June 28, 2013

Pamiliya ko!

 

Mama, thank you so much for the email this week and for letting me know everything and keeping me updated. I sure do love my family and I care about you all so much. Family is central to Gods plan and I love all of you so much. I am really taken back to hear about Aunt N, that is not easy news for anybody to hear. I am so proud of R and I know he is being a great example by serving a mission and he is a great older brother. Jesus Christ is the only person who knows exactly how feel at every moment of the day. He has gone through what we have gone through so in times like these all we can do is rely on the Atonement to be able to bring in the feelings that we want to feel. I know he can take away our pain even in the hardest times. I will pray for the family. I dont know really what to say about that except that I will pray and have faith.

 

My p-day is going great so far and I have really enjoyed my last week here at the MTC. As I get closer to the field I get a little more nervous about the language. I don't know, I feel like a I know a lot but I really don't think I know enough but I know the Lord will bless me. This week has been great, it has been really fun to be able to get the new districts on their feet and comfortable with the MTC. I am going to miss all these Elders and Sisters that I have met here , they are all so awesome. I am really excited to head out into the field and MAMA I actually leave on Monday! I fly out at 11:30 and I will probably be calling you before then sometime on dads cell phone. It will be great to hear your voices and be able to chat for some time. What a blessing it is that they let us do that!!! This week has been a little overwhelming just because we leave in two days but at the same time I  am so ready to go and so excited for the adventure ahead. I have had the wonderful opportunity to give 3 priesthood blessings this week and oh man I love using the power of the priesthood. Its so powerful and so amazing. All of the sisters want one today before we leave to the mission field so that will be a really cool experience for us Elders. I love my personal study time in my day, it is probably the best part of the day and I love being a missionary. I have never felt so close to my savior in my life.

 

Mama thank you for all that you do, I love you and miss you. Tell T and K I love them too and I hope ya'll are having a blast over there. I cant wait to talk with you on the phone! MUCH LOVE

 

Elder Cory Clark
I just feel the need to share something really quick, I am not just serving a mission because it is the right thing to do. I am serving a mission to build up the kingdom of God and Heavenly Father has given me the power to do so and I will use that power and I will bring others unto Christ and Eternal Life. We are here in this dispensation at this time because we are the army that God wants on the Earth right now. We need to build up the Kingdom of God and Gods plan is perfect for every soul and it is beautiful. I am going to work so hard. I have been taught by you and Dad to work hard and give it my all and I am going to use that example and work the hardest I can to build up Gods kingdom........... And that is why I am excited to leave on Monday for the Philippines.

June 22, 2013

Wow this email was really fun for me to read. Coop!!! I love you little brother so much and I am so proud of you. You are a such a stud and so talented. I really wish I could watch you play your senior year of football but Its all good, I cant wait to hear the news. Heavenly Father has really blessed you with some amazing talents and you have done a great job of using them. You are a great young man and I know you are a big example to a lot of kids and I love you little brother and miss you. So mama, I got the scrapbook and I love it! you really did an amazing job with that. You had pictures in there that really made my day. Thank you for putting one of all the aunts and uncles and cousins and my friends too! I have enjoyed looking at it! I have recieved my shoes and all the packages you have sent, including the medicine. If you would like to send me my wazzu baseball cap, I would really love that. But other then that you all have spoiled me so much since I have been here and I appreciate it! Much love family. I did get a letter from tanner and that seriously just made my day, I loved getting a letter from him and I am so happy to hear he is doing so well. I really miss my brothers but I am so glad they are doing well. Back to cooper, I am so jacked to hear about his success at camp, i know he will play college ball somewhere, he just has so much talent. I bet it was great seeing uncle odie and aunt sou nay. Tell the rest of my siblings that I am proud of them and love them too!

