Miracles on West Temple Street






Oi! (hi in Portugese)
It is a very exciting time to be at Temple Square as we prepare for conference and the insane craziness that is going to happen. We have a "count-down to General Conference" in our mission office which only makes the anticipation more exciting! 

This week we were able to hear from Sister Ruth Todd, the head of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We were able to get lots of good advice from her which was great.

One of my very first investigators from here in the states that I told you about a few weeks ago has committed to baptism!  He is the one who said a prayer with me over the phone and said "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Macy to me."  He is such a sweet man.  He is so happy that he found the gospel of Jesus Christ. We've got a couple things we need to work on with him but that is ok because I know that Heavenly Father will get us there. I'm just hoping and praying that it'll all work out. It is amazing to see the change in people as they read the Book of Mormon and pray to know of its truthfulness.  He has really struggled with many things but we just keep reminding him that Heavenly Father loves him and is always there for him no matter what. 

This past week we have worked so so hard but it was a very successful week for us.  We have four new investigators and I love them ALL.  I genuinely care about them and want to see miracles happen in their lives. Aside from all the training, tours, phone calls, and preparation, we were able to teach 22 lessons last week.  Before this week, I felt like I was not working as hard as I could be so I just decided to "forget myself and go to work!"  And guess what?  It worked!

I was able to attend the General Relief Society Meeting on Saturday. I hope that all the women I know were able to watch it and if you haven't, its never too late! Go on LDS.org!   The meeting was so special to me because I am always testifying of our Prophet, President Monson. I know that he is a true living prophet of God and I tell this to people everyday.

I have heard many people say that being in the presence of a prophet of God is powerful but on Saturday I was able to experience that first hand.  I always thought I wouldn't feel it because I'm such an airhead and I don't pay attention sometimes but I felt it and right then I knew stronger than ever that he was truly called by God. Seriously, as soon as he walked into the room it was like a warm feeling just instantly came over me.  Before he walked in I was being all hyper and weird just having fun with the other missionaries but then he walked into the room and it was like he brought this peace into the room with him and I just felt like I was wrapped up in a blanket! I don't even care if that sounds stupid Christie, it's true.

He spoke on prayer and the love that our Heavenly Father has for us and that was exactly what I needed to hear. Missions are SO hard. Only someone who served a mission can truly know how hard it really is. But his talk reminded me that prayer is truly the answer. Heavenly Father loves us so much. He said even if some of us don't deserve his love, we always have it. Remember the story of the Prodigal Son that I told you a couple of weeks ago?  Well that is how it is with Heavenly Father. 

I am so thankful that we have a prophet to guide us through our lives and who can answer our questions in just a matter of 10 minutes. I'm thankful that God sends us prophets. He obviously loves us so much to do that for us so that we have hope and that we know that we are never alone.

There are literally thousands upon thousands of people at Temple Square this week! To get ready for everything, we have had trainings and meetings all week. It hasn't been this huge thing like "How to Prepare for Anti's" or anything. The members of the church outnumber them by far so we're not too afraid! But you can tell conference is coming soon because a lot of people scream and curse at us as we walk down the street. I actually find it entertaining and I personally like all types of attention so I take it as a compliment and just keep going about my business.

I hope everyone watches conference this weekend. The prophets and apostles all pray separately about what they'll speak on and don't tell each other what they are going to talk about. Everything that they talk about is inspired by Heavenly Father and I have such a testimony of that. They can answer questions we have been struggling with and uplift us.  Even when I wasn't the most active member in the church, I was able to receive answers and guidance through general conference and now I am here! It just shows that God never ever forgets about us even if we really don't deserve his love at the time! We always always always have it!   

I see God work miracles every single day as he prompts me to speak to a person that I didn't even notice minutes earlier; or when he puts the right words in my mouth at the right moments; or when he literally turns me around and has me walk in a different direction so I will run into a person that he wants me to share his message with.  I have witnessed first hand that he is trying to come to each and every one of us- and he wants us to come to him.

So I am going to be the typical Temple Square Missionary right now that every member of the church seems to love- Not!   But if any of you have anyone you care about in mind that you feel can benefit from talking to the missionaries either on the phone or in person please let me know. I know its hard because I used to run from the visitors center sisters! I thought they were so creepy with the referrals they always tried to get but honestly it is hard and awkward and scary asking for referrals. If we didn't want to help out the people who truly could benefit from the gospel, we wouldn't ask. I used to think it would ruin my relationships with my friends but that's not something we should worry about at this time. What we should do is try to invite everyone to hear the gospel. The church is for absolutely everyone and I promise one day they will thank you for caring about them so much.

