July 13, 2015

 Some of the last photos of her district in Peru, they heard that they hide stuff in the ceilings, but didn't find anything there.

What a week what a week. haha

Thank you all for your sweet emails and prayers. I can feel them so strongly! The first week was ROUGH because, Spanish. haha

So, not a WHOLE lot of fair skinned, light haired people around, so while we were walking one night, a taxi pulled up next to us, said "chicas chicas!" And drove off. hahahahaha! What even is life. haha

The stars here are UNREAL. I cannot even believe how many and how bright they are! I love it! So dad, pull up your google sky map and see what constellations/planets I can see! :)

During relief society yesterday the teacher asked me what eternal marriage meant to me! I tried so hard and then someone yelled This is her first area! hahaha! There is a new member who moved here from La Paz who went on a mission to SLC years ago, so she speaks English. So the teacher had her translate and me speak in English. And it was wonderful! It was a beautiful experience to say exactly what I was feeling! hahahaha Then she translated it as "she said that temple marriage is important" hahahahah! 

We were in a lesson yesterday and I tried to ask if they had any questions about the plan of salvation. and the member we were with laughs and says "sorry, this is her first area, she doesn't know Spanish" hahahaha! It was actually really funny and not at all offensive. hahaha

We were given a 2015 July Liahona and the first thing I opened up to in the middle was a spread about Hungary! Woo! Shoutout to TJP. 

This week was good! It´s warmed up, so I could put away my tights and scarf! hahaha And don't worry mom, I reapply sunscreen every 20 minutes! 

Thank you all for all the love and support! And remember to never postpone a prompting!

Love,

Hermana Parque (haha) 

(I had asked her some questions about where she lives, etc,  and these were her replies):

So, yes. We live in the upstairs of a house where an old lady lives below, who is not a member. I never actually see her. hahah but she has a couple dogs, they are nice. haha I am in the Tarija in Senac area. in the senac barrio. Ward council every Sunday night. haha Its fun! We never eat with members and have a small camping stove that I have yet to use. I am actually fine with the food. I have a lil yogurt in the morning, a giant, and I mean giant lunch with a bunch of rice, a giant slab of meat, some vegetables, some eggs, some tomatoes, and some dessert. Then I eat again the next morning! I have even lost weight ;) hhaha The plane to fly here was just a normal plane! haha 

I Am His Daughter

Since this is the week without a p-day, here is the photo received from the mission home after her arrival in Bolivia on Tuesday, June 30 with President and Sister Willard.  

There is also a video below that was made by a missionary mom with lovely music, and lovely sister missionaries - including a photo of Hermana Park and her Peru CCM district outside the Lima Temple (at 6:35).

                       

Farewell Peru!

 

 

This week was GREAT! The last week in Peru! :) Last week being an avocado which I realize I have been spelling wrong my whole life. hahaha

 

We got to watch the Trujillo dedication and it was amazing! Such a spritual experience! :) They also gave us all white handkerchiefs with the Trujillo temple sewn into them, so thats so fun! haha

 

They gave all the Hermanas consecrated oil! Our district leaders consecrated it for us while we were in the room and now we have some in case a priesthood holder doesn't have any and someone needs a blessing! How cool is that! So now I can get a cool key chain thing like Steven has! Kidding! hahahah

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD tomorrow! YAY!! 35 years! It seems like just yesterday you two crazy kids were getting married :,) hahahahha I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

 

I forgot to tell you from a couple weeks ago when I went proselyting that I saw a cat sitting outside in a window and the temptation was SO REAL to pet it or hold it like a baby. hahahaha but I knew I couldn't. Because my heart rests with Scout! Annndd Its against the rules and I probably would've died. hahahah

 

We had a sub teacher in our class yesterday and she went around to all of us asking about our language study plans we have to make every week and when she got to me we chatted for a really long time because she said she had heard about me from other teachers! haha about how nice and funny and enthusiastic I am and I searched and finally found the sentence to say I was a cheerleader. hahaahhaha but really. Every ounce of crazy enthusiasm is dedicated to Jessica Rodriguez who made me do cheer with her when we were 14. hahaha But seriously. Whats not to be happy about? LIFE IS GREAT! 

