September 22, 2014 - Sick week

I was sick all this week. I have had a nasty cold. One day I almost lost my voice, one day my nose was like a waterfall, then I developed a nice cough and chest pain. And now we are here, I still have a cough and a little bit of a runny nose, but all good. The only problem now is that it is winter here. And that means that it rains everyday. And it is colder. So that is the only part that I will be careful for. All good other than that.

We are going to have a baptism on the 11 of October for a girl called Anabel. She is 13 years old and super excited. When we talked to her last week about her baptism date, she was like this week! But we couldn´t because she was still missing a couple things, and she didn´t come to church this week so she can´t get baptised this week either. But the 11 for sure!! Her mom will have to wait another week, but with time, she will be blessed even more by this gospel! 

This week, not much happened because I was sick and couldn´t leave to do much, but now all better I hope. Ummm, yeah. Not much happened. Things have pretty much been the same because we weren´t able to do much.  Haha nothing new. 

Today for P-day, we just played games together and made hot dogs. It was fun, but that was all we were able to do. 

Things are going well. We as a companionship have been developing well. It has been going well. We just have to keep progressing. 

This week I finished the Book of Mormon. This book is so true. I am able to learn something different every time that I read it. And every time that I read it, I feel the Spirit. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share this treasure with so many people. I invite everyone to read this book! It will bless your lives. I promise!

I love you all and thank you for everything!

Elder Parker

Fotos de Misioneros Nuevos- Grupo de Septiembre:

the first one is just all of the new missionaries, the second one is with all of them.   in the first one, my companion is in the upper left corner next to the tall guy. 

September 15, 2014 - It´s a boy!

Haha I have a son!! His name is Elder Larsen and he is from Meridian, Idaho! This group of missionaries was huge, like their stature. Like there is one that is 6 foot 5 and another that is 6 foot 10. haha and most of them were like my size and a little smaller. That is it. haha and there were 19 gringos and 1 latino. His spanish is still like he is just out of the CCM, and he is. So that makes sense! It´s just different from having a companionship where we were sharing the lesson. It is hard. But I know that this is a calling from God. But really he is a good companion and will learn quickly. He is a little bit quiet, but I think he is still just adjusting to everything.

And I am sick again. I just have a little cold. Like my throat hurts and my nose is runny and stuffy. That makes it hard when I am talking a loto more, but it will go soon. So there is that. but other than that I am good. It has been getting colder and been raining more. Like yesterday and today we woke up to rain. Not hard, but we would get wet, easy. And we are almost in winter now here. so that is why. And yes the evenings are cooler now. 

My speaker will handle it however. It doesn´t matter. If it is in folders it plays folder by folder. However is fine. 

When I write, I am just in a cyber. I don´t know if you want a different answer. haha My clothes and shoes and everything are still doing fine, no problem. And there are a lot of different types of bread here, that is for sure, and they are almost all good! 

This week has been a little slow because we had a lot of stuff to do with changes and everything like that. And I have just had a lot of meetings this week. But we have 2 new investigators with baptismal dates! Daniela and Anabel. Daniela is the mom adn just needs help reading and attending the church. Anabel is doing really well. We are still working with the family that we have, it is just hard to get them all together in order to teach them. But with time, they will progress! 

Something that I thought of this week and shared with my companion is the example of the sons of Helaman.  When we have hard times (especially as missionaries or when we have to leave our families, always we can think of the Sons of Helaman. They left their families just like we have. But they were not sure if they were going to come back. In fact, I bet they were thinking they wouldn´t return. But they had faith in the things that their parents had taught them, especially their mothers. And this verse in Alma chapter 56:47 really stands out to me. 

Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

What faith. This is just such an example to me and I hope that one day my faith can be like theirs.  

I love you all and am so grateful for your examples! 

Love, 

Elder Parker

1. With the family that feeds us on sundays and does our laundry. 

2. with my companion on my left, and my grandpa of the mission on my right. 

September 8, 2014 - 4 Months!

