Try to Avoid these 24 People on the 4th of July

 What is up guys?!? Hope everyone is doing well! Also, thanks for clicking on my email! This weeks weather was most legit. It started out with heavy thunderstorms which were amazing and smelled like Arizona for those that know what that smells like but I'm pretty sure I hadn't seen the rain since getting to this mission haha. Then by Saturday morning it turned into a blizzard with 8 ft. drifts. And then the sun was shining the next day. When the snow hit we weren't going to be able to do much and it was risky enough to drive anywhere in town but I really wanted to go up to Spearfish for service. So I had a "cynical feeling"-(ha get it?) and we did the smart thing and sent it in Sasuke(the equinox). Miracle that we made it there and back and didn't even get stuck. I mean don't get me wrong I have faith in our little Prius tires but it was pretty bad out there. It was a blast trying to do hay in a blizzard hahaha. But then the next day we were going to teach someone on a dirt road that was really bad and the turn onto his mile long driveway was blocked by a foot of snow. So we gave it a drive by and then decided to go for it. Ha, yeah we got stuck with no sign of us coming out. it was pretty bad. But then Sasuke started going crazy or something and somehow after 10 minutes we just magically backed out, it was so sick. Anyways today was awesome. We went down to RC with the ZL's and saw Mt. Rushmore again which is always a fun thing to do. Although it is one of those things that you just walk up and go wow and then turn around and leave but hey then can say you have seen it haha! Other than the crazy weather we had lots of good lessons, found some more new investigators and sadly no church because it was canceled. I had a good time tracting in the rain for the first time as well! I wish I had more time to write a better email but guess what. I do have a video for you today. (and the crowd goes wild) So please enjoy! 

Keep the FAITH - Elder Parker

An apple a day keeps anyone away, if you throw it hard enough!

 In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Very sad to see so many people moving away from religion because without it I would have to agree. My kings who read my emails, thank you for tapping on this one! Now I have to tell you the past 7 days have been rugged haha. It was a frigid week but I am so grateful to be in South Dakota because North Dakota got hit with a blizzard along with the cold. People were snowmobiling down the streets and lots of missionaries where snowed in for days. I heard some funny stories of people getting stuck which you can imagine haha. Anyways, transfers are tomorrow and I will be staying here in Belle Fourche as DL. That will make it 6 months here haha. We are getting a new ZL as well who was in my district while I was in Sidney Montana so i'm pretty excited about that! My last ZL is leaving in 10 days for Japan. Sad to see the king of the skinheads leave us but it is what it is. We had some sweet experiences this week but also got destroyed a lot haha. First I gotta tell you all about this gas station though. I mean the toilet paper is so nice there and the selection.... oh my it is great! No, I'm just playing. What I want to tell you about is that we are gonna convert the whole gas station. We found 1 person and gave them a church tour and when we went back to see her we found 2 workers interested. Then the other day we went in to see any 3 of them and found another person interested haha. They got Book of Mormons and honestly all of them seem pretty solid. So that was sweet! We also were knocking and found someone that is one of Mike's friends. Mike is who we do service for once a week who has the camel. He is sweet. He is a phycologist and creepily knows everything and exactly how you are feeling always. Haha he's kind of a therapist for missionaries. Anyways His friend Cody is way sick and is into producing music so when I told him I drummed he got excited. We will go over this week so that should be super mecha fire. Also guess what we got both of Elizabeth's kids on date for baptism now and we have another person we are teaching that told us she wants to be baptized as well so lots of naisu stuff going down. Also I need to tell you guys, I had a really cool opportunity this week. I went to the second funeral of the mission but it was a military graveside. The graveyard was huge and all veterans. They did the three gunshots over the casket and everything it was sweet. The man that passed was never baptized but had missionaries in his life and on his deathbed said they changed his life forever so all of the Elders in the zone were able to go to it (Sturgis SD, in case anyone is curious). We had some great lessons this week as well. But Easter am I right. That was awesome. This was my favorite Easter ever being on a mission. Understanding the meaning behind it made it alot more meaningful ha, who would've guessed. We had some amazing talks as well. If you only ever think of Jesus Christ as your Savior you're doing it wrong. I am sorry but you will miss the point. When you realize Jesus Christ is your older brother and is trying to help you and sacrificed everything for you it paints a better picture in your head. Although Its hard to build a relationship with someone you can't talk to. But when you picture him praying beside you to Father you can start to see the atonement take part in your own lifes. I mean a true inner self change to align your will with Gods... the desires of temptation and addiction fades only through the atonement of Christ. 

