(Excerpts from his email)
Hey mom how’s everything going. Hope everything’s good in Vegas. Just some things i want to share. i was reading Lehi’s dream in 1 Nephi 8 and verse 12 says after he tried the fruit he was filled with joy and wanted his whole family to partake of the fruit as well. I was thinking about my patriarchal blessing and what dad said about being family of Nephi and Lehi and how i am teaching family here. It was cool haha. I do have changes tomorrow so i will be some where else after tomorrow.
M: Yes, I remember that from your blessing, I wondered if it meant you would be teaching our ancestors or if it's more figuratively and it's because you are from the same lineage. But, whatever it may be, it's still family in some way and I know you have caught the feelings and desires Lehi had where he wanted so badly for his family to partake. It is pretty cool.
So how's about a mission story! What are you taking away from this area since you will be transferring?
EP: I am taking away a lot of amazing memories. I feel like in this area I was able to help a lot of people make a lot of changes. Mainly in Jorge and Amaya our last two baptisms. They are amazing. We continue to talk to Hermana Martha the wife of Jorge and the way he has changed his life is amazing. remind me to tell you guys about it when i get home cause its a kind of long story but its amazing sad and a little weird but amazing. Amaya also has changed a lot. She has some kind of mental problems so she kind of struggles a little bit but she has changed alot. Yesterday in church she got up in front of the gospel doctrine class and shared her ideas with the class i was like wow. When we first met her she barely talked to us and she would always get so nervous. She would shake when we asked her to read a verse of the book of Mormon but she is amazing. She goes to church on her own and loves it. a couple weeks ago on fast Sunday we visited her after and she was like wow it was super cool today i would like to go up there and share my testimony too one day. I was like wow the gospel really does and will change our lives when we let it.
M: That's great son. It is good that you see the changes in the people you teach and know for sure that you were sent there for these two in particular. I'm sure each one will hold special memories for you and a special place in your heart. So are you excited about changes, I'm anxious to know where and what comes with it.
EP: idk kinda and kinda no. changes kinda suck haha. New place, new ward, new companion everything is new you gotta start all over again but its ok.
M: Yes new things can be hard. Well son, you sound good. That's always a good thing for me. I think I am really beginning to understand that things out there are not easy, but so worth it when you see people truly change and find happiness. Please know how much we love you and pray for you always. No matter what comes, The Lord knows what's best for us so we go with faith.
EP: haha yes definitely not easy but awesome. Thank you for everything you guys do for me too. I also realize how amazing you guys have always been for me. Other missionaries have it so much harder than i do. Thank you for everything you do and always have done for me. I love you guys.
Love,
Elder Park
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Mexico Pachuca - Week 35 - July 14, 2014
Mexico Pachuca Letter #35 – July 14, 2014
(Excerpts from his email)
Elder Ortega and Elder Park have a house in Pachuca Centro that is perfect. The house is great with no leaks and it’s relatively newer in construction. This is a keeper. With all the recent rain on a daily basis we are having many issues with leaking roofs/ceilings. The missionaries through out the mission are being troopers...
M: How is America, Jorge and the young lady?
EP: America is good she went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead like last week. Jorge is awesome he just got the Aaronic priesthood and Amaya is doing good hopefully her family can get baptized soon. . Ya I’m good. Doing good mom. I gotta go were gonna play soccer again haha. But i will talk to you guys next week. Love you
Love,
Elder Park
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Mexico Pachuca - Week 34 - July 7, 2014
(Excerpts from his email)
D: Are your soccer skills getting better?
EP: my soccer skills are amazing now haha. Just kidding but I’m not that bad i know what I’m doing and can kick the ball. Some others are horrible.
M: Is it still cold in Mexico? In all the pictures on the mission blog you are usually wearing a sweater and your companion is always wearing a jacket.
Any new investigators?
EP: yea its super cold haha.
Um this week Nicole and her daughters came to church and Karla and her daughter. They both have baptismal dates for July 19 so we will see what happens. They are both awesome and hopefully they get baptized the 19th because that’s probably gonna be my last week here.
M: How come it's cold? Is it the rain? It is incredibly hot here and I hear Vegas is even worst!
EP: i don’t know but its like super cold. i always leave with a sweater and i think I’m gonna buy more cause its cold haha. When it rains its worse but i think it’s just the altitude and the wind.
M: You sound good son, in a good place.
EP: Ya I’m good things are going good right now. And were gonna go play soccer soon which is exciting haha.
M: You sound good, you look happy in all the pictures we see, the true happy smile that we love to see. If you ever have a chance to look at the smiles in the Provo temple pictures and then look at the smiles now, there is true happiness coming through and let me tell you that warms my heart. I also can tell when things are not as good and I tell myself like I tell you it's for your growth and learning.
So why is soccer so exciting? I know after that first season you played a long time ago, you never wanted to paly again. Who are you playing with?
EP: Ya I really am happy here. its not easy but its something that really does make you happy. Were playing with the zone but I gotta go talk to you guys in a week. love you
Love,
Elder Park
D: Are your soccer skills getting better?
EP: my soccer skills are amazing now haha. Just kidding but I’m not that bad i know what I’m doing and can kick the ball. Some others are horrible.
