Pictures Eternal Families

Learning how to Knit!

Zone conference temple Day!

I love the temple!

New Eternal Family the Kapplemans!

Such a wonderful day!

Loved my package mom...just what I needed!

Love this Family!

Friday night as a missionary. Whoo-hoo!!

Special Memorial Day Lunch and Knitting class! Just what I needed that day!

Eternal Families

Hello Everyone!

This week has been a good one!! I don't even know where to start! On

Wednesday we had the wonderful opportunity to attend the temple as a

zone with president and sister Woodbury. We were able to participate

in an endowment session and then following we went and did a sealing

session, and each of the missionaries were able to act In proxy for

the children. Originally, I wanted to save my first sealing experience

for when I get married... However, I could not pass up the incredible

opportunity to participate in a sealing session with my mission

president! It was very special to witness and participate in sealings

for the first time and hear of the sacred promises. I am so grateful

for the power of the priesthood and the authority that is given to

bind and seal families here on earth for all time and eternity. True

JOY comes within families! Families truly are the MOST important!

Thursday we had a lesson with one of our new investigators Diamond

that we met in the bus a few weeks ago. We were able to teach her

about the restoration and the power of the Book of Mormon. It was so

great she accepted it all and said she felt like this was an answer to

her prayers and God sent us to her. What was sooo cool is that we had

one of our recent converts come with us and she did such an amazing

job teaching and testifying about the restoration. It was theeee best!

When I first got to the area she was having a hard time getting to

church... We have been working with her a lot meeting with her once a

week and she has been coming to church! She also just received her

temple recommend and her patriarchal blessing. Ah, I love her so much

and I am SO happy for her! I am also very excited for Diamond, I know

the gospel will help provide peace in her life.

On Saturday we had the opportunity to witness a sealing of a family in

my old area. The kappelmans sealing was one of sweetest experiences on

my mission. It was my very first live sealing. The spirit was so

strong... Seeing their whole family there.. Dressed in white! It was

almost as if they were glowing. True joy. TRUE JOY. Is found in the

gospel of Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for the power of the

priesthood and that we have the opportunity to be sealed to those that

we love for all of eternity! Families are forever! Our ultimate goal

is to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father with our

families! It was so wonderful to see all the people I love from my old

area! It was honestly like going back home to family. Such a tender

experience! All of these relationships I will forever cherish! I feel

so blessed.

Sunday was a day full miracles. For starters. Jess came to church,

always a good day. I can't even get over how amazing she is. Also,

three less actives we have been working with CAME TO CHURCH! It was so

great! Later Sunday evening we had a fireside for all of the new

members and recent converts. We felt prompted to invite Jess to come..

It was PERFECT for her. All of the testimonies given strengthened her

own testimony and answered many of her questions. As a closing hymn we

sang "I am a child of God." She had never heard it before, and as we

sang the spirit was so strong. By the fourth verse she couldn't sing

any longer--tears streamed down her face-- she felt Gods love for her

and knew that she is a child of God. It was such a tender experience.

Jess is very special and I love her so much! Sunday evening after the

fireside we had about an hour until curfew. Sister Webber and I prayed

and felt like we needed to head to the lake to do some contacting. God

led us to a man named Michael. When we walked up to him and introduced

ourselves he said that he had just been praying to God. He told us he

already had a Book of Mormon and wanted to learn more. #miracle. Later

that night we received a referral from some other missionaries for a

solid investigator. God truly does answer prayers. Sister Webber and I

have been working hard and praying to expand our teaching pool. I know

the Lord is blessing us In so many ways. This truly is his work!

This week I have been studying and pondering a lot about covenants.

God must have known because sister Webber and I were asked last minute

to teach Sunday school on "The Lords Covenant People". I have learned

so much and have gained a greater understanding of the new and

everlasting covenant. The promises that we make with God are so

important and as we obey and keep our promise... We are blessed beyond

measure. True happiness comes from obeying and honoring the

commandments of God.  One of my favorite scriptures this week is, "I,

the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I

say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10). The lord is BOUND; there is such

an incredible power in that statement. As we are faithful, and put God

first in our lives we will find joy and happiness, safety and

protection, and peace and comfort. I know this is true. I have

witnessed and felt of the happiness that comes from making and keeping

sacred covenants with Heavenly Father.

I have received so much peace and comfort through the gospel. I know

families are forever and that I will have the opportunity to see

grandma again! I can already feel her here with me.. I know she is

happy, and wants us to be too. Stay strong.. And find peace and

comfort through Jesus Christ. I am praying for you. I love you!

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke

Pictures Mormon Missionary

Missionary work is the best!

Temple trip with Carleen!

I still love to bake!

Mormon Missionary

Hello Family and Friends!

