Week 77 In Ft. Lauderdale....

March 23. 2015

Well it was another great week, We were able to participate in the Baptism and confirmation of the son of our most recent convert, adding another individual to the ward and beginning the process for unifying this family for eternity. Both are now preparing to go to the temple to the the baptism for their late son, J***, the father will stand in for baptism and the other son will stand in for the confirmation. They are also excited to get the missionaries to visit their family that is still in Haiti. The whole family is excited about the gospel. This week we have already set plans to take them out to teach with us.

We still have plans to baptize a potential of 4 more this month, we have a very solid lady "Serette" who is preparing to be baptized this Saturday and a potential of 3 on the 31st. And we are going to do everything possible to make that happen. We are also actively looking to find people for April as well.

When it comes to my studies I have learned a lot about the importance of commitment to your own goals and dedication towards achieving them. There's a talk that I read called "The word is Commitment" and it talks about how we can do anything, that is given, Christ's Atonement affords that for us, but it is up to us to make the thing we desire our main priority and do everything that we can to achieve it. IF you want to baptized THEN you will do all that is possible to make it happen. The thing to remember is that it doesn't happen always on your time frame. You have to keep enduring and doing all that is possible and it will come.

I think that's a thorough update... But just so you know, time move very regularly mother. Just because you got a letter, does not mean that time will move more quickly there is still a LONG time ahead of you...

This week was AFROarts festival on Saturday night... lets just say the Hood came out to play. We were stuck in a traffic jam for 15 minutes right next to a G-whip bumpin music louder than imaginable with ghetto girls in booty shorts blockin our way. They couldn't hear my horn over the music! It was a so funny. But sad. Anyway that's

a little glimpse of Belle Glade.

Stay Strong, Push On

Elder Parque

Week 76 In Ft. Lauderdale....

March 17, 2015

March 17, 2015

Burning the fields.

This was a great week! Every week is, but this one stands out. We baptized Brother N***! It was a great little service and the spirit was so high. And we visited with him yesterday and he was telling us about how much he has changed and you could see in his face how different he is! Also during the service his son asked if he could be baptized as well as so now we are teaching him, and one of our dates that had to be postponed came and said she felt bad that she was not baptized Saturday as well and that nothing was going to stop her from being baptized this Saturday. We are very excited.

I went on an exchange with Elder K******* and we were talking about what success is as a missionary and we determined that you are successful if you can still feel the spirit. Alma 8:14-15 talks about this Alma was dejected and not seeing "worldly success" but as he left is was obvious that he was doing everything right or else he would not have been able to qualify for the visit from the Angel.

Our area is doing well we have several more dates for this weekend and next and we are already setting dates for the 11th of April as well! We are VERY excited.

On a less missionary related note, I have coerced  one of the Elders in the apartment to be my personal trainer and help me loose weight. He showed me some stats and now I know I need to increase my protein intake and he has RAMPED up my work outs... Imma look good.

legim

Part of the reason I need to loose weight is because... Haitian food. I told you Latin food was greasy and fatty... Haitian take it to a whole new level... pics to come. The Picture I am sending is of a meal called legim they make a HUGE pot at the beginning of the week and eat it through out the week. Take every vegetable you can imagine and some that you haven't seen yet and boil it in a pot for 3 hours. shred it up. add some boiled meat and almost a whole bottle of oil. and simmer for another few hours until its nice and thick. Also the meat is chopped with bone in so there is a TON of bone shards all over.... NO BUENO... Pa Bon menm... pics will follow!

Of course on the day my companion and I are to give Zone Training, I have food poisoning... Yay! And of course President is coming and I can't really reschedule this... so I grab a bottle of ginger ale and pepto for the ride to the training and prayed that all goes well... I took a swig of pepto right before the training and put on a big smile and tried not to fall over during the training and you know what! I made it God really helped me out I was able to be on the ball all through the training and then as soon as it was over boom sick again. But President said he ""Loved"" our training.

AND YUP that's about it!!

Stay Strong Push ON!!

Elder Parque!

p.s. I will get my bike from the office next Tuesday...

Conversation:

Elder: And I will inform you that NO one is transferring, in fact in my whole zone of 14 1 elder is leaving... kinda boring!

Me: Are you staying as Zone Leader?

Elder: yes... bleh

Me: Lol! My condolences!

Elder: This whole "leadership" stuff is so over rated. Especially when there are a few that don't like authority figures.

Me: I do feel for ya. It is hard, there are always going to be some people that either don't like you or don't like how you lead or just don't like being lead. But, then you get some who are so grateful and so appreciative. When you get those it is worth all the other crap.

 Just in the last week I have gotten an email from one and an IM from another crewmember. They both left my team this last shift bid. They wanted to let me know how much they appreciated that I showed such caring for them, but also held them accountable for their actions. That, right there, makes it worth it.

 You may not get that yet, but don't be discouraged. President Richardson has faith in you. Follow his example. 

