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!

Stronger Through HIM

Hello there family!!

It was so good to talk to you yesterday!! The time went by so quickly,

however I cherished every moment!! I am so happy to know you are doing

well and it provides so much comfort to me knowing that the lord is

watching over and blessing you while I am away. Hopefully mom- you had

a good Mother's Day!! I sure missed spending the day with you.. But it

was a special treat being able to talk even just for a little bit!

Well, this week has kinda been a blur. I have been really bad at

recording and writing down what has happened. Oops. Haha I guess I

just figured I would tell you about it in the phone call! (; buuut

anyways I'll try and catch ya up on the gist of this week!

We had a district contacting activity that was very successful. Sister

Webber and I were in charge of putting together a banner for Mother's

Day. We took it to a train station and hung is up on the wall and had

people write one word on it to describe their mothers. It was SO COOL.

A lot of people stopped to talk to us and we were able to pass out

quite a few pamphlets and teach people about the plan of salvation. It

made people so happy to reflect and remember their mothers. I would

say it was a huge success! I will attach pictures.

We had mission council on Friday! It was a wonderful experience. We

focused on Christlike attributes and how to overcome our weaknesses as

we draw closer to the savior. As we grow closer to the Lord we are

able to acknowledge our shortcoming and weaknesses so much more

because we are striving to become like him. That is most definitely

something I have come to learn on my mission is understanding many my

weaknesses and how I can utilize the atonement of Jesus Christ to

overcome them and strive to become more like the Savior. Sister Webber

and I will be teaching this week in zone training about the Role of

the Holy Ghost and how we can use the spirit to help strengthen our

own testimonies, but also the testimonies of those we teach as well. I

am praying it will help the missionaries in our zone become more

focused and prepared to teach the gospel!

Jess is progressing very well. On Thursday we had an incredible lesson

all about baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. We have a lesson with

her tonight, I am so so excited. Jess is absolutely amazing and has

such a strong desire to learn about the gospel. It is such a wonderful

experience to be a part of helping someone to understand and gain a

testimony of the gospel. Carleen is on fire and is helping so many

strengthen their own conversion with her passion and love for the

gospel, she is working towards getting her temple recommend so we can

go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead with her. Sooooo happy!

Romeo blessed the sacrament for the first time on Sunday... It was

such a neat experience! He is also doing very well. It is so wonderful

to be a part of helping this individuals strengthen their testimonies.

It truly is all about enduring to the end. Baptism is just the key to

unlock the gate. We are all on the same journey back to live with out

Heavenly Father again. Classic missionary scripture... 2 nephi 31

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that

your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they

been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should

enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism

by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the

Holy Ghost.

18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to

eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done

according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have

received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son,

unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye

entered in by the way ye should receive.

I have such a strong testimony of these truths. We are all on our

journey and pathway home. Our responsibility is to help others along

the way. I love being a missionary. It's so hard yet so wonderful. I

am grateful for the strength I receive each day as I go forth in HIS

work. I love you mom, dad, Ethan, Abbie, and Emily! You are all so

amazing examples to me. Thank you for all of your love and support!!

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Xoxoxo

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke

Pictures Do YOU know it?

Miracle Umbrella!!

Hangin' with Aquila

Exchanges with Sister Stringham! Yay!

Do YOU Know it?

Hello Family and Friends!

What a week. Can't believe April is over and now May Is here! Sister

Webber and I are suuuper busy and it makes the time just fly by! This

transfer is nearly over!! Ahhh! So sad because president Woodbury only

has one more transfer with us! I don't want him to leave, but I am

also excited for the new mission president. Alright so, just to jump

into this week. Sister Webber and I decided to prune the vineyard

(clean out our area book) and pretty much dropped a large amount of

our investigators who just didn't seem to be progressing. We

considered it to be an act of faith, and the Lord is blessing us with

so many more people to teach.

This week we met with Jess twice. We had an amazing lesson with Her

and taught about the plan of Salvation. She is progressing very well!

So many questions and just an honest sincere desire to learn more and

build a relationship with the savior. I already love her so much! We

are meeting with her again this evening. I am very excited!  On

Tuesday the Lord blessed us two new investigators! One of them was

from the member referral I mentioned about last week.. Stefanie. It

was so cool! We met up with her and got to know her better.. She is

from Brazil and just moved here a year ago. She is studying to become

a clinical psychologist! How awesome is that? But it gets even

better... She is genuinely interested in learning about the Book of

Mormon! We taught her the restoration.. And she was so grateful.. She

kept thanking us.. Thank you for telling me this! Thank you! Then when

we gave her the Book of Mormon she was so excited. She definitely has

a lot of desire to learn more and is such a sweet girl. I look forward

to getting to know her better and teaching her more!

