The Lord is my Light

Hello everyone!

What an incredible week!  No longer in a trio which was sad to see

sister stringham go, but we haven't had too much time to think about

it because we have been so busy! Such an unforgettable birthday

teaching people about the most important gift! We had a few lessons on

my birthday, one was with our investigator Connor. He is going to

school here in Chicago and was interested in learning more about the

Mormon religion. So he referred himself... Because he was studying

religion and was "naturally drawn to Mormonism" (in other words... The

spirit) and we have been teaching him ever since! He is progressing

very well and has been doing a lot of studying in the Book of

Mormon.... He actually proved to himself that it was true while trying

to discover if Joseph smith was a prophet of God. SO. COOL. Anyways,

he has a lot of hard questions which are difficult to answer...

However I have a testimony that the spirit is the teacher and I

absolutely am not! Connor is coming to institute tomorrow night and

hopefully he will find some answers to what he is seeking. I love his

lessons because they help to teach me so much!

I also had a special experience on my birthday in a lesson with Romeo.

So we met him in the Harold Washington library -So cool biggest

library ever- and we had a lesson all planned out for him. We started

the lesson and felt the need to teach him about temples. So we started

teaching him about the importance of temples and the sacred covenants

that we make with Heavenly Father. This was extra special to me

because I had been reflecting all morning about the temple... Because

It just so happens that I had the opportunity to go through the temple

ON my birthday LAST YEAR. Coincidence? absolutely not. It was such a

neat experience to be teaching Romeo about the temple and helping him

understand the importance of making those sacred promises with God. He

is exercising so much faith as he prepares for his baptism which will

now be on the 7th (this Sunday). There are is so much opposition

leading up to his baptism, however he is holding strong to his

testimony and faith in God.

On Wednesday we had 4 lessons and taught at district meeting. It was a

little crazy.. But awesome! We had Chicago deep dish pizza with Munah,

a member from Liberia. She has such a powerful testimony! She told us

about her childhood and how she grew up during the civil war. Her

family walked for hundreds of miles after her dad was found dead and

they got kicked out of their home by the rebels. You always see these

things on movies, but it is real life! I am so grateful to live in

this country! It may have its struggles, but we are so blessed with a

safe home to stay in and the assurance of always having something to

eat! There are so many people from all over the world here.. I

absolutely love it! I get to meet so many interesting people and hear

so many stories! Speaking of which...  On Sunday we had a man named

Morgan come to church he is from China and travels back and forth

quite a bit for work. About a month ago he just showed up at church

and wanted to learn more. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he FINISHED

all of it in the past three weeks when he was in China. He came to

church this week and had so many questions! How exciting! We have an

appointment with him on Saturday!

Also, another miracle moment... After sacrament meeting I was

surprised when a son of a member up in buffalo grove (my old ward) who

I knew quite well, came to the YSA ward and brought his girlfriend.

They came up to us, and he introduced us to his girlfriend Carleen and

said she wanted to start taking the lessons! Yay! We have an

appointment with her this week! Finding through the members is the

BEST. Member missionary work is the key! The ward and the branch are

soooo awesome! Sunday night was very fun. The branch president of the

SA ward invited us and the AP's over for dinner. They have a beautiful

home here in Chicago and dinner was so yummy. It was awesome to talk

with them and to get to know them better while discussing the needs of

the branch. Currently we have 60 active people attending... Our goal

is to help this branch strengthen and become unified so that they can

grow and expand. We are very busy seeking out those who may have

fallen away and bringing them back to church.

This week I have been pondering on faith... And the will of God. As a

missionary I am constantly trying to align my efforts in accordance to

the Lords so that I may be an effective instrument in his hands in

blessing others. The tricky part is sometimes I feel overwhelmed and

get stuck in the mindset that it is too hard and I begin to lack in

faith.   This is when it is easy for me to feel discouraged and gives

me feelings of self doubt and disappointment. However, God has blessed

all of his children with the gift of the spirit, and so long as we are

faithful to him, he has promised blessings and guidance!

So as I have been studying I have really wanted to know how I can best

prepare myself to know what God would have me do. Of course the first

thing do to in order to receive revelation from Heavenly Father is

Prayer. The power of a faithful prayer will offer answers and

encouragement that bring peace and hope.  The next thing I have

recognized is the need to follow the promptings of the spirit, and act

upon them...even if it doesn't make sense. It seems logical to always

follow the spirit... But it is easy to get caught up in personal

desires and forget that God is ultimately in charge! One of the things

I have found helps to see gods hand in this work and in my own life is

to review daily miracles-tender mercies and gifts from God.

I have reflected upon the Army of Helaman and I am inspired by their

faith and power in prayer. They took the leap of faith when it seemed

impossible. That is probably what stuck out to me the most....When we

take the leap of faith the Lord blesses us, with God nothing is

impossible. He blesses us with the comforting power of the spirit.

Just as the army of Helaman, I'm sure the sistuation was not

necessarily ideal as they were surrounded by lamanites and starving.

But the lord blessed them with peace beyond their circumstances... And

I know he will do the same for us as we exercise faith in him.

Even when things do not go the way we want or expect.... That is when

the real test of faith comes in. LEARNING TO PUT TRUST IN HIM. I came

across my favorite scripture which happens to be my mission scripture

in my studies yesterday.... "2 nephi 22:2" I was then prompted to turn

to a hymn  "the Lord is My Light"

The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?

By day and by night his presence is near.

He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;

This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.

The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,

Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies

Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.

Then how can I ever in darkness remain?

The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.

I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.

My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r,

And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.

The Lord is my light, my all and in all.

There is in his sight no darkness at all.

He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.

With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.

The Lord is my light;

He is my joy and my song.

By day and by night

He leads, he leads me along.

God is ultimately in charge.  I know he has a plan for each one of us.

I have a testimony of this gospel. I know it is true with no doubt.

The more I read the Book of Mormon the more I find it applies to my

life. The Lord is and always will be MY LIGHT.

I love and miss you all! Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Parke