February 18, 2013

Hey family, this is the second time writing this email, I accidentally erased it. But this week has been good, I got a new companion for one week from Peru. I have learned a lot from Peru with him being here. But we found out this morning that he will be leaving to another place. We also found out that.... I am the new District leader and that i will be training a new missionary!! So it could be Elder Zach Jensen. We don't know who it is going to be still. I will go to the training tomorrow with the President, and all the new missionaries will be there. I will get to see Elder Jensen!!!! I am so excited. I really hope we can be companions!! But at least I get to see him. He will get here tonight and probably eat dinner with the President , then go to the training in the morning. So he will also probably get to email his family a few short sentences when he arrives in the office tonight if you want to tell his family about his situation. He doesn't know I will see him tomorrow, so it will be a good surprise!! Sorry this isn't so long, I already wrote one, but it was erased on accident. I liked the faith in every footstep. That is amazing. This week has been really tiring. We walked so much. In the nights we get to the house, plan, and then sleep. Then Saturday I could hardly walk. But I feel good because I am giving the Lord everything I have. Thanks for all your support. This is my favorite day and hour because I get to talk to you guys. Can I help you with anything? I love you all. The activity was really fun last week. It will be something that I will always remember. I guess in the canyon there are tigers and jaguares. That is awesome!! I also saw an iguana that was huge! I guess they eat the iguanas here! Well I love you all. Love Elder Parker

Dad, thanks for your email!! How have you been donig? It sounds pretty rough with jo-dog, but I know you are taking it like a father should. I am doing good here, I have good health, and am happy. It is getting a little hotter here, but it is also a little fresh some days. I really like that talk also, see people how they may become. It is something that we should all live by in this world. I should be able to see Zach tomorrow! There are like 160 missionaries in the mission right now. But there are a lot missing. By the end of this year about a hundrend sisters should be arriving in this mission and my elders too. So we should have a lot more. I am enjoying the area I have, it is a really big area, but I am taking control of it. The members are really supportive. The food is excellent. My favorite dish is tacos fritos. It is like those tacos in the freezer that you would always buy. That are rolled up. But they they fry them and have cheese and sauce and lettuce and lemon and all this stuff added on top. It taste a lot different then just the plain taco, and it is so good! I also like they pork tacos! Those are good, but I have only had that one time with my convert Marco and his family. The language is coming along, I still feel I need to know a lot more, but I am really trying. The Lord will bless me. I feel comfortable talking to people. At the first of my mission not so much, but I am getting more comfortable. And now I will be forced to talk more in the district meetings and zone meetings we will have. I will be giving classes every Tuesday for my district. And I will be interviewing the people for their baptisms. Thanks for all your help. I am doing fine here :) Love, Elder Parker

February 11, 2013

Hey I don't have a lot of time. I am gonig to the church in ten minutes. we had a multi zone activity today. We went to the huge canyon with the huge river and played sports after. I haven't had a companion since thursday. My comp left on thursday. The President called us on Wednesday and said he has to go home. so he left. I went to the offices, worked with other elders in their area. Then in the night came to my area with a young man, then went to another area in the night and slept with other missionaries. Then Friday I worked with a young man in my area, Saturday also, and Sunday after church I had to come back to the other area and work with other missionaries. I slept with them last night too. Then in two minutes I receive other. Then in the night I will sleep with other elders, then tomorrow we st ill don't know. So I don't know when I will have a real companion. I think Wednesday or possibly tomorrow. It has been really different. But I am learning from it. Well thanks for the story about Jo dog. I will be praying for him and you guys. Sorry that it had to happen when I wasn't there. I will try and help you out by praying and fasting. I am gald you got my letter and the cd. It was something small, but I am glad you liked it. Well this week was the first time I took a shower with buckets. hahah well I wish I could write more but I have to go pick up the young man at the church. I love yoy all so much. Don't worry about me, I am totally fine! I saw some of the elders from my district in the mtc. :) We were laughing so hard today. I played football, soccer and basketball. The President played with us. I scored a goal on the President :) Well I love you!!! Take care, the Lord is with us. love Elder Parker (I think I will still be in this area but I have no idea. I will tell you next week. Thanks!! I will work even harder for you guys! The activity and the canyon were so fun and beautiful. I haven't laughed so much since I have been here. It was a really good time. Love you, have to go.

