Dear Family,
I am here in the Arizona Phoenix
Mission to stay. The boundary changes with Tempe did not affect me. I wasn't on
the transfer list. So I have to endure at least six more weeks with the
Brazilian haha just kidding. But we will be losing a lot of Spanish speakers
tomorrow to the mission so that is crazy!
This week was WILD! I am so grateful
to have seen the Hand of the Lord in so many ways in just the past few days.
I will start by talking about the
Zone Conference we had last Tuesday with President Taylor. He is one inspired
man. We talked about a few things that Elder Nelson shared with 70+ Mission
Presidents in the Southwest a few weeks ago. We talked about the Gathering of
Isreal. The Book of Mormon is a literal sign that the gathering has begun here
for the last time in the last dispensation and is, thus, coming to a close.
CRAZY!!!! Also- Ephraim and Manessah were promised the American continent as
their land of inheritance and we are bringing the Book of Mormon back to this
people (Ether 12:25)!!! I am getting so fired up about it. This work is
literally so huge. SOO BIG. I did not think that my whole life growing up. SO
BIG. The hastening of the work is so huge too. And has the hastening stopped??
No. President also told us about BIG THINGS to happen this coming June. Big
things in the church and in Missionary Work. June 23rd is the date of a big
church conference that 'all interested church members' have been invited to
watch. Presidents Monson and Packer and others will be speaking. It will be
HUGE. It is titled "Work of Salvation." President assured and
reassured us to expect big things. For members and missionaries. The work is
exploding right before our eyes. And it is up to us to BE A PART OF IT. Please
don't sit back and watch. Now is the time that thousands of prophets before us
have prophesied of. It is safe to say that Isaiah and Mormon are rolling all
over in their coffins about right now (was that sacreligious?).
This Saturday was the baptismal
service for the 8-year-old Cassandra Sanchez. Miracle after miracle took place
in this process this weekend. Because we delayed her date after her parents got
baptized so we could teach her a little more in English, she became the
responsibility of the ward and was not a number for the missionary cause. We
didn't care at all. She is the cutest person! She was so ready to be baptized.
We put a lot of work in putting together the program. Elder Cardoso and I asked
ourselves why we were using so much of our time and effort for this when it
doesn't really help us accomplish anything for the missionary cause, but we
really wanted it to be a special day for Cassandra. And it was. the Primary
sang a special song, two very great talks were given about Fe and the Expiacion
(The one speaking on the Atonement thanked us after because she really needed
the Atonement right now. She was almost in tears. Who doesn't need more of the
Atonement in their lives?), we watched the first vision, and Mario (Cassandra's
Dad, who was given the priesthood an hour before the service) performed the
baptism! Once again, the spirit confirmed to me that this ordinance is real and
yes, Cassandra was ready.
I got to be in the circle for
Hermano Mario Sanchez' Priesthood. The Priesthood is REAL. This is the actual
power of God on the Earth today. There is not a doubt in my mind of that. I
have felt it and seen it my whole life and on my mission as well.
On Sunday Hermano Jenkins from the
ward told Elder Cardoso that I would be confirming Cassandra. I was a little
scared at first and then said, "we should just leave it up to
Cassandra." Elder Cardoso inquired of her, and she picked me. Soooo It was
me. WOW was that special. I was nervous at first about the Spanish then I
decided that is not what I should be feeling and to just let the Spirit take
over, and He did. I said everything scripted right and then the unscripted
part, just came right out. The Spirit definitely worked through me to her and
my words. The Holy Ghost is real.
Thursday was not that fun. Thursday
was off. The reason I say this was because I just felt sad and down at the end
of the day and hoped for a better Friday with more fulfillment and 'success.'
That is exactly what happened. On Friday we knocked a door of a referral. It
wasn't the referral we were looking for but it was a SPANISH couple who invited
us in to have dinner with them and talk. OF ALL THINGS, we talked to them about
baptisms for the dead. They are interested. They are definitely in the search
for the Gospel. Then we left that house for Youngtown for the rest of the
night. On our way there we met a man who needed help getting the cap off his
gas. I tried and tried to no avail. Elder Cardoso popped it right off. We got
his information and left. Then we saw a car on Grand that needed to be pushed
to the gas station. We helped push and got their information. At the gas
station we ran into the guy again with the gas cap problem and a Catholic offered
to by us drinks because he really respects us. We accepted and talked to him
for a bit. A few minutes later an old black lady opened her car door and yelled
and asked if we were Jehovah's Witnesses and if we had anything to give her to
read because she likes reading their stuff. I said we aren't. Then she said
Okay bye! Then I said "But we have something better for you to read!"
She said "Bring it here!" And So we left her with a Book of Mormon
and went on our way.
The Lord is in the fabric of our
missions and lives. Success isn't just member present lessons and getting
people on date; it is being the tool the Lord would have you be and being
worthy of His Spirit to guide you. The Lord put people in our path. Are we
going to teach any of them? No. More than likely we will never see them again
nor hear whether they accepted the Gospel or not. But God knows where they are
and he helps them through us. It was a magnificent day.
Well I finished being trained on Sunday
night. It is kinda crazy. Four months in my mission.... You should know that I
know exactly what to do! NOT. Haha. I still do not know what I am doing, but I
am learning every day and trying to be humble so as to be worthy of the Lord's
teaching. The mission is tough but I am patiently learning and trying to
improve. I still have a lot to do and learn, and I am trying not to get
stressed about it.
Sorry it was so long this week, I
think I forgot a couple things too.
Love you all.
Elder Parry
No comments:
Post a Comment