bret and debbie clark and family: February 2009

I've been transferred....

The assistants to the president told me a couple of things that I thought about for the whole flight. As I thought about those things it felt as though heaps of responsibility was coming upon my shoulders. When the plane landed and I walked off, I took a deep breath of the Alice Springs air. And right when I did that a wonderful spirit came over me comforting me and giving me confirmation that I am supposed to be here.

Hello my family!!!
When I landed in Alice Springs I was picked up by the Zone Leaders and they took me to the senior couple's for lunch. Then after that they put me in the car and sent me out bush. We drove many hours on un paved roads out to aboriginal communities. Then we sleep out there. These people are very peaceful and very shy. They have a very different culture then normal. There forms of communication are different as well. They use lots of hand signals. A whole fourth of my mission I was trained to look at people in the eye when I taught and also when I listened. But Its a sign of aggression in there culture so now I am being trained to not look into their eyes. The Aboriginals hunt animals mainly Kangaroos. Throw them on the fire for a little while then eat them. The Kangaroo Tail is the best part. There is a lot of meat on that part. The work is very very succesful up here with baptisms happening everywhere. We drove into a community and two people that I have never met came and asked us if they could be baptized!!! There are only six missionaries (not including the senior
couple); me; Elder Gould, who is from bountiful, Utah; Elder Talaki, who is from tonga; Elder King, who is from Samoa; Elder Saddler and Reiri, who are from New Zealand and are Maori!!! Since there are so few of us in this area we do trade
offs all the time and all of us need to be unified. The area looks like a desert with some trees. The sand is red. And I love it. The little Camry's wouldn't be able to handle it up here so we have trucks. I love it up here all is well... except that I got a little sick. But all is well. I love you's!!! Keep going strong!!!
-Elder Kyle Clark

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Not much information....

Here is the letter for this week:
Sorry I don't have any time to write this week. I didn't even get to read your letter. I love you all!!!!!!! Teaching has been good but mostly african people not too many australian people. Found red back spiders in my room. I guess they are very poisonous!!! Bye

Thursday, February 12, 2009

He made it

We received an email from Kyle he says: I did make it to Australia safely and have all my bags. I did get the package that you sent here, its funny how even my family is makin fun of me for being a greeny, ha ha. Well there is a ton of slang that I get to get used to. Wierd driving on the left side of the road. My new companion is Elder Davidson. This is his last transfer and he is the district leader. We also do a bunch with the Zone leaders that live close. I guess Elder Davidson has trained like eight missionaries so looks like I'm in good hands. Go to the gym everyday exercise lots! Studying lots fun stuff!!!!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kyle is on his way......

Kyle called yesterday from the Salt Lake airport and I spoke to him for a minute, and then he said he would call from LA. By then everyone was home so me, Bret and Alex got to talk to him. Not for very long only 15 minutes, he sounds really good, and excited. It was funny when I hung up with him the first time he said goodbye Sister Clark and I said "Kyle, I am your mom, always will be", and he said "Okay, we can compromise. Goodbye, Sister Mom, and by the way it is Elder Clark". Not sure what they are teaching at the MTC, but I was just glad he called me anything I guess. His flight from LAX is 18 hrs. and goes to Melbourne, Australia. From there he takes a 1 hr. flight to Adelaide. He left Monday and skips Tuesday all together (because of the time change) and arrives Wednesday (Australia time) at 1:00 pm. I figure he will be there around 3:30 pm our time Tuesday.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

so i've decided to join the blog world...

I thought maybe it was time I started a blog for my family so we can keep each other up on what's going on with everyone. Not that there are that many, but they continue to leave the nest. I can keep everyone informed on what is going on with Kyle and share pictures he sends home. So we will see how this goes. Wish me luck.