Messages

 It is -5 and a gross blizzard outside. Yesterday it was a nice 55 degrees. the weather makes no sense. I'm lucky to be in one of the warmest areas in the mission that is for sure though.

I am determined to write every week of the mish, MTC excluded.

I will be here next transfer pretty much 100%. I was messaging president earlier. Sadly he said there are no new elders coming in this transfer so we can't train...looks like it's just gonna be us again which is good but I want another person too. President was just taking us up a bunch and he is good about listening to what we want and every time I ask for something, he does it. If you're a good missionary with success following you are not gonna be treated like a kid and president wants you to be happy. So, say I wanna serve on a reservation, chances are he will put me where i want. Of course, if revelation abides. Or if he needs a good missionary in another area to help.

Our possible baptisms are all solid but Elizabeth Denton will 100% be baptized on March 6th. She is the one who posted the thing that was on my email. She is so ready for the gospel. Nothing gets in her way. She is broke and has to take care of 2 kids and we taught her about tithing and she says stuff like, "I get to work overtime today which means my tithing will be bigger for god!" She also asked if she is aloud to each chocolate, ha. We did nothing but it was all the Spirit.

I Talk to Myself Everyday, But I never Listen

 What's good everyone? This week was pushing mad P. I heard that was new slang from the football players. Still don't know if they are just trying to have us say things that sound dumb or not haha. They make this area. We plan on getting let into the student dorms and knocking them with one of them. That will be really fun. Yesterday we knocked on some guys who we could hear were playing a game. I'm thinking super smash bros or something. Nope just beer pong which is pretty sad because their life could be so much happier, especially 20 years down the road. Anyways Elder Kroff goes, "That's cool, I have played it with soda before". They were not interested. After we were knocking doors right above them and one friend asked the other what he said. "he said he's played it with soda." His friend said, "Ha, he really said that, what a nerd." It was pretty funny. Anyways this week was full of success... Out here breaking records for the zone and my personal record of 12 new people to teach this week. That is really good for this mission. This area was basically abandoned for almost 3 years because of Covid. Everyone just did Facebook and some other stuff so when we came in and knocked everything we have found great success but I feel bad for the missionaries who will come after us ha. We have 1 more apartment building in Spearfish we are saving for the negatives this week. We also have 3 people who will hopefully be getting baptized in March. For sure one of them though. For the others it's a matter of how fast they stop smoking, but they have done it before and are looking good so far. Someone I talked about a bit ago, you probably don't remember named Adam. We have been trying to get him when he is home but the other night we were knocking on his door when we saw his car drive up as he slows down and then keeps driving. Ha people are so scared of us its funny. It was dark so we decided to have a stake out. We thought we saw him running on all fours to his house but sadly just a cat. We also went on another hike you will see in the video, most likely next week, with someone I talked to in a grocery store which was sweet. Last night we had a 17 year old pimp come with us to a lesson but she wasn't home so made him knock a trailer park with us and we had 2 families and a solo guy let us in and were down within like 7 houses so that was good for him to see as he prepares for his mission. Sadly transfers are next week but I'm going to tell president to keep me here cause this ward and area is like home now. He also told me I will train so I might have a kid next transfer! It is crazy how much you really get to know the areas you serve. For some reason I never thought of it but you really meet the community and know all the areas like you have lived there for 5 years. 

I Was reading through some more Alma this week and chapter 24 hit me hard. This is right when Aaron converts King Lamoni's father with the help of Ammon earlier on. They preach and convert lots of cities of the Lamanites. They then named themselves the Anti Nephi Lehies. Then the Lamanites who were the Amalekites and the Amulonites go and attack the newly converted people but the Anti Nephi Lehies buried all their weapons for God. They had repented for the blood they had shed and don't want to do it again. So then the Lamanites pull up on em and just start slaying them as they give thanks to God. Verses 26 and 27 state, "And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people." 1005 people were killed which God let happen so in return more can be converted and have the chance to die in the state of mind that the Anti Nephi Lehies did. Pretty cool right. Anyways, lift up your heads and have a great week everyone!

My hands are frozen - Elder Parker

Messages

 I will get the piano song for you all when it's done. It's sooo hard. It will take more time. I'm only playing the first 4 out of 6 pages and the end is the hardest. I am going it all off of sight reading now so this is sick.

Yoyo is a fun hobby to have on the mish.

Her grandma is good and takes her to church. Sadly her home life not so much. She will have a good leader and she has lots of friends in youth. She will make it!!

Ran out of yeast, can't make egg. What to do???

