March 25, 2013

All that got baptized from the stake and the people who baptized them

Nelson´s baptism

My zone

Today we went to a cool museum

Some of the exhibits

I have gotten so strong

This is me and two girls whom I love very much

Some more of the Nicaragua Museum

I love slides

MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!! How are you guys!!!!! So yes, my language is progressing, slowly but surely. hahha. Also, yes my companion and I are always communicating in Spanish. The weather is absolutely incredible. Like I have never felt heat like this. hahahaha. It´s soooo hot. I guess in April it gets worse is what they are all saying. I do not want to be here for that. Speaking of heat. Yesterday it was 99 degrees here and we went to lunch in the mid day when it´s like the hottest time of the day and the lady who feeds us walks out and puts steaming hot soup on the table. I looked at her thinking this must be a joke... nope it sure was not. I have never sweat so much in my life. Steaming soup! My comp and I have not quit laughing and cracking jokes about the soup since. hahaha.


Well this week we have gone running everyday... this past week. And it has been a fun thing and actually helping to be more relaxed during the day so that is great. She is my first comp that has wanted to run with me so I need to take advantage of it. Well. dad, you asked a while ago how many missionaries are here. I am pretty sure my Pres. said there are 98 or 99 companionships. So that makes a whole bunch of missionaries doesn´t it.


Well GUESS WHAT!!!! I received a huge giant lovely package with my name on it. What a great day!!!!! I opened it up and marveled at everything and then I took out the little Preach my Gospel in Spanish because it was Hermana Creel´s birthday, and since I have one I decided to make her day. You should have seen her face when she opened the gift. She was like in tears. She really has been wanting one and there are not any here so thanks soooo much. You made someone very happy. ALSO, wow, I love the package. Thanks soooooo much. And the journal and the shirt... I love them! I am wearing the shirt today but I sealed back up the package so that I could open it for Easter. I loved the little home made bunnies and all the cute eggs and all the treats and notepad and letter and everything. AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks I LOVED it. Made my whole week. Thanks!


So this week ended REALLY good. So our whole Stake put on a Stake baptismal service and so we all were working really hard to get a baptism so that we could help out too. And our one investigator always says she wants to get baptized but when we show up for her interviews she like hides or her family says she isn´t there. So we tried 4 times in the last 2 weeks and she wasn´t there. Then this week we had a member go over and see if she was there but she was out of there so fast. I was feeling so frustrated and didn´t know what to do. Then we were talking to our investigator Nelson and I said ok well on the 23 we have a baptism... I said this last week and then last Saturday he didn´t show up for his interview either. Some people were saying he will never get baptized if he just keeps hiding from the interviews and all that stuff. We decided to give him one last chance. So I called him and was like hey we are with the Elders and they want to do your interview. We´ll be over in 5 mintues... he said ok so we got the Elders over there sooo fast and basically gave him a short notice interview. It went sooooo long I was praying the whole time literally. Then our Zone leader walks out and he was like here is the information he is all ready for tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So then we showed up on Saturday night and he was there early along with 13 other people that were getting baptized. The church was packed and it was soooo spiritual. It was awesome because a couple of the missionaries got to sing, and I was one of them. It was so beautiful and the spirit was definitely there with us. Nelson´s son came... he is 10 and after he saw his dad get baptized he turned to us and said soon will be my baptism. It was so cute. When my comp found out that Nelson was going to get baptized she started crying... her very first baptism. It was such a great experience.


I had the weirdest dream the other night that we were all at the house and it was for Thanksgiving so everyone was there and I had like a friend over or something so I couldn´t sleep upstairs with Lauren and I just kept saying but I want to be with my sister and then I started crying. In the dream I was like I miss my sister where is she. And everyone said she is upstairs in her room and then I ran upstairs, but then my alarm went off and I woke up and had tears streaming down my face. hahahahaha. Sad huh. I miss my little sister. And everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be sending dad´s birthday package probably this next Monday. It will prob be late but it will for sure come!!!!!!! Thanks for all your love and support. I miss you all sooo much and love you with all my heart. Stay strong and keep the faith. God loves each and every one of you. As do I. Love, Hermana Parker.

