Fall is Here

Hello Everyone!

Fall is definitely here! The weather is definitely is getting colder..

Had to pull out my winter tights this week. The dreaded day of a

sister missionary has come! Haha. Things are going great here in

Chicago Heights! What a great weekend it was to listen to the leaders

of the church. I loved every minute and received answers to many

prayers! I hope each of you did as well! If you haven't had the

opportunity to watch it or listen... Make it a priority!!

General conference was like icing on the cake! We had a great

productive week! We got a new investigator named David he just moved

here from the Mesa, Arizona area and is interested in the LDS faith.

He was invited to attend services by coworkers but family prevented

it. We were able to have an incredible lesson with him and give him a

church tour. He was very receptive to the Book of Mormon and is

interested in coming to general conference this weekend! Please pray

for David that he will continue on his journey to learning more!

Deborah is doing great and is progressing very well. She is

reading/studying anything she can get her hands on. Especially the

Book of Mormon, at our scripture class this week she said, "the Book

of Mormon is filling my spirit, it's letting me know this doctrine is

true. It fits like a glove. Helps me understand what I should be

doing." It was so powerful!!  She has incredible faith in Jesus Christ

and has such a strong desire to do what is right. This week she

randomly called us before we even talked about tithing and fast

offerings and she said... "Who do I need to pay my tithing to.. I need

to do that before I get baptized!" She is so prepared. Please continue

to pray for Deborah that she will be strong when preparing for

baptism! Deborah has made best friends with members of our ward and

they decided to get together and make "Soul food" for us. Greens and

beans with cornbread. They are bringing some southern food to the

northern missionaries! Kept thinking of my sweet brother Elder Parke

down there in Georgia. It was really good.. They made us eat a whole

lot of it!

This week I have really gained a strong testimony of fasting and

prayer. I know that we can receive answers to our prayers and that

Heavenly Father is very aware of the desires of our hearts. When we

pour our hearts out to him in deep and sincere prayer we can always

receive an answer. I loved all of the Saturday morning conference

talks about prayer. It truly is the way that we communicate with our

Father in Heaven. Having a personal relationship with him... He leads

and guides us and helps us to become who he needs us to become!

I hope you all have a great week! Thank you for all of your thoughts

and prayers! I appreciate you love and support!!

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke

It's raining again!

Sister Mattinson and I

Love the little kids here!

Southern feast at Deborah's house

Now that's a gourd!