Elder Clark Boyd

Man! Busy week! Last Tuesday after we emailed, we went all the way over to north Augusta to work and had a huge day. We taught a ton. We found a few much needed investigators. Our teaching pool has grown pretty thin lately. And we got to teach Javier and Lucina with Hno. Liu. We watched “Together Forever” with them and then talked about the importance of the family in the gospel and even talked about temples a little bit with them. Their wedding, baptism, and confirmations this week went great!  The Relief Society surprised us and went crazy with the decorations for the wedding. It looked great! There was a good crowd there and the baptism went really well also. Elder Girsberger baptized Javier (his first baptism) and I baptized Lucina. She FREAKED out in the water. She was squirming and kicking. It was almost scary! She is veryyyyy scared of the water. We are also still working with Rocio and her kids. They came to church this Sunday. They are going through some emotionally hard times but I really hope they stay active because they need it.  Also, the Ventura family is doing really well.  Rafael is even wearing a white shirt and tie to church and signing up for exchanges with us as well. Javier (the recent convert) and Adrian (Briana’s dad) also signed up to go out with us this week so that is way cool! Last week we went out with this guy named Joe who is from Laredo, TX so he speaks English and Spanish fluently. He told this story during priesthood meeting at church so we didn’t know this until after the fact. It was pretty cool. They lost their debit card so they had to be pretty tight on their funds and he lives a good 30-45 mins away from us so that means a lot of gas money and they wouldn’t have enough for the rest of the week to meet their needs but he decided to do it anyway. He explained the feeling he felt as when you are thirsty and you just want to keep drinking and drinking because it tastes so good. He said he wants to go out even more than just once a month to maybe even more than once a week because he felt so good. Member exchanges don’t just help the investigators, less actives, and recent converts visited, it also helps the exchange.  On Saturday, we had a youth conference thing but it was almost like a mini MTC. Elder Billings, Elder Girsberger, and I were in charge of the missionary memoirs class. We just told missionary experiences and stories and pumped them up to serve a mission. It was pretty fun!  Next week we have zone interviews so that’s pretty exciting. Hope everything is going well for you guys! Love you!

In another email Clark wrote:

Brianna is doing great. they showed up like 20 mins early for church and she wrote in her journal her feelings from the day of her baptism and she said stuff like, “I want everyone to get baptized so they can know how good I feel, I was nervous at first but then I was excited, I know God loves me, I know this church is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” She is only nine years old but i think she really gets it. They have home teachers now too so thats good. We already started on the new member lessons with them. The parents are getting way excited and are even coming to us with questions because they are thinking about it during the day.

BRP stands for “best relationship proselyting” and its just the new member program we are using to try to get the best friends of the members as referrals and not just the first people that come to their head or the people they met at the store.

The baptism, wedding, and confirmation went great! The relief society prepared a bunch of stuff for it and there was TONS of food as always. Javier cut his hair, bought a white shirt, tie, and pants and also dresses for his wife and two daughters and a huuuuge cake. (that was a huge sacrifice for him) He probably lives on less than 100 a week. Pte. Gonzalez gave him a big picture from his wedding in a nice frame so they can remember it.

Fernando is still taking the lessons. He lives about 30 miles away so its REALLY hard to drive out there and see him, but we are still in contact with him. He hasn’t come to church though.

The verse from the song… “ya que me bautize un misionero quiero ser a compartir el gozo de la restauracion. tal como tierra limpia cuando acaba de llover yo quiero comportarme bien y con mi dios volver.” or something along those lines. That was just by memory.

iI dont think we have to make reservations for baptisms but you could call to ask just to double check. It’s a smaller, slower temple.

