Feed My Sheep

Hello Everyone!!

Whaaaat a week!! It started out with finishing the Book of Mormon...

Then on Tuesday morning I had the wonderful opportunity to go on

exchanges with sister Geracitano. It was hands down one of my favorite

experiences on the mission. When I am with her there is just such a

strong passion for missionary work and the desire to share the gospel

with everyone! I have been studying John chapter 21 about feeding his

sheep. The savior taught his apostles that what he needed most was for

them to teach and serve his children. This was a reminder for me to

remember how important it is to be finding the lost sheep, this was not a

coincidence, since at.. At zone conference on Thursday president focused

on teaching about....Finding, finding, finding. Emphasizing that this

what our mission NEEDS. If we aren't finding people to teach... Then we

aren't teaching. And if we aren't teaching... We aren't fulfilling our

purpose as missionaries. It is as simple as that! Being a missionary is

hard, and contacting is difficult, but that should be no excuse! We have

the Lord on our side! There is a misconception about this mission being a

hard one to find people to teach..... THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE....

Finding the people should be the least of our worries. President also

talked a lot about striving to be authorized representatives of Jesus

Christ and holding up his light to the world. I know that as we do his

work, we can't help but to become like savior. Sharing the gospel is not

just for missionaries. We are ALL covenant children of God. The best

comfort you can bring to someone in need is the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

After zone conference we got together as a district and set certain

finding times to show our faith and our diligence to seek out gods

children who are ready to hear the truth. We have seen many miracles and

sister Plomgren and I have already found new investigators! It was really

cool... We were out tracting this week... In the frreeeezzing cold... And

we had a prompting to go to a mobile home neighborhood. We knocked on a

few doors, but nothing. So we kept on going and came to our last door for

the night. We knocked on the door and a young woman in her early twenties

answered the door... We introduced ourselves and the Book of Mormon and

she was genuinely interested! She invited us back this Sunday!! Sister

Plomgren and I are very grateful that the Lord is blessing is for our

diligence and we are able to find people to teach.

On Thursday we fasted and prayed for Maddy that her parents hearts would

be softened and that they would be accepting and understanding about

Maddys desire to be baptized. After we broke our fast we went over to

brother Obriens and Maddy received a blessing of strength and comfort.

The spirit was so strong and heavenly fathers love was most definitely

felt. On Friday Maddy talked with her parents... And it didn't go so

well. Her parents are still very against the church and told Maddy that

her joining the church would destroy their relationship and ruin their

family. How discouraging.... BUT I know the lord is answering our prayers

because Maddy has received so much love and strength despite the

circumstances and is diligently preparing for her baptism on December

23rd. She has so much FAITH and I know the Lord is blessing her and will

continue to bless her as she pursues the righteous desire to be baptized.

Please keep Maddy in your prayers!

What was so neat is in the middle of zone conference on Thursday

president unexpectedly tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to come

speak with him for a moment. My heart began racing about a hundred miles

per hour thinking... What in the world did I do? But then he told me that

the spirit prompted him to talk with me and that he too had been fasting

for Maddy! Despite his overwhelmingly busy schedule he took a half hour

to just check in and talk with me personally and with genuine concern for

our investigators, especially Maddy. How amazing is that? President

Woodbury is the best mission president in the whole world. He is so

compassionate and caring and radiates the light of a true disciple of

Christ.

On Wednesday we met with Diane. We had a wonderful lesson with her about

missionary work and service, since her daughter is putting in her mission

papers and she is very nervous and having strong feelings against it. She

is an amazing woman and her testimony is so strong.

She is very spiritual, so we are trying to focus that spirituality into

the restored gospel a little bit more. With Diane, we will share a little

thought, and she will go off on this big thought that still relates to

the gospel. The spirit was so strong. Anyways...She welcomed us back on

Saturday and we helped her detangle 49595704 yards of Christmas lights.

Afterwards we had a very deep conversation and she really opened up with

us and I feel she is beginning to trust us.

She invited us back over this week and I am looking forward to helping

Diane recognize the power of this gospel. We were very bold in asking her

what is holding her back from being baptized and she though about it and

then said, "Nothing, i just need to make the decision of when the best

time would be." As we work with her... I would love to encourage her to

be baptized the same day as Maddy, right around Christmas! How cool would

that be?

