I indeed enjoyed conference. All of us north americans went to a separate room to watch conference in english. It was fun because several experiences happened, which were funny, especially when applying the talks. For example, one of the elders had cut pictures of girls from the liahonas and then we listened to Elder Scott´s talk, in which at the beginning he said missionaries should not waste time in idol pursuits.

That is so weird that kiana is nearly 16. Happy Birthday Wednesday Kiana! 

I have been sick as well with a cold. The weather changes terribly. In the night there is wind and it is cold, during the day it is super hot. I have been suffering here, but not in vain because I have been working. We found 8 investigators this week.

San Cristobal wasn´t too bad. We walked a lot. Before going there, I took part in a zone meeting of the zone Mariscal. 

Changes might affect me, well our companionship rather. Hermana Elvir has 4 changes here or 6 months, so she might have changes, but we´ll find out tonight. Who knows... Well, other than these things... Conference was fantastic. I´ll write some of the things I learned.

1) Sacrifice all that is bad to feel good and live better.

2) Be humble. Jesus comes first.

3)Take small steps on the path to discipleship. It is better to arrive late than never. 

4) Through Christ I can do all things.

5) I need to be self-reliant so that I can help others, especially those that suffer.

6) It is usually through others that God answers our prayers and meets our needs.

7) Our Heavenly Father always answers our prayers when we have faith but in His time and His way. We have the responsibility to keep pressing forward in faith and remain worthy to receive personal revelation.

8) What would I sacrifice to go to the temple?

9) We are many times ´cut down´ so that we´ll be what God wants us to be. God directs our course. 

10) Teaching is more powerful and effective than punishing. 

11) We should be like President Monson and let nothing get us down. 

12) Live the hightest law. This is not your way but His way. 

Well, that´s it for the writing part. Now I will be sending photos. I love you all. I testify that this is the church of Jesus Christ and that we have a prophet to guide us. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and can help us receive answers to our prayers. Until next week.

Love Hermana Destinee Park  

And a picture from the mission blog:

Scorpions, Baptisms, and giving a talk

Last Tuesday we watched a movie as zones villa Nueva and Villa Hermosa (these two are not part of the capital), which was The Other Side of Heaven. 

(A family) had problems this day and the oldest daughter came to find us. She told us of how her step mom (she´s only daughter of the father) had been beating the second oldest daughter. (A child), of 8 years, ran to bring the police. We couldn´t go and do anything, we told her. Then later when we saw her again with her dad and two of her brothers, they told us of how this mom had caused problems before. They told us of how a cousin had violated the oldest son, who is 11 years old, and how the mom told her son to lie about the experience to the police. Oh, the ugly things we hear. Each day I see those little children, I wish there was some way I could help them, yet there is nothing really. They see us as a type of relief from their home life and when we visit them they are excited we are there. It is sad to see these things. 

Tuesday also, Hermana Elvir found a scorpion by my bed and sealed it in a box. Later we found a jar to put it in. It lived without oxygen for several days. Sunday the jar rolled off the table and broke, and the scorpion ran outside. Then Hermana Elvir killed it. 

March 26, Saturday, Maricella was baptized. 

baptism of Mari. Eduardo, mission leader baptized her. He has 22 years also, and his bday is 16 days earlier than mine. He has a twin. They served in Honduras and Nicaragua.

I gave a talk Sunday. I planned one talk on being a master teacher- like a teacher instead of just a missionary, but gave another talk about faith. I astonished many in the ward because they didn´t think I could speak spanish, but I guess I spoke well Sunday.

Anyway, not much else has happened. It´s been a boring week really. There hasn´t happened anything about the mareros either. I´ll send pics now. Oh, we have divisions this week and I will be going back to San Cristobal for a day. And this morning in district meeting I gave the prayer in kaqchikel. 

I love you. Have a great week, and don´t forget about me and kade too much. We are still living, I promise. 

And send my greetings to Grandma and Grandpa and cousins and aunts and uncles and ward members.... Speaking of which, if there is time I will write something for the primary. Love Desty 

And some other tidbits from the reply to my email:

The funny thing about the foods is that they are made with things that are normal to us, but are more expensive. For example, platanos, beans, flour of corn. But they are fun to make and have a bit of a difference than what we are used to. Hermana Elvir showed me how to make tortillas easier. 

food we made, with fry bread, mango, avocado, fried yucca, and refried beans

Steven (last week's Baptism) is only 17 years old but he is already looking to the future and saying how he´s going to go on a mission, marry a return missionary, and all of his children and grandchildren will be members. It is cool to see how the gospel has effect on people.