March 18, 2013

Wow I got two great emails from my two loving parents. Thank you soooo much. Sounds like things in the good ol Hurricane are going great!!!!! Well this week sped by. I was talking with my companion and we have no idea where the time went! We are working hard and having fun. She is super cute and laughs a lot. Like its nice having someone laughing at my jokes once again. hahahaha. We are helping each other with English and with Spanish a lot and we are growing as a companionship. We have our nightly prayers and hugs before we go to bed. Last night there was like a huge party in our neighbors house and so all we heard was like music from the real world until 3 am. THAT was fun. hahahah. My comp and I just kept laughing because we were so annoyed!!!!


Well this week has been AMAZING! I don´t know if you already knew, but the temple dedication for the Hondurus temple was yesterday. It was broadcasted only to Hondurus and Nicaragua because we don´t have a temple yet. But it was a fun experience. On Saturday we went to the church for an activity and it was a broadcast of the cultural dances and stuff in Hondurus, which was way cool because Elder Uchtdorf and Jeffrey R. Holland were there. Which was crazy that dad mentioned Holland´s talk because when I was listening to Holland I was thinking about dad because he is a lot like dad, super humble and has an amazing spirit. And they always talk about their cute wives, just like how dad always talks about my cute mom!!!! I love my parents!! Anyways, that was super spiritual because there was a part when they had this skit and they were singing the "Army of Helaman" and all these future missionaries came out with their Books of Mormon and started singing and everyone just started crying it was sooo spiritual. Then at the end they were singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" and my nose started making the little sniffling sound... which it always does when I am crying. Dang it, I was trying to hide my feelings hahaha. Anyways, then on Sunday we showed up for the first session because we were only allowed to pick one of the 3 for the dedication and it was SO amazing. Elder Uchtdorf did an amazing job and I felt the spirit soooo strong. There was this time when we all started singing "The Spirit of God" and I felt the spirit soooo strong and usually when this happens I just start crying and cannot sing but I had tears streaming down my cheeks and I was still singing like normal. It was super amazing. and many of my converts were there and they all had a great time. It was sooooo GREAT! Then last night we invited members to invite their friends over and we watched the testaments with members, less actives, and nonmembers. everyone cried. My comp and I shared our testimonies and then we were done for the night. Yesterday was filled with the spirit and I am so grateful for these experiences. I realized I really have missed the temple. Cannot wait to go again soon!!!!!


Also, I got a few dear elders and also a letter from Grandpa and Linda! Thanks soooo much. I wrote everyone back today so they should all be getting letters in about 2 weeks. Today it is 98 degrees. A little hot if you ask me. But at least they all say that this is the worst month and after this month... if I endure it well, I will have a great Nicaragua winter after this... so like 95 degrees is what I am trying to say. hahaha.


Well this last week my district leader called and was like you and your comp have the lesson for this week... I was thinking um, I just gave it a week ago... and then I was like it´s better just to accept it and move on. So then the next morning, which was a day before the lesson he calls and said ok so now it´s just you and the zone leaders are going to come watch you. I was like WHAT! hahaha. But acted like I wasn´t a nervous wreck. Then that night... night before my lesson he calls and said ok, so don´t be nervous but President is going to be there as well and you need to have a 20 minute lesson and 30 minutes worth of practices. Ummmmm that´s when I was like is this some sort of a joke. hahaha So I prepared my lesson SUPER well and then the next day Pres. couldn´t go so it was just the zone leaders. I did super well because I was prepared. I am glad that he said Pres. was going to be there because it made me push myself.


