The Beehive House, a Catholic Priest, and Fox News



Hello from Temple Square!

Zrastswitza,

 

We have had a lovely week in Salt Lake City and it is absolutely beautiful over here. Thanks mom for the beautiful letters and things I truly appreciate it!

 

This morning we had transfer conference and our assignment has changed. We are serving in the Beehive House now! Every single day before transfers Sister Bryuszgina would comment on how she does not want to serve in the Beehive House and I kept telling her that she was going to curse herself and she did!  I am so excited about it though! I have wanted to serve there my entire mission. I actually went on exchanges the other day with a sister who serves there and of course we had people coming in to make fun of our church and talk down on our church leadership! It broke my heart and let's just say I didn't bite my tongue. I know that I am going to learn a TON from serving there.

 

Just so you know my P-Day changed so I will email you on Wednesday as well. You get to hear from me twice this week but I might not do a blog. I have to catch up on emailing and writing people back.
 

We saw miracles this week! A couple of days ago we were on our way to lunch when some sisters stopped us and asked if we would take a girl from China on a tour. I was so excited because I love Asians and miss working with them.  This girl was a sweetheart.  Her name was Alice and she was born and raised in China. She has lived in Chicago for the last year for work. She came to SLC for work and wanted to visit Temple Square. She has no religious background but is searching for something. We taught her all about our loving Father in Heaven and eternal families. The spirit was so strong and when we asked her if she wanted to learn more she said yes without any hesitation! She also said she would love to have the local missionaries come and meet with her! The spirit was so strong that we were walking on clouds afterwards.

We got 5 new investigators this week which was exciting and a couple of our investigators went to church!  I have an awesome progressing investigator in the Alabama Birmingham Mission! We met him at Temple Square and gave him a tour. He is a hardcore Army sergeant but his heart is softened every time we have a lesson.  We are seeing miracles left and right!
 

We also have a lovely investigator from Germany who currently lives in Los Angeles. He is so cool. His names is Hans and he is a former Catholic Priest. He was a legit big time Catholic Priest in Germany until one day a long time ago he met the elders and they answered some questions that he had about things such as the Godhead.  He never progressed in the gospel back then but the things he learned never left his mind.  Now he is old and sick and lives in a care facility. Anyway, he called the 1-800 number on Mormon.org a few weeks ago and I happened to answer that call so Sister B and I have been teaching him and the local missionaries started visiting him as well.  The care facility said he has slight dementia that affects his short term memory but somehow he never forgets us or the elders or the things we teach him which surprises everyone- but not us.  He wants to be baptized but his illness is holding him back right now. He is such a sweet guy and we care so much about him.

I think most people know what is going on over here at Temple Square lately with the Ordain Women movement.  Fox News is all over the place and there are tons of people coming here with a lot of questions. They had to close the north and east gates yesterday due to the candle lighting demonstration. 

 

One thing that is so important to remember is that these people who may not understand the priesthood or the fulness of the gospel are our sisters and brothers. In April, President Monson spoke about how love is the essence of the gospel. I truly believe that love cures everything and that's how we can help people find their way back. Sister Oscarson, our General YW President says it perfectly:

 

“All of us as sisters in the gospel have the responsibility and privilege to support and nourish one another. We have all committed to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and this discipleship should be at the heart of all that we do. Each of us is in a different place in our spiritual journey. Some may struggle with testimony. Some have questions or wrestle with the pressures and trials of life. Those who are struggling for whatever reason should be able to find within our sisterhood a spirit of warmth, inclusion, and love."

 

One word that describes Heavenly Father perfectly is love.  He loves us perfectly and because of that there is no need to fear the plan he has lined out for us even when we don't understand it or when we feel like things are unfair.

1 John 4:18- "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 

If we understood God's love for us, we would have no fear that we could accomplish the things he asks of us.  His plan is perfect.

We live in a crazy crazy time and things are getting worse by the second. I am so happy to have a prophet today who loves us so much and who teaches us to love others.  Anytime we are on a tour and we go to the tabernacle, I make sure to bear my testimony of President Monson. I trust his words and his actions and I know he is truly inspired. I love serving at Temple Square. It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done but it is such a blessing! I have learned so much about the church and it definitely has tried and strengthened my testimony. I used to wonder why Heavenly Father sent me here to serve a mission.  I didn't feel adequate enough to serve in a place like this.  But now I know that this is what I needed. I needed a tough place to get a strong and firm testimony that I will need in these tough last days!

