February 11, 2013

Dear Family,

  Well, this week was pretty rough too. The two people that we are teaching both got called into work on sunday when both of them said that they had the day off and promised to come to church. We may have to stop teaching them as well since they aren't doing anything that we're asking them. May have to start over again this week.
  We've been working hard this past week but not many things have come out of it. I went on an exchange with the former Assistant to the President and we both worked really hard but didn't find anyone to teach. We've taught a few lessons but with nobody progressing, the lessons didn't really serve their purpose. However, it's all good. My testimony is growing in the gospel and my knowledge is getting deeper.
  We went to the Temple this past week which was really fun. It's nice that we can go to the temple once a transfer.
  We got our car fixed this last week! I hit the sideview mirror on a filled trash can and broke the attachment to the car. We were told that the fix was suppose to take an hour but we were in and out in 15 minutes! I feel spoiled in the fact that we don't have to say anything or pay anything to get the cars fixed. I guess it helps that the car isn't ours.
  That's really all I got for right now. Past few months have been rough but I'm pushing along.
Thanks for the support from home!
Love y'all
Elder Parks

February 4, 2013

Dear Family,

  Well I went on 3 exchanges this week with other companions. It was a really busy week! The only problem is that nobody we are teaching want to progress so we're just gonna start all over with our teaching pool. I've been having a lot of fun this week though. My companion talks and makes jokes a lot.
  My spanish is coming along as well! I'm in Alma 34 in the Book of Mormon. My accent is really starting to disappear. What I need to start doing now is studying vocabulary! I'm getting excited about it. Being fluent sounds like a lot of fun, especially when you encounter mean people.
  Sorry, I don't have much more, it was just an uneventful week as well.
Love y'all!

Elder Parks

January 28, 2013

Dear Family,

  So for transfers, I'm still in the same area, I'm still a district leader, I gained a new companionship, and a new companion!
  Oh and by the way, I am eating some apples and strawberries and turkey sandwiches so I'm mixing up the meals a little. We do fairly well for our dinner list. Every other week we're booked with the spanish branch. The english wards have been slacking. Kinda disappointing.
  I can't believe it's Bishop Anderson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's cool! I'll be coming home to a Bishop Anderson!
  So I reviewed my allowances that I've received in the past few months and decided that I don't need to ask y'all to buy me clothes! I won't get everything at once but over time. I'll let y'all know if I need anything special. I have 3 suits right now but I'm about to trash one. My shoes and boots are staying good and keeping me warm and dry. My socks are staying together as well.
  So this past Thursday was my first experience with black ice! It was fun to go skating for a little. We still had a zone meeting that day and everyone had to drive there haha. I thought half of us would've died.
  On saturday we began role playing during comp study to a stuffed elk in the basement with us! It was fun and added a change to our studies.
  Sunday we had a blizzard come through! Our cars got grounded and so our Branch President asked us if he could take us to an appointment who actually wasn't there. We tried to leave the apartment complex, but his car couldn't make it up the hill because of the snow and ice! So we proceeded to walk towards walmart to get picked up by a member in the ward.
  I love this work. It is so much fun serving the Lord, and meeting strange and fun people. The experience of changing the lives of families and individuals is amazing.
Love y'all!
Elder Parks

P.S
If you could send me Caleb and Paul's addresses again that would be great.

January 21, 2013

Dear Family,

  Well it's been super cold! Apparently it was -1 this morning. Ridiculous. However, I'm staying as warm as I can. I'm lucky to have a car.
  We got transfers coming up this week. I'm pretty sure I'm staying (President told me kinda) as a district leader here. He also told me that I'll be getting a new companionship in my district so I'll be up to 6 missionaries again rather than 4! My interview with him was interesting (we had interviews this past tuesday). He had me read 2 Nephi 2:25. He then told me that to be joyful/happy was a commandment! Haha he thinks that I came to this mission to change into an optimistic person! He's probably right. I'm starting to change. It's just been hard though this past transfer, with the area itself and also with others in the district. President challenged me to have my 2nd year of my mission to be happier than the first.
  I don't have a crock pot taylor but I think I should be fine without. I'll work on my cooking here in the mission. I'm gonna try some things and hopefully then turn out good!
  Also, with my year mark coming up, I'm gonna be replacing all my clothes. Should I keep a pair of garments forever to remember my mission? I have about 35 dollars for Target so I can get some shirts on my own. Garments, I don't have my sizes memorized so I'll get back to y'all next week on that. Suits and slacks, don't need to worry about. My suits are worn (one I've already trashed because of it always getting holes) but a service missionary in my branch gave me two free suits that fit me! Both jackets and slacks fit perfectly. So I'll get back to y'all next week on clothes that I need!
  We started Luke today! I think it's interesting that we have a book of the Gospel written in Mary's perspective. Matthews was in the eyes of Joseph and Luke is in Mary's perspective.
  Hope everyone is doing alright!
Love y'all
Elder Parks

