Blood Oath

Wazup family??

 

This week was great. Nothing to out of the ordinary! I had Manta Ray on Tuesday with Mario. That was pretty delicious. I had ten tacos of it. 

 

Jocelyn is moving along great. Clemente went to "his church" yesterday and took the family with him. (Catholic). For some reason, from the moment Deseret told us that and even now I think it was a good thing. He is REALLY weighing things out in his mind. He still listens well in the lessons and he is continuing to take action in reading and praying. The more sincere we can get him to feel in this process, the better. We need him to really search and quit hitting off the surface. I was thinking this week; if I leave in five weeks after this transfer the #1 thing out of everything that I would want to see is for Clemente to accept baptism and be baptized. I know that family is due. Deep down I am positive that Clemente will be baptized. What a blessing it would be from the Lord to be the missionary who sees it. We are working our nargas off to see this miracle in his life. I surely haven't wanted anything more all mission than this. I want it for him. But we will see. Without compromising my faith and confidence, we will put our trust in the Lord and do our best and see what happens.

 

I have had some great studies on Faith lately. Does anyone else agree that Faith seems like this really floaty concept that is hard to grasp, understand, or apply? I have felt that way for the longest time. I feel like I am finally understanding it. I was reviewing some notes from Zone Conferences with President Taylor and Faith. I remember learning that any gift of the spirit not asked for and prayed for was a gift of the Spirit that we denied. Faith, like love, is not something we can see. But we can see the effects of these two things. Miracles are the effects of Faith. I was talking to Elder Dodd earlier this week, I boldly told him that I feel that it is perfectly okay to expect miracles. I pray for them every day. I pray that we see bigger miracles that build off the small every-day ones we see. We want these miracles for our investigators and feel that they deserve them if they are doing their part. We don't want them for ourselves, nor do we only feel like we can be happy or that we are doing a good job if we see the miracles. I was reading in Matthew 14 this morning. Great story about Peter and the Savior walking on the water. I don't think we give Peter enough credit! That dude had great faith. Can you imagine the Lord stretching forth His arms "immediately" to save us when the winds get boisterous and our Faith wavers? Wow. The last verse was interesting to me too. All the sick and infirmed had to do was touch His robe and they would be made whole. It brought me to the story of Moses and the staff, and, one of my favorite BOM chapters, Alma 37 where Alma is telling Helamen of the easiness and the simplicity of the way. We really do have absolutely everything laid out for us. We need not complicate our lives with rabble and nonsense. We have the commandments and the Gospel and easy ways to live them. I learned this week that every decision, doubt, and concern that cannot be answered by obedience to the Commandments and the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be taken to prayer and the righteous exercising of agency. There are no other answers we could ask for!

 

It was nice to hear how things went back home this week! Is it weird to anyone that when I hear about cool, meaningful stuff in sports, like everything that has happened to Mo this year, that I get a very strong almost spiritual and warm sensation? Haha. I wonder if it is the Spirit! I hope Caroline had a fantastic birthday! I can't believe she is 18. Could you be on a mission in a year? Am I really almost done in a year!? Crazy stuff.

Again, things were pretty normal this week. We cleaned our apartment so well today! That was nice. The bike life has been going well. Elder Dodd got another popped tire haha. Mafia Lou keeps letting us in his house. Whenever we want. He told us yesterday that he wants us to know that nothing will ever happen to either one of us while we are here in El Mirage. That is a blood oath he says. If it is ever 3 in the morning and we don't have a place to stay we go to his door and knock until he wakes up and he will let us sleep in his bed and he will sleep on the ground. I don't think that will ever happen, but it was nice to hear :) He bought us some cool scripture coins from the Marines or something like that so we are getting those soon. Hopefully, he can change his work schedule real soon and get back to the church! Elder Dodd is doing well. He had a tough couple days this week though. He is really hard on himself. I see a lot of me in him. That scares me because I am no good and he shouldn't be like me (did you catch that paradox? Haha. Its all true though.) We are both doing our best, and a lot of the time I try to look at us two in other's shoes and it makes me think things like; "what would two young, clueless, teenagers know about anything they could help me with? They can't even speak my language?" A lot of the time I do feel clueless. A lot of the time I am! But I know how to work hard and make sacrifices and I am trying to do it every day because I love the Lord, the message He has trusted with me to share, and the responsibility He has given Elder Dodd and me over all who live in El Mirage and Youngtown. 