There's someone looking through your window- Elder Parker

Sorry I know I said I would have a video this week but I just haven't been able to get one I feel good about put together yet but next week! I will put a picture though.

If I Could Reincarnate Tonight, I Would be Your Clorox Wipe

You may have noticed it is a Tuesday. Perhaps I am just feeling edgy... living life on the edge??? Haha. Or mabyeee it's because of transfers. Except transfers might have gotten delayed a week due to severe winter weather conditions. Let's go with option 1 though. I'll be honest I can't really think right now but that is no problem for me.👍Some fun stuff happened this week as well as lots of miracles. On Friday I was on exchanges with the elders in my district in Faith, SD. It was hard not to laugh driving into their area, Faith itself has only 300 people and like 1 gas station and that's about it🤣 We went to a reservation about an hour out to tract and there were like 10 dogs barking at our car as we drove in and we parked and got out and we were just surrounded by these dogs 2 feet away from us that looked like they were seriously boutta CHOMP on yo toes. But there is a trick to it. If you just reach down and pick up a pebble off the ground they all scatter in a blink of an eye. It's the coolest thing because people throw rocks at them in order to not get attacked so if you keep a rock in your hand they leave you alone. I was able to help their area by setting goals with them as well as find two new people to teach! Another thing that happened the other night is my companion wanted a drink so we went into the gas station. The worker in there is always super flirty and my comp has no clue what is happening so it is hilarious. He puts a drink on the counter and the girl walks over and says "is that all for you babe". Which I wouldn't question but she is young. And he swipes his card and the reader instantly beeps and says transaction suspending and then she says you're good to go and he just walks out thinking he paid for it and said nothing. Meanwhile I'm over here laughing like she bought you a drink and you just walked out without even looking at her🤣. Also this week, we had some elect tracting! Some families that chased us down after they told us they didn't have time and where literally like yeah I'm Christian but don't have a church and really want to read the BOM and also can we feed you dinner on Easter. Like what hahaha it was sick. Oh also guess what? John and Scott got confirmed on Sunday! That was awesome. Then right after church we put both of Elizabeth's kids on date for the 30th of this month so I'm hoping to still be here for that. Yesterday we were able to teach Bradley again! The one with all the crystals haha. He gave me and my companion some sort of reading on our lives or what not. Don't worry nothing dark or evil at all. But he would read us the card he got for us and then interpret it completely wrong to something that made no sense and did not relate to my life in the slightest hahah. But he did say the more times we meet the better our energy will start to flow so they will get more accurate..... yeah probably should drop him at this point. Also congrats to my brother for getting married! Now I've got something I'd like to share with you all. Now really this is important stuff. I have discovered what turns a good missionary into a great missionary who truly has the converting power for the Lord. That being the missionaries…. testimony. I'll be completely honest with you all. I did not truly have a testimony of the Book of Mormon until a little bit ago. You may have even been able to tell by my enthusiasm about the book in previous weeks. Let me tell you about an experience I had. The other night me and my companion were tracking a 12 room apartment building near campus which I am fairly certain is thee last apartment in my area. Now remember that at this point momentum had been building the past three weeks as I saw a significant change in myself. I started to teach with authority, certainty, and most importantly with the spirit inside me. So there was already a significant change and naturally this would increase and get better and better because of that testimony. As we walked into this apartment building the impression came over me saying you have got nothing to lose be aggressive with these people because they do not know what they are saying no too. So I turned to my companion who struggles with confidence in talking to people and told him ay im gonna get aggressive with these people and he was like hmmmm…. so I said lovingly aggressive of course and he not necessarily jumping out of his seat to talk said alright go for it. Haha. …We walked out of the building that night with a strong Catholic, Methodist, Atheist, and Baptist having a Book of Mormon in their hands and determination to read and ask God if the book these random 2 guys knocking on their door gave them is true and if it was somehow someway a part or Christ's gospel. I mean truly it was an amazing experience. I was pushy but rightfully. Everyone in that building said oh I have a church, I'm good, I'm saved, blah blah whatever it is. You know how easy it is to ask for a referral and leave it at that? Really easy let me tell you. Figuratively speaking I put my foot in their doors and said shut up I don't want to hear another sentence. Do you want true joy, happiness?? You have no clue what you're saying no too. This book WILL change your life and I promise you that. This resulted in quite long discussions about many aspects and principles of the gospel. But in the end making them realize hey you're missing something here aren't you and this book is the answer. I would never have taught with so much authority without the testimony God so graciously gave me as a gift of the Book of Mormon. It was amazing. From one Prophet stating that any member of Christ's church standing tall, strong in spirit with a real testimony will never be shaken down. That's why it is so important that our self worth is linked straight to our testimony and relationship of our Savior Jesus Christ. Well everyone this email was probably all over but I hope you enjoyed it! 

