Elder Jake Parry

Elder Jake Parry
Arizona Phoenix Mission

Monday, August 26, 2013

Surprise is Facebook Official!

Dear Family,
 
We just got back from our Zone activity for the month. We spent a couple hours at the "Disney House." Some white member is super loaded and has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Disney merchandise and decked out his house. It is more cluttered than Disneyland gift shops. I would never want to do that but it was fun to see. I will send pictures of it sometime.

Yesterday we had "seviche." It is one of my favorites. I was writing down everything it had in it so I can make it when I get home. I know everyone will love it. Especially Isaac! Ignacio and Luz made it for me, Elder Miller, and our two trainers. You dice up shrimp, let it sit in squeezed lemons for an hour than you add cucumber, chile (all mexican food has chile), cilantro, avocado, and a few other things, then you cover a hard taco shell with ketchup and dip it in. I had like eight servings. Good stuff.

Surprise is Facebook offical!!  It is definitely not without its problems though. I have found myself slightly distracted since getting on haha. It is weird to see stuff posted about me or on my page since I have left. But no problem. Man, Mom and Sam's last pictures of me got a lot of likes! haha. And I read on the side-bar that 3 out of the 5 people who have visited my page the most are Sam's girlfriends. Just kidding :) So I have had several names on Facebook; "Jake Parry," "Jacob Parry," "Edgar Parry," "Jake Fakahafua Parry," and many other dumb names that my friends talked me into doing and the problem is that I cannot change my name again!!!! I'm stuck!! I can't online proselyte until I am "Elder Jacob Parry" on Facebook. The assistants are trying to work through the problem right now.... Now I feel super dumb for doing stuff like that before.... Ay ay ay. And I am in the process of cleaning my whole profile in general. Hopefully, by the end of this week, I will start posting some things up. I am not worried about any of you distracting or doing anything wrong. We will find cool ways to involve you all in the work through this Facebook tool. One thought- so this is mainly for Dad, but did Jim tell you about the letter I wrote to him last P-Day? Hopefully it made it safe to his house. I felt prompted to write him and thank him again and see how he was doing. It turned out to be the perfect timing for the Facebook thing. In the next few weeks we can do cool things with him and his family if that would interest him. We could teach him through Facebook chat or Facebook video. Something else that would make the lesson super special for him and me is if Dad or Dad and the whole family sit in on the lessons. It would count as a "member present lesson" and Jim would be talking to two of his friends instead of two stranger missionaries. It would be easy: we just all get on Facebook at the same time and teach together through chat. We can do some cool stuff so be thinking about non-members or less-actives that you could introduce to mormon.org or Mormon videos or lessons with me or other missionaries online. I haven't really thought of any missionary work to do back at home unless you or the ward or extended family members can think of anyone. We can teach people and use members from any part of the world really. Even members from the MP5th or any of you. President Taylor stressed the importance of this being only just "another arrow in the quiver;" we will still be talking to everyone we see and doing all the regular missionary stuff (not tracting though!). And Facebook will be primarily used to focus on our proselyting areas. We will also have the chance to be the missionaries in the "chat with the missionaries" rooms on Mormon.org and since we will be going on the computers in the mornings and afternoons we will be talking to people who are online where it is night in places like Europe. So US spanish elders can chat it up with the Spaniards! Oh and President Taylor is the bomb. He reminds me SO MUCH of Dad. And a little bit of Coach Wall too haha. I mean Bishop Wall... How is the High School team doing by the way?

The two times I have been on Facebook they have kind of just made me angry haha. A lot of stressful cleaning up and we only have an hour a day. Little by little it will be ready. Do you know any other missionaries serving right now that have authorization? I know Rochester NY and a couple other AZ and a few Utah missions have it. Am I the only one you know getting going?

Church was rad yesterday. Hermanos Covarubbias, Miranda, and Godoy all spoke on missionary work!!! They are studs. It was the bomb. The Argentine wonder (Godoy) told every missionary in the congregation to get on their feet. Almost the whole chapel stood up. It was soo cool. Even Jose H. haha. Everyone is certainly thinking and preaching Missionary work in the rama. We just need to get things rolling. We are starting to have regular meetings with our new WML Hermano Cervantes so things are going better.