January 14, 2013

Dear Family,

  The entire mission got flue shots this morning! Haha some missionaries were freaking out! President Miller said that he couldn't wait for the Tongans to get there a get scared to death. Sure enough, some of the Tongans and other islanders came in. One of them, who is the strongest and biggest missionary in the mission (he was a former gang member in Samoa and was involved in several fights) was scared to death of the needles!!!! It was so funny to see.
  My leg isn't being bothered or anything like that Dad. I don't have any pain anymore on my left leg.
  So with shopping, I usually go to Walmart. What I'm really talking about is after my mission. I really don't know how to make any unique meals or anything like that. I'm living off macn cheese and microwave meals and jello (which right now I am fine with since I don't have time to cook) but I don't want to be like that after my mission. I want to be a good cook! I'm managing my budget well so money isn't much of an issue. Just the fact of selecting things that I could make and have them be cheap but good-tasting meals.
  With the storm coming through this past weekend, our cars were grounded and we were told to walk! Once, they told us to ground our cars at 6:15, we had a lesson that was 8 miles away and I had an interview to do at the same time. So we had to cancel the lesson and I did the interview! It's a bummer that we didn't get the lesson in but we got it re-scheduled so its ok.
  Mom, tips for sharing the Gospel, I would first recommend praying for opportunities to share the gospel! Keeping the Church magazines on the table for the parents of your piano students is great! If they read it, talk to them about it. Invite them out to church. Invite them to mormon.org, or even a visit from the missionaries! Always carry a Book of Mormon with you so that you'll always be reminded to be looking for opportunities to share the Gospel. As we give effort, the Lord will recognize it and will reward us with opportunities to share it! Keeping that in my mind during my mission has helped me a lot. Although there is a number attached to how many souls I've led into the waters of baptism, I don't have a number concerning the number of seeds I have helped plant in many others. I hope that at judgement I'll get to learn how many others I helped.
  I also think you should try learning spanish! That would be fun! We could practice when I get home. You could get a simple grammar book, study it and get the basics down. Then you could buy a Spanish Book of Mormon and read it out loud right next to the English version. That has helped me immensely.
  I love y'all. Stay safe!

Elder Parks

January 7, 2013

Dear Family,

  Well Mom, I've come to the conclusion that I just need to practice grocery shopping with you when I get home. Plus, I got the watch y'all sent me. Got it sized up today and I'm wearing it right now! Thanks for the gift.
  Elder Christofferson was awesome. He was funny too. He encouraged us to not stop being missionaries even when we are released. He went on to say that his release date is set for him and that there is no way out hahaha! He told us to be patient with ourselves. He talked about prayer and our relationship with God. He let us know that God knows what we are asking for in our prayers and that He knows us better than we know ourselves. He also told us something really cool, the fact that he said that Jesus Christ is a very active leader in this Church. He said that He is not off visiting others all the time but that He is always mindful of the Church and its progress. He told us not to be consumed by our imperfections.
  Dad, the reason why we have differences in missions is because of the mission presidents. They determine the rules of the mission and can adapt other rules as they wish because they're the key holders of the mission area.  Also, dad I learned a good lesson my 3rd transfer of how numbers aren't everything so I don't feel pressured to bring in high numbers.
  I don't have my original missionary picture on me but you can select one of me that y'all have already if you want.
I don't have my new years resolutions on me but one that stands out is being 90% efficient in spanish by the end of the year and having finished the Book of Mormon in spanish twice this year.
  I'm so happy that y'all are reading the New Testament too!!! We were told that we were going to start reading the New Testament together as a mission at a training for District Leaders, and we all loved the idea.
  Taylor, I haven't slipped yet! I've gone slidding many times but I haven't fallen yet. I'm staying warm too and I shovel snow mainly for our landlords and for anyone else we can as well.
  Well I gotta go but I'll get some pictures in this one!  I'll add more next time when I get on a faster computer.
Love,
Elder Parks

December 31, 2012

Dear Family,

  So, where is the picture of the TV??? I figured you probably won't send one until I send some pictures home. I'm going to go buy a new cord since apparently I lost the original. I'll get the pictures next week.
  I forgot to mention this in the phone call home, but how much is one twinkie worth now? We were tracting one day and a member opened up. We talked for a little then asked if she knew any spanish speakers. She didn't so then she felt bad and wanted to give us something. She said, "Elders would you like some water, or a twinkie???" I accepted without hesitation of course. So now I got a twinkie in my freezer and don't know what to do with it!
  Also, please forgive me but I did not know of this information. I missed the announcement at the conference (I wasn't in the gym at the time when it was made) but we had unlimited time to talk to family on Christmas and we could also talk to other families at the same time while calling home, so yeah I apologize for that.
  Christmas was good. I visited my old landlord, and she was really happy to see me. She's been sad for the past few holidays because of the passing away of her husband and son so she said my visit really helped her. We spent the rest of the day visiting families.
  IT NEVER STOPS SNOWING!!!!!!! ALL I DO IS SHOVEL SNOW!!!!!!!
  So anyway, this past saturday we had A MARRIAGE AND A BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was really stressful but it all worked out! In two hours, our branch president got them married and then the branch president and I baptized them! It turned out really good. They are going to be confirmed next sunday. So that makes two families now! In a year I can go to their sealings!!!
  So tonight we're getting a visit by Elder Christopherson!!!! Also, we get to watch a few selected movies and play sports and such for the conference. Tomorrow we just work like usual.
  Love y'all!

Elder Parks