Ni Hau!

Hola! Ni Hau! (China) Talofa! (Somoa) Mabuhi! (Phillipines) Hi! Hello!  How is AZ? How is Florida? How is the rest of the country besides Utah? Temple Square is amazing as ever and the spirit has just been stronger than ever! We're meeting some awesome people! I love when I meet people from my home state of AZ! I just want to grab them and say I love you!  I love it here but I'm not so sure I understand Utah's weather. One minute its cold and rainy and the next its hot and sunny. Its messing with my flow...

Sister Weng is very sick this week and we have been at home a lot so there isn't as much to report but it was still a great week!
 

So I had an AMAZING experience last Friday evening. It was the first time I went through the SLC Temple. It is so amazing. I didn't stop smiling, not once. Sister Weng had to keep getting my attention because I could not stop staring at the ceiling.  Everything was so beautiful and I was just going crazy with happiness because you know my obsession with chandeliers and good architecture. So we went as a district and we just had a good time. We are the fortunate district because we have a senior couple in ours. Elder and Sister Frost! They take such good care of us. They are like my missionary grandparents. They are so sweet. Their smiles make me happy and I know if I'm ever sad I can go to them. After the temple we went over to their place and they made us pizza and ice cream. By the way, PRAYERS WORK! I'm gluten and lactose intolerant but I said a prayer that I wouldn't get sick and I never got sick! NOT ONCE.. We also made them tell us their love story! SO CUTE! I love love!
 

This morning we got to go through the Bountiful Temple and its probably my favorite celestial room. The sealing rooms were the prettiest ones I have ever seen so far too.  I only saw two small ones in SLC. I seriously want people to go to the Bountiful Temple. I love it SO SO SO much. I just about died. Its so peaceful and simply beautiful. It was amazing. After that we went to In and Out with Sister Opeda (VEGAS), Sister Yu (TAIWAN), Sister Kennach (AMERICAN SAMOA), and Sister Sneider (LATVIA). We've had a really good past two weeks. General Authorities.. Temples.. In n Out. (Except I have to eat the lettuce wrapped burger).

 

JEREMY- I eat Asian food all the time. I eat so much fish that I don't even like but the Asian sisters stare at me until I eat it so you're welcome! BUT I LOVE SEAWEED! And I love Korean BBQ Pork... I so recommend it to the world.
 

Monday was our last district meeting because we have transfers on Wednesday. I'm having a really hard time about not being in the same district anymore even though I'll still see everyone. I guess I just have separation anxiety- I know its weird. Whenever I get close to people I'm always taken away from them!!!!!!! I better still be companions with Sister Weng next transfer!

We have grown so close. We are like sisters. We talk, laugh, and argue like sisters. It's so fun. She always punches me though, haha! Tonight we are going out with Sister Walsh (ENGLAND), Sister Lee (UTAH), Sister Kim (KOREA), and Sister He (TAIWAN).  We are going out to celebrate because Sister Walsh is going outbound and Sisters Kim and He are going home so we are eating Vietnamese food- whatever that is. Hey Grandpa Wellman! You might know what it tastes like! By the way, you're Grounded! We find out where the outbound sisters are going on Sunday and I hope that Sister Walsh goes to Arkansas because I want her to marry Rulon. She's so cute and loves southern accents. She always wants the Americans to teach her how to say "Howdy".

 

I guess its time to talk about work. This mission is hard because I don't really get to see the fruits of my labors. We work very hard and we really have to get out of our comfort zones but half of the time I don't even know what happened with the people I taught or talked to.

 

I love it though because I get to interact with people all day and I love people. I love people SO much that I want to share something with them that I love even more- and that is the gospel, the knowledge of the atonement and God's love for us!

 

The hardest part is not always knowing what happened with the people I talked to.  I have been really working on trusting Heavenly Father. I need to trust him and his timing. I always have to remind myself that he doesn't give us just one chance to accept the gospel. He loves his children and he wants every single one of them to return to him. So I tell myself everyday when something doesn't turn out the way I think it should, "That is his kid! He loves him, he'll give him other opportunities!" Sometimes its hard to get it through my head but it is true! I know it's true just by looking back to where I was a few months ago and to where I am at now. He helped me out so much and I have really felt his hand in my life. He didn't give me just one chance, he kept working on me and putting me in different places until I got here to Temple Square. He's still working on me! He doesn't ever quit on us even when we think he has- but we have to do our part too!

