Wow! What a wonderful successful week I have had!

Hola Otra Ves Mi Familia!

Wow! What a wonderful successful week I have had! Me and Elder Pastor have taught probably more lessons in a week then I have ever had so far! It was great. I'll tell you about two of these people that we taught and then about a wonderful experience I had just yesterday (Sunday)

So we taught Andrea again. Elder Pastor once again spoke excellent spanish (with theta included) and I did my best to comprehend and teach the parts I was meant to teach. We taught the 10 commmandments, with emphasis on obedience and keeping the sabboth day holy. It went very well and it's always so cool to see how more comfortable and calm and with the spirit Elder Pastor is when he teaches in Spanish. I think he worries to much when he teaches in english because he hasn't taught that much in English. He speaks it extroadinarily well. He even knows slang phrases and has a pretty good vocabulary. Anyway It went very well and the spirit was strong as usual.

This week we also taught a part member family. His name is Chris Alcasid, and he's the husband of a member named Jennifer Hansen (a lot of these people here keep their respective last names). We had been trying to get him to accept the lessons for a while and he just recently, and reluctantly accepted. I had been waiting so long to teach this family, and now we have to chance too. So we got in and began teaching. We taught a wonderful first with the climax of The Restoration coming to me. I told the story of Joseph Smith and recited the first vision. As I was reciting the first vision, Elder Pastor randomly pulled out a picture of the first vision he had in his back pack. It kind of distracted me at first because I had no idea what he was pulling out and extending towards Chris, I looked back and though "Oh! A picture . . . cool. XD" and I continued. I bore testimony and later we challanged him to pray to know if what we taught was true. He was kind of sceptical, but he accepted. He thanked Heavenly Father for a lot, gave a long pause and then said Ahmen. It was kind of a downer, but I understand. It seems he's a bit worried or something about taking a big step like that. So it seems that we need to just get him over that doubt that he has. At the end me and elder Pastor bore testimony of why we are here. I was almost to tears saying that It would mean the world to share what I know to others. I saw in Chris' eyes that he was touched by our testimonies. I'm sure if we keep him spiritually fed all will be well. I'm sure his wife Jennifer will help as well.

Last but definately not least I want to share what I wrote in my journal after a very interesting experience I had just yesterday. Afterwards I will address you guys seperately.

We were driven by Elder Alldredge and Elder Anderson to Shane's house which had burned down the previous night. This morning they recieved a message from him that this had happened and he had went to the hospital due to Carbon momoxide poisoning. When we arrived at the house my heart sank at the sight. of it. He had lost everything . . . This man who was so innocent, and dealt with so much including his son stealing money and showing disrespect to him (this was the same guy I visited on Feb 5 2010). Now all of his belongings had burned away excepft for a select few things in the garage. Shane went to the 7/11 to grab a drink and I talked to this old lady who was a relative of Shane. She told me how it all happened and how Shane scrambled to get her out of the house ane save as many things as possible, which wasn't much until the smoke got to him. The old lady showed me to the back, where the source of the fire was. The scene was horrific. Everything was burnt. Broken glass and ash littered the ground. THe orange tree was charred and blackened. It was such a sad sight to see. Amongst the sadness though a thought came into my head. How easily these things were burnt . . . Shane even said it himself "You never think it will happen to you, and when it does it happens so fast." How true that is. I asked myself "What is left that this man has?" The asnwer came to me immediately. The love of our savior. His support and his gospel is eternal. Nothing can burn that. The love we have for our family and our friends cannot be distroyed . One may pass before the other, but in the end we will all be together. It's indistructable! Nothing can distroy it, and I have my Lord and Savior to thank for that. On the car ride hiome the song "There is a Green Hill Far Away" was playing. I love the last lines which says something along the lines of "We must trust in his reedeming blood and try his works to do." There are so many things I don't understand in this world, but this I do know. Jesus' Atonement is forever. This is why I am on a mission. If I can give someone that gift, the gift that never goes away, that can never be burned, broken, or distroyed. If I can give that to someone, I have given them an Eternal gift, one that wil never diminish, so that the man who may lose all of his temperal belongings will still have that eternal gift, that Jesus Christ lives. That his church is on the earth and we can witness the blessings of his atoning sacrifice, and recieve the comfort that comes from his eternal love for us. I know that he loves us and knows what all of us is going through and I longed for them to have what I have, to know what I know. I want them to be able to have that comfort that he Holy Ghosty can bring especially in those times of trouble.