Jose is still progressing. He knows and believes so much and has such great member fellowship. In Mine and Elder Dodd's daily prayers for studies, meals, going to bed etc. we are praying that he gets an answer to his prayers. Because he is expecting the answer. He wants to know Jose Smith was a profet and that the Book of Mormon is true so he is praying and asking specifically. We don't know why he doesn't have an answer yet but we are doing everything we possibly can. I invite you all to pray for Jose this week; for him to receive an answer to his prayers and for him to recognize that answer to. He is ready to act on the answer and he has the faith it will come. He just needs it to come. It will come! Nothing super notable other than Jose this week. It has been a lucha since we have gotten back on bikes. This week was the sweatiest week of my mission! The yellow rings on my shirts disappeared because now there is no start or end to the spread of sweat. the whole shirt! haha. A lot of contacting around. We are doing our best and talking to EVERYONE. Rene's girlfriend has been in the hospital so we will start again there soon.

Scripture of the week: Daniel 2:44. Do you think Nebuchadnezzer saw any of this when he saw the stone rolling out of the mountain and filling all the earth? When Isaiah was saying that the Gospel would be preached through and across highways before the end would come could he have been talking about the "information highway?" Our Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. His work is perfect. It is being run by a large number of imperfect men and women but what we are undertaking is the BIGGEST rush to the harvest this world has ever seen. I am not going to lie, I have talking to so many more people who aren't nice, aren't interested, aren't patient, aren't happy, or aren't looking for any change than I have talked to people who are any of these things. But the Lord knows His children and He is finding ways to reach their hearts. Even the ones walking around in wife-beaters, earrings, sun-burnt skin, with tattoes up and down the arms, and no money who find wandering El Mirage day in and day out. Let us take joy in being instruments in our Heavenly Father's hands. As we strive to turn outward when we would normally turn inward, we can be the answers to others' prayerful pleadings for help and in turn, find some of our own answers to our prayers; Missionary or not. I love this Gospel. It makes me happy. I know our Savior died and was resurrected so that we could be. As the "Boob" would say; "God is good." 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Training

Dear Family,
 
So it sounds like Isaac will only cheer for the Sox make it to the WS? Can someone clarify that? That would disappoint Sox Nation if it lost one of its most avids. And I guess no one can make fun of him for being chubby or anything of the like anymore. Nice job bajando peso. Got then pictures from the Court of Honor and the family reunion. The backyard looks SOOOOOOOOOO Good. Wow. It looks like a lot of work was put into that and it looks like a lot of fun too. Major props to Mom, and Mr. Moneybags too. Glad to hear that football is starting; I loved football, and that Evan is working for the BYU team. That would be A LOT of fun for me to come back and watch while I am at school, if I don't join the Air Force (I changed my mind from the Navy)... Grandma is free from cancer!!!!! Yes!! That is like #3 to overcome cancer in the Parry family since I have been alive. Right? Good stuff. And G-Dawg- is she turning into ironman? She would be a good one. Hope that surgery goes well. I didn't forget your anniversary this week Mom and Dad. Did Dad forget it? Haha Just kidding. I didn't send you anything but I was thinking about you. 12 years and still going strong. Good to hear. By the way- I am glad you got the pictures of me in the Scaffolding outfit. One of our investigators does that for a living and insisted that I wear that stuff. I decided just to give the wife your number. I would suggest that you don't text her back for anything haha.
 
Man... This week... This week was eventful, and pretty tough. Training is no walk in the park. Elder Dodd is super awesome and not hard to be the trainer for, but I just feel like there is a lot of responsibilty right now...
 
Saturday I asked the Soriano family if we could have Sunday dinner over there and they were so willing that they put together a huge dinner of one of my favorite foods that I had over there last time. Hermano Soriano made Panvasos!!! They are so delicious. It is a huge plate-sized circle of bread filled with cheese, salsa, potatoes, sausage, lettuce, and chili and then it is folded over and covered in more chili rojo. They are gigantic. The last time I went over with E. Cardoso I had 4 (For the rest of the evening my feet hurt because the weight of the 4 Panvasos pushed me down so hard haha). I had 3 and a half yesterday and went up to Hermano Soriano and said that I was so sorry, I couldn't eat 4 this time. Everyone laughed. Three other families from the rama came over to so the company was A LOT of fun. It was the happiest I had been all week.
 