I have seen so many miracles just from member referrals. That's how most of the magic happens-because they have a friend for support. If members and missionaries keep coming together, oh my goodness, imagine how awesome it could be. If you ever have anyone in mind, just get my email from my mom and we'll start getting to work. I promise that sharing the gospel has never hurt anyone.

I hope to see people at conference! Who's coming? I just want to thank everyone who writes me and supports me through this mission. Writing letters is hard but I promise to write everyone back even if it takes a month.

I love you all and pray for all of you every day!

Love,  Sister Macy Park

 

 

Moments are the Molecules that make up Eternity

Hello Family!  It's been a great but busy week here at Temple Square.  There is lots of excitement and a little stress as we prepare for General Conference.

We have a conference prep meeting tomorrow in place of our district meeting.  I hope the members are ready.. It's going to be so fun. We're going to be very busy...I'm going to die I think.  Sister Weng is the District Leader and she decided to make up her own calling and she called me to be the District Leader's Assistant at the last transfer so she has kept me busy! The new sisters we have are doing great! It's awesome that we got such great sisters coming into the busiest weekend of our lives. Things are already going crazy. People are holding up crazy signs and shouting at us and everything. I feel like a New Yorker lately... its great!
 

We had Family Home Evening at a church member's home last Monday night. They fed us dinner and had Cold Stone Creamery brought in with tons of toppings for us. Their house was seriously a mansion and so beautiful. One of the church Missionary Psychologists came and did personality tests on us and told us our personality color. I found out that I have a peaceful personality so in other words I'm boring, haha.

This is a picture of us in front of a little girl's playhouse.

Her parents are the ones who had us over for FHE.

Finally, good food!  I got some groceries and made the best dinner! All I did was grill chicken and make mexican style veggies but it looked and tasted so good!  Everyone in my house wouldn't stop staring at my food but I was not about to share because I just got done fasting!

SHOUT OUT TO GRANDPA WELLMAN because my newest investigator is from SCOTLAND! Oh- and you're also Grounded! Anyway, I met this Scottish investigator through chat on mormon.org.  He had a Mormon friend that recently died and he went to the funeral.  He said the funeral was such a different and uplifting experience and he wanted to know why members of our church are able to have so much faith and hope even in times of sorrow.  From what he says it really seems like his friend prepared him to receive the gospel before he died.  It has been so fun to teach him and I can't wait until we talk again.

The other day in the Tabernacle a man asked me a question about the organ so I began telling him about it and took the opportunity to bridge the discussion to the topic of prophets; then I bridged that to the restoration.  The next thing I knew I taught him the entire lesson one, recited the first vision, and he was filling out a referral card! I didn't even know how it happened because usually it's not that easy. I just kept talking and then ten minutes later I had his info so I have another investigator from Kansas!

Sister Weng has to leave to go back to her Independence Missouri mission soon and I am very sad! After she leaves I will be in a trio for one week until the next transfer conference.  I never thought that living with a whole new culture would be so different but it really is. It's so cool though. I have learned so much from her. I can say that I am truly thankful that she is my companion for 12 weeks. She's not afraid to correct me even if its harsh. She's bold but she's also very loving. When I have a bad day she hugs me and says "Shou BouBou" It means Little Baby and its my nick name from all of the Asians. For some reason they all really like me and think I'm cute and they all want to keep me for a pet.

Sister Weng is very inspirational to me and all our investigators, especially our Chinese investigators. She was Buddhist and she had no idea about God and Christ and her story is just incredible. She was sent to two missions- Temple Square and Missouri, Independence- for a reason. When she speaks to people she can get away with being as bold as she wants and I admire her courage. She is great because she always gives me a lot of opportunities to speak during Chinese tours. She helps me build a relationship with them.

Mandarin is going very good! At first it was really hard to feel the spirit during those tours and I sometimes got frustrated because I wanted to know what was going on but I have really grown to love those people. Before coming here, they have no idea that we have a Savior.  So I jump on every opportunity to bear my testimony to them now because they are just so open to it and feel so much joy when they hear this message.  The other day we taught a group of men from China and after the tour we all sat down and they wanted to teach me Chinese! So they started having me write down all these sayings and it turns out they were teaching me how to say pick up lines. I told them "I can't use it on my mission!" and they said you will get so many Chinese boyfriends if you say this! One of the lines they wanted me to say was, " Ni hun shry, Wo shi hwan ne" which is "you are hansome, I like you." I had so much fun just sitting and chatting with them.