I have a new FAVORITE scripture that my zone leader showed me during a heart to heart talk when we went on exchanges.  It's Alma 26:17 and it says, "Who could have supposed that our God has been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, polluted state?" I just love when it says snatched. Not everyone is sinful or polluted but sometimes we are not exactly where we need to be and this scripture reminds me of how much Heavenly Father loves me and that he truly does want me to succeed on my mission. He helped me push through to get here and I wasn't alone- not one time! He does not want us to suffer. He continues to give these chances and opportunities so that we can grow closer to him and I love him so much for it!  I love that he has this plan for us and that he gives us agency but he loves us so much that he gave us the Savior to atone for our sins and help us though our trials.
 

I love the atonement. I love having a Heavenly Father who never leaves us and continues to help us. We are so blessed! I love that God loves us so much that he gave us families to help us through the hard times and to laugh with us. I'm so spiritually high after going to the temple twice in a week so sorry if I'm being cheesy- but I'm serious!
 

I'm just happy I am here. Every little experience and moment of my life before now helped me prepare to be here whether it was good or bad. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father never forgets about us. I have been guilty of feeling that way but reading that scripture proved me wrong and I'm so happy. I just want to say thanks for always loving and supporting me.

 

So in the MTC we are required to memorize the first vision. I've shared the first vision a couple of times with investigators and the spirit was strong because the first vision was such a powerful experience it is hard to deny when the story is being told truthfully and by the spirit.  They are just extremely powerful words. So we were teaching this man the restoration over the phone the other day and I started to recite the first vision to him and my mind went completely blank after the first sentence! I just forgot everything even though I have it memorized and have said it so many times. Sister Weng knew what was going on and immediately began feeding the words to my ear because they were not there. I just stared and smiled because I had no clue what to do or why I couldn't remember. So eventually we got it over with and the guy I was teaching was a golden contact and asked for the missionaries to come visit him but still I knew I did a terrible job. I am very hard on myself. It drives Sister Weng crazy but I am just extremely hard on myself when I make a mistake. I have to work on it. Then she said, "Do you know why that happened?" and I said its because I'm stupid. She said, "It's because what you were teaching is true." Apparently the same thing happened to her when she was in Missouri.  She went on to say, "Those words are so powerful that Satan will do whatever he can do to stop us from saying them. Those words are probably some of the most powerful words a person can hear and they have changed lives."  I didn't really have a testimony of Joseph Smith until that point. I am happy I had that experience because Sister Weng is so right! Those words are so true!

 

I have a new investigator in North Carolina!  We have spoken on the phone quite a bit and I care so much about him.  He is an older man and he is recently divorced.  He is also recently unemployed and has been searching for a job. He has had a very hard life. I just want to do what I can to help him and take care of him.  We prayed together on the phone yesterday (he said the prayer this time) and he said "God, I have to add one thing! Thanks for sending Macy to me!" It was so cute and it made my whole mission worthwhile!  He thinks that I am the one helping him but he has no idea how much he has helped my own testimony grow just from our conversations.  I hope things get better for him soon.  I love my investigators so much and want them to be happy!

 

I just want to say how truly grateful I am for all of you!  I can't even begin to express how much your support and letters truly help me.  You guys always seem to know exactly what to say and your words always help me so much.  Even the twin's letters!  I am so happy to call you my family and that I have the knowledge that I can be with all of you for eternity.  Families are essential to God's plan!

 

My favorite thing to do at Temple Square is work with families and teach them.  Families are our proof of Heavenly Father's love for us.  I just feel like he must really love me a lot because of all the supportive family I have.  I am a stronger missionary because I have you for a family and because of my great parents.  I know what love at home truly is!  I can't wait to follow your examples and center my own home around Christ one day.  I am so blessed because I have parents and grandparents who have lived according to the family proclamation!  I know how to testify of this to other people because of your examples.

 

I just want to say how happy I am that you never gave up on me when I was deciding whether or not to serve this mission. Thanks for always encouraging me!  I know I will be an awesome mother because of my mission but mostly because of your examples.  I wish I did a better job of expressing my love for all of you before I left but I hope you know that I pray for each of you several times a day!

