 20 years, which to me is pretty impressive considering all the crazy stuff I've done in life, life cliff diving, dirt boarding, and coming to a new country in Mexico with a new language, and new people, especially while Trump is President haha, I think that might be one of the craziest things I´ve done in my life. But I´ve survived and done it all, and I'm also very grateful for these last twenty years of my life and for all the great memories and experiences that have came from it. This week should be a pretty awesome week starting out with BWWs with all my mission buddies (today!), Visitors Center in the temple on my birthday with some awesome investigators, zone conference, and if all goes at it is planned, on Saturday I could be going back for Fernando, Patricio, and Michels baptism in my old area where two of them want me to baptize them! What a way to celebrate! Elder Palacios and I also are ready to get some tacos Thursday night of course. But ultimately, I can't think of a better way to celebrate my 20th birthday than preaching the Gospel! Thanks to all of you back home for all of your birthday wishes, for all of your prayer and support, and have a great weeeek!!!
Elder Clark
P.S. Also, minor correction, last week the cool investigators we visited are named Maria and Fernanda, not Alejandra. Also I should be getting my camera this week to take some pictures!!!
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