Monday, November 3, 2014

Hello!

For those of you who are home, I'm excited to see you! For those of
you who aren't... I'm still excited to see you whenever the time
comes!

So... I have fallen in love with New York. I'm in love and I don't
care who knows it. Honestly from the people I talk to in the streets
to the members I have come to love so much, I love New Yorkers. It's
amazing how my heart is so attached now. It is a stark contrast from
when I received my call. I sat there and thought... Well I guess New
York is pretty cool. Now I couldn't imagine a more blessed land for me
to be in than New York.

So. I have been trying to focus on the work. I believe though that
when love is our motive there is so much more power and strength
behind our daily activities than there could ever be with any other
motive. We need to love God, love others, and love ourselves. I
believe that this will give us the most direction and purpose to our
lives. We will truly understand who God is, who we are, and who others
are. Understanding these things is a gift of eternal perspective given
to us from God.

This week consisted of talking to a lot of people, planning
appointments with members to hopefully strengthen them and help them
fulfill their missionary and other responsibilities, moving a couch,
singing to people at their door, in the streets, and in
lessons(causing quite a few to cry), cleaning up and doing service for
Far Rockaway, talking to a multimillionaire for an hour about who we
are and our message and getting offered a job and a place to stay,
eating at five guys and Eddies Ice Cream with the Bottomfields,
helping a member move, getting fed a lot (which is really nice), and
many other beautiful things about the mission. It's ironic that miss
is in the word mission... Because I will totally miss it. But life
goes on and we are that we might have joy. Ya buddy. Go eternal joy.

Love you all!
Elder Tyler Clark
Hello!

I'll be honest I'm coming to terms with leaving a little bit more. But
I am really excited to work hard until I finish. That's what I have
wanted! This week was fun. Elder McCann and I are super close. We are
working hard and having fun.

We did 2 days of car inspections this week. I was the tire pressure n
tread dude... So I have checked almost all the tires in our mission...
Hi I'm sister Asregadoo, elder Clark is awesome!
So I'm back... This week though we were able to talk to a lot of
people and a lot of people started conversations with us. I really
love bearing simple testimony. But I love living simple testimony
more. Especially because when we act on our testimonies or others
testimonies we are able to have he blessing of growth. When I am
improving I am happy. When I am not, I am not as happy. Men are that
they might have joy. Men are that they might progress!

That's something I was thinking about this week. Because I feel like
to often we think of the purpose of our lives being to return with
God. If that were the purpose wouldn't we have just stayed there with
God??? So our purpose is more. It is to return with God receiving
immortality and Eternal Life through progression. Progression comes
from living the Gospel of faith, repentance, making and keeping
covenants, and diligence in listening to the Holy Ghost to the end. In
this, the power of the Atonement will give you the power to become.

I finished the Book of Mormon again this week and I want to testify to
you that it is real and true. That through the Holy Ghost, it is the
convincing evidence of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role in
restoring the only true and living Gospel to the earth.

Well hey I'm excited about seeing all you again!

Love,
Elder Clark

Sunday, September 7, 2014




Hello.

I'm closing up the mission time pretty soon if you haven't heard...
It's really sad.

I got my travel plans in an email and I'm sure you got my travel plans
also... So if you would like to pick me up sometime that night on
October 1st that'd be alright. If not I've seen enough New Yorkers
wave down a taxi I could probably figure it all out ;)

But hey to look on the extreme positive... I've felt blessed to be
helping the right people, in the right place, and at the right time.
That's definitely something I need to carry on after the mission. Just
simply to be where I'm supposed to be when I'm supposed to be there.

Something I've learned a little about recently is that I don't realize
how involved Heavenly Father is in our lives. Even when it seems to us
like the Holy Ghost isn't prompting us because we aren't having big
noticeable experiences, we are being directed. When you look back in
gratitude(humility) for them you find how much the Spirit has
influenced your thoughts and actions. It is so sweet. When we get
closer and more obedient to the Holy Ghost it really doesn't take a
huge experience for us to go about doing good.

We have been sharing the message in Matthew 11:28-30 often recently.
It's comforting to apply.