Until we meet again - Elder Parker

I'll have a video ready for you next week! But I have a picture for you so you get something! your welcome haha.

If I Get Reincarnated....I Wanna Become a Clam and Here's Why!?!?!?

 Ayyyy what is up my everyone! Thanks for clicking on my email, I hope you feel….. inspired! Want to know something crazy?.... I found out last night that Easter is actually to celebrate the resurrection… ha I don't know how but I had no clue. I thought it was just another holiday for fun, like Hanukkah or something. Haha Lots of crazy stuff has been going on though because this week was Gnarly! On Tuesday we had MLC review and DC in Rapid with the bromies, and then on Friday we had a Zone Conference which was a good time as well. Most importantly though on Saturday in between conferences John and Scott got baptized!!! It was quite an exhilarating baptismal service haha. I baptized John first and he is a bigger guy for a small font so first attempt his stomach was sticking out so I kinda tried to shove him down but it ended up with him barely making it back up ha. Boom, on the second attempt I screwed up the prayer and then on the third attempt I got it! But after Elder Larson baptized Scott and his logic was.. “ONE AND DONE” he was getting this first try. Man literally throws Scott into the water and slams his head on the side of the font and the only reason he got all the way under on the first try was because of the wave he created. Meanwhile the ward is just like yup these are our missionaries that, i'm pretty sure, hates us already. Idk, its sad, most of the time the members are the hardest to interact with haha. Anyways, I wouldn't have changed how it went for the world. It made it memorable and everyone had a good time. I had the college students speak and the spirit was strong! Anyways let's talk about Conference… Flames right?!? It was really really cool to hear President Nelson the prophet of Christ's church and Ballard talk so strongly on missions and the importance of them and command that all young men need to serve and then have two baptisms right after as a missionary. Which was awesome haha.. And I second everything they said. Still can't believe how much the lord has changed my principles of beliefs and gifted me a testimony I never saw myself with ever. My favorite talk was definitely Oaks’s talk on Sunday. Puts into perspective the true goal of exhalation we should all be after. Hope everyone enjoyed it! Also lately we have been in the run in with the cops so much we have started to recognize each other and got a little bond going. Haha it's kinda funny I know 1 of them by name…. always chat for a minute as they deal with someone being stupid. In conclusion I am doing great! Also how is everyone's Book of Mormon reading? Better be reading because there is an almighty God that happens to be loving and we just happen to be his children and he also has just happened to give us that book so whether or not you can say with certainty that the book is true or not read it. Every day!

mmvvMMVVRR ahhh - Elder Parker

Please feast your eyes on my video this week. It has been a minute since I got one for you all so please enjoy!