Well it is crazy to think that it is all coming to an end. As some might know, this will be my last week being called eldercito or hermanito. Next Tuesday night I will be arriving back home to New Mexico. These have been 2 amazing years, and the best decision I have ever made. I truly have grown to love the people here and this amazing country.
There are so many things I could say and share, but I just share my testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know it is the true church. The Book of Mormon can change us and guide us if we let it. I would invite everyone to read it and pray about it.
Our Savior lives and loves us.
Love, Elder Parker
Thursday, May 26, 2016
May 9, 2016
Dallin did not write this week, but we skyped him on Mother's Day. He looks great and we all still can't believe he will be home in 3 weeks!
April 25, 2016 and May 2, 2016
Sorry, Dallin did not write this week. The final details for his return are being worked out!
April 18, 2016 - Earthquake
Hi. Thank you for your prayers. We are all well. We were pretty far away.
Even esmeraldas in our mission (the coast) did not get it that bad.
More in Manabí. We were all fine, and did not have to follow any
emergency plan. We felt it, but nothing happened. We are about 8 hours
away from where the epicenter was. We are about 2 hours away from quito.
You guys will know much more than me. We do not know anything unless
someone tells us.
We had changes today and I will be training a new missionary. And yes, I will be home the 31st of May.
Pics...
April 4, 2016 - TEMPLO
Quito will have a temple!! WHooo!!! That was such a happy moment for us yesterday when we heard the prophet say that!
It
was such a blessing to hear that there will be a temple in the area
that I have grown to love in this time. These people are very ready to
recieve this blessing in their lives. 
March 28, 2016
Sorry, Dallin did not send out a letter this week. He has about 2 months left in his mission!
March 21, 2016 - Jungle Adventure
Our adventure to the jungle today! There are many more, but that was all I had time to upload.
We
are having an awesome time here and are having lots of success. The
branch is progressing, slowly but surely and there are many things going
on here in the jungle!
March 14, 2016
Dallin did not send an email this week. He is figuring out his schedule and housing for summer term at BYU.
Dallin did not send a group e-mail, but he is excited for Chris! He will be serving in the New Jersey, Morristown, Spanish speaking mission. He reports to the Provo MTC on June 15.
----
(From Elder Parker)
That is exciting about Chris! I am pumped for him!
March 7, 2016 - Congrats Chris!!!
Dallin did not send a group e-mail, but he is excited for Chris! He will be serving in the New Jersey, Morristown, Spanish speaking mission. He reports to the Provo MTC on June 15.
----
(From Elder Parker)
That is exciting about Chris! I am pumped for him!
February 22, 2016 - Choked by an Apostle...
It was a great week, as you
might have guessed from the subject of this email! We recieved the visit
of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland to our mission, and I got to meet him in a
very special way, haha. We started the meeting with a photo and a hand
shake. Then we were priviliged to have talks from a member of the area
presidency, an area seventy, our mission president and his wife, and
then from Elder Holland. He started up on the stand and then he came
down on the floor to talk more to us and to teach us.
I
was sitting in the front row in the middle on the left end. He had just
finished talking about missionaries and how he feels about disobedient
missionaries, or those who go inactive after the mission. He walks down
onto the floor, and he walks by me, puts his hand on my shoulder, and
then chokes me and gets real close in my face, and shakes a little bit.
Haha it was great. Then he lets me go and says, that is what happens to
those missionaries I just mentioned.
We
learned a lot from him. The thing I liked the most was how much of an
influence his mission has had in his life. He knew exactly how long he
had been home, down to the day.
I have to go now, but thank you all for your support! I love you all!
Elder Parker
February 8, 2016 and February 15, 2016
Sorry, Dallin did not send out a group letter. He is still doing well and only has a few months left!
Monday, February 1, 2016
February 1, 2016 - The Richwater
The familia Restrepo got baptized and confirmed this weekend! It was an
amazing experience. We went to the rio aguarico (River Richwater) to
baptize them, and it was wonderful. They have made so many excellent
changes in their lives. Their oldest son David had earings, but after we
taught him the first lesson, he took them out on his own. He also wants
to get rid of his tatoos. They are much more united as a family now and
we are so happy for them. They were so prepared by the Lord to make
changes in their lives and to make this covenant with him. So, next
stop: the Temple!
Yesterday I gave a class on
the sabbath day with trainings from the General Conference. As I
prepared and reviewed the teachings of the prophets, the thought came to
me. There is a reason it is called Sabbath DAY and not just Sabbath
Morning, or sabbath afternoon. It is a day that we have to enjoy and to
rest from all other labors and to dedicate it ALL to the Lord. My
testimony and conviction of the importance of this day has grown as I
have seen how many families recieve many blessings by keepìng this day
holy, and as I have also seen many who do not keep it holy and the
difference and the blessings that they are missing out on.
I
love serving the Lord and I love working with His children. Especially
the ones in Lago Agrio. Thank you for all of your support and prayers.
Love, Elder Parker
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
January 25, 2016 - Upcoming Baptism!
It was a good week for us. We were able to be in our sector for a long
time, and we were able to see some cool things happen. We have a family
from Colombia that is going to get baptized this weekend! They were way
prepared and have been progressing so well. They have had a hard time
here in Ecuador, but this message has helped them so much and we have
been able to see a light in them and their desires to follow the
Savior.
I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ can
truly change the lives of all that apply it. I have seen it in the lives
of this family. They have applied this message and have been blessed
both spiritually and temporally. They have recieved so many blessings
for their sacrifice and obedience.
Thank you all for your support and your prayers!
Love, Elder Parker
Monday, January 18, 2016
January 18, 2016 - Elder Godoy
We had an awesome experience this week. Elder Godoy of the seventy and
from the Presidency of the area, came to our mission and we were able to
have a few trainings from him and it was super good and we learned a
lot about how to resolve the doubts and problems of the people. He
focused a lot on going to the source of all knowledge with our questions
first, o sea to ask God for help with our problems. We felt the spirit
strongly and were able to make some good plans to be better.
I
know that as we go to our Heavenly Father with our problems and as we
look to him for support, He will be there to answer us and to lift us up
and show us the way to overcome whatever challenge that we are faced
with.
I love you all!
Elder Parker
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
January 11, 2016 - The Church is True
It was a busy week with Mission Council and lots of work when I came
back from Quito. We now have a family that has a date for baptism and
they are SO ready for this message. They are a family of 4 and the 2
sons (22 years and 14 years) even went on visits yesterday. They know
that the church is true and are reading the Book of Mormon. But, they
are colombian refugees, so they are going to go to canada soon. But we
are going to enjoy the time that we do have with them!
I know that this is the true church. I have seen this message touch peoples lives, and have had my life touched as well.
Thank you for all your support and prayers!
Love, Elder Parker
Monday, January 4, 2016
January 4, 2016 - New Years!
We had a crazy week here for new years! Christmas day is
the quietest day of the year here, but New Years is a totally different
story! The party started in the morning with the music blaring, and
people starting to drink. We had to be in our houses at 5pm. So there we
were. But right outside our house there were about 4 parties going on.
It was not enough that there was super loud and obnixious music, but
there was 4 different speakers all competing at the same time. And the
result was... I actually don`t know. None of it made sense. It was just
noise. So there they were all night long until 10 am the next morning.
In
our house, we have a terrace (?) I am not sure how to say it. Una
terraza. So we went up there at 12 to watch them burn there viejos.
Every year, they make a bunch of big dolls, and they burn them at
midnight. It was pretty cool. Lots of fireworks. It was really cool, but
the next day was dead. There was no one! But I will explain more next
week, and send pics.
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