The Liahona

Thanks for everyone who sent me pictures of the funeral! It looked beautiful! I was just about to tell you all how cold it was here this weekend, but I think y'all win. haha 

In honor of everyone coming home, I hope some kid on a bike yelled at everyone and told them to go back to their respective state. (Ask Doug and Marisa) Because someone just yelled ¨Good afternoon! This isn't your country!¨ haha 

We had a zone conference with President this week! It went really well and we got to see the new Christmas video from the church! It is really cute so I hope you have all seen it! 

Since I got to the mtc and saw people with conference Liahonas I thought how lame I was for just printing off a few talks when I could've just brought them all together. So I have always wanted a Liahona, or Ensign, from the April conference. I have one, but it´s in Spanish and even though I can read it, it´s not the same! We have a stack of Liahonas in the house because we get one every month. I organized them a few weeks ago, but didn´t see one. Then yesterday we were leaving for a lesson with a family about the prophet, and I knew there was one in Spanish, so as I hurriedly dug through them, an English one fell out! I just sat there on the ground, literally hugging a Liahona. Something that we take for granted and just put out for decoration when it comes in the mail. I felt as if it was Heavenly Father telling me that He has not forgotten about me. He gave me something so simple that I had always wanted, because the God, Creator, One who has the plan, loves ME. And you.

Hermana Park

Hi

Emily's "ponderize" scripture for the week and a picture of somewhere in Bolivia

Dear people who haven't forgotten about me,

We're starting into the rainy season here! Luckily it doesn't start until exactly 9 pm, so if we're exactly obedient, we're not in the rain! :) But there has been a TON of lightning. I really thought the world would end last night, but looks like we're still here!

Last week we had a stake activity for only missionaries and investigators and watched Meet the Mormons! It was fun to actually hear the story from Costa Rica in Spanish! I finally know what her voice sounds like! haha Then yesterday there was a conference broadcast from SLC only for Bolivia and Peru! It was really good! Neil A. Andersen spoke and others from the Seventy. It was a great day! :)

We also had a ward party Friday! We all brought salads, and from Hermana Petroff and me was a pretty sad looking fruit salad. Sadly, the chicken and half of the ward didn't get there until 9 pm, and we missed getting to watch the whole ward dance, but next time :) It's really fun how dancing is such a big thing here. I cannot picture having a 7th ward party with everyone dancing to a mariachi band. We'll have to start that up when I get back :)

My ponderize scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil" I really like this scripture and like to be recognized as a representative of Jesus Christ! I love Bolivia and am so grateful for this opportunity to bring others unto Christ. I really had no clue what the mission would be before I came, but I'm so grateful I am experiencing it! :) Have a great week and take up your cross and follow Christ!

Love,

Hermana Park

5 Months!!

(2 emails from Emily today, the one from last week that didn't quite send before she timed out is also included in this email!)

The girl in Senac who is leaving on a mission today for Columbia 

The Greek pizza they always get

Their micro broke

They played volleyball with the zone last week for P-day, some of the sisters from her CCM group are or were there too.

Week Late Whoops! (10/12/15)

Sometimes you get so caught up in life that times goes by faster than you thought possible! Like when you only have an hour and a half to email and are writing the email address when the computer times out! Whoops! Sorry! Here's the email from last week! :)

Things here are wonderful! Bolivia is the bomb, even though it got REALLY cold again this week. The folks here said the cold came from Argentina. So, thanks Aleesha! And shout out to Aleesha on getting her mission call and Justina for getting her call to basically the prettiest place in the world! The mission really is the most fulfilling thing there is. Its like eating a baconator and getting to the middle with bacon and more bacon. And wow bacon. Maybe its because its before lunch right now or that in my mission we cant eat bacon, but someone eat some bacon for me!

Things are GREAT with Hermana Petroff from Utah! She is so fun and we work really well together! I love her and am grateful for her!

