March 25, 2013

We were in the occ this Tuesday receiving companions.

Hey mom!! And family!!! Well I finally have a companion!! I went on Tuesday with the meeting with the President and then I met my companion! I almost started crying when we hugged because I felt the spirit and that I finally had a companion. He is really awesome. He is from Puebla Mexico. He is 18 years old. He isn't very tall. He is skinny. He is really spiritual and really nice. For example, one morning I got out of the shower and he had pollished my shoes. He does a lot of nice stuff for me. He is really nervous in the lessons, but he is getting better. I am doing all I can to help him improve. It has been a good experience so far. We are having a lot of success. And we will have a baptism this Wednesday. :)

Tell Kim and Brian Lee congrats. We had a meeting on Saturday with Elder Dehoyos. He is a spiritual man. I saw Elder Jensen, Elder Taggart, Elder Stevenson, Elder Petersen and Elder Jones. I saw a lot of my friends. Me and Elder Jensen sat next to each other in the meeting. :) It was really nice to talk to him and catch up on a few memories. I sure do love writing you and the family. I catch myself thinking in the morning during Mondays that I will be able to write my family!! :) How is everything going over there? Well if you could send some beef jerky. An Elder in my district wanted some beef jerky, and he will pay me. I am fine with ties, I have a lot. You don't need to send anymore :) I sent a package today, so I hope it gets there soon. I am really enjoying the mission, I am learning so much about the Lord and myself. I really am changing so much. I can feel it everyday. I am so thankful for this gospel that we have. It is truly the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth. I am doing a challenge that Elder Dehoyos asked us to do. We are to read the Book of Mormon in 85 days and highlight everytime it refers to Jesus Christ, when it says his name. Because we can realize that it talks about Jesus Christ and not just Joseph Smith like everyone thinks. I am already learning a lot from this activity. Thank you for everything!! I sure do love you all so very much. Take care. I am doing great :) Thanks for all your help. Love Elder Parker.

March 18, 2013

Hey Mom!! How are you? I am doing good!! WEll.... I get my new companion tomorrow!!! :) I am going to train again. It will be a new missionary. I don't know who it will be, but I will get to see him tomorrow!! I am so excited!! I am staying in my same area again!! But I am doing really good. Thanks so much for the emails |:) you know those two oil holders that say faith on them. If you could send two more that would be great. Two members want them. They are going to pay me and you can send them. Please :) I got the easter package!! Thank you so much! I loved it. The mini Preach My Gospel too! And all the pictures. The candy is my favorite and I am already eating a lot :)

Well this week we were walking at night next to the junglish area. It was night and all of a sudden these dogs started barking real loud. Then we heard a really loud growl.. And the dogs stopped barking and ran away, we think it was a jaguar. It was so loud and we were so scared! Because we have heard that there are jaguars here. It was a scary moment.

I was in the church yesterday, and all of a sudden the sisters called us in to the primary room, the primary then gave us a huge paper with signatures from them and pictures. The primary kids are so cute and they were all happy. I couldn't help but cry a little when I bore my testimony to them. It is one of the best gifts that I have received. Also there is a brother named Hamada. He is Japanese and his wife is Spanish. They have like 3 kids. They are the best. The parents speak English. The dad speaks 5 languages. They are in our ward. But they are moving to Tijuana. They invited us over for some food to say goodbye. And in the night they gave us some pizza and they are going to leave. The dad left today and the mom and her kids on April 11th. The mom is really nice and they want to visit our house. She wants her son to stay a week or two with Nathan and Josh. He is a really cool kid. He is part Japanese and Spanish. But I told her I would give her email to you. She is really nice, and you can email her. She wants you to email her quick and also my blog she wants.

I am learning a lot. I have realized how lucky I am to be here on the mission. We had the district meeting last Tuesday. We started then all of a sudden the zone leaders and the assistantes to the President entered. Which they are never in the meetings. I gave a really good meeting, and at the end I shared a little story and couldn't help but crying. I tried not to, but you know me. Then I noticed that the zone leaders were crying and all the sisters also. It was a really spritual moment. Then after the meeting we had splits. The assistent worked with me in my area all day. So I got to learn a lot from him. It was a good experience.

Sometimes it is hard to speak English or write. But that is a good thing! I can't remember how to spell a lot of things. On Saturday I get to see Elder Jensen!! That is really cool that you went to California. Sounds like a blast. Well I want to end this quick so I can talk to you. I am going to send a package on Wednesday. Thanks for everything. :) Love you all!! Love Elder Parker

March 11, 2013

Hola Madre, como esta? Estoy muy bien aqui. Pues... todavia no tengo companero. How are you doing mom? I love you. how is the family! That is awesome that you are all in California. Well.. i still don't have a companion. I tallked to the President this week he told me I won't have one till the next transfer. Which is next week. He told me well it came fast, but we need to be prepared. So I am glad that I was prepared for this. I have learned a lot. This past week I had a young man in my ward work with me all the week. He is preparing for his mission, he is 21 years. But he snored so loud at night.. I couldn't sleep at times,. IT was the loudest I have ever heard anyone sleep. It sounded like someone was literally sawing logs in the forest. But this week I will have a different young man I believe. The assistants to the President are going to call me to confirm.

