Week 53 In Ft. Lauderdale....

 We are staying... I am very excited about this but thoroughly confused... NO one thought this was going to happen... I have been in this zone for 7 transfers, I have seen people leave and then come back. They all told me that I was outta here and headed north. But no! Here I am! Still here in Homestead! 4 transfers! Wow. I remember how Dad placed his pin in Miami for the guess and sure enough here I am still in the Miami metropolitan area! I am a Miami missionary.

​ President Richardson actaully sent me a personal email. It said, "You two are "on fire"...! Now, stay focused, humble, grateful and most importantly "close" to Heavenly Father & the Holy Spirit....! ;-)"​ So it's clear that things are going well here and President didn't just forget us down here, President know's that the Lord wants us together down here!

Well, this week was really great! Lots of good things happening and lots to look forward to. We found another family that we are teaching and they also have dates for the 19th that brings our grand total of potentials with dates set for baptism to 13 for the month of October. I don't know if you remember this but October was the month I had my first baptism, October is special for me and we are going to celebrate it by baptizing a small nation down here. We are VERY EXCITED FOR THIS. I was worried that I would be leaving and missing all these AWESOME people that are SO CLOSE to baptism! BUT I AIN"T GUNNA.

This week we had an incredible speacialized training, its about a new Key Indicator for our mission, because everysoul is a soul and great is his (or her) worth in the eyes of God and now missionaries, its called the RESCUE and it helps us track and appreciate the In-active people that we help bring back, the "Lost Sheep" and celebrating as the Good Shepard would.

I am finding that I really am beginning to LOVE Florida, err Miami, I do not know what Florida is like but Miami is great, there is NEVER a dull moment always running always dodging, always energized... and I LOVE HUMIDITY... or at least I will pretend I do! Yesterday we got stuck in the most torential down pour I have been in, (we were on bike... we ran out of miles) and I realized how alive I felt, I was wet, to the bone I could not see and I had just hit a curb and hit my face on my handle bars, all around in a miserable condition, when I realized, someday I am going to laugh about how dumb it must have looked to see 2 kids in white shirts and ties as wet as we were furiously riding our bikes, and I decided right then... Why not enjoy it now? Why not laugh and have fun with it NOW? And so I am. Because in this infinite and eternal plan, everything is always moving forward and if we aren't, if we are standing still we are moving backward. We MUST​​ act a​nd not be acted upon. So I will act and I will enjoy my time EVERY moment.​

​I don't know where that tangent came from but yeah... Smiles act yeah... sunshine in my soul...

Any who there was more I wanted to say but I can't remember!

LOVE Y'ALL remember missionaries love letters, pictures, ties and socks.

STAY STRONG AND PUSH ON!!! WITH A SMILE

ELDER PARQUE

I love this boy!!

On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 1:38 PM, Janette Park  wrote:

Oh Yah, I forgot to tell you… From now on, you need to send me a g’bye, over n out, hasta la tootles or whatever. But, I need to know when you are walking away from the computer. Last week I sat there for about 30 min waiting, not knowing, wondering…..

Did you know that I love you? Very Much!!??

From: Tyler Park
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:44 AM
To: Janette Park
Subject: Re: Hmmm...

OOPS SORRY i FORGOT!​

On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 1:41 PM, Janette Park  wrote:

You didn’t answer the second question…

From: Tyler Park
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:46 AM
To: Janette Park
Subject: Re: Hmmm...

that was my answer to the second question... HAHA no I know you love me! thats why I look good wearing a new shirt!​ 

On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 1:43 PM, Janette Park  wrote:

You are such a stinker!!!

Btw, you look good no matter what you wear!

From: Tyler Park
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:50 AM
To: Janette Park
Subject: Re: Hmmm...

Maybe when I loose a few pounds and my suit pants start fitting again! haha But I learned from the Latin Ladies "el mas gordo es el mas feliz" also Latins LOVE calling each other little fat one... I hear all the time a husband so "Gordita, donde esta el pollo?"​

Week 52 In Ft. Lauderdale....

