First Transfer Since April, Destination Unknown

 

Hello Family!

 

I bet you are wondering if I am getting transferred... I AM LEAVING THE BRANCH! As far as I know I am getting legitimately transferred for the first time since April. Ya me VOY! I am excited for the new leg of the journey and reminiscent of a great 9 months with the great people of Surprise.

 

Now for the week.. Have you seen the "Hastening of the Work of Salvation" article that is #1 on the LDS.org newsfeed right now? APM pride! President sent us the article a few weeks ago--the whole world should be reading it now! have you been to the website yet? http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening The time is now for everyone to catch the vision! It is not just a new Church "catch-phrase" or another way to try to motivate people. The Lord is literally hastening the work of saving all of His children. There is no time to hide in our Utah bubbles! Even in Arizona there is a lot of work to do.

 

You saw that I went to the Temple. I have more pictures I need to get to you. It was such a blast! More than anything, it was really cool. Monday after we emailed (seems like a month ago kind of) we went to our usual Monday lesson with the Covos. They said that the kids get out of school early, Silvio doesn't have to work, and Celia didnt have her telenovela or something so they would come! We had just about lost all hope. Side note- They had told us three weeks ago when we wanted to plan it that they didnt think they would be able to, but if things changed they would tell us the night before probably. It was really frustrating, but that is how these people, and now me, plan things! I have really noticed a change in my arriving on time and planning things in the mission I have really adopted the culture haha (not good). Anyway, then Ignacio and Luz called us that night and said they successfully borrowed their brother's car and they called their friend Rosa and she said she would come! It was so cool. And it was a roadtrip! Thew Covos absolutely loved it. They told their friends (other investigators) about it and now they are going with the branch next weekend!! Silvio said it was very celestial (heavenly) and that he knows he needs to get married there. We jabbed him and told him he needs to get baptized first. Hopefully soon! The Temple was absolutely beautiful. Very white and grand. I felt at home there. It got me excited for the Phoenix Temple, for being able to de sessions soon, and for HEaven too! Ignacio and Luz are counting down the days until September 7th (a year after Luz got baptized) so they can be sealed. They kept saying, "are you coming Parry?" So I want to. Mario and Glenda should be sealed in April too! It was a wonderful experience.

 

The Branch is starting to sustain itself very well. The members are finding and talking with friends and we are seeing the fruits of it! I am excited for where this place is going and I can really see this place for what it will become in 10 years. I will be back sometime soon. The members are excited. One of my favorite little things that happened this week happened on exchanges in the bike-south area. I was with Elder Jones. It was good to be back in my old area for the last time. I loved roaring around on bike haha. The experience-- In Humberto's (Beto's basically. It was good I felt at home haha. And Elder Jones is a lot like DAllin or Richard so it was good) a worker, very sweet lady, told us that her best friend was serving in Australia, so I asked if we could tell about the mission with her and return. She said yeah. We went yesterday and taught her and her parents too! They are interested and Elder Fife is going back Friday. It was really fun and I see a lot of potencial in her. I will come back and she will be a member! The other elders in the branch are REALLY goofy. It was fun. They are both just like my Bountiful friends so we have had a blast together. They were joking with me this week about getting transferred so they set up many dinners just in case. We hate more Panvasos on Sunday with the Sorianos, Carne Asada with the Martinez family, we have dinner with the President Aguirre tonight, and we had a hamburger lunch with the Jenkins! They were all fun. We studied together, us 4, in the Jenkins home after lunch. It was a memorable time and I love the Jenkins so they will be missed. We poke fun at each other a lot (us 4 elders) so we have had good chemistry and unity here in the branch. I am the only one leaving so they should all go forth, teaching and working together in unity. At church this week sadly no one from our area could make it, but 6 came from the South! Jose, Clemente, Melina, Victor Valadez, and a few others. Sound familiar? It was a great day. Crazy thing- So Jose was going to get baptized the 8th and I was going to come back for it, but he talked to PResident and said that he needs to get divorced with someone who lives in Mexico and married to his "wife" who he lives with here. I didn't know about that! For 7 months of teaching him!! It was kind of frustrating, but mostly "oh-well" haha. He will be baptized. And the wedding will be EXCELLENT for getting Maria to church and meeting people. I still want to come back for his ordinance.

 

Well I don't want to try to sum up the things I have learned from Elders Cardoso, Miller, Dodd, and Fife, the investigators, members, leaders, other missionaries, and the SPirit here in the Branch. I am starting to understand the Doctrine of Christ, church leadership, the work of salvation, how to love, how to plan, and how to give it my all, and even myself a lot more in my time spent here. I know that where I am going and who I will be with will all be inspired by God and I am excited and grateful.