Baptism...

Journal Entry

March 14, 2011

district meeting, internet to write family, lunch. We taught four lessons. The family Reyes´ kids were less crazy tonight. We found a new investigator. When we were teaching Steven Juarez we asked him when he wanted to be baptized and he told us this saturnday. Now hopefully everything will work out because he´s only been attending Barrio Petapa and not our ward. We taught about the word of wisdom and then Hermana Elvir asked if there were any of the five things (tea, tobacco, coffee, drugs, or alcohol) with which he had a problem. ´´Sí,´´ he said solemnly, ´´con fumar tobacco...´´. Then he apologized to him mom, and my heart sank. ´´Nah, es una mentira,´´ he added laughing. I felt relieved and his mom stood up to smack him with the pamphlets she had in here hand.

I learned how to make a food from honduras called Baleadas. It is basically like a fajita but instead of the filling fajitas have, one only puts avocado, egg, sour creme, and red beans. They are good when everything is homemade. Thursday we had a zone conference with Elder Falabella, in which was discussed:

1) Obedience is intelligence because someone more intelligent than us asks us to obey.

2) Willing and able missionaries are better leaders. ´´Almost all men can handle adversity, but if you want to test the character of man... give him power.´´ Abraham Lincoln

3) We need to form habits that will last a lifetime such as write down goals and the actions to take, and then the results; smile; try several solutions for one problem; lose fear to talk with others; Study with your comp, and listen.

 

Other than this this past week... Steven was actually baptized. I´ll send photos. The baptism service was really spiritual. We found 5 families this week. 3 is the goal of the mission, 4 for our personal goal, and 5 found. Yeah! Well, now the photos.

 

 

Love you all, and hope your week isn´t too boring. I know the church is true and that Joseph Smith really was called as the prophet to begin this last dispensation. I know that God protects us and watches over us, and that faith and works bring miracles. With Love, Destinee

 

stilos in Amatitlan

From the Guatemala City Central Mission blog

A sisters' lunch and a craft activity they can teach in
young womens and relief society in their wards.

The finished product - beautiful scarves!
A quick and easy project - thank you Hnas.
Lozano and Ralphs for teaching us this craft!

Everyone was talking about the earthquake and the tidal wave it caused. They said all of us in central america would be affected by the after effects but we only had a small tremor and nothing afterward. It was funny because we were studying and at 830 am everything began to shake. Hermana Elvir said ´´hermana, it´s shaking´´ but in Spanish. She was afraid, but I looked at the floor, felt the trembling, and then said, ´´sí´´.  It didn´t feel like hardly anything. We have colder weather due to it. 

So, Martes... um, Tuesday, we climbed a mountain in Amatitlan, saw the lake from a good distance, and saw fake ruins. Wednesday we taught one of the investigators, Steven, about the law of chastity and challenged him to keep it. He then and there took our an earring he was wearing (he hasn´t put it back in since) although he said it was important to him. We brought papusas, popcorn, and cocacola to the Family Reyes in the night and they were very excited because they usually don´t have dinner.

And from her journal:

Journal entry of Saturday:

March 12, 2011

This afternoon the zone leaders accompanied us for 2 hours. In the two hours we had one appointment and it lasted for about 1 hour. Nevertheless, it was a good lesson. At 5 we had to arrive at the church to fill the baptismal font. At 6:30 pm we had the baptismal services for Yoselin (18) and Manuel (9)... After, we went to the house of the Family reyes and I helped Teresa and Paula, the two oldest daughters, with English homework. This was fun.

As we were returning home, Hermana Elvir began walking slower and after a minute or so said (whispered), ´´Hermana, ellos son mareros´´, meaning a group of men that was walking in front of us. Even though I thought of how I should be afraid, I felt at peace an the thought came to my mind, ´God can easily smaite man, but I know I´ll never see a man who can smite God.´

Well, that´s all of the journal entry. Not too much more happened this past week because it went by so fast. We have a few other baptisms on the way, so I believe I will be writing more about that. Maybe we´ll have a month of snow? I hope so. We only have a small problem with having one of the families baptized. Well, a big problem: they aren´t married and cannot be married until the hermano divorces with his ex-wife, which will cost time and money, and they do not have money... What can we do? Well, we will trust in the Lord that things will work out. I am going to send photos of this past week, so you can look for that. Love you all, and know that I am doing well. I am happy, and tired, and ready to ´´rock the socks off in Guatemala´´ as Noel (from work) would say. Thank you all for your support.

Hermana Destinee Park

Cinemark!!!

