And the miracles just don't stop coming

The cake her companions made her for her Sweet 16 (months)

I can honestly say that Friday was the best day I have had here in Bolivia and that Presidente Rodriguez is the best. I`ll tell you why later.

We were doing a little daily contact with Jorge Z. and his 6 year old daughter because he wanted to tell us about what he read in the Book of Mormon and the Bible. He said, ¨So I was reading in my Bible and there`s a part that talks about Christ`s other sheep.¨ We flipped open to John 10:16 and he said, ¨So that refers to us right? And that`s why we have the Book of Mormon. I think that Christ really loved these people and so that`s why after His resurrection He came here and established His church.¨ By this point, Hna Cayambe and I were just speechless. We gave him the Book of Mormon 2 weeks ago and he understands it better than I did when I came on the mission. We are literally just the instruments in God`s hands in these people`s lives. This is why I LOVE being a missionary. I have seen the conversions of so many loved ones. And can`t wait to see more.

We had a lesson with Teresa A. who had completely shut herself out of the gospel for the comment on her son of color. (being on the other side now and being one of the few whites I get many comments, but I love the skin I`m in.) But we were able to have a powerful lesson on the temple and that she needs to make some plans and goals to get there. We`re being the tools so the Spirit can creep into her heart, little by little.

We had a wonderful conference with Presidente on the Holy Ghost. One thing I LOVED was when he said that when we receive a prompting and we`re not sure if it`s from the Holy Ghost or we made it up, if it`s good - DO IT. We`ll receive the blessings just by being our own agents and acting and not being acted upon. Then one sweet Hermana shared an experience about trusting in the Lord and waiting for the family they went to bring to church and waiting and waiting and they finally left. She said, ¨and this family is getting baptized this weekend.¨ My heart sank and I mouthed across the room ¨WHO??¨ Because these are the Trompillo hermanas. My wonderful area where I was from January to July. Long story short, Hermana Alvarez and I got permission to go to a double baptism and see our 7 investigators enter into a convenant with God. We crashed a baptism in Trompillo Friday night of The Familia D.: Eduardo finally stopped drinking, and him and Betty got married, and their other 2 children Leo and Diana all got baptized. If that didnt make us cry enough, the family that made me cry the most when I got transfers got baptized too. Maria Lenny and her daughter Laura and son Pablo. We got there early and when they all showed up everyone was crying. Happy tears. We worked hard. Gave our all. The hermanas that are there now too.  And the Lord is incredible and converted them. Some plant the seed and others harvest it. But we can all enjoy the fruits of the harvest.

The Church is incredibly true. I love that this black nametag gives me a front row seat to the conversion of these precious children of God. My brothers and sisters. And oh do I love them. Go watch conference with questions and I promise the Lord will answer them, like He answered mine Saturday night in the women`s session. Especially when the cute Utah girl choir didnt know that they were singing the favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation, of a missionary in Bolivia. I`ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Hermana Park

Ana Maria and the 4th missionary

Ana Maria is the cutest! Oswaldo baptized her! He`s leaving to Panama for his mission next week!

 After the baptism, the ward had a huge Bolivian party and they all wanted to take pics of us with the food and flags and interesting objects to mash up yuka! 

And the activity with the Elders was a hit and we all got matching shirts!​

This week was wondeful! Ana Maria got baptized and everyone just loves her. Through the curtains in the font we all heard, ¨ahh! the water is so cold! Can we reschedule this for during the day?¨ She has had her own beauty salon for more than 30 years, so I`m putting my trust in her and letting her TRIM my hair in an hour! But she was prepared to be baptized. She is currently in 2nd Nephi 2 and reads the Book of Mormon whenever she has free time. Yesterday when the ward gave her a the sign of fellowship and welcome to the ward in Sacrament Meeting she waved and yelled "thanks!" We love her so much.

One of our investigators, Isabel, gave us cute white shirts and told us we are her best friends. She wants to be baptized, but something happens every Sunday and she can't come to church. With the R. Family yesterday, who are the BEST but have the really complicated situation of the wife being married to another man. We went with Belen (19) and her cousin Joselyn (20) who came to church for the 2nd time yesterday because she went inactive right after she got baptized when she was 10. They helped the family more than we culd have imagined when Belen started talking about how she didnt know where she`d be without having had the gospel her whole life and Joselyn said that she messed up by distancing herself from the church. It was a powerful lesson and the family, Nelson, Francis, Nagely, and Lucero all committed to come to church and the Meet the Mormons activity we`re having Friday!