 

SURPRISE FOR LIFE!

 

Elder Parry

A Sermon

Dear Family,

This week was great. We had interviews with President again. I love
them. They are a lot better now because I used to get very sad when
they were over. I am learning how to be be self-dependent and to look
for answers and help on my own so I don't need to rely on PResident
Taylor so much. He is doing a good job at teaching it too. I had some
great experiences turning to my HEavenly Father this week too (I will
write about them). In my interview, I felt the Spirit exceptionally
strong as soon as PResident starting talking about the Branch. It got
even stronger and more obvious when he mentioned our great Branch
President, President Aguirre. It was a very strong Spirit and a
memorable experience. I know that both these men are called of God,
and more specifically, put in their positions right now to influence
certain people and to do their roles at this specific time in this
specific place. I know it was expedient for The Lord to put them there
to help and influence so many people. I admire them both very much.
Why couldn't I be placed here for specific people at a specific time
too? We all have our own roles and it is good that we fulfill them to
the best of our ability and then we will have done what The Lord
expects. I have been reading and sharing the phrase "with all of your
might" in the D and C a lot this week. Notice that it doesn't say
another missionary's might, or someone else's might, or with the might
of ten. The Lord expects us all to work with all of our might. If we
only talk to one new person a day because of our daily life
circumstances then The Lord expects us to leave them better off then
when we first met them. Give a smile at the least, do everything you
can to leave an invitation though! We are expected to do what we can
do. So let's do it with all of our own might!

I went on Exchanges with Elder Parsons this week. It was very cool. I
love learning from other missionaries, older and younger, and to see
their style, habits, testimony, and learn from their examples. Elder
PArsons is very cool. HE is 27 years old. He was inactive between the
ages of 16 and 24. He gave up professional soccer and a few other
things to be here. He has great faith and a strong understanding of
the Gospel--how to LIVE it and how to BECOME. We had a great time. We
visited a white family that had moved from Utah. We showed them a
Hastening the Work video--they were related to the reactivated people
in it so they cried and shared how the Spirit moved them here to AZ so
they could meet specific neighbors. They have talked to 4 families on
their street and already invited one of them to church within a week.
They have caught the vision.

In my studies on becoming I have decided to start with prayer. Prayer
is just to rote for me right now. I had some wonderful studies
starting in the right place: The Book of Mormon. I read some of my
favorite stories; when the prophets are praying--Alma 8, 29,31 Mosiah
26 Enos, Ether 12, 2 Nephi 4 and some others. I learned a lot. I
learned how the Spirit taught several principles and lessons to these
prophets as they were praying. I have had similar experiences this
week! I prayed a couple times this week with no words but with pure
emotion!!! It was really cool. Something you would need to try to be
able to try to describe. Since the mission has encouraged praying,
bearing testimony, and reciting scriptures in Spanish I have been
doing all my personal prayers in Spanish. I feel it is easier to be
less rote. I feel the Spirit telling me what to say and ask for as I
really pay attention to my feelings and the Holy Ghost. I feel myself
praying for different (unique) things. The more I can understand my
relationship with my Heavenly FAther, the more natural prayer will be
for me. It will be as natural as breathing. I need to always be about
prayer instead of just getting on my knees and doing it at the times
when I know I should. They were some powerful changes wrought upon me
this week!

We get to go to the Gilbert Temple this week! On tuesday we will be
going with Ignacio and Luz--recent converts of the Branch. I have
heard it is a spectacular sight.

I have two challenges for you all!!!!! One- I wanted to do this, but
could not because we can't watch or post youtube videos on facebook.
Look up the trailer for the New Joseph Smith Movie on Hulu. It is on
the main LDS.org page. Watch the trailer, like it on FB, rate it when
WATCH the movie if it is available at the home, and help get that
advertised! It is yet another new and excited tool the church has.

So; watch and advertise that trailer.

Also- We have begun the Book of Mormon as a mission. We are
highlighting the Gospel of Christ using 6 different colors for the 6
main points to the Doctrine of Christ. It is opening my mind and
changing my outlook on what the Book teaches. I challenge all, Dad,
Mom, Sam, Isaac, Caroline, Evan, and Thomas to read the Book of
Mormon, paying attention and marking the Doctrine of Christ and having
it done by the end of the Summer! If you think it can be done sooner,
then do it! Send me a brief key learning in each letter or email you
send me so you can help me learn too :)

Read, Study, Learn, Live, Love the Book of Mormon. It will continue to
change your lives!

Love you all!

