Week 81 In Ft. Lauderdale....

April 20, 2015

Well this week was just as busy as last, in fact I think every week is very busy, and you know I think that I like being busy. Life is easier when you have things to do, you don't have time to worry! This week I went on 2 exchanges where I stayed in the area... do you know how hard it is to plan a day in Belle Glade with out Creole? Its like trying to push water back in the faucet. But it made the day fun I used some good old sign language.

We have been working a lot in a town a little North of Belle Glade named Pahokee, if anyone can tell me that means in some Indian language that would be nice. Pahokee is a pretty sketchy place, its a weird cross of backwoods hick and ghetto thug (we don't walk around with much money in our pockets) but so far the people have been really nice and have been really accepting. Our biggest problem is convincing them to drive to Belle Glade. 

On our way to Pahokee one day we decided to take a different route through the fields and we came across a hidden trailer-park filled with... MEXICAN FAMILIES!!! And really good families! The kind that go on walks! And the Dads play soccer with the kids!!! We knocked 6 doors and found 5 families! And the families all knew each other and when we went back to teach one family with plans to see the others after, the others saw us and came over! We were teaching a class! There were 12 of them. So I had some fun!

But as for other details I went on an exchange with the assistants and learned a lot about Administering and Ministering, they are different. We did a service project repairing a deck... the other three missionaries are not so handy, but they learned. I sure am thankful for the things I learned around the house and the fact that Dad taught us how to solve problems and work.

I don't really know what else but I love ya'll!!

Stay Strong, Push On

Elder Parque

Week 80 In Ft. Lauderdale....

April 13, 2015

Yes, My Companion  is "That Guy"

Well this was a week... A LOT... and I mean a whole freaking ton of crap happened...

Just so that I can give you a quick overview, Monday- Zone activity P-day, Tuesday-Interviews with President, Wednesday- Zone Training exchange, Thursday un-exchange a find out we are going to the temple, Friday-TEMPLE, Saturday- get home from temple late... Sunday- Church and Stake Presidency meetings... EVERY DAY was filled with adventure!!

First off, I got some letters saying that I sounded "down" last week... I was not... I had had a very exhausting week and was trying to email with 10 other missionaries in the same room... I was a little distracted. Last week was incredible! Last month our mission had the most baptisms that we have had since President Richardson got here and it was exhausting (and rewarding) work to push as hard as we all did! SO NO I AM NOT DISCOURAGED NOR SAD!!! I am ELDERPARK!

We will put that a side for now and I will tell you that this week was the happiest and the saddest week of my mission. It was a freaking roller coaster. I felt like a 12 year old girl... My emotions were so freaking high!

We had interviews with President Richardson on Tuesday, we were also expected to had a District Leadership Training the same day. Which meant that we needed to be in Wellington at 4:30pm and leave Belle Glade at 3:00pm (that's 1500 hrs mom). Does anyone know how effective the hours from noon to 3 are in Belle Glade? 90% of the population is out in the fields at that time pickin' corn! NO ONE IS HOME. Anyway we tried our best and then left for Wellington, we had a great DLT (ending at 5:00pm or 1700) We then proceeded to wait for our turn... Interviews are supposed to be 15 minutes... President NEVER only takes 15 minutes! Our interviews were scheduled to be at 630pm and 645pm with me going first I didn't start my interview until 745pm... Now the whole scheduling thing and time crunch were not the stressful parts of the day. President decided that these interviews would be us interviewing or asking him questions... But gosh dang it he sure pushed towards his own direction! Man I had a specific agenda I wanted to talk about, but no he had to talk about completely other things that I hadn't intended. I swear his purpose was to make me tear up! But it was a very spiritual experience and I learned a lot.

Well with that over we started out on Wednesday with Zone Training, that went really well, we shared everything that we had been given in MLC the week prior. But after when everyone came back to the church for lunch, we found out that one of the Sisters in our zones back problems had been worsening, but we didn't think much about that. After lunch I headed to Jupiter North on exchange with my new bike I bought a helmet when we got there but they didn't have a good lock so I borrowed another Elders. On the exchange we had some very spiritual experiences, and we were definitely in the right place at the right time.

Thursday was a pretty normal day, other than we found out that we were going to go to the Temple Friday night with one of Elder F******' converts in Ft. Laud.

