Faith Precedes the Miracle

Hello! Gotta make it quick because we have LOTS of work to accomplish.

Springtime is so pretty here! There are beautiful Azalea bushes and blossom trees everywhere. It is so green and there are a lot of gross bugs coming out. We went over to Stanley's house this weekend and planted a garden for him. We planted tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, marigolds, and spinach! It was so fun. I can't wait to have my own garden. 

 

I went to my first crawfish party.  The food was pretty good.  We ate fried corn on the cob. I didn't even know there was such a thing.

 

(this is a picture of Macy's plate)

Nothing too exciting happened this week but we worked hard!  Sister Maxfield and I started to play a game that a lot of missionaries play when they tract or when they talk to new people.  So our companion has to pick one word that we have to work into the sentence when we are out knocking on doors. I have only done it once and my word was really easy. The word was gnome. So I knocked on a door and the smell of weed came rushing out of that door (that's a whole other story)-- Anyways we talked about the Book of Mormon and I said, "I gnome that this book is true."  Then it was my turn to give Sister Maxfield a word so I gave her "squirrel".  She never did use it that day so it's still her turn.  Hopefully next week I will have some funny stories for you because of that game. 

 

We went to the Women's Conference on Saturday with two of our investigators.  The spirit was so strong and they really enjoyed all the messages, especially President Eyring's talk.  In the beginning, it's hard to explain to investigators the miracle there is in being able to hear a living Apostle of Jesus Christ teach us gospel truths and give us guidance in the latter days.

 

Lately we have had some run ins with "false prophets".   People seriously go around and call themselves prophets. We have a new investigator and we taught her the Restoration.  Then she told us about a man she met who called himself a prophet and he told her lots of things that she hopes will come true.  She asked us if we truly believed there was only one living prophet and we said "Yes, we absolutely believe that."  Then we told her about President Monson. She just kept bringing up that this other guy was probably a real prophet and she could not accept that there is only one living prophet so I took Aunt Jamie's advice and just bore my testimony. When all else fails bear testimony. I told her that God has called only one to lead the church today and he is the prophet of the world not just the church. I bore testimony of the correct priesthood authority and how that sets us apart from any other church.  That discussion led us into the apostasy. We told her that after Jesus Christ and the apostles were killed there was so much religious confusion and so many people claimed to have the truth; but their hearts were far from the Savior. I just know that Joseph Smith is truly a prophet and I have such a strong testimony of the priesthood. I have seen so much since I have been here and I have come to know that the priesthood is soooooooo real. I have been able to see miracles on my mission because of it. I can't ever doubt it now!!

 

I watched President Monson's little video biography on lds.org. It is an hour long but I highly recommend that everyone watches it! He really is a prophet of God and he is SO FUNNY! I am so grateful that our world has a living prophet to guide us and give us direction through these hard times and I am so excited for General Conference. It is going to be different watching here than at Temple Square-- a lot more relaxing, that's for sure!  And the bonus is that I get to watch all four sessions!

 

President Thomas S. Monson said: "Faith precedes the miracle."  President Monson knows what's up!  We hear a lot lately about having faith and expecting miracles and I know it is for a reason.  These are tough times and there are many trials experienced all over the world.  Trials humble us and bring us closer to God.  It is hard to remember, but our trials can be a blessing if we allow them to humble us and change us.  Heavenly Father allows us to experience trials because he loves us and is helping us to rise up to a greater purpose.  Have faith!

D&C 121:7-8... "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;  And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

Love you all!

Thanks to everyone for the awesome letters and emails! They made my day. Jared, I think you read my mind. I have been studying up on angels and trying to figure all of that out and you answered my question exactly. I printed it out and I am putting it in my sheet protector in my mission/life binder!  I am so happy to hear that your little family is doing so well.

 

Kendall gets to put her papers in soon! YAY!

Sister Park

 

 

 

 

Expect Miracles!

Us sisters with a little girl from Laos.  We are teaching her
family right now.  We just love them!

This is the rest of the family.  They are so cute!

