Apparently birthdays are a big deal in Talara

I think I still have egg in my hair....seriously. Alright here`s the story:

Thursday (day before my bday): I honestly wasn`t expecting anything but given that we were headed to district meeting with a bunch of borderline-immature elders, I should`ve known. After our meeting Hna Richan and Hna Valdez brought out a -- cake? Nope. About 30 eggs painted with Happy Birthday Hna Parks! I knew those were all going on my head....sure enough after the zone picture, I was attacked. SO MUCH EGG in my hair, on my shirt, everywhere oh my goodness. I can still smell it, haha. AND they brought a cake. I was spoiled! 

The next day I woke up to a feliz cumpleanos sign made by my sweet comp, chocolate, a pic of us, a handwritten note from her in ENGLISH -- go hna ruiz!, and an accordion-type sticky note thing signed by 40 members and missionaries! Seriously! She went way overboard. I have the most thoughtful companion. Feelin` the love! It was a normal proselyting day until the night when ¨we had an appointment with Eda and Joel¨ (yeah right. I knew they were planning something, haha) Sure enough, all my favorite people were there waiting for me with a beautiful cake! Martin, Celina, la familia Rosales, hna liliana, Eda, Joel, leslye, richardson, rosemery, and mercedes! Seriously I am surrounded by the greatest family here in Talara. 

AND THEN RICHARDSON ROSALES SMASHED ANOTHER EGG ON MY HEAD AS WE WERE LEAVING. 

Stinker. I was so mad, haha. In all, I`ve used a whole bottle of shampoo in a single week and I think my clothes are forever ruined, but honestly it was the best birthday. I just felt so grateful this week -- for the people God has put in my life especially my family and 20 awesome years. So grateful I`ve spent almost 1 of those 20 as a missionary. 

And oh my goodness this better not be my last email from Talara....but it probably is :( 

Here`s what I wrote to President today:

¨Honestly it has been a miracle for me watching Villa Talara progress from when I arrived in January. Weekly planning brought me to tears more than once during my transfer with Hna Shumway -- tears of frustration as we didn`t see anyone progress, difficulty finding those prepared, lack of member support, etc. But the past couple weeks of weekly planning has been SO drastically different. It`s filled with exciting plans as we work with our several progressing investigators, we`ve been able to baptize every other week this transfer, we`re finding new people who are willing to come to church, the members are more supportive, and our branch council has improved a ton. The Lord has truly blessed us. It is a testimony to me that we must do ALL that we can within our abilities, and then we can ¨permanecer tranquilos¨ (DyC 123) knowing that God will send his tender mercies.

I also feel like I`ve changed a lot here in Talara too. I`ve learned about selflessness. Whenever I`m stressed or down, I pull out a piece of paper and make 3 columns. Person / What do they need? / and plan. Then I write down anyone on my mind -- investigator, less active, convert, member, etc and I think of what they need or what they lack in their progression and what we can do to help them come unto Christ. It calms me every time; it helps me to love these people and forget about myself. 

I`m willing to go wherever The Lord needs me and with whomever He needs me this upcoming transfer.¨ 

Here`s to likely my last week here in wonderful Talara! Marcia`s baptism is this Sunday, we are so very excited for her. Her parents, Martin and Celina, are making headway on their documents to get married.

Love,

Hermana Parks

 

32 eggs.  Happy Birthday from Peru.

How cute is Hna Ruiz??? Seriously. She totally spoiled me. 

Hna Ruiz getting stuck in the door...ok that was pretty funny. And Hna Susana made me one of my fav dishes for lunch on my bday! 

the Elders are behind me getting the OTHER eggs they had brought ready. 

Hna Juana`s CUTEST grandbaby 

 

a few pics from my surprise get-together hosted by sweet Hna Eda! 

 

May 16, 2016



 Woo hoo! Joel has (almost) become a member of Christ`s church! (He`ll be confirmed next week in sacrament meeting since he was baptized after church yesterday) Man, it`s been such a blessing to be a part of his conversion. He said that in his baptismal interview he got really emotional opening up to Elder Cruz about his life before the gospel and the changes he has made... I mentioned that Elder Cruz could baptize him (even though he had just met him) if he wanted and he was like YES! So 90-pound Elder Cruz baptized Joel, and almost went down in the water with him haha. Seriously, it was an awesome baptismal service. The room was full. Now we`ll be focusing on helping Eda (his mom) progress towards baptism, she wants to be baptized in June but she`s SO prepared .. I think it will be sooner. And if any of my fellow Peruvians know of a single girl between 25-35 looking to go to the temple, we`re looking for references for Joel, haha. 