 

Love, Elder Jacob Karl "Hagrid" Parry 

Miracles

As of this morning I have entered into my 4th transfer on bike in El Mirage here in the Surprise Zone! I am staying. It is going to be a blast. As we expected, no change for the 4 Estrella Elders. Lots of cool things are happening and Elder Dodd and I are seeing miracles and success so it will be great. Sometimes, especially as I was thinking about this past week, I feel like I bore you with the Spiritual stuff and lack of the "in-between" stuff. I will try and find something interesting to say aside from the MIRACLES!! we have seen.

 

We had Menudo yesterday! It was my second time. Elder Dodd did NOT like it. He kind of just spooned some of the broth in his mouth. I ate all of mine. It is weird; Cow intestine with weird textures, but I didn't care. Just ate. I don't plan on bringing the recipe home for that one however. We had it with Francisco Gamez; he is an investigator who owns a carniceria (meat store) and feeds us every Monday. LOTS OF MEAT. Next week is tamales and seviche. We also had Pizza at Ignacio's and a "part member family" invited us in for Sopes yesterday. They were soooo delicious. The weird thing is I think I am gaining weight even while on bike. Not very ideal haha.

 

To sum up last week and part of the week before I would say that we have seen MIRACLE after MIRACLE after MIRACLE!! One thing to keep in mind though is they were all little ones that are going a long way! Elder Dodd and I stayed up late in bed last night recounting 1-3 miracles that had happened every day the past eight! The Lord keeps putting things on our plate and in our path. We keep joking that our Heavenly Father probably thinks we are lost babies trying to do missionary work and he just keeps needing to give us stuff to do.

A few hours after I emailed you last week Jocelyn G. said to us in middle of sharing a random spiritual thought that she wants to get baptized. She is super excited. She is asking questions about everything. That was a miracle. She is set for the 12th. Maybe the 19th depending on how often we can go over. We are going tonight. Yesterday a street contact called me that I had left a card for and said she wanted to learn about God. First time someone has ever called me back in my mission! We are going over Saturday. The kid we found when our three tires popped is progressing well with the sisters. Rene talked to us for an hour and a half about all his family problems and asked us for help. We  felt prompted to read 3 Ne 14 with him. It worked. He is going to talk to president Aguirre this Sunday and he already feels so great at church! Yesterday a "PM" family invited us in and fed us. We shared 2 Ne 32:8-9 (Something I studied that morning) and the dad started crying and the non member mom asked why we shared that because they were having that problem in their home. I told them the Spirit moved me to share it. It was perfect. We committed them to prayer and church. We found the wallet family again this week after losing them for a week. We are teaching him tomorrow. We talked to his neighbor who invited us over for dinner and a lesson tonight. Clemente is reading more and his wife is cruising! She is on track for her Blessing and the Temple! After a two-week break with Jose H. he told us he missed us and needs us back basically. We taught a lesson with Hermano Covarubbias to Mafia Lou and his "non-member" family this week. The Spirit was STRONG. The three of us testified like bosses haha. We left them with the Restoration movie and the kids' BOM. They are progressing well. For the first time in my mission a member family invited us over to teach "non member" friends/family. The Jenkins invited us over and we taught Hermana Jenkins' mom, dad, and step-mom. They LOVED it. They came from Venezuela for a week and now they are going back. We turned in his information to the mission office, after we got his business card, and we are going to teach him through email and Facebook in the coming weeks. We have the opportunity of teaching one of our friend's parents who live in Venezuela through Facebook! Cool stuff! (BTW We saw Hermano Jenkins after 3+ weeks of not leaving his house. He has a huge and filthy beard. We missed him.) We went on splits last night and had family nights with the Gamez in their home and in Ignacio's home with Rene. The last really cool miracle I can think of right now is that on Tuesday we just got out of a lesson at 5:05 and we didn't want to bike all the way back to Youngtown, eat a little, then come back for our 6:00 appt. We didn't know what to do. I thought we could call Armida Martinez and ask for a bite to eat outside at her house. As Elder Dodd grabbed the phone she drove by, pulled up and we asked her if we could come over. She said she bought extra chicken on her way home and that her nephew was home for about an hour. Right there, I just felt like that was God telling us that He still cares, He is still looking out for us, and that He is always helping us. Even just for some food from a member when we had no other plans. I wish I could remember everything that happened. For some reason, the windows of Heaven opened up this week on us! I think it is because we have been being obedient, diligent in our studies and with our time, and always looking for ways to help and serve others. We cashed in this week!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

One district in our mission has been testing iphones and ipads since May. They are 1 of 5 districts in the world. I have heard that we could have iphones and ipads by Christmas but we will see. In time.

