Two Very Challenging Weeks

May 28, 2012

 

Blast! you already sent the package?  That's funny.  Well, for the next one I only wanted to ask for the following: rock rings, with cordlet, and two simple carabiners to hang them; and music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Oh, and I already have a lot of office supplies.  Next time I don´t think you will need to send any. 

 

This week has been super crazy.  We had a lot of investigators give up.  One seniora we have been teaching lied to us about smoking and didn't come to church.  But, the good news is that we are working with the members much better and that we have a family to marry and baptize!  Magno and Marilene!  They are doing super well!  Magno worked the night shift Saturday night and he still went to church!  Things are going pretty well here.  I'm learning a lot and working through problems with my comp and pretty much everyone else.

 

I've decided that we should have a lot of respect for teachers at church and anywhere else. It's super hard to teach when people don't understand, but I have also found that teaching is super rewarding and fun when you actually help people to learn.  Moral of the story: be teachable, and teach others with love and patience.

 

"I am a man, and I can change if i have to, I guess.....

We're all in this together!"

 

Love, Elder Clark

 

Happy b-day, Dan!!!!!  Good luck, Ellis!!!!!!

June 4, 2012

 

Hey. Liza!

 

Sorry I haven't been able to get a letter off lately.  I like to write for as long as I can, and then p-day ends and I get stuck with a letter that didn't get sent.  You all will get a huge one in the next few weeks though.  This transfer has been super stressful, but I have lost a lot of weight too, so that's a plus.  (Did you know that if you eat food with a lot of lemon its harder to gain weight?)  I have been making a lot of fresh lemonade in the mornings and I've also been eating oatmeal.    

 

I hope the marriage worked out well and that you weren't too upset.  Change is rough.  

 

I have been thinking a lot lately about loving people and how I can do my job better as a missionary.  My comp has decided that I'm a heartless robot, but I think he is wrong.  The whole thing has become a problem in our relationship.  The problem is that I am not completely right or wrong, and we both need to change.  It's hard to find a balance between efficiency and caring individually for people, giving people help and letting them stand on their own two feet.  

 

Well, that's about it for today.

I love you, Liza.

 

Ben

 

June 4, 2012

 

Dear Family,

 

So this week has been interesting.  It started out great, then Tuesday we had a big disagreement in our companionship.  We both got sick (sick to the stomach -- feeling really weak and achy and we had colds).  In fact, I don't have much good news, but I did learn a lot.  I had an epiphany when I was washing dishes to cool down because I was mad at my comp.  Damnation and damming a river.  When you dam a river you stop or slow its progression, and don't allow it to be a part of something greater than itself (the ocean).  Damnation in the scriptures is kind of like that progress is stopped and those that are damned are prohibited from being a part of Zion.  So, I decided that that's not what I want to do, so I will try to be cool and do my best to work things out with my comp.  

 

Oh boy, Ellis really got married.  You know that is super weird and exciting, but unfortunately I feel really disconnected from my life there, so I think it will have to sink in when I get home in a year and 3 months. 

 

Out of time.

 

Love you all.  I'll finish the story next week

 

Love, Ben

 

Speaking in Church on Short Notice

Hey, sorry this letter will be really short.  I have been working through lots of problems with a member here and I used a lot of time to write the President of the Mission.  

 

I thought I would forget all of this crazy stuff that's happening here, and write a short letter about last Sunday.  So we had quite a few people at church with us -- a family that we will marry/baptize these next few weeks, and a bunch of other really promising investigators.

 

When I got to church, the Secretary told me that I had a talk to give --  Speaker #3 and I had to fill 20 minutes.  Yeah, so that was a surprise.  My talk didn't end up being spectacular, and it didnt help that the mic in that chapel is really scratchy and hard to understand.  During my talk the 3 year old son of the familly that will get married and baptized started to hand me all my books and my bag over the pulpit.  So that was pretty funny.  I love you all.

