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