OCTOBER 28TH, 2013

This week has been great. It hasn't been easy, in fact at some points I felt like my head was going to explode. Susan did not get baptized before she left. It was hard, but she will have the opportunity in Oregon to be baptized. It would probably be next week, so I will keep you updated. Before I left, several people told me that I need to love the people and that it would be hard to say goodbye and to leave. I knew that it would happen; I just didn't think it would happen so quickly. Saying goodbye to Susan was very difficult. It didn't feel right. I know that Heavenly Father has great things in store for her, I can't wait to hear of her baptism and of all the things that she will do later in life. She struggled too. She really wants us to visit her in China, and wants to come live in Utah later in life. It felt good to know that she feels the same about us, as we do about her. When we told her other missionaries would talk to her in Oregon, she said, "I think that Thomas and Parker are the only missionaries for me." It has been amazing to see her progress in the Gospel.
I have been studying charity the past few days and I feel like I understand just a microscopic amount about the love that Heavenly Father and Christ have for us. Just the desire to give us everything we want and need. It’s humbling. I can tell now how vital charity is for all of us. I’ll be honest. At first, this area and the ward weren't for me, but now I don't want to leave. I am glad I get to stay here another transfer with Elder Thomas. We are going to have a baptism before we leave. Rex, a friend of a member is progressing a lot. We teach him every Wednesday and he has come to church twice now. He shares really great experiences and thoughts during our discussion and is really open during the lesson and during class at Church. He has a baptism date for the end of November, but I feel like it could be moved up about 2 weeks. We will just have to see.
Last night we had a great night, we called a bunch of people and set up appointments for the week. This week will definitely be the busiest week we have had as far as appointments and lessons go. We had a ward trunk or treat on Saturday and saw some less actives that came and Sis. Woolsey and her son Camden came. (Bro. Woolsey had work). Hopefully we can meet with them this week. Usually we do it on Thursdays, but it being Halloween we have to be in early. I hope that everything is going well, can't wait to hear from you all.
Love, Elder Parker

                       Elder Thomas, Elder Parker, Susan, and Brother Bradshaw

OCTOBER 21, 2013

                                               Wall of Miracles

Dear Family,
This week has been amazing. It has not been easy, probably the hardest week I have had so far. But the progression I have seen in our investigators and in myself is amazing. We taught Susan 2 times last week on Facebook, which is so cool. Totally different teaching method, but very effective. We also have another new Chinese investigator that we taught last Wednesday, Mrs. Lee. Her English is ROUGH. But it helped us to teach the doctrine really really simply.
We had exchanges. Both times I stayed in our area, which was nerve wracking, but it worked out and we had a really good time. I Learned a lot. Elder Stark was Wed - Thurs. We had a few appointments but did a lot of tracting. Elder Readhead was Thurs- Fri. We had a great time. We got along really well and had a few really good lessons. We taught the Woolseys and 2 kids with the zone leaders. We taught a Jehovah witness man on Wed. It was interesting... Definitely a learning experience. It’s crazy the hold that satan has on some people. He read from an anti book  while talking to us... ya. He wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, but we have a return appointment. We aren't sure if he is serious in investigating.
Friday we taught Susan in person. It went really well. We taught the Word of Wisdom, and as you know tea is really big in China. It turns out that after our 2nd lesson she found out we don't drink tea and coffee, so she got rid of all of hers. Just another Susan Miracle. She has really been encouraging us to visit her after our missions. She is just always cheerful. I will definitely miss teaching her when she leaves.
We taught Yousef on Friday night as well. As always it was interesting, he wanted us to interpret a vision.... and give him advice on marriage.... can’t do either, but it was a good time to invite him to talk to bishop about it. He said he will come to church next week. haha. He makes me laugh.
Saturday, was bad. It was a long day of tracting, most of which wasn't in our area. We doubled in to the sisters’ area for some reason and tracted for 3 hours. Had success, then Elder Thomas wanted to skip dinner, so we did. We tracted until 9 in our area. I was running on empty for several hours. I felt like I was wasting my time. But I know that even though we won't see results when we want to, we will get them when we need them. Like on Sunday... :)
So first, the Woolseys came to church and so did Rex, a new investigator who has a baptism date. Susan wasn't able to make it because she is sick. But just because we didn't see her, doesn't mean the miracles she brings stopped. She leaves on Saturday morning to go to the west coast for a month before she goes back to china. We contacted our zone leaders about getting a hold of missionaries over in Oregon to make sure Susan had a chance to be baptized. They asked if there was any way to have her baptized this week on Friday. We would have to get a hold of President Anderson and the Bishop to get permission to do it. But it was possible. We talked to Susan though. And she said she wouldn't be ready. So we didn't push it and she decided on Nov. 4th in Oregon. Well, we emailed President about it anyway, he called us yesterday, and asked if there was any way we could have her ready to be baptized on Friday. We told him that we could have her ready but it was up to her. So we called Susan. She has physical concerns with a baptism this week. We bore testimony to her about the power of faithful prayer and encouraged her to pray about and work towards being baptized on Friday. She agreed to pray about it. So we hung up the phone and prayed again. We talked to President and he and Sis. Anderson are going to see if there is anything we can do to solve her concern. I know that Heavenly Father is testing Susan's faith before baptism. I look forward to seeing her be baptized this week. She is so special. I know already that I won't meet anyone like her again. The way she can feel the spirit is amazing. We have a lesson with her tonight, and we will know if she wants to test her faith, and continue to work towards baptism this Friday. So many miracles have happened with Susan, I know there can be at least one more.
We also met another Chinese woman that is gonna come to church on Sunday. Man, our little Chinese area is full of people who are willing to listen to the message of the restoration. It’s amazing. It has been such a great experience so far. It’s crazy to think that transfers are next Tuesday! It has gone by so fast. The work is picking up though, I hope that and Elder Thomas and I stay together, we are finally getting in the grove and finding a lot of prepared people.
The church is true, the Gospel changes lives.
Love, Elder Parker