 

I miss my sisters and brother.  Thank you so much for giving me so many siblings! They are truly the best gift you could have given me!  Better than anything any amount of money could buy!  I love them so much that I can't wait to see them again.  But I love them enough that I will wait..... about 16 months! 

 

Love you all forever and one million times a thousand tulips! 

 

-Sister Macy Park

 

P.S. THEY ARE PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. WOOO! I WAS SO EXCITED THAT I SCARED THE GUY ON THE LADDER PUTTING THEM UP. Oops! Ok Bye! Love all of you!

The BEST Week Ever!

Sister Ying, Sister Cueves, Sister Park, Sister Esquival, Sister Snow

Hello Everyone! How are you all doing?  Good I hope because I had a great week!



The spirit of God is so strong here, it is amazing how much people are touched just by being here. Sister Weng and I have had a really good week and we feel like we are on FIRE! We have met some amazing people and we've been getting a lot of referrals.  Last night we took two older couples around the Square.  One of the couples was Roman Catholic and the other couple was Protestant. During and after the tour they kept telling us how amazing everything was and they all said they felt God's spirit so strong that they want to take the lessons.  All of our tours have just been so great this week.  One of my most favorite experiences was when I got to teach a couple how to pray the other night.  They loved Temple Square and just wanted to know how to pray because they never had.  It was one of the coolest things ever!  Sister Weng and I feel so good because we met so many great people and have so many that we can call and teach now.

 

I'm going to the Salt Lake City Temple tonight for the first time! And then next week we get to go to the Bountiful Temple.  I feel so blessed!

 

On Tuesday we went and visited the Relief Society Building and for anyone who has not been in there I strongly recommend it because women are wonderful! One of the senior missionaries took me into a room and told me that in 1945 they wanted to build that building so they asked every woman in the church to donate money and they kept records of all the names. I didn't have much time to look but I saw that Dora Maxwell Slade donated 5 dollars! I will go back and look for other names when I have time. 

 

Speaking of Relief Society, we had our weekly meeting yesterday and Sister Liz Rose from the General Relief Society Board spoke to us.  She was so sweet and I LOVED her lesson!

 

OK......................... ON TUESDAY...... My poor husband.... Our wedding will not compare to this day. JEFFERY R. HOLLAND spoke to us! He talked about how important missionary work is. Everyone needs to do it! He also said that his mission affected him more than it affected any other person on the planet and if any man says otherwise he'll fight him. It was such a good experience. You could feel the spirit in the room SO STRONG as soon as he walked in. He talked about how the only convert that really truly matters in our mission is us. So we need to continue to be a missionary for life and to stay so active in the church.  He told us he was sorry because he had to leave the meeting early because he had a meeting with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve and he felt so bad that he couldn't stay and talk to us and shake our hands but he promised to come back in a few days to spend some time with us and shake all of our hands.  He was really stressing to all of us about how the last days are here. When he speaks you can feel the truthfulness of his words.  

 

I just have to give a special shout-out to our security guards here at Temple Square.  They always go out and watch us walk to work every morning to make sure we get there ok and they watch us walk home every night to be sure we are safe.  Thanks security!  Yesterday I gave one of them a popsicle because he is so nice!

I don't know if you heard anything on the news.. I know it was on the news in Utah because one of my investigators texted me to make sure I was still alive! But we had a little hazard yesterday at the South Visitors Center. We were down there studying and all of a sudden there was a very bad smell and smoke was coming out of the building! So we were all evacuated and most of Temple Square was blocked off. Come to find out, the custodian accidentally mixed some wrong chemicals together which is dangerous and could cause us to have serious illnesses if we breathed it in too long. They had all of us sisters who were inside the South Visitors Center go across the street so the firefighters could examine us. I was fine of course and all of the sisters were fine.  Everything was crazy for a while- there were helicopters, fire trucks, cops, news crews. I felt famous like Britney Spears.

We have transfers soon so I'll be getting a new companion in about a week and half. I'm sad because I love Sister Weng and I love my house. I don't want to move yet!

Sister Weng looks sad in this picture because we just came from the doctor because she has a sore of some type on her foot (sorry Sister Weng) It needs to be removed and these are hard to treat so the doctor is doing a slower treatment so she won't have to limp.