 

I leave on either Monday night or early Tuesday morning for Bolivia! :) It will be SO FUN and I cannot believe I have already been here for 6 weeks! Where has the time gone! Next time I write I will (hopefully) have a nice, PATIENT trainer! :) How fun! I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!!!

 

Love,

Hermana Park! :)

AVOCADO!

SPANISH SCRIPTURES that cost like 98 soles, or around 30 dollars.

pic from last week with hermanas that left

 singing from last week with my district and 2 random younger hermanas

placing LDM to a young lady at Garages hahhaa

the first pleasant bus experience YET 

group of avocados and intermedios!

This week flew by! I'm an avocado! (avancado) Meaning I leave in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. This last bunch of Hermanas that left was sad. We all got really close and it was just a big weep party and they made me sing "Bop to the Top."  Then Hermana Gonzalez, Presidente's wife came in and said "Ladies, what time is it?" And I think that is the most scared I may have ever been. hahahahaha

Proselyting was good! It was Hmna. Higham, me, and 2 members from the Peru ward. It was Lima East! We visited inactive young women. It was so fun to just walk the streets of Peru! Everyone was just walking around. haha not like Blackfoot at all. haha so fun! :) Long day though. We were all so tired by the time we finally got back and had to go to class for another 2 hours. But Im not here to sleep!  Who needs sleep! Sleep is for the weak!

There was a white family here touring, and we were watching them all throwing out speculations of who they were, and it turned out to be a man who served in the Trujillo Peru 15 years ago coming to the Temple dedication with his family and parents. Hïs wife said "look kids! They speak English!" 

Today, I brought 2 copies of El Libro de Mormon with me. We were about to leave and walk back to find a bus and I took the copies out of my bag, because my arm was dead from carrying them, and 2 guys came up to me and asked me what my book is. So I told them and 1 was atheist and 1 Catholic but they took them and said they will read them because I am a "chica bonita" Hey. Whatever furthers the gospel, right? haha

The branch presidency changed in my CCM branch and we got a new counselor. Their last name is Sheffield and the wife grew up in Blackfoot years ago! How fun is that! Elaine Street in Blackfoot is named after her mom! Small world!

I love you all and this week was great! One more week in Peru then off to Bolivia! YAY! Cant wait! :) Except for the fact that I am going to have to wear every piece of clothing I own on the plane so I make weight. hahaha but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I love you! Have a wonderful week and never forget how loved you all are! :)

Hermana Park!

What Even Is Time?

 SAME skirt as my favorite avocado Hermana Jaspers! :)

Sometimes we play volleyball

This week was CRAZY! Plus, how have I been here for almost a month? This is like Interspection. (hahahaha that is not a real name of a movie.) (Interstellar!) The one with the astronauts that go to another planet that is like 7 years for every one hour. Because that's how I feel! 

So today we went to the temple and the market like usual, but I really wanted to talk to someone. So I prayed last night to have someone put in my path to talk to and then the supply closet was locked this morning, so I couldn´t get a BOM so all I had was The Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet (in Spanish). We had switched lines and decided to switch randomly again, and a man asked if we were here with a church! And he spoke English! HE said he has traveled to the USA for work so he can speak a little English and he wants to go to Idaho because he loves potatoes, and hes catholic. So he already believes in religious things! And so we kept talking and he asked where we meet for church and when. We didn't know what to tell him, because we don't leave the CCM for church, so we got his contact info and I gave him the pamphlet and it was AWESOME! What is life? THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE! 