APM Pride

Dear Family,

 

We actually heard from President Taylor about President Griffin. He is related to the assistant that was here when I got in and he owns a cattle ranch in Billings Montana. I am going to ask President this wednesday if he speaks Spanish or not haha. President Taylor got choked up when he announced it to us after the Tri-conference, and he said good things about him. Not much though. He also warned us and warned us to warn our families to not facebook stalk him or anything like that haha (he told us he had already done it for us).

 

The Tri-mission conference was fantastic. Unfortunately, Elder Holland CANCELED. Elder Wright from the 70 took his place. His wife introduced him at the conference; she said that he got the call from Salt Lake while heading to lunch with a member coworker and several nonmember coworkers. Elder Wright got off the phone to try to explain things and his member friend butted in to say "imagine getting tickets to see the Beatles, going, and then seeing the Dixie Chicks onstage." It was funny. And the conference was good nonetheless. I had a lot of APM pride when he talked because he talked about things President Taylor is already trying to ingrain into our souls. He talked about Becoming rather than doing, not losing good habits off the mission, and stuff like that. BECOMING if the only way we can naturally keep the good things going and stop the bad things. We can't just run through the motions or do things just because we know we are supposed to. The conversion needs to be a little deeper. I want to be as dependent on prayer as I am on food. I want to become someone who trusts in the Lord in every moment and goes to him in prayer no matter the time, place, or purpose. Anyway, it was all very good. President and Sister Taylor said great things too. I saw a friend from the MTC, and someone I knew, Scott Obray, from Bountiful but the best part was seeing the rest of the APM. I talked with Elders Dodd, Miller, Cardoso, Hughes, Arave, and my other pals. It was nice to see the Brazilian againn. He is doing well and goes home in 10 weeks which is crazy. Can you believe I go home in a year? Crazy stuff! I promise myself I won't get trunky like our roommate. Man, oh man! He has 10 weeks left too. After the conference we went to the PHX temple to get a mission picture. It was COOL! All 280 of us. I haven't seen the temple since I got here in FEbruary so it was really nice. It is looking good. A few windows, inside stuff, and the grounds is all it looks to have left. It is in a beautiful place--right as you go around one of the mountains on one of the main roads it just jumps out at you! It will look great lit up at night. I feel like the church does that a lot with its temples- Draper, St. George, DC, SAN diego, and others. I am sure that is one of the best missionary tools in the valley because so many people pass it and it is breathtaking no matter what religion you are. I can't wait to go inside!

 

I honestly can't think of much else to say. Elder Fife and I are looking to re-evaluate or investigators and see where we should be spending our time. They are all great people, but some need to take a step back and see if they are willing to change. I also learned from the conference that I need to pray with all the energy of miy heart for a love for this people. I love them, but It has got to be stronger. I am praying for that so I can genuinely reflect it to them. I will tell you about an experience in a lesson this week! We taught Lala, she lives WAAAAY out on 185, we do most of our work on 130th so we trekked out there and she was home so it was good. I feel like we have taught the Apostasy 4 times with her so it is hard to help her understand why there is only one church so we kept trying, going by the Spirit of course. But it was tough. This week and transfer I have been working on not being so apologetic, being more bold, and saying the truth how it is. Yes, our investigators need to read from the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY, not just between visits. Stuff like that. So, when Elder Fife was looking for a scripture in his ipad, I told her. I told her, in response to her question: "why would God give his authority to only one church and why would he pick yours?" I said because it is His only true church and and no other church has the same power to provide ordinances of salvation than this one. This church is not another church it is the ONLY one that is HIS. I felt the Spirit as I testified-- in a different way though. I felt like my voice was stronger and my whole appearance too. I felt like the Spirit backed up my courage to be bold and tell the truth to help her see what our stance is so we wouldn't have to repeat it and she could think of it, or something like that. It felt good to get out of the comfort zone.

 

Elder Fife is doing so well. This weekend especially, he has kind of 'showed me how it is done.' He shared a scripture in an unlikely moment, which worked out really nice because we committed the friends to church this week. He is keeping us obedient and on-time to things. He has really taught me through example how to be himself in missionary work. His analogies that he uses in lessons are thoughtful and heartfelt. He teaches from his life and does it sincerely. Whether it is straight out of PMG or it makes perfect sense to the lesson or not, he has shown me how to teach to people's needs and desires. It is something I can try to emulate. One thing I always have in mind when teaching and contacting is to look for ways to highlight and testify of principles of the Gospel in the things that they say. That is already a part of him. We have had a fruitful 10 weeks together. Pretty soon he will be finished with training. And don't worry about me getting transferred--I won't! Haha.