As Temple Square Missionaries we spend a lot of time working with less active members. It is so important that we remind them about the reasons they were baptized and the blessings that they can receive in the Temple. Just because we are baptized doesn't mean we are automatically saved.. so I invite all of you to start focusing on why you are here. Take a look around you. Look at your family, house, kids, etc.. you would not have any of that if it wasn't for our sweet Father in Heaven.

One thing I realize I need to work on is being a more consecrated member of the church. As members I think we can take our membership in this church for granted. Baptism is so important! We made such big promises to the Lord. Blessings of the temple are SO important. I just think about before my mission when I didn't feel this way yet.  I feel so happy now and I love the constant peace that I feel.

I LOVE that Heavenly Father loves us so much that he provided families for us. He provided temples so we can be with our families for eternity. I just love working with the less active members because it is so rewarding to see them being reminded of why they are here and what they need to do to live with Heavenly Father again. I love seeing the smiles on their faces because they are reminded of what true happiness is that God and the Savior really do love them!

I am so grateful for the Atonement. I make mistakes- we all do- but the Atonement makes me want to be better. We are so blessed to have it! We are so blessed to be able to repent and be forgiven! We are so blessed that God loves us so much that he gave us families to help us through this Earth life.!
 
How is life going for all of you? Happy Birthday to my girl Kendall! Also, happy birthday to Aunt Kelly, Rulon, and Ryan- Love my August babies! And next month, Happy Birthday to Clayton, Courtney, Christina, and last but never least- Grandpa Wellman! Ryan, you're 16 now! I just want to squeeze you baby boy! No kissing the girls!

Well, Thanks so much to everyone who has written me letters in the past week. Thanks Aunt Rita for all the updates! I am so happy that Kylie is serving a mission but she doesn't belong in Hawaii she belongs at Temple Square! We need more bubbly sisters that are weird here. I have been praying that her, Kendall, and Kale Hamblin will be called here. So hopefully my prayers get answered.

Grandma! Your letters always make me cry! I miss you and grandpa everyday. I want to go over to your house. I think it is great that you are hosting missionaries. I know I loved living there and they'll feel right at home.

Grandma Slade! Thanks so much for the card and the book mark! I love it so much! I have an obsession with book marks because my beautiful mother always dog-eared the pages in our books and it made it look ugly so I LOVE book marks!

JAMIE IS PREGOOOOOO!!!! It better be a girl or I'll come home from my mission in agony... just kidding, but seriously.

My best friend is getting married today! I LOVE THE PICTURES you sent me Sterling! What a beautiful day this is!

CONGRATS TO ZACH and KAYLIE! Woooooo!

 

I love you all so much! 

 

Sister Macy Park

 

Answered Prayers

my daily view!

Hi Family!  I can't believe I am lucky enough to have this view every day!  It really is such a beautiful place! 



This week has been busy and long.  We have had lots of happy moments, many frustrating moments, and several miracles and blessings.

 

My mandarin is still improving and we taught several lessons in Mandarin this week.  But I




Ready to go to work!

accidentally told a lady she was so ugly. I meant to tell her she was so pretty. 

 

There are so many people here from China who love the message we teach them and they are frustrated because they cannot continue learning about the gospel when they return to China.  Our investigator "J" has been here for a couple of months and we had a baptism date with her for this Saturday but she is so scared and worried about it because she has to go back to China and she is not sure how to handle everything yet.

 

Sister Weng is the district leader so she is gone for meetings and interviews a lot.  When she is gone I go on exchanges with other sisters.  One who I love working with is Sister Ichimaru from Japan.  I told her that I have some family from Fukuoka (I think that's right???) and she was so excited she started jumping up and down.  She is cute and little and she LOVES ice cream.  If I even mention ice cream she gets so happy!  I love it.

 

The other night my roommates asked me to teach them American slang and it was so funny!  We have so much fun learning from each other.  Then last night I tried to sing in Mandarin for a couple from China and I blew it. They couldn't stop laughing and it was so embarrassing!

 

Serving with girls from all over the world is the best!  I love ALL of the sisters! Its funny because we are so much alike but then again we are all so different. I love the Polynesians. I'm over my Asian phase because I feel like am just one of them now. So now I want to be from Tonga!  Polynesian people are so cool and have the best personalities! 

