January
7, 2013
Dear
Family,
This week has been
interesting. We didn’t have a lot of
time to work normally because we had a bunch of meetings and Ano Novo was
really hard to work with (no one was at home and if they were not partying they
were all hung over). We got transfers and I will stay here in Satelite. Elder
Carvalho is going to his last area to be a Zone Leader for Cidade Nova. They are reopening the zone there. So
now my zone is more manageable: only 7
companionships. I am liking my area but I think that I need to get to know the
members better. So I wanted to plan visits and teach the families here to
help them get more involved with the work.
It has started, the
rainy season. It is raining almost every day in the afternoon. The
rain comes in fast and is like a wall of water. It’s pretty cool but you get soaked
super fast.
So I made a peach pie last
night and it turned out pretty well. I think
that I will start to make pies a lot more often because they are easy to make,
relatively healthy, and they are really delicious. This week we went running a
few times as well it was great but I am afraid that I am gaining weight again;
the members here make really good dinners for us that frequently have a
dessert.
I am really sorry for
two short letters in a row; I have had problems using my time wisely, reading
and writing letters so I promise that next week will be better. I have to
go know but I will write letters this afternoon and send them next week.
I love you all and
thanks for all the birthday wishes!!!
Love,
Elder Clark
January 7, 2013
Daniel,
Hey bud, what’s up? I hope you are doing well. I have been missing you a lot. I wish that I could be there to go sledding
and have snow ball fights with you. I hope
that you had a great Christmas and that this New Year will be spectacular.
I have a few questions
for you: 1) What was the coolest thing
you did this break? 2) What did you give
for Christmas? 3) What did you get for
Christmas and how will you use the things you got?
I didn’t get much for
Christmas in the form of presents but it was still one of my best Christmases
ever, because I got to give some really good gifts. Next year maybe we can go caroling together
and shovel snow for old ladies in the ward. : )
I was just thinking
about service and thought about the priesthood and how you will be ordained a
deacon in May. That is really exciting. I hope you are preparing and are excited to
help and serve others!
Dan, I love you!!!
Your brother, Ben
January 14, 2013
Hey Dad/ Family,
So my week has been
good. Elder Leite is pretty cool and we are working well together. We had
a baptism on my B-day and Felipe chose me to baptize him!!!! That was a
really nice birthday present. My zone is full of problems but we have
made plans that I think will help a lot. There is a companionship of
sisters that is really new in the mission. One is finishing her training and
the other has finished her 3 transfer. They
are in an area that is really tough as well. We will visit them a few
times this next week to help out.
Thanks so much for all
of the birthday wishes! I felt loved.
This last week I got my b-day package so I have been enjoying my new PJ's
and Saturday I made the brownies with the fudge topping. Man, talk about good.
In the evening there was a cake at the baptism. During the day the mother of a young man in
the ward that helps us a lot gave me something that is close to fudge, and
after almoço Irmã Maria (recent convert) gave us guiabada which is like a fruit
preserve that is really good with cream. Yah, so I felt really unhealthy
but it was my b day. Pres. Scisci and Sis. Scisci called me to wish me
happy b day and that was nice. Also E. Oliveira called me to wish me
happy birthday as well. So it was a good b-day.
Elder Leite is from Minha
Gerais which is in the south of Brazil and they say it gets cold there but I don’t
believe them ( : We have gone running two times already and that has been
great. I have gotten a lot better at
doing exercises in the mornings and I am hoping to be more prepared to run with
Emma when I get back, and climb Kings Peak.
I had an interview
with President Scisci this week and that was really nice. I felt a lot better afterwards and I will try
to apply more principals of planning and leadership in my area and zone. My
zone has problems.... but we are working with that.
We had some really
cool experiences teaching unmarried couples about the law of chastity. I feel like I have come to understand the law
of chastity much better recently and we are having a lot of success teaching
these couples and we are going to help them get married. Thanks mom and
dad, for keeping the commandments. Our
family is so blessed.
Oh dad, not many
people knew about my b-day but I was sung to multiple times. It only drizzled a little but was cloudy so
not super hot. It was a swell day and I felt
your love.
Got to go!!!! Hope
that you all have a great week.
Love,
Elder Clark