So when I offered this old lady to help her carry her groceries she
was super cute and told me that it's helping her build her muscles.
Haha but then she started telling me her life story. It was really
neat. She survived the holocaust. She loves the US because they freed
her concentration camp. She also is very pleased in the opportunity
that America brings. Because everyone has freedom to pursue whatever
they want. Simple rights are taken for granted so often. She had
wanted to become an actor, then when she moved here she was able to be
in some broadway shows. It was super cool to talk to her.

Then that same night I ended up talking to a guy in Spanish for about
an hour. It was a miracle that I was able to understand him at all and
him me.

This week we did a ton of member visits. It has been super fun.
Members here are awesome. Gosh dang it I'm going to miss New York. I
love it. I've been so blessed to serve in this mission. I couldn't
imagine being anywhere else but here with these people I have come to
love. I fear that if I ever meet a New Yorker after the mission they
will feel overwhelmed with how much i talk to them about New York.

Also... As usual... We did quite a bit of office work too... We took
cars places, we went on Brooklyn trips, we were just kinda all over.
Helpin! :)

This truly is the best two years.

Love,
Elder Clark

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Wow could you believe I'm in the middle of my last transfer?!?!?!
Ewwwww.

I'm serving in Rego Park again with Elder M (stud) and I am
really loving it. So this is my death place. It's weird. But I'm happy
to be here. It's crazy that I'm in the office again though...

So the work here is going well. Were working but as always in the
office week 1 and 6 are a lot of work... So it will be fun! Even my
last week here!! Woot Woot! It is surreal that I'm coming home so
soon... But anyways. I guess things with Richmond Hill people are
still doing well... That's fun to hear. I'm surprised at how well I
have actually known and missed the members of Rego Park also. It's fun
to be here. I plan to work hard to strengthen the members here. Were
trying to do a lot of short member visits to help them fulfill their
missionary responsibilities.

This week was cool... As you may have read on Facebook from Yoshi...
We visited him and encouraged him to read the Book of Mormon. He
didn't read and then he got a headache and when he actually started to
read his headache went away! That was cool. We got to visit with a few
people that I was working with before so that's been good and fun.

We've been helping Elder B











get cars ready to sell... So that
has been fun and a lot of work.

Honestly though I'm excited to work hard and be diligent and obedient
to go home feeling good.

Love,
Elder Clark

This is us in the process of laughing because we tried to hold off a
hole in a tire with wood glue and scotch tape... Were brilliant... It
didn't fully work... As expected. But it was fun!
Sooooo.... This week was alright. But I received some news...

IM GETTING TRANSFERRED TOMORROW! I'm super surprised... I thought this
was my last area... But now for a new adventure for another 6 weeks!!!
Woot Woot! But man I have a lot of stuff... Getting everything home
will be interesting.

So ya I don't know where I'm going or what's gonna be up with the new
area! It maybe could be a return to another old area? Maybe a fun
companion? Ya? That'd be sweet! I can't believe how fast time is
going... I can't believe I have 6 weeks left... It sounds super short
when you compare it to a 2 year mission (2-1/2.....) hahaha.

Regardless I'm really excited! Even though I really really loved
serving in Richmond Hill. It will be a good experience to have a fresh
start again and to have a sense of newness! I love all the fresh
starts in the Gospel. Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ there
truly would be no fresh starts. We would be damned with our mistakes
no matter how little or big they are. But because Heavenly Father knew
this and still loved us he provided us with a Savior, His Only
Begotten Son. What a beautiful plan and expression of love. That is
the message we are sharing. I know it is true. I know that The Lord
loves us enough to have a prophet on the earth holding all the keys
necessary for us to perform those ordinances we need for Salvation.

Sooooo goooooood news... :) I'm going to the qualifying rounds for the
US Open today with the 4 Elders in our district and John!!!!! Woot
Woot! I seriously can't wait... (Fast forward 2 hours) Ha ok nvm...
The US Open website had the wrong date on it so we went and they
weren't open to public until tomorrow... But then we watched a lot of
the qualifying players warm up on the outer courts! That was really
sweet. They are good. I love tennis. It's a great sport. :) haha I'm
excited to play!

This week has been really good in regards to missionary work. I was
able to have the greatest lesson with one of the awesome 17 year olds.
Him and I are good buddies but man he is so faithful. He is loving the
Gospel. I'm so excited for him. People like him are tender mercies on
the mission. :) He is just so stoked to align his will with Gods will.
He literally said that. It was awesome.

