Great and Marvelous Work

Family and friends!

Hello there!! Things here in Chicago are starting to cool off and this

week I finally gave in and pulled out the sweater tights and boots.

It's going to be quite the winter here in the good ole Windy City!!

Well, aside from the weather, there are many wonderful changes taking

place each and every day as a missionary! This week we decided that we

would switch up our methods for finding people and get creative! So we

set a goal to increase our efforts in personal contacting! Our Zone

leaders challenged our zone to find three new investigators per week.

Which.... Is a big stretch... But one of my good friends said in his

letter to me, "faith all starts with just the desire to believe in

something and it grows from there." So true, faith is essential, and

then acting on that faith with courage and confidence is critical.

Sister Plomgren and I have decided that 3 Nephi 18:20 is our

companionship scripture for the month. "And whatsoever ye shall ask

the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall

receive, behold it shall be given unto you." New investigators are

essential in missionary work. In preach my gospel there is a line that

states, "nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to

teach."  I realize more and more as a missionary that the Lord blesses

us when we are willing to believe and act on faith.... This usually

means doing the HARD things.  During my finding experiences this week

I have discovered that when you give the Lord your best effort, even

though it can be hard, the Lord ALWAYS provides a way and as a

missionary he blesses us with opportunities to teach and to share his

gospel. I have a testimony of the Lord sanctifying my efforts as a

missionary and have seen it countless times as I have these special

experiences.

On Wednesday evening sister Plomgren and I decided we were going to go

contacting at McDonald's. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about that

since... Well in my eyes...McDonald's is gross. however, sister

Plomgren insisted we go, so I willingly went. After about 15 minutes

of just sitting there I began to feel discouraged.... So I got up...

Went into the bathroom and said a quiet, yet powerful prayer in my

heart to know who the lord needed me to talk to. When I walked out of

the bathroom I saw an older man sitting all alone in the corner eating

an ice cream sundae and drinking some coffee. I had noticed him when I

first walked in and told sister Plomgren... Hey maybe we should go

talk to him. She seemed hesitant and didn't really feel the desire...

But after the prayer I KNEW I needed to talk to him and the spirit was

prompting me so strongly... (Kind of like when you know you're

supposed to bear your testimony in fast and testimony meeting) I sat

there thinking about how to best address the situation and introduce

the gospel. I got up from my seat to throw away my water cup and

passed by him offering to throw away his trash. He was so shocked by

that small and simple genuine act of kindness that he started talking

with me! He invited me to sit down with him and we got to know each

other for quite some time. His name is Gary Brown and his wife died of

cancer, his daughter just graduated from graduate school and recently

moved back into the area. Anyways, long story short, Gary is baptist

and strongly believes in the bible. He teaches bible studies and

courses all over the community at different churches. We talked about

many different gospel topics... The bible, Jesus Christ, the second

coming.. Etc. He then pointed out... "We believe many of the same

foundational truths... What makes you so different?" This is then when

I had the most wonderful opportunity to bear my witness of the Book of

Mormon. He had never heard of the Book of Mormon before and but had

only seen the play. When I told him about how Christ appeared to the

Americas he immediately said..."I believe that." I then continued to

teach him more about the Book of Mormon and a light just lite up in

his eyes. He said he struggled to know why there were so many

different translations of the bible.. And was extremely fascinated to

know that the Book of Mormon had only been translated once. I

testified of the power and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and

handed it to him. He held it in his hands and flipped through the

pages truly sensing the important value... "How much can I pay you for

this book?" I said "nothing it is yours!" "No,no, I must pay you

something for this book." He insisted. "I can't take any money for

this book" he then tried to offer me a donation of money for the book

of mormon. My response was that if he promised to read the book than

that would be payment enough.  He then promised he would read it. I

have never seen anyone so enthusiastic to receive the Book of Mormon

for the first time. It helped me recognize the importance and value of

the Book of Mormon. We talked for almost an hour and half and then I

realized I needed to get back to my companion and head home. He the

told me he would love to meet and discuss more about the Book of

Mormon after he had read it. He wrote his contact information on the

back of his receipt and gave it to me and told me to contact him next

week after he had time to get into the book of Mormon and start

reading it. I walked out of McDonald's that night with a new

perspective on personal finding. The lord has prepared so many hearts

to receive this message, he just needs me to be humble and faithful

enough to find them. There is power in seeking out the one. The lord

is preparing people and the only way to find them is not to believe

that the everyone is set in their ways but that the lord has people

ready for us to teach!

Ive been reflecting a lot on the bible story of Peter walking on

water. Up until now I thought Peter was foolish for losing faith and

doubting because Jesus was right there! Well, I then thought to

myself... I have Christ there with me all the time, and how often do I

doubt? I wish I could say never. But it is something I am working on

each day, putting full faith in the Lord. When I start to worry or

question, I quickly remind myself...The lord has it all figured out...

This is his vineyard not mine!! I am imperfect and I am trying my best

to be in tune with the spirit and allowing the lord to make me a

vessel in his hands...For after all, It's not my work... This is the

lords work!

The responsibility as a representative of Jesus Christ is just that, a

responsibility and I feel this more and more as my mission goes on. It

truly is the strength of my purpose that motivates me to do the hard

things and relying on the Lord knowing... This is his great and

marvelous work.

I hope each of you have an amazing week! Although our lives can become

busy, never forget what is most important!! Sure love all of you!!

Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

Love,

Sister Parke