Bula!

Sister Park and Sister Taito from Fiji

Bula! That is hello in Fijian.  Sister Taito and I are great friends.  Today we will be planning our next zone activity and our zone training meeting.  So tell me what you think... most of the sisters in our zone are from a different country and have never had a s'more. So.. we want to find some type of park or go up to the mountains and show them how to make s'mores!  I have wanted to do this my whole mission.  Hopefully it happens!

For Zone Training Meeting we are planning to focus on the missionary purpose. Sometimes there are things that distract us on our missions and keep us from putting all of our heart and effort into the work of salvation. We want the sisters to burn those boats and just let everything go because we have noticed that as missionaries we are much happier when we are not focused on boyfriends, fears, inadequacies, home, and other things that can hold us back. If we give it all to Heavenly Father he will take care of the rest. There have been so many times on my mission that I was worried about different things that didn't matter right now.  But I realized that if I could forget myself and go straight to work I would be happy and effective as a missionary.  The key is simply work and consecration. I think that goes along with anything in life. If we keep the commandments and give everything to the Lord, we will find that the things of the world really don't make us as happy as serving him with everything in us. Everyone can apply this.

Good news! M and P were baptized on Friday! We are so happy for them. They are amazing and it has been so great to be able to work with these awesome and humble people. They are ready and willing to give it all to the Lord and that's what makes me happy. I love them both SO much!

For some reason lately Sister Taito and I have had the opportunity to teach a lot of families here on the Square. It has been a good experience. I just look at these people and realize how much God must love all of his children to give us families. Each family has been designed by God and we are given these people for specific reasons. How cool is that? Heavenly Father knew I needed the exact family I have-- my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, everyone. We all need each other so we can get back to our Father in Heaven. I just love families so much!

Sister Park

Transfers!

Hello Everyone!  Short letter today because we have a lot going on!  That is a good thing though.  What a wonderful week! It was my last week with Sister Tsang. I am going to miss that little Asian princess so much. Heavenly Father has called us to different places.  I was called to be a zone leader in the North 1 zone which means I am out of the Beehive House and I am ALL SQUARE. No assignments, just find, teach, and baptize and help guide the sisters of course. I have a new companion and she is awesome! Her name is Sister Taito (Ty-To) and she is from FIJI. She has been out about the same amount of time as I have. We were called to be zone leaders together and guess what! Sister Bryuzgina is in my zone! I am excited to be able to work with my little Ruski again. She is already planning a 24 hour exchange for us and she is also planning our next zone activity haha!  Sister Taito is so wonderful. She was my roommate last transfer and we had a blast together. General Conference is coming in just a couple of weeks. Can you believe it? I can't. It will be a weekend of craziness and spiritual upliftment. So exciting!

I have some wonderful news! One of my investigators, "R", was baptized on Saturday! It has been a long and wonderful journey being able to work with her. She sent pictures and she looked so beautiful at her baptism. I wish I could have been there. She has overcome so much and I am so proud of her. She just has this whole new glow about her. I love seeing what the gospel can do for people.

This coming Saturday I have two baptisms coming up as well which is exciting. They live in Ogden but recently moved here from Vegas. I met them a couple of weeks ago at my desk assignment. "M's" husband is a returning member. They plan on being married in the temple in a year.

Today Sister Taito and I were at our desk assignment and I met this wonderful man from Milan, Italy.  We talked for a bit and he said he has seen missionaries in Milan a few times and they gave him a Book of Mormon. He has never actually sat down and talked with them. He is Catholic but came specifically to Utah to see the temple. We talked about Temples and the Book of Mormon and I invited him to learn more. He was so excited and said he would like to meet with the elders that he always sees riding bikes around his house. We will continue to teach him over the phone when he goes back to Milan. He was so funny. I have never taught a Catholic Italian before so this should be fun!

I read in my Book of Mormon about the stripling warriors this morning and it made me think about mothers and how awesome you all are.  Even when you feel like you aren't doing everything right, you are the rock that holds us together.  Your faith makes ours stronger! 

 

The square has been busy because tons of women are here for an essential oils convention. It smells like Doterra everywhere you turn. I miss everyone a lot and I hope y'all are doing well!! Love you a ton.
 

Sister Park

Faith is a Power

This is Bob.  I LOVE HIM!  He is an angel.  He might be a real angel. He was in a car accident years ago which is why he is in a wheelchair now.  He is at temple square every day except Sunday.  He has been doing this same routine for YEARS!  He calls me the Missionary in Red because I always wear red.   