This week was absolutely incredible. SO many miracles. On Monday

evening, We had a very nice dinner with President and Sister Woodbury

in the mission home with our investigator Tim. We were able to have a

really great discussion about following the Savior and how we desire

to follow him and strive to become like him. Tim has made SO much

progress, and he has such a desire to do good and to be good! The only

thing holding him back is the commandments.. So we are working with

him on that!

After our appointment with Tim, we rushed off to our lesson with Jess.

Hands down, one of my most favorite lessons of my mission and I don't

even have words to describe it! We taught Jess about the word of

wisdom, but really it morphed into a lesson all about obedience and

the blessings we receive from our willingness to obey. Jess has

completely given up alcohol and coffee cold turkey... Even before we

taught her the lesson! She is incredible. We then talked about fasting

and the power of fasting. I received such a strong witness that God

truly does bless those who obey and honor his commandments.

On Wednesday, We met with a man who is an ultra marathon runner.. And

when I say ultra marathon runner I'm saying he runs a marathon at

least twice a week. It's craaaazy. Anyways when he was in SLC running

a marathon he took a tour around temple square and referred himself to

the missionaries. We were able to teach him more and answer many of

his questions as we gave him a tour around the church building!

We have been meeting with a girl who just moved here from Nigeria two

weeks ago. She is incredible! We have been helping her to find a job

and also housing. She is such a sweet girl and I already love her so

much!

On Friday evening we had the opportunity to attend the temple with

Carleen for her first time to do baptisms. Wow, I feel so blessed to

have been part of such a sacred experience. There is just something so

different going to the temple as a missionary... Especially with those

you have taught and love so much. Being in the temple with Carleen

tonight was such a sweet experience.... The happiness and spirit that

is felt is so strong. Carleen said she felt so much peace... And how

different she felt in the temple compared to the outside world. She is

so incredible and I know the lord has SO many things in store for her.

When we were talking afterwards Carleen said, "I can't wait til I can

go through the temple." Wow. It was in that moment that I realized....

This is the GOAL the whole purpose of Gods plan.. For ALL of his

children to make these important and sacred covenants with him. We are

all on the same path.. The path leading to eternal life! I am SO HAPPY

for Carleen... She is making the right decisions to draw her closer to

Christ. Ahhh I love her so much!!

The best feeling as a missionary is complete exhaustion! Saturday was

definitely one of the busiest days of my mission!  We had 5 lessons

and back to back. We met with two of our investigators... Two less

actives and one of our recent converts! Talk about busy day! We were

downtown allll day which meant ALOT of walking. I tracked it on my

Fitbit and sister Webber and I walked 10 miles! It was an absolutely

beautiful day everyone just seemed happier.. I know I was! We got to

have a lesson on the beach! Who doesn't love that? I love being a

missionary even MORE when it's warm outside. So we were on the bus

home and started talking to two ladies.. We started explaining that we

were missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,

and one of them said "MORMONS?? The Mormon missionaries!?" Sister

Webber and I were a little shocked.. Ha we nodded our heads a little

nervous. She threw her hands up in the air and said, "I LOVE THE

MORMONS! My son is a mormon!" She then whipped out her phone and took

a picture of us and said "I can't believe I came across THE Mormon

missionaries." We exchanged information and she wants to meet up

sometime! The Lord is so good. If I could only record all of the

blessings and miracles we witness!

Very busy week, and looking forward to the next! There is always

something to find joy in! I love and pray for each one of you! Hope

you have a wonderful week!!

Love,

Sister Parke

Pictures Simple Desire

I love this beach! Can I bring it home with me??!

Nuff said

Yah..something pretty fun going on here!

The Zone 

My District

Sweet Sister Stringham!

Simple Desire

Hello Everyone!

............NO TRANSFER CALL!!!  I could not be HAPPIER!! I love this

area and my companion soooooo much!! This is going to be the BEST

transfer yet I can just feel it! Sister Webber and I are excited to

set some new goals and keep the fire going! This week has honestly

just been a blur. The days can be long yet the weeks disappear so

quickly. Regardless, it has been a VERY good week and we have

witnessed many many miracles!

This week we had two amazing lessons with Jess! She is absolutely

incredible! On Monday we talked a lot about how to recognize

promptings of the spirit and receive answers to prayers. During the

middle of the lesson she told us that she quit drinking coffee last

week, and that as she is making and keeping these commitments she is

feeling her relationship with God strengthen. SO COOL. She is

progressing very well, came to church on Sunday and loved it! We have

another lesson with her tonight! I am very excited.

Tuesday was a long one for sure. We had lots of responsibilities to

fulfill, missionary work is so much more than just going out and

talking to them to see if they would be interested in the gospel.

Well... At least here in Chicago! The YSA ward keeps us on our toes,

but I love it and it makes it all worth it. We had a lesson with our

investigators Erin and grace. They are students at a college here in

Chicago. We have been meeting with them for about 5 weeks however,

unfortunately they will be returning home for summer break! It's kinda

a bummer because most of our teaching pool in the YSA is plummeting

because everyone is going home from school. Well shoot a pickle.

