Mexico Pachuca - Week 46 - September 29, 2014

(Excerpts from his email)

Thanks for the story mom its something president has been teaching us too a lot here. We have to do everything we can first to obligate the lord to bless us. Like the scripture in doctrine and covenants i the lord am obligated when ye do what i say. He has been teaching us that when we do everything literally every little thing we can the lord with open doors and we will see the miracles. Well this week was pretty good. We had a baptism that was interesting but awesome. The water in the font was like super green and nasty but the baptism went great. Then this Sunday a 70 came to the ward and spoke in all the parts. He spoke, gave the class in Sunday school, priesthood and ward council after. It was really cool and hopefully we can do everything that he said because it can help us a lot. 

M: What was the 70s message? And why was the baptism interesting, was that Desiree?

EP: He talked a lot about being stronger personally and in families to help the ward be stronger as a whole. In Sunday school he said everyone should be brother or sister NOE. that means every member should have Noche de hogar (family home evening) Oraciones familiares (family prayers) and Estudiar las escrituras como familia (family scripture study) He talked a lot about things we can do to have better chapel attendance and just better everything haha. The coolest thing though was how much he referred to the general authorities. Like oh this apostle said this or this apostle did this it was super cool. One thing he shared in priesthood was that an apostle said in the first vision Jesus said to Joseph Smith “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Referring to the other churches, but now the Lord has revealed that this is referring to Melchizedek priesthood holders. That we can say and do a lot of things but we need to do them from the heart and be really converted to what we do. Overall it was super cool and i learned a lot.

Yea she’s Desiree. The water was nasty for one and there was like 10 people there. Not what we hoped but it was great. Baptisms are always awesome you can feel the spirit and she was super happy. Even with cold green water haha. 

M: I am glad that the baptism happened and she looks really happy. I am hopeful for her and I hope that her family will support her as well as the ward. I think it is great that the attendance in church is up to 70, from 50. That's great improvement and something that I have been praying for. Dad always says that we have to celebrate the little successes and adding 20 more to church attendance is great!

EP: Ya we are hoping too. This week was 60 haha so down a bit and about 10 of them were from the stake not even part of the ward but we will see. We want to have an activity to hopefully help. We want to do a family home evening bon fire haha. 

M: Is that why president was at your place this week. Hermana Egbert sent me the picture of you and president and your companion. Are you wearing your contacts again? Why does that rule suck, do you think you would have done more? A family home evening would be fun and a non-threatening way to get people out.

EP: no he went to the ward kind of close and they came by to drop off that stuff for us. Yes I am wearing contacts because i like them better. It’s hard with glasses and rain haha. I would like to baptize all my investigators haha. Ya just a short message and then just having everyone come and hang out have fun play games charades or stuff like that. i have been thinking about that too, inviting everyone to read the book of Mormon but we will see. i gtg love you guys talk to you in a week. have a great week. 

Love, 
Elder Park

Mexico Pachuca - Week 45 - September 22, 2014

(Excerpts from his email)

I think the story this week was just i had divisions with another elder elder Ellis and they went super good. We had some super good lessons but the most important was that we got Desiree ready to get baptized. She’s gonna get baptized this Friday as long as there aren’t any last minute problems. We’re praying that there isn’t. Also we had a lesson with Faustino and it was weird. We had a good lesson but he was like super reluctant to get baptized. We didn’t really know why but he’s been that way for like a week or so now. So i have been thinking about it a lot. I don’t know why but i had a feeling it was his family. When i talked to his aunty who is a member she told me that his other family has been telling him some things about the Mormon Church like when Mormons die they take out your eyes and weird stuff like that. I have no idea how they got that idea but were just gonna talk to his brother really good and hopefully clear up any problems. I think with more support from his family he can also get baptized really soon. 

M: Very cool son, the work is progressing. Who are these two investigators, did you tell me about them before?

EP: Desiree is the little girl i think i told you about her not sure. And the other is Faustino, his aunty is a member and he goes to church with her now. Ya things are going pretty good.

M: Nope I don't think you told me about Desiree, unless she is the one that her older siblings go to church and her dad was kind of against it?!?!

Sometimes people say things about the church because they don't understand. It's easier to try to make us look crazy than to try to understand what the gospel is really about. You just have to have a one on one with him and tell him to put everything on the table, all his fears and doubts and try to answer them as best as you can. Then encourage him to pray about it and see what he gets and how he feels. It will be nice for you to have a baptism before you leave that area. But planting is always good too.

 How are the hair stylists and shoe people coming along? And the little boy and his grandmother?

