It was amazing to see the Lord work through us

wow, this week was interesting.
I thought it never begun, it was so fast. it's insane haha.

We have been showing our true desires to our Savior. Richard still needs some help, he doesn't feel ready, He wants to feel that same feeling that he had when he had that dream haha.

This past week we had an interesting activity, where the whole zone went to this ward all together and we went to look for all of the less actives to visit them, and as we were going we were walking past this guy who was painting this school. and he says, "hey man, What's up ?" and that will happen a lot here haha. Sometimes they want to showoff that they know a little English haha. And most of the time the are drunk out of their minds haha. But this guy sounded different. He didn't have an accent, so I felt the need to talk to him. And so we did.
He spoke perfect English haha. And we just started to talk, and he said that he was from Utah haha! He  looked latin. but he began to explain his life, as he said that he faught in the Iraq war and how it was the saddest part of his life. and how he always used to go to  church when he was younger, he even got his eagle scout award haha. But then he got in the army. but his fam is back in Utah, but he started his own family in Peru. His name is Cesar Suñíga. Then he started talking about the nba haha, and how he is a golden state fan, I decided not to say anything about who my favorite is haha. But later as we were still talking outside this school, he mentioned to me that he was ready for someone like my comp and I to help change his life. His wife and kids aren't members, so we were super excited about that haha. but I was so glad that we had that acitvity , or we wouldn't have been there at that time to find him. because he works from 6 to 10 at night.
It was amazing to see the Lord work through us. As missionaries don't really do anything besides be apart of His great work and glory, as we get converted on the way. It is just a huge blessing to be here. The Lord is making changes and they are quick ones. As I have seen His hands working, they don't stop. and they won't.
I love you mom!
love
Elder C¡ark

My dream

This week was great. We found Elvis and Diana, a great family, as we were looking through the directory, we felt they would be a good member to visit, the member actually moved to Italy, but we a found a less acive, Diana who was baptized when she was little then she was inactive when she moved. And the rest of the family aren't members, we were super excited when we found them, as we searched for more inspiration, it was wonderful, we hope to help them.
mom, I keep having this dream haha,like all the Peruvians tell us, that they have dreams all the time, almost all the investigators tell us that, that they have this crazy dream and they want us to interpret it haha it's great!
This dream I keep having is that I am playing basketball and I can't make my shots whatsoever! even the little bunnies haha.

And so all day I was thinking about what it means,because I keep having it, all throughout my mission. and then I finally understood the dream, it was that, I didn't understand my role, or sometimes we think we know our role, or to score, when it's something else. Knowing the will of God and the role HE has for us.

I know that to be true. I know we all have roles and we need to understand and find those roles that the Lord has planned for us in this life and the after.

Sorry for such the short letter... I had so much to tell, but I had some computer problems again..

but I love you guys.

love your son
elder clark

Columbia Candy-it is really sweet

The Frisancho family

Gross

Luck? I think not!

well, this week, like all weeks are filled with miracles. I love it.
We visited the Familia de Aguila yesterday. When we visit with active families, we have been asked to share the first vision. and as we began to start, the sister of the father walked in. Her name is Magdalena.
And it was such a miracle. as the timing was perfect, as we showed up a little late, the first visit was cancelled, and so this visit was so inspired. She almost died a couple years ago, as the doc said she only had 6 months to live. and the son of Cesar gave her a book of mormon awhile back and she was reading it. and she was interested in listening, it was such the grace of God.
Then Cesar gave us a refferal of his friend at work, who had found a pamphlet at work of the restoration. And he was super interested in the Book of Mormon and kept asking Cesar for one. But he wasn't able to get in contact with us, so he just said that we might be able to pass by on Sunday haha.
But then we decided that we should go and find him. We didn't know where he lived, however, as we were looking or walking up the hill we found him walking down the hill. And he stopped us and asked us who were looking for. And we said, ATILIO, and he said, thats me. Let's go!
The best part was when we said that we were going to give him a Book of Mormon, he asked how much it was. And it was awesome! He was so grateful that it was free! He was super happy. There are more details to the story with the schedule and all, how everything was set up. How he always took another path to leave his house, how we almost could have stayed longer in another lesson, all this stuff, but it was all part of His plan and how these people were ready to listen and to hear the TRUTH!
I love you mom!

Apple Fritter!

Service 

Happy Halloween! 

