A note about last week's earthquake: "Last monday we did indeed feel the quakes as we were writing home. However, when we do feel them they aren`t strong, although supposedly the center of the earthquake is close by. The missionary moms have nothing to worry about. I know that our Heavenly Father watches over each of us obedient missionaries and protects us. If He didn`t, I would probably be in pretty bad shape for some of the things I have passed through in the mission, and I know there are many other missionaries that have passed through bad things as well. However, all of us are still well and working hard."

On the road to Antigua

Dear Family,

Well, this past week there were changes. I stayed in La Gomera, and I believe I will finish here, and Hermana Marin left. I received Hermana Manzanares. She is from the coast of Nicaragua. Many this change returned home. 

I was studying from Moroni 7:45 this week and discovered some interesting things about charity. A person that has charity endures, and even after years feels the original love toward someone else; he or she builds up others to help them know that they are children of God, is not jealous neither prideful, is not easily angered, does not seek his or her own desires or wants, is righteous, and has faith.

Friday night we were waiting for a meeting, and I played soccer with some kids there at the church as Goalie. I did well and it was fun. Well, now for a journal entry: 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

It`s the end of the day and I`m tired, and the adversary is throwing fire. He`s been working real hard today putting obstacles in every way. My feet have ached while walking, we`ve been exhorting and talking, and now that the day is over, I am glad it`s finally done.

 

We did not have to give talks as planned today because the presidency of the mission was in the branch meetings and they instead gave talks. From the two areas 6 investigators attended church, and the attendance was well, but many still disappointed us for not arriving to church. The day felt long and hot, and we had little success with everything. I look forward to another week with another beginning.

It isn`t a depressing journal entry, just a tired one. This past week was hard. So I also found out something interesting. Some of the people here eat an animal called a Takuacin. Well, this week I had the chance to see one that someone had as a pet. To my astonishment it is... get this... an opposum! Wow... interesting. Well, love you all. Enjoy the week, and I will write to you next week. 

Love Hermana Destinee Park

Monday's email

Dear Family,

This week it rained a lot so several nights we were walking home wet, or during the day we were in places that became flooded and walked through deep water. It was fun. Bad thing is that my companion lost her umbrella in the bus. 

Tuesday we went to Antigua and it was really cold there, perhaps because I am use to the heat now, because before Antigua wasn`t that cold. We shopped a little and ate in a place called Mono Loco`s. On the way back to the coast from Antigua we were stuck in traffic because there had been an accident farther up the road. However, we finally left and returned home in time.

The week has been full of problems and difficulties of all sorts but I am fine. There are changes this Wednesday but we still don`t know if we will have them until later tonight. 

We would have had a baptism this weekend but our investigator said she didn`t feel ready and didn`t want to be baptized yet.

Sunday was fun because church was good with fantastic results of church attendance and with cool lessons later. We met one of the families of the branch, the Family *****. We already had met them but didn`t know who everyone was because there are 6 kids, and hadn`t spoken much with them. The hermano has a brother there in Utah that married with a return missionary. 

I also gave a talk on service.

In the form that I wrote it, here it is:

Mosiah 2:17

There is a story that I like that Elder Uchtdorf shared in General conference about 2 brothers named Zimri and Abram... (To read that you`ll have to find the talk. I believe it is one of the General Conferences from last year.  (http://lds.org/ensign/2010/05/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng)

Service is one of the most important things that we as members fo the church can do. We are only human beings and do not have the power to do much but we can affect the lives of others through service. 

President Monson said, ´´My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by people that need our attention, our esteem, support, comfort, and kindness, whether they be family, friends, acquaintances or strangers. We are the hands of the Lord here on the earth, with the command to loan service and build up His children. He depends on each one of us.`` 

Who should we serve?

We are all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35).

All of us are brothers and sisters and should serve everyone. If we serve others we will have more peace and happiness in our lives. Service will one day return to us. 

Where I am from there is a lot of snow during the winter. Each time it snows my dad cleans the walkways of the neighbors. I have learned much from his example. One day it had snowed and our neighbor left to clean the walkway of another neighbor. When the other neighbor saw that his walkway was clean, he, thinking that my dad had loaned the service, cleaned the snow from our walkway. By the end of the day all of us were blessed by the service of someone else. I know service will bless our lives and will bless the lives of others.

I would like to finish with reading from Hymn 16 (29) and the 7th verse, which says... (and again you`ll have to look this one up: A poor Wayfaring man of Grief´´.)

When we serve others we serve our Savior Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

This is more or less the talk because I was giving it in Spanish and have to translate it here.