Sister Webstar and I are just turning on our investigator finding

mode. Haha the hurtin is real because a lot of the new investigators

just aren't sticking...l they are super interested at first and then

we teach them a couple lessons and when they have to start making

commitments they get scared off. It truly is a real thing.. And

insanely frustrating sometimes. But yes of course, God blessed each of

us with agency... I just don't always love how some of his children

choose to use it! (;

We had zone training aaaalll day and it was awesome! The zone is

definitely becoming more unified and drawing closer together. What is

so great about our mission is that we are all Very close to one

another. The Chicago mission is one of the most densely populated

missions which means that we have more missionary companionships

serving Near one another. It makes it very helpful to keep one another

motivated and united in the work! In zone training we focused on

developing Christlike attributes and how we can understand true

doctrine of the gospel that will lead to action.

On Thursday, We had an appointment downtown with a man who just moved

to Chicago two months ago because he feels like it is "where God needs

him to be" he is YSA age and is trying to figure things out. He has

had a pretty tough life and is trying to turn it over to God and

follow him. We were able to teach him about the restoration and

priesthood authority. He seems to struggle with accepting modern day

prophets. We committed him to read from the Book of Mormon, and pray

to know for himself if it is true. We are hoping he will keep his

commitments and that he is actually going to put effort into learning,

the gospel would do so much for him. It's so hard to accept sometimes

that people have agency! Still working on my patience and long

suffering... That's for sure! Haha.

Friday. We went on exchanges with our sisters... the sister I was with

has a sprained ankle.. And currently they aren't teaching anyone so

the day was FULL of finding. How does one find with a companion who

cannot walk? The answer is simple my friends. A wheelchair! Sooo... I

spend most the day on Friday pushing sweet sister Graubard in a

wheelchair contacting people! It was so fun and suuuuch a beautiful

day!

Ahhh, we were able to have such an incredible lesson with Cynthia. She

is progressing very well. Ever since we have been focusing on the

simplicity of the doctrine she has been able to better understand it

and apply it to her life. During the lesson she told us that her

prayer had been answered and that she knew God was aware of her. It

was THE COOLEST moment ever. She has been fervently seeking to

understand the scriptures! I am so happy she is more willing to learn

and understand more. Now that she is graduated she should have a lot

more time to meet with us, annnnd on the bright side she came to

church on Sunday!

We had an awesome lesson with our recent convert Gabe! He hasn't been

to church in three months because of work. We have been meeting with

him regularly to help keep his testimony strong. Miracle moment of the

day, at the end of the lesson Gabe said, "I'm coming to church

tomorrow, it's time... I really need it." He moved everything around

at work so that he will be able to attend! HAPPY MISSIONARIES.

Speaking of happy missionaries and recent converts...We met with

Carleen on Saturday, wow. I am amazed by her strength. She is thriving

in the gospel and is so happy with the peace that she feels and the

light she has been able to find. She is on fire and has such a strong

desire to do what is right. We have the amazing opportunity to go with

her to the temple to do baptisms on Friday!! (:

We have been working with a less active member from Atlanta, Georgia!

He grew up in the church but fell away when he was 16. He has been

through it all.....he just got out of jail about a month ago and

decided he wanted to turn his life around. So, he has turned back to

his "roots" and has been attending church the past few weeks. Through

helping him, I have come to gain such a stronger testimony of the

atonement.. And how it allows us to come closer to Jesus Christ and be

forgiven, despite our mistakes. What a powerful message. It is

wonderful to see the light of Christ work in the lives of those

seeking for peace. He comes from a very active family, and I know that

him turning to god To seek to change his life is an answer to their

prayers.

This week I've been studying and reflecting a lot about desire. I

found a quote that I love by Dallin Oaks. “Therefore, what we

insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and

what we will receive in eternity.” I LOVE THAT. The next good quote

is, "Let us remember that desires dictate our priorities, priorities

shape our choices, and choices determine our actions." And at the end

of the day what it really comes down to is our choices. "Decisions

determine destiny". Small and simple things! I am grateful for this

gospel, I know it is true. I am so grateful for the many blessings in

each and every day. I love you all. Thank you for your support!! Have

a great week!

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke

Simple joys found in this week:

-Living 0.1 miles away from the beach!

-morning runs

-milk chocolate

-Oh my lanta. Sister Webber and I made fresh salsa this week. So.

Good. I am definitely going to miss having veggies from the garden!!

-DARK CHOCOLATE

-Sunshine!!!!!

Pictures Stronger Through HIM

Springtime in Chicago is Beautiful!

Happy Mother's Day!

There is some pretty strange Art around here!