 

So for me, Tagalog is awesome. It is so mahirap (difficult) but i am improving everyday. yesterday Elder T and I went to teach our investigator and we really had the coolest experiance. We got in there and we sat down and we just started talking, like having a full on conversation about his family and his job and why we are here serving a missions and how are day has been and what we had done that day already. We talked about just normal things and it was really cool to see and experiance being able to just have a conversation with someone. We then started with a prayer and gave a great lesson and commited him to baptism, yes the investigators are just playing a role but it is still a really awesome experiance. Teaching is really fun even though it is hard. I feel like I need more time in the MTC because Tagalog is still super hard but its okay, I think i know a lot more then I think.

 

Being a Zone Leader has been a huge blessing and really fun. We dont have APs in the MTC so Elder T and I have had quite a bit of stuff to do this week but it really has been enjoyable. The new Elders and sisters that came in are awesome and they are all starting to get out of there shell and its always fun getting to know new people. As zone learders Elder T and I had the oppurtunity to sit the new districts down and just talk with them for a good hour and to just teach them what they need to know about the MTC but most importantly just make them feel welcomed and loved. I loved being able to share my experiances that I have had already and just to be able to give them advice and let them talk and feel the spirit. This week has really been a great week and I love the MTC it is a great place to prepare and I feel that I have already grown so much and its all because of the people around me and because of Heavenly Father.

 

So I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS and I fly out of Salt Lake airport at 1130 am and then i fly to san francisco california and then from there to tokyo japan and then japan to manilla philippines. I CANT WAIT!! I am so pumped, hahah me whole district yesterday was just so excited to get the flight plans. Even though some of us are split up which is really sad because my district is like my family. They are with my pretty much all day everyday and we all have gotten so close witheachother.

 

Yes watch the broadcast, I am way excited and I will be in the choir by Elder R in my navy blue suit and i dunno what tie but for sure a fresh one. haha

 

Pamilyia ko, Alam ko po na totoo an simbahan ni Jesu Cristo at Alam ko po na mahalaga ang panalangin at pagbabayad sale ni Jesu Cristo. Mahal ko kayo at mayroon po tayong mabuti linggo!!

 

I lOVE YOU!!!!!!!

 

'ELDER CLARK

                                              Cousins!

                          Cory is in the bottom left corner looking at the camera.

June 15,2013 from the MTC

magandang umaga Nanay at pamilia po ako

 

I am so happy. I am doing great and I have learned so much this past week I feel like. Everything is just starting to click a lot more and I am way less stressed and I just feel so good. It is crazy to think that I only have 2 weeks left in the MTC!!!! So awesome:) Singing in the choir at Devotional was way good and to my right in the picture is Elder R haha we are pretty good buddies. I love that you found a picture of me! Life in the Clark home sounds like it is going pretty great and I can tell that the Lord is watching over you all. We cant even comprehend the amount of love God has for all of us. he loves us so much and I feel it everyday. I am getting sick of the MTC food and I am losing my muscle and defintion but whatever, it is what it is. I will get it back when I get home haha. Anyways, the devotionals here in the MTC are on sunday and tuesdays and they are always such good talks. I cant even explain how motivating and spirtually uplifting they are to me. I alwyas look forward to them. Two of the districts in my zone have left into the field and one more is about to leave on sunday which will make my disitrict the oldest district in the zone which is crazy to think about! But I love meeting the new elders that come in and having the chance to help them a little bit in tagalog. It is crazy how fast you can learn a language when you have Heavenly Father helping. The Gift of tongues is so true. Koloob ng mga wika is what it is in tagalog. The sundays are always wonderful and it is a great day just to put aside language study and focus on the scriptures and personal study. personal study is the best part of the day by far. my classes are great to and I have the best teachers. i will miss brother M so much, we really have gotten close with him as a district. He is part of the reason my district knows so much tagalog as well. We are really blessed, he says that out of all the districts he has taught, we are above average on our knowledge of tagalog and that is so awesome and comforting to hear. All because of the Lord. Mama, you of all people know how well i did in school haha I am telling you right now that I am smart when it comes to tagalog all because of the help of the Lord. Elder T and I are enjoying are lessons. It is crazy to just say a prayer before we go teach and I am serious when I say this. I get into the room to teach and I just start speaking and Words just pop into my mind and the sprirt always tells me what to say and how to say it. The spirit always reminds me of the things I studied so hard to remember and yes my sentances are pretty broken but our message gets across and the spirit is always there and it is one of the coolest blessings I have expierianced. Elder T has improved so much this last week in speaking and it is acually his BDay to and I just love the guy like a brother. The new elders that came in last wednesday are great elders too. One of them played college baseball and for the last 5 gym times we have been playing catch outside because he brought two mits and  ball so I have been really loving that. Haha his name is Elder F and he is a Filipino actually. haha It will be great to see taylor Clark! it is always good to see peopkle that you know. I saw sister Hoyt the other day too and that was fun. I am happy to hear about Michael and I sure do love that guy so much. How is tanner doing in selling? you should tell him to email me. Will you send me a picture of NIK Nak please??? thankyou:) I loved your packages haha we have so much food in our dorm room it is crazy ahah so thankyou. Much appreciated. Dads package really made me laugh haha he is so funny. if you are going to send another will you please pack some more riddle skittles and starbursts? :) they really are my favorite! Thank you so much mama and pops and family for everything and all your prayers love and support. I am so happy I will get to talk with tanner in the airport! that is a tender mercie from the Lord! What phone should I call? I hope cooper does great in his camp and again i think it is so cool dad is getting his liscence for flying! I love the pics! I am going to send you some more pictures of me and the district that just left and also with Elder F. Well I have to go but I get to go to the temple today and I am super excited. i wish I could talk longer but I dont get much time at all!

