Week 61- A New Transfer in an Old Zone

I was surprised on Saturday to learn that I've been transferred out of Winston Hills. I'll miss it, but this new area shows a lot of promise. I've returned to the Harbour Suburbs zone, which is the same zone as UNSW, but now I'm in the Summer Hill Ward, which is actually right next door to South Harbour Ward (UNSW's ward). I'm excited to serve here in Summer Hill. It's home to Strathfield, which people have kept saying is like Sydney's Korea-town. I'm told that the ward actually has a Korean sunday school class, which is a great!

This week, Elder Piukala and I were blessed to be able to see Lehi be baptized before I left Winston Hills. It's crazy to think that it's been such a short time since we met him, and to see the positive effect that he has had on everyone he's been in contact with. The Lord has blessed a lot of people in the area this transfer. For example, after Lehi's baptism, while he was getting changed into dry clothing, we had a chapel tour. There were a couple of non-members there, and they really liked it. One of them was very interested in the family history library and the Relief Society. I can see that over the time of the chapel tour, the best teaching moments, and of course, the most spiritual moments, were when the members of the ward were able to do teach about the things that mattered most to them. They became more interested in the tour, and were able to help the non-members as well.

Speaking of Lehi, these last few weeks have shown me how the gospel affects people. The principles of faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost, have all played a role in our time together. When we first met, he had a lot of faith, and as he started to learn, he began to change, or in other words, repent. Last weekend, we saw his baptism and confirmation, and now he is on a path to endure to the end. The gospel isn't just a list of principles, it's a pattern of spiritual evolution. First, we need faith, which gives us a desire to repent. When we repent, we prepare for baptism by water, which then requires baptism by fire and the holy ghost. This puts us in a position to endure to the end. To explain a bit more, if we don't make covenants through baptism, we don't have an end to endure to.

Last week, we read in 3 Nephi 16-20. I love these chapters, and the more I read, the more I realize that the Book of Mormon is far too consistent and complimentary to the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price to have been imagined up in a couple of months by a 21 year-old farm boy from upstate New York. Of course, I also know that it was not imagined up by a 21 year-old farm boy from upstate New York. It was written by prophets of the past, and translated by a prophet of a modern age.

This week, we'll read 3 Nephi 21-25. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Clark

Lehi at his baptism

Lehi, Elder Clark and his father, Aaron

Elder Han, my MTC Companion at transfers

We have a professional photographer in our ward.

Elder Piukala and Elder Clark