December 24, 2012

"Inspector Clouseau"

The Mummy . . .  Elder Park

Elder Park and Elder Rodriguez singing a duet!

TEXAS ELDERS . . . Park & Roeller

December 24th,

Well family, first off I have a little bad news, my son or the Elder that I'm going to be training won't arrive for another 2 weeks because of his Visa.  I'm super pumped and excited for tomorrow when I can talk to y'all.

Here are some pictures of the activity that we had with President and in our Ward.  I was a mummy and I was detecting lies!

les amo mucho...y estoy muy animado para hablar con ustedes en 25!! 

Elder Park

Tengan una buena NAVIDAD 



Translation:
I love y'all very much ... and I am very excited to talk with you on the 25th!
Have a good Christmas.

December 17, 2012

December 17, 2012

Well family I have some news for y’all.  The 23rd of December I’m going to complete 7 months in the mission field and it’s going by super fast.  Elder Rodriguez and I are doing good and are finding more people to teach.  This last week we found a family of 5 and they are pretty excited to hear the lessons and to act in order to change their lives.  This family brought 4 more to go to church and another one of our investigators went.  So we had 10 in the chapel it was crazy and super awesome... The coolest part is that they live about and hour away from church so they have the desire to change. Woo Hoo.  I’m learning a lot with Elder Rodriguez especially with Spanish and how to work with the members.  We are having a great time and working hard. 

This week I learned week what I’m going to be doing pretty soon.  So this past Friday the Assistants called me and when I received the call I was a little bit scared haha but the assistants told me that I’m going to TRAIN!!!!  The weird part is that I’m going to get my trainee this Wednesday and we are going to be in a trio until Elder Rodriguez leaves.  It’s crazy that I’m going to be training with only 6 months in the mission almost 7. I’m a little bit nervous but excited to have this opportunity to work with this Elder...I already forgot his name but he is from Guatemala and so more Spanish for me Wooooo. hahah.  I’m super excited and ready to work with this Elder.  Also the shoe of Elder Rodriguez exploded one day while we were walking and it was super funny so I took some fotos of him and how his shoes are just terrible.

Familia estoy agradecido por las opurtunidades que el Señor nos da.  Por ejemplo esta opurtunidad para entrenar con nada más 6/7 meses en la misión es un gran bendicion para mi.  Ayer Elder Rodriguez y Yo visitamos una familia que estan menos activos y compartimos unas escrituras para animarles y ayudarles que tenemos pruebas para mostrar a Dios nuestra fe y amor.  Elder Rodriguez Compartió algo que me impactó mucho y es una frases que voy a usar por el resto de mi vida. ¡Las Circuntancias Revelan lo que Somos!  Familia estoy animado para hablar con ustedes el 25 por medio Skype.  Creo que voy a macarles a las 6 en la Navidad 25.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon y Se que esta iglesia es la verdadera sin duda. 

Elder Park

Translation:                                                                                                                                                         Family I am grateful for the opportunities that the Lord gives us. For example opportunity to train with nothing more 6/7 months in the mission is a great blessing for me. Yesterday Elder Rodriguez and I visited a family that are less active and we share a few scriptures to encourage them and help them that we have evidence to show God our faith and love. Elder Rodriguez Shared something that shocked me greatly, and it is a phrase that I use for the rest of my life. The circumstances reveal what we are! I am excited to talk with you the 25th through Skype.  I think I'm going to macarles at 6 on Christmas. I love y’all with all my heart and I know that this church is true without a doubt.

Elder Rodriguez shoe exploded while they were walking!

I am so thankful for the members who open their homes and hearts to my son!

December 10, 2012

December 10, 2012

Well Family it’s going great so far with Elder Rodriguez.  My area of Jojutla is huge!!!!! Amilcingo was tinny and now I’m in one of the biggest areas funny huh.  Well right now in Jojutla it is pretty hard.  Elder Evans and Rodriguez before me baptized 15 in 3 changes that’s a ton and now it seems like I have to open this area all over again.  Because Elder Rodriguez is going to leaving this transfer and I have to find new investigators and understand how to work Jojutla.  It’s a challenge but I’m excited for it. 

On Saturday we had a devotional on la Navidad and Jesus Christ and his life.  The missionaries of our stake did 2 musical numbers that were super cool and we felt the spirit really strong.  In this Devotional I was able to talk with President and Hermana Kusch for a tinny bit of time.  After that little devotional we had to do something as a ward and so we sang as a Ward and it was super cool.  Elder Rodriguez and I sang together apart from the ward and I sang in public how funny is that!  lol  But it was a fun experience.

