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