 

Ben

Paper Letter Home, March-April 2012

March 26, 2012

I've really started to love missionary work.  I get to see people's lives change, start over, and become a part of a big family.  I feel like I have come to understand myself and my purpose in life.  Before my mission, I wasn't certain about a lot of my beliefs, but now more and more of my doubts have left.  I know that God is our loving Father in Heaven.  He has a plan for each of us, a plan of happiness.  I'm far from home in a strange country where it's hot and people don't speak my language, studying, teaching, working 12 hours a day.  But I feel good about it.  When I work and share my happiness with others, and teach the gospel, I feel happy, loved.  It's tough sometimes when people don't understand or don't want what I have to give or when I just can't seem to explain in a way that they understand.  But every one in a while, I find someone that is prepared to hear, that wants to learn, and it's priceless.

I have been teaching a 30 year old man (Edson).  He is separated from his wife (they weren't married, but had 3 kids).  He had problems with drugs, poverty, and lack of opportunities, but he is really intelligent.  His two sons, Joemerson and Endleson, I got to baptize.  He is still preparing.  But, I have seen him change.  When I met him he was a bit rough, would only listen at times.  Now he is excited to learn more and make a better life for his family.  During one of our lessons he was talking about his plans for his sons, to start a new like, build a house, get baptized, and he started to cry.  I couldn't hold it back completely either.  (Picture a stocky construction worker -- Edson.) I've been blessed to be able to serve here.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that God is a god of miracles, and that Jesus Christ restored his church to the earth. 

Ben
April 2, 2012

Dear Family,

Today has been pretty crazy.  P-days, I think should be days more relaxing, but somehow they never work out like that.  We study like normal, then 10:30 we go to the bank and the internet cafe.  We usually eat lunch with a member family then go back to the apartment.  There at the apartment I clean, wash dishes, mop the floor, clean the bathroom, wash my clothes by hand (we have a washing machine but it doesn't really wash clothes), then use the washer, and write letters.  I'm doing this stuff while my comp sleeps.  It's nice just to think about family, without distractions.

Today is a bit different, we are going to Villa dos Cobanos to have a zone p-day.  We will watch a movie and eat lunch and then return to Abaetetuba.  The problem is Villa is 1 1/2 hours away.  I don't think that this p-day will be very productive.

I did get to read a few of the e-mails you all sent me (I will read the rest a bit later).  Wow!  Ellis, you're getting married?  That's crazy!  I wish you two the best!  Our family is changing.  I'm excited to see how our family will change and adapt, meet and overcome challenges.  Sorry about my writing.  I'm riding on a bus half on the road because there are pot holes everywhere.

The other day, I ran into an old family of investigators.  We had stopped visiting them because they never went to church.  I shared with them Ether 12:16 where Moroni talks about faith.  Faith in Christ will allow us to hope for a better world with an assurance that it will arrive.  I have read this verse a lot in Portuguese.  It's interesting how verses at times give slightly different meanings in Portuguese.  The verse reads (vs. 4) "Por tanto todos os que crem em Deus podem, com seguranza, esperar por um mundo melhor, sim, vem pela fe e e uma aneora para a Alma dos homens...."  [alot of accent marks, etc... missing -- my fault (Sue)].  Esperar means to hope OR to wait in Portuguese.  I thought that was interesting.  It makes you think about it more and in a slightly different light.  I think it's the same in our situations.  I'm on a mission, Ellis is getting hitched, Eliza is going to leave for college!  All these things can be scary or challenging, but if we do all these things with faith in Christ we can hope/wait for a better world to come.

A few of you asked about my Portuguese and how it's coming along.  Well, it's getting tons better.  And I have been much more confident when speaking to people.  I don't really dream with words very often, but yes I have dreamed in Portuguese.  I think a lot in Portuguese.  When I write, I translate from Portuguese to English at times.

April 16, 2012

Well, yesterday I had a frightening experience.  I was walking down the street with Elielson during a split (almost 9 p.m.) heading towards the pad.  We were walking by an entrance to some sort of rave/party/concert (really horrible music) and some woman walks by us and grabbed/stroked my shoulder and made indescribable you-know-you-want-it gestures.  AAAhhhhh!  Needless to say we got out of there fast.  That is definitely an area that I will not walk at night again.

