June 15, 2015
Man this week flew by so
fast! There was so much we had to get done and it was very overwhelming, but I
had a great week!
I don’t even know really
where to start. This week we had a lot of lessons and we were able to take out
a 19 year old with us for a whole day and that was good. He struggles a lot and
so it’s great that he comes with us.
This week we were super
busy planning an activity we had on Saturday. It was for all the stake youth
and I had mentioned in previous emails what we were going to do. It was very
stressful getting it all organized and I was way in over my head, but the
activity turned out to be a great success. We had 33 youth there. We were
expecting around that number, but hoping for closer to 50. And things went
relatively smooth! The kids really had a great experience. Following is a brief
overview for those who weren’t able to read the last posts:
The kids showed up and we gave
them some cereal for breakfast. Then there were three stations with different
activities. One of the activities was a giant iron rod activity. After the
activities, the kids, leaders, and missionaries (we had about 10 leaders and 12
missionaries) split into groups and they headed out to the streets to preach
the gospel! It was so awesome. It was one of my favorite parts of the day. We
got a lot of referrals and one priest that was in my group was on fire! He was
talking to everyone and testifying; it was so awesome! That was a great
experience. One of the leaders was telling me that one of the girls in his
group told him that before the activity she was always very scared to open her
mouth and share the gospel but now she saw how easy it is to share your beliefs,
and so that was really cool! Then we had
a big lunch and President Cavelieri came down and spoke to us. He talked about
what we can do now as member missionaries as a youth and then how to prepare
for a mission! He also showed a clip from Facing the Giants, so of course I
thought that was cool! (por su puesto) And then we had a testimony meeting with
all the youth and it was awesome!
A lot of leaders came up
and talked to me and said how much they enjoyed the activity, so all the stress
was worth it and hopefully it helps those youth want to serve a mission!
There is so much I wish I
could tell you about this week! It was a truly amazing week the Lord really
blessed me and helped me feel His love and spirit. I am still learning a lot
about leadership-problems never cease, but it is really great to forget
yourself and think about others!
In our district meeting
this last week we talked about miracles and walking by faith and following in
the path of Christ. We don’t need to walk where he walked just as he walked.
President Monson said:
One woman, each time she related
experiences she had during a visit to the Holy Land, would exclaim, “I walked
where Jesus walked!” She had been in the vicinity where Jesus lived and taught.
Perhaps she stood on a rock on which He had once stood or looked at a mountain
range He had once gazed upon. The experiences, in and of themselves, were
thrilling to her; but physically walking where Jesus walked is less important
than walking as He walked. Emulating His actions and following His example are
far more important than trying to retrace the remnants of the trails He traversed
in mortality.
And then in my personal
study the next day, I had a really cool experience in the Book of Mormon. The
night before I had told my companion I wanted to study faith and then I wanted
him to open to a random chapter in the Book of Mormon for me to study and learn
about faith. The chapter he turned to was Alma 49. As I was reading this
chapter, it occurred to me how little faith the Lamanite leaders had, and how
much faith Captain Moroni and the Nephites had. I learned some characteristics from
both sides of the story. Chapter 49 is about the Lamanites attacking cities
that had once been much weaker, but that Moroni had fortified. And the whole
chapter it talked about how they had been "supposing everything" (vs
7) and the "supposed" they would win or they went to another city
"supposing" it was going to be weaker. Each time they were
"exceedingly astonished." On the other hand, Moroni was full of
confidence. If you read chapter 48 you see how Moroni was firm in his faith in
Christ and that he had a "perfect understanding". His was a faith
that led to knowledge, understanding, and confidence in the Lord. He was never
exceedingly astonished for he knew the Lord would deliver him. One of my favorite verses about him is :
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men
had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very
powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have
power over the hearts of the children of men.
I love Moroni and I think
we can all learn how to have faith like him to conquer our own individual
trials. I love the Book of Mormon and the adventures I can have in it, and all I
can learn and apply to my life to help others! I hope you all have a great week-and
don’t forget to be like Moroni!
Elder
Clark
