7.6.2015

I met the new mission president and his wife. They are from Sandy, Utah. It sounds like their old stake bordered with Grandma and Grandpa Parker's stake. He is a surgeon, so I bet he will have some good advice for me in my departing interview. We helped sister S. be reactivated this week. She has come to church 4 weeks in a row and seems to be really changing. We are going to go visit her later this evening. The L Family is doing pretty good. The family is made of P (58), the father, his daughter L (23), and his son M (16). P and L are scheduled to be baptized on July 18th. They have come to church 7 times, but they didn't come yesterday because P was playing the saxophone at some sort of event until 3am. That's what He does for work. They are doing well. Elder Grimm had a sweet lesson with them while I was on a tradeoff. He taught them about the word of wisdom. They were having a hard time accepting it, and were of the opinion that moderation in drinking is ok. Elder Grimm shared a scripture which I believe is in 2 Nephi 9:28-29

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.  But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."

The spirit was able to teach them and then at the end of the lesson, L went in to grab the bottle of wine that she kept in her room for special occasions. Then she poured it all out. I'm excited for them. They have many friends in the branch and they are excited to be baptized. There is another cool lady that we started teaching named R. She is still new in the teaching process, but we set a baptismal date with her as well for august 8. I also got to go to a wedding for one of the investigators of one of the district leaders, who will be baptized this coming week. Then we also got to go to a baptism for a young man named R, in Sangre Grande (pronounced Sandy grandy in Trini language) for the other district leader.

I've started to pick up writing in my journal recently. It was pretty spotty. Things are going well, but I can always improve. Thanks for the picture with President and Sister Mehr. I tried to send some pictures, but the computer didn't want to work with me today. Have a great week!

Love, Elder Parker

6.22.2015

Happy Fathers day. 

Love Elder Parker

6.29.2015

The mission split won't be effecting me that much. 

Love, Elder Parker

6.15.2015

There is a father and a daughter that we are teaching named P and L.  I think I have emailed you about them before. They are doing well. They have come to church several times and are doing great. L found some anti-mormon stuff online, but when we talked about it she didn't seem phased at all by it. She feels that this is true and she really likes how we always invite her to pray for herself. I think that is why she didn't have any problems because she prays about it for herself. They should be baptized in the next couple of weeks. The hardest thing for people here to understand is the importance of coming to church.  There is also a sister that has been reactivated - she has an interview with the branch president to say that she is coming back to church. It has been really cool to see her go from pretty gloomy the first time I met her, to much happier now that she is coming back to church. Her name is Sister S. That is the best part of missionary work. Seeing the light of the gospel come into peoples lives, or return to their lives. Love you too!

-Elder Parker

6.15.2015

This week was good. We had zone conference and my last interview with president Mehr. I asked him about how he has become so consecrated to the work of the Lord. What he said surprised me at first. He said that as he has studied and applied the Atonement in his life,  he has become more consecrated, or rather converted. Consecration is a fruit of conversion. My testimony of the Savior has increased a lot this week. I felt the spirit very strongly as I read in 3 Nephi 11 this morning. I know that He is the Christ. Love you lots!

-Elder Parker

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