 

We had a good week but it went very fast and right now I seem to be having a mental block so I am trying to remember what happened!
Our teaching pool is very small. New Iberia is pretty much 90% hard core CATHOLIC. I might as well be in Rome! We have to do a lot of finding. That is part of the reason why we are riding bikes. We have to stop and talk to everyone we see. I like talking to the black people who barbecue outside and love life. They are my faves! We are teaching a lady named Miss Pat. She is a black lady with bright red hair like the color of a fire truck. She loves relief society activities! She said Sister Maxfield and I are feisty missionaries; but sometimes you have to be a little bold to get people to commit to things. Different sisters have been working with her for a long time and now we finally have her reading the book of Mormon as of 2 weeks ago!  She said that since she has been reading it, things are getting better in her life!

We also regularly visit a cute old man who is a returning member. I LOVE HIM! He always gives us raisinets. He has a stash of them.   He started coming  back to church in December after not going for almost 40 years! He came back after his wife died. They got offended about something years ago and never came back.  Anyways at lunch the other day he ordered Sweet Tea.  So I said, "Stanley, mormons don't drink tea." He just laughed at me and finished drinking it; but later he thought about it and told us he is completely done with tea.  He is replacing it with orange juice!  He loves us because he is so lonely. I love that just visiting him and being there to listen to him makes him so happy. 

Last week I went to Opelousas! I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see. I only got to see two people but it was fun. I went on exchanges with Sister Tangarhanthem from Thailand. She is also a Temple Square sister. She is Sister Faulk's new companion. She will be Sister Faulk's fourth companion from Temple Square. I was a little sad going back there but it wasn't too bad because I have grown to love the people in New Iberia too.

We rode bikes this week and I wore the wrong skirt so I was having some issues. I was so focused on fixing my skirt that I wasn't watching where I was going and we had to go through a narrow space but I didn't realize it sooooo..... I crashed into a tree and then the tree led me to crash into a ladder and that led me to the cement. I have battle scars and bruises on my knees and legs.




battle scars

We were laughing so hard! We still laugh and I am so proud of it. I think that was one of the highlights of my week.  The elders were glad that I fell because I tease them everyday about how they always fall off their bikes. One of them crashed his bike into a mailbox and then rolled into a ditch! Then this morning I was on the phone with one of them while he was riding his bike and he crashed into a bush.  So I guess it was my turn.  Don't worry though because I wear my helmet!



Don't I wear it well?
 

On Saturday we had MLC which is Missionary Leadership Counsel. All of the zone leaders and sister training leaders attended.  Elder Kopischke from the quorum of the seventy was there to speak to us. He spoke in General Conference last April. His talk was entitled "Being Accepted of the Lord."  Everyone should read it because I read it this morning in my studies and it was excellent. He spoke to us about our callings as leaders and how to help the other missionaries. Sister Maxfield and I are so excited about our missionary work and we're ready to go crazy on New Iberia! I love being a missionary! It is so fun!

Today for P-Day our district is going to Avery Island where they have the Tabasco plants and make Tabasco sauce! I  LOVE TABASCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They even have Tabasco ice cream and we get to sample all of the different sauces.

We went to go visit the Park family last night and Brother Park and I figured out that we are distantly related.  He is a convert like Grandpa Park and is the only member in his family.

In our lesson last night, we discussed the ten commandments and Brother Park said he believes in them but he only keeps the bad ones like coveting and adultery.  I laughed and reminded him that it's kind of bad to break all of them... that's why we have them.  He loves that we are related and told me I have family protection in Louisiana.  He said that if anyone messes with me they have to deal with him.  

Elder Kapischke also spoke to us about miracles and how we need to expect them. That goes for everyone. We need to expect that good things will come. That's faith! If we're being obedient and living up to our covenants then we will see miracles.

Miracles are all over the place in the scriptures.  But the small private miracles are just as important as the big ones.  As missionaries we try to recognize the small ones.  They happen everyday.  When an investigator gave me a bike- that was a miracle.  Coming here to teach someone I am related to- that is a miracle.  We see them daily.  We expect them because we are doing the Lord's will.