In this mission we have to face a lot of people that try to tear us down and weaken our testimony- but for us it only makes us stronger! Heavenly Father is really taking care of the Temple Square sisters! We're  able to shake things off and I already feel like I'm a stronger person. Dad used to tell me I need to thicken up my skin. Well, by the time I go home my skin is going to be pretty thick, Dad!  When people try to bring us down we just get stronger and thats how I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is there to help us every step of the way.

This week I was very busy with conference prep and I didn't have an overwhelming spiritual experience but I always knew that God was with me and was helping me out. He took a big risk sending me here to Temple Square. Some times I don't even know what he was thinking. It truly is a hard mission because people literally come to us wanting to know and searching for truth and light. It's a lot of pressure and I don't want to mess it up so I just do the best I can and keep moving
forward!

This mission is all about the little moments! We have such a small amount of time with people so we have to make the best of it. The gospel is for everyone so we take teaching it seriously. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity" So we must cherish the moments we have! Sometimes I know I seem exhausted but just know my mind is constantly going and going. I have soooo many people I worry about! He also said, "Faith in God includes faith in his timing." And that is another thing I have to remind myself of on this mission because sometimes we will have a great moment but nothing happens and it's discouraging.  But we are planting seeds and I know that God does things according to his own timing.

When I get down on myself I remember Grandma Wellman saying "You can do hard things" and it gives me that motivation to keep pushing on!

Oh I went to the temple this morning and it was such a good experience. I was able to get a question answered that I have been struggling with so I'm feeling pretty good today.


Grams! Thanks so much for your letter. You make me feel so good and I appreciate your support.

Gary, I never did get your letter! I am going to look around and see if it's still in the mission home somewhere!

Kendall, thanks for your letter! Stay away from all boys at college. Someone amazing will be there for you when you return home from your mission!

Mom, thanks for the coats and robe and warm stuff. It's starting to get cold!

I love all of the mission calls I'm hearing about. Kylie- I have to tell you some more things. Just wait ok?

Mom& Jeremy, Dad & Keli, Kendall, Jagger and Jersy- I love you!

Sister Park

The Lord is Hastening His Work



Sister Weng and I just before a Flagpole Tour

Hi Family! How is life? What’s new? I love you all so much! I miss everyone but not that much- no offense!
Last week was hard and this week has been hard too; but Joseph Smith said that the Lord will bring you down before he lifts you up so I'm just waiting…

With General Conference approaching, some very interesting individuals are starting to emerge around Temple Square.

A man who thinks he is a prophet came to the Square and told me my future. Apparently, I am going to work with children and then I'm going to drive a green car and get in a car accident that will do some major damage. It’s ok though, this is what conference season is all about.

People who do not agree with our church can get a permit to stand on the street between Temple Square and the Conference Center and say what they think as everyone walks by. Well the church has a permit too and they have church members and missionaries stand close to these people and peacefully sing hymns. So this past weekend a group of anti-mormons (very handsome ones I might add) decided to give us a taste of our medicine so while Sister Weng and I were giving a tour in the Tabernacle they came in and stood next to us and starting singing hymns at the top of their lungs to drown out what we were saying. They were also harassing our guests and passing out Anti-mormon literature. They don’t have a permit to do that within church facilities of course so we Sisters can ask them to leave. If they are a real threat, we call for security but these ones were just obnoxious so I stopped the tour, walked right up to them and told them they needed to leave immediately. I bet you can’t picture me doing that but I did! And they left! I was nice about it, don’t worry!

This week was awesome because we were able to meet and teach a lot of people from Israel. A few of them were from Jerusalem. We obviously don’t have missionaries in Israel but they seemed very interested in what we were teaching and they were seriously some of the nicest people I have ever met. They were fascinated with the stories about Joseph Smith and even took a referral card. The Lord is preparing every nation! Missionary work is growing rapidly, it’s insane.