February 4. 2013

Hey family!! It's a beautiful life!! :) love you mom!! You are the best mom everrrrrrrr... So like this week was good! We are visiting a lot of less active members to help them come back to the church because there are so many less active members. It is funny to see how some of them have changed so much and some of them are worse than investigators!! It is a little sad at times also, but I love the feeling when they say they want to come back and notice the difference in their life when they don't go to the church. We had interviews with the President this Thursday. Well, most missionaries get really nervous to talk to him. I was feeling just normal. My interview was actually pretty long, longer than most. We talked alot and he gave me a lot of help on how to find more people to teach and how to be a better person. He is such an amazing man. He is like a best friend to me. Then after, I was going to leave and I asked if he could give me a blessing. He gave me a blessing, and it was so poweful. In fact, it was my first blessing I have received in Spanish. Then he said he loved me and keep up the good work. That was such an amazing time. I was looking forward to that day for a long time. This gospel is so amazing, and true! I am so thankful for the priesthood that we have on the earth and even greater that we have it in our family.

Hahah on the way back I saw a mom, dad, and two little kids riding on one motorcycle!! It was like watching Mr. Bean's video. I got the valentine package last Wednesday! Thank you so much. I absolutely loved it so much!!! My companion also loved it. There was a lot of stuff in it. Thanks for all the decorations and the treats and all! I sent off a letter to Court on Wednesday. I hope she gets it soon. I also sent one to Corey. I took out 100 pesos from the card that I have. I figured out how to use it easily. Thanks for the money. How is Brian Scott doing? What type of cancer does he have? Is he recovering? We are blessed to have these problems because we are growing and learning. Without these problems we would consistently be the same person, we would never grow or realize how blessed we are. We are receiving the blessing from God and Jesus Christ to grow, learn, so we can become like Jesus. So we can always look at the positive side :) Thanks for always being so positive. It is something I am working on myself. I am not always perfect at it, but I am getting a lot better. I fasted on Friday, then ate lunch on Saturday and fasted again for Sunday. I know I shouldn't go without food for that long, but I felt I had to do it. It helped me out a lot. I fasted for the family, and Courtney. I am doing just fine out here, and in fact I am so happy because I am learning more and more Spanish. I have learned a lot in these past days. I am going out of my shell and trying to talk to a lot of people in the streets. It is always helping with my Spanish.

It was funny, because after we bought all the food today in Walmart, we were filling the fridge, but there wasn't enough room for everything!! I was like, well... that's a first! :) hahah there is like no room now. I have a lot of food to last awhile. I also bought two ties one for Cali Mayor and one for the family Bruno, their son. They are really cheap here. It only costs 45 pesos for one tie, or there are others for more cheap. Well I love you all so much! Let me know how you are doing! I am fulfilling my duty. :) Love Elder Parker

January 28, 2013

Hey family!!!! How is everyone doing? I am doing great! Once again this week went by so fast!! I am glad that all is well at home! That is awesome that sister Haws sat next to the family! :) She needs a family like ours with her at church. Well it turns out the package I got last Monday was from Christmas!! It was the one with shampoo and deodorant and Christmas photos and everything. I also got one from Dave and Nat and Miles and Holly. So that was nice to have like a second Christmas :) Thanks!! The other package I haven't gotten yet. I should get it soon. We have a zone meeting on Wednesday so I should get it if it has already arrived. I sent some more letters 2 weeks ago, but I am afraid it won't get to you. We'll see.

Yeah, once again it is nice and hot here!!! Just like the good old times, but I'm not complaining. It could be worse right? Nathan thanks so much for the socks, I love them!! Now I have something that reminds me of you. Oh I also got a letter from Corey Edwards!! From Taiwan. He had a picture of him in the letter also. He is one of my best friends, that letter meant a lot to me. A true friend. Ohhh.. we had a meeting Tuesday night at the church with the ward council. We got out a little early around 8:30 at night. Then these kids in our ward, little kids, cute little kids, asked if I could shoot a basketball for them. I was like sure. They said, at half court. So I said, okay why not, so then I shot it and.. it went right in :) hahaha all the kids were like... Wowwww!! How did you do that? It was really funny!