Ultimate Frisbee at the beach

I love you

Thank you for that amazing advice mom! It is so true. After having a rough week, of challenges out of reach, I don't give myself enough credit haha. I always put myself low... I was going to send a bunch of great pics and recordings ... but the computer had problems... with the memory and all this... but again the Lord knows how to humble me even more..
But mom don't think because I am ignorant you are too. I mean look at Noah haha. But I love you mom. I don't have any amazing stories to tell. Even though sometimes I feel like I always need to have them to share to prove that I am a good missionary or that I am actually working so hard. but I just need to trust more in him and understand that HE is the one that does it all...not us. And sometimes I feel like I need to tell you all some amazing story to look good. or fun pics. but Satan just tries to get me down on my self..
I mean sometimes or many times I forget the small things. Like after playing on the beach this pday, we came home to no water, and we had to go out and teach... it was rough haha. but in the night we came home and there was water at 11pm at night. for the first time in 5 months there was water.. the water goes after 4.  It was a miracle haha. The Lord knows every thing that we need, even to the smallest of things.
We were able to teach Richard this week with his wife and newly born. He told us of a great story how he had a dream many years ago, that Christ was in the air above him with light shining from him. and with his hands stretched out towards him, saying "come¨ wow. It was a great story. He said he woke up that morning with an amazing feeling that he never had felt and he still hasn't felt it until today. He accepted a date for the 28th, as a goal that if he feels that same feeling, then he will get baptized. They are a great family. please pray for them, so that he, Richard can have that feeling again, but it also depends on the will of the Lord.
but I love this family.
I complain too much ma- haha. Sometimes I forget of all the great blessings we have. even though we really don't have anymore legit investigators other than them. {but it's so great to be with them}
How is your friend mom? Has she been studying with you?
I love you mom! that's why I get so mad when I cant send pics haha.
love your son!
elder clark

Humility

hey mother. I hope that everything is going great at home spiritually.

I have been learning a lot about everything. haha. I have felt the power of the adversary trying to tell me how lame I am haha. or how unsuccessful I have been. I know that it is a test for me. you know my competition level is high and how I always think in the numbers haha. but he tries to get me down on this a lot. its hard. but I know this is just a preparation for the real stuff that happen. but I am doing great with my humble companion. I know I am with him so that I can learn how to be humble without being compelled to do so. It's hard to be humble with someone humble. It's easy to be humble with someone prideful haha. He was sick yesterday and today. I gave him some of mommers stuff and he freaked out and said it stings haha. but he is a softy, it's so funny.

I know that I am doing things more powerful than I can even comprehend. I am being obedient to the best . I have been striving to gain that true faith and  true desire to receive the grace of God through my repentance. I know He knows what I need to progress. I know He knows what you need mom and what dad needs an what noah needs. He is perfect. So His plan has to be perfect. I love you guys too much to explain in words. I want to make you guys feel proud, where my pride comes in haha. but I know that our Father wants the best for us.

I am sorry that I havent always written the best letters home. or had the best stories or even shared any today... but I am trying to be a better Son of my Father. A better son of you guys. I lack much. That's why I lack time here on the mission.

But I love you guys! never forget it. we are working hard to get our investigators to the temple.

The temple is everything! You guys are everything to me!

love your son

elder C/ark

Miracles

It was another super fast week....
But we had a wonderful experience with Richard. I don't know if you remember him. We found him a long time ago, back with elder soto. but he went out of town for 3 months and we found him again! We are super excited. We got to watch the restoration video with him and his family in the church. It was very interesting as he told us how he was shocked how people don't believe Joseph Smith. And how more people should know about this story! It was so cool. The spirit was there! It was crazy! And there is always opposition when we teach the first vision! A phone rings or someone walks in the door, knocks on the door.a baby crys haha.  And this time it was his wife's phone haha, however it didn't phase him, he still let the spirit touch his heart and he kept watching with real intent, even though we could barely hear it with the bad sound system haha. But afterwards he said, where can I buy this video haha, it was great, we are so blessed to be working with him. We are very excited!
There are more miracles to share , but they will have to be saved for the [all time video] in the after life haha.
love elder clar{

The prodigal son

This week was so great. Saturday we had a great lesson with Pedro, the brother of José, one of my great friends here. We were with him and his family of Pedro, and he is also a returned missionary. At first he sad that he wasn't going to go to church, but as he felt the spirit, we were led to the wonderful story of the prodigal son, and how he is just like him, and how he needed to decide to go now or not. Wow was it just so powerful as he walked in the chapel 30 mins early, wow, with all of his family for the 1st time in 6 years. It was so wonderful. Sometimes think, if it weren't for me, it wouldn't of happened, but it was the Lord, through the Holy Ghost he felt the power of the story, to return to his FATHER. wow it was so great.