This week would have to be one that I will chalk up as a major miracle week. SO much happened, and I do NOT know how. I just know that God IS good and He loves us.

Near the end of last week a recent convert from the El Portal ward moved into our ward, it just so happens that El Portal is the ward that Elder W****** just served in and he knew her very well. While she is here she is living with her Uncle (long time Less-Active) and his wife and 5 daughters between 15-20 and 1 son (14) and they ALL are interested in finding a church and getting involved with good things (like Young Womens). It is super exciting to teach such a large family, its different though because you don't get to know each persons desires individually you have to teach to the crowd, like you would teach a Sunday school lesson. You go over it all but it's not customized specifically to each person. Miracle.

Then this same RC sister said that she has a friend that has met with the missionaries that is going to move in with her and be her room mate when they find a new place. And SHE wants to be baptized! Miracle.

Then we get a call from Bro. V****** telling us that he had received a call and an email from a Bishop in Colorado, about a family that just moved down here, apparently J****** lived up there and got really involved with the Young Women. She had made the decision to get baptized but had to move just before and the father was very close, too. They recommended that we go meet with them with the YW president. But before we could she walked in to Wednesday Night Activity because a member girl met her at school and invited her! MIRACLE.

K******* and R****, came back into the picture, and told us that they were going to Utah for a few days and they wanted to know what they should do in Salt Lake to learn about the Church! We sent them to Temple Square and the whole time they were talking about how BEAUTIFUL and powerful it all was! Miracle.

And A** got BAPTIZED!!! MIRACLE!!! There were a few obstacles but, they have been over come! She got in and got dunked by her Father-in-law and it was just a beautiful sight!

But this whole time I was fighting... We ate some Balleadas that I believe had some bad creama in them and there has been Hot Firery Lava in my stomach every since, I was able to fight it from Thursday - Sunday but after church yesterday it stopped me... NO BUENO.

Anyway that was the week it was great! We had fun, we worked hard, we saw success.

STAY STRONG, PUSH ON

Elder Parque

Week 51 In Ft. Lauderdale....

The week of  O (zero)

This week we brought O people to sacrament, O is sad when you see it in 1 area but worse in a District and even worse in a Zone. And that's what happened this week O investigators at sacrament for an entire zone! This causes for some serious introspection, and a real search as to why this happened, could it be that we were un-worthy? Were we lazy? Did we not do everything possible? It really makes you wonder...

But then you realize... There was no sacrament this week! and you feel A LOT better! phew!

This week we had stake conference, which means as most y'all know that there was no sacrament service. Stake conference has always been... not my favorite... it's long... boring... old stake people are talking... But as a missionary my view has changed! Stake conference is awesome! Why? Because I have served in this same stake my entire mission so far! I knew people in 3 out of the 5 units that actually met there! AND THEY ALL LOVE ME!!! Hermana R**** from Blue Lagoon brought Balleadas to give to us! WHAT!? She brought food for a missionary that she hasn't seen in upwards of 8 months! What a lovely lady! I also saw D***********, I am not sure if you will remember that name he was the 1st baptism of my mission, he is now ASSISTANT WARD MISSION LEADER has the Melchizedek Priesthood and in the middle of October will be arriving at a year of being a member and GO TO THE TEMPLE!!! and I am invited to attend with him! and so is Elder L***. I cannot even tell you how excited this makes me! I was SO happy I was practically giggling inside! (they have permission from Pres Richardson to join him!)

The Stake Conference was focused almost solely on the Temple and it was cool to see how they asked different people from different stages in life to speak, 1 soon to be missionary, and RM, a recently sealed to her husband lady, the Temple Pres, and Stake pres and so on.