Other notable events this week:

I had an exchange with Hermana Arce from Lima in our area. She`s got 3 weeks in the field but ready to work! It`s always great having exchanges with newbies, they are ready to jump in headfirst -- contact everyone, teach everyone, and be obedient! It`s a great example for us viejitos of the mission (I TURNED 11 MONTHS OLD TODAY WHAT IS LIFE) Also I like intercambios in a way because I don`t have my companion to consult about plans, so I consult more earnestly with the Lord. While planning that night with Hna Arce, I was trying to decide which Futuros we should visit the next day to find new investigators .. and a name stood out to me distinctly. It`s like I was pulled to this name..Blanca Alicia. When Hna Ruiz and I passed by the next day, we didn`t find Blanca but we found her nephew Leo who listened to missionaries in Lima last year and wants to learn more and go to church! Woo hoo! I know that The Lord guides us to where we need to be, when we need to be there. We just have to have ears to hear and a heart to feel the revelation he has in store for us. 

Multi-zone conf was great -- our musical number was awesome, just saying. I found an arrangement of I`ll go where you want me to go and we have some good voices in our zone. President loved it! 

Now that I look back, there were a ton of miracles and answered prayers this week. We`ve been trying to find new investigators through members and accidentally -- mejor dicho, by the Spirit -- knocked on a member`s door not knowing a member lived there and found 2 family members who aren`t members but willing to go to church and want to be baptized, especially Jonathan who`s 19. We`re excited to go back.

AND, we were finally able to contact one of the sisters` investigators that they were teaching a couple months ago (right at the moment when I was about to give up trying to contact her). Her name is Tania, she`s 22 and attending church in Negritos where her boyfriend lives!! She expressed to us how she has felt in church -- a desire to be good, stop drinking, learn more, and go every week for the rest of her life! She is wonderful, seriously. After teaching The Restoration she said she wants to be baptized in June -- the only tough part is meeting with her given her crazy work and study schedule. 

Phew! So many blessings. So many tender mercies. The mission life is the best. I often feel emotionally and spiritually exhausted along with my sore feet at the end of the week on Sunday night, but the next day my spiritual and physical battery gets re-charged automatically because I have been set apart with power and authority to proclaim this message! It`s the best.

Love,

Hermana Parks 

 Family history with Francisco (recent convert) and his fam! Also featuring Hermanita Arce from Lima -- this is her first transfer in the field, her area is in Sullana, super nice! 

 decorated my wall .. and pic before leaving the apartment -- sunscreen check, water check, BOM`s, vamos! 

pics with palm trees, por que no?

 

Hermana Liliana -- the most kind, patient, faithful, and supportive member. I love her!!!! 

Pic of the zone at multi-zone conf and with our new Austrailian friend Hermana Raeside! Her and her husband are the mental health doctors for 32 missions in south america and came to teach us how to control stress. super helpful! 

Noche de hogar with sweet Hna Juana and her family! (with Eda, Joel, and Juana`s less-active kids and nonmember cousin)

Joel`s family and Elder Cruz who baptized him! 

Joel`s baptism!!

Mother's Day post!

Christine's pops here, the daddy blogger.  Hijacking the blog this week.  Hna Parks sent an email, see below.  Knowing that future missionaries and their families might find this blog and read about her experiences, I am including one post from her family after speaking with her yesterday.

Here is the update, sports fans...

She is a happy misionera.  We spoke with her via Skype, with a good connection so were able to see and hear much better than our Christmas conversation.  She apparently researched broadband options and was in the home of investigators (Joel y Eda) where the connection was perfect.  Her face is sun-drenched with permasmile, and her long brown hair is as cute as ever.  Hna Ruiz was awesome!  She speaks like a typical Bonaerense (she's from Buenos Aires) with beautiful intonation and rhythm.  These girls could be sisters.  At the moment, Christine's greatest fear is being transferred from Talara.

We also spoke briefly with Joel.  I never imagined that I would speak with one of my daughter's current investigators just a few days before his baptism from thousands of miles away.  We live in a fun time in the history of the gospel.

Here is our (wife Tracey and my) take on having our offspring on a mission.  We grossly underestimated the happiness we would feel and overestimated the longing to have her home.  Sure, I'd love to give her a hug, see her hold an Arabesque, or enjoy hearing her play Claire de Lune on a Sunday evening with her graceful yet lightning quick movements on the keys.  Yet I find myself wanting nothing more than to watch her thrive as a missionary in Peru.

Many blessings for the family of the missionary.

--Hno. Parks the daddy blogger

A few photos for this week:

 FHE with Presidente Aguilar and his fam and the sister leaders at consejo de lideres! 

 With President and his wife!...not sure why I´m awkwardly to the side, ha. And sweet Hna Howell! 

 Mother´s Day fest in Talara! With mama Celina and mama Eda :) 

 Mother´s day lunch with familia eche -- and us with mama eda for our skype! 

 us hiking the ¨mountain¨! 