Last night we were walking home and we saw an old man with a stick waving it in the air and hissing. hahaha What can ya do. But thanks mom for sending me mashed potatoes because on a cold night in Tabladita, mashed potatoes are great! :)

I got to have my first exchanges this week with the one and only Hermana McDonald from the mtc. It was so fun and we were able to learn so much from each other! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to learn from the other hermanas in the zone. :)

Update on Diego, his contract ended. He told us he found one in our area. Then found a better price in Senac, not realizing that we can't teach him there anymore. So, that's life. What can you do. Sometimes things don't work out as your planned, but God knows. He has a plan. So everything is okay :)

The mission is beautiful and there are miracles every day! We found a family and the husband has a problem with drinking. He did sooo good then last night he drank. He was so upset than he failed us so we explained the Atonement, and that we are NEVER too far gone. Our Savior will never abandon us. He loves us and will be there to catch us when we fall and help us back up and get us back on the path! Never lose the faith.

 My ponderize scripture this week is Alma 29:14. :) Joy in the successes of others!

I love you all so much!

Love Hermana Park

5 Months!  (10/19/15)

Yesterday in lunch, the members were all talking about this show that they all love here in Bolivia, and we figured it out. Turns out it's Little House on the Prarie. hahaha Who would've thought! haha

We have been trying really hard to get more less active members and just really members back at church. Last week we had 109 people at church because it was cold. It was raining on Saturday night and our investigators said that they didnt know if they could go and take their kids out of it was raining the next day again. So we prayed! Sunday morning brought SUNSHINE. And there were 156 people there. This Sunday the stake president said was the biggest Sunday to know if we would be able to make another stake in Tarija! I'll keep yall updated, but the odds are looking good and the family came. The first time for the mom, and the dad's 7th week at church. :)

Today is 5 months here in the mission, otherwise known as the best place there is to be. So here are 5 fun things that happened this week:

1. a girl was wearing a shirt that said "Be the person your dog thinks you are"

2. our investigator was wearing a jersey that said "Idaho Falls Parks and Rec."

3. Page 31 of the October Liahona has a family home evening in Bolivia! :)

4. I have been working really hard on my Spanish and have seen that Spirit filled my mouth with words to say about the Atonement to our investigator who drank again this weekend.

5. I got to hold a baby black kitten. (Hi Scout)

Things are WONDERFUL. Truly amazing here in Bolivia. I am so grateful every day for this time that I have to be here doing the best thing there is to do for me right now :) I am learning so much and learning more about the life of the Savior. I really thought about the saying What would Jesus do? and really thought about it. Whenever I get upset, discouraged, tired, I think, really, if this was the life of Jesus Christ, what would He do? We can all choose to follow the Savior and His example for us :) For those who have some free time, I'd suggest reading Jesus the Christ. You won't regret it. OH and read your Book of Mormon too. :)

I love you all and so does Jesus Christ!

Love, Hermana Park

Photo: On the roof this very morning with new companion Hermana Petroff

Gotta Grow Up!

Family, friends, and countrymen,

This week I "killed" Hermana Holden. And they mean it! It was a hard, sad day! haha but as a result of her being gone, I am the new ward piano player. Shout out to Gentry Carter for making me learn how to play for her seminary devotional freshman year!

My new companion Hermana Padilla is from Texas! She said she lives about 5 minutes away from the border, so that's fun! One of her companions was from Argentina, so she speaks like she is from Argentina because of her. haha Life is a joy!

We got to watch the women's session of conference, in Spanish! It was so good! I did like the cute little Utah girls singing though! The closing hymn in English was so beautiful with everyone trying to sing along even though they didn't know English. I'm excited for conference this weekend! I heard through the grapevine that there is a special room in English. We'll see! The ride back from the church had to be with a member since it was late, so the Bishop came and picked up pretty much everyone in the ward in his truck. Which resulted in me, my companion, and an 18 year old member Paolita in the back! Ah! haha Sorry dad!