 

In the package could you possibly put the headache essential oil container in if you can lend it for a little bit. I am fine, I promise. But Hermano J. has had migraines for three weeks and lost his calling in the branch presidency cause he can't leave the house the sun hurts so bad. Anyway, he has tried absolutely everything for his head but nothing works and I love that big man-bear so maybe you could spare that and I can send it back?

 

Sorry I sent the Kid copies of the Book of Mormon to Dad's work. I meant to send them here. Thanks so much. And the tabs are money. I like the system I have going in my Spanish BOM thanks.

 

By the way those Kid's copies of the Book of Mormon are so money! I have seriously placed more of those than the real one here haha. The kids absolutely love them. Good way to get to the hearts of kids and their families. Plantamos semillas! (seeds).

 

I hope the surgery went well and that BYU, Sr. Year, Soph year, Millcreek, and the business trips are all going great. I really enjoy hearing about/from everybody while out here. Thanks for all the good stuff. Wish I could comment about it all-You are all doing great and making me happy out in this thirsty land.

 

I am really bonding with this area. I love it. I am excited to get to a new area, meet new people, and have different adventures but I am in no hurry. I had the blessing of getting to know a lot of people in my first area in Peoria for only six weeks, and now a great branch here. PS Hermano Zayas from Agua Fria just got made first counselor in the presidency here. He is the man. He is bringing more Red Robin this weekend! But I love it here. There is a lot of work here and a lot the Lord is doing to open people's hearts. Plus every day when we take the bridge on grande into our area we get mad respect and a mountain of attention from all the cars driving past! It is cool to have started this area and to be here so long with my third companion. I have been part of some great things.

 

Well, Sorry to bore you again! Hope you are all chugging along. Life here is great and super fast-fastest transfer yet! Thanks for all that you do and don't forget that Mormon always said that the only reasons miracles don't happen is because we don't have the faith yet :) Faith is a gift from God. We need to pray for it and ask for it continually. Love, Elder Parry

I Love the Estrella Branch

So last night we checked up on an investigator (He kind of avoids us and yet is almost halfway through the Book of Mormon as he has been reading it; we aren't complaining a whole lot, it is just a little bit odd) and he is a Red Sox fan and said he was watching the game last night. So I did know they were playing! How are they so good this year? I feel so detached. Papi, Pedroia, who else? Who even plays outfield?

 

Elder Dodd and I had a real, fun success on Facebook this week! I sent President Monson's talk on Patriarchal Blessings to Deseret (the 'less-active' wife to Clemente). She came to church (Clemente had to work) with her two small kids, stayed all three hours--for the first time since I have been here!!--, and they all enjoyed it. She told us that she set up an interview to work to get her blessing with President Aguirre on a weekday! and said that the temple is the next step for her after this. We told her to slow down and take it little by little haha. But she was super excited! And we were MORE excited!! It was a miracle. Clemente will follow in her footsteps. The good thing is that she was normally the least driven of the 2! This should get Clemente going and encourage him even more I am sure! It was really neat to see some fruits of Facebook. Other than that, I am doing a lot of contacting of old friends from things like leadership conferences in DC, Valley Forge, Boys' State and stuff like that. That is really the only place I have found 'non-members.' It actually isn't going bad. Those old groups are pretty useful. Who knows, maybe I met someone from one of those 3-6 day vacations that I can help introduce to the Gospel here on my mission in Arizona? Right now I am just catching up with them and chatting before I bring up anything church-related. Facebook is moving. Like and share, AND post some of your own stuff :D

 

