September 17, 2012

Hola familia... Thats not cool. The exclamation mark doesnt work... so just know I am happy even though I cannot use those. haha. So this week was straight up awesome. We are having a lot of success. Guess who was assigned to another pilot program?? yep. me. We are the first zone trying it out but a member of the 70's was telling our President to try it so he picked our zone because we have the best numbers and all of that. But guess what.... we intervied Jose and guess what????? Yes, I have my first baptism this Saturday. Can you believe it? I am soooooo excited. And it was kinda intense because our district leader had to call Pres to make sure about something. Obviously he couldn't tell us but I think something happened. But yeah, we got the ok and even our Pres of our branch was saying that he has a thought that Jose is going to be his second counselor when they assign them in December. He's so ready. I'm so excited for him.

So wow, it sounds like Tay is having a little bit harder of an area than me. He will be fine though, I know it. Like this morning, all of the water was out so we had to shower from water in a bucket. That was fun. I think it helps us really realize how blessed we are though. Tay will be fine. i told him to find snacks to eat at night and he will be fine.

So there is always this thing in the scriptures that while I have been here I have realized more than anything, in the scriptures it always says "but his hands are stretched out still". Then in so many pictures of Jesus it shows his hands stretched out--like you were tallking about the picture in the temple, mom. I have been marking every time in my scriptures that it says that.

 Let me just tell my little Nate-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I hope he gets my package soon, I think it should come this week sometime. But the first thing I thought of when I woke up was oh little Scooter. Haha i miss that sweet little face. And dad to answer your questions... the Spanish is coming along well. I am understanding more and more as the time goes by. and I am participating in the lessons a lot. We both do half of the lesson. The investigators understand me and my accent is getting better as the days go by. It's a lot harder to talk than to understand though. I love it here on the mission. My first comp was super strict but she helped me learn a lot. Now I realize that the mission can be super fun too. So you know that saying, when one door closes another opens.

Well, yesterday we went to pick up little Josue for church and his mom promised to come. so we got there and she told us not to come back, that she didn't want us to keep visiting because she needs time. I about started bawling. We told her we are always here to help if she ever needs us and then we turned away. Right when I was about to let my first tear fall I looked up and right there was a recent convert, who I have NEVER seen come to church and we went to talk to him. We talked him into coming to church and he said he would. Then we got to church and I was feeling sad because we only had one investigator because family Gonzalez couldn't come. But then two more guys showed up and then the guy we invited who is a recent convert came. He talked in class about how happy he feels finally being in the church again. I felt an overwelming amount of joy right then. I know that God was watching over me and He knew how I felt, right when I was about to break down and give up, He placed this other guy in my path. How blessed I am to be a missionary.

So yeah, my companion has 2 weeks left. so crazy. We are having a lot of fun. and mom, I will definitely be there for witches night next year. I think my release date is either Sept 4 or Oct 16 around there. So we can still go. I am having a great time. Thanks for sending the package. I took 40 out today, thanks so much for the money. Also, I just sent mom a birthday present so that should get there in like 2 weeks also. Please give Nathan a big kiss and hug for me. Tell him Happy Birthday and that I miss and love him so much. He's such a great brother to me. I hope all is going well back at home and that things are going smoothly. I pray for you all everyday and know the Lord will bless us. Sounds like Naths party willl be super rad. Haha make sure to send me some pics. Miss you all. I will talk to you later. Love Hermana Parker

{a little later that same day...}

haha Thats so funny mom because Tay and I got to talk a little bit back and forth too. I miss you guys. I am so glad we were all on at the same time. And yes, the pilot program again. It's cool though, but we have been having so many conferences with President. I am actually getting off right now. I got to see one of Tays pics too that he sent me. I am glad to know that we are all doing good. Our cute happy family. I love you so much. Thanks for all and once again Happy Birthday to Nate. haha. Soon will be Josh and then my sweet mother. Thanks mom for everything. Tell dad and the kids I love them so much too. And cute little Nat and family and Jeff and everyone... LOVE YOU bye