 Me and cute Hna Spainhower...it was a little windy, haha. And Hna Ruiz and I made mother´s day cards for our mamas de villa talara! 

when I get tired of holding it, the BOM goes on my head, ha. 

example A of the virgin statues all over the place, ha 

 

 Sunset

and yes in fact you can fit 4 hermanas in a moto taxi

Family!!! So awesome seeing your cute faces yesterday. It was honestly weird speaking in English, and I ran out of things to say, haha. But I love you all so so so much! I didn´t even recognize Seth´s voice -- so low, haha and Rach looks like a full-on teenager! Crazy how time flies. 

It was half depressing knowing that that was the last time I´ll see you guys before it´s in person. The mission is way too fast -- it´s not fair. 

Anyways, not much to say this week. Walked a lot, ate a lot of rice, and went to Piura for leadership council! This council´s topic was about the power of prayer (for us personally, our companionships, and our investigators) and teaching the role of the Spirit in the first lesson. A survey the mission did said that most missionaries have forgotten to pray on their knees with investigators, inviting the head of the family to say the prayer, in the first lesson. So we repented, and we´re going to be implementing that from now on. 

Hna Ruiz and I presented on this topic for zone meeting. We started out talking about what brought us here on the mission -- or better said, what brought about the Restoration of the gospel. If you think about it, this all came about because a young boy knelt in prayer in a forest and asked God a question. He did it humbly, and on his knees. What kind of miracles could we see in our missions (and our lives) if we kneel humbly and often in prayer seeking the will of God? Lots and lots. 

Then we knelt in prayer as a zone seeking revelation for the questions we had brought to the meeting. 

It was so cool.

Love you all,

Hermana Parks

The update from Talara: Elizabeth's baptism









For the record I never, ever, EVER want to leave Talara! Transfers are still a month away but I´m already getting anxiety -- I have the best area filled with the best people and with the best companion! 

Saturday was Ellie´s baptism!!!!! It was so beautiful. Seriously. I was SO happy with the support we received from the branch. Almost all the young women were there along with the branch presidency and other leaders and missionaries. My heart was full seeing that room filled! Ellie was very excited and even bore her testimony afterwards. The funny part was while she was changing and everyone was writing notes of congratulations to her and the suddenly THE POWER WENT OUT! Seriously it was pitch black in there. We ended up finishing the service with phone lights, ha! The funniest part though is that we had already picked Jesus es mi luz for the closing hymn. Just imagine -- pitch black room, all of us singing Jesus is my light with all the energy we had, it was awesome! 

On Friday we spent the morning with Hna Celina helping her for her parrillada! A parrillada is where you make a BBQ type dish and sell it to raise money then deliver them. We cut about 987 potatoes -- it was so fun to help them out! La familia Roman is progressing so well - they are keeping all the commandments even if it means walking to church with their 4 kids because they don´t have enough money or paying their meager fast offering. My favorite part of this whole week was on Saturday kneeling in a circle on their dirt floor with the whole family to start their fast. They are so wonderful!! Then today they did another activity for our zone -- Juanes! A food from la selva. We all loved it! 

I had an exchange with Hna Richan this week! My 3rd exchange with her, ha! I love that girl. We basically talked the whole time about HOW STINKING FAST time goes by and how we need to enjoy every single day!!! HnaRichan is a wonderful example of diligence and charity -- always teaching me something! 

We did divisions twice this week with members! We have a new secret weapon!!! Her name is Rosemary Eche and she just got home from her mission in Bolivia! (Taylor Pulsipher trainer her!!!!) She is one of the sweetest people ever and is helping us out a ton! 

This week we had a cool experience with 2 new investigators, Levi and Katherine. Levi is 18 but already has a baby and is going through a lot of problems with his girlfriend. When he walked in the room and saw us there with his mom he rushed over and began to seek help and guidance for what he´s going through. You could see in his eyes his desire to repent and start fresh. It was one of my favorite lessons I´ve ever taught -- we taught of repentance and baptism and The Restoration of the gospel. The whole time I was thinking about HOW this message can bless Levi and help him get through this trial. I realized that I need to have the same kind of love, concern, and concentration with EVERY person we teach, according to their specific needs. 

We all have the desperate need to repent in our lives. We all owe an incredible debt to our Savior Jesus Christ. But the beauty of this message is that we can ALL repent and thanks to His sacrifice, we can be clean. 

Family, I can´t wait to talk to you on Sunday!!!!!! Especially you, mama! 

Love,

hermana parks

 

 

 

Ellie's baptism!

helping out with the parrillada for la familia roman! cutting potatoes

 

one more from the baptism! Presidente Eche (district president) baptized Ellie. 

eda, joel, hno martin, and celina with la familia rosales for FHE! 

all the zone eating juanes -- it´s a food from the jungle made by hna Celina for her activity to raise money for their wedding!