EP: ya that’s Desiree haha. Hair people haha ya we don’t talk to them any more. Shoe people don’t work there any more so we haven’t found them and the boy and grandma are doing good. The boy came to church this Sunday so that was awesome. The picture of the girl with cake on her face is an investigator. Her family is super cool. She has 3 sisters. Two are members and her and her other sister aren’t. The two sisters that aren’t members had birthdays this week so we ate good haha. It’s like tradition here that after you blow out the candles you have to bite you’re cake but if you aren’t fast enough someone shoves your face in it. It’s awesome. Tell ty and all the kids that when i get home we’re starting that tradition. 

M: So are you teaching both sisters? That seems like a large family, are there parents? Do they all live in the same house? It is very kind of them to feed you guys. Is anyone ever fast enough to not get their face slammed into the cake? I'm sure if you started that here your uncles would some how make it very dangerous!

EP: were teaching both sisters and the mom kinda and their cousin. It’s a little harder cause they know everything already so were focusing on the book of Mormon and reading with them. ya they all live in the same house. Haha all the parties I’ve seen have ended with cake in the face. It’s the best part of the party though.

M: It's good that you are teaching the families. If they know everything, what is stopping them from baptism?

EP: the biggest thing is that their sisters are members and they know a lot of the problems in the ward. They know how the members act. They also say they have a different church but i don’t think that’s super true. They don’t even go to the other church or anything i don’t know i think i might just have to be really direct with them and find out what the real problem is. 

M: Yes, sometimes trying to get to the root helps and honesty is the best way. I would also remind them that the gospel is true and perfect, unfortunately sometimes we as members are not. We have faults and make wrong choices but that's why we are here on earth, to learn and grow and become better.

EP: yeah we’ve talked about that a lot. Haha its ok but ya i think were gonna go but i will talk to you in a week. Love you guys. 

Love,
Elder Park

Mexico Pachuca - Week 44 - September 15, 2014

(Excerpts from his email)

hey mom i know, it feels like we haven’t talked in a while but today is a little more mellow. sounds good about everything at home. This week was good and bad. The activity went great it was super cool and a bunch of people came but then no one came to church. Literally we had less than 50 people come. It was just like what is going on but life goes on. Gotta keep working and hope more people come next week. 

M: Well son, sometimes it is easier for people to come to the activities, church is still little bit scary, baby steps. Activities and then one day they will come to church. Keep working and inviting them and they will make the change. What did you make for the party?

EP: I made broken glass jello. green white and red 

M: The picture of you and the boy is too cute! I'm glad you found the jello. Looks like it was pretty good at least there seemed to be nothing left. How are your investigators other than they don't come to church?

EP: investigators are pretty good other than they don’t come to church. This week we met a new investigator named Armando and his grandma. They are really cool and could progress fairly quickly. Armando has a lot of problems at school. His grandma is really worried about him because he’s just a little rebellious and stuff but he’s a good kid. He has had a lot of family problems and now he’s just a little lost. We talked to him a lot and he came with us to the activity on Friday. He liked it i think and has opened up to us but didn’t come to church on Sunday because apparently he had a lot of homework. We also brought a kid with us to church on Sunday. He’s the cousin of some members and so we went to pick him up to go to church. I was playing with him and was like hey you wana go to church tomorrow and he was like ya. Then i said awesome we will pick you up at 930 and he was like aw that’s pretty early. I told him we were gonna come and if he was still sleeping i would punch him and wake him up (just playing of course) and then the next morning he came with us bright and early. His cousins said he was like o man i gotta get up or the elder is gonna punch me haha. he’s super cool and we will see what happens. He really likes church even though he was basically the only one in primary and says he wants to go again this Sunday.

M: Seems like there is a lot of work to do out there. I am glad that you are finding people. We will keep praying that they will not only listen to your messages, but that they will feel an overwhelming desire to go to church on Sunday. So how old are these kids, Armando and the other boy? Is it common for you guys to teach so many young ones?

EP: Armando is like 13 and the other boy is like 9. before i didn’t teach a lot of younger people but here i am. mostly like teenagers who have family that are members. 

gotta go talk to you in a week love you guys

Love,
Elder Park

Mexico Pachuca - Week 43 - September 8, 2014

(Excerpts from his email)

hey mom i'm gonna email later but this week is mexican independence and were having a party in the chapel and i want to make red white and green broken glass jello can you send me the recipe for the white part please.

