Week 74 In Ft. Lauderdale....

I have met some people here that I know I was supposed to meet and that I am here to help come closer to our Heavenly Father. This week was an incredible week here for us in the Belle Glade area. We left the Zone Conference with full intentions of finding a family. But by the end of the day... we found 3 and those 3 lead us to others. We are working with 1 J*** family (7 in total Father, Mother, and children) that are very excited about the Gospel and have had many encounters with "Mormons" before. We are also teaching 2 other "J***" families all Haitian and none related. (I find that weird). But then we are also teaching 2 English families (mom and dad need to get married) but they are wonderful as well. The interesting thing about all of these families is that they have been leading us to others to teach! And the "investigator pool" is filling its self.

I also really love the members here in Belle Glade they all have their own quirks and plans for missionary work but they all are trying their best. Bro. P****** and I have really gotten along. He is the new 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency and he is really stepping up to the plate and trying to do his very best. He asked me to help him review the words for a Melchizedek Priesthood Ordination, and he has been following up with us on our investigators that he has taught with us!

This week in my studies I was really trying to figure out what I am really here for. I couldn't help but notice that some of the same difficulties I was having last transfer in the Okeechobee/Vero Beach District were happening here in the Zone as well, so I know that I have been prepared to do this, but I was wondering what makes me unique and why I was sent here. And it dawned on me. I can help because I have served in similar area, I know that I am in Belle Glade to Find, teach and Baptize. But I am here in the Royal Glades Zone to TEACH how to do those things and most importantly how to TEACH to be responsible and active in the F, T, B, RT, and RA effort. And I realized as I looked over my personal performance this month I realized that I was lacking and therefore my stewardship did as well. I was focused on things that were unimportant and unrelated and indulgent. I indulged in the fact that I didn't understand the language, that I was new to the area, that I didn't know how to Zone Lead. And there for my stewardship indulged in similar things. So I committed that this month is going to be different that I am going to take a more active role and step up.

When it comes to birthday things all went well. I got the package on my birthday we had to go to wellington as well so we ate at Buffalo Wild Wings it was real good. then as we were proselyting another Investigator family invited us in to have dinner with them! And as we did we found more and more of them were excited about the gospel, 7 of them in total!! I really enjoyed the ties and the brownies I will send a pic next week because my camera is in Belle Glade and I am in Wellington. There wasn't too much that was super special about my birthday, but it is a birthday I will never forget!

This week we also had a Zone conference and it went really well! Pres. trained on Preach My Gospel and the APs trained on finding and working with only the elect. and there were some real improvements throughout the mission because of it. The training was a real faith booster and was sorely needed. I have seen some definite changes in the mission culture just in my time here. Both for the good and for the worse. But I know that we will continue to improve if we still keep on listening to our leaders.

Well I want to bear you all my testimony that I know that this is the Lord's work and that it is up to all of us to help it move along! I know that Jesus Christ lived and still lives for us to improve and change. And I know that we can live with him. And I say this in His name, Jesus Christ's amen.

I love you all

Stay strong, push on

Elder Parque