Oh where.. oh where.. could my baby be.... the lord took her away from me

 There are times I'll never forget and one day I will yearn and miss the days I was young and especially here in Japan with experiences of a lifetime, memories that last, struggles and trials that made me the the person I'll be one day. I love the mission, trials, being a missionary, and most importantly the spirit that comes from seeking Jesus Christ in every way I know how. 

I don't have much time to write today but know all is well and that this week was really good! It was full of strong spiritual experiences and things I hope to never forget. 

We had a lesson with someone named Luiz who is Brazilian and I didn't understand a thing the whole lesson but I spent that hour praying for my companion and the Spirit which was very present. I could tell where the lesson was going and what my companion was teaching as he taught through feelings. The Spirit was strong and testified things to me I needed to know too. We plan to put him on date for baptism this upcoming Saturday and we really think he will accept it so please pray for him. Its interesting, I've never cared more for someone that I can't communicate with at all. 

Kagari San has been praying and says she feels like she feels something. My companion taught me and about 5 of our investigators Portuguese and I gave a spiritual message centered on her about pray with faith and was able to talk with her after about how she's praying in faith and feeling the Spirit and to focus on what she is praying for.

On Sunday we had 3 people come. After what feels like a lifetime.... 3..... people.... came to church. I couldn't focus during sacrament meeting cause I was stressing and praying for them but I think in the end it was good and I really hope they could feel the Spirit. They where smiling after so that is a good sign! 

We also had Zone conference which was so spiritual and perfect. They addressed that we have lots of people we are teaching and getting to sacrament and even on date but something is keeping them from baptism which is something I've been thinking about a lot. Addressing what we should do, the whole time was centered on Jesus Christ. At one point with the Spirit strongly in the room a picture of Jesus holding a girl was shown. The girl was sinking in some abys and Jesus was lifting her out. Relting the Kanji for the word faith in Japanese to it the thing I noticed and stood out to me was that the girl wasn't just dead bodied. Her arm was raised on his shoulder out of the little strength she had. A person with an absolutely torn heart and shattered spirit with all their strength just being enough to grab on with faith was enough. 

My mission president is amazing and focuses a lot on the missionaries. The things he shares are always centered on the missionaries becoming someone better and then how to turn out and help others find the gospel as you have which has helped my testimony a lot but he talked in depth on the sacrament and pointed out interesting things about the prayers and why we may take the bread first and the differences between the bread and the water. Isn't is amazing that we can fail at literally everything we do yet have arms stretched out to us constantly. Its never too late, you can repent, be forgive, be changed, find joy through hard times, and be happy through our Redeemer Jesus Christ. It's true you just have to seek for it, and whether your 40 or 18 years old or whether you had a strong testimony or not doesn't matter because it doesn't mean you can't receive a new one or a growing one.

イエス・キリストの弟子

- Elder Parker

A couple pictures!

And if double Decker bus kills the both of us、、、

Hello everybody, hope all is well! This week in Japan was Golden Week which is basically a week where everyone in Japan gets off work and then goes and drinks so they don't remember their week off! However, we were able to join 3 BBQs that were amazing. One of them was with the Brazilians and lasted from 9 in the morning to 4, another one was with the best family ever in Japan, the Matsunumas, and I'm pretty sure Brother Matsunuma runs some underground elite forces here in Gunma Prefecture so he's got a a bank account to provide to say the least. I ate so much wagyu my tongue felt numb and my head felt like it was melting. It was some of if not the best meat I have ever had in my life. The other one was with some awesome families and we were able to spent some good time with some people that needed to be connected with which was really good. We also went to a indo curry place with 3 guys from Nepal and they were like watch this and start ordering stuff in a different language and they bring out so much off the menu food it was crazy. This whole time I've been eating indo curry nearly once a week with no idea about the secret menu. It was so good but my companion couldn't finish anything so I nearly exploded trying to cover him. I swear I ate 10,000 calories that day.

On Saturday we had a takoyaki party that we hosted with a some investigators and it was super good! None of them ended up coming to church after inviting them in person and an additional 4 times over the phone as well as like 15 other people however it was really good and we were able to teach them all about the Book of Mormon if they hadn't already been taught about it and hear testimonies about the book from our unbaptized😑 investigators. I once again ate so much food because everyone else had weak stomachs. However I think the octopus had protein it is so its probably worth it. 