He told us how he felt like he is that son. and how he wants to return. I will never forget it.

THE POWER of the ATONEMENT IS REAL.

elder clar[

*here's a bit from his letter to his Mom:
We baptized Dina acha Chiara this past week. It was wonderful, all turned out great. but my camera was dead haha.. so I don't have any pics..
I want to let you know as I was remembering the family it really helped me push through, have more love, work with more diligence & help the people here. Even though I don't do anything -I am nothing -just an instrument, which is the greatest part! I'm so lucky to be here! As I think about it more & more it's just amazing! I love it!

Miracles

wow where do I start.. miracles miracles miracles.

Too many to count.  This weekend was filled of doctrinal truths that are so profound but they could be understood by a young child.

We had many that were shocked by the powerful words that were spoken from the holy prophets that we were able to hear.

I have had tooo many things to touch on these past two weeks, I dont know where to start haha.

but yesterday,, we were able to find a family that we lost contact with, for about 3 months straight, it was crazy. Their names are Richard and Violeta, wow are we so excited to work with them. They are so prepared. They are family of the family of Wilmer and Norma. We found them together, it was beautiful as Norma began to testify of the truth and power of the words of the prophet to Richard and Violeta. She hadn't heard the prophet's voice before. but she for sure felt something.

but after there was a change in the plans as we received a call, that a member wanted to talk with us, it was sketchy, but we ended up going. He was kind of down and out, he ended up telling us that he wanted us to teach his mother in law that was in town because his wife was sick. Imagine if we wouldn't have gone to meet with him in front of the old church! Yes Ben the small one on the corner. yeah we don't use it any more-it's abandoned. As we were waiting for him, a man pulled up from the other stake and presented us to his friend, he drove us over to her house with her family, then he took us to his family's house who are less active, then we gave a blessing to his son who fell from the 3rd floor of his house.. and nothing happend to him.

At first I didn't want to meet with him. but then I had to trust it was HIS WILL. I love the phrase we heard this past weekend, about his will, if it is something uncomfortable, something we didn't excpect, then most likely it's his will. Then we know it is His will.

I am so glad that we went to meet with him.

He knows what He is doing.

ALL THINGS ARE HIS WILL. He love us. Nothing we can do can take that love away.

elder Clar4

The Lord's will not mine

wow I dont know where to start.

But with today, my comp had a little unknown accident in the back area. So we went to the doctor, in Peru. We waited in line for a while and had to get papers to wait. First come first serve kind of thing. So he had to see 2 doctors, and stand in 10 lines, no joke. But the thing was that we lost lots of personal time for the preparation day, so we tried hurrying out by taking a taxi. Because the only thing that is here for transportation are the buses and taxis.

so we took a taxi, but it took us to the opposite side of where we were headed.. another 50 min the other way haha. So the taxi man got mad and kicked us out and we paid him haha.  So we were just in some other mission for sure haha. But with the little money we had left we took another taxi to get back, and the trip was long, but something we always do is contact every taxi or moto we take. My companion doesn't like it haha. He's a little shy, I love it though haha. And this time was special. As we gained his confidence and just talked, we began to ask him about his family and all that, he began to ask about us. We began with the most powerful tool, the Book of Mormon. As we told him of the visit of our ONE and ONLY Savior Jesus Christ, when he came to this part of the world. It was so powerful, as many don't know of this story. He was surprised. Then we were able to help him (Jorge)be able to know a little of how we got it. With the other greatest story in the history of the church, the restoration of the gospel, as a prophet of God was guided to plates. Wow was he caught. Jorge said, wow I never knew, I mean I am catholic, but I never knew that HE came here. And that there was pure evidence, a third testament of HIM.

as we arrived we got his info and were able to send it to the other zone. But as we gave him the Book of Mormon his eyes lit up as if it were the 4 of July on steroids haha. He was so shocked that I would just give him a book so special to him, even if he didn't read  it yet. But then we left him with a chapter to read. the best chapter, 3 nephi:11 haha. I love it so much. And then he wouldn't stop asking when we were going to come to his house, if it was going to be us or someone else, and when haha.

but after everything , I realized how the Lord guided us all the way, away for my will to HIS. As I just had to stay calm, I was ready with the spirit or we were ready. even though we had no idea. It began as we let HIS WILL become ours. And I know it was His will, because it was too crazy and extraordinary for it to be anyone elses but HIS.