Well tell Jo dog happy birthday!! He is growing up fast!! I am really thankful for the family that we have. I was thinking about it when we were having a family night with a less active family. Well the family is active the dad is not. We were talking about the experiences we have as families and how the home is the closest to being in the temple. Then I was thinking, wow, I am so glad our house is a home! And the dad he has gone to church two straight times now :) His family is really happy with him there. Once again church was amazing! I am always so grateful to go to church! The spirit is always so strong.

Well the water here for the shower and the house is always here and there. So a lot of times we don't have water. But we have a huge tub thing on our roof with water storage, and one underneath the ground in our front patio. So the one on top was completely out. But we had some in the underneath one. I didn't want to shower with buckets from that water. So one night we got those buckets and transferred the water to the top one so we could shower. hahahh it was really fun actually. But we both ended up wet and laughing .Then today we washed our garments with a thing called a chacachaca. It is the top of a 2 liter coca cola bottle, a strong one and a stick. It is hard to explain but we put our garments in a bucket with detergent and like compress the clothes. It was really weird, but worked really good. I guess that is what a lot of people do over here to wash their clothes. Well if you need anything let me know!! Those candies chews I forgot what they are called, but they tasted really good!! Thanks for all your support and help! Love you all. Elder Parker.

January 21, 2013

Hey mom and family how are you all doing? I am doing great here! The weather has been kind of cold actually!!! Woohhoooo!! Seriously, I have felt cold in the nights here around 7 and 8 walking around. It is weird, the weather here. But I am not giong to complain about it :) Well we had divisions this week, I went with the leader of the zone this Tuesday. We went to a members house and the dad started cleaning and shining my shoes. I felt a little like the disciples of Christ in that moment. It was a spiritual experience. We celebrated Marco, my convert, his birthday on Monday. We talked about the temple and gave him a picture of the temple so they can prepare to go there together as a family in a year. It was a really spiritual lesson. He has grown so much already, it is crazy to think that he is the same person, but has changed a lot. In fact, his wife gave her first talk on Sunday this week. It was amazing, and the spirit was so strong. This Sunday was so amazing, I always like Sundays. I am always so happy during the time I am in the church.

Nathan, I saw a peacock, and I took a few pictures of it :) I saw a sweet car and I was able to take a few pictures, the owner let me. I'll send a few pictures :) Well I guess there was a hurricane like an hour away from where we are at. That explains why it has been so windy here and cold. We were eating with the family Bruno again and their returned missionary and we made root beer floats for everyone in their family. It was really awesome. When he gets back from Mexico, his vacation, we are going to make smores together for his family. We have been running in the mornings which I forgot how much I missed doing. One morning, I guess Hermano Calimayor saw us, the old man that is so cute. And on Sunday he said he liked my shorts. hahaha He was serious, he said I like how your shorts fit and they make you look handsome. It was a really nice and sincere compliment. I told him they were from my high school.

So the office yesterday called me and told me I have a package there and letters. And the other missionaries from my area went today to get them for me. I will probably receive that stuff today or tomorrow from there. :) Well tell Jo dog happy birthday, I am working on sending letters for him and court! Well, there is a funny story, I have one shirt that every time I iron it, it smells like splash mountain and I think I am in Disneyland. :) yes... I do know how to iron!!!

I read a good article in the Ensign about the sacrament. It is by Elder Don Clarke. How is the weather over there? Are you liking it? Tell Tyler and his sister hi and good luck for me :) I am excited to hear where Colton is going. I miss my good old family. But I know this is where I am supposed to be :) We are close to another baptism. I am always feeling the spirit so strong here, and honestly, it is a crave for me. I want to do everything possible so I can feel the spirit because I love that feeling. It is such a good feeling. I cry at times, which I don't like doing, but I can't help it. I fasted for the family this Sunday, also :) I love you all so much!!! Love Elder Parker

January 14, 2013

Hi family and mom!! How is everyone doing? I am doing perfect!! I am not sick and I feel like a million dollars :) Well I found out that this transfer is going to be 3 weeks longer than normal. So I think I will be here until March 20 or something. That is a long time, but I am excited about it :) I hope all is well at home. Wow, it sounds like the weather is really cold, I wish I could be feeling cold weather :) It is getting so much hotter here already. In the morning I am already sweating in the house. So I can tell the weather is getting hotter, because I used to be cold in the morning, but not anymore. The sun is super hot, but hey.. I'll get a tan or something for once! I was talking to a good friend of mine in our stake here and he said my stomach is growing, uh ohh.. I am starting to gain some weight, which means I will probably start running soon!

