Dear Family,
Glad to hear everyone had a great time here in Utah! I probably saw the truck driving on I-15, it was just a speck because I'm a few miles away but maybe!
So interesting experience, Elder Bednar showed up to one of our wards! He went to the ward which is where Josh, the 18 year old got baptized last week. Bit of background for him, he got disowned by his family for being baptized and they took away his car, phone, school, everything. They send him hate texts and threats a lot. During church Elder Bednar stood at the stand and asked Josh come up. He talked to
Josh for about 15 minutes and promised him that as he stayed close to the temple and stayed worthy, his parents' hearts would be softened.
It was exactly what Josh needed to continue. Hopefully we can get to the temple with him tomorrow to do baptisms. We then got to shake Elder and Sister Bednar's hands.
Yes Mom, the prison is in the mission. While I was in Sandy the prison was in my area. I tried to get permission to teach there but they wouldn't let me. Don't worry I have divine protection. Also I haven't been on the trains that y'all went too. I've only used Trax.
Vacation? I will for sure go for beach location. I have horrible tan lines thanks to my white shirts. I'm really short on time right now but I'm looking forward to mail pick up!
Love y'all and good luck in school!
Elder Parks
Sunday, September 15, 2013
August 26, 2013
Dear Family,
So I forgot that last week, my new companion is Elder Clark, he's from Ohio and is a really good companion. We teach well together and get along great. We're both getting use to Daybreak, and we're liking it.
We had a zone conference this past week which was nice. Got motivated to go find, teach, and baptize again. Then it hit me afterwords that I only have one more zone conference left in my mission. So the next zone conference I'll be giving my departing testimony. Still no news yet as to Facebook, iPads, etc. I heard this past week that the Provo mission gets iPhones. Not to sure if that is true or not.
This past week with all the thunderstorms we saw lightning strike Angel Moroni! He's a tough guy though, nothing happened but it was really loud since we were less than half a mile from the temple.
We also had an awesome baptism this past week. Josh, he's 18, and his story is amazing yet sad. He's had a ton of experiences that led him to believe the message. However his family wasn't for it at all. Last sunday, he told his family he was getting baptized and they kicked him out of the house with nothing. Literally nothing, just him in his birthday suit. But it didn't faze him! He kept on going and got baptized and confirmed this past weekend. Also yesterday the couple at my last area, the ones that only needed to get married, got baptized yesterday! I went to that baptism as well so it was nice to see some familiar faces.
About managing wards and getting to know everyone, simply put it's hard to know EVERYONE. It's been so hard lately to even memorize all the bishops. We usually do splits to get to all the wards.
That's all for now!
Love y'all!
Elder Parks
So I forgot that last week, my new companion is Elder Clark, he's from Ohio and is a really good companion. We teach well together and get along great. We're both getting use to Daybreak, and we're liking it.
We had a zone conference this past week which was nice. Got motivated to go find, teach, and baptize again. Then it hit me afterwords that I only have one more zone conference left in my mission. So the next zone conference I'll be giving my departing testimony. Still no news yet as to Facebook, iPads, etc. I heard this past week that the Provo mission gets iPhones. Not to sure if that is true or not.
This past week with all the thunderstorms we saw lightning strike Angel Moroni! He's a tough guy though, nothing happened but it was really loud since we were less than half a mile from the temple.
We also had an awesome baptism this past week. Josh, he's 18, and his story is amazing yet sad. He's had a ton of experiences that led him to believe the message. However his family wasn't for it at all. Last sunday, he told his family he was getting baptized and they kicked him out of the house with nothing. Literally nothing, just him in his birthday suit. But it didn't faze him! He kept on going and got baptized and confirmed this past weekend. Also yesterday the couple at my last area, the ones that only needed to get married, got baptized yesterday! I went to that baptism as well so it was nice to see some familiar faces.
About managing wards and getting to know everyone, simply put it's hard to know EVERYONE. It's been so hard lately to even memorize all the bishops. We usually do splits to get to all the wards.
That's all for now!
Love y'all!
Elder Parks
Friday, September 13, 2013
August 19, 2013
Dear Family,
Well, I did end up being transferred last Tuesday. I left my old area in good hands with a few families being taught and preparing for baptism.
I am now serving in Daybreak. Before I begin to talk about it, I want it to be clear that no one in our family should move here. Although it contains Oquirrh Temple in it's neighborhood, this place is like Dr. Suess land! All the houses are different colors like bright yellow, dark blue, purple, bright red, everywhere. Plus this place was built on top of a landfill, they buried it. Now the ground has arsenic or something in it, the same stuff they use in rat poison so people can't plant vegetable gardens. Other than that, it's a very happy place, almost unnaturally happy. It's one of the highest, if not the highest activity rate stakes in the world and there are TONS of members here. As a result of so many members, they give us Spanish missionaries here the english stake so now I cover a total of 8 wards! 1 Spanish and 7 English wards. We were at church from 8 AM TO 4 PM!!!!! Went to 3 meetings then almost 2 complete 3 hour blocks of church. Sundays are no longer a day of rest. It's nice to have a ton of member support though. But again, you may look at pictures at his place online but please don't move here! It's the perfect society yet at the same time it's not........
This past week was really attempting to get to know the area. The neighborhood is hard to learn due to many things looking alike. We have a lot of potential and one 18 year old that is getting baptized this coming Saturday.
Mom, I am horrible at keeping a clean car. Mainly because it's so hot and dry that I have to drink so many water bottles and the empty ones I have I just throw into the back seat. Haha I would enjoy the car light but I don't think our mission president would enjoy it too much. Haha I'll try it out after though. I will say the best car I have driven is the Ford Fusion. Hands down the best car in the mission. The Malibu cars here on the other hand are hated universally. Those cars just always have problems.