Next week I will tell you all about the new area and all!
I love you all!
Thanks for all the prayers and support. I'm excited to come back but
for now... work. and I love it.

LOVE,
Elder Tyler Clark
Hello, my name is Elder Clark.
I love you all!

This week. This week. This week. Well I'll be honest all the weeks
kinda mash together when it comes to my mission. Ha :) I just simply
love it all though.

Today I'm very very grateful for tender mercies. For some reason this
week has been a really solid week because of all the little things
that happened. I am real happy about it! Small things like more
companionship unity than before, more people that I was able to talk
to, better studies, a sweet person we were able to teach, and just
simply things went well and they were fun. We were able to talk to
visit a ton of less actives this week also. This week still had the
struggles of everyday life but the little things and the blessings of
The Lord make a huge difference. We are happy when we have the spirit
because joy is a fruit of the spirit. When we work hard to improve or
do something according to Heavenly Fathers will.

I am just grateful that Heavenly Father directs my life according to
my worthiness. It helps keep me in check. I can be happy no matter
what happens to me as I am living a life worthy of the spirit!

So also... This week I created an extension to the pull up bar we
found so that it could fit our door. It is super cool and now I'm
doing P90X with Elder M in the mornings and if the other elders
want they join in! I'll probably be doing that until I get home... I'm
excited :)

So I love you all!
Elder Clark

Street sweep this week. We took this to the corner of the street and
asked people who God is to them! It was super fun!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014



















Dear familia marvelouso(sp?),

This week has been real good. Were working hard, Were seeing random
little miracles, Were having fun, and Were learning. And I feel good
:) And I'm a Mormon.

So we had an exchange with the Zone Leaders. The exchange with them is
fun because they are Spanish and so I got to practicé mi espanol. I
love trying to testify in Spanish because I end up saying super simple
terms and simple truths that I know. I want to get that simple in my
own language. Because the Gospel is really simple. We believe that
through the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience
to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Also on this exchange I almost got in a fight... This guy got mad that
he turned a corner and neither of us saw each other and he flipped out
like I was trying to bump him. He was angry. I stared at him kinda
weirdly... Like I was just confused at why he was angry. He was like
"Are we doing this right now as he was taking his backpack off...
Swearing and everything. I just stood there like what the heck. Then he
started taking off his backpack and walking towards me and this
Jamaican dude and My Zone Leader dude chased him off... Kinda weird. I
was still standing there kinda shocked at why he was so angry...
People be mad angry. He was still cussing at me and my comp as he ran
away. Hahaha He wasn't really that tough looking anyways...

So we got fed a lot this week by members! It was super super good! I
loved the food. One of the houses I ate at is a friend of mine at
SVU's family. Then I don't know. Just a fun week. The members here are
impressive. They are so faithful in the midst of so much darkness and
confusion. They stand out! So do you if you are faithful!

I'm seriously enjoying talking more and more to people. It's not
always an easy thing but the more I've done it the more I've loved it.
No matter what the response is.

Love you guys. Keep up the good work.
Love,
Elder Clark

Pic #1: We obtained a couch... I carried part of it to our apartment
on my head. Felt like a Cabo Verdean...
Pic #2: Got a New York Mountain Dew. Dad thought you might enjoy that...
Pic #3: On Monday last week we cooked food. A lot of it... That tin
foil thang was hunky.
Pic #4: Guy with a green beard and a parrot on the bus... Welcome to New York.
Hey Family and bigger family!

This week was a great week! Super fun!

For one day this week I had a priest-aged young man from Virginia come
on a mini mission with me! It was the greatest! I swear they are
lookin younger and younger... Ha but he did well and it was just fun
to have he excitement of a fresh missionary! With Elder M
training for the last 2 weeks, the whole district and area has
increased in excitement!

I also had my last presidents interview before the departing
interview... That was kinda sad... But it's always a good opportunity
to talk to President Calderwood. He leads this mission with optimism
and love. He seeks revelation and obtains the Lords will for this
mission very effectively because of his humility. He is incredible and
I'm grateful to be called here with him.

