Miracles!!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!! This year I decided to

dress up... And be a missionary. (; it was quite fun! This past week

has been one of my favorites so far on the mission! We have been

working very hard and found three new investigators! We are very

excited to be finding some new people to teach! One of the many cool

experiences we had this week... Again... Happened in McDonalds. So on

Thursday right after companionship study, I had the sudden feeling

like we should go to McDonald's. So we do because, follow every

prompting, right? So we get there and we challenge each other to talk

to one person each. We get inside and I sit down next to a woman and

start talking with her. Sister Plomgren sat there for a moment, and

then got up and sat by this old man in the back corner. She asked to

sit down and we get to chatting. He looks at her name tag and says,

"Tell me something about Jesus Christ" so taking this amazing

opportunity... Sister Plomgren bears her testimony about Jesus Christ

and teaches him a short lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ..

Turns out....He is from Guatemala and he moved here a couple years

ago. He told her that he ran into some missionaries for our church

while he was down there. He said that one was from California...

Curious, sister Plomgren asked what their names were because She is

from California. He said, "Elder Gilliland". Coolest part.... THAT IS

SISTER PLOMGRENS UNCLE WHO SERVED IN GUATEMALA 35 years ago!!! Tender

mercies of the Lord. We have also been in contact Gary Brown... the

awesome contact we made last week in mcdonalds and we are meeting with

him this week! VERY EXCITED.

Katy's baptism is this Saturday at 9 am. Very early... But the poor

girl has waited long enough to be baptized! She waited over 2 years

for her parents permission! I am so happy for her and I know that

Heavenly Father is eager to bless her for her righteous desire to

follow him. Maddy will be attending Katy's baptism! Which is fantastic

because baptisms are such a special opportunity to feel of the strong

spirit Testifying of the truth.

Although This week was suuuper rainy, it was still full of many

wonderful experiences! Sister Plomgren and I are still working on our

finding techniques and trying to follow Christ's example in all

things. As we were considering where we needed to be, my mind

reflected back to my old job at legacy village and how much love and

comfort the elderly need. There just so happens to be a care facility

right behind the church in our area. We talked with the management

there and were able to get cleared to come volunteer there for a few

hours a week. Answer to prayers! This week we were able to spend some

time in the Memory care unit. As I sat there with some of the most

humble men and women I truly felt gods love for each and everyone of

them. It was powerful, although I had worked at a senior center before

my mission, I never fully comprehended gods love and awareness for all

of his children young and old.

We met with Jenkins on Saturday night and had a wonderful lesson. He

had so many questions regarding the Book of Mormon and how it

correlates with the bible. He knows SO much about history of the

bible... The world... Pretty much everything. So answering his complex

questions... It was most definitely the spirit filling my mouth in

knowing what to say! The whole lesson as we are answering his

questions about how the Book of Mormon came forth, He kept saying

"That makes sense!" It was as if all the pieces started to become

connected together. We asked him, "if you knew the Book of Mormon was

true for yourself... How would it change your life?". He said, "my

whole life I have been searching for the right path that God would

have me take. If I come to know the Book of Mormon is true, I will

follow that path and know it is Gods plan for me." We then read Moroni

chapter 10:3-5 with him and explained to him that God has promised

that if he pray with a sincere heart and Desire, HE CAN KNOW THESE

THINGS ARE TRUE. We committed him to read and to pray about the Book

of Mormon and continue to study the teachings. Jenkins is amazing and

has such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and his faith is firm. The

Book of Mormon is simply adding to the truths that he already knows

and providing the knowledge of this restored gospel!! I know God has a

hand in Jenkins life, it is so apparent as he demonstrates faith to

know of these teachings for himself. Jenkins agreed to come to church

on Sunday... And he actually CAME!! Oh my goodness, sister Plomgren

and I were so excited. It was fast Sunday, (which can sometimes be

interesting with an investigator) however, the testimonies that were

given were EXACTLY what Jenkins needed to hear. The spirit was so

strong and I know it touched his heart. He leaned over to me and

whispered as the meeting was drawing to an end, "next time I am going

to get up, and bear my testimony that Christ lives and what a strong

influence he has in my life." I am pretty sure I had tears streaming

down my face at this point. Jenkins's heart has been prepared to learn

of this gospel. It is an indescribable experience sharing this simple

message with him and recognizing how much light and knowledge it

brings.

This week we received an unexpected text from Rose, which was an

answer to many prayers and fasting... It is so special I just have to

share word for word.

"Dear sisters, thank you for continuously praying for me and thinking

about me, I have been thinking how I could use your knowledge to help

me. My ultimate observation is how God is present in your lives. This

has never been a deep feeling in my life as a Catholic. Religion has

been a thing you did on weekends. So, I have not lived particularly

God inspired life and have made mistakes. Can I be redeemed and how

within the guidance of your church? Must I now suffer for the things

done without alignment to gods will? The will I didn't feel? I need

you to guide me through the scriptures and conference talks to

understand the possibility of redemption. I feel despair sometimes at

not being able to change the direction of my life, like it is too

late, so hope I can do the right things towards redemption. " She then

asked us to come over and to teach her next Tuesday!! Sister Plomgren

and I both just sat there thinking... Did this just happen??! PRAYERS

ARE ANSWERED. I am so grateful for heavenly fathers help in this work

in softening the hearts of his children!

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, we as members do not have to be

perfect, nor does God expect us to be. Rather, he accepts us as we are

and then helps to become our full potential. I love the quote by

president uchtdorf, "the perfect place to begin is exactly where you

are right now." The same is true for a missionary. The mission is

different than I expected... Much different. Often times I feel very

inadequate, however, the Lord is blessing and strengthening me in

incredible ways that I never even imagined. What a greater love I have

grown for people and the desire to serve others. I have learned so

much about the savior and this gospel. The power of the atonement--Not

only utilizing the atonement for repentance... But also

acknowledging... it is SO much more than that. I know that since I

have began to fully grasp this power of the atonement... My desire to

share this gospel has grown exceedingly. I am so grateful that my

Heavenly Father provided me this opportunity to serve him and love his

children in Chicago. There are so many people who are seeking to know

the truth. God is preparing the hearts of many! Now is the time to

seek them out and bring them to the fold.

I have been reflecting a lot about families this week and the

importance of families. I am so grateful for my family and for my

wonderful mother and father who provided a home where the gospel of

Jesus Christ was taught and provided. I am grateful for their

diligence in helping me to learn to center my life on the Savior. I

look back now and am able to see the importance of family prayer,

scriptures study and family home evening. I often took these learning

experiences for granted. Too often I brushed off the importance.. I

begrudgingly sat there during family home evening or scripture

study... Just waiting until it was over...But, thankfully despite my

actions, my wonderful parents continued to encourage and bear their

testimony. Thank you mom and dad, for the fundamental principles you

established within our home to focus on the Savior, providing a place

of refuge from the world. It is not until I've been away from home

that I fully appreciate the blessing of a gospel centered home. One of

purposes we came to this earth is to be put in families, so that we

can help one another return to live with our Heavenly Father.  If

there is one thing I can emphasize or get across as a missionary it is

the importance of family... And remembering the things that matter

most. Looking back on things we did as a family that helped us most to

grow together was spending time with one another learning the

teachings of the gospel. Thank you mom and dad for teaching me and

preparing me to help and teach others. I will forever be grateful for

all the sacrifices you made... And continue to make for me.

This gospel is the key to happiness. It is as simple as that! I am

grateful to be a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints, and standing as a witness of Jesus Christ helping others

come to a knowledge of this happy message! I love you all and I am

grateful for all of your prayers, love, and support!!

Love,

Sister Parke