 

I was joking about wanting to be from Tonga.  While I would love to visit there and Asia and many other countries, I am so happy to be an American! I've always loved my country but I have become much more patriotic on my mission!

Oh guess what... I LOVE SUSHI, thanks to my Asian sisters!  We got some in the mall for dinner last night and it was so GOOD!  I can't wait until we can go to the mall for dinner again so I can have some more!

 

My companions and I are so blessed.  We live on a very limited budget and Salt Lake is very expensive but everywhere we go there are people who want to help us.

 

This morning I was in the grocery store and just as I was getting ready to pay, a man stepped in front of me and swiped his card before I could swipe mine.  I looked up in surprise and told him how much I appreciated it and how kind he was.  He told me that he is just paying God back because he was in a bad car accident last week when he hit a big elk and God let him live.  It was so nice that I started crying.

 

I have never had to pay full price for my groceries.  And chick-fil-a is so nice!  They always give us a discount!  We have had people in Wal-Mart pay for all or half of our groceries every time.  This morning I went to Down East Basics because me and Sister Weng needed a few things and we got HUGE discounts on everything we bought.  I am so appreciative of people who love what we are doing and what we stand for and want to help us.

 

My testimony was strengthened this week in a more personal way. My zone leader, Sister Felsted showed me a scripture, Alma 26:17. Alma 26 is my favorite chapter but for some reason I never noticed that scripture... anyways, I have struggled and had some trials but it's crazy because looking back, I can really see God's hand in my life. He has helped me so much. That verse talks about God snatching us from those things. And that is how I have felt in my life and my testimony for his love for us has just become a million times stronger. We are all of his daughters and sons and it's crazy to think about how much he truly loves every single one of us. He is so merciful. I think about everything he has done for me and I am just ashamed of myself for not showing more gratitude.

 

Sometimes when we pray we tend to focus on what we need rather than what were grateful for and that is something I have been working on lately. I just want to show Him my gratitude. We would all be so much happier if we would  take time to think about everything he has done for us. I am just so thankful that I get to serve on this mission. I get to teach every day. I get to bear testimony everyday. I get to see the Temple every single day.

 

My favorite part is when I get to take people to the Christus. I love how peaceful it gets when we walk in that room. I love hearing the narration of Christ. I seriously can't even imagine the love he has for everyone of us. I am so grateful I am here.

 

I know I didn't make the decision to serve on my own.  Something was pushing me and I am so happy to be here everyday! I want to just be a missionary for life. I want to be modest and cover my knees for life. I want to say hi to everyone I see and invite them to learn more about the gospel forever! I hope that all of the young kids out there have a desire to serve a mission. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

 

I had a sort of scary experience three nights ago. There is a presentation here called God's Plan for Families in one of the theater rooms.  It is a closed room and there is no way to call for help if something happens.  Sister Weng was in a meeting so I was on exchanges with Sister Ranama.  Two sketchy-looking men showed up said they wanted us to take them into the room so they could watch the film.  Sister Ramana and I both had a bad feeling but both of us ignored the spirit trying to tell us not to take the men into the room.  One of them didn't look at the movie at all.  He just stared at me the whole time and gave me a very scary look.  I didn't know what to do so I began praying and praying and praying.  I told Heavenly Father I was sorry that I didn't listen to his prompting and asked him to help us to be safe.  Once the doors close and the film begins, no one is let inside the room so that we will not be disturbed.  I didn't feel good about trying to walk past the guys to leave and I knew no one would be opening the door for a long time.  After praying for five minutes while this scary guy just stared at me, a large family walked into the theater in the middle of the presentation and sat down.  The sisters outside the room let the family come in even though the film was half way over.  Heavenly Father answered my prayers! It turns out that Sister Ranama was praying and praying as well. I am so grateful for the power of prayer!

 

Church on Sunday was wonderful.  The talks were exactly what we needed.  The only bad information we got was when Elder Holland and Elder Cook said we could no longer have caffeine drinks.  WHAT?! NO MORE DIET COKE. It's ok though, I've been alright.  No, actually I feel much better! 

We had Relief Society yesterday since we only go to Sacrament Meeting on Sundays.  Dallin H. Oak's wife spoke to us.  She gave us a lesson on testimony.  It was so good and she is such a sweet lady!