In the MTC we had the opportunity to talk to members of the church and try to get them to give us referrals. It was kind of like practice for Temple Square. One day a member of church came and told me and Sister Esquivel that she hates Visitor Center missionaries because of their “stupid referral cards”. But Sister Esquivel and I talked to her for a little while and she actually decided to give us her friend’s contact information. So once I got here to Temple Square I called her friend and since I was so new it was terrible! Partly because I had no idea what I was doing and partly because I'm shy sometimes. I talked to her a couple of times but it went nowhere and eventually she just wasn't interested. So anyways, lately I have had her on my mind A LOT and have been prompted to call her again. I have been too scared to call because I felt like I messed it up but I decided to pray because the thought would not leave my mind. My prayer was answered and I knew I had to call her. So I called her today- just about 30 minutes ago. She answered the phone and was so happy to hear from me. She told me that she has been trying to get a hold of me for a few weeks because she missed talking to me and wanted to hear more about what I had to say! (My number changed with transfers so everything got confusing and changed). Nothing life-changing has happened yet but she never left my mind and I am so glad I was able to talk to her again. She even requested a Book of Mormon from another missionary when she couldn’t find me.

Listening to the spirit has also helped me to become more comfortable with teaching and making myself clear. I have definitely improved from where I was at in July and August.

I would also like to say one thing. I am a missionary at the church headquarters and I meet 1000's of people weekly so I just hope that all members will get involved in missionary work as well. In case it hasn't occurred to anyone… God is hastening is work and it is important that we are never hesitant to share the gospel with the people we love. I mean we are all God's children here.

Mom, I sent referral cards to you a while ago so start working on it! And Kendall better get cracking as well!

Everyone knows that the missionary age change was one of God’s ways of hastening his work on the Earth but there is so much more! Crazy things are going on in the church right now- good things! I can’t say much but it is great! We all need to get involved!

On Friday we took a group of people on a tour that started off kind of rude and argumentative and I wasn’t sure they were here for the right reasons. At the end of the tour I was prompted to share my testimony about the Pioneers and Book of Mormon. And wow, what a change! Four out of the twelve of them were crying and said they really felt something special. Heavenly Father really is preparing everyone.

Sister Park

Ni Hau, Jia-ren! (Hello Family)

This has been a very busy week and today is a very busy day so this entry will be short and sweet!  Sister Weng hates going to the store so I haven't been grocery shopping in three weeks- and I have literally been living off of peanut butter mixed with jelly for my meals! Don’t worry though- I change the jelly up with honey sometimes!  Oh, and I can’t forget the really weird Asian fish that is compressed and shaped as meat balls that my Asian roomies force me to eat. I gag.  Every time. They laugh.  Every time. It’s so gross.  I am going to be rushed this time because if I hurry I can catch a ride to the grocery store with a group of sisters and they are leaving soon!  Wal-Mart, here I come!  Sorry, no pictures this week.  The batteries in my camera died and I haven't been to the store! I will get some today though.

Twenty-five new sisters came and I can't believe I'm not the new girl anymore! I'm in my second transfer and it all is just going by so fast. Sister Weng is still my companion and we are still teaching in Mandarin sometimes.  We are still right in the Square too which I love.  We still live in the same house! We have two new roommates-Sister Vargas from Spain- I met her on facebook before my mission. Remember? And Sister Lee (Mandarin-speaking) from California. We have SO much fun together.  Things have really slowed down quite a bit in the last week since everyone is back to school so we have gotten a little break but starting next week we will begin preparation for General Conference and then things will get crazy again!

A of couple days ago the square was flooded with people wearing orange because of the UT and BYU game. So we gave some Texas fans a tour of Temple Square and I told them that Brian Harsin was my uncle. They just went crazy and said they need him back. They kept saying "Does Brian get to hang out in the temple?" or "What are holidays like with Brian?"  It was so much fun because they were so excited.

By the way (haha), John Bytheway came and spoke to us for transfers last Tuesday.  He spoke about the three parables in Luke 15… the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and the prodigal son.
 

Each week I choose a Christ-like attribute that I need to work on.  This past week I chose Hope. We can't have faith if we don't hope first.

I was randomly reading in Romans and in Chapter 8, verses 24-28 it says,

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

After reading these verses it really stood out to me that Heavenly Father will help us but we must have hope for these things and not let little things get in the way or discourage us. Going on a mission was never in my plans; but I had a strong feeling that I needed to go and I know that I must have Hope and Faith that everything will be ok no matter how hard it is. This past week I have been looking back on life before my mission and I wonder why or how I got here. Not that being here is bad but I felt like things before my mission were fine just the way they were.  This mission is hardest thing I have ever done in my life but I am so happy that I chose this path; even with all the struggles, just having Hope makes it all better.

When I first got my mission call I was disappointed because I thought this call meant I wasn't going to be a good missionary and I couldn't actually help people but I thought completely wrong! They send tough girls to Temple Square and I know it sounds like I’m bragging but I don't care. Sometimes we have only 30 seconds or a minute to bear testimony to people who stop by for a tour and then we never know what happens after that. Sometimes we gain this strong connection with people in just an hour-long tour and we don't know what happens next in their lives so we have to have complete trust in Heavenly Father.