M: Is it still cold in Mexico? In all the pictures on the mission blog you are usually wearing a sweater and your companion is always wearing a jacket.
Any new investigators?
EP: yea its super cold haha.
Um this week Nicole and her daughters came to church and Karla and her daughter. They both have baptismal dates for July 19 so we will see what happens. They are both awesome and hopefully they get baptized the 19th because that’s probably gonna be my last week here.
M: How come it's cold? Is it the rain? It is incredibly hot here and I hear Vegas is even worst!
EP: i don’t know but its like super cold. i always leave with a sweater and i think I’m gonna buy more cause its cold haha. When it rains its worse but i think it’s just the altitude and the wind.
M: You sound good son, in a good place.
EP: Ya I’m good things are going good right now. And were gonna go play soccer soon which is exciting haha.
M: You sound good, you look happy in all the pictures we see, the true happy smile that we love to see. If you ever have a chance to look at the smiles in the Provo temple pictures and then look at the smiles now, there is true happiness coming through and let me tell you that warms my heart. I also can tell when things are not as good and I tell myself like I tell you it's for your growth and learning.
So why is soccer so exciting? I know after that first season you played a long time ago, you never wanted to paly again. Who are you playing with?
EP: Ya I really am happy here. its not easy but its something that really does make you happy. Were playing with the zone but I gotta go talk to you guys in a week. love you
Love,
Elder Park
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Mexico Pachuca - Week 33 - June 30, 2014
(excerpts from his email)
This week was awesome. We had two great baptisms and the changes that I could see in their lives are amazing. One of our investigators that got baptized is Jorge. He has changed so much it is awesome. His wife has been a member for a while and he was never interested and never wanted to listen to the missionaries until about 2 months ago. Since then he hasn't missed a Sunday and has been awesome. We were talking to his wife this week and she was like "wow I cant believe how my husband has changed completely." She was telling us how he tells her to get up in the afternoons so they can read the Book of Mormon, how he wakes her up Sunday mornings to get to church on time, he washes the dishes, and just is a completely different man. I was like wow that is awesome Hermana. She was super happy and bore an amazing testimony in the baptism. The icing on the cake was he got to church early Sunday morning in a suit and tie ready to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a great experience and a great thing to be a part of.
M: Wow, son, what an amazing story and a confirmation that the gospel can bring changes and happiness to families. I am excited for him and for you and hope that the change is a permanent one. I hope that the young lady finds just as much joy and peace in her baptism and that she will find comfort in the gospel. Sounds like you are doing work and it sounds like the Lord has prepared the way for you to be a part of the lives of your two new converts. Happy for you all.
What else is going on with you?
D: Don’t forget to recognize the changes in your life as you grow in the gospel. They may not be as quick (two months) but they are there. Try to think about that this week in your study. That’s why it’s a blessing for me to do these talks. Whether as a high council or yesterday. I get to reflect on these topics. How I have grown from thinking things were coincidences to how I know they are blessings from heavenly father.
This week was awesome. We had two great baptisms and the changes that I could see in their lives are amazing. One of our investigators that got baptized is Jorge. He has changed so much it is awesome. His wife has been a member for a while and he was never interested and never wanted to listen to the missionaries until about 2 months ago. Since then he hasn't missed a Sunday and has been awesome. We were talking to his wife this week and she was like "wow I cant believe how my husband has changed completely." She was telling us how he tells her to get up in the afternoons so they can read the Book of Mormon, how he wakes her up Sunday mornings to get to church on time, he washes the dishes, and just is a completely different man. I was like wow that is awesome Hermana. She was super happy and bore an amazing testimony in the baptism. The icing on the cake was he got to church early Sunday morning in a suit and tie ready to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a great experience and a great thing to be a part of.
M: Wow, son, what an amazing story and a confirmation that the gospel can bring changes and happiness to families. I am excited for him and for you and hope that the change is a permanent one. I hope that the young lady finds just as much joy and peace in her baptism and that she will find comfort in the gospel. Sounds like you are doing work and it sounds like the Lord has prepared the way for you to be a part of the lives of your two new converts. Happy for you all.
What else is going on with you?
D: Don’t forget to recognize the changes in your life as you grow in the gospel. They may not be as quick (two months) but they are there. Try to think about that this week in your study. That’s why it’s a blessing for me to do these talks. Whether as a high council or yesterday. I get to reflect on these topics. How I have grown from thinking things were coincidences to how I know they are blessings from heavenly father.
EP: Nothing much pretty normal. gotta find more people to teach now.
yes i am definitely thinking about that more now too, how coincidences aren't really coincidences. how a lot of times things just work out and its really an answer to a prayer.
D: Maybe I was a little slow, hesitant learner. I went through a few sets of missionary lessons. But it probably all paid off in the end. And I know now all the blessings that are there for us as a family.
EP: haha i think about that all the time. what the missionaries must have said after they left the house now that Iʻm a missionary and have left a bunch of houses over and over again! haha thinking nothings really happening but it is.
M: I just wanted you to know that we love you and that we are proud of you. Continue to do the work and know that every time you say something to someone you plant a seed and who knows when that seed will grow.
EP: love you guys
Love,
Elder Park
Pictures from the Mission:
Pachuca Centro Zone
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