Cleaning up from the fire & Ruben got baptized

Well, I have a new companion Elder Siesquen. He is super cool. He is from Trujillo. Super humble, he blows me out of the water with that, haha.
Ruben got baptized this week. He is super. Very straight with everything, very exact. I love that guy. He is very perserverant, if that's even how you spell it.
We were able to visit the family that we saved last Monday. We went back to help them clean up the house and things, and we saw more of the story, of how there were 3 gas tanks that were so close to blowing up, and literally how all of them were going to die for sure, if we didn't come to help them, they were so grateful for our help. We got the ward to help out as well, they all donated clothes and helped to build up the house again. It was a wonderful site. It brought tears to my eyes.  I couldn't believe what we were seeing, it was so wonderful. I will  never forget it. Then two days later they came to the baptism and they liked it. The Dad was very humbled and excited to see all these new things. We are going to focus on teaching them this week. We are so excited to help them spiritually now.
I know that all things happen for a reason. And that His plan is perfect, or it wouldn't be His plan. I love His plan and His will, which helps me to move forward in life and to be able to get closer to him.

My companion's name is elder siesquen

and everyone jokes saying 'si es quen' (like yes its Kent, like Clark Kent) it's too perfect haha

love
Elder si es quen Clark

We did service for the family in the house  that burnt down. They all came to Ruben's baptism. They are awesome, it was so great!  

Here was the family on Sunday night. It was great to see them. We have them in our hearts forever. They are a big family!

Ruben 

Elder Morales was transferred to Pisco. He is awesome! 

My Fear was overpowered quickly by my faith

Wow, besides the crazy accident that happened yesterday at 2 in the morning we had a great week. very spiritual and uplifting for sure topping it off with last night, well this morning I guess you could say.

Wow, where do I start? At about 2:00 am last night I wake up to my comp screaming something, I don't remember.  Then I roll over on the top bunk of the bunk bed and look out the opened window and see this huge fire on the side of this house, just above our house about 25 yards away up this hill we live on. I was still half asleep & in shock, my comp was saying stuff to me, but I don't remember, neither did I understand.  As he was taking some pictures and a small video, he stopped and said "Cambio!" which means "Change!" Like change into some clothes.  So we both quickly changed. And then he wanted to head out and help when we heard this gas tank light up, it didn't blow up.  However, we could hear slowly the gas coming out and causing a bigger fire. So I said, we can't go out there, the gas is going to explode. During this whole time, the people in the house had 1 exit only...and it was right where the fire was, right at their door.  So the only way out was their window, however, they have this safety bar over the window to prevent robbery.  But besides all of this, my companion took off and climbing up a few things and a wall to get into position up to the window, in order to break the bars off and set the people free. And I would admit, I was a little slow to react as my fear overcame my faith my action my courage, and so I didn't act as quick as I wanted to as I think of it now and as I did all last night.  However, my fear was overpowered quickly by my faith, and I took off, climbed the wall and literally with all my strength tore these bars off of that window. I know if it wasn't for my valiant comp & his example, things would've been different.  Right when those bars were taken off we helped get a mother, an older daughter, 2 younger boys, and an adult man get out and down and safe.  The mother smacked her brother, supposedly he came home drunk, we never saw him again that night.  I learned so much, I felt a peace as a young boy came running and hugged the mother, 2 boys and younger woman. I saw them cry together, then he gave me a huge hug as well thanking me, as he was in tears.  But I will never forget this scary night, and those 8desperate screams for help.  Everyone was okay thankfully.  Supposedly the stove was left on or something to have caused the fire.  Afterwards, the people we helped down thanked us deeply for coming, as we were the only ones who came to the rescue.  It was crazy.  We got back in bed at 3:15am.  We both couldn't sleep very good of course.  Haha.  However, so much was learned from that night.  I know I did that's for sure. I will never forget it...As I applied it to the Atonement, there were many who didn't even know the fire had happened, neither what we did.  as we were on the back side & nobody could see us.  Just like the Atonement they gave thanks, now imagine how we would of felt if they didn't say thank you, or if they were to say or deny that we even came to help them.  That's how it is with Christ & he still did it knowing that they weren't going to believe.  But He loves us.  I have so much love for those people we helped.  I'm sure Christ's love increased after he atoned for us as well.

This was the house, the one with the window open. We had to brake the bars off to get them out.