The lake Amatitlan

Walking across a bridge into the park

Zona villa Nueva (most of it)

Baptism

Baptism

The fake Ruins

Walking up the mountain and the lake from a distance

I just have to share

One of the moms of a missionary in Destinee's mission passed the following on to me this week from her missionary::

"Also Sister Park is in my district and you can tell her mother that she is doing amazing there because a lot of things changed when she got there and they are having a lot of success."

Proud missionary mom moment!  I love these moms who are so willing to share with each other.  For anyone who has a missionary out, there is no better suggestion I can give you than to be sure to join the missionary moms lists! http://www.ldsmissionarymoms.com/

To begin with, one day as we were leaving from the colony a guard called out ´´good night´´, but it was morning so I talked to him and told him what it means. He replied, ´´yo sé, pero él (pointing to another guard) no sabe Inglés. Estoy enseñandole como hablar inglés.´´

Saturday was scary. While in a lesson, and halfway through it we heard noises outside and people began screaming, especially a man. The woman we were teaching jumped up and said ´´they killed a baby´´. As she began to leave the house to see what had happened (this took place right outside the house) Steven, her 17 year old son, forbid her. Then Hermana Elvir and the member that was with us went to the window to look and Steven yelled at them to get away from the window (the both being females) and then he left to look. The baby wasn´t killed. The car just came really really close to killing it, and the father had began to panick. For this lesson we had arrived late. If we had arrived on time we would have been leaving by the time the car had lost control. Other blessings this week:

March 6, 2011 (journal entry)
Today I witnessed great miracles. 10 investigators attended church in our ward and 1 of them, making the 11th, attended in the Petapa ward. Of these 11 investigators there was a family that attended. Later as we visited and taught this family they said they´d like to be baptized. This week we found 11 investigators and four families. I feel exceedingly blessed. It seems that those investigators that progress have many difficulties. Lately I´ve related my experiences to gospel principles.

1) In a testimony meeting once, an elder leaving stood to bear his testimony. He said, ´´I am hungry.´´ Although physical hunger is uncomfortable it´s important that we always hunger spiritually. Says Enos, ´´And my soul hungered.´´

2) While riding on a bus to Antigua I was on the last step and had to hold tightly with one hand on the rail so that I didn´t fly out. In Lehi´s dream he saw a rod that led to Christ. Those that let go of the rod were flung to the depths of darkness. If we don´t hold tight we too will fly into darkness.

3) At the beginning of my mission I heard of an elder that had been electrocuted. He had been outside of the house where a cable was hanging. This reminds me that we should always stand in holy places without the sort of dangers that can harm us.

4) Once my companion and I were locked within the gates of the stake center in Chimaltenango. We had looked for a way out and found no visible solution. Finally I decided to pray. After praying, a man passed by and came to our rescue with ladders, and helped us escape. From this experience I learned how powerful prayer was and how important it is that we have faith.

Well, that is all about this past week. I have never been so happy and yet so tired. It seems that I go to sleep and then very quickly morning comes, but even with this and with running to nearly every place, I have sufficient strength to help me continue forward. Tomorrow we will be going to Amatitlan, so I will tell you next week how that goes.

I love you all and hope the week goes well. I know this church is the true and living church, living in that we receive modern revelation by a prophet of God. Rinwetaman chi re ri kajol ri ajaw nukolonel chuqa k´es. El Libro de Mormón es llenado con las palabras de profetas de antiguedad y de Dios. Tell everyone hi for me.
Love desty

changed to Villa Nueva

First, I have 2 scriptures for this week: D&C 122:9 "Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." and Alma 7:23"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive..

New food I have tried: Guatemalan tacos, instead of meat they have mashed potatoes inside and are covered with onions and tomato sauce.

I was changed to Villa Nueva in the capital. It´s a pretty place but more of a city. My companion is from Honduras, has 6 months in the mission, but is a fantastic missionary. She has been a member with her family for 5 years but their family has not had the opportunity to be sealed because there isn{t a temple in Honduras yet and they have to save up much money to go to the temple in Guate. It is hot here after being in the mountains but winter´s coming and soon it won´t be too bad with the rain. The place I am at is large, with 30 colonies.

(This area) appears to be a successful area. There are 2 planned baptisms for March 13 and we´ve found many new investigators just this week.

The night before the changes there were 2 main fun things we did in Comalapa. The first, we went to the store above us and I had written a testimony in a Book of Mormon. As we bought some things I put the Book of Mormon down and then ´´forgot it´´ as we left. The reason is because a young man that lives there appeared to believe our words as we testified to another person one night in the mini store so we decided to leave the Book of Mormon for him. I hope that he found it, though. The second thing we did was later. We bought a pie and I made a simple card and we took them to the house of a contact (the guy that works on the buses and always charges less to us because we´re missionaries) and doorbell ditched. It was super fun. 