Love you-

this past week went really well! last week we played putt-putt golf for a P-day activity as a district and then had a great lesson with Briana and her parents about the gospel of Jesus Christ and we reviewed the baptismal interview questions with her. When we first started teaching her, she had no knowledge of God at all but now she can teach us the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. Her baptism and confirmation were this Sunday. Pte. Gonzalez baptized her and confirmed her. There were a lot of people there and even a few less actives came! We have still been working that BRP idea that the mission is doing. It is a really good idea, its just hard to get addresses and the letters sent off. Getting the actual names is a breeze. Last week we had a way long, intense DDM and learned about a bunch of new things that Pres. Holm wants to do. It is mainly about the BRP idea. He just really wants it all to work out and for it to be successful. We had another DDM today. I trained on “Preparedness” and focused my thoughts on Goal Setting and Planning. I learned a ton while preparing the training. This past week, we also had an FHE with Margarito, Lucina, Javier and Lucina and we talked about the authority needed for baptism. Javier and Lucina are really excited for baptism. They got their permission from the state to get married so we will have a wedding, a wedding dinner, a baptism, and a party this Friday for them. The ward is REALLY supportive and REALLY excited for them. They are very simple, humble people, but they will make great members. We have also been working with another family, it is the sister of our ward mission leader’s wife. They are a really fun family and they have gone to church for the past two weeks and they came to the baptism on Sunday! We are really excited for them! She cooks for us all the time(and is an AMAZING cook) and works at a BBQ place so she gives us ribs. (she is not helping me with my weight) There is also a part member in our ward, Fernando, who is married to a less active named Ruby. We went over a week ago with their Home Teacher and taught them about the BoM to break the ice and establish a relationship and then we went back a couple days ago and had an AWESOME lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Probably top 10 lessons I’ve ever had. His dad died a few months ago, and his home teacher’s dad died while he was on his mission so it was a perfect match up to help his testimony. We went over there all day yesterday for P-day and he cooked us some carne asada and we played soccer with him. They were going to come to church but they had some stuff come up. Hopefully they will be there next week. Teresa(the recent convert) is doing really well. She is about 100 pages into “A marvelous work and a wonder” and she is loving it. She also came to the baptism this past Sunday. Marlo didn’t come to church. I think he is scared to come on his own with out his cousin. He still wants to serve a mission but we got to get him way solid to do that! haha Oh yeah! also, at church this Sunday, i did something you will never believe! i sang at church!!! hahaha i know. unbelievable. We sang “I like to look at rainbows” and i wrote a third verse about missionary work for it. I don’t think we sounded too hot but there were people crying in the congregation! (probably because their ears hurt! haha) Other than that, there isn’t too much new! i hope all is well with you all! love you!

Brianna did get baptized and Javier and lucina will be getting baptized this Friday. as for Jesus, ester, and yajaira… were not really sure what’s going on. They just aren’t taking action. Hopefully they will soon. But as for now, there is no progress. The venturas are doing amazing! Hna. Ventura is quitting her job because they are making her work Sundays and Rafael, came to the church this Sunday by himself! which is huuuuge. Usually he only goes if she goes. They are coming back strong. They are excited to meet you guys. I have a bike but it’s a piece of junk. I’ll probably just bring the bike lock home and leave the actual bike.. haha the lock is worth more than the bike…

Clark probably has only 4 more letters to write until he is released.  He had a few friends come home from their missions last month.  It is amazing to see the changes each of them have made.

Hey familyyyy! It was great talking to you guys on Sunday! Sorry I couldn’t email yesterday, the computers were closed for the Holidays but here I am today! This past Monday, we had a transfer dinner at the apartment of a senior missionary couple for all the people that were leaving but we decided to go anyways because the food was really good haha We also went driving at a driving range just for fun and then had to start moving all of our stuff to our new duplex. We now live in Martinez and our area is a little bit bigger! We cover the whole Augusta stake instead of just the Georgia side.  We also got a new companion, Elder Girsberger who is also new. He is waiting for his Visa to go to Peru.  He is also from Utah… but then again, who isn’t?! This past week we started teaching this guy named Jose from Colombia. He is in charge of a Hispanic group in the army. He seems like he is really interested in the church and really getting to know the truth for himself. At the beginning of the week, Teresa called us and told us she doesn’t want to get baptized anymore. She was scared about what her kids and family would say, she couldn’t accept that there was a prophet in this day, she couldn’t accept baptisms for the dead or that the Sabbath was on Sunday. So she just decided she was just going to keep reading and going to church and see what happened even though she has received so many answers. Then one day we went over with Josue, one of our awesome members, and he just answered all of her questions and overcame all of her doubts! It was amazing! Then on Sunday, we had a white Christmas! She loved it. She could already feel the blessings even during the baptismal service. She was really happy and even crying. Elder Billings got to baptize her so it was his first! We are also teaching this couple named Javier and Lucina and Lucina doesn’t speak Spanish… She speaks Mysteco…. So in all the lessons, we have to bring over a member that speaks both Spanish and Mysteco so he can translate for us. They should be getting baptized in the next few weeks. Somehow we have to help her really understand the gospel because we can’t really teach her… Oh! Also, on the 24^th, Christmas eve, we went to the Gomez’ house and they had a few nonmembers there and they had us teach them all! It was pretty cool how willing they were to introduce their friends to the gospel. I guess that is what a true testimony does though. Yesterday, for P-day we went and played basketball and then taught one of President Gonzalez’ extended family members. She works almost every Sunday but she is very interested and she wants her family to go to church as well! We are still struggling with finding new investigators because of the lack of Hispanics but we are using the new BRP (best relationship proselyting) idea and it seems to work! We have already gotten almost 50 names of people they want to share the gospel with. The key will be the follow up though. Well, I hope you guys had a great Christmas and will have a happy new year! Love you! Elder Boyd

Hola familia!!!