I have had some really weird dreams lately, which most of them are in Spanish but I have been dreaming that I finished my mission and was home with the family playing games on a family night or something. Then I had another one about football. So Zach still doesn't have his visa? Ahhh I was looking forward to seeing him. How is Brian Scott doing? I am praying for him. I hope Bryan Lee is doing alright, also.

Well, Marco, my convert, it is his birthday today, so I bought a small pie for a surprise for him tonight. :) I feel so comfortable here in this ward. Seriously, I am treated so well, they all treat me like their own sons. Like on Sunday I was with the family Bruno in the morning , we had divisions, so I went with their dad and my companion went with their son. because we were bringing investigators to the church. Brother Bruno said that I am like his other son, I said I feel like I'm with my parents right now! Because I love my parents so much and they are everything to me! I know I am being blessed everyday, and I am working so hard, not only to help the people here but also to help my family that the Lord can bless you guys. I have faith that you are receiving blessings. I don't want any, I just want to have you guys safe, and Courtney, and I am happy :) Well I hope you are on right now so I can write back to you. Let me know how everything is going. I am really happy today because I have a lot of food!! hahah No but yeah, I bought some corndogs today. Love you all so much. Love Elder Parker

January 7, 2013

Well I don't have much time, we are running a little late today. But how is the family doing?? Woohoooooo I am staying here in my area!!! I will have the same companion too. Our whole district is staying in their area. Well I am really excited about that. I am glad everything back at home is going good. I bought some vitamins today at Walmart so that should last for a little while.


Well, Sunday was such a spiritual experience for me. We had church that started at 8. We had testimony meeting. I didn't feel like bearing my testimony because it is always a little scary and difficult in Spanish. But the spirit was telling me to go bear my testimony. So I went up there and waited in line. Well, throughout the testimonies it is always a little loud and kids going in and out of the room. But when I got up there and started talking, the first thing I did was start crying. The whole room went silent. I am not kidding, I didn't hear anything, everyone was staring at me. I started saying how I didn't want to get up but I knew I needed to. Then I talked about how lucky we are to have the sacrament each week and receive forgiveness. I talked about setting goals this year and then lastly, I talked about my family. How much I loved them. Then I told them, spend as much time as you can with your family this year. It is a blessing, don't take it for granted. Then I said a few other things. Then I went and sat down and just lost it and was crying really bad. I don't know why, I guess the spirit was so strong. Also I was looking out in the congregation and everyone was crying. There is one guy in our ward, an old bishop and he never cries he is the most strict member in the ward. I have been trying to gain his confidence these whole 4 months. Well when I was crying and bearing my testimony, I looked out in the audience and he was crying, tears running down his face. I couldn't believe it. I am so happy that I touched someones heart. Then we were eating with the family Bruno. They are one of my favorite families here. They said they want me to come to their house with my family. They will feed us Mexican food and give us a party. They want us to sleep there too, for free. They are so nice. He has your email and will probably write on dads Dixie High email sometime.


I don't need you to send me Ensigns because the mission gives them to us. So thank you :) I received the package on New Years Day and letters. Thank you so much, it was perfect timing and Elder Cortina loved his presents. Purple is his favorite color. The weather has actually been really nice lately. It is windy and feels a little like over there in the fall. We also celebrated the dia de reyes. Well I didn't celebrate it much but the people did. They have a huge cake of bread that they share with the family. It is about the wise men that came to Christ or something that they celebrate. I was able to eat some of that cake they call rasco or something like that. I am so sad to hear about Elder Jensen. I was looking forward to seeing him, but I'm sure the Lord has a purpose for this. Also, I haven't seen Elder Monson yet, but we should have a huge meeting soon and I could possibly see him then. Well, I love you all so much . Sorry I don't have so much time. If you need anything let me know. Love Elder Parker