I love this mission but lately I do question why I was called here.  Then the other day, I got a free haircut from one of the senior missionaries and she told me a cool story. She said there was a sister missionary here about a year ago and when she received her call to Temple Square she cried and cried because she did not want to serve at Temple Square.  I can relate because sometimes I wonder if I am not capable of converting people and if that is why I was sent here.  But this sister missionary told a story about an experience she had in the MTC.  They were having a big MTC devotional or something and they had one of the elders who was a convert stand up and tell his conversion story. He talked about how he and his parents went to Temple Square as tourists and took a tour given by two sister missionaries. They had a good time and the sister missionaries were very sweet but he and his family didn’t want to be referred to missionaries.  However, throughout the rest of the trip they kept saying how they felt something different, something very special at Temple Square. So they ended up finding local missionaries on their own and joined the church about a month later. The two sister missionaries have no idea that the family was baptized because of the tour!  I just thought it was really cool because it reminded me of how important it is to have Hope that things will work out. Sister Weng and I have been giving awesome tour and not very many refer but that is why we really have to trust that Heavenly Father will continue to prepare them and put them in the right places.

Elder Bednar gave a talk and he said that sometimes when you’re doing something good but have no idea what you’re doing or why- that’s the spirit guiding you. Sometimes you don't even remember doing or saying it! Well, yesterday we took some amazing Jewish people on a tour. It was really good and they were really receptive and nice. We invited them to learn more and they didn't say anything so I did something that is not typical when our investigators show no interest.  I grabbed the Living Christ paper and a referral card and gave it to them.  I didn't even realize I was doing it until Sister Weng asked me why I did it at the end of the tour and I didn’t even know.  Then it came to me that this was one of those experiences Elder Bednar was talking about- it was the spirit guiding me.

Kendall, during this time you are experiencing a lot of new things and changes but I promise everything will be ok! Read Matthew 11:28-30. It has helped me through my hard times on my mission as I have been experiencing new things.

Hello John Family! Sorry that I missed you! Mom, thanks so much for the CD’s, Mio drink mix, the letters, and everything! Oh, and thanks for offering to get me and Sister Weng pedicures but she doesn't believe in pedicures or manicures. True story. I painted her nails and she took it off.

Wo ai ni dou! (I love you all!)

 Nin,

 Shu Park

Ni Hau!

Hola! Ni Hau! (China) Talofa! (Somoa) Mabuhi! (Phillipines) Hi! Hello!  How is AZ? How is Florida? How is the rest of the country besides Utah? Temple Square is amazing as ever and the spirit has just been stronger than ever! We're meeting some awesome people! I love when I meet people from my home state of AZ! I just want to grab them and say I love you!  I love it here but I'm not so sure I understand Utah's weather. One minute its cold and rainy and the next its hot and sunny. Its messing with my flow...

Sister Weng is very sick this week and we have been at home a lot so there isn't as much to report but it was still a great week!
 

So I had an AMAZING experience last Friday evening. It was the first time I went through the SLC Temple. It is so amazing. I didn't stop smiling, not once. Sister Weng had to keep getting my attention because I could not stop staring at the ceiling.  Everything was so beautiful and I was just going crazy with happiness because you know my obsession with chandeliers and good architecture. So we went as a district and we just had a good time. We are the fortunate district because we have a senior couple in ours. Elder and Sister Frost! They take such good care of us. They are like my missionary grandparents. They are so sweet. Their smiles make me happy and I know if I'm ever sad I can go to them. After the temple we went over to their place and they made us pizza and ice cream. By the way, PRAYERS WORK! I'm gluten and lactose intolerant but I said a prayer that I wouldn't get sick and I never got sick! NOT ONCE.. We also made them tell us their love story! SO CUTE! I love love!
 

This morning we got to go through the Bountiful Temple and its probably my favorite celestial room. The sealing rooms were the prettiest ones I have ever seen so far too.  I only saw two small ones in SLC. I seriously want people to go to the Bountiful Temple. I love it SO SO SO much. I just about died. Its so peaceful and simply beautiful. It was amazing. After that we went to In and Out with Sister Opeda (VEGAS), Sister Yu (TAIWAN), Sister Kennach (AMERICAN SAMOA), and Sister Sneider (LATVIA). We've had a really good past two weeks. General Authorities.. Temples.. In n Out. (Except I have to eat the lettuce wrapped burger).