We had a good week, I am finding lots of people to teach. Oh. I received the package!! So should I open it or is it for Easter? Thanks so much! It looks like it costs a lot of money!! You don't need to send packages, because I know they cost a lot. I am doing fine, just need to keep working hard. We had a conference with the President on Friday. We learned a lot of good stuff, we ate some food. I saw Elder Taggart from my district in the mtc. Then we had stake conference this week. It was really good. A lot was to do with jobs, and money and relationships with wives and tithing. Because they need that over here. Then on Sunday we heard from Elder Bednar and Richard Scott. and Elaine Dalton. and Ulisses Soares. It was really good, and I learned alot. They talked a lot about repentance. We had a lot of investigators go, that was amazing! Well I will end this short so I can talk to you all!! Love you all so much. Love Elder Parker.
P.S. I heard a quote in stake conference. We all go through things that are hard, but the Lord knows why and he is preparing us for something. I truly believe the Lord prepares us through hard times, he knows how much we can bare and when we will succeed and learn more.

March 4, 2013

Hey Mom!! :) How are you doing? How is the family doing? I sure do miss you guys. But not to the extent of being homesick. I am doing really good right now :) I still don't have a companion though.. But guess what.. I ate in Mcdonalds today!! With the Zone leaders and two other elders. I felt like I was in Hurricane eating with my friends. It was a good feeling.

This week has been good, it is a little crazy not having a companion and trying to work as much as I can in my own area. But I am making the best of it, and taking advantage of this learning opportunity. I know it is all happening for a reason!! I received an email from Colton and Braden Church. They sound like they are plugging along, happy as before. Some of my best friends. I haven't heard anything of Elder Jensen. I am sure he is doing just fine! I will have a zone meeting with the President this Friday. It was going to be three zones together, but he decided to have just our zone with him. So we should be able to learn a lot and feel of what we need to do better.

I have a funny story. We were saying our prayers at night, and then my two companions went to bed. So did I, I was just laying in bed, thinking about the next day. And all of a sudden I saw something moving on the wall.. It freaked me out really bad. Because they have a lot of cockroaches in their house. I thought it was a cockroach. So I was like.. hey hey hey.. and they woke up and said what, and then I said a cockroach and they started yelling. One elder kept saying, kill it kill it. And the other was like, turn on the light turn on the light. I was like you!! So I finallly got the guts to turn on the light, and after jumped back really fast in my bed, and.... it was only a piece of paper taped to the wall. It was moving because of the fan, and it looked like a cockroach. We were laughing so hard after. Because we were all so scared, but it wasn't anything. Well I keep eating my good old popcorn that I cherish! I am really enjoying the mission and learning a lot of new things. I hope eveerything is well at home! I will end it now, so I can talk to you guys! Love Elder Parker

February 25, 2013

Family!!! I saw Zach!!!!!! Wow, it was the best thing ever!! I went to drop off an Elder at the office of the mission and I was expecting to see Zach, but they wouldn't let me pass. They said I had to go study. So I left with some other Elders and studied at their house. My heart was beating so fast, because I was so close to Zach but I couldn't see him, then I was able to go to the office again at 10:30. I got instructed by the President of what I needed to do to train my companion. But the way he tells me, ÿour companion didn't make it.. Again... So once again I don't have a companion. I guess he is still in Peru. He was supposed to come, but didn't. So we are all confused. And no one knows when he will come, so I am working in a threesome right now. Then all of a sudden, when we were talking, they said okay, let the new missionaries come in. They opened the door.. and I was waiting , waiting, waiting, and Zach appeared in the doorway!!!! I couldn't believe it. I was shaking hands with everyone and then when we got to each other we hugged!! It was the coolest experience ever. We talked the whole time, and during the meeting we just kept smiling and laughing. Then we went to eat with the President at his house and after I told him some things that could help him out in his first months here. Because I remember when I didn't understand a lot and was lost. So I was able to help him with all the questions he had. Then we were taking pictures of companions. And the President was like, Elder Parker, bring your friend and come take a picture with us!! It was the best thing ever! We were both so happy. He has grown a lot, he is a lot taller. I am so excited. He is companions with a wonderful Elder! His companion came here the same day as me. We were talking in the night about football our first day here in Tuxtla. And we had a prayer together. So I am really good friends with his comp. So he will have a really good time. He is in a really hot area, but that's fine!!


I had a dream about dad. He was eating my chocolate from Yellowstone that you sent me. It felt so real, and I was like, dad, that is my chocolate. Like most days in the house at home when he would be sneaking my candy :) Well I won't make this too long because I want to chat with you and Court! I love you all so much.


I was part of a miracle last night. We were going to be late for the house at 9. We called everyone for a ride because we didn't have money. I said, call Brother Gellegos. We called, didn't answer, call again, finally his wife answered. We said sorry, but we need a ride, we don't have money and we are going to be late. She said sorry, my husband is really sick. We said okay, we will find another way. Then her husband called back and said, I need a blessing, please come to my house. So we went, and he asked me to give the blessing. He was really sick and could hardly talk, sweating a ton. So I gave one of the most powerful blessings I have ever given. And the end I felt the spirit so strong. He then gave us a ride and said, you answered my prayers. Before you guys came, I was praying in my room and asked the Lord to please help me feel better. I then got in my bed, and that is when you guys called me. He said, you might have thought you needed help from me, but I needed help from you guys. It was really powerful. I loved being an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I love you all! Love, Elder Parker

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.