Sunday was a glorious fast and a spiritually inclined day however it was really hard to see no one come to church because we put in so much work in getting someone this week to come and while we were at church I texted a convert that I care about. He converted about 8 months ago and married a member. They were working hard to get sealed in the temple but managed to let Satan in, forget completely about eternity and texted me in reply that they are taking a break from church due to member issues. That hurt the heart a bit. Then we where able to end the fast at the most humbling meal I've ever been to. We have this member from the Philippines that is 26. He works a lot and can't come to church often. He invited us over and told us about his 2 roommates with potential interest. It was raining so we took about an hour and a half walk with a train ride and got to his house. Got talking and wow their stories are amazing. They all three came to Japan to support their families. They make enough money in Japan to do so and plan to stay here for 3 years and go back and try and start a business with the money they saved back in the Philippines. I cant describe it at all but everything about them absolutely blew my mind. The humblest people I've ever met. They made us some rice and chicken but only enough for us to eat so they didn't eat and I felt terrible. They say the food and stuff is so expensive here and even though they are making okay money they save it all and send a lot to support their families. Not their wife and stuff but their parents and siblings. They are all in their 20's. We were able to have a good religious discussion as well and are hoping they will come to church together next time they can make it in by train. The member has such a strong testimony and it was awesome to watch him share it with his friends.

Anyways sorry I talked a lot about food and stuff with the short amount of time I have to write today. However a recurring thought and feeling that I've had this week can be described by these words I said to a member, "イエス様に戻って欲しいだけ" I don't know why it's been so pressed on me lately but man I really want Jesus to come back already. I feel like I go everyday and do the things I do and am the person I am for my Savior believing in Him and I feel close to Him. I just want Him to come back. As much as that may sound like a little kid, I read about him all day. I pray in his name all day, I abide by a His law given by the Father as best as I can every day and when I fail and come short time and time again I am fixed through Him and I just want Him to return and I want to give Him a hug. I can,t describe it more then that. I Know He lives because He loves me and I know He doesn't just love me so reach out, have a hope and do something little you need to do in faith to feel Him closer in your life. He loves you.

Thanks for reading! - Elder Parker

写真😁 - 

Josies on a vacation far away.... come around and talk it over...

 What's up everybody, Hope all is well where ever you are!

This week me and Elder De Hollanda were reunited and hit the ground running. It has been so good and feels amazing to be equally yoked with your companion. I have been able to run in the mornings to these beautiful temples nearby in the country side of Japan. Ready for the day and out of the apartment at 8:45 with weather that has been perfect. We have been all over meeting and talking to lots of people. Best of all we were able to exhaust ourselves to the point of getting sick with what feels like the flu haha.  

Anyways some highlights of the week

- almost getting hit by a car 5 times

- getting taught Portuguese with our Chinese investigators

- getting told I look like Harry Potter 4 times in one week

- getting laughed at by 13 year olds smocking cigarettes 

- watching a grandma take a Book of Mormon with curiosity out of her own will

- finding a Pakistani girl that wants me to marry her and go to America together.

- going to church in Portuguese with Brazilians in Japan.

- getting my finger bit by a fish.

- and lastly getting to meet with Kagari San and have a super good lesson. She committed to reading the Book of Mormon and praying daily which I am really excited about. We were also able to talk to her about a bunch of stuff as she had so many questions. I think it was the first time I caught myself out of breath from talking in Japanese haha.

To finish up, this week I have been really trying to concentrate every second I have by reading the Book of Mormon through the day whenever there be any spare moment whether that be while eating, on a train, or while my companion goes number 2 for 5 minutes after eating Indian curry. By doing so I have found much strength, protection, and guidance. The spirit is stronger with me and in turn is helping me become someone more like Christ as I thirst for his word every day. It has been really good and although it can be quite mentally straining sometimes it is a miracle in itself. The fact that we are here on the earth in such, as prophesied by prophets, a critical time yet have the scriptures to cling onto. To find protection from sin, and strength where it is needed. To build upon a rock, maintain your lovely lived upon rock and watch the waves of the world pass by. It's a miracle ain't it!

The book that brings blue, 

protects you from the worldly dew, 

And if you read it with your crew,

You may also end up knowing its true.

Yours truly- Elder Parker

Estas son mis fotos -