On Saturday we had the game night that we spent so long handing out
fliers and preparing for. We had very few people show up which was
kind of sad. But we had a group of 5 18 yr old friends come (two of
which we met at 7-eleven on 7/11/14). They are super cool and it has
been really fun to get to know them! They all met from playing
handball together and they've been best friends ever since. 2 of them
came to church on Sunday and they seemed to enjoy it! I hope to be
able to teach them all! They have Books of Mormon though so hopefully
they will read it! Actually also one of the friends is an inactive
member we came to find out! But anyways they are all super cool and
accepting of people so it has been very fun getting to know them.
Apparantly they ROCK at handball though... Were probably going to try
to play with them this week.

We also had a pretty good experience with watching the Lords will
happen. Ha :) we had planned to visit some less active families and on
the way to visit one we were able to talk to this guy who just had a
full knee replacement who we can probably start teaching now! (Yay!)
and then we went to knock on this less active lady's door. She opened
with this smile and was like "I saw you guys and I had been yelling at
you but you didn't hear me! Then you were talking to that guy for so
long I didn't want to interrupt you, but then The Lord heard my
prayers for a spiritual uplift and send you to my door. Ha it was
super cool. :) I believe that if we are in the right place at the
right time by standing in holy places (physically and spiritually) we
will be able to see the Lords will happen. The Lords will always will
work together for our good and others good. It is a way of humility
and charity.

Right now I am just trying to learn all that I can to prepare me for
life... Haha :) I've been working on getting in a pattern of
repentance. It has really helped me. I feel so much more confidence
and strength from simply improving my prayers to be more focused and
then asking for forgiveness and strength in improving. When The Lord
is our strength we cannot be defeated.

I Love Our Savior Jesus Christ. I mean that. I hope you know that and
come to know Him. It is a happier way.
And I love you!
Love,
Elder Tyler Clark
Hello Everyone!

Gotta say first of all sorry for not writing last week. It was a weird Preparation day...  I went out to Plainview to say hi to John(awesome) and then we had a BBQ with a member and then we took a trip to Brooklyn and we ended up missing our turn and going over the Bridge into manhattan.

However I feel really blessed right now because Heavenly Father is helping me to learn the importance of being diligent and he is teaching me how to trust in him to get the power and giving me power to be diligent.

I definitely have a testimony of diligence in scripture study as I have said before but it really makes a difference in the way our day goes and how happy we end up. There will never be happier times in your life than those times that you keep the commandments that you receive. Truly "it doesn't matter what you know" it only matters that you put your trust in Heavenly Father. In order to be directed, gain a greater relationship with our Heavenly Father, and be happy we have to rely on the spirit. It's no different than what the Prophet has to do. I don't care who you are because we are all children of Heavenly Father and we all need to rely on the spirit.

So Elder M is training and him and his brand spankin new companions fire is lighting our whole area on fire. It's awesome. Yay for Jeffy this next transfer! Funnel the energy bro! :) We did get 7-11 on 7-11. That was fun. I did a lil bit of teaching but a lot of talking to people. We also were able to get in contact with some sweet less active families that we will now start to work with! Things are just going really well here and I am having fun with it.

So this week we have been doing millions of flier handouts for our volleyball activity happening Thursday. I'm super pumped for that! I'm sure I told you but our Branch President is awesome. I really love this area. It's super fun and I really enjoy talking to people. They are simply fun to talk to because you never know what to expect.

You guys are awesome. Love you tons! Go get em!
Love,
Elder Tyler Clark
Hello!

This week has been super super miraculous. We have been working hard
but we've been getting more blessings than what we have even worked
for! There have been some awesome people jumping into our lives! So
many great people that are easy to love and literally asking to
improve their relationship with Heavenly Father.

We have had a family stop us on the street and they turned out to be
members from Guyana that just moved here a month ago and didn't know
where the church was. They are super awesome. I'm excited to see them
again. This week was also good because we were able to contact quite a
few people that we had been trying for so long to contact.

The biggest thing that has jumped out to me this week is the fact that
we are all the same. in the way that we all can't do anything or
change or anything without the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The path is
the same for everyone, it is to have faith, repent, be baptized(and
partake of the sacrament) under the right authority, receive the Gift
of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. This is how we change for
the better. If we apply this to specific things in our lives we will
be able to overcome trials and weaknesses through Christ. It doesn't
matter who you are or what you believe. The truth is always truth
whether you believe it or not. No matter about all the different
religions that are out there...