Well that's my scary story for today.  I have been really engulfed in Jesus the Christ by Talmage.  I read it every chance I get at the apartment.  I really love how he explains everything that the Lord says many times in church or seminary when I came across some of the sayings of Christ, I feel like he is too harsh or I understand the meaning of his words in the wrong way.  But in the book, Talmage explains the contexts, everything, and I find it much easier to understand and grow from Christ's words rather than be offended.  I think that it is really important (understanding).  At one point in Christ's ministry, he reproved John the Baptist who was at that point in prison; he said, "Blessed is he who is not offended in me."  A quick glance at the words Christ used may give the impression of disconcern, but he meant consolation, support and loving correction.

Love you guys.  I'm really focused but I think of you all often!

Love, Ben

April 23, 2012

Dear Family,

I have been reading your weekly letters and trying to think of things to say but its getting tough.  I've decided that I don't want to live in a place that is really hot and humid.  Mold grows surprisingly well here.  Almost all of my companion's clothes have mold growing on them (his garments are gray), and with time the smell spreads

I am multitasking right now watching Joy to the World and writing.  You know, it is really entertaining for a missionary on P-day.

So, I just remembered a story.  I was taking a shortcut with my comp and the short cut was through a deserted lot, a street that is almost never used and in front of a "Boca de Fumo" (mouth of smoke), a drug trafficker's house/establishment.  So, it was super raining they day before and one of the streets had become more like a lake of mud.  I had dried on top so it looked safe to walk on.  I went, and before I knew it, I was sinking.  I ended up covering my shoes with mud.  Amazingly, I didn't get mud on my socks.  We had to walk through first an overgrown deserted lot, then the section of road that was more like a lake of mud.  When we got half way through the lake of mud we discovered a man hidden in the vines next to the brick wall on our left.  Yeah.  That was freaky.  It's almost for sure that he was doing drugs back there.  So, after that experience we decided to take the longer routes, and not use the sketchy shortcuts.

I will be doing an exchange this week with another American who has less time here in Brazil than I do! in Barcarena.  I think it will be fun and interesting, even though I don't like sleeping in other people's beds.  I think I'll bring my hammock.  Wow, I've been using a hammock for almost 4 months now.

Mom, lots of exciting things are happening over there.  Ellis, maybe you are right.  I can now accept that Brandon reminds you of me a little.  I would just like to put it on the record that I have had the idea to craft a ring for my future bride for years.  Yeah, rosewood and maple sound nice.  I imagine some sort of yin-yang effect.  Be careful not to break it!!! It's good that he did a "take 2" on the proposal [proposed twice, once over the phone, and a second time in person with a ring].

Well, I've been getting super fat.  You know when I used to say that at home?  Well, if you didn't believe me then you should believe me now.  "Zuko, your hair!  It's out of control!"  "But Uncle, your belly!  It's out of control!!!"  Yeah.  That's how I feel.  I think I need to pull an Uncle Iro and start doing crazy workouts.  i even have a metal gate/grill outside our door that I can use to help set the mental scene.  [references to anime series, Avatar, the Last Airbender]

I'm so proud of what you all are doing.  Emma, great job on the ISATs and track (7:16!!! that's pretty fast).  I want to go running with you when I get back.  Keep training!  Eliza, I haven't heard too much from you personally, but I hope you have tons of fun with the cousins and I hope you are showing Hightower who's boss.  Ellis, don't stress, just go with the flow.  Dad, keep winning those hearings.  Mom, keep being one good woman.  Daniel, keep playing hard and I hope that your egg hatches a swan [referring to an abandoned "goose egg?" Dan found at Spring Valley Reservoir].