 

JEREMY- I eat Asian food all the time. I eat so much fish that I don't even like but the Asian sisters stare at me until I eat it so you're welcome! BUT I LOVE SEAWEED! And I love Korean BBQ Pork... I so recommend it to the world.
 

Monday was our last district meeting because we have transfers on Wednesday. I'm having a really hard time about not being in the same district anymore even though I'll still see everyone. I guess I just have separation anxiety- I know its weird. Whenever I get close to people I'm always taken away from them!!!!!!! I better still be companions with Sister Weng next transfer!

We have grown so close. We are like sisters. We talk, laugh, and argue like sisters. It's so fun. She always punches me though, haha! Tonight we are going out with Sister Walsh (ENGLAND), Sister Lee (UTAH), Sister Kim (KOREA), and Sister He (TAIWAN).  We are going out to celebrate because Sister Walsh is going outbound and Sisters Kim and He are going home so we are eating Vietnamese food- whatever that is. Hey Grandpa Wellman! You might know what it tastes like! By the way, you're Grounded! We find out where the outbound sisters are going on Sunday and I hope that Sister Walsh goes to Arkansas because I want her to marry Rulon. She's so cute and loves southern accents. She always wants the Americans to teach her how to say "Howdy".

 

I guess its time to talk about work. This mission is hard because I don't really get to see the fruits of my labors. We work very hard and we really have to get out of our comfort zones but half of the time I don't even know what happened with the people I taught or talked to.

 

I love it though because I get to interact with people all day and I love people. I love people SO much that I want to share something with them that I love even more- and that is the gospel, the knowledge of the atonement and God's love for us!

 

The hardest part is not always knowing what happened with the people I talked to.  I have been really working on trusting Heavenly Father. I need to trust him and his timing. I always have to remind myself that he doesn't give us just one chance to accept the gospel. He loves his children and he wants every single one of them to return to him. So I tell myself everyday when something doesn't turn out the way I think it should, "That is his kid! He loves him, he'll give him other opportunities!" Sometimes its hard to get it through my head but it is true! I know it's true just by looking back to where I was a few months ago and to where I am at now. He helped me out so much and I have really felt his hand in my life. He didn't give me just one chance, he kept working on me and putting me in different places until I got here to Temple Square. He's still working on me! He doesn't ever quit on us even when we think he has- but we have to do our part too!

I have a new FAVORITE scripture that my zone leader showed me during a heart to heart talk when we went on exchanges.  It's Alma 26:17 and it says, "Who could have supposed that our God has been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, polluted state?" I just love when it says snatched. Not everyone is sinful or polluted but sometimes we are not exactly where we need to be and this scripture reminds me of how much Heavenly Father loves me and that he truly does want me to succeed on my mission. He helped me push through to get here and I wasn't alone- not one time! He does not want us to suffer. He continues to give these chances and opportunities so that we can grow closer to him and I love him so much for it!  I love that he has this plan for us and that he gives us agency but he loves us so much that he gave us the Savior to atone for our sins and help us though our trials.
 

I love the atonement. I love having a Heavenly Father who never leaves us and continues to help us. We are so blessed! I love that God loves us so much that he gave us families to help us through the hard times and to laugh with us. I'm so spiritually high after going to the temple twice in a week so sorry if I'm being cheesy- but I'm serious!
 

I'm just happy I am here. Every little experience and moment of my life before now helped me prepare to be here whether it was good or bad. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father never forgets about us. I have been guilty of feeling that way but reading that scripture proved me wrong and I'm so happy. I just want to say thanks for always loving and supporting me.

 

So in the MTC we are required to memorize the first vision. I've shared the first vision a couple of times with investigators and the spirit was strong because the first vision was such a powerful experience it is hard to deny when the story is being told truthfully and by the spirit.  They are just extremely powerful words. So we were teaching this man the restoration over the phone the other day and I started to recite the first vision to him and my mind went completely blank after the first sentence! I just forgot everything even though I have it memorized and have said it so many times. Sister Weng knew what was going on and immediately began feeding the words to my ear because they were not there. I just stared and smiled because I had no clue what to do or why I couldn't remember. So eventually we got it over with and the guy I was teaching was a golden contact and asked for the missionaries to come visit him but still I knew I did a terrible job. I am very hard on myself. It drives Sister Weng crazy but I am just extremely hard on myself when I make a mistake. I have to work on it. Then she said, "Do you know why that happened?" and I said its because I'm stupid. She said, "It's because what you were teaching is true." Apparently the same thing happened to her when she was in Missouri.  She went on to say, "Those words are so powerful that Satan will do whatever he can do to stop us from saying them. Those words are probably some of the most powerful words a person can hear and they have changed lives."  I didn't really have a testimony of Joseph Smith until that point. I am happy I had that experience because Sister Weng is so right! Those words are so true!