How was it with Hilary home? What time did she get in? Did others come to welcome her home? Hope all is going well! Have a good week!
Love,
Elder Parks
Well, I did end up being transferred last Tuesday. I left my old area in good hands with a few families being taught and preparing for baptism.
I am now serving in Daybreak. Before I begin to talk about it, I want it to be clear that no one in our family should move here. Although it contains Oquirrh Temple in it's neighborhood, this place is like Dr. Suess land! All the houses are different colors like bright yellow, dark blue, purple, bright red, everywhere. Plus this place was built on top of a landfill, they buried it. Now the ground has arsenic or something in it, the same stuff they use in rat poison so people can't plant vegetable gardens. Other than that, it's a very happy place, almost unnaturally happy. It's one of the highest, if not the highest activity rate stakes in the world and there are TONS of members here. As a result of so many members, they give us Spanish missionaries here the english stake so now I cover a total of 8 wards! 1 Spanish and 7 English wards. We were at church from 8 AM TO 4 PM!!!!! Went to 3 meetings then almost 2 complete 3 hour blocks of church. Sundays are no longer a day of rest. It's nice to have a ton of member support though. But again, you may look at pictures at his place online but please don't move here! It's the perfect society yet at the same time it's not........
This past week was really attempting to get to know the area. The neighborhood is hard to learn due to many things looking alike. We have a lot of potential and one 18 year old that is getting baptized this coming Saturday.
Mom, I am horrible at keeping a clean car. Mainly because it's so hot and dry that I have to drink so many water bottles and the empty ones I have I just throw into the back seat. Haha I would enjoy the car light but I don't think our mission president would enjoy it too much. Haha I'll try it out after though. I will say the best car I have driven is the Ford Fusion. Hands down the best car in the mission. The Malibu cars here on the other hand are hated universally. Those cars just always have problems.
How was it with Hilary home? What time did she get in? Did others come to welcome her home? Hope all is going well! Have a good week!
Love,
Elder Parks
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
August 12, 2013
Dear Family,
Hilary goes home tomorrow?!?!? Seems like only yesterday we were saying goodbye at the airport!
Dad, what kind of Projects are you saving for me? I'm actually having concerns about coming home and when to start up school. I'd like to spend a summer home since I haven't done that in 3 years now. Not that this info is on my mind constantly but it's at the back of my mind and with 4 transfers left in the field it creeps in at times. I'll talk to President about it when I get to 2 or 3 transfers left. Haven't considered going abroad for study but I'll for sure put in a minor in Spanish at college.
First off, Oquirrh, I'm not even sure I'm spelling it correctly. And for pronouncing it, its like Oak-Her. Just put the emphasis on the Oat the beginning. Oh yeah I got the side bag a number of weeks ago. Not sure if I mentioned it but its great and works for me perfectly.
No news on transfers yet. We get our transfer calls tonight actually so you'll find out next week what happens. Usually for us, from what I've seen is that missionaries who are good at making relationships
with the members stay longer in areas than other missionaries. They try to get us to have a really good relationship with the ward members because then more work comes out of that relationship. For example in
my first area, one companionship of elders were there for 11 months without any changes.
In other news, I didn't tell this for a long time but now I can. The golden member family that we baptized back in October went less active back in Feb. They got offended by members in the branch and the
service missionaries and quit coming to church. Found out about 2 months ago that they moved. Found out 2 days ago that they moved to Texas! Have no clue which part though. They also called the Ward Mission Leader and said they were going back to Church! So to me, that makes me extremely happy.
I'm going good right now for sheets and clothes. I think I can make everything last for the home stretch. Except socks, I need more black socks.
Mom, I could type in Spanish in the MTC but have since then forgotten how. It's quite embarrassing but I'll learn again!
That's all for now!
Love y'all! Give Hilary a hug for me!
Elder Parks
Hilary goes home tomorrow?!?!? Seems like only yesterday we were saying goodbye at the airport!
Dad, what kind of Projects are you saving for me? I'm actually having concerns about coming home and when to start up school. I'd like to spend a summer home since I haven't done that in 3 years now. Not that this info is on my mind constantly but it's at the back of my mind and with 4 transfers left in the field it creeps in at times. I'll talk to President about it when I get to 2 or 3 transfers left. Haven't considered going abroad for study but I'll for sure put in a minor in Spanish at college.
First off, Oquirrh, I'm not even sure I'm spelling it correctly. And for pronouncing it, its like Oak-Her. Just put the emphasis on the Oat the beginning. Oh yeah I got the side bag a number of weeks ago. Not sure if I mentioned it but its great and works for me perfectly.
No news on transfers yet. We get our transfer calls tonight actually so you'll find out next week what happens. Usually for us, from what I've seen is that missionaries who are good at making relationships
with the members stay longer in areas than other missionaries. They try to get us to have a really good relationship with the ward members because then more work comes out of that relationship. For example in
my first area, one companionship of elders were there for 11 months without any changes.
In other news, I didn't tell this for a long time but now I can. The golden member family that we baptized back in October went less active back in Feb. They got offended by members in the branch and the
service missionaries and quit coming to church. Found out about 2 months ago that they moved. Found out 2 days ago that they moved to Texas! Have no clue which part though. They also called the Ward Mission Leader and said they were going back to Church! So to me, that makes me extremely happy.
I'm going good right now for sheets and clothes. I think I can make everything last for the home stretch. Except socks, I need more black socks.
Mom, I could type in Spanish in the MTC but have since then forgotten how. It's quite embarrassing but I'll learn again!
That's all for now!
Love y'all! Give Hilary a hug for me!
Elder Parks
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