It got cold again, then really hot. So I couldn't tell ya what season it is! haha

This week was good! Full of me leading the way though, so that was hard. The first day we went to seriously every appointment we made, every back up plan, every member, every less active, every investigator, and ZERO. Learned a lot about just being nice to yourself and knowing that you tried your best. I hope everyone can do something nice for yourself today! :) (my suggestion is get Taco Bell. Meal Deal #4 with a baja blast, but that's just me. haha)

I love you all and so does Christ!

Hermana Park

Welcome, Welcome transfer morning, now we rest from every care!

 Yesterday after church with Hermanas Paz and Morales who are in our ward and apartment

The camera went off too fast but this picture is funny. haha 

The district with a moving Hermana Morales who was running back from pushing the timer on the cameras!  

The actual district! 

Hermana Higham and me at the airport this morning as she left for Santa Cruz! 

Our zone activity last week where we played soccer and my favorite member Estela made us bbq! 

The Zone Leaders called last night and let´s just say that transfers are not my favorite and I was very nervous to hear the news! 

My new companion is flying in in an hour from Santa Cruz! She was supposed to come in this morning, but I don't know what happened. But at least we were there are the airport to see everyone leaving! Hermana Higham went to Santa Cruz and Hermana Quackenbush came here! Those Hermanas from the CCM will be my lifelong friends. (update! She´s coming at 1 pm now! So that means we´ll have taken about 6 taxis today! woohoo! haha)

My new companion is Hermana Padilla. Word on the street is she´s from Texas, but has Mexican parents. In other words, Claudia. haha So that should be really fun! Hermana Holden doesn't leave until Wednesday as well as Hermana Morales in my apartment who is also finishing her mission! So There are going to be 6 girls in our apartment until Wednesday. Pray for us. hahaha 

Welcome to spring in Tarija! And it´s extremely hot, so I am really excited for summer in December. But on the bright side, they have so many fruits in season now! Including the ever famous Park classic, watermelon! YAY! 

So my Spanish is still coming. I have now been out for 4 months. So it´s still coming. But this week while we were at immigrations for over 4 hours just waiting, I learned that my district leader was a cheerleader in Ecuador. hahaha He knew the words backflip, scorpion, flyer, etc. haha! But back to Spanish, our lawyer there with us from the church was asking about USA and how expensive everything is, especially college. And I said that oh actually my college isn't expensive because it´s in the church. And she said but oh your parents paid for it right? And I proudly said no because I had scholarships! BUT here´s where my Spanish abilities come in. I said I had vacas. I meant becas. Vaca is cow. I told the woman I didn't pay for college because I had cows. My Spanish gets better every day really. haha

I cracked the code of Bolivians. I thought "EW" Mayo AND ketchup on fries! Who does that! Ew! Then it hit me. Mayo plus ketchup equals fry sauce. They have fry sauce here. Can we please take a moment of silence for how amazing Bolivia, especially Tarija, especially my mountain area with a view of every Tabladita, is. 

I am really gad to still be here in Tabladita! Hermana Paz from Honduras will still be here too and she is hilarious! We were in a packed micro that stopped suddenly, so I fell into her and she said ¨Hey. what´s your problem?¨ hahaha hey! Who taught you how to say that! haha 

Yesterday the bishop got up at the end of Sacrament meeting and talked about the 2nd Coming and asked what are we doing today to prepare? If this was Emily one year ago (I feel weird because I haven't heard or said or seen my name in so long!) she would not be preparing for anything really! She´d be watching Pretty Little Liars. haha So really. Take a little step back and examine things. Is what you are doing now for the benefit of others or preparing yourself to stand before God again one day? Interesting. So everyone reading this, share this light with others! One of my favorite hymns is Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd. My favorite verse is the 3rd and chorus! 

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the "ninety and nine";
Dear are the sheep that have wandered
Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! he is earnestly calling,
Tenderly pleading today:
"Will you not seek for my lost ones,
Off from my shelter astray?
(Chorus)
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold. 

Who will you help Christ bring back to the fold this week?

Love you all! 
Hermana Park

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 

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!