This morning Elder Hobbins y yo served in the temple! (my
first time!) Some ladies pulled us aside after our session and asked if we had
time to help with clothes. We went in the laundry room and ran some of the
clothes through a machine to fold them up. It was cool! We are going to do it
every week now. I love serving in the temple.
Elder Hobbins has a cousin on our floor back at the rooms
who is waiting for his visa to Argentina. He and his companion have been here
since AUGUST 23!!! But good news, they got their visa two days ago!! We are so
excited for them. They leave next week. They are such valiant and great
examples to us of serving the Lord no matter the circumstances. Que WOW!
I have seen so many missionaries come in who I know.
Elders Hansen, Seljass, Murdock, Bell, Hulet, and many more. No sign of Rock
yet--very disappointing. I talked to Elder Murdock for a couple hours on Sunday
night because we had time. There are SOO MANY missionaries here. It just keeps
getting bigger and bigger. Everyone outside the MTC says it is the greatest
time to be a missionary in church history and everyone in Salt Lake wants to
get inside the MTC to see what it is like. It is cool. Great time to be a
missionary. We got 820 missionaries this week and from what I hear, they are
only kicking out about 1/2-2/3 of all who come in weekly. The MTC is barely
staying afloat. There are new cots stacked everywhere across this concrete
jungle that is my home. It is cool.
I did see Cepta Eyring this week. We got a picture! So
you'll probably see it. And there are a lot of calls to Japan tha'ts right. Two
people on my BYU floor just got called to KOBE, leaving the same day in May.
Let me know about the Browns' calls for sure! and any other calls from the
class of 2013 that you hear about. I understand that process is underway for
them already! Caroline should know what's going on with people.
I was reading the last section of the D&C a few days
ago in Personal Study. WOW!! I wonder where this stuff has been my whole life.
Read this section and pray about it because it is SO cool and SO applicable to
us. Verses 30-35 are so perfect for Scott Monte and Karl. I thought of them the
whole time reading. My imagination of them and my feelings for what they could
actually be doing were never as strong as they were when I read this. Oh and
also--we sang Come Thou Fount in a devotional together as an MTC and I thought
of this song being at Scott and Monte's funeral. With each new line and verse
to the song the Spirit hit me so strong. Each time it did, it was so cool to
have them in mind as I sang. I love singing. I wish I were good at it haha.
More homework! You know the best story of the Atonement
in the Scriptures? It is the Story of Alma's conversion (in my opinion--(not
the Alma with Abinadi; the naughty Alma). Alma 36 is where he retells the story
to his son. It was amazing to see how quick Jesus Christ was to forgive him. Because
he had the desire to repent, and he did it with his whole heart, he was
forgiven. I loved reading this story. Read the whole thing one night :D
But..... The best verse out of them all, the one that says the most, is 24!
That verse hit me with such force as I read it. It applies to me personally and
perfectly as a missionary. The Atonement is such a great gift from God and so
beautiful, but how much more beautiful is it that we can share this gift with
the world. I cannot wait to show people, who are prepared to hear about it, the
gift of the Atonement and the wonders it entails. My Patriarchal Blessing says
I will testify of the Atonement with a strong conviction, something along those
lines, So I have been studying it and looking for examples of it in my own
life. I know the Lord will prepare ways for me to testify of the Atonement to
the people of AZ.
My Patriarchal Blessing is phenomenal. So many beautiful
promises and warnings. I have read it several times since coming here. I like
that I can be delivered from danger on my mission. I am sure I will see this
blessing fulfilled in numerous ways as I serve. I am working so hard right now
to have the Spirit with me always or I won't have the help that I cannot
live/teach without. That's why I excused myself from basketball earlier this
week. Haha. I got too competitive and it wasn't something I wanted to think
about. Foursquare now!!!
I got a birthday present of money from grandma and grandpa!
Hahahahaha!!! Yes. I cashed it and it is mine now. I feel so independent. But
it reminded me that I do have a birthday coming up. Wow. HAHA. I forgot I even have one, I guess it is a good
thing I am having so much fun and learning so much.
I came into the MTC with Spanish scriptures already
engraved and everything. It turns out my zeal for the work and excitement to
get ready got me a little over prepared. One example of this is that they gave
me a Spanish set my first day here. Guess what though!? I bought a cool case
for them and I am going to give them to one of my converts on the mission! How
cool would that be!? I am going to find someone who I really truly love, and
maybe if they are preparing for their own mission the present would be perfect!
:D you dig?
How come no one in the world told me you have to wear a
suit every day here at the MTC? If any of you knew this, shame, because I was
completely left in the dark. Haha jk. But seriously, if you know where that not
too good brown suit I had is then can you please send it? I'll wear out
whatever is left of it. Thanks.
There is a new elder in our zone. Elder P from Holladay
(I think I already talked about him). But anyway, he comes from a family of
antis, and he's in the same ward as President Monson. I love him so much. He is
6'5 and about 300 lbs maybe? But I have grown really close to him. His dad sent
him a mean letter a few days ago and I tried to console him. I told him to read
D & C 31. I thought it applied well to him, especially his family part. But
I wrote him a letter (I will always love writing letters) and we hang out a
lot. I pray for him.
Terrible news about the St. Johns and the Manus. I put
them both on the prayer role today and pray for them nightly. They are both
such awesome families. What a nightmare that is right now! I love them.
Check out 2 Nephi 25:26. I have always known about it,
but I read it once and studied about the Book Of Mormon and I am convinced that
it is the thesis for the whole book. A perfect verse to describe the Book. LOVE
IT.
We had an impromptu lesson last week. The investigator
asked about grace and Elder Hobbins and I didn't know what to do. I whipped out
verse 23 of that same 2 Nephi chapter. Not too shabby?
I love you all. I really do hate only 30 minutes on the
computer, but I don't break rules for anything. It's been a stressful half
hour, but I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the letters, thoughts, news,
dearelders, I'll try to do something cool this week so you can hear more about
me haha.
Love,
Elder Parry
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