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

Pray until you have Faith

Sorry I don't think I will be sending any pics for the rest of the mission. I am too scared to loose all of my stuff...I lost all of my videos and lots of my pics last week... I am super sad. But hey, the Lord knows why.
Thank you for your prayers mom. Last Saturday we were finally able to find his house. But only his wife was there. Please pray for them. Jorge Lopez and Vanessa. I want to help them so bad. I have high hopes for them really. We have a lesson with them at 6 tonight. I hope they are there and that they can feel the spirit.
I was going over how everything happened this morning and how blessed I was to come here. And how I found him and how crazy it is haha. But really I hope and pray that they can feel the spirit and make those changes in their lives. It was so relieving to find them.
We are working with some great people, first Edgar Vasquez, he is my favorite. He really has a special spirit to him, when he was born part on his right arm and leg and mouth came out weird or something.. so he doesn't speak too well, but his is 22 yrs old and is really smart and we have the wonderful blessing to baptize him this Saturday, we are super excited! I love him so much. He's not special, he just has some physical problems, but he is super cool I love him so much. His sister is a recent convert, she is great. Leydi is her name.
My area is huge. just huge, you should look it up?
Do you know it Uncle Ben spoke with his convert from Peru Carlos??
And do you know if I am in his area? In his last area?

So I was reading something that I really liked in Helaman 5.40-42,47 where it talks about receiving faith. I have always looked for that. And there it was , to pray UNTIL you have faith. I love that.

I have just been flying throught the Book of Mormon. It's awesome. I cant wait for Mother's day to hear all of your questions and to see your beautiful faces haha..
Love
ejder Clark

Villa Maria

So there is a lot to be said.

First it was really hard to leave...especially both of my pensionistas, who were like my mother to me, really they were so loving. They were so kind and fun. So that was the hardest to leave them, Sister Lupe and Sister Rocio, along with them it was hard to leave the Ascona family, the family we rescued.. wow that was super hard as well.

We had a get together before I left Monday morning. So on Sunday night, and wow, it was fun, but super sad, with tears and all haha, but it was great to see them, and all their love they had for me and their love for God.


But wow, it was such a miracle to help everyone get to the temple. Lupe went with Rocio, they are like best friends. So that was super amazing. They went with all of her daughters as well.  And we took the Ascona family as well, it was their first time for all of them. It was super amazing. A great experience for them.
We also did a huge service with Carlos, I got to work with him from 10 till 4 pm in the afternoon haha, putting down this ceiling of cement. That was super tiring haha, but it was great to be with his family. He said he was going to call Uncle Ben the next day being last Friday.
However, I did get transfered, and now I am back in Lima, in Villa Maria. I heard that Ben when back to Lima to finish his mission??
My new comp is Elder Morales, he is awesome. He was friends with Elder Llontop. They are both from the same stake in Chiclayo. Super crazy haha. And we are inthe same zone.

But the crazy story to all this was, that a while back I had a dream that I came here to this zone in Villa Maria. And so all week last week, I was saying that I was coming here haha. But even better the story gets.. haha. I don't know if you remember when I was with Elder Sejas about a while back and we went to the hospital and we took a taxi and I contacted this guy and it was super insane how we got lost and by the Lord's will we were super lost and far away, we took his taxi and I gave him a Book of Mormon and he was super interested, I figured out last night that he is in my area!!! We haven't gone to his house yet, but soon we will.
there is more to be said. But I am super excited to be here.
And time is flying.. wow.. I miss you guys and cant wait to see you soon!!!
I love you so much!
Etder Clark
are you excited for mother's day?
love you mom!! really I do, I hope you have the best anniversary!!

No church on Sunday?

This week was funny, I thought yesterday was Monday. haha..
We didn't go to church yesterday haha. That may sound just super crazy!! haha
Because of the elections yesterday, nobody can have a meeting, even in the church! haha
Things are getting better, we have plans to get 9 people to the temple.
Rocio and her daughters and German and Jose and Julia and Cesar, some we are rescuing, this is really the best thing!! We are so haapppy!!! It really never happens, it's really hard to do. I've never done it haha!!
We found a new family again this week. Jorgez and Milta, they are super evangelist. They pray super loud, and it makes me want to say hallelujah!! haha, it's so funny and fun!! I love it haha
They are super interesting. They live super far away, it really was a miracle, it took us an hour to find them haha..
I love you mom,
6lder Clark

April 2016 General Conference

Julia had her baby!

This conference, was my fav. really it was so great. I was thinking of you guys the whole time!! I miss biscuits and gravy haha!! All I had was some crackers haha. But we all got the same message. It was wonderful, really, to hear the prophet with his powerful messages. Elder Uchtdorf's talks this conference were my favorite, along with Elder Holland, like always.  I loved them so much. There is never a time when I don't think of you guys! I think of you guys so much, really.
I feel of your prayers.

Mom what can I do for you?

Dad what can I do for you guys?
I hope there is something I can do, really I want to help. I hope I am not a pain every week, lacking all the details I forget when I come to write you guys haha. I am sorry about that haha.
I want to buy Rocio something for her birthday. They never have gone to the movies and I want to spoil them. Haha because they have nothing. like nothing. So it would be great if you could put more money in the card, I am sorry for asking. I feel bad...sorry.
My favorite quote from conference was:
We get credit for trying, even if we don't succeed.

This is grace, this is his love. He loves us, and the least we could do for him is show that love we have for Him.
elder ciark

my favorite conference quotes!!! haha

After Saturday conference party with chicken.

This is Jazel, he is a recent convert. And he is going to the states. He wants to get married in the Salt Lake Temple!! He is my fav. they are awesome!

New companion-Elder Villanueva

I got a new companion his name is Elder Villanueva, he is from Colombia. He's good.
Wow, it was so beautiful, the whole baptism. It was my new comps fiirst baptism. So that was good. When they all bore their testimony at the end of the meeting, you could really feel their conversion that they had had. It was so powerful! Especially Sister Rocio, she is the mom.  She was converted before she was baptized!! It was such a testimony builder for me!!
Rocio, Andrea, Angeles, and Brenda- they are all like family. Really they are so awesome!!
Andrea was super catholic before and wow she has changed so much, really like a ton. The way she dresses, talks and she goes to seminary now, well even before she was baptized she went as well. It was super awseome!!!
German payed his tithing last week as well, wow that was also super cool to see. He wrote on his tithing slip that he pays his tithing and prays for his family and his work and his kids, it was the cutest thing I had ever seen really. It was awesome!!! He was always asking us how much he should pay if he were to gain such amount , it was so cool!!
I love you mom so much!!
love your son
8lder Clark