 

 

Hello! Before I begin, lets take care of a matter of business. I may not email next week due to transfers and I don't know when my P-Day is going to be.  Ok, anyway...Today is Sister Tsang's 21st birthday. We are going to celebrate by taking the train to the Planetarium and then to go get some cheesecake.  Now that summer is ending it is finally starting to slow down.  Not for long though because General Conference is in a few weeks.  It is also getting colder outside and they are working hard on the Christmas lights which is always exciting. I love autumn at Temple Square. It is the best time of the year.

I have exciting news! Remember when I told you last time how I was at the Jerusalem desk at the North Visitor's Center and I met a lady named Michele?  Well, I also met her Mother and taught her at the desk as well. They were so amazed by the temple.  Well, since then she has met with the elders and has gone to church and said she loves the feeling she gets when she's at church. Her mom loves church also. I have also been teaching Michele's husband who is a member of the church but hasn't been in years.  He is so excited to come back to church!  Today I called them and they were thanking me but I had to remind them it's not me at all. Heavenly Father put me in their path. Michele and her mom will be getting baptized on September 20th! I am so excited because all three of them are so happy. It was so nice to be able to talk to them today. They live in Ogden, Utah so I'm hoping to be able to go to the baptism.

 

I met a Spanish man who did not speak any Rnglish today that needed help. I told him I speak "poquito espanol."  I don't know why I said that because I totally made it up.  I mean I have had Spanish speaking roommates and I picked up a little from them but that's it.  Well he totally took it seriously!  Anyway, somehow I was able to understand everything he said perfectly and I helped him find what he was looking for.  Heavenly Father knew this man needed guidance so He gave me the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues so I could help him to get to his destination. It was amazing! I don't even know what happened! I obviously wasn't fluent but I used a few Spanish words that I picked up I guess???  A few minutes later, a non-member lady who was nearby listening to our whole conversation came up to me and said "Wow! You don't speak Spanish? I have no idea how you did that but it was incredible!"  She was astounded and amazed.  But I knew that it was Heavenly Father.  Miracles happen.

 

 

Well, one thing I have learned on my mission is that faith is not just a virtue.  It is literally a power. If we have strong and true faith in something we will see miracles. Something that you can do to help with this is to really study and exercise your faith. Find a lot of scriptures concerning faith and pray every single morning and night that Heavenly Father will strengthen your faith. If you have a Preach my Gospel (if you don't, then get one) study the Christ-like attribute section and specifically Faith and Hope. I have seen miracles by studying and praying and constantly striving to have those attributes. Faith truly is an actual power that we all can have!
Just remember a chapter a day will lighten your way! This week I encourage you to study D & C section 121.  In verses 7-8 it says:

7 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

 

Your trials and afflictions are only a small moment!  It might not seem like when you're in the middle of them but you really will find peace and happiness again.  And if we endure these trials well we will be greatly rewarded!

 

For the wonderful ladies in my life, read D & C 25.  In verse 3 it says:

 

 "Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called."

 

You are all elect ladies!  Don't forget to watch the General Women's session.  Those talks are inspired and are specifically for you!

 

Gigi-  Thank you so much for the beautiful letter!  You are one special lady!

I love everyone so so so much!

Sister Park!

I turned into a nerd!

HELLO! How is everyone doing?  Things have been great over here. The weather is beautiful and the people are just peachy. Sister Tsang and I are having a lot of fun. Right now she is going crazy because she just found out about "Yo Mama" jokes and that's all that is coming out of her mouth. I keep telling her that they are so twenty years ago but she LOVES them and says them to EVERYONE haha. She calls me Mama all the time and accidentally called me Mama in one of our tours! I just laughed really hard. She didn't even notice she did it because she does it so much. I love her!
 

On Saturday, our investigator from Ohio was baptized.  He is such a wonderful person and you can feel he has this glow even over the phone. We have three more on date this transfer! It is amazing to be able to see how much they have changed and progressed. The atonement truly puts light inside of those who finally embrace it.  My district is the highest baptizing district in the mission this transfer. President can't even believe it. We went way over our baptisimal goal already.  It's not us missionaries though; it is the Spirit converting these people.  We are only delivering the message.