My whole district has become singers. We all sing and Elder Riddick beat boxes and we have a good time (church music and primary) and it's crazy how many primary songs we all randomly remember. Anyways, we were doing that outside of Tottus (the store we shop at every other week) and then walked back to get on a bus and we were still singing and some guys across the street were saying hi and showing interest and so we were trying to get Elder Hart, the district leader who is the best at Spanish, to go talk to the 2 guys. But he wouldn't! So I just ran across the street and accidentally scared them with my loud HOLA!  But..HE SPOKE ENGLISH TOO! And so we gave him some pass along cards and got his info and then randomly ran into some Lima Central missionaries and gave them all the info. WHAT EVEN IS LIFE? Then on the bus I had a First Vision pass along card and I was TOTALLY ready to quote it in Spanish to this guy and he said he doesn't believe in God or Christ. So. But I just gave him the card anyways. Today was GREAT and I love leaving these walls!  Also, on Saturday all the intermedios get to go PROSELYTING! They ship us off to a church and we all split up into either the Lima South or North missions I think. We go with a Latino missionary and a member! So yay! Cant wait! I will be an avencado (avacado) next time we speak because all of them are leaving Monday and Tuesday! What is life?

Some Latinos said my Spanish was good! So there's that. haha

The other day we were all getting ready after physical activity and we all thought we were just feeling things..but a little mini baby earthquake happened! And we felt it because we were on the 3rd floor! FUN! :)

Oh and the Elders HAVE to wait for the Hermanas every meal. So we all go first, and it made me sad at first because they just literally have a giant line out the door and I don't need food that much. But its a rule that we go first. And ya know, exact obedience. But on Fast Sunday, they all passed ice cream bars down the line so that was fun to watch, except all the ice cream is gone now. But I don't really like it anyways! 

We got to watch Elder Perry's funeral live on Friday and it was so spiritual!

Oh, happy birthday Saturday Adam!

On Saturday night there was a huge fiesta going on across from the CCM and the music was ridiculously loud, so much that I could understand the words in my bed on the 3rd floor with the window closed. Life here is great.

On Fast Sunday, everyone basically bore their testimony and it was solemn and teary and ya know how I can never be serious, so as usual Emily behavior I get up, grab the microphone and say "What a time to be alive!  Everyone asked me if my happiness was a learned thing and I just keep saying that why wouldn't I be happy? But mainly because I was a cheerleader so that's how I'm hard wired. 

This was a great week! just 2 and a half more before I'll be in Bolivia! YAAAAY!

I am LOVING it here! Everyone is wonderful and the food suddenly got WAY amazing, or I am just getting used to it?  Thank you for all your prayers! I can seriously feel them so strong and things are improving! We gave our first completely ad lib lesson with no notes and it rocked. I could teach everyone how to pray. 

I love you!!!

Hermana Park!

Another Week in THE BEST PLACE EVER

Hello!!

I have figured out that Hermana Higham is "Conlee" hahaha so that's fun! :) We get along pretty well!

Spanish is now finally feeling good! I am getting the hang of it! I love it! It's frustrating the lessons not being able to express my feelings just saying the basic things! But life is great! :) I can pray and testify pretty well, that's all ya need!

The investigators try to make the lessons feel real, so they yell, speak fast, and play music. I have learned to ask them to turn off their music. But one lesson, I walked up and he was playing Take On Me by Aha and I seriously could not get anything out of my mouth because I was laughing, which made my companion laugh, which made the investigator laugh. It's a good time.

I have overcome my fear of soccer! hahaha I just decided to jump in and I've been scoring goals! It is SO FUN! I love it!

BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT: Hermana McDonald taught me...how to roll my R's. How exciting is that??!  Arrodillarse!

Things here are WONDERFUL! The new Americans came in last night and all the girls are SO CUTE. I feel so old and they look so young even though I've only been here for 2 weeks.  Oh, also, I moved up and am not a participiante (i dont know how to spell it haha) I am an intermedio! In 2 weeks I''ll be an Avecado which my district nicknamed avacados. 

This morning, my session in the Lima temple was with a bunch of Lima West missionaries and the president and wife! It was so fun! I am loving Peru! It is so fun to hop on a really crowded bus and travel! haha I am being serious! 

