First time MTC President served final 6 months at home

President and Sister Clark were the first to return home to finish the last 6 months of their MTC Mission President experience. With the final closure of the Philippines MTC to new training missionaries and all missionaries gone from the MTC, the Clarks returned to the United States 11 July 2020 to finish out their last several months from home. They remained engaged with the MTC staff and Philippines Area Presidency and with the new MTC President who was to report in January 2021. They continued to provide online devotionals and instruction and remained active in the work of the MTC. President and Sister Clark were released from the Philippines MTC 20 January 2021.

January 2021 President and Sister Clark met via Zoom meeting with the Philippines Area Presidency and MTC staff following their release from the Philippines. Seated L to R: Sister Susan Bangerter, Elder Steven R. Bangerter, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, Sister Anita Wakolo, Sister Bon Kyung Choi, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi. Standing L to R: Ed Fernando, Jovanne Lopez, Christian Merciales, and Ruth Navarro.

Today a little light is diminished in our lives.  The bright beam of the Philippines MTC is dimmed as we return early from our assignment at the Philippines Missionary Training Center.  What an incredible ride it has been.  We would never have dreamed the circumstances that we would go through when we first arrived.  We know the only way such a story could be told is because we had angels and a protective shroud around us.  Our lives have definitely been changed for good.

We now look forward to seeing our loved ones and a new granddaughter who has joined us.  With the COVID-19 Pandemic, it will a different world we return to.  We will figure out the best way to maneuver it and enjoy association with our dear family who we love so dearly.

At 5 a.m. we were picked up and taken to the airport.  We never would have guessed that there would be a departing group of beloved teachers to see us off.  Bro. Jovanne Lopez, Lee and Christian and other teachers that live nearby, sent us away with an extra tug in our hearts.  We have been through some mighty experiences together.  Ones that only those who lived it with us could truly understand. Farewell dear friends.  Until we meet again!

 

 

GRACE ELIZA CLARK

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Shelby and Brian were concerned because Grace couldn’t get comfortable since her stomach and back hurt.  She had to go to the bathroom a lot more than normal.  She also had diarrhea. 

Shelby took her to the doctor in Bentonville.  She had an ultrasound and her blood taken.  The platelet levels were low and there was inflammation of kidneys and intestines.  After conversations with specialists, they decided to take Grace and Shelby to Little Rock in an ambulance. 

Brian was able to quickly take a bag to Shelby at the hospital.  He and Ella went back to tell them goodbye.  It was an emotional time.  It took Shelby 3 hours to transport to Little Rock Children’s Hospital.  They wanted to make sure she has access to the best treatment if her platelets or red blood cells go lower. 

Shelby later said the doctors were pretty sure Grace has HUS (Hemolytic uremic syndrome) likely borne from e.coli (at least they’re treating her as such).  It's best for her to be in Little Rock in case it causes deeper kidney issues.  They have access to dialysis if needed.  Apparently, it’s pretty random in terms of who gets HUS and could suffer from it even if people all consumed same food/water.  Brian and Shelby caught this condition early before it took a heavier toll on Gracie's red blood cells.  Poor thing can’t get comfortable and has had to go to the bathroom often.  The IV helps to have enough fluids going through her.  We’re grateful she’s where she needs to be. 

Thursday p.m.

From Brian:  Our ladies have arrived in Little Rock.  They’re going to repeat all of her lab work and monitor her overnight.  Paying special attention to her urine.  That’s all we know at the moment.  Think both slept off and on the ride down. 

Friday, May 22, 2020

Staci, Judd and family came to Bentonville to take care of Ella so Brian could go to Little Rock.  Shelby really wanted him there by the time she had her port surgically placed.  Brian will leave in the morning since the Koudelka's have come to take care of Ella.  

UPDATE:
The next 24 to 48 hours are crucial to determine which direction she’s going to go.  Right now she’s fairly mild, but it’s just the beginning. 

Brian requested a blessing tonight and Judd gave him a very sweet one.

Armstrong’s are making plans to come out on Wednesday, May 27^th.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Brian left for Little Rock as Staci and family stayed at the home until Monday morning with Ella.  They then took Ella with them until Wednesday when the Armstrong’s came. 