Ok mom, I am so nerdy now! I used to daydream about falling in love and now I daydream about investigators. I used to sing Taylor Swift but now all I have in my head is church songs and I sing them all the time. I experimented and tried to sing a Taylor Swift song in the shower last night but it felt weird and boring so I went back to singing "Did you think to pray?" I am such a nerd now!!

Every day during our Mandarin tours I look out at those big groups of people and I try to see them how Heavenly Father sees them.  Most of them have never heard of Jesus Christ (Yeah Su Jee Do).  They do not know that someone died for their sins so they could have eternal life.  They don't know who to lean on when they hurt the most.  I have realized how blessed we are to have this knowledge.  The Savior knows exactly how we feel.  Alma 7:11-13!

I just love my mission. I am so exhausted so I find it weird that I am so happy all the time. It is weird that the gospel can do this to you! I really needed to be out here and specifically here at Temple Square. Missions are hard sometimes but it is so wonderful to be a part of this work. I know that God really must love us a lot to let us do this. One of my favorite scriptures is in D&C Chapter 4 and it says "If you have desires to serve God, you are called to the work". I know that everyone who has the desire to serve Heavenly Father was foreordained in the pre-earth life to serve missions now. I just love missionary work!

I hope that everyone has a good week and remember that Jesus loves you! Even Ryan!

Thanks to Harley, Daycee, and Christie for the beautiful letters!  I just loved the pictures of Baby Cash! He is so cute. I showed everyone.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for the beautiful letter! I miss you SO MUCH! 

I am SO excited that Kendall is in Minnesota. Now she is going to get a weird accent. She better have an accent by the time Christmas comes so I can hear it when we Skype!
Sister Park

Staying Close to the Spirit

Le-Ho! That is hello in Cantonese! This has been a great but very fast week! We have been running around crazy taking tons of mandarin tours and going on exchanges all the time! I finished seven exchanges by week 3 of the transfer so I am patting myself on the back! I learn so much from all of the sisters and I love spending time with them. I am learning so much not only about the missionaries work but also about how the Lord works. I have had the opportunity to help some sisters with different issues.  It is amazing to see that if we trust the Lord he is always there even in the toughest and darkest moments in our lives.

I was standing over by the Jerusalem Desk and a lady walked in so I went over to talk to her. She just moved here from Vegas with her husband. She is not a member but her husband is a less active member.  I started talking to her about the Temple and she was just loving it! She said she loves the family values we have in the church so I invited her to learn more and she was so excited that I asked! She wants to talk to me again and also wants the local missionaries in Ogden to come visit her as well! It is not everyday that golden people just show up and we consider it a small miracle when they do!

We have three baptisms coming up!  It is such an amazing thing when your investigators experience the atonement and realize that God's plan of happiness is truly for them! I am teaching an old man named Melvin Sr. from Ohio. He is so sweet and just accepted the baptismal invite! He said he just HAS to be baptized! I love that man.

I prayed a lot about what I would share with you today.  I want to make my letters home as meaningful as I can so I hope that I will always listen to the spirit as I write to you and I hope this message helps you all in some way.

I was reading in Alma Chapter 24 the other day.  In this chapter some of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis rejoice in Christ and some of the Lamanites are converted to the gospel! That chapter really stood out to me and reminded me of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Verses 14 to 16 especially.

14 "And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.  

15 Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.

16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved."

To me those verses show true conversion. They saw how happy they were when they gave up their swords or in other words their weaknesses and sins. They saw how happy they were when they decided to repent and follow Jesus Christ. They hid away their swords or in other words repented of their sins and did them no more. In verse 16, they said they hid them away but kept them as a testimony, a testimony of the atonement.

We all make mistakes in our lives and sometimes it is hard to forgive ourselves. We may think we are burying up our "swords" but they are not buried if we can't forgive ourselves first. While we need to put them away we should also keep those experiences as a testimony.  Of course they are nothing to be proud of but they can remind us of the feeling we had when we felt that the Savior was trying to bring us back towards him. They can remind us of the healing power of the atonement and help us not to make those same mistakes again. I love this chapter because they were converted. They experienced the love of God and put the past behind them. They humbled themselves and fought temptations and weaknesses. That is what God wants for us, to just trust him and follow him.

One of my favorite talks is called, "Hitting the Mark" by Elder F. Enzio Busche from Germany. In his talk he shared some tips to help us to stay close to the spirit and to access the power of the atonement. If you read it, it will change your LIFE!