One of the people we are trying to meet with came to church for a
second time and the Gospel Principles class was on baptism. He is
originally Hindu. After the class he asked me "does everyone need to
get baptized?" I explained yes and asked him if he would like to and
he said that he really would like to get baptized. Super cool.

There are a lot of different nationalities in my area. But every
single one of these people before their works in this world began knew
the truth. They chose the truth. And they are all leaders of the
truth. Our job is to help them retrieve or remember this knowledge
they once had and based their entire choice to come into mortal life
on.

I know that the truth is that Jesus Christ Lives. He is real and
really loves us. The path or Doctrine of Christ is of ETERNAL value.
It is Gods plan for Eternal Progression unto perfection. I know
without any doubt that what I have stated here is true. It has blessed
me and will continue to bless me. May it bless you.

Love,
Elder Tyler Clark
ear Eryone!

This week has been mad awesome! I got to go to the temple and I got to
talk to a lot of awesome people. Some pretty ghetto people and some
super cool people. A lot of the ghetto peeps are super cool though.
They are really respectful of us. They say stuff like "you guys are so
godly" and then they walk into their liquor store or corner store to
buy junk that's against the word of wisdom or light a cig or
something... Haha but people are awesome!

I feel like so many people are trapped because of the lifestyle they
have chosen to live. It's super hard... It's not easy for them to get
out but especially when they don't do anything about it!

We have to act in order to have our faith be made perfect and also in
order to receive the blessings of the Atonement.

We had a super sweet meeting with President Sanchez and we set some
goals and made some super sweet plans to bring to pass miracles of
bringing people closer to Christ! Were going to have monthly
activities as a branch and monthly missionary activities also. Maybe a
few movie nights or something. We will also do some game nights and
some life size Jenga and fun stuff like that! We are going to start
working a lot closer with the members and I'm pretty pumped to do
that! I love the members and I need to love them more! Member visits
are huge!

In regards to missionary work done... We have done a lot of lookups
but not much success with that. We have also done a lot of talking to
people and not too much with that yet. However I think we will be able
to start teaching this one Hindu guy! So that's pretty cool! I love
being surrounded by and talking to people of many different cultures!
It makes for good conversations and a lot to learn!

So that's my update for this week! Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Much love and much to love!

Love,
Elder Tyler Clark
Hello!

This week. Well...
We have been doing a lot of walking... So that's been good for
me/hard/fun. Annie asked me about how my 6 months to sexy is last week
sooo I'm glad I'm walking and I've done a lil bit more working out ;)
haha But we are playing knock out in the mornings and that has been
real good! So back on track... Well I truly am loving this area. But I
need to start getting to know more members. The ones I know are
awesome and they all seem awesome but I just don't know them yet! But
our Branch Presidency is amazing. They are super fun and really good
people.

So yesterday being Father's Day apparently they thought we as
missionaries were fathers... Ha just kidding it was just really nice
to get a red velvet mini cake/ muffin. (Too big to be a muffin, too
small to be a cake) ha that was sweet. Literally. Ha don't ya miss my
stupid jokes??

This week in regards to missionary work... We contacted a lot of
people and we did a street sweep talking about the Book of Mormon that
I gave out a couple and a now we have a few more potential
investigators but nothing huge yet. I do enjoy testifying of the Book
of Mormon and the church though. Because the ability to receive
revelation is awesome and sooooo needed in each of our lives. I also
know that if we seek revelation we shall find. Or rather it shall be
given to us.

SOOO also Elder S. Gifford Nielsen came and saw and conquered our
hearts! The guy is awesome! He is called of The Lord and he boldly
proclaimed truth! It was awesome and powerful and he singled me out a
few times asking me questions. Haha but it was really awesome! I did
tell him about Jacob, Andrew, and Jon but I think he was just rushed.
Ha ees alright though. I learned a lot from his visit though. Mainly
it just got me pumped to do better and be better! So that was sweet!

A crazy Brooklyn guy this week came up to us and the sisters and told
this sister that I had a crush on her and he paired my comp off with
the other sister... He's like you'll thank me later for breaking the
ice. Haha so that's been interesting... Don't worry! Not crushing! I
am focused!

Also... People really love the World Cup here. It's awesome.