Brian’s text on this day was; “Grace and Shelby will be shifting to the ICU soon in preparation for when they’ll begin dialysis.  I believe she’s almost done receiving a blood transfusion which we pray helps.  At this point she’s pretty well following the textbook trajectory for a child with the disease.  Platelets and red blood cells are dropping, she’ll likely cease going potty in the next day or two, and then it will be evident her kidneys need some help through dialysis.  It’s likely a couple of tougher days lie ahead.  Typical dialysis length is two weeks, but we’re hopeful her body responds well quickly.  Grace slept pretty well last night which was great.  Shelby is remarkably strong, even though she must be exhausted in every way.  Every child deserves such a mama by their side when they’re hurting.  Thank you all for your love and prayers.”

Staci sent the following note out to family and friends far and wide:

Hello Family & Friends. We’re reaching out to you today with a small request in mind. Brian and Shelby’s oldest daughter, Grace, was admitted to the hospital in Little Rock late this week for medical treatment after being diagnosed with HUS (Hemolytic uremic syndrome). Our sweet girl has already undergone a transfusion and they anticipate that dialysis will soon follow.

Brian and Shelby have confidence that they are where they need to be in order to receive the best treatment possible for their little one right now. Nevertheless, we intend to join in fasting and prayer tomorrow on their behalf and wanted to invite you to do the same, if you’re able. We love you and appreciate your support.

️The Clark Family

Many kind and thoughtful friends sent notes of love and prayers.  It was amazing how so many reached out.  We are grateful.  

2020.May24

Update after Grace’s bloodwork earlier from Shelby:

All of her electrolytes, potassium,etc looks good which is the goal after dialysis

Her kidney function numbers have improved just by a little, bit they haven’t gone up, they’ve actually gone down since this morning. So great. 

She also ate a good amount of spaghetti and ice cream and has been chatting up a storm - not sure when she’ll be tired for sleep but it doesn’t seem like that will be anytime soon. :) 

Thank you for all of your prayers and fasting in her behalf. It’s been good to see our happy, funny girl getting back to her normal self. 

We heard from Joni Blackman also:

Gracie is on the mend. She will most likely be in Little Rock for another 2 to 3 weeks. It was difficult seeing pictures of this once strong-willed, energetic 3-year-old so absent of strength. We hope to continue to see progress from here on out.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

BEST NEWS EVER!  Gracie is coming home from the hospital.  (Friday May 29, 2020 Arkansas time). 

Gracie was in the hospital for HUS (Hemolytic uremic syndrome) which affected her kidneys and intestines.  It is a dangerous cause of e-coli and there is no cure.  The treatment is blood transfusions, platelet transfusions and kidney dialysis.  It was so difficult to watch her lethargic state.  Staci immediately jumped on the fasting and prayer bandwagon.  She sent out the alarm to friends and family high and low.  From Brian’s high school buddies to ward members, to our friends from Naperville, to the Philippines Area Presidency and their companions.  They all sent notes of concern and the fervent prayer.  Elder Wakolo sent correspondence to Brian at the beginning.  Such faith and prayers touched heaven in a big way. 

Above is more information about Gracie’s sickness beginnings. 

She was in the hospital for 8 days.  Brian and Shelby were told this would probably take 2-3 weeks.  She ended up having:

ICU for 2 days

3 blood transfusions

2 dialysis sessions

Platelet transfusions

Grace had prayers from all over the world.  This is definitely another mission miracle. 

The Clark’s went home to having Wendy and Lance there for 2 weeks.  That will be nice to have some extra attention for awhile. 

Brian said that they felt so fortunate but realized that there were people in the ICU with children who had been there much longer than a few days.  He also noticed that while they were able to afford a hotel, there were people there that wouldn’t even know where their next meal might come from.  I think that will leave a lasting impact on him and we will see where that might go.  

They say challenges can come in 3’s.  Our 3 is over ---- can we be done?  We look at them all as mission miracles. 

1.  Quinn and the Quarter – April 14, 2020

2.  Gracie and HUS – May 21, 2020

3.  May 29, 2020 Claire and the broken elbow – She took a spill last night playing with the neighbors’ puppies.  Kai said, “How can this keep happening?” She had a teeny tiny, itty bitty break.  4 weeks in a non-waterproof cast. 

    

  

Missionary Recovery Center Stars - Elder & Sister Egbert

 

February 27, 2020 is a historic day.  It is great to have a capable couple in the MRC again.  Now we have all of our senior couples at the MTC again.  The Egberts have hit the ground running.  We hope not to have to slow them down.  Sister Egbert served a mission with President & Sister Johnson under Ray Goodson.  She and her companion found a golden family….the Villanuevas.  Jomel Villanueva was 18 at the time they found the family.  The others were taught but he kept hiding.  The family was baptized a month before Jomel when his father was able to baptize him.  They now have 3 generations of faithful members of the church.  It was a wonderful reunion when they saw each other for the first time since they arrived in the Philippines.  President Jomel is not doing well with kidney problems.  He is very weak and looks so different.  It was a lovely and tender reunion.  