 I love President and Sister Gillette and I am so sad that there mission here is finished in January! I don't want a new president! He is so funny and he has to be the nicest person EVER! Seriously!

 

This afternoon we have a Zone activity and we have to go skating.  I hate skating!

 

I appreciate the letters from the INMAN FAMILY (Holla atcha girl!), especially from Gunner. All of the other sisters loved the letter from Gunner!  They kept reading it.  Thanks Grams and Grandpa and Grandma! You all are so nice for supporting me! So nice! Keli I just loved your letter! And Shannon! Thanks so much!!!! I loved getting your letter! Oh and I got a note from the Pascucci's!  They were here. I wish I could have seen them!

I love you, gotta go skate!

Sister Park

 

 

 

 

 



Lost and Found

Hello Family!

 

It has been a VERY GOOD week. I really feel like I am improving. I know the church history now and I'm better with the mandarin tours. I passed off English tours so now I can take the lead when I take them! It was so good. And I even got a free meal at the Lyon House because I passed and it made me feel like home. It has been way too long since I have been able to have a real meal. I usually live off of almonds and protein bars because there is no time to cook.

 

 This really has been such a wonderful week. I've been able to meet and talk to many people! This week I got my first two real investigators. One lives in the states and one is from IRELAND!!!  I love meeting people from all over the world. On Wednesday I just knew that I was going to get my first investigator. I kept praying and praying. I had talked to so many people. I offered to teach them more about the gospel. I think I was turned down like 25 times... Then finally at the end of the night.. I decided to go on chat (mormon.org)- which I usually don't trust because people just like to prank us but that is how I met my wonderful Irish investigator!!!   We've got a lot in common and things are going wonderful. 

 

Sister Weng and I have an investigator from China that we have been teaching real face-to-face lessons to. She had a baptismal date set for this month but moves she moves back to China in September and is scared to be baptized because she joined a communist group in China and she had to swear not to join any other group or she will go to jail. It is very stressful for her because she wants to be baptized so badly!  We will continue praying for her. 
 

Oh and Aunt Jamie! I love your letter and I have a letter I've been meaning to send you! But I forgot to tell you about that couple in your ward boundaries! I talked to them on the phone last week and told them about you! I can't believe how small of a world we live in. Keep my updated on their progress please!
 

 My Mandarin is improving and I am feeling much better about teaching. Prayers really do work! I'm so much more confident now and I actually make sense when I speak. My Mandarin is coming along so well because for the past week when we are at home, Sister Weng, Sister Yu and Sister Lee (two new roommates) only speak Mandarin.  It is really helping! When I'm done emailing you I am going to Deseret Book to buy an English-mandarin learning book. My roommates think I'm so weird! It's great though because I know how to say a lot more and the Mandarin people always think it sounds beautiful. They think I'm fluent but when they try to talk to me I get nervous so I just smile and say Ni Hau (Hello in Chinese). And it is awkward.

 

Asian Face Masks! (My roomies are trying to make me more authentic) 

I hope everyone who can serve a mission really thinks about the blessings that can come from missionary work. It is amazing to see people being touched by the spirit every day. Even if you don't make a drastic change in their life, just putting a smile on someone's face is such an amazing service we can all do. When the Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane he suffered for all of our sins and he felt all of our pains and sorrows. He knows heartache and suffering better than any of us.  When we can lift a burden from someone it is like lifting the weight off Christ's shoulders.  One thing about my mission that I love just as much as missionary work is the opportunity to perform the errand of angels by the little things like putting a smile on someone's face. I have been thinking about that a lot lately. The other day I had the incredible opportunity of feeling that joy.  A very old lady walked up to me and Sister Weng on Wednesday and tearfully said she needed help finding her blanket that had been passed down through her family for many generations. She was in her lately 80's or early 90's and was so worried that she walked all the way to Temple Square by herself with her walker to find it. She could barely stand, let alone walk, so I ran and got her a wheelchair (you know I like doing that sort of thing) and the three of us went to all of the lost-and-founds to search for it. This poor woman was certain she left it somewhere at Temple Square and had walked here everyday for a week so she could find it. After looking everywhere, our last stop was the Conference Center.  We went straight to the lost and found and there it was! She grabbed us by the necks and sobbed in our faces because she was so happy. I have never been so happy in my entire life either. She kept saying how much she loved us and how happy we made her. I decided that even if I never have an investigator who gets baptized or if I never have a miraculous experience it doesn't matter. Seeing things like this make me so happy. I hope that all of you will try to go out of your way to serve others every now and then. I truly believe that experience made me more happy than it made the elderly woman!