Life is SO GOOD. I am seriously having the time of my life and seeing all the avacados leave was so heartbreaking. We all stayed up until 11 (GASP) and a girl beatboxed while we all sang primary songs. that is the life of a missionary.

I love you ALL and I hope life is going so so well for you all! Eat lots of fun American things! :) Heavenly Father is SO GOOD and truly loves us all. Wait, I can say that in Spanish. Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial. Have a splendid week! Be nice to everyone you meet!

Hermana Park!

¿Que en el mundo?

Hello family, friends, Scout,

My P-days are every Wednesday! I went to the Lima temple this morning and it was so fun! *see other email with pictures! (sorry my grammar is awful because South America.) 

We arrived in Lima around midnight and it was hotter than a Bolivian. We finally got to the CCM around 2:30 a.m. and I could hardly sleep because the room was freezing because we don't know celsius. hahah The flight was good! They gave us meals. Hermana Newbold and I were in row 18 and everyone else was in 45 so riddle me that! The weather here is alright! Not too hot since it's winter! But it will only mist, never rain :( The sun came out on Sunday for a while! 

What mission is Kaden Brown in?

I taught my first lesson with my companion, Rebecca Higham going to the same mission, from Utah, and it was a little rough but it's getting better! :) We are improving the more Spanish we learn! |

My district has all of the girls I found on facebook (except Rachel Batty), Rebecca Higham, Rachel McDonald, Tori Quackenbush, Sadie Dolbin and Nicole Newbold! We are all going Bolivia Santa Cruz and 1 elder, Elder Hart too! They are all from Utah! The other elder is Elder Riddick and he's going somewhere in Peru. So fun!

Shout out to Caley for giving me that Onward pillowcase because I got here and I was the only one with a pillowcase not on my bed. 

There is this AMAZING fruit called Granadilla they sometimes have in the cafeteria and It looks like an orange with a stem and the inside looks like fish eggs (yum!) but they taste really sour. Ahh it's good. The food here is.. okay. It can either be amazing, or a super weird casserole. And you have to eat EVERYTHING! So picture me eating a casserole that is like oatmeal mixed with really soft vegetables and my eyes are watering because I'm trying not to throw up. But sometimes they have ice cream! :) And SO MUCH RICE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE BUT LITERALLY A GIANT SERVING OF RICE EVERY MEAL EVEN IF I SAY POCO POR FAVOR. hahaha

The teachers are wonderful! One of them ALWAYS yells "Que en el mundo" literally means what in the world and it's a Peru MTC joke because it's actually not used outside of here.

There are a million birds and sometimes I can't tell if we're actually in the middle of some jungle or if I'm in my room. It's like the movie, The Birds.

Everyone and their cat is from Utah and they ask if I am from the South because of my accent??? What? Oh, so there are either Latinos or Americans and it's pretty much half and half. It is really cool because we all try to talk to each other in our bad Spanish and their bad English. hahahahahaha But of Americans there are about 10 Elders. They take up less than 1 table here and then the Hermanas take up at least 4! SO MANY GIRLS and we're all friends and I love them all! :)

Every Tuesday there is a devotional broadcast from the Provo MTC and last night Elder Holland spoke and he was HILARIOUS! He was not his conference self! It was fun to stand and sing called to serve knowing there were over 1500 missionaries around the world singing it at the same time in different languages!

We have physical activity every weekday and we either run or play volleyball or basketball so I branched out and played soccer with the Latinos and it was SCARY! I didnt want to even get in there because a girl tore her acl here a few weeks ago! No bueno, So I just stood there and lightly jogged. I am so bad at soccer. haha

Everyone here is SO NICE. It's unbelievable. I can't believe I have already been here 1 week! The first day felt like 5 years, but now they are flying by! 

Tell Claudia that part of my mission is Brazil and we might have to pick up on learning Portuguese sometime. haha

I love you all! I love it here! :) Tell Scout hello and feed her and make sure she has plenty of water! :)

Love,

Hermana Park!