Batch 695 - Last Batch for MTC

This has been quite a transfer.  If ever the thought that all transfers are the same, this would prove them all wrong!  These are the statistics of 695.

14 countries represented:
American Samoa, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, United States
RTM          84
LTM Jr      17
Japanese    10
LTM Sr     18
Provo        16

TOTAL    146

*** Hong Kong Quarantine
We were given a few days notice that Hong Kong Missionaries were coming to be quarantined because of Coronavirus at the MTC campus.  We swiftly went into action preparing all of the needful things to give "Restricted Access" to one whole building for 14 days.

***  1st Bangladesh Sister EVER!

***  Rare ALL SISTERS District

***  ALL ELDERS District - English Second Language

***  1st Japanese District (9 weeks) at the Philippines MTC

***  3 Malaysian Sisters were redirected to Urdaneta for unspecified time without any Tagalog training. 

***  Dentists made a new bridge of upper teeth to correct Elder with a cleft pallete's mouth. 

***  We had a 37-year-old Sister who will be serving in Oregon enter the MTC. 

Two inspired scriptures came to President Clark's mind in our departure meeting for these missionaries.  The missionaries have a collective goodness amongst themselves.  Just as the tune-ups help us do better, these scriptures were meant for this group to better themselves.

Alma 37:6 - "Small and Simple Things"
Mormon 1:2 - "Quick to Observe"
This can benefit or have the opposite affect with missionaries. 

Quaratined Hong Kong Missionaries

The Coronavirus affected us at the Phillipines MTC.  I am putting the article in this post to document the event.  

Updated February 5, 2020

The Church issued the following updated statement regarding missionaries being transferred from Hong Kong and Macau:

The Church continues to monitor developments with the coronavirus. Overnight, we have learned that some of the missionaries leaving the China Hong Kong Mission will not undergo quarantine at a government facility as previously believed. Therefore, these 17 missionaries (who are citizens of the Philippines) will be isolated and separated from contact with other missionaries for 14 days at the missionary training center in Manila before departing for their new assignments or returning home.

The Church feels an important responsibility to do all we can to help these missionaries stay healthy and avoid even the remote possibility of spreading the virus. Staff at the missionary training center will work carefully to meet all the needs of these missionaries while they are there and to keep themselves and other missionaries safe by following proper health protocols.

As we have noted previously, for several days prior to leaving Hong Kong, all missionaries have rigorously followed preventative health practices to avoid illness including remaining in their apartments as much as possible, not engaging in teaching, wearing masks, and frequently washing their hands. Therefore, the likelihood of any of these missionaries having contracted the coronavirus is very low. Additionally, each missionary was required to show no symptoms before leaving Hong Kong.

First Day of Quarantine Confinement:

Feburary 6, 2020

We weren't given much notice the Filipino missionaries were coming to our MTC – about 72 hours to get ready.  We swiftly moved into action and definitely felt the hand of the Lord assisting us.  These are the tender mercies that occurred.  

1.  We were in between departures and intake.  That meant we had only 17 missionaries on campus when the missionaries arrived.  

2.  For the first time in about a year our number of arriving missionaries would be just over 100.  We have been well over that – more than double - for months.  Because of this, the regular missionaries entering the MTC would fit in two available buildings.  Our little band of refugees would be given a home in isolation in Building 1.  No one else would be able to enter without proper masks, gowns, etc.  

3.  The overall administrative load and special event calendar of the MTC was lighter than usual.

4.  The schedule of Tuesday Evening Devotional speakers fortuitously included two members of our Area Presidency - Elder and Sister Wakolo and Elder and Sister Bangerter.  A very rare “coincidence”.  Both couples delivered special, memorable messages.  They also gave special attention to the Hong Kong missionaries who watched remotely via internet.  The quarantined missionaries sang and waved for our General Authority guest from the second story windows of Building 1 as we walked by on the way to the devotional.

Here is a copy of the email President Clark sent to the MTC leaders about our loved little band of refugees.  

February 6, 2020
Dear All –

 The seventeen Hong Kong missionaries assigned to quarantine at the Philippines MTC have arrived and been welcomed and loved.  They are tired, hungry and very happy to be at the MTC.  The preparation work done over the last 24 hours by IMTC staff, Philippines Area Office personnel and Philippines MTC staff and missionaries has been exceptional.  The missionaries have shown remarkable resilience from this disruption of their missions. 