 

I have a new investigator in North Carolina!  We have spoken on the phone quite a bit and I care so much about him.  He is an older man and he is recently divorced.  He is also recently unemployed and has been searching for a job. He has had a very hard life. I just want to do what I can to help him and take care of him.  We prayed together on the phone yesterday (he said the prayer this time) and he said "God, I have to add one thing! Thanks for sending Macy to me!" It was so cute and it made my whole mission worthwhile!  He thinks that I am the one helping him but he has no idea how much he has helped my own testimony grow just from our conversations.  I hope things get better for him soon.  I love my investigators so much and want them to be happy!

 

I just want to say how truly grateful I am for all of you!  I can't even begin to express how much your support and letters truly help me.  You guys always seem to know exactly what to say and your words always help me so much.  Even the twin's letters!  I am so happy to call you my family and that I have the knowledge that I can be with all of you for eternity.  Families are essential to God's plan!

 

My favorite thing to do at Temple Square is work with families and teach them.  Families are our proof of Heavenly Father's love for us.  I just feel like he must really love me a lot because of all the supportive family I have.  I am a stronger missionary because I have you for a family and because of my great parents.  I know what love at home truly is!  I can't wait to follow your examples and center my own home around Christ one day.  I am so blessed because I have parents and grandparents who have lived according to the family proclamation!  I know how to testify of this to other people because of your examples.

 

I just want to say how happy I am that you never gave up on me when I was deciding whether or not to serve this mission. Thanks for always encouraging me!  I know I will be an awesome mother because of my mission but mostly because of your examples.  I wish I did a better job of expressing my love for all of you before I left but I hope you know that I pray for each of you several times a day!

 

I miss my sisters and brother.  Thank you so much for giving me so many siblings! They are truly the best gift you could have given me!  Better than anything any amount of money could buy!  I love them so much that I can't wait to see them again.  But I love them enough that I will wait..... about 16 months! 

 

Love you all forever and one million times a thousand tulips! 

 

-Sister Macy Park

 

P.S. THEY ARE PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. WOOO! I WAS SO EXCITED THAT I SCARED THE GUY ON THE LADDER PUTTING THEM UP. Oops! Ok Bye! Love all of you!

The BEST Week Ever!

Sister Ying, Sister Cueves, Sister Park, Sister Esquival, Sister Snow

Hello Everyone! How are you all doing?  Good I hope because I had a great week!



The spirit of God is so strong here, it is amazing how much people are touched just by being here. Sister Weng and I have had a really good week and we feel like we are on FIRE! We have met some amazing people and we've been getting a lot of referrals.  Last night we took two older couples around the Square.  One of the couples was Roman Catholic and the other couple was Protestant. During and after the tour they kept telling us how amazing everything was and they all said they felt God's spirit so strong that they want to take the lessons.  All of our tours have just been so great this week.  One of my most favorite experiences was when I got to teach a couple how to pray the other night.  They loved Temple Square and just wanted to know how to pray because they never had.  It was one of the coolest things ever!  Sister Weng and I feel so good because we met so many great people and have so many that we can call and teach now.

 

I'm going to the Salt Lake City Temple tonight for the first time! And then next week we get to go to the Bountiful Temple.  I feel so blessed!

 

On Tuesday we went and visited the Relief Society Building and for anyone who has not been in there I strongly recommend it because women are wonderful! One of the senior missionaries took me into a room and told me that in 1945 they wanted to build that building so they asked every woman in the church to donate money and they kept records of all the names. I didn't have much time to look but I saw that Dora Maxwell Slade donated 5 dollars! I will go back and look for other names when I have time. 

 

Speaking of Relief Society, we had our weekly meeting yesterday and Sister Liz Rose from the General Relief Society Board spoke to us.  She was so sweet and I LOVED her lesson!