Anyways... Mom I know that you worry about me and Tay all the time but you don´t have to! Honestly don´t worry. We are safe, we are missionaries of the Lord. We are protected. We are prayed for daily throughout the whole world. We are here to learn and grow. I haven´t gotten my Easter package yet but I cannot wait to get it. We are doing super great. On Saturday we were supposed to have an interview for a baptism, he texted our phone last minute and told me he was chickening out. I sat there very discouraged not knowing what to do, I said a prayer to calm myself down and then I called him and I gave him a few scriptures to read. He really needed our help. He finished the Book of Mormon this week and now is in section 50 of Doctrine and Covenants. He knows the Church is true but is a little scared. We are having his interview on Wednesday. Pray for him. He´s a good man. Well, I need to get off now. I love you allllllll soooo much! Cannot believe how amazing my fam is! Lauren sent me pics of everyone. You all look as good as ever! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love Hermana Parker

March 11, 2013

WELL well well. This is Hermana Parker speaking. I would like all out there to know that I am a new mother (trainer) and I love it! So on Tuesday the assistentes to the President called us and said that we were going to work with the new missionaries. So we went to pick them up and there were 3 new sisters and only 3 new elders too. One of the sisters is from Boise and then there were two more. So I knew that one of the other two would be my new companion. So we just got to work with one... and so Hermana Vanegas and I were like ok come with us... to a sister named Hermana Fuentes and so we worked with her all day and it was super fun. Well anyways, we were all there picking the new sister up and I walked into the church and I looked over to my left and I started screaming.... The lady who always made us dinner in my first area was there at the church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were hugging for like 5 minutes and I was just crying. She was too. It was such a special moment!!!! I was sooo happy. They are all excited to see us all again in 6 and a half months. Anyways, then we walked in and I was talking to an Elder and then this Elder walks over and he is like wait you are from Hurricane. and I said yeah where are you from. And he said Cedar. I asked if he played sports he said basketball. I was like do you know my little brother Taylor Parker he said... hmmmm hold on and pulled out his camera and I was like there is no way he has a picture of Taylor. And then he shows me a pic of Tay and him with their arms around each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sooooooooooo happy. I ran around showing everyone the camera saying this is my brother!!!!!!!! Soooo happy. The Elder was like I never made that connection wow! I guess they used to guard each other. His name is Elder Payne and he is tall with red hair. I am sure dad will remember him. Anyways, he is going to send me the picture so that I can keep it forever hahahaha. That was amazing!!!!!


Well so then Tuesday we worked in a trio and so that was fun with another new sister. Anyways, Wednesday morning came and it was our changes so we went to changes bright and early and they called up all the trainers and then they started announcing who is going to be our new comp and they called Hermana Parker with Hermana Fuentes!!!! hahahaha the same sister that we worked with the day before. She is from Panama. I took a picture but I don't have my cord right now to plug in. Next Monday though for sure. She is 20 and she is very sweet. She works hard and we have fun together. Right now she is actually sick so she can't talk because she lost her voice. I think it's because she was in the mtc in Guatemala and now she is in Nicaragua... in Guatemala right now its colder... a lot colder than here. Anyways she knows my first district leader from Panama... the one in all my pictures. the one that gave me the stuffed animal monkey!!!!!! Soooo awesome. ALSO I saw Elder Wiscombe, my best friend in the mission and he gave me a picture of him that I guess he had been meaning to give to me. It's of him and his companion with their sunglasses on. I will show you all later. Also Elder Bray got changed so that has been super sad because he was also one of my best pals here in the mission. He emailed me today so that was nice to at least hear from him.


Also, I received 2 packages in change meeting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! I got one from Hermana Cottam! Thanks soooo much Annie James Cottam.! And also I got one from you guys! The one from Cottam had a few pictures of Jesus and some paper so that I can write to people and then it had swedish fish and a big chocolate bar. so great!!!!! And a little letter. She is sooo cute. Then I opened the cutest package from my family and I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! Thanks soooooo much. The cute little monkey and I loved the shirt. I wore it to church yesterday and also more SWEDISH fish. Goodness I love those things. And the cute little bobble head frog. That was sooo cute!!!!! And the cute card. Goodness. Thanks soooo much I LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ok. also another thing happened... so in change meeting I was on the program to lead the music... so the first hymn was just normal and whatever but the last hymn was sooo funny because in changes we have one verse in Spanish and then the second in English and then the third in Spanish and if there is more it will continue in that pattern... well there were only 3 verses so the first in Spanish and then the second in English and the third in Spanish... so when those three were over I just started walking back to my seat and I heard the music start up again hahahahahaha. So I was already over to the other side of the microphone (because I was over on the side with the piano on the opposite side while I was leading) and I just stopped where I was and started leading again.... I looked around and EVERYONE was laughing sooooo hard. Even down to President and his wife. It was soooo funny. Anyways it was funny I will have to explain it better in person.