Sometimes I feel like I am serving my mission in Africa haha. I know people serving in Africa would call me soft but some funny things have been happening this week. Our fridge is on the highest temperature it can be and it has freezed all our milk gallons, meat, yogurt, and even fruit for the week haha. This morning, after we had gotten up early so we would have time to pre-wash and what-not, we took our clothes to the laundromat at our apartments and found out it was closed this week. We don't know what to do haha. Elder Dodd ripped his shirt because he fell off his bike this week. I felt bad. And we have gotten rides from members a little this week and when they drop us off in our area in El Mirage they either laugh or kind of scowl because of how low-budget it looks. El Mirage is nothing like Surprise! Anyway, fun week haha. We had a couple good meals; lunch at one of our member's mexican restaurants. I had a gigantic tostada. I think we glanced at the TV and saw that a Seattle football player caught a kick with one hand and returned it for a TD or something? We also had lasagna with the Zayas yesterday. A chilean-Mexican couple made us American food.

 

We had the first trainer/trainee meeting this week. Tuesday we split off into groups: trainers and trainees. Each group had 60 people. That is 30 people coming in in each of the last 2 transfers. President said we are getting 56 (and counting) in the next 2 transfers with 9 going home. Fun stuff. It was a great meeting. Always great to see President and Sister Taylor. But I received some great revelation and learned a lot about things I could be doing. It was also nice to hear from Sister Taylor at the end of the meeting challenge us all to go home and write in our journal one night about everything we are doing right. Sometimes she is exactly what I need! It was a relaxing and happy experience to do. We texted her and told her how it boosted our spirits and Pres. Taylor kind of gave us a shoutout for the text in the weekly email. They are awesome. It was also cool to see friends from all over the mission.

 

I love the Estrella Branch. Sundays are the best days because I see so many happy, friendly members. Some people we are teaching; the G family and the C family were swallowed up by the ward. It is very very awesome to see them get talked to and included. Hermana J brought her Dad ('non-member' from Venezuela) to church and we talked to him and he seemed to really enjoy it. The M twins brought their black friend from football to church and he said he will come next week-but in a white shirt instead-and start going regularly to church and EARLY MORNING SEMINARY too--even though he can't understand Spanish. He are having a hard time thinking about who would teach him haha. His mom is interested too. The members are so fun though. They just make me smile and I think I make them smile too so it is all good haha. We have been sending a lot of referrels to the way of the other Spanish Elders and the English sisters. They are having success in those actually. I find great joy in passing them off. I feel like the Lord puts trust in us in our own area by sending people outside the area to find us so that we will street contact them, or ask the right member or investigator for the right friend referrel they have. I feel like it is "extra trust" because it is outside the area they live. I know the Lord will be more apt to trust us with people in our own area as we continue to do this :) Does that all make sense? Oh and by the way we have a lesson set up with Jose AND his family this wednesday--Jose is the second guy we found through the wallet event last week. He was drinking Sprite on his porch with his friends. We are excited (The other people we found we sent to the other Elders and one of them is on baptismal date). 

 

Yes transfers are next week but neither of us think we'll go anywhere. Shouldn't happen. I expect that my name will appear on the text but I won't go anywhere. Sometimes I expect to get my name etched on bronze plates or a stone tablet then shipped to my apartment because transfers have been inefficient and confusing and even old-fashioned for me haha.

 

I love this mission. It is flying by (8 months today!?) and I can't wait to do WORK when I get home too. I love the Book of Mormon. 2 Nephi 25:26: BOM THESIS! I know that Christ lives and talks today through a living prophet. I try to read, love, and live the Liahona now that I have that on my mission and I CANNOT WAIT for conference (That is coming up!?) Keep on keeping ya'll! Paz.

 

Love, Elder Parry

Teach Them Spanish THEN Teach Them the Gospel

 

Dear Family,

 

This past week as I have washed my hair in the mornings I have noticed 4-5 pieces of hair in each hand! The inevitable may have begun haha. Maybe the sun is zapping my scalp. Either way- I am getting old out here. I can't believe I am as far as I am now. I wrote in my journal last night, to President this morning and to a couple other friends today that it used to be that the weeks and months went by fast and that the days were sloooooow. But now- EVERYTHING goes by fast; studies, days, nights, lessons, weeks, months, transfers, and even meetings. Things are flying by. I know I am growing but some days I still feel like the same moron I came out as. Haha. That is okay too though. Yesterday was--as it seemed to be--my first time going to church in the Estrella Branch without an investigator that attended sacrament meeting. It was sad. BUT- Clemente texted us and said he went with his wife to his brother-in-law's ward. YES! It was a big save haha. And I have come across some of your pictures on facebook. I wasn't seeking them out, but I can't say they didn't catch my eye. It looks very colorful up there. I am jealous. Looks fun. One thing El Mirage doesn't have to boast are the sites. Haha. It honestly feels like home right now--especially with the Mexican atmosphere because that is who we are teaching. Most people that we talk to talk about how crazy El Mirage is. I never really looked at it that way! The Lord has put me in a cool place where I feel comfortable and I am being protected. We proselyte in such a small area I feel like everyone who lives here has seen us! Luz finally had her baptism this week. Ignacio did it so that was really cool to see. Elders Cardoso and Hughes came back! That was neat too. They are old men; both in there last 1/4th. Time flies!