Our MMA fighter and Master Chef are awesome and are making steady progress towards this weekend! She is actually looking for White Clothing because she is afraid that what we have won't fit and will be too see through, which is probably true, and she says that she's bringing lots of family and doesn't want to worry about that sort of stuff, the way she talked about it really reminded me of how my Mom talks, if any of you know her she is border line inappropriate. Anyway... They are set on making this happen! And she is already making friends with ladies in the ward that like disaster preparation, and what not and they are talking about starting a preparation class its cool, she's already acting like a ward member!

I got a real hair cut!!

The barber school here does $3 haircuts on Friday... they are FAR better that our own but a LONG way from Kim!

Buckets of Rain

The floating highway from the mainland to
Key Largo. The Atlantic Ocean is on the
left, the Gulf of Mexico is on the right.

We had to make a trip to Largo this week to visit some referrals and Less-actives, when we left it was bright and sunny, but about half way there, it DUMPED on us... and you can't turn back until you are there. Once you are there, you can't waste miles and go home so you have to work through it.​ So, we did, to little success. But it was enjoyable to work in the rain.

Crazy Storm!

Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic Ocean

Marsh in the Gulf

... YES we did and I know what ya mean now mmmmm

Oh! I bought you real Key Lime juice so that you can make real Key Lime pie! then I got home and found out it was from concenrate and had a funny additive so it isn't pure... BUT KEY LIME PIE!!!! I know you love it.​ I have told him since before he left Utah to make sure that when he gets to The Keys, he gets himself a Choc Dipped Frozen Key Lime Pie. He finally did!!

There happens to be Nerf Gun Wars in the Missionary Home.
The ammo tends to hide in pockets, to be found at odd times.

Anyway... LOVE Y'ALL

Stay Strong, Push ON!!

ELDER PARQUE

Week 50 In Ft. Lauderdale....

Let me start this letter by stating that Elder W****** is Bat-Crap-Crazy... and I love it. He is AWESOME.

This week has been fun! LOTS of amazing things going on an lots of beautiful souls!! I thought I would let you know about the Beautiful baptism of 9-year-old C***-M**** P****, She has to be one of the brightest girls that I know... Second only to my beautiful sister. We have been trying to get her baptized for a few weeks now, a majority of her family are members so it wasn't hard it was just timing, getting the family active and not just baptizing her and releasing her! At her baptism there was a wonderful spirit. It was funny because as she got it the water she kinda froze... it wasn't cold, she just got nervous. So I kinda had to pic her up and position her and she just kinda tipped over like a board. When she came out still just as stiff as a rod, she said afterwards that it was because as she got it the water she remembered that she had forgotten her towel.

This week I think that we met the most unique couple I have ever met in my life. About a month ago we received a referral that sounded awesome. Basically it said I want to be baptized and sealed to my husband, I know this process takes a year and I want to get started. We tried to set something up but she told us that her husband was out of town and that he would be back in a few weeks. And so this week we go and meet them, he is a member. As we walk in we a greeted by a giant of a man, 6 foot 9. And as we start to get to know them, we learn that after high school he went to an open try-out for the Marlins... and made it... they started him in AAA to start, pitched a great season and just before his first game the next season, he threw the ball funny to his niece and messed his elbow up. He decided that meant it was time for him to go to school, but in school he got involved in MMA... And that is want he does now as a living... He makes a living fighting and teaching Mixed Martial Arts. That's incredible right! His wife has just as incredible of a story! She tried out for Master Chef last season and made it to the last 100 out of thousands, and was asked to be on this season that starts in October... Lets just say that I have NEVER tasted a more flavorful Chicken Parm in my life! The food we ate there changed my life... And she plans to feed us each time we come over... Let's just say this family is going to become a life long friend... and I may not come back to Utah... Not Funny!! I will drag him back, kicking and screaming!

Well there is so much more to tell y'all and just is not enough time! Just know we are having fun and getting stuff done, little a this, a little a that, and a whole lotta love.

oh NUMBER 1 funny thing of the week:

While harvesting the other elders harvested a couch... literally harvested it, and now it is stored in our home...