Pues Familia...aqui en Jojutla es un poco difcil porque tenemos que encontrar nuevas personas para enseñar.  Porque ahora nuestros investigadores no quieren hacer las cosas para estar más cerca a Dios o entender su amor por ellos.  Pero vamos a trabajar para trarer más almas a el.  El Barrio acá es muy poco, pero nuestro Obispo es fantastico el siempre nos da refrencias y hacer visitas con nosotros.  Pero realmene quiero decirles que Nuestro Padre Celestial nos escucha y va contestar nuesrtas oracions.  Puedo testificar que las Escrituras y espcialmente El Libro de Mormón es por nuestro benificio y podemos aprender más acerca de su amor por nosotros.  Se que Esta es la Iglesia de Jesucristo y que somos Hijos de Dios.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon. 

Elder Park   Can't wait to Skype with y'all this Christmas!!!!!!

Translation:

Well family..... here in Jojutla it is a little difficult because we have to find new people to teach. Our investigators do not want to do the things to be closer to God or understand his love for them. But we are going to work to bring more souls to him. The neighborhood here is very little but our bishop is fantastic and he always gives us references and makes visits with us. I really want to tell you that our Heavenly Father hears us and will answer our prayers.  I can testify that the scriptures and especially the Book of Mormon is for our benefit and we can learn more about his love for us. I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that we are children of God.  I love you with all of my heart.

Jojutla

What ever it is he must really like it!  

Elder Rodriguez and an authentic Mexican dog ... Chihuahua

 

   Elder Park's apartment ???

A mattress without sheets leaning on the wall.

Fly swatter hanging on the wall by the mattress.

Curtain rod above door way without a curtain.

Calender on the wall with 'duck tape' that he took on his mission.

Picture of Christ with the children by the calender.

Mormon Ads above the couch.

Preach My Gospel with the ads.

Looks like a mirror hanging on the wall behind him.

Folding chair.

Clothes 'folded' on the couch.

Missionary bag on the couch.

December 3, 2012

Well family everything is going great so far here in Jojutla.  We haven’t had a whole lot to do right now because I’m trying to get to know the members and gain their trust and things like that.  So far I am loving being here in Jojutla.  I’m learning a lot already from Elder Rodriguez and he’s going to end his mission this change.   I’m really trying extra hard to help him have a great last change.  I can’t believe that its already December and I have been away from home…it’s gone by so fast to me at least don’t know about y’all.  My Spanish is getting better I hope haha.  Elder Rodriguez uses a lot of words that I don’t know but I can understand the context so I bought a little book to look up the words that he says.  Elder Rodriquez and I are already having a lot of fun.  We got of on the right foot and I hope it can stay like this for the rest of the change and I believe that it will.  

It’s weird being in 80 degrees weather for la Navidad but it’s nice to have weather like this instead of having to being super cold.  One day as a Zone we gave service to a town and while Elder Rodriguez and I were waiting a drunk man came over to us and started singing this happens quite a bit here in Mexico.   I didn’t want to shake his hand so I put my hands in my pockets and tried not to look at him so that he could get the clue and move on.  But what does he do, he takes my hand out of my pocket to shake my hand and stands there holding my hand for 2 minutes.  It was really awkward and really funny after that the other Elders arrived and we started to talk with them.  What does this man do...he follows us and starts to talk about the last pope who died and how he came to Mexico.  When talking about Mexico and this Pope this man kisses the ground for a consecutive 3 min without moving.  It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and one of the saddest at the same time.  

Familia puedo testificar les que la palabra de sabiduria es por nuestro beneficio.  Si guardamos los mandamientos de Dios recibiremos muchas bendiciones en esta vida y la vida que sigue.  Estoy bien y siento muy muy muy feliz aqui en Mexico. Se que con todo de mi fuerzas que esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo y el es el uno que dirige esta iglesia por medio de Thomas S Monson.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon.    

Con Amor Elder Park  

Translation:

Family I can testify to the word of wisdom is for our benefit. If we keep the commandments of God we will receive many blessings in this life and the life that follows. I'm fine and I feel very, very, very, happy here in Mexico. I know with everything I have that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ and he is the one who runs this church through Thomas S. Monson. I love you with all my heart.

With love Elder Park

November 26, 2012

Jojutla is a municipality in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Its municipal seat is the city of Jojutla de Juárez. The towns of Tequesquitengo and Huautla as well as Lake Tequesquitengo are also located in the municipality. 

Well family we had changes today and I have officially left Amilcingo and now I’m in JOJUTLA!!!  I also have a new companion and he’s great so far.  His name is Elder Rodriguez and this is his last change in the mission and so I’m going to try extra hard to help him finish the mission strong and good.  I had great time in Amilcingo but I guess the Lord wants me to be in Jojutla.  Jojutla is the hottest part of state of Morelos but its not very hot because its winter right now so it’s pretty cool and a little bit cold.  My time with Elder Alvarez was tough not only because of the Spanish, but because we butted heads a little bit and he’s a little bit different in how to work. I learned a lot of things from this companionship and how to interact with people that I don’t really like but have to talk with...so it was a really good learning experience of me.  It’s kind of sad because right before I left I started to talk with a inactive family that I liked a lot. The husband loves Football American football and he’s a Steelers fan…I guess that’s why he is inactive haha.  We were talking about football and things like that and really just sports and at the end of talking with this family I asked them if they would come to church and they went but now I left and I’m in Jojutla its funny how things like happen. 