Anyway, that is all for now. Love you all,

Love Hermana Destinee Park

Pictures of the ocean that didn't go through last week

Dear Family,

This past Tuesday for Pday we had plans to play basketball between 2 and 4 pm with the youth of the ward, but we had some misfortunate events. Nearly all the youth had arrived, but we did not have a ball to play with. All of us were waiting for the person to arrive that had the basketball, and as we were waiting and talking to each other, two of the youth that had been waiting outside ran inside of the church gates and tried closing them. We thought they were playing but then I looked a little farther and saw a drunk, well someone that always appears drunk and who bothers my companion, coming in our direction. One of the youth called out, "llaves!" or "keys". I grabbed the keys, raced to the door and locked it before the guy arrived. So... all of us, locked inside church grounds, with a semi-drunk guy outside, and without a basketball. How fun that was. However, finally the guy left, the ball arrived, and we played for 15 minutes. 

I played with chickens this week because I had to catch one chicken that was on a member`s property and take it to its own property next door, and two chicks tried resting on my lap and on my feet so I played with them. 

We had some crazy experiences also. For example, the bus schedule Wednesday wasn`t normal and we ended up being stuck in Sipacate without a way out. To walk to La Gomera it is about an hour and a half`s walk. However, we were blessed because the Family Telon found us and rescued us. 

Saturday, we brought a cake for an investigator`s birthday and when we lit the candle, it would not blow out. All of us had a laughing fit with that. Turns out that the candle was one of those magic candles. For those that had never seen it before it was even more funny. 

Sunday was election day. All of Gomera was in the streets. We spent most of the day in La Catalina. Well, that`s all for now.

Love you.

Love Destinee

This week's email

Look below this weeks post to see last week's email

Dear Family,

This past thursday and friday we had divisions. Hermana Winder came to my area and Hermana Marin went to Escuintla. On the ride back after the divisions we talked to a lot of people in the bus. It was fun. Other than this the past week, I will share with you a bit of my studies.

 

Alma 39 is what I call, after reading it this week, ``The interview with the mission president``. Like Corianton, sometimes the missionary boasts (verse 2) and forsakes the mission for a few minutes to go after the lusts of his or her eyes (verse 3). The `she` that these verses talk about refer to the harlot, but the harlot does not have to be a person. For example, these ``harlots`` include sleeping in late, watching television, listening to music, or being disobedient to mission rules. 

 

Alma counsels his son, or we could say that the mission president (and prophet in this case), ``Go no more after the lusts of your eyes... Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; Suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked ``harlots``(Alma 39:9-11).`` 

 

It is fantastic to apply the scriptures and makes reading the scriptures more interesting as well. 

 

Well, sorry for the short email, and for last week. I was a little frustrated with the last email because not all of it saved either so I can`t remember all that I wrote. But for next week you will all be able to see the photos and receive more of my experiences. 

 

Whatever trial and experience we have in life is for our good. I know that just as the early pioneers came to know God through their suffering, we too can come to know him through our trials and pains. I know that Christ lives and that we are guided by a prophet of God. I love you all.

Love Hermana Destinee Park

Last week's email

Last week's email did not go through.  Sadly, Destinee loaded pictures to send also, and they disappeared.  She finished up what she could remember (the email stopped mid sentence in her draft box) and sent it this week.  She said, "We are on a timed computer, not one that shuts off at the hour, but I still want to be obedient. Even if I could get away with it, it`s best to follow the rules and set a better example. But this week I will be able to send it. ".  Here it is:

Family,

Tuesday I finally saw the ocean. The beach was beautiful and we had fun. The elders were in normal clothes all the time so they appeared like ``puro chavalos``. 

 

On wednesday one of our appointments fell and my companion asked if I wanted to go the next appointment early or pass by the business of a member family. I felt like we should do the second option. While there we found one of the young men, *****, and he accompanied us. He is bien pilas. After the appointment we all went to the church for meetings. 

 

I discovered this week that we have an assigned mission leader. It is not a calling because he already has a calling, but here are some interesting facts:

 First mission leader was named Estuardo. In my second area the mission leader was named Eddy Emanuel. In the third area our mission leader was Eduardo. And here our mission leader is Estuardo. Funny right? 

 

Friday we had interviews with the president and I received my package. 

 

Saturday we had a Noche de Hermanamiento in the church and outside we found a horse spider. Hermana Marin killed it but she had to beat it with the broom 3 or 4 times to kill it. A couple of the young men that night were giving me ``recetas`` or recipes, but recipes that are hogwash or as one of the presidents call them, ``locuras``. It made me laugh though.

 

 Well, sorry there aren`t photos here to send to you. I had a lot to send but I guess last week they didn`t save when I tried sending the email and this week I didn`t bring the camera to upload photos. I guess you`ll have to wait until the next week to see the beach and our adventures. Well, that is all for the last week. Love you.

Love Hermana Destinee Park