Sister Macy Park

"Come What May and Love It"

Hey Y'all! How is everyone doing?  I just love it here. It is so beautiful. It was actually named one of the most beautiful places in the country.

It has been a great week in New Iberia. We went on exchanges with the Morgan City sisters, I almost fell off my bike, we got dropped by some of our awesome investigators, personal and companionship studies have been awesome, we made life goals and mission goals, and seriously we laugh all the time. This week has been full of ups and downs but we are doing our best to stay positive!

When we were on exchanges, I was with a sister from the Marshall Islands in Morgan City and we were riding bikes. Well, we decided that we were going to talk to everyone we saw about the gospel. So we were riding along and then all of a sudden Sister Baraka shouted really loud. "Sister Park!!!! There's a boy!!!! Lets get him!!!!!!!!!" And he was only like 15 feet in front of us and she started riding her bike super fast behind him until she was basically on his tail. Then she said "I have something for youuuuu!" And she gave him a mormon.org card and then sped away.  It was so funny!

I love the New Iberia branch! Everyone is so nice and hospitable.  Sister Maxfield and I teach the 5-7 year olds in primary.  That might be my favorite part of this mission!

I gave a talk yesterday in sacrament meeting on Hastening the Work of Salvation but I changed it up a little bit. I really do not like speaking too much about missionary work because I don't like telling people how to do their jobs or make them feeling like I'm calling them to repentance or anything...so I focused my talk on how we can do missionary work in our own families by encouraging family unity. In 1 Nephi Chapter 8, Lehi describes his vision of the Tree of Life.  He had partaken of the fruit and desired the same for the people that he loved.

"And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."

Missionary work is most effective when we do it out of love. It made me feel kind of bad because I could do a much better job about reaching out to my close family and friends and helping them remember God's love for them. It made me realize the importance of Family Home Evening and the importance of always being an example to those in your family. Elder King, one of the New Iberia elders, spoke after me and he was asked to speak on the same thing but he focused his talk on being a good neighbor. It was a great combination because I spoke on the immediate family and he spoke on our worldly family.

Sister Maxfield and I have been having so much fun together! We have focused most of our time on doing service for members and investigators. I am learning so many things. I am learning how to garden! It is so much fun! We have been gardening, doing yard work, pulling weeds, mowing lawns, decorating houses for Easter, painting, cleaning out sheds, and cleaning houses. I enjoy it because I get to wear pants. I tell everyone we see to put us to work so that I can wear pants.

 

Each week we have to bike at least one day which means no driving whatsoever. Well, I do not have a bike here in New Iberia so that meant we were going to have to walk really far because no one lives around us. But then on a sunny day a miracle happened. One of our investigators, AKA the coolest woman ever, told me I can borrow her bike while I am here since she never rides it! So now I have a beautiful light blue bike.  I didn't have a helmet though and can't ride without one; so one morning, the elders went to Wal-Mart and bought me a light blue helmet to match my bike and brought it over to our apartment. I was so so happy! We had bike day on Saturday and it was a lot of fun. We rode our bikes to meet this cute elderly man in our branch named Stanley at a little cafe called "A cake to remember".  We ate with him and then went and sat with him by the Bayou and just talked about life. He is the sweetest.

 

Today we are going to go to the church to beat the elders in volleyball. We always win.  We are far from all the other missionaries in this mission so on p-days it's just the four of us. 

 

One night when we were planning we decided we wanted to share the parable of the sower with one of our less active members. So the next morning during personal studies, I was reading in the New Testament.  I read through the parable and I wasn't excited about it so I just kept on reading and then got to the part where Jesus walked on the water. Mom, I don't know if you remember but when I was very little I asked you how Jesus walked on the water because I have always been so amazed by that story. You told me it was because he had faith. I believed you and I knew that was true so I was determined to put that to the test. So anytime we went swimming when I was little I said a little prayer in my heart and said "Heavenly Father, I have faith. Please help me to be able to walk on the water." And I always attempted to walk on the water but could never do it.  