I know he blesses those who trust in HIS will as we see HIS HAND in everything, to bless the lives of all, not just ours.

Elder Clurk

Pedro & José

Well computer problems again.. I can't send anything.. haha it's the worst, it gets me all frustrated...

But this was very interesting we were able to teach the father of brother Jose. All of his family are less actives, it's super sad, but his father isn't a member. He wasn't too excited going into the lesson as the first lesson he was kinda just like whatever ya ya, as he has listened to many missionaries teach him. He was just listening and said he would read the book of mormon, but he didn't read.. it was sad, however, we had a lesson yesterday with him (Pedro). Then we were able to guide him, not just give him all the answers and just talk, but help him truly feel the Holy Ghost & for the first time he felt something different. It was great.  He said, I feel good, I feel calm. He asked questions as he wanted to learn more. He is very Catholic. He has his line, he said. But there was a large difference I felt as I have a love for this family. I felt the spirit guide us to say what he needed us to say. As we read one of my favorite chapters with him in 3 nephi 11, explaining to him the voice and the people and how it applys to him and how we want him to listen to the voice and not to us. And how the Father really spoke to us and presented HIS SON, when he visited us. He began to feel something different. We then read in 2 nephi 33, 10-11. as nephi testifies to us the truth of the words of Christ and how in the end all will know if he really came here. He sat there thinking and pondering over the words that he just read. Then José shared a scripture a little more after Christ came when Christ testifies that Jerusalem isn't the only place that he is going to visit, but that there are other sheep. As he heard the testimony of his newly changed son, he thought about what was sad, and was able to feel.

I have felt this love for him as none other, it's very powerful.

 I know the words of Christ are true and are the words that will save us only if we trust in HIS words and have true faith in them and HIM as we act upon them, we will truly change and become better sons and daughters of HIM.


EldEr Clark

PS I have taken the challenge of Elder Bednar and I am reading the Book of Mormon, as he invited us to study it with a topic of steadfastness.  I am looking for every bit of context that talks about that topic. And I have begun my bookshelf. I am loving studying it like that. And yes I am doing it in English, I have found power in this language it's interesting. I am going to study the Book of Mormon like this for the rest of my life. I love it! I am already in 2nephi25 haha. I love it!

Norma's Baptism

WOW this week was great. But too fast for me. My comp is still funny as can be. He's too humble though haha, he makes me want to repent, for how prideful I am haha.

First we saw another wonderful miracle of the baptism of Norma, as she has changed a ton just over these past few days, and they are preparing to enter into the temple to do baptisms for the dead. WE are very excited for that, she has many names to do. And they have that special goal that from a year from now, they are going to enter in the temple as a family and be sealed forever as a family. It has been a wonderful weekend for the Escobal family.

We found another family that lives up on the last house of the huge hill again! The dad (fidel) wasn't too excited at first, but after the lesson he expressed that he truly was caught and hooked in to listen more and learn more about the book of mormon. Wow it was great to see the spirit work, with his family of 4, as Fidel's wife is a less active, but wants to come back and help her family know of the TRUTH as well!

And with jose, he had a great experience as the last week, we talked with him about missionary work, we were able to invite him to share the gospel with someone & we gave him a pass along card.

 Saturday morning when he was on his way to work, he couldn't decide whether to sleep on the long bus ride or to study the Liahona, so he decided to study, and there was a seat next to him open, and he noticed that someone was watching him and so he looked over and it was an old friend. Lizardo, they hadn't seen each other for about 10 yrs, and the first thing that his friend asks him is, "hey what about that book?" 10 yrs ago José had given him a book of mormon after he got off of the mission. and he remembered! wow. and justamente, José had his book of mormon  in his bag. so he pulled it out and gave his friend a little intro, about the book of mormon, as he used the little pictures in the front. wow. and then he gave him the pass along card. It was wonderful. His friend was instantly interested since he loves to read. 

José explained his feelings that he had that day as he was so happy that we had invited him to share the gospel. And it was interesting because we had told him of the many chances and opportunites that there are, and we even mentioned the person to the side of you on the bus. And its true, we need to search for these opportunities in life, the Lord is guiding us and putting us in their path, we just need to take courage and just share what we know with all! José shared the joy and love that he felt as he felt his testimony grow, and his conversion increase!

Wow if only every member could do that, but the good thing is that we can.

We just need to understand more of the grace of God, and the love he gives us everyday, to be able to have what we really have. Those who are truly converted or at least striving to, share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the message of the Restoration of the LIGHT and HOPE!

elder ¿lark

Norma's Baptism