This week went pretty well! We got transfer calls and I am getting a new companion! (In addition to the one I already have!) We are going to be in a three-some. He is also another new missionary so I will be double training. His name is Elder Gersburger (I have no idea how to spell that…) But he is only going to be here for a little while because his mission is actually in Peru and he is just here waiting for his Visa. We are also moving apartments tomorrow so that will be really fun! Haha Right now we live in Augusta but they are moving us to Martinez. They are also expanding our area to North Augusta as well. That is a whole lot of changes! Haha it should be a fun week! On top of all of that, we will be having another baptism this coming Friday. This past Monday night, the branch set up an FHE at the church where they had a spiritual thought and then we set up for the Christmas party and a member named Hector brought his mom who is here for a few months from Honduras and she was talking with a few of the sisters and said she wanted to be baptized once she resolved a few of her doubts, mainly having to do with baptisms for the dead. So we set up an appointment with her for the following day and we taught her with Josue, the brother and law of Hector and she really felt the spirit and then Josue invited her to be baptized and she said maybe. By the end of that lesson she was almost begging us to give her a Book of Mormon so she could know for herself of the truthfulness of our message. It was pretty cool! The next day, we taught her with her son’s mother in law who is also here from Honduras and we had another great lesson with her and we said a kneeling prayer with her where she asked if this is the true church, if it really does have the authority to be baptized, and if she should be baptized. Both she and Esperanza, the member, were crying. It was probably one of the most spiritual lessons I’ve ever had. After that lesson, she committed to be baptized on the 24^th but still struggled with accepting her answer because of her doubts about baptisms for the dead and other things. But really, she was just scared to accept the answer because it is a big change. We went back over yesterday after church and taught her again and she finally accepted her answer and she moved her baptismal date up a day to the 23^rd! So we are pretty excited about that! She will be interviewed this week and hopefully we will get everything planned on time for the baptism! Haha We also had our Christmas Zone Conference this past week and we played basketball, did a talent show/skit thing and had some training. It was pretty fun. For the trainings, we learned about a new “BRP” (Best Relationships Proselyting) program we are going to be doing. We are going to be sending out letter from members to their nonmember and less active friends to lead them to mormon.org and tell them missionaries will be coming over with a “gift” (the Book of Mormon). It should hopefully be pretty successful! We did it for the first time last night and we got 17 referrals! I would say it was a pretty big success! The key will be the follow through and contacting the referrals. On Friday, we had our Branch Christmas party which was another great success! The decorations were great! The food was amazing! And it was just fun all together. There were a good number of nonmembers there so that was good for fellowship. Yesterday at church was pretty disappointing because we only had one person at church. No one kept their commitment! But, we went by Marlon’s house and I gave him my Spanish PMG as a Christmas gift to kind of motivate him towards a mission and get him really studying. He was pretty excited! This coming week we have a lot of those BRP appointments set and a lot of food we will be eating! Haha This Christmas season is really going to fatten me up even more! Haha Can’t wait to HEAR from you guys on Sunday! Love you!

Email 12-12-11

This past week was full of miracles and blessings from God! we didn’t find too many new investigators, but the ones we have been teaching recently have all been progressing very well and they have gotten over tons of barriers! Also, in Spartanburg, my last area, I found out that Irma, Isabel, Carlos and Gabriella have all gotten baptized! I was pretty excited to hear that! Here in Augusta, we were going to have a FHE with Jesus and Estel in their fellow shippers home but they had to work late so we didn’t get to do it. We did get to teach a few times this week a lady named Daniela, who has been progressing a lot recently. We still need to meet her husband but she has been doing very well! We had a ton of member supports this past week. We had a member exchange every night! we even went out with Marlo 2x this past week! he loved it! I think I’m going to give him my Spanish Preach My Gospel in preparation for his mission. He is pretty stoked to go. We also taught this guy named Dionicio, who is the roommate of a member. He seems way cool and wants to get baptized. He came to church this past Sunday along with another one of his roommates we invited. Also, Jesus and Ester came along with Jose and Milli. We actually rode to church with Jose and Milli so they would for sure get there. She cooked us a nice breakfast before we left. During this past week, we also got to play soccer with a few members and like 10 other nonmembers. Hopefully we will be able to teach them in the coming weeks. I have gotten a lot better at soccer than when i left but man, i am still way bad. it’s definatley not my sport! haha This past week we have basically just worked really hard on getting in tight with ward leadership and getting the work moving forward so it doesn’t just depend on us. That is what happened in Spartanburg so we want to do the exact same thing here. It has already started to pick up. The members are just so excited to actually have missionaries working here that they are willing to do whatever we ask! There aren’t any doors to knock or anything like that so we cant find on our own. We are totally dependant on the members but they are awesome here! Sunday, after church, we had a marriage and family class that we went to and afterwards everyone brought cakes, deserts, etc. It was really good! I was just happy to have such a successful day at church for my birthday! The Lord blessed us a ton! This coming week, we have a full schedule including our Christmas zone conference and also our branch Christmas party! i am way excited! love you!