 

When we got into companionship studies I shared with Sister Maxfield what I read and also how it made me think of that experience I had when I was little. She laughed and told me a similar experience. She once learned in primary that if she had faith the size of a mustard seed then she could move mountains. So she did the same thing as me and experimented! She was never able to move a mountain. So we laughed and then both pondered on it for awhile. Then we came up with a conclusion. Why would Heavenly Father allow us to do those things if it isn't necessary? Why would Heavenly Father let me walk on water? So I could go and tell my friends and then get made fun of? Why would he let Sister Maxfield move a mountain? It would destroy homes and probably hurt a lot of people. 

 

In Helaman, chapter 10, the Lord speaks to Nephi and lets him know that he trusts him and will grant whatever Nephi asks for because he knows that Nephi would not ask for anything that is contrary to the Lord's will.  So it wasn't that Sister Maxfield and I we didn't have faith as little girls; but sometimes the things that we ask for are not needed. Heavenly Father sometimes has other and greater things in store for us. I have had similar experiences in my life where I truly had faith in something and I would ask Heavenly Father to please help me to attain it but it didn't happen. I used to think well, maybe I just didn't have enough faith. But then I realized if Heavenly Father did give me what I wanted then, I wouldn't be where I am now. My family wouldn't be where they are now. I would not have had the strong testimony of the gospel that I have now. Whatever I wanted before wasn't necessary. This is what I need and Heavenly Father saw that. He sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for us in the end. Because he loves us, he will not grant us those things that he knows will stop our growth.  So it is very important to trust in God and keep enduring. I always like the phrase, "Come what may and love it!" God's plan is much better than our plan.

 

Instead of sharing the parable of the sower with our investigator, we were led to share our experiences of faith. It ended up being one of our best lessons! It is cool how the spirit works sometimes...

I love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Macy Park

First week in New Iberia!

 



Hello from New Iberia! Transfers happened on Wednesday and my new companion is Sister Maxfield! We are the Sister Training Leaders for the Lafayette Zone. We get to go on a few exchanges this transfer and I am really looking forward to that.

 

It is very green here. The trees are HUGE and it looks like a dream. Christie, it reminds me of "Heart of Dixie." The downtown area is so pretty. It looks like an old-fashioned southern small town. Its just amazing.  There is a lot of Bayou here; even more than in Opelousas.   I like my new branch but I really miss Opelousas. I started crying yesterday at church because I miss it so much. I was asked to give a talk on hastening the work of salvation next Sunday so I will spend much of today preparing. I am so happy I am still in the Lafayette zone so I can see Sister Faulk every once in awhile!

I really love Sister Maxfield! She is a lot like me! We go running every morning! It's nice having a companion who likes to run. 

So I may have found my long lost cousin. There was a media referral that the sisters received and this family's last name is Park. We went to their house to drop off a bible because the wife requested one.  Her husband answered the door and to make a long story short he is Mormon and his wife never even knew it!  He has been less active for a very long time but said that the Mormon church is the only one he will ever go to. They said that we could start teaching them!  I told him a lot of my Park family is from Oklahoma and guess what... he and all of his family is from Oklahoma!  I forgot what city but it was a Native American sounding name. When I go to his house next we are going to try and figure out if we are related.  At first I was really sad to be transferred but then really happy when I met him! Who knew I could find a Park in Louisiana? He also asked me if I was Korean since Park is such a big Korean name.  He is not Korean either so we have to be related. Today is a really hard day for me because everywhere is closed on Mondays for the Sabbath and I can't get a haircut but I need one SO bad.  

 

The number of branch members and teaching pool is much smaller here than in Opelousas so we spend a lot of time doing service in this area.  If we see people working in the yard we pull over and offer to help them.  This area is predominantly Catholic and many of them don't want the lessons but they are very nice and friendly and will accept our help when we offer it.  The other day we helped a Catholic woman decorate her home for Easter and then we painted the outside of her house and then her flower boxes.

 

Last night we taught the Word of Wisdom to a couple and when we asked if they would live the Word of Wisdom... they laughed hysterically for like 10 minutes. Seriously. I thought they were going to pass out or choke because they were laughing so hard. 