Elder Busche tells us that there are only two elements that separate us from the Holy Spirit: first, our lack of desire to repent, and second, our lack of desire to forgive.  Then he gives us a list of things that can help us stay close to the spirit:  

1. Embrace each day, no matter how it looks, with an enthusiastic welcome.
2. Steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward your Savior and your Heavenly Father. This will help you overcome fatigue, despair, and physical sickness.
3. Choose to accept the challenges that must be part of life. They can draw you closer to Heavenly Father and make you stronger.
4. Feed your own spirit. It needs constant nourishment.
5. Sacrifice your selfishness. Meekness prepares you to receive the Spirit.
6. Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope.
7. Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane.
8. Realize that Heavenly Father knows you are not perfect. He will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
9. Understand that your Father in Heaven knows better than you what you need. Listen, and follow the suggestions he makes, even the uncomfortable ones. Over time everything will fall into place.
10. Fear the consequences of sin. Flee the very appearance of evil.
11. Look into the eyes of those who are hard to love, long enough to see them as children of God.
12. Forgive and you will be free again.
13. Avoid pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. On the road toward salvation let questions arise, but never doubts.
14. Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet.
15. Serve with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.
16. Be grateful for every opportunity to serve.
17. Realize when you are asked to sacrifice that Heavenly Father wants to give you something better.

Those points have helped me a lot throughout my mission so as I prayed about what I should write today that's what came to my mind.

 

 I just love you all! I hope you have an amazing day! Remember to start the day off with a scripture each day!

 

Love,

Sister Park

Obedience with Exactness

Sister B and I matched on accident today so we
just had to take a picture!

HI!

I am so sad that Kendall and I are not going to see each other for a year and a half. It breaks my heart but I am so happy for her and all of the amazing experiences she is going to have in South Dakota. She is such a beautiful sister missionary. I am so proud of all of my missionary family!

 

Temple Square has been great. We have been stuck at home for the past couple of days because Sister Tsang caught a cold. She has been miserable so I have been living up to my MTC nick name "Nurse Macy".  Anyway, it was fun to take care of her but I was so ready to just get out of the apartment and work! So today we went and covered the Beehive house and it was a lot of fun.

 

The girls at Temple Square are so funny, especially the foreign girls with the culture barrier and everything.  The other day I was on exchanges with another sister and she called one of her investigators to check his progress.  She discovered he wasn't keeping his commitments like reading the scriptures and going to church.  So this sister said,  "Jesus is crying because you didn't read the scriptures. Do you want to make Jesus cry?" I was laughing to myself sooooooo hard!

Sister Tsang is also very funny.  This morning we were in the store and two returned missionaries walked up to us and started talking.  One of them came across a little flirtatious with me and it made Sister Tsang SO MAD.  She called him a pighead.  I couldn't believe it.  I walked away laughing.

 

This week in district meeting I decided to focus the instruction on goal setting. I have gained a testimony of setting goals on my mission. I feel like goals prepare us for the rest of our lives and we will be so much more successful if we set inspired goals. So we talked all about that and role played and made our own district macro plan of some goals we want to achieve this transfer and how we are going to do it. First we list our goals and desired outcomes.  Next we write our present situation on paper.  Finally we discuss action steps that we will take in order to reach our goals. We are going to have a great transfer. My district has already surpassed our baptism goal which is 6 baptisms. We have already had 8 and we are only in week three of the transfer.

Lately some our sisters, mostly companionships, have struggled.  Either things are not going as planned or they are struggling with understanding each other and getting along.  A couple of days ago I was asked to meet with one of those companionships to discuss what was wrong and see if I could help. Well I was able to help a little-- and the spirit was able to help a lot! I sat and talked with them for a long time.  I wasn't sure how to handle the situation so I said a little prayer in my heart.  Then I had a feeling that I should get up and leave for a few minutes.  So I instructed them to talk to each other and I walked into the bathroom.  When I got to the bathroom I cried because I didn't know what to do so I prayed and as soon as I finished the prayer I heard the spirit say "Disobedience".   Right then I knew what the problem was.  So when I walked back in I asked them if they were being obedient to the rules.  I asked them if they were doing companionship studies and they said they hadn't.  Companionship studies help us to be unified with our companions.  If we don't have them, we don't have the spirit.  Disobedience destroys companionships.  We talked about that for a while and they were so happy because we figured it out.  There is a reason we are told to practice obedience with exactness on our missions and throughout life.