So The assistants were supposed to tell Elder Miller to pack instead of me so that was kind of inconvenient for us both. The APs are pretty new so oh well. So Elder Miller went back into his car (of which him and I used WAY too many miles with for the first ten days of the month, not my problem haha) and he is training as well. We are both in the branch. I am still in Youngtown/El Mirage. Still staying in home sweet home :) Transfers was actually super fun! I saw Elder Cardoso again. That made me so happy. He is doing well in La Joya. He has facebook and his new ZL companion is Elder Hughes so that was funny. Being my fourth transfer meeting I am starting to know a lot more missionaries so it is cool to see old friends and actually know some faces. This week has been a rocky transition overall though- I am planning the days out by myself for the first time, I popped a tire, I am training, we have half the investigators we had the week before, and we are on bike. On Saturday we were riding between 1:00 and 4:00 and it was 114. It was the hottest I have ever felt in my life. My face felt like it was melting. Ah man haha I don't even know how to describe it but it was good. Fun to be able to say we overcame it. Elder Dodd was so hot too. He barely survived. Kind of a tough third day if you ask me haha. That day we got into Lou's house. He is formerly from the Italian mafia. Did I already talk about this guy? He said he used to own $100,000 in weapons and that he used to carry hand grenades on his person around town. He seems pretty hard. But he was baptized six years ago and sold all his guns. He is currently a returning member and will be coming back to church soon. His family aren't members and we have a lesson tomorrow planned with them so that will be great. He calls missionaries "winged knights." That is rad. We got a Ward Mission Leader!!! He definitely outshines the previous 2. He has had the calling before and is a high priest who was been a strong member for a few decades. He is the perfect example of one who acts out of love. He knows how to help people and how to reflect Christ's love for them. I desire to learn a lot from him. In our meeting yesterday with the Presidency and him some people were kind of upset/confused until at the end Hermano Cervantes (WML) just calmly talks about how we need to be patient and loving with the members and with the Lord. Everyone calmed down and the Spirit rushed into the room. At church yesterday I was kind of showing Elder Dodd around to everyone and it really wasn't until yesterday that I realized how much I love these people. I said "they are my favorite members" for seven different members. I couldn't decide! I settled with three tied for first (Covarrubias, Sanchez, and Jenkins.) Church was awesome. The investigators just came without warning this time. Clemente came after about a dozen weeks of not. That blew our minds. It was good. Investigators are progressing pretty so-so right now. We need to find more people-- we just got our cascoes (helmets) back so that is good :)
 
Elder Dodd is great. He is a super talented music guru (I am not positive what he does exactly but he mixes and records music and will be going to BYU on a scholarship and plans to be a music producer when he grows up.) and has met bands like Owl City, the Fray, Imagine Dragons, Christina Aguilera, and the Lumineers. I am pretty jealous. It is stinking cool. He is from Highlands Ranch, CO. This is interesting- He and Elder Miller's trainee were companions in the MEXICO MTC. They were part of the first White/American district to ever go to the Mexican MTC. We are both pioneers because I was in the first 6-week program for language-learning in the MTC. He said Mexico was wild; no traffic rules, people selling bananas and candy in the street, lots of theft, lots of cockroaches, lots of rain and stuff like that. I can't wait to go to Mexico someday!! Elder Dodd has an amazing desire to learn, push himself, help other people, and be the best he can be.
 
Training is tough- I feel pretty inadequate and humbled but I am trying to help Elder Dodd reach his full potencial and I want us to be good friends always too so we are working on having fun. I know the Lord trusts me and has confidence in me therefore- I have decided to have confidence in myself! Don't really have a whole lot of Spiritual stuff to say this week. I can barely keep my mind straight: Training, the heat, and planning have melted my mind into mush. Check out the revelation message in the Liahona for this month! Good stuff to learn and really good tips on understanding the "burning of the bosom." Keep me updated on the Infinite Atonement that you are reading!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Transfers: Destination Unknown

First of two emails today from Jake:  "You can really only take it six weeks at a time because you never know what's around the next corner."