This week a very interesting man named Ruben Mamani is going to get baptized! He is such an interesting guy, I love him so much haha, He always makes us laugh a bunch. It was super funny as we were doing the pre-interview for him to get baptized, and we had to ask him some serious questions and one of them was if he had commit a serious crime against the law. And he sat there and thought for a little bit.. and said yes, and we were a little worried and then he told us how he disobeyed his parents one time, it was so funny. He is so innocent, he is super good haha.
We found a family who has been having some problems with their daughter, she seems to pass out all the time, and Gladys the mother is super worried for her daughter, so she was more receptive to us, and allowed us to teach her, her husband works super far out of town and only comes in town for 7 days and then heads back out for 2 months which is super sad. However, we are really learning so much. I know I am especially from this amazing book I'm reading, "The continuous atonement", it is such a great book, you should read it really!

5lder Clark

Quebrada Verde
It's prettier when it's more humid-in about 2 months.

You can't tell by this photo, but our zone is on the top of that huge hill.
Elder Barrera is there as well, he is awesome!

Steadfastness

Wow this week was great. Sorry I still don't have my adapter to send pics. However, we found some very special people this week. One was yesterday, David Cortez, he has been a member for a very long time, and he hasn't been visited for over 10 years or something. So it was amazing that we found him, he wasn't in the ward directory. We spoke with him yesterday. He told us a lot about him. He has 5 brohters and sisters and he lives with 2 of them, their house is big, his dad lives on the bottom floor and his mom on the top and he hasn't talked to his dad in 15 years he said... wow that was so crazy to hear.. I felt so bad for him. He is divorced and lives with his daughter who is super rebelous. Which is sad, but we watched, Gracias a El, the video that came out last year, and it was super spiritual, to see him super repentant, and willing to change!!

It's so great to feel that love for the people. You want them to feel that hope, that they really can change, it's not enough to just tell them, when you want them to feel it so bad, you really just start to plead to them haha, you can do it!!!!!
I finished the book of mormon with my theme of steadfastness, and wow did I learn so much. I am going to finish it again before I head home haha, I can't wait.
I love you mom. I hope things are going well, and that you're not getting too trunky haha!
love elder elark
*mom note-Gracias a Él is the video "Because of Him".
 Brandon used a small Book of Mormon & used the theme "steadfastness" to study from start to finish, he showed it to us on Skype.  He wants to continue to study this way & have a book case filled with book of Mormons with different study topics.

Nasty Service Project

mom, you really made my day!! really. It was the best. I hope it was a good mother's day. And don't worry, I'm not trunky. I want to keep working. I love the mission. Really it is the best place. I don't think I have ever been trunky ever. I love it too much. It's such a safe place to be in. I am going to miss it.. I know I am.
Sorry I didn't write so much this week. I really don't know what to say since we just talked yesterday- haha. But I hope that you know that I love you so much.

It was the nastiest thing on the planet!!! haha

It was the worst ever!!! haha We had to clean out this room that had. It was a house. This lady would pick up dogs from the street and take care of them. Nobody pays her.. haha it was nasty 

On Mother's day I received a letter from Brandon's Bishop. Brandon's companion is Elder Morales.

Sister Karin
On this special day, receive a warm greeting from a distance , i am the bishop Aranda , ward Nueva Esperanza and i want you to know that Elder Clark is an excellent missionary.-  we are blessed to have him in our neighborhood with fellow Elder Morales ,his son bless the families and thank you for taking care of him and support him in his mission, receive is this mothers day warm greetings from my family.

Aranda family fondly

Olenka & Edgar Velasquez's Baptism

Wow this week was great. Really awesome. We had a great baptism with Olenka and Edgar Velasquez. He is my favorite,  really he has a testimony that is just as big as the sun!! I love it.. He always tells us about how he feels something different inside. Something special.

When he was about to enter into the waters of baptism, he told us how he never wanted to leave the church ever again. It was so cool. haha. He bore his testimony after the baptism, about the Book of Mormon and how he read it one day and took a nap after and then woke up and felt the powerful sensation of the Holy Ghost. It was awesome. And how he knows that Joseph Smith saw God. It was just a testimony of Gold!! I loved it. Everything turned out great!!!

We were able to find Jorge and Vanesa and teach them this week, that was great. Really a true miracle from the Lord. They are interested. Vanesa has the true intentions to get baptized and know if these things are true., but Jorge needs a little help with his intention, he is just curious to learn more for now... however, we can work with that! I fasted for him yesterday. I know the power of the fast is incomprehensible. so just pray for him. We could only meet with him once. This Wednesday we have another lesson. So we hope things go well with them.

e]der clark