After we figured out the problem, I told them they needed to share two things they love about each other and we were all laughing by the end. Now they are doing amazing because they are being obedient. I am so thankful for the spirit!  I could not have dealt with that situation on my own!  Every transfer Heavenly Father stretches me a little more and I learn something new.

I was having kind of a hard day the other day so I read my scriptures. One of my favorite chapters in D&C is Chapter 58. It has helped me so many times in different parts of my life. It has helped me realize that even when things are tough, God is always there and his hand is in every detail of our lives. I just love that he knows so well what is going on.  We all have to go through hard times but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It is so comforting to know that God has a plan for every single one of us and all we need to do is trust him, be faithful, and enjoy the journey. I think I am bad at enjoying the journey sometimes. But the scriptures tell us that there is always good to come.

 3 "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation."

 4 "For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

 

Those verses have helped me a lot in the past couple of days. I just know that Heavenly Father loves all of his children so much and that he has provided a way for us to be happy. He knew that this life wouldn't be easy but he has blessed us with so many things to help us get through it. I love that! I am learning that when things seem like they are going wrong, that is usually Heavenly Father doing something right. We will never really understand the way he works or why he works the way he does but it is always the better way. I am so thankful for a mission that has taught me these things.I love you all!

Sister Park


 

 

Receiving Personal Revelation

Hello Everyone! This has been such a wonderful week! Sister Tsang & I are doing great doing our best to save China.  "Save China" is something we say in this mission because our church is not allowed in China yet even though there are several Chinese people who want to be members and be free to practice the religion.  Most sisters here on Temple Square end up with companions from many different countries and I have only served with Americans, a Russian, and two Chinese speaking companions.  But I was thinking about how blessed I am to be able to teach some of these people who know nothing about Christ.

This morning I went to the temple and it was incredible. I love the peace and comfort I feel when I go inside. Yesterday was also a great day because I saw Aunt Kathy, Renee, Rachelle, and Alyssa! I am  so happy I was able to see them and take them on a tour in the Beehive House. It made my night!

 

Yesterday morning we had Missionary Leadership Council and that was fun. It was a little bit different than when I had it in Louisiana because there were no elders and it was in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was a great experience and I learned a lot of things that I can bring to my missionary work. I have learned so much about goal setting and planning on my mission and just how important it really is. My mission is preparing me for the rest of my life because I am learning so many skills that I never had before my mission. I can't believe how irresponsible I used to be!

A couple of days ago I was looking back to the past and thinking about myself right before my mission and some of the things I struggled with. One thing I really had a hard time with was recognizing answers to my prayers. I always thought that God just didn't answer me and that I just needed to figure things out on my own; but looking back I was so wrong!  I learned that God answers us several times. Every time we pray He answers us but it's up to us to listen and have faith in Him. I was lacking faith in the answers I received and could not tell if the feelings I had were coming from myself or from Heavenly Father. Then I was thinking about some of the things I have learned on my mission and one of the biggest thing I have learned is how Heavenly Father communicates with me personally.

 

I have been reading a lot in D&C 9 and really trying to understand it.  Oliver Cowdery wanted to do more than be a scribe.  He wanted to translate. In this section Heavenly Father is teaching Oliver Cowdery how to recognize answers and to know when something is right.  In verses 8 and 9 it says:

 

8 "But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

 

 9 "But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me."  Then in the final verse, Heavenly Father reminds him to be faithful in fulfilling the things Heavenly Father has asked of him and he will be blessed: 

 

14 "Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day. Amen."

 

Revelation is available to all of us when we exercise faith.  Revelation is the rock that Christ built His church upon and it is such a blessing that we have it! Joseph Smith said that without the Book of Mormon and revelation we have no religion and that is so true!

I am having a great time here at Temple Square. It is getting cooler outside and they are already putting up all of the Christmas lights which tells me that fall is coming! I am SO EXCITED because Fall is my favorite time on Temple Square. Things are going great here. LOVE YOU! And sorry I did not take any pictures this week. I'll be better next week!

 

Grandpa and Terry, thank you so much for the sweet birthday card! 

 

Alyssa, good luck you will do great!

 

Kendall, see you next week!

 

Jagger and Jersy, I love you!

 

Love,

 

Sister Park