 

Go Caroline! I forgot to say this a few weeks ago... But I had a dream. It wasn't anything serious, but Caroline got her call to Taiwan! How cool is that!? You will be a great missionary and will find great eternal joy for serving the Lord. Thanks for always being so tough Mom! You are good at teaching me to stand up for myself!

 

I know God loves us, I know there is a mansion prepared for us all in a far better and more eternal world. Endure to the End!

 

Love, Elder Parry

A New Year

Dear Family,

 

How is life? Sounds kind of wild with the cops and everything. We actually switched to 9:00 church here in the Estrella Branch too. I do not like it as a missionary. We have to get going and get out the door earlier than any other day of the week and we have to come back for studies after. It is okay though. Oh and it is a lot harder for the Mexicans to get to church so that is frustrating. The member missionary work is growing. I feel that it is very strong here in the valley and all across the church. A member couple from the stake had Mexican neighbors so they brought 5 adults and 7 kids to church this week. They enjoyed it and we have a lesson with them on Wednesday. It is very exciting. Actually, this past week was probably the slowest one I have had since coming into this area. We did not teach very many lessons. Not a great start to the year! We are repenting and committing to setting things up better. In thinking about the new year, I have personally decided that New Years' resolutions are society's ways of selling a reason to change to us. Sometimes in our minds we have to sell the idea to ourselves that it is a good time to change. It usually works! I am not talking down NYR at all--they are great and they are nothing but positive--depending on how long we stick to them! My conclusion is that the great part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that change/repentance can happen NOW, and at ANYTIME, and it is lasting and continual. It teaches us to change all the time. That gives me reason enough to set resolutions every dayand evaluate and re-set. NYR can be seen as "visions" that we have for ourselves. And the things we do every day are plans and tasks to reach the goals we have. Done ranting.

 

Saturday we get to see Elder Holland! In Tempe--Road Trip! with two other missions! Maybe I will get to see some friends. Who is serving in other missions in the valley? Anyway, we are all very excited, and I strongly desire that he chastises us. I hope it personally hits me at the core too! He is good at what he does. We also have a Trainer/Trainee meeting, interviews, the Gilbert temple in the next three weeks so Transfers are actually coming really fast. Like every transfer! Speaking of Gilbert- we are really hoping it works out. We were not wise in selecting members and trying to coordinate it so we are resorting to trying to put it together. I hope we make it there....

 

I learned a lot about "becoming" this past week. There is a difference between becoming and "doing." I realize that I have been doing a lot of little things the past year because I know they are right and because I want to be obedient. These are good things but I can do better. I need to become what I want to become and what my Heavenly Father expects of me. Of course, it has to start with doing (Law of Moses; memorizing missionary discussions) but I have been doing long enough. I am ready to see how put-into my veins I can make some of these habits. I have decided that is the best thing I can do going into the new year. Focus on the kind of person I am becoming for my conversion and the rest of my life rather than just flipping the switch when I feel olbigated to doing something.

 

New Years was okay. We shared an Atonement message to the Rama Estrella hermanos who all played soccer at the park together, we had a lesson with a strong member family at 5:00 and they fed us a little bit. We went to Chile's with our roommates to use some gift cards we had so that was very nice. We hung around the apartment, played a little cards, and did some deep cleaning. We got all our studies in too! The night before we went to the Sorianos again at 6:00, got in at 7:00 and cleaned and played a few games until 10:30. Then we woke up to an alarm that someone set for 12:00, cheered and groaned, and went back to bed again haha. I went on bike this week for an exchange with the English Elders. It was cold and my legs are very sore haha. I honestly can't believe I am cold outside when it is 60 degrees? It is weird.

 

I respect your wonderful new ideas for this year mother! Don't worry about having to buy me anything. You don't have to send me anything until my birthday--you don't even need to send me anything then! That is a cool resolution though. Oh and we have already finished the pancakes after four breakfasts together. They were VERY GOOD. And the syrup was delicious too. We are overloaded on candy though so don't send any of that please. We think that's why we all got sick too haha. So is Evan off to school again? Has he picked a major yet? I enjoyed your last letter Dad. The pictures of the choir concert were very intriguing--The new foyer looks like a hotel lobby! Sam and Caroline-more pictures! You should let me know what is going on at Bountiful High. I feel like that was a second home for me for so long. I miss that place. How are the people and administration doing? Is Isaac every going to cut his hair? I used to hate it but with more pictures I think I am starting to like it. You can keep it. Sorry to bore you--can't think of anything else.

 

Love,

Elder Jacob Parry