Elder: Yeah I know. And I am doing my best to really help out everybody. I don't know what president sees but I am trying to see it too!

but I REALLY thought that I would train this transfer!!! I am one of the OLDEST missionaries sin-hijo!

Me: Have you let him know you are interested in training? Maybe he is saving your last 12 weeks for trainer as your "last hurrah"...

Elder: Oh he knows I want to train... I think he counts my 2 with E. W****** and 2 with E. B**** as training... haha But he knows, I let him know. He probably is saving it, I just think that's mean to a greenie but oh well, we will see what happens.

Me:Why is that mean? Because you aren't focused and a bit trunky?

Elder: a greenie would be taking me on my final day to transfers while he still has 2  years ahead of him that's a psychological mind

​game that nobody wants... but we will see.​

Me: So, if no one in your house is getting transferred, do you still go to the zone meeting?

Elder: nope. and that means you need to send a bottle of jam.

Me: Haha! I can do that! Peach, strawberry or pear?

Week 75 In Ft. Lauderdale....

March 9, 2015

Well great this week was good. We had a great Mission Leadership Council this week and we learned a lot of great things that are going to help our mission achieve our goals. The main focus was on accountability and setting expectations. Which are wonderful principles that everybody should learn. 

There were a lot of great things that happened this week one of them being that we were able, with the help of the Lord, to bring​ 5 people to sacrament meeting and set all 5 of them with dates.

There is a lot going on but I really can't wrap my head around it all to tell you what is all going down, but this week we will be giving a training and President will be in attendance.

Just know I am doing well and I am very busy! The good kind of busy!

Stay Strong, Push On!!

Elder Parque

Getting a replacement bike...

Me: I just saw Dad's question about the bike. It just reminded me that I haven't called CTR, I will take care of it today and get it paid for. Hopefully, they are not waiting for the payment to get the new one sent out to you. I'm sorry, if that is the case!!
  

Elder :new bike! is it the same one? or a different one?

Me: He said it is the same bike that we had purchased. So I am thinking it is the same one. Do you think you want to bring it home with you or leave it for an incoming missionary?

Elder: well if its going to be a brand new bike... it should be worth it to take home...

Me: Well, that is true. And you will be used to having a bike as transportation. Do you think you could ride it all the way to North Salt Lake every day? ;)

Elder: trax is now in day break and then

Me: Yes, that is true. Trax will help out quite a bit! Garret might be willing to share Nora with you if you ask nicely!

Elder: ... I doubt that will work... the 2 of us sharing a car? What I might do is "ride with dad" for a few months until I can afford a car. and us my bike to get around town. I actually learned that I do enjoy biking, and I will need to loose some weight when I get home.

Me: I am sure you will have some help. That's good that you do enjoy biking. How has it been going with borrowing bikes the last few weeks?

Elder: all good I normally have to help them repair their bikes first because they don't take care of them. I can ride a good bike. not a crappy one.

Me: It's a good thing that you had a Comp that taught you how to take care of  a bike! You can share that with the other missionaries!

Cute Conversation About Elder Park's Little Sister....

Me: Leah’s PTC went great! I pray that she stays this way all through school!!

The teachers love her! She is helpful and so smart. She is getting a 4.0 as of right now. Last quarter she got a 3.95, but one of her teachers found some work that she had forgotten to enter. She got it corrected and it updated her GPA to 4.0. Leah is really happy about that. One teacher wants her to try out for Debate next year and the other wants her to do Choir. She does have a pretty voice, it would be nice for her to learn how to use it better.

Elder Park: ... NOT DEBATE... we will never be able to tell her she is wrong that's like giving her lessons on arguing!!!! Choir sounds like a great idea!

Me: HAHAHA!!

She already won’t let anyone tell her she is wrong!

Elder Park: so don't let her get better at doing so!

Me: Now come on, let’s look at it this way… She needs to be able to stand up for herself when it comes to boys. ;)

Garret won’t let us even talk about those kinds of things, he is not ok with the “boy” conversation.

Elder Park: what do you mean "boys" she only has "girls" from now on.

Me: Well, you are two years older and shockingly, so is your little sister! And, your younger brother!

 

Elder Park: Garret can grow up all he wants but Leah is always 11 to me...

I thought about that a lot I am always surprised by how much she has grown, Garret meh, I knew he would, but I thought I would come home to my ittie bittie little sister! I never planned on her growing!

Me: It is kinda weird, isn’t it? She is becoming a beautiful young lady! She is smart and kind and wants to help others. She still does argue with us and Garret. She is responsible and makes sure that she does what is asked of her. With her calling in church, Beehive Pres, she has meetings almost every Sunday after church. She never misses her meetings and is always prepared.

Elder Park: wow she is growing up! is she eating vegetables yet?

Me: Hahaha!! No!

Proof that she still isn't as grown up as she wants to be!

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

Week 73 In Ft. Lauderdale....

HE IS FIGURING IT OUT!! THE LAST PARAGRAPH WAS AWESOME TO READ!! HEHE!


