This week, I had the opportunity to visit Haifa and the gravesite of John A. Clark as part of the BYU Jerusalem Center program. One of our professors shared the story of John and this letter that he wrote to his sister within a year before his passing.

Dear Sister Alice,

You are really in Provo at BYU. This is the year I was supposed to graduate, but the Lord willed it otherwise; and we were to attend this year together, weren’t we? But we are both where we should be.

During the last few days I have often thought of a year ago. Tomorrow the 19th of September is the anniversary of the initiation into the schoolroom. I believe it was very essential to fulfilling my next undertaking [ie: his mission]. I am having a very find time now, am enjoying the blessings which I have imagined missionaries enjoyed. I am as contended as you can imagine and enjoying my mission to a very great extent.

I am getting along nicely with the language. In fact, I am blessed exceedingly in understanding and making myself understood. I scarcely ever speak English to anyone, save myself. I have been here one month and feel right at home; get along splendidly. Shall be very pleased to hear from you.

Your true brother, John A. Clark

Afterwards, we sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." The words of the third verse were particularly touching as we considered John's life cut short in his service to God.

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth’s harvest field so wide

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus the Crucified.

It is likely that his immediate family never had the privilege of coming to visit his final resting place. As part of a Jewish tradition to place small rocks or stones atop tomb stones as a memorial to the deceased (because stones are stronger and last longer than flowers or plants), I added a stone to the collection resting on his memorial.

I testify that the spirit was present on our afternoon in Haifa. Our family is eternal.