 

Facebook is moving along. I have only had about three days proselyting on it and in all honesty, I haven't really found much to do. Don't feel like you need to go out and find things for me to do--we need to be able to use our time wisely and creatively. President Taylor has taught a lot about the 'sniper' vs. the 'shotgun' approach on introducing and teaching others the Gospel. I am using the 'scope' to try to find specific people, in the area or outside of my area, but can't really find anyone to shoot. Haha, anyway, This movement to online is definitely an inspired one and it will definitely take time. Just as long as long as we don't look at it as the 'silver bullet' in missionary work. Still lots of other stuff to do. (President Taylor loves the analogies. He is wise.) As far as what any of you can or can't do.. Put simply, just know that I can only do things on there that help me with my Missionary Purpose. The Purpose is written on page 1 of PMG, by the way. President Taylor and other leaders of the church are really putting a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the missionaries. I am not having any problems staying focused and I don't really foresee it.  What do you think?  

 

One of the speakers canceled yesterday so I was asked to speak for 15 minutes. It seemed like a long time and went into it thinking I would do ten. I THINK it ended up being about 15 but I really didn't pay attention. Other people said about 15 minutes as well- but the Second counselor of the Presidency said I went too long (He is super nice, but kind of flaky and tactless haha) and just kind of walked away. Anyway, I didn't really care--they shouldn't try to fit three talks from men and a choir piece (of which I participated in) in the same program. I really surprised myself up there! I loved it! I spoke on Faith and pretty much did it by the Spirit and in Spanish. It was a cool experience. I have a testimony of relaxing and that the Spirit speaks to us when we are patiently and confidently expecting it. I took an act of faith as I went up there to talk about it! For my talk, I talked about how obedience is the soil that the seed of faith grows in in Alma 32. I compared the 'anchor' of faith in Ether 12 to the lack of faith and the 'waves of the sea' in James 1. I talked about how Faith brings us a remission of sins through the sacrament too. One thing my mission has taught me is to really dumb things down. We are only reading stuff from the 'missionary library' on our missions. I couldn't name the last thing I read in any studying that I hadn't read before. The Gospel is really all about studying and understanding the basics then living them. It has been very beneficial to me to study the Apostasy, Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Ghost rather than the doctrine of our Heavenly Mother (A little far, but you get the point I think haha). I digress.

 

I would say there are kind of two crowning finding/biking events this week. The first--Ayayay. We only proselyted for an hour on Wednesday because of 3 POPPED TIRES. THREE! It was awful. We ran out of spares. We even ran out of tools. We had to annoy the zone leaders. Then a bolt broke on my bike so I am borrowing someone's while mine is at the shop. After the 3rd tire we were waiting on the sidewalk for the ZLs. A lady in a truck drives by and asks if we need a ride. We say no thanks then says "my son wants to learn more about God and were wondering if you could help and had the time to do so." "Sure I guess." Right!? haha. Unfortunately, they didn't speak Spanish, but we sent the sisters over there to talk to the boy and the mom who is an inactive Mormon. Elder Dodd and I were so excited that we wanted to teach them Spanish and THEN teach them the Gospel haha. Second one- Saturday night we were biking to a dinner with the Sanchez and I looked down to the ground at the exact moment to see a wallet. it had like 400$ in it! A license too, luckily. We talked to some neighbors and figured out where to go. The owner, Eduardo, of the wallet, spoke Spanish, and let us come back for a return appointment this Wednesday and we got to talk to the neighbors who helped us out a little bit too. The three of them were sitting in the front yard drinking and chatting like all the other El Miragean Mexicans. But they were drinking SPRITE! Haha it was cool. They bragged about how they haven't drank for two years and that they are drinking sprite. I told them a few Spanish jokes and we chatted and stuff--basically they loved us. We loved them too. We have plans to revisit and teach all of them. The lady in the truck driving by and running across that wallet don't just happen. Stuff doesn't just happen. We are excited to see the fruits of these occurances and have faith that the fruits will be great! But it won't hurt our faith if stuff doesn't happen. Man it is super fun being placed in the right place at the right time. Even if it does take 3 popped tires and 65 dollars of repairs to do so. The best way to do missionary work is on bike! It is the best.

