Smart Phones a Must

GPS is a Life Saver

  This last week has been busy in different ways.  Monday was quiet and learned that Tuesday, the Harlingen building carpets would be cleaned.  All activities were cancelled, so we decided to go and take the missionaries lunch in San Benito at their district meeting.  There are 2 elders and 4 sisters in the San Benito district.  We had a wonderful lunch and enjoyed their company.
  Later in the evening, we met a young girl (17 years old) in our office.  He was interviewing with her Bishop and while waiting for her Sister and Brother-in-law, she told us about her life.  he has lots of goals, dreams, and is really working hard on achieving them.  She was taking care of her niece after school everyday.  Everyone here is very family oriented.
   We finally set our hours for being in the offices.  We are in the Harlingen Office on Monday from 11am to 4pm and Tuesday from 11am to 8pm.  We are in the Brownsville Office Wed. from 1pm to 8pm Thurs. from 11am to 4pm.  On Fridays, we will start conducting Career Workshops and other appointments.

Brownsville Employment Office inside Church

  Wednesday we had an appointment in Harlingen with a young man and our employment manager came to visit us from Houston.  Bro Stotts brought us some teaching manuals and a case of computer paper.  He helped us understand how to teach the Career Workshops, which is part of our job.  We spent the afternoon and evening in Brownsville.  Bro Stotts showed us how to find things on the computer we were having trouble with.  He also took us out for dinner at the Ultimate Taco (authentic Mexican food).

Bro. Stotts and Elder Clark

  Thursday we met Bro. Lyle (Church facilities manager in this area).  He took us to see some wild pig traps he had set up in a wild life refuge.  The pigs are so numerous that they destroy the habitat for the other animals in the refuge.  We also saw Javalinas (smaller pigs) and large vultures.  He knows the area so well and is involved in lots of different projects of community service.  He is a good example to us, and we have felt his love and friendship already.

Bro. Lyle and Elder Clark

Javalinas in the refuge

  Sunday morning 9am, we went to the Southmost Chapel (in Brownsville) which is on the south-east border with Mexico.  We went to the Fast and Testimony meeting (in Spanish), met the 1st councilor, and put up our flyers for the next Self-Employment Mini-Class.  This one will be taught in English.  At 11am, we went to the Elizabeth Street building (also in Brownsville) to put up flyers and went to Relief Society and Priesthood meetings.  Afterward we went to a Baptism at 12:30pm in the Brownsville 1st Ward on Price Rd.  The baptism was a young 12-year old girl.  She was the first member in her family.  She said afterward, "I felt so clean and good inside."  The Ward and her family filled the Baptism Room.  At 1:30pm, we went to the Los Fresnos building to put up more flyers and met Branch President Goodman (YSA).  We also saw the Sister Missionaries.  They had bright smiles and had just taught a lesson outside the building.

The Sisters' Smiles brighten our day

  We are still trying to get to all the buildings (and units) that we are responsible for.  Next week, we are going to Weslaco.  That is the last building (with 2 English units and 1 Spanish unit) and then we can start all over again.

  We started our Spanish Tutoring last week over Skype.  We really need to speak Spanish to communicate down here.  Most of the older people only speak Spanish, but the younger members are bi-lingual.  So we have to get an interpreter to help us understand the Mothers and Fathers who need the jobs.  We know the tutoring will help and appreciate this MTC program.
 
  We are so blessed to be here.  Some days are hard, but it is worth the effort.  We continue to support and lift each other up.  No matter where we are, everyone needs our love and service.  We love our Mission and these people.

  We look forward to the week to come.

Love. ...................... Elder & Sister Clark.