OCTOBER 15 LETTER.

We had Golden Retraining yesterday and I got to see almost all my Zone from the MTC. Elder Harris is in Philly doing great.
Our investigators are doing really well. Especially Susan! She is a miracle investigator. We met her when we were lost and she asked if we needed directions, she asked who we were and was interested. Like you know she came to General Conference with the Bradshaws (who have been AMAZING). She came to church again on Sunday after we taught her on Friday about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bradshaws brought her and Matt Bradshaw was speaking, I could tell it touched her as I saw tears coming down her face. We talked about the restoration in Gospel Principles class and she really loved Relief Society. We invited her to the New Castle ward's baptism after church and the Bradshaws brought her. It answered a lot of her questions about baptism. We found out she is leaving on the 26th, it was devastating. We feel like we have so much to teach her so we prayed about what to do. I felt that we should utilize all the tools we have, so we called her and we are meeting her on facebook tonight, Wednesday night and Thursday night. Then we have a lesson at the Bradshaws on Friday (funny story, we asked if we could meet with her on Friday, and the Bradshaws were right there. She asked if we could have dinner at their house, haha! she got us a Dinner appointment!) The baptism came up in our phone call and I invited her to be baptized. Guess who is being baptized? SUSAN! It won't be Elder Thomas or I, because she is going to the west coast for a month before she goes back to China. So we are gonna arrange with some of the Bradshaws’ family in Oregon where she is staying to have her Baptized and Confirmed before she goes to China! I never thought I would be so happy to see someone I am teaching get baptized by someone else, where I wouldn't be able to attend. But after she said that, I couldn't stop smiling. It was the most amazing feeling, to know that she knew what we told her was true. It was humbling to me, to see how the Lord has worked through us. We are hastening the work of salvation for Susan. And she is a choice spirit. I know it. She has been prepared for a long time before we met her. She has been a blessing in our lives. Just to know her. She is always happy, and is a great example to me.
Yousef is doing good. Still has a few things we need to work out, mostly that God doesn't just answer with visions. But he recognizes that when he was baptized it wasn't with the priesthood and he says he feels good when he reads the Book of Mormon. Hopefully he will have gotten an answer sometime this week. Elder Thomas is doing great. Amazing missionary and very busy as a District Leader. I try to help him out as often as I can.
Exchanges were good. I was with Elder Eddington, forgot a picture, but I will get one eventually with him. We got 2 new gators (investigators) by knocking on 2 doors! He is an amazing missionary and I learned a lot from him. We have 2 more exchanges this week. I get to be with Elder Readhead on Thursday and Friday, and Elder Stark on Wednesday and Thursday. I am looking forward to it.
Got the package! Making cookies today hopefully. Thanks so much! The treats are great! Feels so good to get mail and packages. I know I am loved so much. I will continue to smile and keep my head up during the tough times.
Love you all so much, thank you for your prayers and all of your support!

Elder Parker

OCTOBER 7TH, 2013

Elder Parker and Elder Sanchez

                                      Elder Parker, Sanchez, Thomas and Readhead

Wow. This week has been amazing! We had a hard week. A lot of our appointments fell through and things just weren't working out well Until General Conference. We had exchanges this last week. Elder Readhead came here with Elder Thomas and I went with Elder Sanchez to his area. Elder Sanchez is from California and is 26 years old. Neither of his parents are members. He was baptized when he was 24. We found 2 new investigators and we taught 2 lessons. It was great to see Elder Sanchez's example of door approaches. He is really good at keeping people at the door, even after they say they aren't interested.