Well, I love you so very much! Dobre Dane! Baca Baca.

Sistra Park

It's all about choice!

Sister B and I took a drive to find Ensign Peak so I could show
her the view of the city.  But instead we got lost and decided
 to get out a take a quick picture of us being lost
in the middle of nowhere!

Hello Family!  I love Utah summers because they are perfect! We have been very busy with Russian tours lately.  Russians are stubborn but so many of them have been open to our lessons.  We had one Russian couple tell us to send local missionaries just this morning.  We are also teaching the people who come here from Poland.  There have been several Polish visitors lately which is totally random because usually Polish people never come to the Square. Yesterday we met the nicest Polish couple visiting from NYC and taught them the Restoration. They are in Utah looking for places to live. They love how family oriented it is here and that the city is so clean and friendly! We invited them to learn more and they said they would love to and even took a Book of Mormon! The main thing that draws them to our church is the family values we have.

Craziest thing of the week. Sister Bryuzgina and I forgot to bring our dinner to the square a couple of days ago so we decided to walk across the street and eat frozen yogurt.  On the way to Farr's we met three very nice people- a couple and a single man. Sister B talked to the couple and I chatted with the single man. He looked at my badge and said, "I am on a mission too." And I rolled my eyes in my head because I thought I knew what was coming.  Anyway, it turns out he was on a mission for some religion that practices polygamy and he was also a polygamist. He spent ten minutes trying to convert me so I shared my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and of our prophet, President Monson.  I told him that I know that President Monson is leading this church according to God's will.  Bearing testimony is one of the most powerful things we can do.  The man just looked at me and had nothing to say.  Like we are promised when we allow the spirit to speak through us, his tongue was confounded. He just stared at me blankly for a few seconds and then said "Ok enjoy your ice cream." And I did enjoy my ice cream!

This morning we watched a video of an MTC devotional with Elder Holland. So good. Preach my Gospel is so amazing. He spoke on the previous missionary program and how missionaries had to memorize the lessons. That way of teaching didn't get to the missionaries hearts, or in other words it did not convert a lot of the missionaries; so after many of them returned home they became inactive. Preach My Gospel is a million times better for the investigator and the missionary. It truly helps you to understand the doctrine of Christ. I know that reading Preach My Gospel was a big part of my own conversion. Elder Ballard invited every single member to have a copy of Preach My Gospel in their home and I second that. I think centering Family Home Evening around Preach My Gospel is such a good idea.  The Book of Mormon and the principles taught in Preach my Gospel are so essential to our own conversion... not just investigator's. Read it and you'll feel closer to the Savior!

 

Being a Temple Square missionary, we get to see lots of familiar faces!  It made me so happy to see Papa Rick and Grandma Laurie.  They are so sweet!  I also got to see Sister Pulsipher and her kids.  Visitors are the best!

David Archuleta came to Temple Square the other day. He was teaching a few people near the New Testament paintings in the North Visitor's Center. We walked over there so Sister Bryuzgina could see him. She has never heard of him! 

 

Marie Osmond is here today. I should ask her about Jenny Craig in case I want to try it!

 

Love Y'all!

 

Sister Park

"Let not your heart be troubled"

I don't have much to write about this week because it has been rough.  Sister B and I were on a high for a couple of weeks because things were going so great.  And then this past week everything seemed to fall apart.  Poor Sister B is really struggling because weeks like this are especially hard on new missionaries.... especially new missionaries who are also learning a new language.

One principle that us missionaries are taught often is keeping faith even when things are difficult.  This past week it seemed that no matter how hard we prayed for success, we were tested hour after hour, day after day.  There were times when we thought, "Nothing we do is working right now.  Why even try?"  But we should always remember to put all our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.  And remember that even when we pray for something and expect that things will go as planned, he knows what we need most for our personal growth.  In Isaiah 55:8-9, it says:

8  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We are just going to trust in the Lord and keep trying!

Sister Park

Miracles!

It has been quite a week! Sister Bryuzgina and I are doing great and we are seeing so many miracles. I feel like I am serving my mission in Russia. There are so many Russians that come to Temple Square! I am picking up on Russian better than Chinese but it is so hard. I have had two companions that speak the two hardest languages ever. Well, Mongolian is probably the hardest because they have to sound like Donald Duck when they speak.