Jenkins has been out of town for the past two weeks... We are hoping he

will come to church on Sunday and make time to meet with us. It's

sometimes frustrating when people fail to recognize that the gospel is

the most important thing they could be focusing on.... But then I am

kindly reminded... This is how Heavenly Father feels about all of his

children. Rose had some unexpected family issue come up and will be

unable to pursue her interest in the church at this time... Which broke

my heart because I feel such a love for her and I know this gospel will

provide so much peace and comfort! That is one of the hardest parts of

being a Missionary. However... Despite the disappointments, there are

always the tender mercies of the Lord to remind us that God is there

helping along the way! On Sunday we had a wonderful surprise! One of the

members in our ward brought a coworker and her friend to church and we

had the opportunity of teaching them afterwards and giving them a church

tour! They were very interested and we gave them book of Mormons! They

are both young adults so they will most likely be taught by the

missionaries over the YSA ward, but it was still a wonderful opportunity

to teach them!

I feel such a strong excitement for this work and for this mission.

The Lord needs all of his missionaries to feel of his strength and have

faith!! The lord has promised that as so long as we are faithful he will

provide away in all things. I know there are many good things to come to

Chicago. This is the time to lift up our hearts and be glad... For God is

at the helm. This work brings us closer to God. It refines and

strengthens us, so when we speak he will justify our words. Missionary

work is about highs and lows.. Humbling us so he can mold us into he

needs us to become.  I know He is walking WITH me in this work. As I

better Understand who I am and who I am representing...I am able to

become more CLEAR about my purpose, and God helps me to recognize my

potential. My favorite quote this week is.. "Pray as if it all depends on

him, and work as if it all depends on me. Powerful faith requires

work!!!" This is Gods work... 2 nephi

27 has been on my mind a lot this past week. God allows man to be a part

of his great and marvelous work to help us to learn and to grow!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to strengthen my faith in the

savior by bearing my testimony of him each day! I am so excited for this

Christmas season! We were able to watch the video for the new Christmas

campaign #asaviorisborn which will be released on the 29th.

IT IS SO GOOD. Don't pass up the opportunity to share the true meaning of

Christmas with others!

I love you and I miss all of you! I hope you are all doing well and

enjoying this holiday season! Thank you for all of your love and support.

Your prayers are most definitely felt!

Love,

Sister Parke

Pictures Ministering of Angels

Quote of the week!

Kappleman children-adorable!

The temple :)

Prom's Wedding

Katy's Baptism! Yay!

Maddy & together again with Sister Meili for a night!

Lunch out to Olive Garden

Sooo tired...

Out tracking and found my dream car!

Spending the day with the Hammonds!

Sweet baby Benjamin!

Helping Magdelene while her husband is visiting Ghana.

Ministering of Angels

Hello Everyone!!!

So much has happened this week! I think I raked more leaves this week

than I have in my entire life, but the weather has been so beautiful

and I enjoyed every minute! I absolutely love fall! I am nervous for

the wintertime! Well, I'll just jump right into the week! We had a

training all day Tuesday... It was wonderful and we talked alot about

courage and being bold. Our mission is focusing a lot on contacting

people and we now have set times of every day were we need to be out

FINDING people. This is quite tricky in our area because people are at

work and school most the day and then it gets dark at 4:30! Soooo this

means we have to get creative and follow the spiritual promptings we

receive exactly! Sometimes it becomes discouraging... Buuut work

without faith.... Is dead! So we are keepin the faith and we know the

Lord will place people in our path whose hearts are being prepared to

hear the gospel.

So Katy's baptism was on Saturday... And it was wonderful!! She was so

happy! The miraculous thing was that her sister attended and decided

she wanted to learn more too! I love attending baptisms... And it's

not just because I am a missionary! What a great reminder it is to

remember the sacredness and importance of baptism. Maddy was able to

attend Katy's baptism... And the spirit just touched her. She started

crying, and told me she was so excited for her own baptism and how

special it will be. Back in September when Maddy decided to push her

baptism date back, I was a little disappointed at first. However,

looking back it has been such a blessing. Maddys testimony has grown

so much over the past few months and waiting to be baptized has given

her the time to truly strengthen her testimony and understand the

sacred covenants she will be making.

On Friday evening we had an awesome lesson with Maddy and we talked a

lot about the story of Esther and having courage. We also testified of

the importance of prayer and fasting. Just as Esther, Maddy is asking

us to pray and fast with her that her parents hearts will be softened

and they will support her decision to be baptized. Maddy has such

great faith and I know as she acts on that faith Heavenly Father will

bless her! I believe her parents will come around to the idea of her

being baptized. I absolutely love her parents and we get along great!

On Friday after the lesson Maddys mom talked with us for awhile and

then started playing the piano and we all started singing Christmas

carols together about baby Jesus. It was a really neat experience.

Patience in the Lords timing.... They will someday come around.