While I was gone, Elder Readhead and Elder Thomas taught Yousif. He took a Book of Mormon and prayed. They also taught 2 less active families. It was a great exchange and I learned a lot. 

The weekend was amazing though. I have never felt such a powerful time before in my life. On Friday, right after we exchanged back, we went with the zone leaders and gave service to someone's brother, who was tearing off his roof. Reminded me of the roofs we did in our ward. It was really good to just go work! The humidity makes me sweat like I am working harder than I am, which feels good, lol. After that we went to Sis. McQueen's in our ward. We trimmed her bushes, but we ran out of time and she has more for us to do, so we will probably go back again. It was a great day. Service gives me one of the greatest feelings ever.

Of course you know on Saturday and Sunday we had General Conference, WOW! It was weird to be at the church for all the sessions, but I have never felt such love from my Heavenly Father. Yousif came to the Afternoon session on Sunday. After Elder Holland spoke, he told me that he knew Elder Holland had great faith in Christ, and that he spoke with the power of God. He also said after words that today he "heard the words of God." Yousif lost his wife several years ago, and we were talking with him after in the chapel about various things and then the church news came on. We talked about what they were showing, we were just about to leave when the one about Sis. Monson came on. He intently watched and I could tell he was feeling the spirit. It was such a great moment. We gave him a church tour after and he wants to come back. We will be meeting with him again this week.

Sunday was just amazing. I have told you about Susan, from China, who is at the University of Delaware studying English in business. We have met with her twice and she has been progressing, still no baptism date, but it’s coming. Bro. Bradshaw has been coming with us to the lessons. Bro. Bradshaw offered and invited her to church this last week. He offered her a ride and she has been calling and texting him since then. On Sunday his mother, Sis. Bradshaw picked up Susan with him for the Sunday morning session. When they came in the door Susan and Sis. Bradshaw were talking and laughing, I could tell they had a connection already. Sis. Bradshaw gave her a tour of the church then sat with Susan and us and answered her questions during the session. It felt so good to see Susan connecting with members. Afterwords, Susan told us that she wanted to come to the next session. The Bradshaw's invited us to lunch and we talked more with Susan about conference and answered questions. During lunch, we all shared our favorite moment from the previous session. Susan talked about the story when the boy (?) talked about how baptism made him feel, she said "baptism is magic?"  We explained more about baptism. We were about to head back for the next session when Susan asked for a picture with the Bradshaws. I could tell at that moment, why we need member missionaries. She loved all of conference and is gonna come to church next week as well. We learned she will only be here until December and then she is going home to China. We learned she is the youngest of 4, yes 4 siblings. She told us of the hard times her parents went through to have all of her siblings. China puts heavy fines and workloads on those who have more children. We didn't know how old she was, we thought she could be in the singles ward, which means we would have to pass her off to the sisters who cover that ward, but she is 33. She looks 19! haha I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to know her, let alone share the gospel with her. 

Also, we have a referral from SLC. I am looking forward to our meeting with him. We have exchanges with the other Elders in our District this week, and with the zone leaders. I have to stay in the area for both, so hopefully we have things to do. I am nervous, but I know things will be fine, Heavenly Father will help me. I have grown so much, I am loving every second of it. I thank you for your prayers and everyone's prayer's on the behalf of me and my companion Elder Thomas. Heavenly Father has watched over us and protected us. I am so glad that I have this opportunity to grow. It is going by SO FAST. It is unbelievable. I am thankful for General Conference. I love you all so much! Continue to do what you know is right.

Love, Elder Parker

BONUS LETTER!

                                                                                                                        October 1, 2013

Dear Family,

Well I have a few minutes after getting ready and thought I would share something that happened last night.

We met with a family, the Gerbers, last week. We were excited because Mrs. Gerber knows a lot of members and some return missionaries. We didn’t teach anything because they talked a lot and we just got to know more about them. She is Catholic and he is Jewish. They are a very interesting family. The kids kept running around and interrupting. It felt like a little bit of a waste of time.

We met again last night and the first thing Mr. Gerber pointed out was a spelling error in the pamphlet. It was gonna be “that” type of lesson. As we tried to answer questions and teach as much as we could, interesting things came up. The questions were very well thought out, well worded and deep. (He is a psychologist and she is a teacher.) But every time they started asking a question, I felt like I already knew the answer. It was a surreal experience. Words were truly put in my mouth (D&C 84:85, D&C 100:5). Even though we aren’t meeting with them again in the near future, we left and impression with them and a few things to think about.

My biggest fear about my mission was that I wouldn’t know what to say or how to say it. It’s true, I don’t know what to say, but the spirit does and did tell me what to say.

Firm.

Undaunted.

Obedient.

If ye believe, ye shall receive.

Love, Elder Parker