 

We had a super awesome lesson with Clemente this week. He may not be doing everything he can to receive answers to his prayers but he is doing stuff little by little and we are the guides for him along the way. Rene is finally settled down-his girlfriend has really improved in the hospital so we are having our first lesson with him in a month tonight. We are taking a week break with Jose.. We talked to Lou the mafia guy and his wife last night for almost an hour. It looks pretty promising over there. Solid family. We have great trust with them and will start teaching soon. We have met some potencial investigators this week too! Looks like the teaching should be taking an upward bound this week.

 

Oh yeah!! It was kind of a three-pronged finding by bike week. I forgot one: Friday night we had Jose planned. We put everything into that lesson; practice, member, study, etc. Hermano Mata (jose's friend) called and said that Jose wasn't feeling well and that he needed to cancel. Booze brain (me) didn't listen very well. So we went to Jose's! Haha. We kind of bothered Jose a little as he was having a headache. We felt bad and left and ran into someone. She knows a little about the church, speaks Spanish, and invited us back over. The best part about here was her personality. She is one that would accept what we have. She was not arrogant or prideful at all. I would say the majority of the people we come across that actually talk to us are just super prideful-- talking about their own commercial and sponsor-driven churches (although not really bragging about that aspect) and how what they are doing is good and about how much they love God. I could go on about that. Anyway, Sarah is solid and good things should come of that this week.

 

Things at home and abroad sound fun. Homecoming dance is fun. Getting kissed by older high school women is fun, (so I've heard) so Sam can look forward to that. Just make sure to be smart my lad. And park in the upper parking lot. Safer place for cars haha. The BYU game sounded like a blast. It has been raining all week here and that has been fun. Cool thunderstorms and not too much heat.

 

D and C 133:28!! It is all about AZ baby :D

 

Love, Elder Jacob Karl Parry

 

Yes: "Elder Jacob Karl Parry," just not in facebook because facebook is still outsmarting me for the time being.

 

PS about the whole time thing- I don't think I included this but this transfer, out of all of them, is the FASTEST. It is already week five. Chances are pretty good we will not be changing at all, but it is still flying! I imagine the rest of the mission either maintains this pace or even picks up. Crazy stuff.

Patience

 

Hello Family,

 

The mission is going great! It is very tiring; I am asleep usually by about 10:35 and I have been dreaming every night too! Crazy stuff.

 

I had the wonderful opportunity of going to a session at the Mesa Temple this week with the Jenkins. It was phenomenal. I have really missed that place so it was good to go back. I saw the new presentation. It was interesting to hear your thoughts about it too. Hermano Jenkins said it was a little bit like a 'telenovela' which means Soap Opera in Spanish and a lot of Mexicans watch them. I agreed to a point but our whole group agreed that it was an improvement to the old one. My two favorite parts were the added emotion and the changes on the Creation. That was neat. The emotion really put personality into it and made the decision so much more important and realistic. The Mesa Temple is beautiful too. I drew back on my thoughts of being there with Dad, Monte, Sam, and Caroline a couple Thanksgivings ago. It was especially nice to think about Monte while I was there! I wish we could go to the temple more. It was great. Not to mention, it was like a huge road trip to leave the six-square mile El Mirage all the way to Mesa haha.

 

Elder Dodd and I are working hard in the area. We are talking with everyone. People have been coming to church. The Rama loves us and the other two elders too.