Well, first of all, we had changes today. We actually found out last night at like 11. And my companion left to Quito as a lider of district.  And I do not have  a companion yet, so I am with the Liders of zone until thursday. I just finished being trained an now I am going to be training a new missionary. So I will get my companion on thursday morning. Crazy.

It was a good week, but I was sick, so we couldn't do much. I couldn't sleep Tuesday night because I just hurt, all of my body. So we couldn't leave on wednesday, and only left to go to our fixed citas. The same with thursday and friday because I just did not feel good. then saturday we went and worked like normal, but sunday I felt not good, but we still went and worked. And I am feeling better today. I think also that I have been a little bit dehydrated. And that is no fun.

My knee is doing a lot better now. And my arm is almost healed too haha. After 3 1/2 months. Umm, I don't really have much else to say right now. We weren't able to do a lot this week. The work is going pretty much the same, which is kind of slow right now. The people here progress in waves. Sometimes they progress tons, and other times, not at all. Sometimes it is awesome and sometimes it is frustrating. We have been doing a lot of edifying? Correcting? I don't know what it would be in english. But we have been a little bit more frank with people lately because honestly, that is what they need. But we do it with love. Because we really want the best for these people, and sometimes we have to be frank.

Yeah!! Let me know how the bishopric is!  Haha I don't have much else to say right now.

Oh! How can I wash a tie? I have a tie that has the worst luck. haha And it is not a dry clean only tie.

And elder Haight was my great-great uncle? Or just great uncle? I saw a picture of him and was trying to remember.

I love this area right now. We have a lot of people that are amazing to us. We visited our recent converts Blanca and Karen this week, and when we told them that one of us would be leaving, they started to cry. And then when we pulled out our gifts for them (A bible, the movie finding faith in Christ, a picture BOM for the little ones, and a photo of the baptism) they started to cry even more. I almost cried. It was super touching. I love the people here so much and the experiences that I have had here have been amazing. I love this gospel so much. There are so many times when I just feel so blessed. And it is hard because we can't do anything but handshakes with the women, but we just want to be able to hug them. I care about these people so much. Honestly, there are a few families that I actually feel a part of. I feel like part of their family. And they themselves say they have 2 more sons than they actually do, for us.

Think about your families and how much you love them and what you would do for them. Then think of our Heavenly Father, whose love for us is perfect. There is nothing that can replace His love and His spirit in our lives. Always remember who you are. Each and every one of you and us has an identity and a purpose special and unique. Heavenly Father wants the best for you. I know that with all of my heart. Thank you to everyone. I love you all.
2 Nephi 1:15

Love,

Elder Dallin Parker

September 1, 2014 - 9/1/2014

This week has been good!  We are now teaching the sister and her family of Blanca! They are super ready to hear and be blessed by this message! They and 2 other friends of Blanca have baptismal dates for the 20th of september! We really focused on them a lot this week, so I don't really have much else to say! haha

The pics that I sent are of the Botanical Gardens here in Quito. Way cool. And there are other photos of Cayumbe and Cotopaxi, and our house, and us on top of our house :)

In order to find people, we try to ask for references. That is the most effective, but then we also contact every day. We usually knock doors or talk to people in the streets. We can do whatever we want to contact basically.    

Ummm, in order to approach the less actives, we just go and call them or knock on their door, or go with members. They know who we are. Umm, yeah, I don't know if that answered your question. ;) 

We pay zero to have our laundry done. :) We just pay for detergent, but there is a family in the ward that does it for us. We just drop it off and go back one or two days later to pick it up! Easy.

Haha our dinners are usually just bread. There are tons of bakerys here and they are super good. But no. We only really prepare breakfast. Members feed us lunch, and dinner really is not anything special. We usually will just stop at a bakery in some moment or on the way home and buy some bread to eat. 

My arm is much better. And my health is good.  The weather here is usually sunny but really not too hot. But sometimes the sun feels super strong haha  But it is really comfortable. And almost always I wear short sleeves just because we walk a lot and sometimes it gets a little hot, but I could be wearing long sleeves no problem too. 

