Week 89 - Entering Eastwood

When Elder Jordan got transferred from Summer Hill, he went to open up a new Korean-speaking area called Eastwood. This transfer, Elder Ruru and I both left Summer Hill and I have been transferred into Eastwood, replacing Elder Jordan, who was transferred to UNSW. Now I am with Elder Rencher from Pahrump, Nevada. Our flat is in a brand new complex that is a five-minute walk from the temple and mission office. We live with the Assistants to the President.

This week has been so blessed. It's just been amazing. Last Tuesday, I was on a trade-off with Elder Honema'u from the Eastlakes Tongan Ward. We had been visiting several less-actives during the day and were about to head to our dinner appointment. We were arriving at the train station when I had a prompting to visit one more less-active member one stop farther down the train line. We had a bit of time, so we headed over to see him. We weren't really sure what we were going to do, but as we were talking to him, I had another prompting. We had been talking about prayer, and I had a prompting to do something I had never done before. We taught a lesson about prayer using the "How Can I Know?" page of the pamphlet. It was so spiritual, and it felt so good to know that we had followed the spirit. We were blessed.

Chul-Hee's baptism was great. The Korean members have really taken him on-board with them, and I'm sure that he will continue to progress with their awesome fellowship. Despite a few technical difficulties, the spirit was present, and the service was a blessing to all involved.

I got an email from my mother this week saying that her countdown for me to get home has passed its 100 day mark. It's strange to think that that kind of time has passed since I began my mission. So far, I feel like my mission has gone well. I have striven to be freely obedient, consecrated, and Christ-like since I've arrived. Of course, I haven't always been successful at that, but I know that the Atonement is real and that Jesus Christ's strengths are greater than my weaknesses. So, I continue on, trying, failing from time to time, but also succeeding more frequently as time progresses, and I trust that Jesus Christ knows and understands the desires of my heart and will make more of me than I could ever alone. I know that repentance is more than just for stopping and fixing individual actions. It is also the process by which we progress from good to better and on to best. I love the perfecting and continuous quality of repentance.

Love,

Elder Clark

The languages we sing in our flat...English, Tongan and Korean

Chul-Hee, his fiancee, Ruth, Elder Ruru and Elder Clark

 Me with Elder Kioa from Tonga. I've had him as district leader for four transfers, the longest of any of my district leaders. He's going home this week

Elder Ostler from Salt Lake City, Elder Nalawas from Vanuatu, Elder Leek from Maryland, Elder Semple from Guyana, and me.