More pictures from Nicaragua

September 10, 2012

YEAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!! I was wondering if you were hearing all of that stuff going on with the earthquakes and the volcanos. Honestly, I dont really know what is going on with the volcanos... i just heard that there are two that are very active and that things are going crazy but my president said we dont have to worry as of this moment. We are very blessed but please pray for the people that are in that area. The earthquake was insane!!!!! Ok, so the first one that I felt was just like for a few seconds right. Well this one... I was in the middle of personal study and then all of a sudden we were shaking... it was like we were on a little boat in a stormy sea... thats what it felt like. It lasted forever, I thought, but I guess it was 40 seconds. It was like a 5. something here in Nicaragua but in Costa Rica they got it like a 7.9 everyone was saying. So that was weird. The water in our house was moving around and our bathroom door was shaking and we were just getting a little dizzy. So funny. But it was all good and we are safe. I know that the Lord will protect me and that the missionaries will be fine. I am not scared one bit.

I am so glad the memory card got there and that you liked the pictures and the videos worked for you!!!! I will be sending my other one soon. I just sent another letter for you all. Yes, I was able to get one of the packages with all the handwritten letters but I haven't gotten a lot of letters lately. So yeah, this week Socio told everyone that I was miss Utah in a big activity here and they were all like in shock asking why I kept that secret... when I told them it wasn't true they wouldn't believe me... so then we went back to that house where I almost passed out and he told them that I was the first runner up for miss USA. Wow, so yeah, by the time I leave I shall be super famous. My companion just sits there and laughs her head off. We have so much fun together! I love it. I love that you got to look up her blog. She is so much fun and yes... we do not speak a ton of spanish together but when we are in lessons we have to teach in spanish so don't worry. And yes, she goes home in 3 weeks.

Ok... so the greatest thing ever... Jose, our investigator came this sunday and we had a thing at 4 yesterday with the recent converts and the investigators and they called Jose up to give his testimony and I know that it was scary for him but he got up there and he spoke like he was LDS. I was in tears. He has grown so much and I couldn't believe his testimony... it blew me away I couldn't believe it. So, yeah he is getting baptized the 22 but he has gone 3 days without smoking so that is huge for him. In his testimony he mentioned my name and how he met me and I was just sooo happy for him and that I was lead to find him that day. Sooo happy. So, yeah I explained his story in my letter so let me know when you get it. He has come a long way. So the family Gonzalez is still pugging along. They are working for this month sometime but I never know... I have been teaching them forever it feels like.

We had a zone activity today and we had to make a skit for our multi- zone that we are having tomorrow and we learned and performed in a video the hauka!!! Don't know how to spell that but you know what I mean... we just changed all of the words to spanish missionary words. Its super funny but the girls felt a little out of place in their skirts. I think Tay knows the hauka doesnt he! I have been waiting all week long to hear from him and I am sad that I will have to wait another week! (He wrote his email later than her).

Yeah, my comp is going to Disneyland in November so I am making her take tons of pictures for me while she is there because we both love Disneyland so much. My old comp is still in my zone so I get to see her a lot too. She had to open up an area here. I don't know what I will do when I have to leave my area. I am so attached to the people and I will just be so hurt. The sisters usually only have 3 or 4 areas on the mission so I will be missing a lot of people.

So yesterday we showed up to pick up Josue for church but his mom wasn't ready so we had to break the news that we couldn't take him and his sister alone. He just broke down into tears... especially because we promised him a tie in the church. I was so hurt for him. She promised all week she would go and I just couldn't believe she wouldn't go for her kids. We will work on her. I was thinking about it and when I think about dads mission I know that he didn't convert a lot of people but he sure brought himself closer to the Lord. and that is such a blessing for our family and I am so thankful for him. I could not have done a mission in Switzerland and I know that he is a strong man! I love it. Something I heard too is that when we listen to the Lords chosen Prophet and Apostles we need to take their invitations as commandments and we will be happier. I know this is true.

Yes mom, if you could send like some stickers and I always always LOVE pictures. Maybe if you could send some plain colored t shirts. I dont have a ton and we only do laundry every week. But just squish them in a tiny package because I don't want you to have to send a ton. Thanks for EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! Glad to hear that everyone is doing well and having a good time!!!!!! Don't worry about me. I am safe and happy. And don't worry about sending me all that stuff. Just send some cute stickers or something. But honestly don't worry about it right now. Let me know how much money I can take out and I will go buy some cheaper t shirts here. Clothes are way cheap here! Well I better go but I will talk to you next week!!!!!! Thanks for everything! Love you all. hermana parker

Guatemala