This week I went on exchanges with sister Stringham... Aka my soul

sister. I love her so much. Wow it was incredible! So many miracles.

We met with a man we are teaching named Aquila. He is from Africa and

met the missionaries a few months ago. He has come to church a couple

of times and is genuinely interested... So of course... We are

teaching him the lessons! We taught him all about the restoration of

the gospel. It was so powerful. I wish I could record every detail. He

attended Carleens baptism and told us that baptism is something he

wants to work towards and prepare himself for. He came to all three

hours of church on Sunday and he LOVED it. He is definitely an answer

to the prayers especially for the SA branch!!

ALL DAY Saturday it was POURING rain! Buuut missionaries love rain..

Because when you are cold and wet.. The law of compensation is real...

And it is pretty much instant miracles. The best. On Saturday we had

countless miracles.! Cool story. So we were standing by the bus stop

waiting in the rain. Literally I was sopping wet. We had missed our

bus before so we had a longer wait.. I had forgot my umbrella in the

apartment. Who forgets there umbrella in the apartment on a day like

this?! Anyways I was praying to Heavenly Father for strength to not

murmur and to be optimistic.. I REALLY was wishing for an umbrella.

Not even 30 seconds later a car pulls up to the bus stop. An older

woman gets out of the car... Walks up to me and hands me an umbrella

and says I need to give this to you. And then without another word

walks away. I am 99.9% sure it was an angel. Haha. I was just standing

there thinking... Man, God is so good. So yes. God sent me an umbrella

in an all day rainstorm.

Unfortunately most all of our appointments fell through so we were

stuck in the rain trying to find people to teach.. And I don't know if

many of you have noticed.. But finding people to listen on the rain is

quite difficult.. So we sought shelter in a nearby McDonald's. Didn't

have too much success (so we thought) until later that evening we

received a text from a man we had contacted earlier named Danilo he is

from Brazil. He wants to learn more about the church! We have a follow

up appointment with him on Tuesday!

This week we also had an awesome lesson with Cynthia! We started

talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ and talking about how Jesus

Christ set the example of baptism for us. She came to church on Sunday

which was awesome! Her boyfriend left to go back to China.. So

hopefully she will have more time to meet with us now! Hmm.. What

else? Last night we met with the APs and our branch president Sunday

night to discuss ways of how to help the branch grow stronger and how

we could help rescue others and bring them back into the fold! It was

very helpful and the lord is blessing us with revelation on how to

help the branch!

Okay. Last miracle moment of the day... We had just got done with our

last appointment.. Still raining.. Keep in mind.. And we were cutting

it close on time to make it home for curfew. We were in a reaaaaaally

sketch part of Chicago and it was kinda dark and scary! I was kinda

lost and didn't know where to go.. Prayin for a bus and some sort of

direction.. Seconds later I saw our bus stopped at a red light in an

intersection up the street we RAN to the bus and the bus driver was so

kind he let us on the bus even when it wasn't even a legit stop. No

one else was on the bus at the time and I'm pretty sure God sent the

bus to us.. Because we made it home safely and right on time! I know

when we are obedient God blesses us in ways we can't even imagine!

I have been reflecting a lot this week about the foundation of my

testimony. Do I truly believe this? Why do I believe and follow the

leaders that I have? It all comes down to whether or not Joseph Smith

is a true prophet of God. Each time I teach the restoration is when

the spirit has born the strongest witness in my heart. I KNOW IT.

Joseph smith saw God and his son Jesus Christ and heard his voice. God

speaks to his children again! I am grateful to all of those who have

helped me to develop and strengthen my faith in the savior. Sometimes

we think that we must have a big moment of confirmation... But it is

small and simple things. I know we have a prophet on Earth today who

leads and guides this church. I know President Monson receives

authority from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and is truly guided

and directed by the authority that is higher and more knowing than we

can comprehend. I do not understand everything, but I rely on the

knowledge that I do know. I KNOW without a doubt in my mind that the

Book of Mormon is the word of God and it is written for our day. I

know that hastening the work of salvation is the work of the Lord and

nothing will stop it from going forth. I was studying in Mormon 8 this

morning and came across the scripture, "For eternal purposes of the

Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled."  How

true it is. This is Gods work. We ALL have the responsibility to be a

part of it. God is looking out for all of his children. As long as we

are doing all that we can and we are TRYING I testify his grace will

make up for the rest. I know God is there. He loves us personally and

individually. I love being a missionary and having the opportunity to

help others understand who he is and build a relationship with him.

I love you all! Thank you for your love and support! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Rachel Parke

Favorite quote of the week.

"If our faith does not change the way we live, if our beliefs do not

influence our daily decisions, our religion is vain"

Dieter F Uchtdorf