June 17, 2013

Dear Family,

  We're already midway through June....
  So I know the picture may look akward but I don't know what to do with my hands so there it is. I took that picture this morning so its the most up to date picture! The mission was doing the same thing like the mothers day picture for the fathers, but we didn't get around to making it and sending it into the mission blog. So yeah sorry its late but Happy Fathers Day! Also, happy wedding anniversary!
  Also I forgot this in my last letter but congrats hannah for graduating!!!!
  Whats this about removing the chimney??? Is that a joke?
  We'll be watching the broadcast as well this next sunday. I can't wait for that!
  So the fireside kinda went down the drain. We were going to present the idea in ward council on tuesday night, however we get there to ward council and nobody is there! The branch president apparently cancelled it and didn't tell us. So we'll try to implement it in the next few weeks or so, depending on if I stay in the area since transfers are this friday.
  Dad, my rugby skills are still bad and we haven't really practiced much for zone workouts because half the zone doesn't come to workout.
  So this past week, we had another special visitor to the mission. We got to listen to Elder Cook of the 12! He gave a good talk about agency and opposition. He also taugh us that the most important thing we can teach is faith in Jesus Christ. It was a really good conference but the best part was when he left us with an apostolic blessing. He blessed us with 7 specific things:
1.  Blessing of unity in the mission.  Loving our companions tops the list of importance.
2.  Blessed us to  be able to feel how we can bless our companion.
3.  He blessed our home situations. That things at home would improve according to our service.
4.  Blessed us that our service would bring blessings to those near and dear to us.
5.  Blessed us not to be discouraged.
6.  Blessed us to realize how important it was for us to feed the Lord’s sheep.
7.  Blessed us to know that the atonement would balance all the unfairness of the world.
  A lot of missionaries in the field needed those blessings.
Thats all for now! Take care!
Love,
Elder Parks