With love, Elder Clark

My New Area -- Larangeira

Hey,

 

I was transferred and my new area is Larangeira (orange tree).  Yeah.  So we have a real chapel here, which is new to me.  And the members are crazy here.  One member has decided that she is the surrogate mother for every missionary she sees, and washes our white shirts, and insists that we visit her and teach about the Book of Mormon each day.  I about lost it with her.  You know when people decide they are your friend before you do, and you don't want to hurt their feelings by saying, "I can't be the friend you are looking for?"  Yeah, it's interesting here. 

 

Oh, and my comp doesn't really know what is going on.  He just finished training and he doesn't keep good track of the investigators.  So, that was frustrating.  He keeps leaving the apartment when I am showering to talk to some lady that lives across the street.  I don't think he is doing anything bad over there, but I gave him a talk about it anyway.  I'm really stressed right now.  But I'm getting over it.  It will get better.

 

Sorry it's short.

 

Love you all!!!

 

Ben

 

[a second short letter to Paul]

 

I hope you all had a lot of fun in Hawaii and sorry again for the short letter.  I had to write a long one to President Campos about my area.

 

I love you all and I'm doing fine.  I'm trying to help the members here grow and I'm being patient.

 

Love you, Dad.

 

Your son, Ben

 

Last Letter from Abaetetuba, April 30, 2012

So, I've been doing pretty well.  I said a lot of goodbyes yesterday and gave a talk, and taught the Gospel Principles class.  It's kind of sad that I'm leaving right now because my comp and I have started to click with our lessons and they have been pretty good.

I gave a tie to an investigator yesterday.  I baptized his two sons a few months ago.  The sad thing is he is not progressing and he is on the verge of falling back into his old life.  When I talked to him yesterday he was with his new girlfriend (bad news!!!) and I think he was a little drunk.  You know, when people just start to drink and they act just a little more talkative and are a little more touchy.  Yeah.  I hope the tie will motivate him to keep learning and go to church and especially help his sons have a better life.

I taught a drug addict that works in the marketplace gutting fish (he is really good with a knife).

We baptized Thiago, a grandson of a member here, Irmão Antonio.  I taught him how to baptize (he is a priest) but he forgot during the baptism and Thiago ended up being baptized 5 time until he got it right.  It turned out well though.

I am so thankful for your letters.  Keep them coming.  One letter to you all should get sent today.  I have been swamped with packing and stuff today but I will try to write a letter or today.

I will be transfered to the Cuidade Nova Zone and my new comp will be Elder S.  I think the area is close to Belem and has a very large chapel (big switch!).

I'll try to send pics next week.  I love you all and hope that the Hawaii trip turns out great!  If you could set up a skype account and info, I can talk to you all with skype on Mother's Day, but I'll see what happens in the
[letter cut off here]

Thinking about "Prestar Contas"

So this week was interesting.  My comp is pretty sick right now.  His symptoms are about the same as mine when I got here and was sick.  So, he has spent the past two days in the apartment, only leaving for church. 

We did a split with young men in the ward.  We have also made a bunch of progress with a few of the families we are teaching.  I am a bit bummed though, because a few of the people I baptized are having difficulty going to church.  But over all, I think that I'm making a difference here. 

Thanks for the letters.  I got about 5 this last week!  Thanks Grandma Campbell, Katherine, Mom and Dad, and Dan your interview was great ; ).   

I was thinking about the story of your life, Mom, and was wondering did you finish?  [no!] And, Dad, I think it would be way cool if you could write some letters about your youth, events that sculpted your character.  Just a thought.

I have been noticing my work here changing, sometimes for good, and sometimes for worse.  I have been thinking a lot about how I need to "prestar contas," self-evaluate daily in order to continue improving.  Daily scripture study and prayer are two ways we need to self-evaluate and report our progress with our Heavenly Father.  When we forget to self-evaluate each day, we fall, and at times find ourselves at the bottom of hole with a lot of work ahead.  I have been sharing a scripture with the members here after we eat with them about this: Ether 2:4-6, I can't remember exactly.  But the brother of Jared forgot to pray, and for 4 years his people stayed in the mediocre land and didn't get direction from the Lord to continue on to the promised land.  When the brother of Jared started to pray again after the Lord corrected him, they got help and direction again to obtain their promised land and blessings.