I have told you how I have learned to just relax with each transfer and take them as they come as assignments from the Lord, but I have been humbled even more this particular transfer! For a number of reasons. The one that stands out to me the very most right now is that I am getting transferred... Last thing I expected!! Last thing Elder Miller and I expected!!!!! We are confused. The assistants and President (during interviews) have hinted at what would happen (the area would be re-split and we would both lead out our areas), but evidently, that will not be happening. We have no clue what will happen. On top of all this, I am training. So it looks like I will either be opening up a new area or coming into one without knowing anybody. Crazy. I will write more in a bit. Just know that I am super confused, but moreso, trusting in the Lord and confident in President Taylor's Spirit-guided decisions. I have no problems or concerns at all. I am going to miss this place.

Second email from today:   So again I am pretty confused and not really focusing right now and am short on time because we need to go fix our area books and pack and such. I love you all very much but this email may be a little short! Haha.

This week has been wild! It was a little sad too because Elder Miller and I had some bad luck/happenings with investigators. 2 of them fell off date. We went from 22 lessons taught last week to 11 this week. I know it is such a blessing to be teaching that much- but it was just a big drop-off. So we did a lot of driving and contacting people in our area books and planners. Little luck here and there. But still chugging along! We had stake conference on Sunday; 6 talks on Family History. It was cool. I love the focus the church is really putting on family history and missionary work now. Have you seen the new temple endowment presentation? How is it!? I heard that the two main actors are from the Pheonix Valley too. I wish I could go to the temple. We will this Christmas!

So I got the training call on Friday night. Actually, President Called Elder Miller's phone and told him to put it on speaker because we are both training! We are super excited. I am super excited. I am very super humbled as well (sorry for all the superlatives; I probably sound like a woman). There is a lot of responsibilty put into this assignment. I have heard a lot of stories about people knowing their trainers for 40 years after their missions and stuff like that (Elder Holland knows where his trainer lives and how many kids he has!). Cool stuff. We had a trainer meeting yesterday with President and the assistants. It was a meeting that wouldv'e scared the weak-at-heart haha. We focused on strict obedience, the importance of understanding the principles of obeying rules rather than just being obedience police, what we liked about our trainer(s) and what we want to exemplify and stuff like that. I was so blessed to have 2 trainers. Someone came up to me yesterday and asked who trained me and said "wow, you can trained by 2 bosses!" They are and I will remember them forever and hope to keep in contact with both of them. I hope I can foster the same, loving, relationship with my trainee. Evan, Dad; do you two both remember/admire your first companions in the field? Did you learn a lot from them?

It is really wild how the time is flying on the mission. I just realized that when I am finished training it will be November. And then that next transfer will be Christmas! Time is moving along.

I need some follow-ups and the things you have been telling me about! Did Sam get his Brave Quarters under :60? I remembered this week that my Sophomore times were 60 62 62 60 so let me know how he did! Has Arod been getting booed at Yankee Stadium? I kind of hope so and it sounds like I agree with you all the he deserves it. Are the Sox or Rays in first place? If the Pirates and Sox make it to the WS who will Isaac cheer for? Sounds like the Summer is still chugging along and finishing up. Sounds very very busy. And thank you for the package question. I will let you know this week what I can think of that I would need.

Thanks for all the emails! I am sorry this is so brief. I love you so much and have really felt your love for me so much since being on my mission. Yesterday I was reading a list of 9 things the President Hinckley said each missionary should take home from their mission. for 7 or 9 of them I was like "okay, I will work on that one," but for the one that said "gaining an increased love and appreciation for their parents," I just knew right then and there that I already had that. And it is true; thanks Mom and Dad. There is a lot I miss about home but you two are #1 and #2! (whoever puts more money in the next envelope can be #1).

Love you all.