 Our MTC Nurse, Sister Hill, did brief individual examinations and gave instruction needed to comply with the quarantine.  After a short orientation the missionaries went to their rooms to sleep.

 When recovered from the travel they will be provided a schedule for Week 1 of quarantine at the MTC.  Brother Lopez and his staff have wonderful plans to help the missionaries remain busy and feel productive.  Tomorrow will likely be a day of transition as they adjust to new surroundings and different expectations.

 Thanks to everyone that helped with setting up and organization of our temporary “quarantine center”.  The charity shown these missionaries is some of the finest ministering we are likely to witness.

President Clark

This is a sample of their day:

Welcome

Elders & Sisters

Food will be delivered during mealtime on first floor near the pondering area.

            Breakfast       7:45 a.m.

            A.M. Snack    10 a.m.

            Lunch            12 p.m.

            P.M. Snack    3 p.m.

            Dinner           5:45 p.m.

Please only go 1^st floor for meals at the appointed time.  Go directly upstairs with food and eat in your room. 

For email and other online training materials, iPads are provided.  You may also use them to study and proselyte.  More instruction will follow. 

Clean linens are in the room inside the laundry room.  Please change your linen every Thursday.  Put dirty linen in brown garbage bags from Custodial Closet.  Place the garbage bag in the room with fresh linen.    

Cleaning supplies and garbage bags are available in custodial closet on each floor.  Make sure you clean every Thursday.  Wipe off cleaning supplies after using them. 

Sister Hill will be taking your temperature and checking your overall health 2 x’s a day around 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

You will receive a daily schedule of activities for you to follow including

Physical Activities in outside parking lot only.

            9 – 10 a.m. (beginning Saturday) – exercise time

            6:30 – 7 p.m.  Evening Fresh Air Time

Wear your N95 mask whenever you leave your residence room. 

Please remember you are in quarantine for the protection of yourself and other missionaries. 

Final Day of Quarantine Confinement:

Feburary 20, 2020

Here is the email that Scott sent to Provo, Salt Lake and all involved with the Hong Kong missionaries:

Subject: Hong Kong Missionaries Quarantined at the Philippines MTC

 Dear All –

 Today our 17 Hong Kong missionaries designated for assignment in the Philippines completed their 14-day quarantine period at the Philippines MTC.  They were “released” at noon and celebrated by attending a session at the Manila Temple.  Starting early tomorrow morning they will depart the for assignments in Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles, Cavite and San Pablo Missions.  One sister will return home as her 18-month mission is complete.

Our little band of refugees have been tremendous.  Through their collective attitude, obedience and cooperative spirit they have brought honor to the China Hong Kong Mission, President and Sister Phillips and their Philippines homeland.  All have been remarkably healthy during their quarantine on the second and third floors of our Building 1.  They have been incredibly gracious in accepting their confinement and diligent in fulfilling study assignments intended to fill weeks of unplanned time.  (A clear and present danger for any missionary.)  They have maintained missionary dignity and endeared themselves to all who have had opportunity to serve them.

Each of the five receiving missions will greet healthy, seasoned missionaries, ready to return to work and resume missionary life.  Most are leader-ready and will contribute wherever they are assigned.  We’ve enjoyed, from a distance, having them on our campus.  We hope never to be asked again to house missionaries under such restrictive conditions but if it is needed, we would pray for them to be of the same caliber as these fine missionaries.

Attached is the class picture for our exiting two-week batch.  We love them.  Our MTC is better off for them having been here.

President and Sister Clark

Philippines MTC

Sister Jean B. Bingham - Tuesday, February 4, 2020

MTC CHOIR:  "Love Is Spoken Here/I Have a Family"  It was AMAZINGLY Powerful! Sister Jean and Brother Bingham visited the MTC.  It was nice to have dinner with them.  She is so real and down to earth.  The missionaries loved having her here.  We seem to have some interesting results when Church authority to visits recently.  When Elder Cook arrived, Mt. Taal erupted.  When Sister Bingham came, Coronavirus was happening, and we received 17 quarantined missionaries from Hong Kong.  I’m worried what will happen in April when Elder Christofferson arrives.  

I was able to conduct a meeting with some of the ladies at the Area Office who had positions in the Relief Society in their wards.  President Bingham was interested in the joys and challenges women in the Philippines were experiencing.  This was the second time we were able to enjoy the Bingham's.  They are a lovely couple.