SERVICE AND FELLOWSHIP

Well, I think it's finally getting cold here. We're supposed to get our first snow fall this week. It's been such a nice fall here though... I'm sad to see it go. We've done a ton of service this last week. We met a new family that moved here from Germany. They're remodeling an older house, so we helped them with a few things. We cut down some trees, helped somebody move, and went and volunteered at an old folks home this week. I love service so much. I feel like I never really cared about service or understood it, but since I've seen it have an impact on people, I've absolutely loved being able to do it. It's just a great way to show people how much you love them or how much you love Heavenly Father.

Right now we're teaching a guy named Kevin who is a recovering addict. To be honest, most of the people we teach in our area, are in some kind of rehab or recovery system. We try really hard to get them to focus on spiritual things and how it can help their lives. Scriptures, prayer, and church can have a big difference in an addict’s life. The concept of commitment is the hardest thing to get them to understand. Kevin's been really cool to teach though. He hasn't had much of a religious background in his life, but he's dating a girl in the church now and I think she's helping a lot.

We're teaching another lady named, Carmen. Her husband is a less-active member, and they're both recovering addicts. She's really knowledgeable about the Gospel though. She knows more than most members do. She's going to get baptized when she graduates from her rehab program. It should be around the middle of December.

This week we're going over to one of our Ward Mission Leader's houses to bake some goods to give out to people in the area that we teach. We're going to bake some cookies and a few pies. We're trying to think of creative ways to do missionary work here, so if you have any cool ideas, let me know. :)

I hope everyone is getting ready and excited for the holiday season!! I can't wait for some snow!! I love and miss all of you!! And of course, I love and miss Taylor Lindsey and Ralphie the most!! :)

Love, Elder Clark

P-Day Fun.

FRIENDS REVISITED

Wow! I feel like this has been a really long week... In a good way though. We've been pretty busy with service and being involved in the community. It's a lot of fun being in downtown Salt Lake City. There are just a lot of fun and interesting people, and you definitely get both ends of the spectrum.

One of our recent converts, Wang Yu, who got baptized about 3 months ago, just had his visa expire and couldn't get it renewed. So today he left to go back to Shanghai, China. He was able to receive the priesthood before he left though! He wants to go on a mission and help the church grow in China. He's a great guy, and I hope that I'll be able to keep in touch with him.

We got to go to the Salt Lake temple on Friday. It was amazing! We had a HUGE group for the session, about 220 people. Let's just say it took us about 3 hours to complete.... It was really cool though. The Spirit is always so strong when you're at the temple. After the temple, we did a chili dinner and talent show. They gave us all candy for Halloween and a bunch of leftover food to take home. The talent show wasn't all that great... Haha. I would have rather just stayed home and caught up on some sleep. We didn't get home till about 10:30. (Pictures from the Halloween Dinner are on this post).

The weather's been getting colder here, and I think I'm already sick. It doesn't help that we don't have a car and are outside all the time. I'll live though. :) Jose is doing so well. He even got one of the less-active people that we work with a job. (Pictures of Jose’s baptism are shown on this post).

We met a guy this last week named Frank, and apparently he just wants to get baptized. He asked us if he could just go ahead and do it... He said he was pretty sure that he was on board with everything, and just wanted to do it. Pretty cool! We still have to meet with him though, to teach him and get him to church. It looks promising though. :) 

On Saturday I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Plummer, who I served by out in WY. He is now serving in the Ensign stake up in the avenues, which was my first area. But what's even funnier is that he just got transferred from the Highland stake in Holladay, which was my second area... Haha. Anyways, we did exchanges because Linda and Leslie (my Kentucky friends) came up here to take us out to lunch. Linda cried and hugged the crap out of me when I saw her. She did the whole pinch your cheeks and everything. They both are doing well, working as nurses and trying their best to get along. They still bicker back and forth. Linda hasn't joined the church yet, but I'm still praying for her all the time. It was really good to see both of them, and now that I’m closer I'm sure I'll be able to see them a lot more. (Pictures of Linda and Leslie with Elder Plummer and myself are on this post).

I just want you all to know how much I love this work and this Gospel. It's been a great 9 months, even though it's absolutely flown by. I feel like it's all been a dream so far... Like I'm going to wake up and it will feel like it never actually happened. I'm telling you, time is totally different when you're a missionary 24/7... I love and miss every single one of you so much. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well and remembering what the important things are in life. Of course, I love and miss Taylor Lindsey and Ralphie the most. 

Love, Elder Clark