This week also my companion recieved his patriarchal blessing. And we were taught a lot buy the patriarch. In 2 nephi 4:7 there is something super interesting. It is the promise of Lehi to his son Laman. The promise is that the people of Laman will never be destroyed. So when we read about all of the wars between the Nephites and Lamanites, the nephites never really had a chance. Haha. the lamanites had the Lord's blessing that they would not be destroyed.  Just an interesting thought.  ;)

I have to go now, but I know that this church is true. I know that we can receive so much from God if we are obedient to His commandments. Many people tell us that they are happy, but they can be much happier, and feel so much more with this gospel. I have seen the blessings in the lives of the people here that we teach.  Families really can be eternal and live together forever. I know that this is true. This message offers so much hope and peace and comfort and everything else good.   I love my Heavenly Father and all that He has done for me.  This life is not perfect and we are going to have challenges, but Heavenly Father will be with us in every moment if we love Him and follow Him.  

Thank you all for your examples. I love and miss you! Sorry if these are too long ;) 

Love,

Elder Parker

So I have tons of pics today, and these are of the botanical garden that we went to!! :) It was sweet.

 

 

 

In this bunch there is a little bit of NM!!! :)  They had chili!! :) aha

 

 

 

These pics are of Cayambe and Cotopaxi. Cayambe is more pointed than cotopaxi. This is like the first day we were able to see them both clearly because there is always clouds surrounding them. And me and my companion eating breakfast one morning. 

 

 

I have a new injury! I just slipped when we were walking down a steep hill because there were tons of pebbles haha

 

 

August 25, 2014 - 25/08/2014

First, the baptism. Was amazing. Was perfect. Was super difficult to get ready. haha We started filling the font, then went to buy a cake for afterwards, and when we came back, the water was super yellow, so we were like what do we do. So we found some cloths in a closet, and that is what the picture is. We took turns holding the cloth there like a filter for 2 hours. Honestly, it was rough but totally worth it! It was such a good experience for them too. I baptized the mother and right after I asked her how she felt, and what she said just hit me. She told me she didn't know how to describe it, but she just felt new. Like she had been washed totally clean. Wow. It was fantastic. And we confirmed them that same night so that they can go to the temple tomorrow with the other youth and recent converts. And they got their recommends yesterday! They are awesome. We visited them yesterday also and only the mother was there because the kids were with their dad, but she just seemed so much happier. It was amazing to see :)

Ummm, this week.. Really was pretty slow. We had a super hard time finding people, or people were sick. The super family that we have that had the dream was sick, so we weren't able to visit them. Super bummer. |But we have faith that this week we will find all these people again, which will bless them so much.     Yeah, it was a lame week. But that is all good! We had interviews with President Richardson, which were super awesome :)  I love that man so much. He is amazing!

Umm, to answer other questions. Yes I still have my arm. I started to use antibiotics with bandaids, but I got little blisters or something. They didn't hurt or anything or itch, but the nurse told me to stop using them or to just use one or the other to see what is bothering, but I just stopped using stuff totally. Now I am just waiting. But it is improving. No need to worry. 

Yes, I have a journal and write in it everyday! ;)    And to send mail, I don't know how the church pouch system works. We call it pouch what we get from the offices, so I would just send everything to the offices. That is safest. But you don't have to worry about that if you don't want to. I don't know how much that costs. For me to send mail, it is actually kind of expensive, so I have not done it much, and I don't know about packages or anything. We'll see. I'll try to send stuff. 

We email from cybers just wherever. Not the same place everytime. It just depends on what we do on a P-day. Today we just played games with the zone. 

Thank you all for all you do!! I am going to send pics now.    Always remember who you are. And always remember the importance of the Book of Mormon. Before the mission, I did not realize the importance like I should have, but now I am starting to realize the love and power that is in that book, in the words of the prophets.

I love and miss you all! Thank you all for your examples and everything

Love,

Elder Parker

 Also the other girl with us is basically investigating now, and is super interested and excited! :)

 

1.  With our baptizees! :)

2. Blanca with kids and other family. It was my comps birthday the 21st, and her birthday the 22nd. 

3. My comp trying to speak english during language study  :Pahah

 

 

August 18, 2014 - 18/8/2014

This week has been pretty normal. We are having a baptism this friday with our investigator and her daughter. I am super stoked for that! And we have  a new family that is amazing and so ready. This was basically my highlight of the week, meeting with this family. And here is the story.