 

Alam ko po na totoo an simbahan ni jesu cristo at pagbabayad-sala ni Jesu Cristo. Alam ko po no mahal tayo ng Diyos.

 

mahal kita :)

 

-Elder Clark

Saturday June 8,2013

MAMA! I am so excited to hear from you and for the opportunity I have to read your emails! Thank you so much for the package, I got it last night and it was exactly what I needed. I really loved the pictures you sent me in the package and especially loved the riddle skittles haha. I am so excited for coop dawg and his combine! He will do great but I will for sure keep him in my prayers as I do with all of you. I love Nikelle and miss her a bunch. The pics you sent me are so darn cute. What a beautiful girl she is, that is awesome she is walking! I got to see Mike a lot the last couple days he was in the MTC and that was super nice. It was so good to see him because it just felt so peaceful and calming to hug a family member. Let me tell you, I have never seen Michael so happy! Every time I see him he just is glowing and every time I hug him I just felt the spirit so strongly and he is such a big example to me. This week was a very difficult but great week. Most of the time I don't even remember what I did throughout my day because I am always so busy and days seem like weeks that is for sure. I am really enjoying my class and I love my district. Everyday we wake up at 6:30 eat breakfast then we have class from 8 to to 11 and then we have personal study, lunch, language study for two hours and the class again for three hours and then personal study and companionship study at night again. ITS AWESOME and I love it. Don't get me wrong, I am getting a little sick of the MTC and I really want to just go to the Phillippines but its all good! Elder T and I have taught numerous lessons now in Tagalog to investigators and we are really starting to improve. At first it was really hard to focus and feel the spirit while teaching because I was so focused on what to say and how to say it but now honestly heavenly father has blessed me so much and once elder T and I say our prayer before we teach, it is like a light bulb that just switches on and I remember so many things that I have learned and I just start speaking the language. I am so far far from fluent and my sentences are pretty broken sentences but the fact is that my investigator understands what we are saying and understands our message and it is so beautiful. The lord truly blesses his missionaries, and I know that it is only because of him that I am being able to learn this language as well as I am. I still struggle with it a bunch and I cant just have a normal conversation with somebody that well but in time that will come.