Heyyy! How are you guys doing? Things here in Augusta are going great! We had the baptism of Marlon this past week! It was AWESOME!!! He was way happy, his fellowshipper was way happy, the branch present was way happy and we were way happy! There was a wedding going on in the gym so we had to stay as quiet as possible so we didn’t interrupt but it was a great service. This past Monday, we had an FHE with the Guillen family. They are from Laredo, TX/Mexico.  They invited their mother over so she could get a relationship with the missionaries and get kind of introduced to the church. She seemed pretty interested. She lives in the North Augusta area so we wont get to teach her but hopefully she comes to church! We had a great finding week this week! We found 11 new investigators and we have 13 people on a baptismal date right now! Our only problem is were struggling getting people to progress… No one comes to church! Haha For Thanksgiving, we went to our Branch Preisdent’s house and had Enchiladas with him and his family. We didn’t have turkey at all this week! We have seen a lot of success with member referrals this week. Sister Gonzalez gave us a referral and we have taught her like 3 times this week and she is really looking for an answer. A guy named Luis gave us a referral and he seems way elect! He needs to get off work on Sundays but other than that he is way cool! And then our relief society president, Sister Gomez gave us a referral to go see a couple and they are way cool! They totally want to get married and baptized and they’ve already been to church in the past. The only reason they didn’t before is because they felt like the missionaries were being too pushy so they shut down a little.  This coming week should be way good! The branch is WAY supportive. They feed us almost every day and they have a member exchange for us almost every day as well. The only time we don’t have a member exchange is when we don’t want one! Haha there are maybe twenty priesthood holders in the branch and we get about 10 people signed up weekly to go out with us. It is amazing! Marlon, the guy who go baptized is going out with us this Thursday! We are way excited!  Hope you guys are doing well! Love you!

p.s. happy birthday braden for last week! haha

This has been a very packed week! There have been a lot of changes! On Monday, we went out to dinner with the Samaniego family to the Chinese buffet and then we went to Daniel’s house and said goodbye to him, Irma, Oscar, Hugo, and Ivan. I’m really going to miss everyone in Spartanburg. On Tuesday, we had a trainers meeting in Columbia where we got to meet all of the new trainees. Elder Wood is also going to be a trainer so I am now a grandpa in mission language! We went out and worked with them for a few hours. I went out and worked with a missionary named Elder Billings. And on Wednesday, we went to transfer meeting and met our official companions and I am his new companion!!! We are serving in the Hammond Hills branch in Augusta, GA. I am officially out of South Carolina now! There are tons of trees here and also tons of black people! Ha-ha. We live in the ghetto but it’s pretty fun. We have been blessed with tons of success. This area hasn’t baptized in over a year but we have started to work with two part member families this week and they should both be getting baptized either at the end of this month, or the beginning of next month.  One is the branch president’s son in law (Jose) and another one is the cousin of one of our Honduran members, Marlo. Elder Billings is from Saint George, Utah. He was actually in Taylor’s zone in the MTC. I put up a picture in our room of our family and he recognized him and then ran to tell me. It was way funny! This branch is a little bit smaller than the Greenville and Spartanburg branches but the members are still way supportive. They feed us almost every day and they also go out on splits with us almost every day! We also found a new investigator this past Saturday who came to church on Sunday. He didn’t have his own ride so we said we would set something up for him and he called us on Saturday night just to confirm. He loved church so he should also be baptized here in the near future as well! I love you guys! Hopefully all is well!

Clark sent this to Bryce.  I remember when Clark really struggled with Spanish:
Transfers were great. My new companion is Elder Billings from Hurricane, Utah. His Spanish is really bad… ha-ha. It’s really hard to teach but he’s new so it’s okay. We are in Augusta, Georgia!!! I have officially been in all the branches of the mission now!! How crazy is that?!?! I think that plan for you guys coming out would work perfectly. That’s pretty sweet Connor is doing his eagle and Braden spoke at the priesthood preview and the primary program. I just barely missed the primary program in Spartanburg. I was really excited for it. I was even going to play the piano for all their songs! Ha-ha. I actually did hear about the missionaries who got killed. Our branch president’s wife told us. Who are you guys going to invite over for Thanksgiving? I don’t know who we’re going to eat with… Ha-ha. We are trying way hard to get to know all the members and gain their trust so we can baptize their friends and family. This branch hasn’t had a baptism in over a year… We will hopefully be having two within the next month so that’s exciting!!! But about Thanksgiving… I don’t know where we’re going to eat. ha-ha we have every day signed up on our meal calendar except the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of Thanksgiving! Ha-ha. Oh well, I need to lose weight anyways!