I know my Spanish has gotten better because I can understand and speak a lot better than before.  Now it’s another challenge with the language and I know if I do my part all will be good.  It’s funny again because the last companion of Elder Rodriguez was Elder Evans my comp in the MTC so that’s pretty cool.  It’s cool too because Elder Hessing is my Zone Leader and he’s in my district and so I will be seeing a lot of him soon.  Well Family I’m so glad that I have a family like you and that y’all are there for me and all that jazz.  I hope that y’all are doing your part to receive blessings by keeping the commandments and being faithful.  I love y’all and have a great week!

Por medio de nuestros Aflicions y Dificultades podemos superar y vencer estas pruebas en la vida.  Para Que podamos llegar a ser mas como nuestro Salvador y Redentor Jesucristo.  Siguen el Camino de Dios mediante 3 cosas.  1 orar  2 Estudiar las Escrituras  3 Obedecer los Mandamientos  si hagamos estas cosas vamos a tener muchismas bendicions les amo 

Elder Park

Translation: 

Through our Afflictions and difficulties we can overcome and defeat these tests in life so that we can become more like our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Follow the path of God through 3 things: 1 Prayer; 2 studying the Scriptures; 3 Obey the Commandments.  If we do these things, we are going to have blessings. Thank you very much I love you!

November 19, 2012

Mexico City LDS Temple

Elder Park and friends...

Elder Alverez and Elder Park

 Elder Park, Elder Alverez and Rosario after her baptism!

Tyler on his baptismal day - May 5, 2001  'Cinco De Mayo'

Temple and Baptism

Well Family everything is going great here in Amilcingo Mexico.  I’m trying to be the best I can be in all things that I’m doing.  I’m trying to have patience with Elder Alverez but he’s super stubborn and doesn’t like to do things that I want to do. I have 5 messes and he has 8 or 9 but it doesn’t matter.  I’m a Park and so I’m the Boss haha.   We’re going to Find, Teach, and Baptize people who will be converted to the Gospel.  I’m doing better with the language. I still have tough times but I’m learning how to speak and understand.  The baptism with Rosario went great and we felt the spirit really strong.  I’m grateful for the blessing that I have and that now Rosario will have.  The Temple was amazing!!!! Super beautiful! It is the most beautiful temple in all of the world because it’s in my Home!!!  I love the people here, it’s different, but it’s my home.  Hope turkey day is going great and GO COWBOYS THEY’RE GOING TO GO THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR.  Boo Texans sorry Hannah but their chafismas.  Translation they are really bad haha. 

Here with the comp is going good but we just have to get over a few things but it’s all good.  I’m super excited for the 23 of this month, this Friday, because I’m going to complete...wait for it....6 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!!!  Man has it gone fast. I’m super scared that pretty soon I’m going to have to leave home for my home but I’m going to focus on this right now.  I’m doing great.  I’m learning so much as a servant of the Lord.  I want to tell you something that I learned in the temple.  When we have frustrations in our life with people, or work, just remember how Christ felt when he was hung on the cross and what he said to the all the people that were mocking him and torturing him.  He said to the Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  If we can have more of this attitude or Charity the world will be a better place in TEXAS and MEXICO.

Familia quiero testificarles que se que esta iglesia es la Iglesia de Jesucristo y que El da revelacion a Thomas S Monson para que podamos tener mas de su conocimiento y sabio.  Estoy agradecido por los Templos y por el Espiritu de ellos.  Familia aunque yo tenga muchas pruebas y afliciones como Misionero y humano estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Dios.  Que podemos ser salvos por medio de la expiacion de Jesucristo.  Esta iglesia no es una iglesia de cosas para hacer en facto es un Evangelio de Promesas que nos invitan para hacer cosas para que podamos tener mas bendicions y la felizidad en la Vida.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon...Estas Cosas SON VERDADERAS se que eso

Con Amor Elder Park...Disfruten el dia de gracias y coman mucha pay de calabeza por mi jaja




Translation:

Family would like to testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that he gives revelation to Thomas S. Monson so that we can have more knowledge and be wise. I am grateful for the temples and the spirit of them. Family, although I have many tests and afflictions as a missionary and human, I am grateful for this Gospel of God that we can be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This church is not a church of things to do, in fact, it is a Gospel of promises that invite us to do things so that we can have more blessings and happiness in life. I love y’all with all my heart...These things ARE REAL AND TRUE!