If you have the chance to get a hold of the talk "The 4th Missionary," read it. I read it again this week and noticed that these almost 15 months (eek) I have been holding just a tiny part of me back and not giving my ALL to the Lord. His will is higher than my will and His plan will be infinitely better than mine. I feel a peace that I have never felt before. I want to challenge everyone to give just a bit more to Him this week. Go the extra mile because Heavenly Father has entrusted each one of us opportunities to do so. He can count on me and I wont let Him down again.

Hermana Park

LOS OLIVOS!

I dont like packing

 Last night with the hnas in Trompillo with giant hamburgers that I could only eat 1/4 of! (featuring my overflowing suitcase)

Jesus' baptism (with Hermana Alvarez and her new companion, Hna. Quackenbush)

Hermana Undurraga!

The call came Tuesday and I packed up my 4 transfers of Trompillo, with a few tears, and came to Los Olivos! My companion is Hermana Undurraga from Ecuador. She is extremely adorable and never stops smiling. I already love her! We have been able to find a lot of new families to teach! We live here in a big condo, 6 of us hermanas! The Elders lived here before and so all the door handles are broken and I got locked in the bathroom twice.

Jesus got baptized in Trompillo!

A sweet older lady who is a hair dresser named Ana Maria is preparing to be baptized on August 6th! And a family where only the father from Korea isn't a member was very surprised to know my last name. So we`re hoping that "Park,"  a common name in Korea apparently, can get us in the door with him!

My companion helps me know Christ more just by knowing her.

We are working harder than ever before.

I really love these dirt roads of Los Olivos.

Hna Park

Then we were excited for him! I´m talking boys basketball, we´re down by 2 in double overtime and we make a 3 excited.

We really, but I mean REALLY love empanadas con queso with powdered sugar on top

The sun came out, I took off my tights, yay for a sunny day in Santa Cruz! :)

Tuesday night at 9:30 we got a call that the next morning we would have our last conference with Presidente and Hermana Willard at 9 am! The conference turned into surprise final interviews with Presidente where he called us out of the conference by companionships. One part of what he said was, ¨You know, Hermana Park, little Emily Jr. is watching you right now and she is so proud of you.¨  

We were visiting a family and they said that they were happy about the outcome of the Bolivia vs Chile soccer game…because even though we lost, 2-1, we scored a goal! I love that outlook they have. Things might not work out the way we had hoped, but Heavenly Father does not cease to bless us. 

Yesterday in church, Betty, Leo, and Diana, Sofia, Beatriz, and Leonardo all came! We were a just a little happy to see them all there... In Gospel Principles, Manuel was teaching about the things we need to do to enter into the Celestial Kingdom, and Leonardo was answering every question and commenting like he had been a member his whole life. After the class, Manuel pulled us and him aside and told Leonardo, ¨You are really special Leonardo and I want to baptize you this month. Hermanas what day?¨ I said the 25th and Leonardo said he didn´t feel ready yet. Manuel reassured him by saying that he will keep receiving the lessons from us and keep learning, but will be ready by this day to enter into a convenant with God and Leonardo accepted by saying, ¨Okay! It´s a commitment!¨ We also gave him a Book of Mormon to read and he smiled and said, ¨Wow, really! It´s for me??¨ I have never seen someone so excited. Then we were excited for him! I´m talking boys basketball, we´re down by 2 in double overtime and we make a 3 excited. The Church is incredible. 

Everyone else is coming along as well! :) 

Happy birthday Adam, and happy Father´s Day to all this weekend! 

I love you all and hope with all my heart that everyone enjoys the sun as much as I am right now. The Church is true and I have never been more excited to be serving the Lord in Bolivia!!

Love, 

Hermana Park

PS Elder Owen from Marisa´s ward in Arkansas is now in my zone! 

Sorry there´s just one picture! We´ve been a little busy preaching the gospel ;)

TRANSFERS AND MARCELO

Ciao Hermana Orozco! (at 5 am!)

Hermana Alvarez!

Marcelo´s baptism! Still haven´t figured out why NO ONE SMILES. This Marcelo is on the left. With the Cesari family that got baptized 5 months ago and helped fellowship Marcelo. Henry was SO EXCITED to baptize him and only had to redo it 3 times! Since the ward mission leader wasn´t there, there was a confusion about the baptismal clothing that was in the church, so they ended up wearing the dresses and it took ALL that I had in me to keep my cool and not laugh too hard. 

Henry and Mariela´s cute daughter Eduana!

our last morning of workouts together in the park!

blurry hipster pic from the micro

these trees are everywhere! So pretty!

pizza last Monday!