Broken Glass Jello

4 small boxes (3 oz. each)  or 2 large boxes (6 oz. each) of Jell-O or store brand gelatin  
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin  
Water

Dissolve each small box of jello in one cup boiling water - large boxes each get two 
Chill at least three hours, until firm.  I left them in the refrigerator overnight.  
After chilling all of the flavors, cut them into small blocks.
Carefully mix up the cubes of jello in a 9"x13" pan, using your hands to gently toss the colors together.

In a separate bowl (larger than the first one I have pictured) measure 1/2 cup cold water.  Sprinkle 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin on top.  Let the gelatin "bloom" or thicken for a few minutes, and add 1 1/2  (one and a half) cups boiling water and dissolve.
Add the can of condensed milk. Stir and allow to cool to room temperature.
Pour cooled milk mixture over jello. If the milk gelatin isn't cool enough, it will cause the colors to run.  

thanks i found that but i couldn't find unflavored jello here. i gotta look again later maybe or i found vanilla jello but you make it with milk instead so i don't know if that will work. sorry we will probably be on a little later cause today was crazy. we are helping out with an activity this friday and we have been helping take people, investigators, to the chapel because they are going to have dance practice. We should be on later but if not a few things from the week. I tried real wild honey and it is so good. i now understand duck dynasty and why they went through all that trouble to get the honey, i would also do all that. haha it is insanely good. also yesterday we had a crazy experience. we were visiting some people with the young women's presidente to invite them to the activity and we just happened to be walking and we found an investigator in the street. his daughter is 12 so she can participate with the young women and we invited them and she was super excited. we just dropped her and her cousin off at the chapel to practice the dance they are going to do. it really was a miracle we just happened to find them in the street but it was a cool experience to know the Lord puts people in your path when they're ready. hopefully i will be on again in an hour if not i love you.

Love, 
Elder Park

Mexico Pachuca - Week 42 - September 1, 2014

(Excerpts from his email)
no changes so me and my companion are gonna be staying here for at least one more cycle. investigators are going ok. we got a couple pretty good ones but the biggest challenge is getting them to church. we found some new people. haha the people that cut our hair this Monday and the people that sold my comp his new shoes haha. we taught them a couple times and we will see if they can progress. but my companion isn’t the only one who needs new shoes haha. 

M: That's great, that means that you are talking to people no matter what!
Okay, so do you want us to order you the same shoes from Mr. Macs, I think they have a record of the shoe and size. Can you wait a couple weeks to a month?
Are you good with another cycle in the same area?
Why is it hard to get people to come to church?

EP: haha no I’m just gonna buy shoes here don’t worry about it. i think I’m still gonna work in these while I’m here in Xico and buy a nice pair of shoes to go to church. 
I’m good with another cycle here. i really like it a lot.
I don’t know they just don’t show up. we ask them if they’re gonna come and they’re like ya and then they don’t. We go to their houses in the morning and they don’t answer or they say they can’t and its just like ugh.

M: Are their decent shoes there? Will they last?

EP: haha ya i will get some good shoes here. the ones i got from home didn’t last very long either.

M: A story please!

EP: um story. well i guess something really cool is you never know who could be interested in listening to the gospel. like i said the new people we found were the ladies that cut our hair and sold us the shoes. when we were cutting our hair we were just talking: like who we are, what we do and all that good stuff. I really didn’t think much of it but when we went back they told us we could come in and talk to them. Then one of the ladies was like ya i don’t know why but when you guys were talking i just was interested. Normally with this kind of stuff I don’t really like to talk about religion but i was interested when you told us what you do. Then after church Sunday we were walking home and a little boy whose mom works next door to us asked us where we went. We said church and i was just like you wana come with us one time and he was like ya. I was like wow ok we will talk to your mom this week and see what we can do. It’s crazy how people notice us sometimes and that we really are different and that can open doors to share the gospel. so i would say share the gospel with everyone, you never know who might be interested. oh also we went to talk with the people that sold us the shoes and they were super cool. then that night when we were walking home we saw one of them outside a bar with her sister and she called us over and was like hey remember me. we talked a little and she was like oh this is my sister she works here go and visit her too one day. so it was a pretty cool week. 

M: Very cool son, thank you for that. It just means that the Lord is preparing people that you will meet to want to hear the gospel. There is still plenty of work for you to do in that area and so another blessing that you get to stay and tend to the seeds that have been planted. How is the little girl who wanted to be baptized coming along?

EP: she’s good she wants to but her dad is kinda against it still but he’s going to Cancun so we will see what happens. haha we haven’t seen them in a while but we definitely gotta go back soon. 
you guys gotta listen to this music it’s a cd called "the work: a Nashville tribute to missionaries" its pretty good and it has some super cool songs haha. i gotta go talk to you guys in a week love you

Love,
Elder Park