Love you all!!!!

Elder Clark

Excerpts from Letters to Home (2/20/12 to 3/19/12)

February 20, 2012

Something I have noticed is that I don't feel as constrained.  I feel more confident speaking with people, contacting and asking people for directions.  I know all the members pretty well, so I feel like its a lot easier for me to plan visits and take control in those situations.  We have had a lack of effort I feel in regards to work with members.  I want to teach more lessons with active members, families, and members of the Quorum, not just less actives or young men.  With the companion change, I think it will be easy to change some of those things for the better.

I really enjoy all of your letters.  I hope I get more now that I don't have to compete for letter writing time  with Ellis.  It's way cool to get updates from you guys about your weeks, I especially like the updates with information about big events like Eliza!  Congrats with the BYU acceptance!  Will you go to school there?  Ellis, remember the wise words of Brother Dan and I think another sibling to "Choose Wisely."  Even though that quote was originally used in respect to leaky sacrament cups, I think it does well in various applications.

I think that my spelling is getting worse and worse.  I am slipping more and more into phonetic (sp?)  [you spelled that right] spelling.  Spelling in Portuguese is easier because it doesn't have crazy rools : ) rules like English.

Oh, I almost forgot.  I gave a talk on Sunday on missionary work.  I feel like I was a little more direct and .... I don't know.  I was kind of upset about how none of our investigators come to church and how there were so few members at church.  But, whatever.  Usually when people listen to me they take into account the language block and don't take it personally.  I guess you could say I did some exhorting.  Oh, and I was remembering an experience with a member who was almost rude to me... Well, she snapped at me when I brought one of our investigators to her house (our investigators don't have any money or food and they have 3 kids).  She asked harshly, "Which one of you two is the senior companion?"  then turned to my comp and said, "Teach him how these things work.  You need to talk to the President of the Branch."  I was frustrated because the branch president was her husband and that's why we came to her house in the first place (finding him not there, I asked for her help).  Also, I guess I skipped the day in seminary where they talked about needing authorization from the bishop to give your neighbor a bag of rice or a cup of sugar.  Yeah, maybe I was justified in being a bit up front about searching for opportunities to serve.

So, I need to go teach a lesson right now.  Love you guys!!!!

Elder Clark


February 27, 2012

Crazy story of the day.  I ate raw worms.  Yup, that's right.  Apparently, they are a delicacy here.  Here's how you get them:  throw a specific type of log into a river.... wait a few weeks, listen to the log and when you hear stuff moving around inside, pull the log out of the water, open it up, and remove the worms!  They look like octopus legs or squid, and have a head.  The head is kind of like an eyeball with bone eyelids.  I guess you could describe the head as just jaws.  They are about the size of Dan's pinky finger.  You eat them with limes and hot peppers.  Apparently, they taste like clam or oyster, but I couldn't say.  I liked them.

It's pretty interesting being in the same area for more than 4 months.  I know every street, I can remember all the big stores and most of the little ones.  I've also taught a butt-load of people here, too [:  ) sorry man, I don't get to talk in English much, got to let it out somehow].  Oh, and Dan, I'm sorry but I haven't seen any Brazilian dragons, but I have seen a few Brazilians practicing some sort of Brazilian martial art.  It's pretty cool -- a lot like break dancing, but more with the arms supporting the body, less with the head.

So, I have officially finished the Book of Mormon in Portuguese.  At first I didn't read the Book of Mormon in Portuguese exclusively, but after a while I got into it.  My mission president told me that if I read the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, I would be able to speak it.  After I finished (remember prophet promised that), I think it is true.  [underline and cross out original to Ben's letter]  When I finished the transfer a few weeks ago something clicked.  I think part of it was Elder R. Silva [trainer transferred, and new responsibilities to keep area going with companion who was content to let Ben take charge], and part of it was that I had reached a point in my language development that allowed me to explain things better and ask questions that people understand.  I think it's way cool.  I still think Portuguese sounds a bit weird, but it's getting better.