So all of us sister's like to joke around and say next time we see Elder Perry were going to give him a hard time or tug him on the arm because he has been walking around the square in the morning and decided that we need to be there an hour earlier! It's not all that bad but we have to wake up earlier than usual so we're trying to get used to it and we are tired!

 

You want us to wake up at WHAT time?!

 

I saw Christie and Trevor yesterday and I almost cried. It made me so happy to see my girl. I wanted to just be myself so bad and start screaming when I saw her but I was trying so hard to have manners.

 

I also saw Radean Pobst the other day! That was cool too!

 

Oh and I found Rulon's future wife. She is a sister here from England who is the prettiest girl I have ever seen. And she has a beautiful soft accent. It will be great.
 

Yesterday I had exchanges because Sister Weng had a meeting so I got to be in the Beehive House for a few hours. It was fun! I was able to learn a few facts before I am transferred there so now I'm all prepared!

On Wednesday we got to go to the Brighton Beehive Camp in the afternoon.  We hiked up the mountain, took turns on a zip line, climbed ropes, and did some team-building activities.  It was fun and a nice break!

At Brighton Beehive Camp: Me and Sister Weng

with Sister Kennach from American Samoa

On the bus to camp (our shirts say "The World

is our Mission")

Two of my MTC friends, Sister Snow from Lehi,

Utah (left) and Sister Sherrat from Los Angeles,

California (right)

We survived!

So far, this work is the hardest but most rewarding thing I have ever done.  We learn in the scriptures that God is going to give us hardships.  In order for us to meet our full potential he gives us trials and challenges to not only humble us but to make us stronger and more knowledgeable so we can be worthy of the things we want the most.  At this time what I want most is for others to feel that I am a true representative of Jesus Christ.  I have learned that just because I am set apart as a missionary doesn't mean that I will automatically have the spirit with me. It is something I have to work for.  Yesterday I was really struggling so I prayed and then felt a warmth come over me and these words came to my mind, "Sister Park, I know you are afraid but you need to have faith."  It sounds crazy I know, but it happened.  Faith is so important.  It's not just having a desire; it is also having hope and we must trust God that he will really help us (John 14:18- actually just read all of John 14).  So later that morning I decided to open up my Bible to Matthew chapter 10.  That chapter, especially verses 11-20 helped me so much.  The verses that stood out most to me were 16-20.  You should read them!


In my mission, sadly, I have many negative encounters.  But it's worth it because I also get to see miracles all the time.  I have been talking to a lady with terminal illnesses and drug addictions and every time we talk her voice brightens up and I can tell she is smiling the whole time!  To be able to make someone laugh and smile may be the only thing I accomplish on this mission but it is so worth it to me!  I am doing the Lord's work and I know he will grant me the desires of my heart if I have faith.




It has been a very good week. EVERYONE, Thanks so much for writing to me! I LOVE the letters! They really keep me going! Thanks so much to all of you for sending me birthday cards/packages. You are all so thoughtful! Grandma and Grandpa, I wish you were still my roommates! Shout outs to Sterling and Tonya! I can't thank you enough for those birthday packages. I got them this week and I just feel so loved! Everyone is jealous. Everyone else, I appreciate the letters. Mom, your last letter made me cry. Dang you! All my grandparents, the Udalls, Merrills, GiGi, my parents, everyone thanks so much for everything. You are all the best!

Until next Friday!

Sister Macy Park

Ups and Downs

Hello Friends and Family!

I love all of my letters, packages and cards from everyone! Thanks so much! You guys are incredible, it made my birthday wonderful. It didn't feel like a birthday until the packages though! Just a regular day. I forgot it was my birthday until I came to Temple Square and people started singing to me. But I did get to go to the cheesecake factory! It was soooo good! I got Reese's PB cheesecake this time and I loved it!