We had transfers! My Colombiana Hermana Orozco was transferred to Tarija! And my lovely Colombiana 2 came from Tarija! Hermana Alvarez is from Medellin! She is cute, 24, a convert, and has 6 months in the mission! 

I remember one time in my mission prep class in my YSA ward, our teacher told us that missions are hard and I thought, ¨psha! what Debbie Downer! The mission will be fun and I won´t have a care in the world!¨ But when Hermana Orozco left, I had to get everything ready for Marcelo´s baptism alone and felt like I was drowning! haha Wednesday the ward mission leader called and said he wouldn´t be there, our member fell through so we couldn´t visit Marcelo, every appointment fell through, just everything that could happen, happened and I felt awful! I prayed SO HARD! ¨Pleeeeassssseeeeeee let everything work out because he´s ready!¨ And somehow, everything just kind of fell together.

The baptism went swimmingly. Henry, recent convert of 5 months, was chosen to baptize him! He said he didnt know if he should laugh or cry or dance. He´s a little soccer player, so 3rd time´s the charm to get Marcelo completely under the water! But I learned that Heavenly Father knows me, loves me, and won´t let me fail. The church is true. We have the fulness of the gospel. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and this is His work. I am proud to be a part of it.

Love,

Hermana Park

#HALLELUJAH FOR NEW LIFE

With Hermana Huber!

Gardenia´s baptism!

 I was a little more than excited to eat KFC

From our zone activity last week when we ate KFC and ice cream! :)

Welcome back eastern time zone. Happy Bolivian Father´s Day this Saturday the 19th. I am done counting how many months I´ve been in the mission because it makes me nauseous. 

This week Gardenia got baptized! It´s sure handy that her boyfriend got baptized in July! ¨But if you dont get baptized, we arent getting married.¨ haha but dont worry! We checked that she has real intent! haha She´s cute. This same day I had to play the piano for the Stake Relief Society bday party and by heaven's grace I got to play Called to Serve! haha

One fun part of the mission are transfers! We didn´t have any, but my Hermana McDonald is in Tabladita now and she gave me an update that my drunk, but harmless, friend Dumbo, real name Pedro Leon, hasn´t drunk for 2 weeks and he wants to come to church. He can have new life through Christ! Just like we all can! Christ died so we might be. But the good news is that HE LIVES. I am so grateful to know that He died for me. and for you. Because He loves us :)

Watch here to find out how you and all those whom you have loved, can have new life throught Christ. Have a wonderful week! I love you all!

One more day!!

Baptism of Yolanda and Antonio!

What a blessing it is to have an extra day here in beautiful, sunny Santa Cruz! We had an exciting week. It gets even better than seeing a giant rat jump out of the kitchen window of a third story apartment onto the neighbor's roof or when we showed up at the house of a family that got baptized in November after receiving a referral of his brother and the family invited us in and fed us, even though they have hardly anything. They dont give because they have not, but when they have, they give.

The exciting part was the baptism of Yolanda and Antonio! They are SO cute and SO happy to be members. Their baptism was a little delayed because our ward mission leader was going to baptize them, but couldn´t find his white pants! So an hour later we finally got things going! Our pensionista Magui made them a cake, (it looked really good...Stake Conference this week, so fast Sunday yesterday.) Everyone was happy. Yolanda swallowed some water and called me "Hermana Choca," which is said to be a little more offensive than Gringa. But I dont take offense! haha

Yolanda let her granddaughter dye her hair and doesn´t have a mirror, so this was the first time she saw her hair is red. And her son Antonio was very excited to make new friends in priesthood! BUT they almost didn´t get the Holy Ghost yesterday because it was raining. HARD. Which is a sign for everyone to not come to church. So we went to their house at 7:30. Soaking. And helped them get everything ready to come. They were ready at 8:30, church starts at 8, so we were trying to flag down a taxi, but they wanted to overcharge us, so we waited some more. Then a member drove past with her daughter and only had room for 2! So we sent off Yolanda and Antonio, and they are confirmed members of La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días. YAY! The church is true!

We have an extra day of life today and my hope is that everyone takes this day to serve someone, share the gospel, smile at someone. Go the extra mile to make this the best February 29th to remember for the next 4 years! You are all wonderful.

With love,

Hermana Park

SANTA CRUZ

From the last activity in Tarija last Monday where we celebrated Hermana Trimble's birthday!

BYE Hermana Petroff! 

HELLO Hermana Orozco! (dont be fooled, there is another huge suitcase behind the other one!)