Now that's what you call Harvesting!

Then Yesterday as they drop talked an investigator... they took her couch too... 2 new couches!!! 

I hope there's no bedbugs in them! BTW, I took these 2 pictures from Elder W******'s mom. They must be using 2 different computers, cause Elder Park's computer is "too slow" for him to do more than 1 picture..... Elder W****** must have the fast one....

STAY STRONG!! PUSH ON!!!

ELDER PARQUE

Being Reprimanded.... hehehe...

Silly email conversation with Elder Park:

Did you figure out that I have connected with Elder W******’s mom? Scary thought, huh?  ;)

Yeah I did... He says that his mom thinks its a little weird... JK

I don’t believe that! She was excited to reach out, we had a whole long FB conversation. She said that she wants to do lunch when she comes up to visit family!! hehehe!

E. W****** says "OH Boii" to the lunch...

Hehehe!! You boys are stinkers! Are you saying that we are not trustworthy? I couldn’t imagine that I would give her a buddy pass and the two of us fly out to have lunch in Homestead….

haha... NO.

Well, how rude!

Obedience brings forth the blessings of heaven.

I trust you to make the correct decision.

Lol, I love being reprimanded by my son. It is quite entertaining!! ;)

Life is one circle, as thou repremandest me in my youth, I as thou, repremandest thou in thy old age. Did you ever get my birthday card, Mrs. 41?

Yes, I did get the card. Thank you! I don’t think it was very kind of you to make sure that the Postal Peeps know how old I am!             ~He wrote ALL over the envelope to let everyone know it was my b-day and my new age!!

I thought that was funny! LOVE YOU GOT TO GO!!

Week 49 In Ft. Lauderdale....

I hope that you all caught on that it is Labor day so we have P-day today! Any who, this keyboard stinks!!!

I don't know if I told you but M*** M******* the cute Cuban lady that got really sick came back into the picture! In fact she was baptized MONDAY!!! It was incredibly exciting! We didn't know how it would happen, but it did! She is alive and kickin' and lovin' the gospel!

Here It our main gal M***
and Yes, E. W****** is a giant.

This week was a purifier week. Elder W****** and I talked and realized that we both had developed some bad habits from last transfer that needed some riddance and some improvement! And so this week we "purified ourselves" not completely its an on going struggle each and every day to better ones self and how you act and what you do. It is easier stop doing what you are supposed to than to start, But we are doing good and we are already seeing improvements in all areas!

M*** was really our major focus for the week and we are continuing that focus on her to help her find member friends and to excel in the gospel. We are very excited for her!

Read an OLD story in a book from Mathew Cowley called "Miracles" HERE is a link to the full audio (on BYU discourses), and here is a link to the shorten Ensign edition. But the stories that this Authority shares are incredible! And have built my faith, to think that the people doubted not the power of God and literal MIRACLES happened in blinks of an eye! That is the Faith that I am trying to build and have.

I know this is short but if you read that talk even the short one.

 It'll change your life.

Elder Park

Stay Strong, Push on!

O! and for the 1st time in the mission I spoke in Sacrament and I did it IN SPANISH!!

Week 48 In Ft. Lauderdale...

 I stole the pictures from Elder Park's new companion's mom! Apparently, the computers are not too slow for Elder W****** to send pics to his Mama!!  A little bitter? Maybe...

Part of MY email to Elder Park last week:

So?!?! New Companion – What’s his name? Where’s he from? What’s he like? Family? Etc…? And the other new Companion in your house??

I had a really weird dream last night! Your new companion was a Sister Missionary!! And you 2 did NOT get along! It was really funny.

... your dream is a little more true than you would think... this was a weird transfer meeting I am in a tripanionship... in the morning we have to go to the YSA sisters house and pick up Sis Clayton... then in the evening drop her back off... I don't know why they don't give her to the YSA sisters! I cant even say this with out smiling because of how stupid it sounds. He is such a booger!! Ryan and I totally fell for it!