With love Elder Park...Enjoy Thanksgiving and eat a lot of turkey for me!  

    

Earthquake - November 15, 2012

MEXICO CITY — A magnitude-6.0 earthquake set off alarms in Mexico’s capital on Thursday, November 15, but there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the 3:20 a.m. (4:20 a.m. EST; 0920 GMT) quake struck near the town of Tlalchapa in the state of Guerrero and about 107 miles (173 kilometers) southwest of Mexico City.

November 12, 2012

El Dia de los Muertos ...

... Day of the Dead

At first glance, the Mexican custom of El Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — may sound much like the U.S. custom of Halloween. After all, the celebration traditionally starts at midnight the night of Oct. 31, and the festivities are abundant in images related to death.

But the customs have different origins, and their attitudes toward death are different: In the typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared. But in el día de los muertos, death — or at least the memories of those who have died — is something to be celebrated.

El día de los muertos, which continues until Nov. 2, has become one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, and celebrations are becoming more common in areas of the United States with a large Hispanic population. Its origins are distinctly Mexican: During the time of the Aztecs, a monthlong summer celebration was overseen by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Aztecs were conquered by Spain and Catholicism became the dominant religion, the customs became intertwined with the Christian commemoration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1.

Specifics of the celebration vary with region, but one of the most common customs is the making of elaborate altars to welcome departed spirits home. Vigils are held, and families often go to cemeteries to fix up the graves of their departed relatives. Festivities also frequently include traditional foods such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead), which can conceal a miniature skeleton.

November 12, 2012

CAMBIOS ESPECIALES!!!!!  (Special Changes)

So this past week we had Conferencia de la Zona and we learned a lot of things on how to be safe, have the spirit and really be a better missionary of Christ and how to bring people to him.  In the Conference we were able to listen a man from the church about security and he was pretty funny about the things that he had to say.  But as y’all already know missionaries in Mexico aren’t allowed to knock doors or contact people in the calles.  Well if the spirit prompts us to contact someone in the street we can do it but for the most part we don’t contact and we are really trying to work through the members.  A day after the Conference Elder Hessing y Yo were teaching a lesson to Rosario who is going to be baptized this Friday at 4 and she is super fiel (faithful) and already and has a strong testimony.  During this lesson with her and her family I received a call from our Zone leaders who said Elder, I need to talk to Hessing.  I said we were in a lesson right now can we call you later and he said NO haha.  Well Elder Hessing is now in Galiena to be Zone leader there.  I’m not surprised but it was really crazy this past week.   My new companion is Elder Alvarez and he is from Peru.  I don’t know if it was the same in Argentina, Chile, or Texas but missionaries from Peru are very hard to get along with.  So far the companionship is going pretty well but were going to work hard.  

This Miercoles our distrito is going to the temple in Mexico City and I’m super pumped and a little bit nervous for a session in Spanish. I’m pretty sure I will be able to understand but what come afterwards is what’s going to be a cool experience.  In my weekly letters to President Kusch he responded with now you have a new challenge that I know you are ready for.  It made me feel good to hear that Presidente says that I’m ready for this challenge to have special changes with a Peruvian.  We’re going to work hard!  If he doesn’t want to work well that’s too bad because this isn’t mission TRIP this is Mission WORK.  I’m going to be baptizing Rosario because she doesn’t know elder Alvarez very well.  I’m excited that she’s going to take these steps for baptism.  Also, we found a joven named Duban that is taking the placticas right now and he’s really excited and I can’t wait to have another cita with him and hear if he has received ananswer that this is true.  Because it is true and he’s going to get an answer. 

Familia les amo.  con todo mi corazon.  Estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Jesucristo y que esta iglesi fue restuarado por Jose Smith.  Que tenemos todas las verdades de Dios en estos Ultimos dias.  Se que por medio de los escrituras y la oracion vamos a recibir respuestas y con suelo por nuestras purebas y afliciones.  Esta semana pasada fue bien rara porque de los cambios y todo.  Pero mediante estas pruebas creo que yo entiendo mucho mejor de la obra misional.  Les Amo y sigan el Ejemplo de Jesucristo en Nuestras vidas por Perseverando hasta el fin!!!  

Elder Park  Disfruten las fotos de El dia de los muertos 

Translation:

Family, I love y’all with all my heart. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that this church has been restored by Joseph Smith. We have all the truths of God in these last days. I know that through the scriptures and prayer, we continue to receive answers and with tests and by our afflictions we press upon. This past week was rather rare because of the changes and everything. But through these tests I think I understand better the missionary work. I love y’all and follow the example of Jesus Christ in our lives by persevering until the end!

Elder Park Enjoy the photos of the day of the dead