 And it came to pass, that someone we are teaching wants to marry me. Therefore we teach no more. What is up guys! Sadly that statement is true. Sometimes when you and your companion look too good, natural seduction takes place. So we passed them to the sisters which pains me cause I hate giving the sisters anyone unless we have to. Anyways this week has been another meritorious one. Check that out, Big word for Big brain. Today we crashed another district's P-day, as usual, in Rapid City, going ice skating. Man I was the worst one by a landslide. It was pretty funny but by the end I looked like lightning McQueen if Kevin Hart was driving him on ice. This week the DL's came and blitzed our area so they both came and worked in my area. Regardless of what they say they really just wanted to go to spearfish ha. Why you ask. Because spearfish is sick! You know what else is sick? Yesterday we put another person on date for March 5th who WILL BE BAPTIZED. We had a whole family use their amazing agency and came to church as well. Three of the homies at BH spoke and Brother Krums son spoke on families. It was probably my favorite sacrament meeting I have ever been to. So after we showed the family the baptismal font. BOOM wants to be baptized. Sadly just a little thing called the law of Chastity keeping them from it but they are getting married in September so we will force them to move that up. Also Another person getting baptized on March 12 told us his plan to stop smoking before we even taught him the commandments. Miracles all around to say the least. Anyways nothing too crazy happened this week except I killed a cat. nah just playing but I did happen to watch the super bowl ha. You see the plan was to go tracting during it and act clueless that it was that night and be like, " oh what no way do you mind if we watch it with you?' Genius, right? Definitely not a waste of time but a good game to say the least. Anyways I gotta get sprinting.... BECAUSE I DON'T RUN, I just sprint. But before I do Imma share a quick piece of advice I learned while reading through Alma. Remember that guy Zeezrom? That one dude who is the reason we have like 15 verses of them flexing how much an onti is worth. Yeah don't be that guy! Because if you know the gospel is true It is true in 20 years, 40 years and on. Nothing will change that. So just like Zeezrom learned the truth, help others around you to do the same. Don't be afraid to invite your co-worker to church or else they will pull up on you after this life saying hey man why didn't you offer me all of this then? Think about that.

May the Spirit be with you - Elder Parker

Milk....Does it Really Come From Cows?

 No really, think about it…. 

Out here with that runecrafting lvl 99 performing exorcisms on candles and confirming people with the Holy Ghost. This week has been full of weird things. Ha I don't even know where to start. Actually, Let's start with today. We have been in Rapid City all day playing pickleball, basketball and dinking around as usual and finished the night with some good ole tracting. Found one guy who was super sick and down to go to church and was very receptive to the resto and another that gave us his number and wanted us to come back. Today when I was in Rapid, I realized that literally no one even emails home. Just don't care about the homies that got to be uplifted by the ridiculous life of a missionary. That just shows how totally rad all of you reading are ha. While tracting this week we met one guy named Adam who opened the door and was blasting Hurt by Johnny cash. He said he sold his soul already and we just stood there confused. He proceeds to tell us, "one second guys" turned the music off and invited us in. Adam graduated with a bachelors in biology and is now working at a factory and watching over his about to pass away mom and her 4 cats. Needless to say he was very depressed and seemed suicidal to me. We started talking about the Book of Mormon and stuff and he was just like idk I've always thought the whole story of the guy digging them up and stuff was funny. We continue talking and he just stops us and asks for a hug so I hug him. After he said please come back again and when we walked by his house later he was dancing in the living room haha. Another cool story while we where in Newell teaching a family who will hopefully be coming to church this Sunday. I received a text from someone else we are teaching in Newell saying they have a very important question and she needs us to call. So we call and she says her neighbor practices witchcraft and gave her some cursed candle that her friend accidentally lit. So we go over take the candle and leave a blessing on the home with the priesthood power. I said 4 prayers during this exchange. One in the car. One walking up to the house to know if there really is a evil presence when I walk in. Didn't feel anything. One while my companion was talking to help me know if I am actually doing anything when I pray. And the fourth being the one out loud with everyone. Got the chills pretty hard during that one. Still don't know if there was actually something bad associated with that candle but they texted the next morning that they heard screaming outside their window in the middle of the night and as soon as they opened their front door it stopped and nothing was out there. If there was something bad and we cast it out it would go to the closest place that would accept it, being probably her neighbor. So still in the area or they are all just tripping because I didn't feel anything too strongly. Regardless, a cool experience. Also, I got my first Baptism!!! She got baptized on Saturday and turned 10 the next day. She was so excited and told us she feels like the Holy Ghost is sitting right next to her. Also got to help confirm her and help with 2 baby blessing at church which was my first time so that was good. Anyways I am about to pass out 😴. Read your book of Mormon! Don't be stupid enough to let the business of life take that from you. Pray in the morning and tell your Father in Heaven I am sacrificing my time to read this, bless me that I will have the time to complete whatever tasks you need to do and you will have time to do so. I am in the beginning of Alma now reading through my triple. Love every second of it. Anyways take it easy everyone.

Sent by your huge 167 pound Elder Parker

Next week I got you with a video but this week just some epic Magic pics. And yes I destroyed running goblins that I definitely want to build when I get back for those this applies too. Got that whole family to church off of Elder Kroff some how pulling the dub against me at the end because someone else was running jace and I had 3 cards and he had 4 left in library 🤧. But because he won they had to come.