Well this week was a boring week! There was no extraordinary trips to take not mishaps with the car. (other than I think someone tried to break in). We were able to have a regular (for the most part) week!!! It was so nice! This week we were able to find 3 new families to teach and they are all incredible. And most of them are English so I can teach!.

I am starting to get the gist of the conversations in Creole but I am still hopelessly lost. But there is improvement in sight! 

Miracles of this week! E**** (that's a first name) came to church. He is a Haitian man new to the are a and he was on FaceBook and mentioned that he needed to find a church to go to and one of his friends saw it and it reminded her that she hasn't been to church in a long time so she told him that she was going to church and that he could go with her. So he came we were like "who you is" and he didn't understand so we said "komunman ou rele" (how you called) and he said E****, we set up an appointment for that night. on our way to the appointment we were delayed so we got there 30 mins late. We apologized but he said it didn't matter because we represent Jesus and if we say we are coming we are coming. we taught him and a friend a great lesson (or my companion did...haha) and all went well. Then after after they told us how excited they had been, when E**** told his friend I******* that we were coming they realized they didn't have chairs for us to sit in, so they ran around town looking for chairs and found some for us and cleaned them and covered them with a sheet for us. They are great guys.

Another thing that I wanted to tell you is that Haitians have weird jokes, one that they love is translated to "its supposed to be black but it is really white..." ... ... ... ... MICHEAL JACKSON!!! ohahahAHAHAHA they get so cracked up over that.

Some things are getting more stressful with the new assignment, the same sort of things that were happening last time. These kind of problems always seem to be near me... there are very few of them in the mission but they are always near me. I think God is telling me that I should have caused my parents less problems... Parents are leaders assigned by God so their advice is good and should be followed and it will be better for you. I think I will write a talk on that and send it to Bishop Richins and have him give it to the youth. 

I WISH I WAS A BETTER CHILD... especially now that I am kinda an adult...

Welp. People seem excited that I am turning 20 so yay! It's great! 

Love yall babye!

Stay Strong Push ON!!

ELDER PARQUE

Week 72 In Ft. Lauderdale....

Well, Elder Park neglected to mention in today's email that his bike vanished. From what we understand, they strapped it to the bike rack on the car and drove to "who knows where", when they arrived his bike was gone. We only have 5 months left!! I didn't want to purchase a new bike for such a short period of time. So... THANK GOODNESS for CTR BIKES!! I am so glad that we bought his bike through them! They will be replacing the bike with a brand new, same model bike! It was worth the extra $79 that we paid 18 months ago!!

Belle Glade...Stinks... literally. At night they "burn the corn" and it smells like death, dog crap, and corn. Because that's how they farm out here and produce corn products. With FIRE!!! I still am not exactly sure how it works but they light whole fields on fire an acre at a time! They grow a field then light it on fire, just to do it again because cane grows quick, I haven't been able to see how they harvest the cane after it is burnt. It just appears to me like they create a wasteland.

About everybody speaks Creole but I did find some Spanish hovels to hang in and teach a little, its funny because, I will sit and twiddle my thumbs for one lesson and then my companion will do the same the next, then we will see some English ghetto lady and we will speak some English and then do it again. (That is why I would really like a Haitian Creole work book) But I am already beginning to understand A LOT and it is sounding more like a language and less like a food processor.

Most of the people here work in something related to corn or sugar cane production, and its "the season" and the men tend to work well into the night. So that  makes it difficult but it just has to be dealt with.

The people around here also do not move fast. they mosie (?) across the streets making traffic stop. If they don't have anything to do they play a gruesome game of dominoes that involves clothes pins on their face or they just sit in the middle of no where... doing nothing. This place is the definition of Ghetto. It's not the Hood this is just a terrible contradiction, full of  tough hard-workers, and Lazy bums. People trying to make dreams come true, and people content bumming for cigarettes. Its inspiring and excruciating.

But people love us Jesus boys.

That is why we are able to find a ton of people and teach a lot, the Haitians really love that my companion speaks creole, but they love even more that I don't but am trying. I have already been offered 2 daughters and 3 grand daughters. (So I know that getting married after the mission will be easy if I can't find anyone at home I can come here!) Unfortunately Creole is an extremely vague language, it is french spoken in a caveman like grammar, and so some of the more intricate parts of the gospel have to be VERY blunt or they are misunderstood. (we have had to correct a few Chastity issues with members)

But otherwise everything is going well save mike bike falling of the back of the car and either being beamed up by aliens or snatched by a Haitian before we could turn around...

But this trippin' place nothin' to throw round here. Just gotta tighten up and all will be 'ight.

Stay Strong, Push on.

Elder Parque

P.S. we were also called some hoodrats n-word- translation: we are their brothers. That was a proud moment.

P.P.S. "neg" in creole translates directly to ''Black Man" but its connotation is dude so a common salute is Saka Fet Neg or whats up black man to everybody white or black

We had a baptism lined up for Saturday but Satan of his boss cheats and called him to Miami to work over the weekend.