So we were contacting the week before and knocked on this door, and a woman answered and invited us in. That alone was awesome! That never happens. So we taught her and went back and taught her and her husband Tuesday, almost a week ago. We taught them and the husband was way receptive. He had a brother that had a book of mormon and his brother was reading it, but he passed away I don't know how long ago. So the husband said that he would go look for the book so that he could read it.  Then the wife told us, the woman that we talked to the first day, that she had had a dream 2 days before we knocked on her door. She said that in her dream, her husband's dead brother had appeared to her and told her that everything was alright and that things would all be good. She also said that she saw 2 men in white come to her. That was her dream. When I heard that, wow. It was awesome. And she read the Introduction, the testimonies and the first 13 chapters of the BOM in 5 days. She said that she reads every morning. I was blown away. It was amazing :) And that is my awesome experience of the week :)

It has been normal this week. To answer questions about our P-days, it just depends on the week. We have activities as a zone where we play games and sports and stuff like that. Then sometimes we go to the offices which is like an hour away by bus to pick up mail (when we have it) and to get more supplies like BOM's and cards or what not, the pamphlets and stuff. And yeah, we haven't gone site seeing or anything yet, but I think in 2 weeks we will.  Either the Mitad del Mundo or Teleferico. We don't know yet. 

For my health, all is well. I am healthy and yes, I am sure my leg muscles are stronger. The only thing I have right now is a gnarly infection in my arm from a cut or something. I don't even know. hah I just kept picking the scab. But don't worry. Our investigator with a baptism this friday is a nurse and she looked at it last night and cleaned it. She said the same thing you would say mom. She asked me,  why didn't you tell me this when it was small? haha  But she cleaned it good and I talked to the mission nurse today at the offices and she gave me antibiotic and stuff. So yeah, that should get better, if not, I might lose a lot of weight , like however much an arm weighs haha. But there is a pic of my arm. 

A question. You know the mini BOM's in english? Are there minis in spanish? And how is the ward doing and all that?

And I read DyC 35 this week and love it. I love the promise at the end from verses 24 to the end. How awesome is that!! 

I love you all and miss you! 

Love,

Elder Parker

August 11, 2014 - The week!

The first thing, I ate a chicken foot this week! Haha I turned to my comp and asked him: how do we eat this? And he just said I have no idea... But we were eating on the stairs outside of their house becuase there was not another man there, so it was just us two, and we were able to experiment with different methods. It was... not bad. Kind of hard. yeah haha It really was difficult to eat. haha You have to like suck the skin and meat off the bones, and it is tricky! Tastes like chicken hah! No not really. I don't know what it tasted like. And I am still not sure if I am supposed to eat the tendons and everything.. there are some things that I am not sure how to eat.. haha I have not had chicken heads yet, but I saw at a members house yesterday little things that looked like gineau pigs or gophers, and they eat that. One of the other elders told me that it is really good! So we'll see! haha

There was an earthquake this week. It was not super strong where we were, but we felt it shaking. It is kind of rare to have earthquakes here, especially here in the mountains, but it is kind of sketchy, because there are tons of volcanoes. And if one goes off, it is very probable that they all will. And if there is a strong earthquake, we are doomed here. hhaa all of the houses are cinderblock. I am not worried about that, and you all shouldn't be either, but we are in the ultimate days. Who knows! But really, no need to worry. And it has been 6 years since an actual erruption that caused problems

This week was good! We now have 4 investigators with baptism dates, 3 for this month. And they are ready. It is exciting to work with people when you can see the change in their lives :) Like one of them was recently separated from her husband and that was really hard for her. But then we started visiting her and teaching her. And she has said that she feels a lot more peaceful now. And another family that is her friend that are less active that we are working with have told us that she is a lot happier now since she has recieved the gospel :) Moments like those are awesome. There is not a feeling like it. 

I have to go now, but I love you all and thank you for everything!

Leave your nets and feed His sheep.

Elder Parker