How is AZ? I miss it. There is a sister from Pinetop here named Sister Hale and I see Sister Shumway all the time!  I also saw Colton Edwards and I think I saw Brandon Nicoll with him! But I was in the middle of a tour so I could not talk to them!!! It made my day though. White Mountain people! woooo! It was also so much fun to see Mom's friend, Elisha, and Aunt Debbie and her family. Seeing people from home makes me feel so good!

Finally some pictures!



 




 So we went to church in the Joseph Smith Building and it is beautiful. Our chapel is white like Heaven. Its seriously like entering the kingdom of God. All I can do is stare at the ceiling because its like being in a dream. Everything is whitish and oh my gosh I always think I'm a princess. We only go to sacrament meeting because we need to get back to the square as soon as we can.  It's kind of nice only having to go to sacrament meeting. I'm not even afraid to admit it.

 

The Mandarin tours are very difficult. I smile a lot but I also talk and Sister Weng translates for me.  But you know how I love to hear myself talk?  Well, apparently I talk too much and I need to slow down so Sister Weng and I have been role playing during our prep hour so I can practice keeping it simple and short. But I am learning a lot of Mandarin. I can say quite a few things now and I can also sing "I am a Child of God" in Mandarin. 

Yesterday I was introducing myself and talking about what missionaries do in mandarin and a couple of people thought I was fluent! I was so proud because they said I speak it beautifully.  In the beginning the investigators had NO idea what I was saying and Sister Weng always had to tell everyone what I was trying to say.  I'm getting much better... still not good but better.

I talk to myself in mandarin while I'm in the shower and it helps. My roommates think I'm weird but they love it. I love them. I love the Asian people!  They are so funny and sweet!

So yesterday during a mandarin tour we were in the tabernacle.  It was my turn to speak so I told our group how many pipes there were (in mandarin and I have to work on my numbers because I guess I said the wrong amount) but anyway when we left the tabernacle, one of them came to Sister Weng and I and said she prayed in the tabernacle and felt a great warmth and wants to meet with missionaries! The best part is she is from Taiwan, not China, so she can practice religion!

So we have been getting lots of referrals for people all over the world- most of which are from China. It is amazing how quickly the gospel is spreading and to people and countries who are not even exposed to it.  Keep praying for China!

Today, President gave me a referral. I have no idea why I am trusted with this referral but it's a man in Pakistan! I can't mess this up!! I start teaching this man over the phone tomorrow.

This week we have had our ups and downs.  It seems there were more downs than ups this week- it was very hard! This week I have learned how important faith really is. I have really grown a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ. This mission is not glamourous.  It is very hard.  We never sit down and we run from one end of the square to the other all day to teach and give tours.  There are also lots of people who come here with wrong intentions which can be very difficult.  This week was especially hard and sometimes I feel like I am not cut out for this. And even though I went back and forth about serving a mission, I know I am supposed to be here. I have absolutely no idea why yet but Heavenly Father must trust me to send me to a place where people are coming to us and seeking out the gospel. It a humbling experience. Even though it is difficult at times I love every minute of it. EVERY MINUTE.

Yesterday we gave a tour to some young women! They were 17. I asked them if they wanted to serve missions and they weren't sure so I spent ten minutes explaining to them why they should and how much it will benefit them if they do. But don't worry I wasn't forceful. Anyway some of them seemed convinced that it is a great way to spend a year and a half of their lives. That was the best tour I ever gave because I had so much faith that Heavenly Father would help me. I love life. But I miss going shopping. My Asian  friends are not materialistic people because they have nothing where they come from. They like saving money for some reason. But I still love them.

 

Thanks for sending food!  The food packages were literally an answer to my prayers.  I know it seems like I should be able to get whatever food I want whenever I want but we are always so busy and when we think we get time to eat another Mandarin group shows up.  On my last P day I didn't get many groceries because it was right before we received our money for the next month.  Our lunches and dinners were reduced to 30 minutes each because we are so busy.  We don't have time to go back home and cook so I have only been eating almonds and the rice my companion brings to the square. But the food packages are a lifesaver and I have been able to actually eat! I was so happy. Tonight we get to go and get more groceries! 

Thanks so much to all my family for supporting me, sending me letters, birthday cards and gifts!  Each little thing means so much!  I wish I had more time to write and I am working on responding to each person individually.  Our days begin very early and end very late.  I LOVE it though!  I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at this time in my life!

I love you all!

Sister Macy Park