Love you all!
Keep up the good work!
Love,
Elder Tyler Clark

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Dear Eryone!

This week has been mad awesome! I got to go to the temple and I got to
talk to a lot of awesome people. Some pretty ghetto people and some
super cool people. A lot of the ghetto peeps are super cool though.
They are really respectful of us. They say stuff like "you guys are so
godly" and then they walk into their liquor store or corner store to
buy junk that's against the word of wisdom or light a cig or
something... Haha but people are awesome!

I feel like so many people are trapped because of the lifestyle they
have chosen to live. It's super hard... It's not easy for them to get
out but especially when they don't do anything about it!

We have to act in order to have our faith be made perfect and also in
order to receive the blessings of the Atonement.

We had a super sweet meeting with President Sanchez and we set some
goals and made some super sweet plans to bring to pass miracles of
bringing people closer to Christ! Were going to have monthly
activities as a branch and monthly missionary activities also. Maybe a
few movie nights or something. We will also do some game nights and
some life size Jenga and fun stuff like that! We are going to start
working a lot closer with the members and I'm pretty pumped to do
that! I love the members and I need to love them more! Member visits
are huge!

In regards to missionary work done... We have done a lot of lookups
but not much success with that. We have also done a lot of talking to
people and not too much with that yet. However I think we will be able
to start teaching this one Hindu guy! So that's pretty cool! I love
being surrounded by and talking to people of many different cultures!
It makes for good conversations and a lot to learn!

So that's my update for this week! Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Much love and much to love!

Love,
Elder Tyler Clark

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

 Today at 6:07 AM
So... I'm now in Richmond Hill Queens! Ya buddy!

Despite my kinda joking attitude when I first got here that I have to
walk so much more, that it's super loud, and simply that it's not Long
Island... I am loving it here!

I have really enjoyed this chance I have to be serving almost an extra
chunk of mission right now! My group has now gone home! All of my
buddies in the mission are leaving and it's sad! But it will be
interesting being the oldest missionary in the mission (total time
wise) for the next 4 months... Until I get home... Haha but because
this time is extra in a way I feel like it's a blessing so I have
decided and am already working harder and being less in my comfort
zone then before! Because there's no growth in the comfort zone and no
comfort in the growth zone! I'm hoping to really focus on my
companionship and myself personally improving! I know that when we
focus on lifting ourselves spiritually, we lift others spiritually
also! It brightens up the place! :)

SOOO... People spawn differently than LI here... I'll be completely
honest with that... There are some super cool people like our branch
president... And there are a lot of people you meet in the street that
must've had crazy lives! But it's super fun to hear/learn from them!

So this week I... Had to deal with the rental car... Last few trips
with my half sized car... I was able to fearless a person in English,
Spanish, and creole in the last few days... Taught somebody from
Guyana... talked to a lot of different Spanish cultures... Carried a
cinderblock 13 blocks... Tried to help a lady get her bed out of her
house... didn't work... Ate some great Jamaican food... Brought random
people from the street to our branch BBQ... Played some volleyball
there... In the parking lot... Played some ukelele hymns in some
lessons :) legs got super tired... Slept really well! Got hot... Had a
few "only in New York" moments... Almost walked into the background of
them filming Special Victims Unit of Law and Order... They filmed it
pretty close to our church building which is kinda close to our pad!
Talked to a lot of drunk people... I ride the subway constantly now!
The J and Z train... Hence where JayZ got his name...how neat is that?
That's Pretty Neat... Ate some pretty prime sandwich from a
cornerstore while talking to a pretty cool yet a little (K a lot)
ghetto lady from Brooklyn... Also we have part of Brooklyn and Queens
in our area so I've officially served in Staten Island, Brooklyn,
Queens, and Long Island :) Super cool! Loverly! Been Preached to in
the subway by a Subway preacher! He was actually super good! He was
talking about what it means to be a real Christian by loving each
other. He'll be a great member of the church one day! Found dollar
slice pizza place! We bargained with him to get a sample of the
breakfast pizza if we spread the word! I am pretty happy with the last
week. It was fun and adventurous... Had a scare... Thought there was
an invisible subway train screeching it's breaks right in front of
me... Ended up being a bus from underneath the station... I felt
rediculous looking around going "what the freak is happening?!" I'm
serving in the same district as one of Amy's friends elder L... I'm also super close with elder C. My companion is
a champ! He is good with memory and organization so that is super
nice! Especially when I'm roaming around queens not knowing which way
is up... But my closet is organized and I feel like I'm a lot more
mentally organized then what I was... Hey the sun is getting to me...
I may get a nice farmers and white shirt tan line... Maybe a watch tan
also... Idk... It'll be fun!
How Missionary Work Blesses Lives...

