This week, I've decided I'm going to take my talents to Hollywood. We had that ward activity (the Mini MTC) that I mentioned last week and it couldn't have gone better! We had some awesome workshops where we trained the members about how the could help us out better in the missionary work. We made little missionary name tags for each member too, but I haven't even gotten to the best part of the activity. Last week Elder Palacios and I presented a little skit in zone conference that we planned last minute, but this time we had a whole week to plan, refine, and make the skit perfect. It's called "Ideal Mormons" and will probably be coming to Movie Theatres in the next little while. But it turned out great. And I must admit, from the 12 planchas of Christmas to Ideal Mormons and everything in between, I'm starting to think more and more about getting into the acting business. Haha it definitely makes the mission way more fun and fast continually having new, fun and exciting ideas and activities to plan for and look forward too. Constantly being busy I think is one of the keys to having a successful and enjoyable mission. But yes, the skit turned out great, we made all of the members laugh super hard and I think they would all say they felt inspired as well. I think that sometimes the best way to teach is with a little comedic relief, that way no one gets bored! I did record our whole skit but it's about 15 minutes long and it's all in Spanish... Maybe I can do an English production when I get back. But that was pretty much the highlight and exciting part of this week for me!
Unfortunately the Marín family (María and Fernanda) haven't been progressing as much as we'd like them to so we may have to give them a few weeks off. But the good news is that we have been finding a lot of new investigators with potential and getting a lot of help and referrals from members now! After our activity on Saturday one member came up to us and told us that she had a friend she wanted us to visit! We also found 2 little kids (Jonathan and Andrea), 8 and 11 years old, who were born in the US and then came to love with their grandma about a year ago. They are still learning Spanish so it is fun to speak English with them and they are super cute and fun. They aren't baptized so we are teaching them right now, but I love them so much, they remind me of my little cousins and sisters back home. And plus, sometimes it is just fun to teach little kids. It's amazing to see really how much they can understand and capture with the help of the Holy Ghost for how young they are! The light of Christ is real in all of us, no matter what age or nationality. And of course we still have a few other investigators and families we continue to teach so hopefully we start catching fire soon!
I've also continued falling in love more and more with the Scriptures the more I study them. I'm continuing studying by special topic each week (this week was prayer and really increased my faith in the power of prayer and how I can make my prayers more meaningful) and I keep on loving every verse I read as I advance in the Book of Mormon. I can truly say it is the time in my life where I've felt most in tune with the Spirit and the most close to my Savior Jesus Christ. Sure there is always room to progress and get better and I'm not perfect (yet) but I feel really close to my Heavenly Father and feel that I am being the faithful and diligent servant He wants me to be. And I am happy, so grateful and am just LOVING life in general and being a missionary. Even when I think about how my mission may be ending soon I think of all the wonderful, exciting, new opportunities that will come as I get home, start my studies at BYU, and one day start my own family with my own kids!! I truly feel so blessed and grateful to my Heavenly Father who is always so merciful to all of us, and for so many wonderful opportunities in this life. I can't think of a single part of my future that will be dark or boring, and looking back at the past, in my mission and growing up, there hasn't been a dull or dark moment either. And I think that is the trick in life, learning to find that happiness and the blessings in EVERY moment of life, and I testify they are ALWAYS there, even in the harder times, and then giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for all the blessings and try our best to help others find the path and reach that happiness with their families as well. And that is why I love being a missionary, because I have found that path, that light, love, and joy of the Gospel, and I want EVERYONE to have that same joy in their families and lives! And I definitely owe it all to my Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father who have blessed me with a wonderful earthly family, parents, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, who are always such great influences on me, have taught me to "walk in the light", and who are always there to love, support and of course, laugh and have fun with me. My mission has definitely given me a different perspective on life.
This week I learned a lot about the Holy Ghost studying in 2 Nephi 31, His divine roles, and how he can help us in our lives, including purifying and cleaning us of all sin and filthiness which is one of the reasons we should always strive for His companionship. I know He will always guide, protect, and comfort us in our lives as well. But I think my study highlight for this week was this morning. My companion wanted to have a pretty relax, resting, P-Day instead of playing basketball, hiking hills, going out to BWWs (like I always want to do!), and so I respected that and it was a great blessing for me. For almost 3 hours this morning I dedicated myself to study the allegory of the vineyard in Jacob 5 of the Book of Mormon. And I've never been able to understand and passage of scripture with such spiritual eyes and hears before. It just seemed like every single line and verse made so much sense to me, different scriptures came into my head enhancing the meaning of each verse and I felt so inspired. It definitely strengthened my testimony in the Book of Mormon because certainly no man alone, without the inspiration of God, could've written that great allegory. And it definitely helped me gain of greater perspective of the Lord's mercy and love, ever since the scattering of the House of Israel, the life of Christ, the great Apostasy, the Restoration, and even until the Millenum! That chapter covered just about all of it, and it reassured me of one of my favorite scriptures, that God's "work and glory" truly is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) I know and testify everything God does in our lives, whether it is trails and tribulations, or happiness and joy, is for our eternal progression. I know he is always watching over us and there to help us when we fall. I can't express how much I love the Book of Mormon and how grateful I am for my Savior. And know I am starting to understand why my Dad wanted to be a seminary teacher before he became an optometrist (and flippin genius)!
And that is about it for this week. I hope most of you are still able to read all and get to the bottom of my weekly emails (sorry they are so long!) but it was another great and fast week. I was able to do divisions with Elder Tristan this week (an Elder in my zone) which were really good- sometimes I think it's just healthy to have a break from whoever your companion is especially because you have to literally be with them 24/7! So that's why I always enjoy divisions, plus I just always love meeting new people and making new friends. Our bishop also made us a really good pozole this week, and was showing us some cooking tips. (our bishop is really good at cooking). And of course, we had our fair share of tacos this week which were good. As always I love and appreciate your emails and prayers, it is so good to know that people haven't forgotten about me after 16 months! (completed 16 months yesterday!) I heard it's been pretty snowy and cold so I hope everyone is safe and warm. I also hope the people that went had a fun time at Grandma Metcalf's funeral! Love you tons and have a great week! Hopefully you can check out my blog too and now some more pictures will be coming in, Adiós!
Elder Clark
P.S. Don't think I've stopped going to the gym either. I'm coming back T-Clark 2.0 bigger and better than ever! And finally here are some pictures too!
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