I read about the "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" prank.  [Dan hates the cover of this book, which features Elizabeth Bennett with part of her face stripped away to reveal a skeletal leer. So, Eliza wanted some good-natured fun (well... maybe her intentions weren't all that pure), put it face down on his pillow so that when he would pick it up he would freak out -- and he did. ]  It sounded pretty funny.  Dan, I hope it dind't freak you out too bad, but be thankful it wasn't my life guard training manual opened up to the real life injuries section.  Ohhh my!  Maybe you should try playing Eliza's game, but keep the pranks simple, easy to clean up and light-hearted.  Remember, we tease because we love  :  )

March 5, 2012

So, I have really been stepping it up lately.  These past few weeks I have been learning to love the people I teach.  I think that sort of stuff gets easier and easier as I learn how to communicate with others.  People have been commenting lately that my Portuguese is getting a lot better.  I feel much more comfortable talking with people and teaching.  Right now I am making a cake for a less active member and an investigator (they need to get married).  I've talked about the law of chastity with them and the woman (Nete) has joked with me about them getting married.  It's been pretty funny.  But, I told her that I would make them a cake when they get married and that I would bring them one today for FHE to test.  I think she thinks I'm still joking, but I'm actually serious.

March 12, 2012

So, these last few days have been interesting for me.  I feel like there is an urgency in the mission for baptisms... well, there IS an urgency for baptisms.  We have a goal of 250 baptisms this month.  That's 5 per companionship or at least one baptism a week.  The mission is working really hard to prepare for the announcement of a temple here in Belem.  We are working hard and encouraging the members here to work and pray for the temple to be announced during this next general conference.

It's interesting ... before my mission I had decided I wouldn't get discouraged if I didn't baptize a lot of people.   Growing up in Moscow were convert baptisms are relatively uncommon, I didn't really have high hopes.  But here I can see how it doesn't have to be that way.  I think this is true in any mission that if you are doing what's right you will get results.  So, that's my goal:  work super hard and baptize weekly.  Oh, and pray for a lot of new temples to be announced (including a temple in Belem).

Fun story.  I was walking in the rain a few days ago with my zone leader during a division.  I had an old Book of Mormon in my hand, and it was getting wet, but the mission rule is to always walk with a Book of Mormon in your hand  :  ) so people know who you are.  My zone leader asked if I wanted to stop to put it in my bag, but before I could respond, lightning struck in a field we were walking next to....  After we recovered our hearing, I told him that it was fine, that I'll keep walking with it in my hand.

March 19, 2012

Dear Daniel,

So, Dan, I got a letter from you today and it was super nice to hear from you.  Have you tried a mango there in Moscow?  I know that they have them in WinCo.  You should have Mom buy some and have her help you make an amazing mango shake.  Ingredients:
      2 medium mangoes (yellow/red)
      2 scoops vanilla ice cream
      milk
      1 banana
      If you want it to stick with you, add straight-up oatmeal
Blend the whole thing.

I have been having some culinary successes lately.  I have made corn bread, pancakes, and syrup, egg sandwiches, and some super good shakes.  Have you cooked anything lately?

I've been excited to hear about your reading.  You are reading Harry Potter?  What else have you read lately?  I read the scriptures, that's about it.  I also have another book "Jesus the Christ."  I really enjoy reading about our Savior's life, how he taught and why he did the things he did.

I have a short story to tell.  I was going to visit an inactive member the other day and when I got there, a bunch of police (they look like soldiers here) drove up and capture two drug dealers right in the middle of the street.  All this stuff was going on and I'm pretty sure that one of the guys was the member I was going to visit, but I'm not sure.  Then, we went to visit another member and the same thing was happening across the street from this member's house.  Yep, so that was pretty exciting.  I just hope that the police are doing their jobs well and for the right reason!

Love you, Dan

Your Brother, Ben