 

Monday, August 5, 2013

Facebook in the APM

Dear Family,

Kennewick is my Elder Hobbins' mission and he actually got switched to I think Vancouver. I wrote him a couple weeks ago and he wrote me back and said that it was the first letter he has sent since he hit the field! It sounds like he really thought our companionship was as special as I thought it was too. I miss that man! He said he is already training his second missionary. I was kind of jealous haha. Not surprised- he is great. I wish I could tell you everything I have learned from this companionship this transfer however. It surely is the refiner's fire for me. I have never learned so much about leadership in my life than I have here as a Jr. Companion to the DL. It truly has amazed me. I definitely needed this lesson more than I would need one on leadership. It has been cool to see. The same kind of thing happened in the MTC. As for transfers- they are next Wednesday and the transfer has gone by fast for me too haha. Personally, I think two new Spanish missionaries are coming in and we are splitting-me to Estrella Sur with the bikes. That is what President esentially told us at interviews. But he can be a loose cannon haha. Or at least the Spirit is. Well that is what I am hoping happens. We taught 24 more lessons this week. It has been hectic. Very fulfilling and incredible to see the work and progress. We are finding the prepared right now. I don't know why Elder Miller (Hughes, Cardoso, and those in the future) get to be the ones to see and enjoy it but here we are and we are working. My testimony grows daily of the hastening of the work and the preparation our Heavenly Father is making for His children. I had a thought this week (after 3-4 weeks of being pretty confident that I would train someone new next transfer) that I will not be training. I don't think the Lord is ready to give me that trust. I still need more refining. Who knows though. Who cares. I have seen too many missionaries (pardon me, but morons haha) who set their sites on something for transfers and wish away the time until then only to be disappointed. Whatever happens will happen because the Lord wants it to happen; what more could anyone need or want? I will email you next Tuesday about it.

Let me tell you about a great lesson. Wednesday night. Elder Miller and I went on splits because there are a lot of people to teach (both of us were actually teaching in my area-Estrella Sur-haha yes!) and I went with Mario S. (remember the recent convert?) to Rene's. Dora was finally there so we could teach her. Rene is still moving along solid. We are really pushing for him to be baptized the 24th. But Dora had several questions, doubts, and curious inquiries. She asked about some guy named Jeff who is Mormon and got put in jail or something. She said that made us look bad. Then Mario comes in. He used an anology of Christ's 12 apostles: "chosen" and apostles to the Savior, but one betrayed Him and another denied Him thrice. Mario also quoted James 1:5 and looked up some D and C scriptures about Church organization when she asked what President Aguirre's job is. MARIO WAS ON FIRE! He is on fire. I was amazed. Rene and I barely talked the whole lesson. Mario sounds like a 10-year member. Dora and Rene both came to church!!! Dora asked more questions. Miranda and Covarubias answered them all. They are studs. Our Rama is full of studs. Jose had an interview with President Aguirre just about baptism and his desires to be a member. That went super well. Another family came to church. Life was good this week. Ignacio bore his testimony in sacrament meeting about prayer. He looked like a TWENTY year member. I am going to give him my suit on my way out of El Mirage haha. We didn't find any new investigators for two weeks and we found six this week! One of them is Mario's son. We are getting the whole family tree there! This week was good.