Well first of all... Any missionary work that anyone does is giving
others the opportunity to grow in their faith, knowledge, and truly to
come closer and build their relationship with their Heavenly Father,
thus preparing to enter in his presence after this life.

On the mission... Our purpose is:
"To invite others to come into Christ, by helping them receive the
restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,
repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
enduring to the end"

We declare repentance. We are inviting people to repent or change the
way they are and were in order to help them improve, get on the path,
and have the spirit with them. The spirit is what blesses us with joy,
it is what blesses us with love, it is what blesses us with peace and
comfort, and it is what blesses us with direction. Only when we have
the spirit with us are we entitled to these eternal feelings.

So missionary work is blessing others in that way. By inviting them,
It gives them the agency to choose joy now and in eternity, instead of
them being damned(stopped in progression) because they don't know
where to go, or even instead of them getting in worse and worse
standings with The Lord. It is giving them the opportunity to change
and follow Heavenly Father, who will help us fulfill the purpose or
measure of our creation to become like the Savior. It gives them the
decision to change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ by obedience
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Doctrine of Christ) or laws and
ordinances of the Gospel.

Doing this edifies us as the missionary and them also of course. This
is the way God has set the world up. The whole vision of Heavenly
Father is done by the small and simple things, by simple (sometimes
small... Like in my case... Not Jeff's) and imperfect beings... Our
responsibility is to "lift where we stand" by love and concern for our
fellow men around us. If we all let our light shine and do so in the
area we are, collectively and naturally we will raise the
enlightenment of all around us throughout the world.

Missionary Work seems to be a scary phrase... But missionary work is
simply the spirit of charity or love towards one another. If we love
our neighbor as ourselves we will desire that they are happy. We know
that the most complete joy comes from living the Gospel, so intern we
will somehow and in some way invite them to follow the Gospel. One
simple invitation could mean eternal happiness for one of Gods
children... It's worth it! It's worth the fear! If you do it out of
love and humility with confidence in the testimony you have, you
cannot fail. Whether they accept or reject it will only do them and
you good.

Hey eryone!

This week... Well the best part of this week was when an investigator
that had walked into the church and I was blessed to help out a little
bit to point her in the right direction was able to get baptized!!!
I've been so excited for her! She's super pumped to get confirmed next
week! I keep loving and loving baptism more and more... It's a huge
blessing for us to be able to access the cleansing/redeeming power of
the Atonement! I'm trying to learn more about the enabling power as
well! But I'm grateful for it!

We had a super cool lady named Rosa we have been in contact with from
Dominican Republic that only speaks Spanish come to church Sunday and
she LOVED how she felt but was really sad that she couldn't understand
anything... So we told her we would help her learn English and she was
soooooo excited about that that she grabbed both of our arms and
walked through the hallway going "I'm so happy! My teachers! English!"
That was right after she learned the word 'Saturday'. We had been
wanting to start an English class anyways but she helped give us
another reason for it! We had a miracle Korean girl from our ward come
back from her mission to Argentina! She bore her testimony in Spanish
and Rosa cried. It was awesome!

So this is the last week of this transfer and I'm not excited for
things to change... Hopefully they don't!!! I love our district!
Transfers.......... Why..... Oh well! Hopefully whatever happens i
will love it! Come what May and love it right?!?!

So were still going to he beach out on Fire Island for P-Days...
That's fun... Got some volleyball and beach soccer in yesterday! So
fun!

I got a sweet rental car... Which most of you know about haha :) it's
a cute lil car. :)

So personal progression update...
I have been blessed recently in the last week or so to have help from
Heavenly Father to remember what I need to and check off the things I
needed to on my to-do list. We have been working on studies and I know
that studying consistently and well will bring the spirit fast. It
pulls your day together in a oneness... It provides a solid foundation
for the day. It brings stability that we need to not go insane!! So
that's my positive update!