 

Sometimes things happen and we know that Heavenly Father is trying to tell us something but we are not sure what it is.  This is a situation I encounter quite often on my mission.  Sometimes the hints are subtle or sometimes they are obvious.... like receiving a calling in the church for example.  For me, serving a mission wasn't something I had always planned to do but sometimes His plan is different than ours.

 

When we receive a calling or an assignment on behalf of Heavenly Father, it is given by revelation- not because the individual extending the call thinks the person would be good at it.  It is a revelation given to them from God.  No offense, but God is way smarter than we are and he knows what we need in order to be happy. 

 

Remember when I was considering staying home instead of serving a mission?  I was about to start nursing school and my social life was good.  Those things made choosing a mission more difficult than if I had nothing going on at the time.  But I can't imagine my life if had chosen not to go. I don't know if I would be as happy as I am now if I stayed home and didn't put what Heavenly Father
wanted first.

 

I know this scripture is used a lot with missionaries but it applies to all of us.  In 1 Nephi 3:7 it says:

 

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

 

In the end, it is up to us to figure out what Heavenly Father wants for us and what he is trying to tell us and teach us.  Pray sincerely to receive answers and you will know what you should do.  But if you have an opportunity to serve the Lord and you do, he will bless you.

 

Jagger, I am so sorry about your thumb!  I am blowing it a kiss from Louisiana!

 

Dad, Happy Birthday in three days!

Grams and Christie, happy belated birthday on the 5th of March!

 

Everyone, my Mom has my new address so message her for it.

Mom, I could use some new clothes.  It's not that big of a deal. I just wear the same five outfits every week, that's all.

 

Love you all!

 

Sister Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is Mardi Gras!

Sorry I couldn't email yesterday.  It's transfer week so P-day is today.  Because of Mardi Gras, all the libraries are closed so I am at the church and have to hurry.  But here is the low down:

President Wall called me last night and asked me to be a Sister Training Leader- it's the equivalent of a Zone Leader for Elders.  I will still be serving in the Lafayette zone but will be transferred to the New Iberia area and my companion will most likely be Sister Maxfield from Logan, Utah.  I am so happy that I get to stay in the Lafayette zone because I will still be able to see Sister Faulk at district meetings and I can go on exchanges with her in Opelousas.  I can't believe I am going to be a Sister Training Leader because I just got here.  I am a little nervous about it and not sure why President thought I was ready for this.  I will have to instruct at zone meetings; that should be interesting! 

On Tuesday we went over to the Carrell's house! They are a part-member family. Brother Carrell is a member and Sister Carrell is not.  We have been teaching Sister Carrell the lessons for the past few weeks.  We love going over there because they are awesome and because they have the cutest dogs. My favorite dog of theirs is named Hooker. She is the cutest thing ever. Anyways we went and visited last week and Flo told us that she is ready to get baptized! She had been reading all of the church pamphlets lately and one day while she was in the laundry room she received a strong confirmation that this gospel is true and that she needs to get baptized!  She will be baptized on March 23rd.  I sure hope I can come back to Opelousas for it!  Her baptismal date is just a couple days before Brother Carrell's birthday. He is sooooo happy and so is she! We absolutely adore this couple!

One of the best things that happened this week was when we went to visit a less active member on Sunday.  Sister Faulk and I had never met him before but the Elders had.  He is an awesome guy! He is from Logan, Utah and has a son named Trevor.  We visited with him for a while and got to know him a little. We shared Alma 37:37 "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."   Then we talked to him about what this scripture means and about prayer.  The spirit was so strong, he started crying. He was trying to act like he wasn't and was trying to hide it but we saw those tears in his eyes! He said he knows in his heart that the gospel is true. As we were leaving he told us, "I needed that."  Then he said he wants to bring his wife to the Opelousas branch next week and introduce her to the church.  I hope they show up! 

I have to go now so we can go watch the Mardi Gras parade!  By the way, Mardi Gras is bigger than Christmas around here.  I also have to pack which makes me very sad.  I hate to leave Opelousas. I love it here so much.  I was only here for eight short weeks but I know that I was
supposed to be here for that time.  I have learned so much from my companion and the awesome people of Opelousas, Louisiana.  Talk to you next week!