Now, I am going to ask… I know you don’t want to talk about it, but…. Why don’t you guys talk about “time” in the mission field? Several of the other Missionary Moms have talked about their kids having a little half day party thing. Either tie trading or burning of the shirt or something to mark the day. Why don’t you the FFL Missionaries do that?

Ok. because we are better missionaries... JK.. I did burn a tie, but it is a solemn occasion of much mourning. This is our only chance to serve with ALL our Heart Might Mind and Strength HMMS. You want it to be longer not shorter.

Ok...

Elder W******

Height: 6 Foot 2

Weight: 185 lbs

Eye: Golden Brown

Hair: Light Brown

Shoe:12

Waist: 32in

Inseam:33

Hometown: Las Vega, Nevada

Name of First Date: Courtney

High School Mascot: MUSTANGS!! ~ How cool is that?!?!

IS THAT ENOUGH INFORMATION?

He is a good kid knows what needs to be done and we get it done! He served in El Portal last and ALL Spanish ward and down here where all that I have done is both its hard for him to switch back and forth between Spanish and English. Per P. Richardson's order one day is all Spanish communication between the two of us and the next we can do English it really helps us learn more, because I speak Spanish, just not nicely. I have learned a lot more already. We get along really well and have a good amount in common. He reminds me faintly of E****** W********, just because the have similar mannerisms, talks about the same things, and wants to live on a farm in Montana. Also the finger hand thing, they do that a like as well... I think that's probably the closest connection to describe him.

This week has been interesting... We ran out of miles... We have been biking... FAR... We were used to using the car to get around and we were working rather far from the house, but now that we are out of miles we are paying for it!

But let me tell you we had a surprise and transfers... There was a new Stake created up north and because of that a lot of shuffling of areas followed. Some wards we dissolved or split, others move to different stakes, areas were created, deleted, swapped from Elders to Sisters and others vice versa, IT WAS CRAZY. Before the transfer read out, the APs exhausted from the night before with President Richardson, gave an introduction like a pilot in a plane, "Elders and Sisters please buckle-up we are about to experience some turbulence, real revelation is about to be unfolded before your eyes." It was an exciting transfer meeting!

Y**** E******* (the Father) was ordained a priest on Sunday and the bishop said, "in 2 weeks I want you to bless the Sacrament, have the Elders show you where to find it and study it, this is important stuff."

M***!! Has set herself with a date to be baptized this Sunday! We are VERY excited! So is she! This week she is giving up coffee and tea. I can't believe how hard this is for people, but I imagine it would be the same if I told Mom to stop drinking Diet Coke... She would kill someone if she didn't have it in her system... He knows me so well!! 

New scripture... well old scripture and one I have read a million times but new meaning now. "...whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 16: 25) I just really like the idea of finding who I really am as I lose myself in the work, its comforting to know that the Old with be made New again, that through the refiners fire, the impurities can be burned out and I will become a better disciple of Jesus the Christ.

Have you ever heard of Ceviche? (I think that is how it is spelled.) it's a fish dish, sorry mom. But it is REALLY unusual, the most traditional is uncooked, but some now slightly cook it before, but it is just soaked in Lime and Lemon so much that its "cooked" its really unusual, I haven't decided if I like it or not, it doesn't taste like fish, mostly lemon and cilantro, I dunno... last time I had it, it wasn't just fish there was shrimp and squid and octopus in it. It is a VERY traditional Peruvian dish.

Anyway not sure what else to tell ya! My new companion has crashed 4 times in the 5 days we have been together. I learned that the lbs. we use for "pounds" really comes from "Libras" and its Latin root. There are other essential oils, my companion has a large variety of tiny jars, he LOVES the "fumer" "puff daddie" "huffin machine" He mixes all kinds of cocktails in there. It's called a diffuser, silly boys....

Stay Strong, and PUSH ON!

Elder Park!