July 2016 Retroactive

  We had a wonderful event on July 1^st. Our daughter (Christina) gave birth to a baby girl, our fourth grandchild. There are now four Wilsons; Christina, Brian, Eli, and Lucy. With April, Jon, Paisley, and Stella Davis, Jakob, Julie, and us, that makes twelve (12) people in this Clark clan.

Sweet Baby Lucy

  We are still in Harlingen, Texas. We know it is way past July 4^th, but we had such a wonderful day and did not want to forget it.

  We were invited to the Treasure Hills Branch Pancake breakfast in Lisa & Simon Mata's backyard. There were many people there and it was fun to be with the Mata family again. I say again, because on Saturday (July 2) we went with their family to watch the Harlingen City fireworks. They were great and we had a great spot to watch them.

  After breakfast, we went to the Harlingen Iwo Jima Monument. (There are only two of these in the United States, one here and the other in Arlinton Cemetery). While at the monument, we met up with two other Senior Couples from the Texas McAllen Mission (TMM). One of the couples were the Neils (work in Mision Office) and the other were the Winwards (who are the other Employment Specialists in the mission, like us). The Winwards work in McAllen and westward, while we work on the mission's eastern side. Elder Neil did a little research and gave a history on the World War II conflict on Iwo Jima. Sister Clark loves history, so it was great. Afterward, we went to lunch at a pizza buffet, we all got our Sr's discount, and enjoyed getting to know each other better.

Harlingen Iwo Jima Monument

  In the evening, we were invited to the Elkins' house for a Bar-B-Q with the Stake Presidency and their families. (We got to know President and Sister Elkins the first week we were in Harlingen.  Tom wanted to watch the BYU football bowl game and they invited us to watch it with them. We have been great friends since.)  After dinner, the teenage kids at the BBQ, helped Tom practice his Spanish.  We all (kids & adults) had a good laugh trying to improve on his Spanish. Tom is a good sport and the kids had fun teaching him.  After dark, the kids and Dads set off some fireworks in the backyard while the ladies toured the Elkins' well-organized food storage and daily work board. It was fantastic!

Our San Benito District

  For fast & testimony Sunday, we fasted for more people to help get jobs. We had five appointments the previous week, but nobody showed up. This seems to happen frequently even though the people here say they really need help finding work. We have learned that people have free agency and we can't make them get a job. They have to show up to their appointment, apply, and interview for the jobs themselves. We can't do it for them.

  We have seen many more people in our employment offices since Fast Sunday.  Tom says the best way to get help with your prayers is by fasting. We really saw this in action the following week. We helped more people than the 5 that did not show up, the previous week. One young man (we are still helping) was baptized the week after we met him. George is a very nice and needs a job. Unfortunately, he does not have a car or a driver's license and is limited to jobs within walking distance of his home. He wants to be a Border Patrol Officer, but needs a job, first, to get money and experience to apply for his dream job.

  We are so surprised to find out that many people don't have driver licenses, cars, or bikes here.  They rely on family and friends to take them places. This is hard when you want to work somewhere other than within walking distance. We find that many people are here illegally in the United States (especially Brownsville, where the Mexican border is right next to the south part of town). Most of these people want to work. We can help them search online for jobs, but most businesses require Social Security Numbers, driver's licenses, and/or work permits. The people we help just want to take care of their families needs. They don't care what kind of work, they just want to work. We are all Heavenly Father's children and he wants to bless us. So, we do what we can to help everyone.

Our car odometer showing 90K miles (or 9K miles since we arrived)

  We had a surprise the next Sunday. We met a BYU Summer Roommate of Sherrie's when we were at BYU together (Ream's Apartments, 1979). Connie Garcia was here visiting her mother and saw us at the Harlingen 1^st Ward sacrament meeting. We haven't seen her for 36 years. She lives in Orem, UT, teaches school, and visits her Mother for one week each year. What a surprise to see her and catch up on life. She grew up in this area (Raymondville) and taught school in Snowflake, AZ. Sherrie was a teacher there, also. What a small world in the Church.

  Sherrie got to talk to her brother, Kay and his wife Lynn, on the telephone. They just returned from their second mission in Germany. Their first mission was in the Ivory Coast, Africa. Sherrie's other brother Wendell and his wife Linda, just returned from their second mission assignment in South Africa (their first mission was in Botswana, Africa).  It does not matter where you serve (i.e., foreign, domestic, or from home). It is just great to serve.

Its cotton pickin hot here

  We keep studying our Spanish. It is slow going, but we are learning. We are praying in Spanish, practicing with anyone who will help us, and we have tudors from the Provo MTC who help us over Skype. The best teacher of all is the Holy Ghost. He brings all things to our minds, if we just ask for His help. We find a big difference when we pray for the help of the Holy Ghost in learning to speak Spanish. Sherrie is starting to understand what is being said in some Church meetings. Tom says he is still lost, as ever (not true).

  We look forward to hearing about what you are doing from Facebook (tomsherrieclark), by email (clarkida@msn.com), or by phone (208-716-4781). May the Lord bless us all to live His way.

Love. ….......…………….. Tom and Sherrie Clark.