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

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

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

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.

Thank you all for your support!

Love, Elder Parker