 

Something I am kind of learning off and on throughout my whole mission is patience. Most good things take a long time. Paradoxically- learning patience does too haha. But I have noticed that it is not up to us, nor is it right for us, to expect all the good things to happen when we want them to or even when we expect to have waited long enough and to have worked hard enough. Some investigators get taught by upwards of ten different missionaries. Most of who we are teaching right now are on their first or second missionary companionship with me being in the first companionship. It is so much easier and better to plan ahead with the VISION that we want to have for them. Elder Hughes and Elder Lemon found Jose in January. He wasn't regularly taught until Elder Cardoso and I could focus on him. We have regularly taught him since May. He has received all the lessons, understands them too, and is sincerly trying to find out if it is true and is for him. Every lesson the past three weeks we have come over hoping to hear from him that his prayer was answered, or he feels ready, or that he knows it is true. He knows what he needs to do. He is doing it. We even taught 3 separate lessons on Moroni 10:4-5 so that he would fully understand 'having faith in Jesus Christ, sincere heart, and real intent.' He knows. He wants it to be true. He is praying and reading; asking specifically and doing it consistently. When answers don't come we realize how impatient we are and how much we want to direct the Lord's will. That is not how it is. I remember one thing Dad has said to me a couple times that he learned and that is that we can't expect to change the Lord's time in our prayers or actions even if the desires are righteous desires for His children (or something like that; at least that is what I got out of what you said). We are doing everything we can with Jose and he appears to be doing everything he can too. This is in the Lord's hands. And I trust Him! We trust Him! I am not worried. I guess I just felt confused because we didn't know what was going wrong for Jose and why he hasn't received an answer. Patience. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will be baptized. He will be a worthy Priesthood holder and he will go to the temple often. I know it will happen. Why would it need to happen now--while I am teaching him or while Elder Dodd is teaching him--if the Lord knows it would happen too but that it would just happen in His time and no one else's? I have the Faith that it will even happen if he stops investigating. He has told us a few times that he is looking for truth in his life and if he doesn't find it here he will go elsewhere until he finds it. What more can we ask for out of an investigator? Not much. But I am fairly confident that he could still accept the truth here even if he stops. He has done his part. I don't think the Lord could say otherwise. But I am in no position to say that. He knows all. It is up to us to trust in Him and that is what we are doing right now. Patience has helped me take the mission week by week too. Several nights we come home and reflect on the day; and when you think about the lessons that fell through, the people that weren't home, the people that weren't interested, and the lack of set things to do through the day, it can be destructive! What we do in a day may not seem like much. If we did our best and strived always to be doing the right thing it  adds up. Even some weeks seem to go by with zero progress. That may be the case. But the Lord loves His missionaries and He loves His children and we are expected to do our best out here to help them and leave the rest to Him. He is doing amazing things through us. Even if we teach 3 lessons in a week and talk to 22 people that barely even let us leave them with a card. I am learning patience. A few weeks ago I was praying off and on about something- I wanted to know if my service in the mission up to that point had been accepted and appreciated by my Father in Heaven. I waiting around until I got an answer to that too. How selfish does that sound? It almost sounds a little pathetic too. In retrospect that is what I think of that. I didn't need an answer nor should I have really expected one. I know my efforts are being accepted because I am doing my best. Even if I get home at the end of a day and feel like I didn't do my best that day, I tap into the power of the Atonement and recommit myself the following day. Overall, I am doing my best, and it has taken to me to learning patience in order to feel like my efforts aren't wasted. That may have all sounded like a broken record player, or maybe you all have already heard something like that from other missionaries or already have that down yourselves-but that has to be one of the biggest things that has stood out to me so far in my service. I hope that when you all see me home you can honestly say that patience is a Christlike characteristic that I exemplfiy. I am trying so hard to be patient in everything. I even think President Taylor knows that patience is my big battle right now. I pray for it every day. Through the Lord's grace I can make patience my strength. Ether 12:27. 

 

Love you all. Love, Elder Jacob Parry

PS The weather has been beautiful. Still a little warm and the humidity makes me sweat more but the cloudy sunsets are awesome and the thunder and lightning storms are picture-perfect desert storms. There aren't a lot but I have enjoyed them. We have been rained on twice on bike and it wasn't bad so that was kind of fun. I have only had two headaches since making it to the field. One was the first night with Cardoso and the other was the second night with Elder Dodd. It must be something about change that brings them haha. I will tell Sister Taylor of any medical problems including scorpion bites so thank you. She reminds me of Mom a lot! It is kind of neat. She is very very concerned and always thinking about the missionaries and our health. Physical, mental, and spiritual.