So really cool story! Since brother Kappelman just went through the

temple last month,   Sister Kappelman thought it would be special

experience if they went back to do sealings together as a couple as

they prepare for their family to be sealed. Sister Kappelman said that

this is the first sealing session that both her and her husband had

ever been through... Here is the cool part. The family they were doing

proxy for had FOUR children named, "Niels, anders, annaclara, and

Soren." THOSE ARE THE EXACT NAMES OF THEIR CHILDREN. A coincidence?

Absolutely not. Brother Kappelman is into family history work and has

decided that before they are sealed as a family he wants to do his

mothers work so that they can all be sealed on the same day. I'm so

grateful for the blessings of the temple and the knowledge we can be

sealed together forever with our families! ❤️

Has some fun experiences tracting this week. On Saturday evening

sister Plomgren and I had about an hour before our dinner appointment

and I still needed to get 3,000 more steps to hit my daily goal... So

of course I recommended tracting to go and find some people. Sister

Plomgren seemed a little reluctant since... It was cold... And getting

dark... But being the super amazing companion that she is... She came

with me! So here we are walking down the street knockin on some

doors... Meeting people from all over the world, and no one wants to

talk to us. Which is sad, but it's okay we just sang some hymns and

tried to stay up beat. Well that lasted for a while longer... It

started to get dark... And we were cold and hungry and not to

mention... Tired. So I told sister Plomgren... Let's head back. She

wanted to stop by one last house, this time I was reluctant and may

have murmured a little. Sister Plomgren is awesome and she said, "when

you don't feel like doing it... That is when you know you must do it."

So we walked up to this door and knocked... A woman answered and we

introduced ourselves and asked to share an important message about

Jesus Christ with her family. She urgently welcomed us in. Sister

Plomgren and I both looked at each other... Thinking... Did this

really just happen? So she sat us down on her couch and gathered her

family. We told them about the restoration of the gospel and bore our

testimonies of Jesus Christ. Turns out they are content with their

current beliefs and religion... But it brought hope. Hope that their

are people who will be willing to listen to us and accept the glorious

message we have to share. That woman was a tender mercy of the Lord

for sister Plomgren and I. The Lord may not always give us exactly

what we ask for... But he will always place reminders of hope...

Little flecks of gold to remind us that he is there... Watching over

us.

I have a personal testimony of miracles.... There are so many miracles

that go unnoticed each and every day because we fail to acknowledge

them. I am on my last few chapters in the Book of Mormon and was

studying Moroni chapter 7. This is easily one of my favorite

chapters... Full of guidance and direction of how we can follow the

example and light Jesus Christ and how he answers prayers. As I was

studying verses 24-32 the phrase, "ministering of angels" stood out to

me. The lord says he will use the ministering of angels to bring forth

and "declare the word of Christ, unto the chosen vessels of the lord,

that they may bear testimony of him." I am a personal witness that the

ministering of angels is real and is one of the most important parts

of missionary work. I feel of gods uplifting love and power each and

every day, it as if angels are round about helping to bear the heavy

load. I testify, when we go through hard times, and it feels as if we

can go no further, the lord will bless and provide a way. My

ponderization scripture for the week was D&C 6:36 "look unto me in

every thought; doubt not, fear not."  Heavenly Father knows each and

everyone of his children individually. He loves us... So much that he

provided a plan of salvation made possible through the savior Jesus

Christ so that we May return to live with him again. I encourage each

of you to share HIS gospel. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of

our faith. He is the atoner. It is his gospel because he paid the

price. What a privilege to be a missionary and declare this glorious

message. I know this is gods work. The feelings of inadequacy are

real. But the lord knows what he is doing... He always will provide

the way.

I love you all so much. I am grateful for the mercy of the Lord and

his love and patience for all of us. All things are made possible

through him!

Philippians 4:13

Love,

Sister Parke

P.s. Here are pictures of Magdalene's baby... Benjamin. Is he not the

CUUUUUTEST baby you have ever seen?!? He melted my heart. So so sad

that I can't hold a baby as a missionary! Her husband went to Ghana

the next 4 weeks so she is all alone here with no family with the

baby. Sad right? Sister Plomgren and I are going to spend all day with

her today for Pday! HE IS SO ADORABLE.

Pictures Miracles!

Rain Rain go away! It rained all week! :)

My sweet comp! Love her!

Yummy butternut squash bisque! 

More rain ;)

Book of Mormon class with Maddy!

Yes we have a good time...

Good morning all! Ready for church!

Stovetop smore's with the Kapplemans!

Here is were my life happens. 

So love sharing the gospel with my friends!

Goofy Girls

ya gotta love that face!

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

Pictures Great and Marvelous Work

Enjoying the beautiful Fall weather with Maddy

I love this girl!

Thank you Sweet Brother and Sister Obrien for all you do for us! We will miss you!

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