Short Week!

Dear Family!

How is everybody doing :)

Well this is the 'short week' of the transfers, haha since P-day comes quicker.

We went to a baptism on Friday of a guy who had been going to church for 2 years straight without missing a Sunday! He couldn't be baptized because he was waiting for his divorce papers to finalize so that he could marry the girl he's been living with. He got baptized the same day as his wedding :) I think that is tremendous faith. His dad jumped up out of his seat and raised his hands toward heaven and shouted 'alelujiah gloria a Dios!'. It was a really enthusiastic shout haha! It was so cool to see this guy who wasn't a member of our church, be so overwhelmed and joyful for his son. He was crying so hard the whole time.

I feel like I don't have much to tell you all this week :/ I'm so sorry about that! I was pretty sick this week and so I've been really out of it lately haha, but I feel a lot better! This has been a week full of trials and tests. In ways that I did not fully expect. I've been studying in Alma, and in the very first chapter of Alma it talks about Nehor and he's just being a bum, going around and trying to destroy the church. I realized that Mosiah had literally just changed the whole government so that there wasn't a king anymore, which was inspired of God. So it just seems like that whole society got smacked in the face with a trial of faith. They overcame that trial eventually and Alma is just a stud about the whole thing, always trying to do the will of God before his own. So I've recognized a lot of trials, and they are all trials of faith. It has helped me to look inward and to really look and ask myself if I am the person/ missionary God wants me to be, or even expects of me.

My companion has been going through a rough time again. He regrets his decision.... That has been the greatest trial of all. President Giuliani called and talked to all of us during the week. Something that hit me hard, he said that when we bear all of the tough times, always looking toward God and being strong, then we will be able to look our kid's in the eyes when times are hard for them and be able to say that they can do it, and that we've done it. That they can have hope. It was directed toward my companion but it really applies to all of us, and I really took that in. I think I'm going through these trials right now so that I will be able to look at all of you, my family, and you, Katherine Dodge, and even my future family, and be able to say "I know you can do it, because even I who am weak and low could do it. I found strength in my Savior Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice for me. And I am always here personally to help you in any way that I can". I keep learning with each passing moment.

I hope you understand my email haha. I'm sorry it isn't very long, But I love you all so much! And I know this church is true, with all the authority and organization. I miss you guys! Keep up the good work :) Thank you for your love and support and examples. You're the best! :D

Elder Alek Clubb