 

OK......................... ON TUESDAY...... My poor husband.... Our wedding will not compare to this day. JEFFERY R. HOLLAND spoke to us! He talked about how important missionary work is. Everyone needs to do it! He also said that his mission affected him more than it affected any other person on the planet and if any man says otherwise he'll fight him. It was such a good experience. You could feel the spirit in the room SO STRONG as soon as he walked in. He talked about how the only convert that really truly matters in our mission is us. So we need to continue to be a missionary for life and to stay so active in the church.  He told us he was sorry because he had to leave the meeting early because he had a meeting with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve and he felt so bad that he couldn't stay and talk to us and shake our hands but he promised to come back in a few days to spend some time with us and shake all of our hands.  He was really stressing to all of us about how the last days are here. When he speaks you can feel the truthfulness of his words.  

 

I just have to give a special shout-out to our security guards here at Temple Square.  They always go out and watch us walk to work every morning to make sure we get there ok and they watch us walk home every night to be sure we are safe.  Thanks security!  Yesterday I gave one of them a popsicle because he is so nice!

I don't know if you heard anything on the news.. I know it was on the news in Utah because one of my investigators texted me to make sure I was still alive! But we had a little hazard yesterday at the South Visitors Center. We were down there studying and all of a sudden there was a very bad smell and smoke was coming out of the building! So we were all evacuated and most of Temple Square was blocked off. Come to find out, the custodian accidentally mixed some wrong chemicals together which is dangerous and could cause us to have serious illnesses if we breathed it in too long. They had all of us sisters who were inside the South Visitors Center go across the street so the firefighters could examine us. I was fine of course and all of the sisters were fine.  Everything was crazy for a while- there were helicopters, fire trucks, cops, news crews. I felt famous like Britney Spears.

We have transfers soon so I'll be getting a new companion in about a week and half. I'm sad because I love Sister Weng and I love my house. I don't want to move yet!

Sister Weng looks sad in this picture because we just came from the doctor because she has a sore of some type on her foot (sorry Sister Weng) It needs to be removed and these are hard to treat so the doctor is doing a slower treatment so she won't have to limp.

As Temple Square Missionaries we spend a lot of time working with less active members. It is so important that we remind them about the reasons they were baptized and the blessings that they can receive in the Temple. Just because we are baptized doesn't mean we are automatically saved.. so I invite all of you to start focusing on why you are here. Take a look around you. Look at your family, house, kids, etc.. you would not have any of that if it wasn't for our sweet Father in Heaven.

One thing I realize I need to work on is being a more consecrated member of the church. As members I think we can take our membership in this church for granted. Baptism is so important! We made such big promises to the Lord. Blessings of the temple are SO important. I just think about before my mission when I didn't feel this way yet.  I feel so happy now and I love the constant peace that I feel.

I LOVE that Heavenly Father loves us so much that he provided families for us. He provided temples so we can be with our families for eternity. I just love working with the less active members because it is so rewarding to see them being reminded of why they are here and what they need to do to live with Heavenly Father again. I love seeing the smiles on their faces because they are reminded of what true happiness is that God and the Savior really do love them!

I am so grateful for the Atonement. I make mistakes- we all do- but the Atonement makes me want to be better. We are so blessed to have it! We are so blessed to be able to repent and be forgiven! We are so blessed that God loves us so much that he gave us families to help us through this Earth life.!
 
How is life going for all of you? Happy Birthday to my girl Kendall! Also, happy birthday to Aunt Kelly, Rulon, and Ryan- Love my August babies! And next month, Happy Birthday to Clayton, Courtney, Christina, and last but never least- Grandpa Wellman! Ryan, you're 16 now! I just want to squeeze you baby boy! No kissing the girls!

Well, Thanks so much to everyone who has written me letters in the past week. Thanks Aunt Rita for all the updates! I am so happy that Kylie is serving a mission but she doesn't belong in Hawaii she belongs at Temple Square! We need more bubbly sisters that are weird here. I have been praying that her, Kendall, and Kale Hamblin will be called here. So hopefully my prayers get answered.

Grandma! Your letters always make me cry! I miss you and grandpa everyday. I want to go over to your house. I think it is great that you are hosting missionaries. I know I loved living there and they'll feel right at home.

Grandma Slade! Thanks so much for the card and the book mark! I love it so much! I have an obsession with book marks because my beautiful mother always dog-eared the pages in our books and it made it look ugly so I LOVE book marks!

JAMIE IS PREGOOOOOO!!!! It better be a girl or I'll come home from my mission in agony... just kidding, but seriously.

My best friend is getting married today! I LOVE THE PICTURES you sent me Sterling! What a beautiful day this is!

CONGRATS TO ZACH and KAYLIE! Woooooo!

 

I love you all so much! 

 

Sister Macy Park

 

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