6.8.2015 (Picture)

This week was ok. It wasn't as organized as last week, but we still had some good lessons. R and M were in a place called San Fernando for the weekend so they didn't come to church this week, but their Book of Mormon reading has improved. We finally got a less active sister to come to church this week. We had two great lessons with her that invited the spirit well and awakened her from her slothful state to a remembrance of her guilt and the way to get rid of that guilt. Her name is Sister T. The house looks nice. It looks like Gabby hasn't lost much flexibility.   

This last week was something called mission leadership conference. It's where all the zone leaders and sister training leaders get together and are instructed by the AP's and President and Sister Mehr. President Mehr taught about fasting. I learned a lot about the great blessings that are available to us as we fast, and also about the law of the fast. Then I got to apply the things I learned this past week, and I definitely noticed a difference, especially in receiving revelation.  This is my companion, Elder Grimm.

6.8.2015

The mission splits on the 20th of June.  We still have some good progressing investigators. We should have some baptisms coming up. It's a feeling I haven't had in a long time. Zone leader responsibilities are going well. It's a great opportunity to learn. I have learned a lot about the importance of first having charity before being able to give counsel that will be listened to. 
Love you lots.

-Elder Parker

6.1.2015

I can't believe that Brendon is back. I hear that Whitney Merrill is going to Russia. We have 3 very solid people coming up for baptism this month. Pedro and his daughter Latifah are doing great. He is a world class saxophone player, and his daughter is super cool too. She is 23 and they have come to church 3 times now. They really loved it this last week. Our member work has been awesome with them also.

My new companion, Elder Grimm is from St. Louis Missouri.  He is 19 and attended BYU, summer term, 2013. We had one of the AP's with us this last week.  He taught me a lot about the importance of reverence and humility in inviting the spirit. (These lessons were learned more through observation than through being specifically spoken to). I have been enjoying the presence of the spirit more and have been trying to do more to keep the spirit with me. I hope Grandma is doing well. I got to go spelunking today. I had bats flying in my face and giant nasty white cockroaches at my feet. It was very cool. A member took us there as part of visiting an old plantation.

Talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Parker

5.18.2015 (Pictures Only)

This is what Doubles looks like.

5.18.2015 (Picture)

I am moving back north and the east to be a zone leader there.  I am sad to be leaving Chaguanas, especially because we just started finding people who are starting to progress. I feel like I have said that a lot in emails home lately though. We find people, and then they stop progressing or become elusive.  These new people seem cool though. I think part of it has come as I have tried to allow my heart to be changed. I think it goes back to the principle of progression. The efforts and desires of yesterday, if not improved upon will not be sufficient for today's trials. The more we learn, the more responsibility we have to apply what we learn. A wonderful example of how things have been starting to change occurred last night. Like most good missionary stories it starts off with all of our appointments had fallen through. So Elder Dulaki and I decided that since there were no members that we could visit at the time we would go and contact down a street and see who we could find. After riding down a side road, we saw two people doing something outside, so we took the opportunity to go and speak with them. They quickly invited us to sit down. We taught them the message of the Restoration and they understood very well. As we were preparing to leave, the mother of the family explained to us about how she had been very confused about why there were so many churches if there is only one Lord. She asked God to send some people to her to help her understand. She waited all day long and began to wonder if God would send some people that day. Then near the close of the evening, we showed up. I hope that Elder Dulaki and his new companion will be able to help them come into the gospel. I have begun to see more miracles lately as I have approached the work with more hope and faith. I hope that I will be able to be a profitable servant in Arima.

There was a family that just got back from the temple this week and we helped put a roof on their house. That's what I am standing on.

5.11.2015

I love Elder Dulaki. He is the best. Our area is starting to move a little better, but we still need to work on working with the active members a little more and on helping people come to church. I don' think that those areas will be influenced by each other. I'm trying hard to make the most of my time. I'm excited to see what this week holds. Later this week, we will be able to meet with the father of a really cool family. It sounds like if we can get the dad on board, then the rest of the family will follow. They would be a very strong addition to the branch. I was thinking about what you guys had said, and what grandma had said about being able to look past the faults and weaknesses of others combined with what I have been learning in the morning during my temporal prep time about church history. The members here truly are pioneers. They are dealing with many of the same struggles that early church members had with leaving their old traditions and ideas for the truths of the gospel. There are also many great Caribbean pioneers who are rising to the occasion and preparing the way for future generations. Love you lots!

-Elder Parker

5.11.2015 (pictures)

I have begun to eat... eggs. 

​This is something that tasted pretty good. I liked the fish the best. Seafood has begun to appeal to me.