This family we also visited Tuesday night and I left with them a copy of the photo we had taken. They gave me a present also. It is something that the women there use to keep their weaving things in place, but the one they gave me has ´recuerdos´ on it. I am going to have to send a pic of it. 

And bits from journal:

We have had about 18 lessons since Wednesday and have found 10 investigators (new ones that is). Every morning so far I´ve eaten oatmeal and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Although I am hungry earlier I always have the energy I need. I may be the most tired I´ve ever been but I feel happy and successful.

Also, the majority of the people here are very happy that I came and are very nice to us.

I haven´t forgotten kaqchikel yet.
Rinwetaman chi ri rochoch ri Jesucristo ri los Santos de los Ultimos Dias kitzij chuqa rinin tacoxela chin ri rukajol ri ajaw. Ri tzij ri Jesucristo kitzij.
Hermana Destinee Park

tuk

In five days it will be Destinee's HUMP DAY--she is half way there!

 This week is changes for Destinee's mission.  I told her that I predict that she will be changed to the coast,  This was her reply:

Yikes. I hope I don´t go to the coast. From cold to hot will not be fun. But I guess I should be used to it from living in Utah, but still I hope no. I am only worried about the changes because I feel that there is much more in Comalapa that I still have to do, but who knows but that I might return later on in my mission. I know that wherever I go is where I am needed. 

Well, last night I had a bad dream, one that bothered me, and you are going to laugh. In my dreams I was in the last 2 days of my mission and had to begin packing and preparing everything to return home. I didn´t want to return home and didn´t feel ready, but there I was about to return. I am glad there are only changes and not the end yet. I reach my hump in 5 days. (yep, on the 26th, Destinee is half way through with her mission.  It is all downhill from here for those of us at home who miss her)

 

For my hurts, they weren´t too bad. My ankle stopped hurting when Ï began to walk on it again, and beside that only my knees were scraped, but I cleaned them. (in reference to her fall last week)

At first all the people were shocked because there was a north american in Comalapa, but now I have met a good portion of the people, have friends in many places, and get to hear my name called out from tuks ``sister park!``` There is only one of the tuk drivers that calls me by my name as he passes, and another honks twice as he passes. We´ve contacted many of the drivers. Also, again this morning we took the bus for 9 am and the guy I had contacted who helps guide the bus gave us passage for less again. My companion has begun to realize that there are people in comalapa that want to hear us. 

Destinee's District

And from a journal entry:

February 15, 2011

We went to Guate for an activity of the hermanas with hermana Baldwin. We made scarves and ate taco salads. We returned(Hermana Perez and I) at 6. I experienced another adventure of buses because at Trebol we waited fro a bus to Comalapa. A bus arrived that had written Zaragoza and Comalapa but I had a feeling that we shouldn´t get on. ´´Well, that´s silly. That´s just a weird thought I have,´´ I thought. We asked the bus people if the bus goes to Comalapa and they told us yes, so we climbed on. Well, we rode for a long time and I paid the full ride to Comalapa, and then finally arrived in Chimal. Then the bus helper told us, ´´There´s a bus right there that will carry you to Comalapa.´´ After we got off I asked the man, ´´Porque nos mintió?´´ ´´Why did you lie to us?´´ Laughing but a little frustrated we entered the other bus and rode to Comalapa. This experience was made up for because while contacting and buying a light bulb, the lady selling gave us an extra light bulb for free.

view from Destinee's house

And some history of Destinee's current area, as told by her:

And now for the story of Comalapa (what I know of it) Part 1

Between 1950 and 1970 the first missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the high, chilly mountains of a little town called San Juan Comalapa. Not many churches existed in this little town, but missionaries of other religions had introduced two main religions: Catholicism and Evangelicalism.

Notwithstanding the blooming providence of these religions, the Mormon missionaries, Elders as they were called, set to work to teach and serve the native kaqchikel-speaking people of Guatemala. With much work and a little time the elders began to find success and baptize families, or sometimes only individuals, into the church. Two fo these individuals, that to this day still reside in Comalapa, were two brothers, raised in the Catholic church, by the names of Victor and Macedonio Simon Cana. 

(This is all I have today. Stay in tune for the next part.)

Wow, look what came 8 hours later!

My District

Outside of our house

me proclaiming the gospel to the world

Hermana Perez proclaiming the gospel to the world

A Catholic church in Antigua