Week 95 - The Knowledge Paradox

Eastwood continues to roll forward. One of the blessings we had this week was to be able to have a trade-off with our zone leaders. In Eastwood, we were able to find a new investigator and talk to a lot of other people as well. We also had the opportunity to have another elder with us on Friday. Both of these trade-offs have shown me a bit more of just how rewarding talking with people about the gospel can be. It's rarely easy to break the ice, but when the spirit is able to enter the heart of both people in the conversation, it can be truly amazing.

This week, we were able to meet up with the part-member family from a few weeks ago again. Since we were able to meet last, the father has progressed pretty well. Ever since our last lesson and the Elder Bednar conference (especially the part of the conference that talked about testimony), I've had this question going through my mind that I felt like I needed to ask him, that is, does he feel like what we are teaching is true? He didn't say right up front that he knows that it is true, but Elder Rencher and I feel that there is something there. Some foundation of a testimony that will grow until he can say "I know for myself". Seeing all of this happen for him has been one of the greatest blessings I've seen since my arrival in Eastwood. I know that Heavenly Father is giving him his own spiritual confirmation line upon line, precept upon precept, and when he knows for himself, he will be an amazing member of the church.

If there is one thing about the mission I could change to make it better, I would honestly have to say myself. The mission itself is great. I've served in five amazing areas, and I've served around so many good missionaries. If there is anything I could change about my mission so far, I wish I could take the things I've learned up until now and start over. So many of the problems I had to face in the beginning of my mission could have been resolved quickly, if not entirely avoided, if I knew then what I know now. The things I've learned about the Grace of Jesus Christ, human nature, and true success as a missionary would have made my life so much easier back then. Of course, if I hadn't experienced those trials, I wouldn't have been able to gain the knowledge that I now have. It's been a high price to pay, but it's been worth every bit of it, and besides, Jesus Christ paid an infinitely higher price so that I could have the opportunity to gain it in the first place.

Love,

Elder Clark

Zone Preparation Day at Milson's Point (On the north side of the Sydney Harbour, opposite from the city.)