 

Sister Bryuzgina is so funny. The other day we went and talked to this nice old man. Right in the middle of the conversation she started busting up laughing!  I was thinking 'what is wrong with her'...So we looked over and she said, "You look like Santa Claus!" It was so embarrassing! I was trying not to laugh and the poor man didn't know what to do. I have to control the girl sometimes. But we have a blast! I never thought that I could be so close to someone who lives all the way in Russia. I think we will be friends forever.

We have been teaching a lot of Russian people here on Temple Square and you won't even believe it but they are actually referring! Several of them!  Usually these people don't care about what we have to say and they are very stubborn but God must be preparing them. We also take the Ukrainians on tours and lets just say that it gets rough sometimes when they see that Sister B is from Russia.  Apparently Ukrainians don't like Putin or Russia. I didn't even know any of that was happening until Sister Bryuzgina told me. It just shows that I have been out of the world for quite some time. A lot of the Ukrainians are not really happy around us at first.  But Sister Bryuzgina takes it all in stride and just says "I'm not Putin so don't get mad at me." 

Yesterday was amazing. I'll never ever forget it. We were on our way to go call our investigators when some sisters stopped us and asked us if we would give a tour to a couple and their daughter. We said yes and went over to meet them. They were so nice. They are a hispanic family from Los Angeles, California. We took them on a tour and told them about our basic beliefs. We teach a lesson in every tour and people may not even realize it. The spirit was there but they were Catholic and happy with their lives.

 

When we talked about temples and eternal families you could see the light in the mother's and daughter's eyes. As we were talking I just saw all three of them wearing white in the temple getting sealed. I know it would make them happy! Then we got to the subject of the Book of Mormon and prayer. They wanted to see how Mormon's pray so we went into a corner and taught them how to pray. Sister Bryuzgina said the prayer and it was great.  We ended up talking with them for an hour an a half! Usually our tours last about 30 minutes. We asked if they wanted to learn more and the father thought about it but said no.  But the mother seemed very reluctant to go.  We walked them out and then made our way back to the square and found a Russian family sitting on a bench so we went and talked to them for a few minutes. Then I saw the mother from the Hispanic family from the corner of my eye. She ran into the South Gates and rushed over to us. Her family was waiting in the car but she ran up to us and said, "Sisters! I changed my mind! I want a Book of Mormon and I want to learn more about the church!" We told the Russian family we would be right back and we walked her into the South Visitors Center and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon. She also wanted a copy for her daughter. She was so happy!  She gave us her information and gave us each a big hug. It was one of the best experiences I have had on my mission. We are going to call them and teach them this week and send some local missionaries to teach them in California.

The day before that we had two miracles! We took around a gay couple who liked everything they heard about our church and wanted to learn more. They loved Temple Square! They think the Temple is amazing and love the purpose of temples. They also asked for a Book of Mormon and for the lessons. It will be interesting to teach them but it will be great and I am looking forward to it!

Shortly after that we decided we needed a break. We had been on our feet non-stop and just wanted some ice cream! We went to Farr's for dinner and had the best ice cream ever. As we were walking out we heard a couple speaking Russian! So Sister Bryuzgina said "Bon Appetite" in Russian and they were so happy to meet a Russian missionary! They were actually from Ukraine but they have lived in New Jersey for 17 years and speak perfect English. They invited us to sit down and talk with them. They are here on vacation and actually took a tour at Temple Square the night before from some other sisters. They had a lot of questions about the church. We taught them the Restoration right there over ice cream.  Felix is the husband and he is so interested! Olga, his wife is a bit skeptical but very nice. Felix gave us his information and asked us to send the local missionaries. He wants them to bring him a Book of Mormon. We are going to start teaching them on the phone this week too! It was such an amazing weekend.

Everyone etting ready to serve a mission- All I have to say is I am so happy to be a missionary. I am happy I came out on my mission the time that I did. The people I have met and taught have made me a better person. When you serve a mission you see life a different way than you ever did before. People say that when you are on a mission "you are out of the world".  Sometimes people don't want to serve because they want to "experience the world". Well, I believe that missionaries see much more of the world than anyone else and see it in a deeper more meaningful way.  And that is why we continue to do what we do. Things are getting so bad in this world and time is so short. I am so happy that I can experience the world this way!

I went to the temple this morning and it was the best experience I have ever had. I invite all of you to go to the temple with a specific question. It is the best place to receive personal revelation.

 

This is Sister B and I with the zone leaders at breakfast after the temple.  The sister across from me is from New Jersey and her companion is from Germany.  It was a great morning!

 

I love you, family!

Sister Park