We got a call from the zone leaders Tuesday morning that said "hey hermanas. Just wanted to tell you that Hermana Park needs to start packing and we'll call you tonight to tell you where she goes." What a lovely call. haha I tried to work my very hardest on my last day in Tabladita and in Tarija! We celebrated by eating a whole Greek pizza Tuesday night. Then Wednesday morning every hermana from the USA that I came with and I flew to Santa Cruz! It was a teary goodbye in the airport, but they gave us a muffin and dried fruit on the plane, so it's okay. (And Raqual got baptized on Saturday and her husband, Mateo got to baptize her!)

The zone leaders said "Hermana Park, you are going to the zone Cañoto. Your area is TROMPILLO." otherwise known as Hermana Petroff's only other area! the first thing I said was"Are you kidding me?" Because when we came to Santa Cruz for training 3 times, we stayed in Trompillo, I have eaten with the pensionista, I knew some of the members, and best yet, I had gone on splits with my companion! The sweet, crazy Hermana Orozco from Columbia. She told me "I have 4 months in the mission. I am so glad to have been put with an antigua" or ancient. hahaha who knew 8 months makes you ancient.

But I really do love Trompillo. I dont know how many people came up to me in church yesterday to tell me welcome to Trompillo!! And how happy they were that I can play the piano! (even if it isn't Sister Hale status good!) Also, a boy came up to me and asked if I know Stan Cook, who was his mission president, and our ward misson leader went to Shelley a few months ago to visit his brother (who owns a restaurant in Idaho Falls called Argula Deli or something). SMALL WORLD! We got a surprise Fridaynight and the mission nurse, who is in a trio, moved in with us! So we are living as 5 hermanas! That will be fun this next weekend for carnaval. (The mission nurse, Hermana Huber, went to BYUI and knows Kyle Sargent!)

Special alert: We will be on lock down Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday so I'll write you all on the 15th! I LOVE YOU ALL and I hope you can enjoy the first day of the month of love by feeling of Heavenly Father's love for you and how He knows YOU personally :) Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, 

Hermana Park

Water balloon fight!

The hermanas in my zone when we went to the Casa Dorada! 

It is really pretty and is on the bill 20 in Bolivianos! 

 

My district, Elder Hernandez, Elder Palomar, Hermana Petroff, me, Hermana Paz, Hermana Cabrera!

 After the conference, 2 of the hermanas from Bermejo stayed at our house! Hermana Padilla (my former companion I had for 2 weeks!) and Hermana Logovii, from Samoa! I got to teach with Hermana Padilla again and it was just like good old times, 4 months ago!

We found a restaurant called XOXO that had buffalo wings! 

(Do you like the Louisville shirt I found here? haha)

This Wednesday are transfers! Just glad they weren´t last night! It´s scary because I have been here in my beloved area of Tabladita for a good chunk of time! 1.5 months in the MTC, 3 weeks in Senac, 6 months in Tabladita equals more than 8 months as Hermana Park! Still feels like I just landed in Peru. 

We are busy preparing Raquel for her baptism this Saturday! She has had an unbelievable amount of doubts and her husband wouldn´t wait for her because he wanted to get baptized NOW so he got baptized in November (Mateo!) And then she just decided it was time, but she wanted to keep it a surprise from the ward! So she had the Bishop announce it in Sacrament meeting at the end after Mateo gave his first talk on humility (which he rocked!) and she just smiled and the look on Mateo´s face was PRICELESS. So our recent convert will baptize his wife :) 

The weather is warming up, the rain is gone, so that means it´s time for carnival! Just 2 weeks away when we spend 3 days locked in our house! (hope my companion is nice!) But people are already starting the traditions. We´ve got people dancing with baskets of fruit on their heads, squirt gun fights, and best of all the water balloons. It´s just another reason I LOVE Bolivia. Yesterday we were walking down the street, and there were a bunch of kids playing, and their dad yelled ¨Look at the queens! Get them!¨(They use the word queen a lot, reina, just in every day conversation.) So we were running from a group of 10 kids under the age of 12 pelting us with water balloons! We´ve also gotten them thrown at us quite a bit, but these soccer players don´t have good arms! 

We had 2 wonderful conferences this week, Tuesday with Presidente with more preparation for Wednesday! The conference, that we got to watch in English! The leaders of the church spoke about how we can Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts. We learned so much. The things are SO SIMPLE. Missionary work is so simple. We over complicate it! I am excited to be able to apply all that I learn now, and in this next transfer! :) 

The mission is wonderful. Bolivia is perfect. The people are angels. And I hope everyone is reading their Book of Mormon :)

Love, Hermana Park

PS. Yesterday the stake brought in pop for the relief society and told us to all drink it as fast as we could so that they could return the glass bottles. From the stake, or a sneaky trick from another church to kill us all with poisoned pop?