Thanks for all you guys do! Thanks so much for the birthday package!
The other Elders have been loving it(haha you know how it goes ;) )
And I didn't tell you but I have been loving the ukelele!!! I'm about
to learn some sweet missionary songs from an RM (Served in England,
Chinese speaking!!) but I have been so excited about it! District
Meeting at its finest! I also started a lesson with a song last week
and it was awesome... I'm looking to do that more now! Music brings
the spirit so well! Shall be the best!

Love ya tons!
Love,
Elder Tyler Clark

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Hey family!! So a lot has gone on in the last few weeks and at the
same time not much different! It's been hard for me for the last
little bit for some reason to be obedient! I have not enjoyed the
struggle but I have been working on it and slowly it's improving! It's
hard because right when I got super excited to work for my last 6
months Satan had gotten pumped as well! So I'm working to overcome and
improve!

However at the same as that has been happening... I have felt so much
assurance and comfort in becoming who I need to be to stay strong when
I get home, to eventually provide spiritually and physically for a
family, and then even more eventually to return home to Heavenly
Father. I have a lot of confidence in my future regardless of my
current weaknesses. And hey who knows whether those weaknesses will
still show themselves in my future or not but either way it will all
work out. Heavenly Father takes care of each of us physically as we
strive to take care of ourselves spiritually. :) Seriously though the
comfort has been really really nice.

Interesting News... During Presidents interviews... My companionship
became the go-to companionship for teaching YSA males that the sisters
would need help with... So I just became a YSA Branch missionary
again! Yay! And it was cool because last week a lady came to church
saying that she had been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon
for 2 months and she felt like it was right and she was super pumped
on life :) and then this past Sunday... There were 2 guys that came in
interested to learn more! One because he's dating a member, and
another because a girl in the ward brought him. They are both super
cool and I'm excited to have lessons with them!

It's pretty fun to teach... Especially when it runs super smoothly and
When it's a learning experience all around. A lot of times I
understand things better after I teach it. So I enjoy digging deeper
and deeper into the Doctrine of Christ as I teach!

I went to the beach yesterday and got sunburnt... It stings a lil
bit... We also played rugby... That was fun again! We decided that
whether you scored or got scored on... It was a nice tri/try. So no
matter what... All the missionaries will say "nice try!" on both teams
ha :) it's kinda fun knowing enough about rugby to teach them all!

I've been learning to love the members here a lot more. It will be
hard to leave Plainview! But it's weird to think that this is the
longest I have stayed in one area! This is finishing 5 transfers here
(so 7-1/2 months about) and who knows! Maybe I'll end up dying
(leaving for home) here! I hope so! That would put me at 1 year in
Plainview! If not... I hope to make my next area the BEST area ever!
Can you believe that after this one I have 3 transfers left... Yikes

Thanks for all your support and prayers. It really means a lot to me!
Love you all!
Elder Clark

It has been a crazy week. I lost the phone on Tuesday (I didn't even notice because Elder Wood never let me carry the phone haha). So Elder James and I had fun being stuck without a phone for a couple of days. We found it on Thursday though!!!!!! I had dropped it in our Ward Mission Leader's car. He searched the car over and over before then and couldn't find it, but when Elder James and I prayed we both felt like it was in his car. We went there to look, and I remembered there was a box of wire sitting next to me where I may have dropped the phone. Sure enough, there was a really small opening in the box and somehow the phone fell right into it. That was pretty crazy. But I'm telling you, the Lord cares about the little things too, even the dumb mindless things I do haha.

We also have seen a lot of success teaching! Almost all of our investigators right now are pretty solid, and we are teaching almost 10 people again! What a blessing. The ward is really taking off too. I am excited for things happening here.

Elder James is from Mill Creek, UT, right by Sandy!!!! He went to Skyline high, and was a wrestler and football player. Just to give you an idea of how awesome he is, he was 180 pounds and played CENTER in football. Like the man who throws the ball between his legs for those of you who went to public school. He is such a man that they wanted him to hit fat guys and protect the quarterback. So let's just say we have gotten some pretty good workouts in this week.

One of our new investigators is a retired high school football coach, so I don't think we will have a problem relating to him haha.

I don't have much to say, only that if you vote for me all of your wildest dreams will come true. Thank you.

<3 Elder Clark the younger