 

I know I am talking about the language a lot but in reality that has just been what I think about and work on a lot throughout my day. My teacher brother m who served in the Philippines is such a blessing to me and my district. He really reminds me of Tanner and I love that. brother m really knows how to push us in a way to still keep our spirits up and to still feel good throughout the day. Some days I feel like I just ran into a brick wall and I just want to quit but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and all the wonderful missionaries around me I just get picked back up right away. I am so happy that Coop got my letter! I am going to send dad a letter today as well! Anyways, let me just tell you that serving a mission would be 100 percent impossible without the lords help. I do not know how I would get through my days with out relying on the one person who can take away my pain and bring my happiness. This is by far the hardest thing that I have ever done and I have never been more tired but I am so full of joy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of God and it is the same church that Jesus Christ organized while he was on the earth. It is so awesome. During my personal study I have been reading the book "Our Search for happiness" and It is so wonderful. It is one of the three books that I was allowed to bring as a missionary. Anyways, READ IT! it is 100 pages and I read it in two days and I promise you that you will love it and gain a deeper appreciation for our Church. The book is meant for people who are not members of the Church and want to know more and learn about the "mormons". I strongly believe that it answers most of the questions investigators have about our church and it really opened my eyes as well. i love the scriptures and I love the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They go hand in hand perfectly it is awesome. I cant wait to serve in the Philippines.

 

Alam ko po na totoo ang simbahan ni jesu cristo at pagbabayad-sala. thank you for keeping me in your prayers family and I love all of you, I wish I could write more but I will write you all letters to tell you more. My time is running out and I have to go but I love you!!!!!!

Come Unto Christ

MAMA!!!! I miss you and the fam like crazy but I am enjoying my time as a servant of the Lord:) I wouldn't say that I love the MTC but I do love the spirit and I do love the Gospel and I do love everything that I have learned here. Through our Heavenly Father is the only way a missionary can be successful. I need my Heavenly Father to be able to guide me and help me learn this language. He is the only reason why I have been able to contain and remember and say what I have been taught. The language is coming along and I am starting to be able to put sentences together in my head and speak, but it just takes awhile. The language is so beautiful and I love learning it but it is easily the hardest thing for me right now, and I am sure Tanner understands that for sure. I have never been more challenged in my life, but I know that through my faith and following the example of Christ I can receive the blessings and promises that the Lord has provided for his Missionarys. I know that I am ordained of God to do this work. He has promised me the gift of tongues and I can already see that gift coming into my life. The Temple was so amazing and I can't wait to go again today. It is the one part of the week where I truly get to relax and just think and focus fully on the spirit and what God wants me to feel. In the temple I feel peace.

 

Thank you for sending my ATM card I appreciate that a lot!!! I am flossing and sulca brushing don't worry haha! I still love my companion haha we have the greatest times together and we just click so well. I am so blessed to have him. He is struggling a lot with the language but his faith is staying strong so he is still working hard. I know that we will get it.  There are a bunch of athletes in my Zone! There are like 8 Polynesians and they are all so spiritual, funny and of course athletic! It is fun having them around. My knee seems to be holding up good but I am trying not to play in games, I have just been shooting around because I don't want to risk it! Please send me a package full of just whatever! haha I don't even care what is in it. !!! I love your letters you send me on" dear elder" and I loved getting Coops letter!!! I am going to write him back today so he should get one in the mail this week!:) The mariners game sounded really fun and I am so happy you all had a great time! It was probably great to see Beth and Larry!

 

I want you all to know that what I am doing is for the Lord and for the people that he is preparing me to teach and bring unto Christ. I have learned so much hear and family, I want you all just to think about what the saying, "Come Unto Christ" means to you personally. He is the ultimate halimbawa/example. I love my savior because he is my JOY, he is my HAPPINESS, he is my STRENGTH, he is my PEACE, he is my BESTFRIEND. Through Christ and the atonement we can become clean and feel the feelings that we want to feel throughout our everyday life! I love you all so very much and you mean the world to me and I pray for all of you everyday. Families are the central point to Gods plan and I am so grateful for the family that I have and the most beautiful thing is that we all as brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers will live together eternally, and that is why Gods plan is so great. he knows us better then we know ourselves, so come unto Christ and figure out what that means to to you and stay strong, study scriptures as a family, and pray for charity "the pure love of Christ."

 

Mahal Kita po ang pamilya!!!!