Well I hope that you are all having a lot of fun in California!!! I am loving the mission. The other day I got home from working and I just was thinking... wow this is so awesome being a missionary and preaching the Gospel. It really is amazing and we really do have the power of God. I feel it with me everyday. As missionaries the scriptures say that we are ONLY to teach through the spirit, if we are not teaching with the spirit we shall not teach. I Testify that that is true. I am grateful to feel the guidance of the spirit daily. Thanks for all the love and support. Also I got letters from Fro and Sarah Hiatt!!!! Also a bunch from the family. Thanks sooo much. You are always in my prayers. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love Hermana Parker

March 4, 2013

Julio's Baptism

My District

Well... this is my day today... picture this... Me laying out on a towel in our back porch sipping on some fruit juice, listening to a little church music, and reading the liahona. ahhhh. Was the best morning. I just felt like getting some sun today (not like I don´t get sun everyday but ya know... just a little relax time). My comp was packing and so I just went outside and it was so nice! Then we went out to lunch with our district. I love our district we have a ton of fun together. After lunch we went out to this way nice ice cream place... yes there are some benefits of living in Managua. Even though it´s 97 degrees and roasting outside... well and inside as well. Today an elder in my district was telling me that this week the weather is supposed to be about 97 degrees all week. He was like they forgot to tell us about the humidity and the Spanish. hahahaha. He is from Utah too and has less time than me so he still is all worried about the Spanish. It was super funny. hahaha.


So if I could say the best thing that happened from this week it would be going to Stake conference. You might think that´s a bit weird but here is why it was sooo special! Because 4 of our recent converts RECEIVED the Melchizedek priesthood!!!!! Yep, Luis, Vladimir, Ronald and Julio! It was sooo powerful, they were all up there sitting next to each other in their white shirts and ties that they all recently bought. wow. They are sooo happy and I am super proud of them. What an amazing experience. I wish I could share that feeling with you guys. It was pure spirit in the church yesterday. Well this week we had interviews with President and that was nice. He basically just called me in and asked me how I was feeling about being a trainer and then he said I wanted to personally talk to you about your talk that you gave last Sunday. And he said that I am a great teacher and that he likes how I am always smiling and that he knows that people listen to me because of my personality. He told me that my Spanish was amazing in my talk (which was completely the spirit, so thanks to Him). hehe. And he said from that point he knew I was ready to train. I asked for a blessing and that was very powerful as well. I am sooo happy in the mission field. Honestly, it really is sooo much fun. I love the mission and the power that I have as a missionary. Then after my interview I had to go straight to a training that I had for training hahaha. We learned a bunch of things and did some practices and they sent us on our way. It was funny because after that I went with my zone and we had a conference with the mission nurse. She started talking about dog bites and all that stuff. One of the warnings for dogs was to never make eye contact with them. hahahahahahaha. For some reason that makes me laugh. I was thinking to myself... well that didn´t help me before but ok thanks for trying.


Yesterday we went to this house to give an investigator a blessing with our district leaders. Her husband decided that he wanted one too and then their son comes out... and I will be honest when I say he isn´t an ugly guy... hahaha so he comes out and gets a blessing and then when we got up to leave he went to give me a kiss and I was like oh woahhh this is awkward... so I mean I casually dodged that and went on my way as red as ever. THAT was scary. hahaha. His parents were just laughing... don´t worry, it was only on the cheek he was aiming for but still we cannot do that with boys. Goodness. hehe. Well that is all that I have for the week. By the next time you hear from me I will have my new little 19 year old companion. Don´t worry I will treat her good! Thanks for all the prayers and the emails.


Oh! Also I received a letter from a girl named Lisa and she is coming to this mission. I wrote her back... so if you are reading this thanks for the letter and be expecting another!!!!!! Have a great week. Sending a huge hug and kiss from Nica town. Over and out. Love Hermana Parker.