Huge things are happening. I don't really know where to begin because this week was HECTIC. I'll start by explaining how things went down in Zone meeting! The Zone leaders informed us that we will be getting Facebook by the end of the month and that one district [the district that has been testing Ipads and Iphones all summer (1 of 5 districts in the world)], all the ZLs, and the Sister Training leaders already have it. WOW. It gets better. One of the church leaders (forgot the name; seventy or something) told the ZLs that missionaries going online is the biggest thing to happen in church history since the Restoration. I really appreciated the LT Perry quote that Dad sent. Very true; 2013 is already very huge. And Evan and I were both missionaries this year! Que Suave!! Kind of crazy: We will be using the Facebook Accounts that we used pre-mission. Changes will have to be made to pages haha; but not a lot. The ZLs explained a little about how it will happen; 'hypothetically speaking' if I had any non-member family member I could have a lesson over video chat with a member from the MP5 in attendance. I will be able to chat with non-member friends from High School and try to teach them. I find it funny that the ratio of people serving missions to non-members at Bountiful High School is like 10 to 1. Haha. This will be HUGE for people outside of Utah and the States. I was thinking of Elder Cardoso a lot this week because of some of his very close friends and family members who are not members way over there in Brazil. And he already has facebook too. This really is so huge. The ZLs told us about what Lee Donaldson (some missionary authoritative figure who was the Mission President in the District 2 episodes) told them in a video chat about the importance of the Work of Salvation Broadcast that we had in June. He said that the #1 most important part of it was Matthew 24:14. He just straight-up whipped out that verse and told us all what is up!!! The Gospel will be preached in all the world then the end comes. Just like what Mom said in her email. The Spirit hit me like a brick wall when I read the verse and continued to punch me softly in the face for the next half hour as we talked about it. That is the best way I have to describe it haha. If no one else's words convince you--just take my word for it. What is happening is VERY REAL. I know the Lord is making His final preparations. We are in like verse 74 of Jacob 5. So that is what is happening. Don't be scared :D Be SUPER EXCITED!! We have literally been saved for this specific time for whatever purpose. Yes, it will take some tidying up in our lives and actions. But there is nothing to be worried about. The elect, all the covenant people of Israel--Every member of the church--have the duty to carry this great message to prepare the world for the Savior's coming. The Lord foreordained each and every one of us to be alive for this time. I feel so confident and excited for the things that are happening. We all should feel that way! Okay enough with the Apocalyptic... One point about the Zone Meeting and what President Taylor has been telling us is obedience and "tightening up." I have really appreciated this stuff. A LOT of trust has been put in this Mission. I have so much APM pride right now!!!!! But moreso, I can feel the weight of a very serious responsibility in a crucial time. President Taylor has brought to light again the importance of obedience to prepare for online proselyting. He has introduced "tightening up" rules--nothing new--that we have to keep in mind so that we are super-prepared for what is to come. It includes such things as making sure we run 20 minutes and do 10 minutes of stretching or strength exercise every morning, 60 minute meals, no service projects during studies, being on-time for bed, waking up, and studies, only getting together as a zone on P-Day once a month, and writing President first in our weekly emails, and plenty of other things. The mission is tightening up (Last October they did the same tightening up and November was the 3rd highest baptismal month on record for the mission). Elder Miller and I have been taking all that he tells us very seriously.

One of our ZLs told us that overall, Facebook is only an hour a day on our schedule, obedience is the key. I agree--but Facebook is going to be pretty dang cool!! haha.

That was kind of the highlight of the week. APM PRIDE!!! I'm pumped.

Mom- You don't fail. You always seem to pull it together, I am not worried!!! haha. That is fun that Caroline and mom are in St. George. I hope it is not too hot-- sissies hahaha. Thanks to Evan, Sam, and Isaac for all the emails! Good stuff. Football and school starting was always my favorite time of year.

I wish I could remember everything I wanted to say to you all! Crazy week. It is fun to be a part of everything. Remember- The Lord is in charge of this work-- from Facebook to Arizona to member-missionary work to China. Whatever we are all doing are just little things that the Lord uses to make huge miracles among His Children. I have come to know that in a very really sense here. We do what we can but the work is A LOT bigger than this one companionship in El Mirage. We do what we can and with everyone serving in wards and missions all across the entire world--online and off--we are all moving together as one gigantic force. I love this work. I love my mission. I love Elder Miller! I love my investigators. I love you all! Most of all, I love our Heavenly Father--and that's why I'm out here. I am serving because I love Him and want to repay Him the best way I can. I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and that it is a literal sign of the Gathering which is hastening today. I know Jesus Christ died and was resurrected. I know that temples are houses of Gods. Do a session for me this week! I super super miss that place. Love you all, Get excited, get involved, be leaders! (And like all my posts on facebook in the coming months).

Love, Elder JAKE Parry 

PS I don't know if Mom, Dad, or Caroline could help me out with this but I would like to save the 900 or so pictures from my facebook profile somewhere (a disk or a USB drive) if possible. I may need to delete a lot of them over here pretty soon haha.

PSS I remembered a couple things-- there have only been three ideas/proposals in the past 15 years to be immediately accepted by all three members of the First Presidency and Facebook to missionaries was one of them. In whatever meeting it was where Elder Nelson found out about the idea he jumped up out of his chair and yelled "YES!!" Kind of fun.