One last think I want to mention. The Eternal perspective is sucha great way to view the world. For example: THings such as hobbies, and other side things can parish. NOt that those things are wrong, but such as family, friends, and our heavenly father, those things are insignificant in comparison. Looking unto those who love us wil give us everlasting joy that will never go away. Despite all odds, even with all the powers and fires of Hell ascending up towards us, it fairs no match to the eternal love of those who care about us, especially our Heavenly Father, who will love us always. I love this church, my family, and all that Heavenly father has given me, especially his love. I know this church is true, and I know Jesus lives. I want nothing more than the world to come to the same conclusions I have come to, and live in happiness as brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father together in happiness. The worth of souls is great in the eyes og God, and I'm starting to see why. I love my brothers and my sisters. I want them to be happy. I'm going to do what it takes.

That was the journal entry I hope you enjoyed it. It trully made a huge impact on me. Well time to address you guys

Dad: Nice to hear that your tennis, video games, and computer repairing week was a good one ^_^;. Don't apologize for the jumble of thoughts. I just enjoy reading what you have to say in general. Speaking of tennis I really miss hitting with you dad. I've probably said this already, but I really wish I could've taken more advantage of the time we had to play tennis. Oh well, when I get back we will totally play as much as possible. I've been playing a lot with Elder Pastor. He is actually from Madrid Spain, to answer your question. Anyway, my serve is starting to improve as I practice it more often. Thank you so much for teaching me Dad, you have no idea how much that means to me. Other then that my back hand is looking really good, but my forehand is really sucking. I'm able to hit the grounders with no problem, but the ones that are a bit above my head either go into the net or far out. Do I need to fix my swing or my timing or something? Ahh, I'll figure it out. Anyway, glad to here your keeping yourself busy. Hope all is well for you, and as always I love you.

Mom: Wow! Sounds like you had an awesome time in Utah. I'm glad you got to see Dallen H Oaks! He's a pretty genuine speaker. He doesn't have the same power of Jeffery R. Holland, but he definately has the calm, simple, and genuine testimony that really hits ya if you listen. That's pretty cool you went to a concert as well. I have a couple of Micheal McLean songs and he is pretty good. I'm glad you had such a great time. Oh, and before I forget, I am also very VERY excited to talk to you guys on Mother's Day ^_^. I am able to use the cell phone that the give us to use so it won't be hard for me to call multiple times. On Sunday church services go from 1 to 4. So I could possible call around then wich will probably be 8 or 9 o'clock your guys time. I'm pretty sure you guys will be there at that time. Good thing I'm not in China or anything or calling you guys would be a bit difficult ^_^;. Well anyway thanks for the card you sent me! I do enjoy getting tangable mail every now and then. I love you very much mom. I hope this week goes well for you

Rachel: Heeeey! thanks so much for giving me the update. I'm so glad you and Brady had an awesome time at the prom. I completely forgot my anti-grinding dance XD. Ohhh how I laughed when you mentioned that ^_^. You need to spread my legacy Rachel! Teach them! heheh ^_^. Anyway by how you talk about Brady and how he seems to treat you and protect you from the 10 o'clock grinders at the prom he seems like a really good guy, and more importantly he's more close to your age ;) heheheh XD. You mentioned how you asked dad what he thought of him. You got to understand Rachel guys don't really get into the details. We pretty much see the big picture and that's it. So yeah, Ben wasn't that bad of a person. He, like dad said, was insane in the membrand :P heheh. I wish I could've been there when he said he was psychotic XD. Well, you also expressed concern for connecting with dad. Hmm. . . well it was true that it was easier for me and lance because we can do stuff like play tennis and video games with him. I'll tell you something that Elder Alldredge, my trainer, taught me. If you really want to connect with someone you have to open your mind and expose your stuff to the things that other people like. For example you know that song by Metro Statcion "Shake it"? Well I pretty much HATE that song. But lots of people love it! He taught me that if I look at the positives of that song, and concintrate on the things that I like about that song, because there are good things in that song, then I will come to appreciate and even like that song. By having that different perspective, a whole new genre of music can be opened to me and I can connect with more people because we have more in common. It's all about getting over the things that you don't like, and focusing on the good. So maybe try playing some games, listening to some Rush or Kiss, and maybe trying to go to the Tennis courts with Dad once and a while. I know that's when me and dad were able to talk to the most. Out on the tennis courts and playing some games. Other then that, just try not worry about it. Dad loves you and he shows it in many ways. Just try to focus on that. Other then that I hope you do well and school and that you have a great week. I know you can do it sis. I defantely can't wait to call you this Sunday and here those wonderful 4 words from you mouth "boom Boom BOOM. . . MUFFINS!!!" XD I love you so much Rachel. You mean so much to me, and it's true. These next few years will go by so fast. So enjoy it while it lasts and live for the day! Take Care

Well have a great week guys. I love you all

-Elder Clark

P.S. I have decided to shun Andy. It's an Amish techinique. It's like slapping someone with silence