8.18.2014

8.18.2014

This week has been awesome, but it has also been challenging. Micron was baptized and I sent you a picture of that. That was great. He has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and it was great to hear him share his testimony after the baptism. When Elder Gordon and I first started teaching him last transfer, the first thing that stood out was that he had seriously started reading through the Book of Mormon that Elder Jacobson and I had given him several months before. He understood everything in our first lesson with him and his family. He talked about how the message of the restoration was perfect for him and it answered so many of his questions. He has been great to teach for the whole time and we are going to go see him tonight. He loves church and talks about how he learns so much there. The Book of Mormon has been key in his conversion. It goes really well with some counsel that President Mehr has given to the mission about flooding the West Indies with the Book of Mormon. I'm currently re-reading the Book of Mormon for the 4th time in a year and I learn new things everyday. I'm praying for everybody each day. Now its in the Lord's hands. Can't wait to get that Birthday Card. I hope it doesn't take as long to get here as a package my Zone leaders (who we interact with almost daily) picked up last week. It had been sitting in the post office for three years and lets just say that the cereal in that box was very stale. We have another baptism this next week for Linda. I'm especially excited for her because I have been teaching her for the entire time that I have been here. Love you all! Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Parker

8.11.2014 (with picture)

Let me say that I sure do feel like I am in paradise. This picture was taken from the church looking west at the sunset. What a view! Everything is going great! I feel like I am working hard and it is a rewarding feeling. I know what you are talking about. You basically summed up an experience I had yesterday. Elder Gordon and I were out tracting for a little bit and we met this guy named Mr. Huggings. He wasn't mean or seemingly evil, but he just had a gray countenance and had an air of despair about him. He lived in a very nice neighborhood and had many worldly possessions, but he simply wasn't filled with joy. He rejected the message we had to share and basically said he doesn't do the whole religion thing because he feels like church people are all hypocrites. We gave him a Book of Mormon and then bore testimonies about it and then left. As we were heading back from meeting him, we met one of our investigators, Allecia, who has a very low standard of living. She has been reading through the Book of Mormon and it was amazing to see the stark contrast between somebody that has decided that they want to remain in darkness and somebody who is accepting the restored Gospel into their life. Allecia (who doesn't even have enough money to pay her water bill) is begging to fill her life with light and hope, while Mr. Huggins is stewing in confusion and ignorance. No earthly possession can bring the happiness that is found in the gospel. Michron is going to be baptized this Saturday and Linda will be baptized the following weekend. I'll keep the whole family in my prayers and I'm glad to hear that grandma is back safely from Utah. Love you lots! Seth

P.S I will be anxiously looking forward to my birthday card!

8.3.2014 (picture)

This was a service project we did this week. We played sports with a bunch of struggling youth. It was really fun and the Kingstown missionaries got a lot of contacts from it. All of us in th picture came out together. The 2 standing by me are from my MTC group. Elder Malyon is on the far left and is from England. He will be in St. Marten this transfer. 

8.3.2014

Mom really is a great mom! I was just looking through the pictures I brought with me and I was reflecting on how blessed we are to have the family that we do. So many people do not have anything even close to what we have.

Gratitude has been a prevalent theme these past few weeks as I have tried to be more grateful. I have a feeling that I will probably be moved this next transfer, but we'll see. I have faith that I will be able to leave St. Vincent with many happy memories, and also knowing that I left it all out on the field.

It sounds like you guys have had fun this past week. My week was a little rough at the beginning, but it finished off well. I have been trying to take lots of pictures lately of my normal day. I might stay in contact with the Birds, I would need to grab their email address from my journal though. I should let you know that I have made a serious effort to eat better. We also got a toaster this week from our zone leaders who just moved apartments. Our new zone leader is cool; His name is Elder Staley and he is from Idaho. Our baptismal dates have been weeded down to those who are very committed. There is Linda for the 23rd, but she is still praying about it. She wants too but she is still a little scared of doing so. I think she will be baptized anyways. Michron is a 20 year old who has eaten up every gospel principle and point we have given him. We’ve only been meeting with him for about 6 weeks, but he is already in Alma chapter 4. He loves the gospel and is doing everything he can to live it. He will be baptized on the 16th of this month. We have a few other baptismal dates too but those 2 are our most progressive investigators.

I have really learned a lot these last couple of weeks about prayer. Elder Gordon and I didn't know what commitment to leave for Jadeese. I thought we should do one thing, and Elder Gordon thought we should leave her something else. We decided to pray about it and as soon as we were done praying, we both received an answer that we should leave a completely different commitment with her than either of us were thinking of. The Lord truly does answer prayers. In fact he commands us too, which is something that I hadn't ever really realized until I read about it in chapter 3 section 4 of Preach My Gospel. Jesus also teaches that we must pray in 3 Nephi 18:15.

Today we will be eating lunch at a Chinese place that we usually go to, shopping, maybe playing some football on the beach and then I need to bake some cookies for Jadeese's birthday.  I pray for you guys everyday.

Love you! Hurrah for Israel!

-Seth

7.28.2014 (picture)

Elder and Sister Bird (July 27, 2014)

7.28.2014

Yesterday was the Birds last Sunday. They fly out today. I'm staying here for another transfer with Elder Gordon. We had a whole bunch of people at church too. We finally got our family of young women back to church with their grandma. A super progressing young man was also able to come to church and he loved it. Everybody was so friendly and I bet he will be a great strength to the branch once he is baptized. His name is Michron, and I think I have told you about him before. He is truly somebody who was kept from the truth, only because he knew not where to find it. Training is going well, but I think I need to let Elder Gordon take the lead more.  I need to keep him from relying on me too much. I think what you said about being obedient was inspired. I'm excited for this new transfer.  It will be fun to get to know another area. I need to finish off strong here, because I think that I will be going to another place this next transfer. I pray for you guys multiple times a day. I know you are praying for me too. Love you!

-Seth

7.14.2014

7.14.2014

It sounds like you are having a busy week this week. I can't believe Nate is heading out here this week. I got bit by a sea turtle today and I'm emailing you from Bequia today. It's an island south of St Vincent in the Grenadines. 

The church is true! 2 weeks ago I had an experiance that showed me how the scriptures can bless our lives. I was sitting in the car with one of my Zone leaders waiting for our companions to finish up buying a razor for Elder Gordon. I had a whole bunch of things going on in my head about training and our investigators and updating the area book, ect.. Then I had a scripture come to mind that said, " Be still, and know that I am God." That really comforted me and helped me to recognize that we are being watched out for. It reminded me of a picture you had bought for me that had a picture of the savior and a scripture on the side that talked about how the savior has engraven us on the palms of his hands and he will never forget us. I am also grateful that our family has been sealed in the temple for all of eternity. I'll be praying for Gabby, Grandma and everybody else. Tell Ben to keep up the tennis for me please. Hurrah for Israel! Thanks for your advice on being humble. 

Love you! - Elder Seth Parker