Friday we prepared to the temple and right as we are about to leave we get a text from the sister's stating that the sister with back problems will be going home... YOU DON'T JUST TEXT THAT!! So we called them and had a big chat and found out that she will be going home for surgery and that she will be leaving Tuesday (tomorrow). That was not a happy moment right before we go to the temple, but luckily we had a missionary in our zone who had gone home for surgery and returned so we had him call her and calm her fears. And the we were off to the temple, since it was a 730 session we would not have been able to make it back to Belle Glade at a reasonable hour, so we spent the night with some missionaries in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a great experience to go back again and I learned a lot!

Saturday was just flat busy trying to get home and round people up for church.

Sunday right after church we had to head to a stake meeting in Jupiter (hour drive) with the Stake President and President Richardson... That was an interesting meeting... Basically it is us telling the stake president what the wards need to do better... Its a great learning experience and it is full of opportunities that help you understand how the church works.

But let me tell you that basically everything that happened this week taught me about to things that I thought were the same but are not, Ministering and Administering, a good leader understands that both are key to creating growth and improvement. They are different but essential and necessary. And just these meetings this week I know have helped me prepare better to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He needs of me. I don't know why I had these experiences but I know they were all important.

Anyway I love you and miss y'all

Stay Strong, Push ON!!

ELDER PARQUE

Week 79 In Ft. Lauderdale....

April 6, 2015

Got the bike its the same model but a year or two newer and it looks sick! But I now need to get a new lock and helmet. but that's ok

We baptized on Tuesday this week. We had set a goal for 5 baptisms this month and on the 31st we achieved our goal with 2 incredible young men! A*** and J****** J***. stellar Haitian youth. Did you hear about the temple in Haiti.

Easter we just watched conference! that was BOSS

Well this week started off big! We had the baptism of Andy and Johnson Jean on Tuesday and they were baptized by their neighbor and recent convert L******* A*****. It was really good and it gave a huge boost to the Young Men's program! And their mother (the lady in the picture) now wants to be baptized as well and we are working with her!

Yeah, just our new ride....

Then we went to a 7-hour missionary leadership meeting in Ft. Lauderdale with the Global Director of Proselyting. And receive a TRUCK load of information teaching us how to really be missionaries. 

We also have been instructed on how to plan better, its worth taking more time to plan than to go out unprepared!

Then of course on Saturday and Sunday we spent the combined 10 hours in the branch building watching conference!

But for the most part that was our week, VERY busy but not very exciting!

LOVE YOU 

STAY STRONG and PUSH ON!!
Elder Parque!

Food...

Elder: 

More of Belle Glade... 

Fire everywhere!

I am not sending that pic to tell you that I like Haitian food... its so you can see my pain... MAKE LEAH SEE THIS!!!

Me: Is it a "controlled" farm fire burn?

O My..... I don't even know what too say about that food..... Cow Pie?

Elder: ... yeah to both...

Me: What is in it?

Elder: EVERYTHING... its just boiled all together.

Me: Is that how ALL Haitian food is?

Elder: ... alot of it... 

Me: Leah is gagging over here...

Elder: yeah... I was too...

Me: Does it taste ok though?

Elder: no.

Thats no.(period)

Week 78 In Ft. Lauderdale....

March 30, 2015

Baptism

Ugh… Boo doo da doo boo … ugh… Boo doo da doo boo… ugh 6:30 already… ugh… rustle, rustle… thud. Silence as the apartment prays. Then mid-prayer I am reminded that it is Saturday… Why is Saturday so important? S******* baptism! I remember! This is going to be a special day.

Erg…phew … erg… phew… 60 Yeah! That was easy! And there are 2 eggs for breakfast. GAINS! This is going to be a special day.

Shlertit… ah… hmmm… Shlertit… ah… hmmm… man King Benjamin is killing it in this address… “only in t he service of your God”… “Wo, Wo unto him that knoweth that he rebelleth against God!”… This is going to be a special day.

Ring… huh… ring… phone call? This early? Hello, S******? <m**** foo…BLAH…BLAC…RWAR… she’s yelling> Ok… Ok… we are coming… What the heck? M**** is going nuts! This is going to be a special day.

Vroom… crunch… splash… Haitian lady screaming… baptismal candidate crying…. And there goes our day! This is going to be a special day.

Elder Park is in the middle row 6th from the left.

Runing… walking… driving… all day trying to end conflict and increase faith… yeah… Finally baptism! YES she goes down. VIKTWA!!

and yeah that was the majority of the week... I did meet some Spanish people but they were kinda flaky.

but all around it was a great week!

Hey everybody should check this Easter Video out! Its awesome and after you watch it share it!\

Love you all

Stay Strong, Push on!!!

Elder Park!

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?