Tough Times in Hurlingham

Dear Family,

I´m sorry this letter is arriving late. Because yesterday was a holiday (Día de San Martín I think), all the internet places were closed yesterday and we couldn´t send email.

There are some great things and some tough things happening in Hurlingham. A lot of our investigators have stopped progressing or aren´t progressing very much, and we are having trouble using our time efficiently and therefore aren´t teaching very many lessons or finding many new investigators. I feel sad and frustrated about our investigators because I don´t know how to help them understand how important baptism is. And I´m disappointed with myself for not using my time wisely, because I know it´s one of the most precious resources that Heavenly Father gives us to do missionary work. On Saturday night I was frustrated because I make the same mistakes over and over again-- going to bed late, arriving late to the pension, not speaking to enough people in the street. I realized all of those things would be easier to do if I was more committed to be obedient. So I said a prayer and promised Heavenly Father that from now on complete obedience will be my highest priority. I´m still not perfect, obviously, but feeling more committed to complete obedience over any other priority is helping me to change the things I wanted to fix. It really is easier and less stressful to try to be 100% obedient than to try to be 90% obedient. On Sunday morning I remembered my promise and spoke to 3 people in the train! I NEVER speak to people in the train. I´m hoping that this week if I strive to keep my promise to Heavenly Father that we´ll be able to find new investigators and teach more lessons.

The ray of sunshine here in Hurlingham is our investigator Gastón. He hasn´t used drugs or drank for 2 weeks, and he is working really hard to stop smoking. He has really changed his heart and everyday he reads the Book of Mormon, prays, and tries to do service for his family. He is a miracle and I can´t wait for him to get baptized. It´s really a privilege to be part of his conversion. Every day we try to follow the Spirit to know what to teach him, and we use as many scriptures as we can. Heavenly Father is really helping us to help Gastón.

Thank you for all that you do for me to help me serve a mission-- for helping to pay for it (ok, for paying for basically all of it) and for emailing and writing letters to me every week. Thanks for praying for me, because I know you do. Knowing you love me and are praying for my success helps me to want to work harder and not give up in the rough times. I love you and I pray for all of you that you will have the Spirit, not be stressed, be healthy, that you will feel loved, and that you will be able to achieve your goals.

I love you Mom, Dad, Eliza, Elder Clark, Emma, and Danny!

Love,
Hermana Clark