I am now in the Spirit world... Fancy that. We still work hard in the Spirit world

About changes and coming up on her year mark:  I´m sad and in shock, and basically just normal about it. I am asked that question all the time: how much time do you have in the mission? I sure have learned a lot this past year. Doesn´t seem like a year, though. Changes... did not affect me. We stay together and in the same area, but we have a different District leader. 

About the title:  I told her about the preacher who predicted the end of the world...... 

Familia,

Well, Monday I brought a white tie that I had bought from the temple and everyone in the zone signed it, then we gave it to Elder Musick as a goodbye gift. Maybe you´ll receive the photo.  (yahoo, the pictures went through this week!  The rest are at the bottom.  Welcome home Elder Musick!)

Elder Musick

Tuesday we didn´t do much.

The members of our ward are beginning to work more with the missionary work. 

Wednesday, We found out who is our new district leader. His name is Elder Nielsen. He´s from PG and graduated in 2009, but I doubt he knows Kade. The first night, wednesday, he called and I answered. When he found out my name he began speaking in English, but I didn´t speak in English so again he changed to Spanish. We´ll get used to it, I know, but we already miss Elder Musick. I´m sure he´s enjoying his house and everything.... 

Our District

We have a ward activity that we´ve began. I called it the ´Elder Clarke challenge´. It is with the Book of Mormon, which the members have to loan it to a family and try to persuade them to read the Book of Mormon. We have 2 families that could be baptized in June, but one isn´t married and doesn´t want to yet the other has only the husband who is not a member and wants to wait until he has a desire to pray. Hermana Gaitan doesn´t like contacting much, but when she does it she does it well. I am becoming accustomed to contacting. 

Compa Hermana Elvir

(One day) we were talking to the brother of the mission leader, Josue, and a man came up to us and said, ´´good day, my lady.´´ Josue said, ´´Shut up.´´ The man then asked, ´´Is there a problem here, my lady?´´ Josue again said ´´Shut up´´. All this was in English so it was funny.

We haven´t found any investigators this week. (I bought a cd tuesday to bring home to you, mom. It is in Spanish, but the type of Spanish music I think you´ll like.) Something I do not like about the cds here is that although I like the music in spanish better here but all the cds are pirated. Ick. Anyway, that´s my week. I will write more next week and now I am going to try to send photos. Love you all.

Hermana Destinee Park

Temple

Food I´ve made (it has mango, pache, fried platano, eggs), sometimes my breakfasts are eggs, fried yucca, mango, and frijoles. Other times they are more normal like oatmeal. Good thing I learned how to eat oatmeal before the mission. It helps.

Other food, with ketchup, made by our cook. (yum?  wow, creative cook)

lizards we´ve found in our house

Our zone

Elder Vallecillos (with candy)

bday of my comp.

´´We have been taught and we understand that we must do as the Lord commands´´

I forgot to write everything down in a notebook of the things that had happened this past week so I will do my best to remember. Tuesday we went to the temple, all of us sisters and it was awesome. I told you about most of it on the phone so I will send photos of the temple. I couldn´t take a good photo, but at least I have one. 

Well, this week we had divisions Wednesday and I went to el Frutal. It is a beautiful area and the members are helpful. The cook of the other sisters of the Frutal made us a lunch that included all of the food groups. In the night we bought pizza. It was fun. However, the next day I began to feel ill. I have felt ill to the stomach since thursday so I haven´t eaten too much. I have eaten mainly a little bit of pasta, mango, white bread, crackers, and a lot of water. This weekend I also ate bananas and yucca. Mostly I drink a lot of water.

Last night we visited the bishop and his wife because my companion said that she still doesn´t know him. It was fun to talk to them. They are a couple that are maybe in their early thirties and are really respectful to each other. Other families or close friends use the term ´´vos´´ but they only used ´´tú´´ to each other.

Friday we had a zone meeting and saw some magic tricks because the zone leaders brought in a RM that does magic shows for his work. He showed us some cool card tricks. I still can´t figure out how to do them.

We will find out about the changes tonight. My companion wishes to leave the area , but I don´t want to leave. We´ll see if we have changes.

The week has been a little difficult in the work, but has been good also. Sunday we had a family that attended church. They said that they still had to earn between 300 and 500 quetzals to pay the rent of their house, which money they earn by selling candy on the buses. However, they left their work and got dressed in proper attire, and came to church. 

We had another investigator come to church who is the son of a recent convert, and he is 13 years old. He also came dressed up in a collared shirt and tie and said he enjoyed church. Earlier as we were teaching him he told us that we wanted to be baptized, but he also told us that he hangs out with mareros (gang members). He said he has never done anything with them but said that once when he tried to stop hanging out with them they came looking for him and threatened to kill him. This, therefore, could prove a big problem for him. For him it would mean that if he chooses to change his life and be baptized he could lose his life. If he isn´t baptized and doesn´t change anything he will be fine, perhaps, and keep his life but will not receive the eternal blessings. It opens my eyes to understand better the scripture that ´´he that keeps his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it´´. I´ve seen the sacrifices of many investigators and members to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe experiences like these will stay in my life forever. 

Now I have questions for you all.
What is the most testimony-edifying experience you have had this past week?
What is something you expect me to do or want me to do, specifically, this week to come?
If you could choose one thing to change this past week what would you change?

I don´t have too much more to write this week but I will leave my testimony with you that I know our Heavenly Father loves us and guides us through his prophets. He never has and never will leave us alone. We will always have His help. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and can provide guidance and peace when we have difficulties or problems. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ´s church that has been restored in the earth through a prophet called of God.
I love you all. Love Destinee

The Mother's Day Call

After waiting all day, and late into the night, and worrying that she wouldn't be able to call, the call finally came.  However, it was a horrible connection and for most of the call we could hear a garbled echo of everything we said.  Luckily, Destinee did not hear that, but the sound kept cutting out for her.  The last 15 minutes or so were clear!

Destinee will be returning home between the 13th and 16th of December.  I am guessing that her homecoming talk will be the 18th of December since the next Sunday after that is Christmas, but I will not be sure until at least December.

She had a slight accent and could not remember a lot of English words.  

She lives in a gated community, but calls it a residence.  They can't proselyte in the community without permission and have not sought it yet.  Her neighbor on one side is an Evangelist and has meetings at his house all the time, and she said they hear them yelling "Booyah".  I am not sure if the word they actually use is that one, or if that is the English word she recalls for a shout out.  She said her house is filled with mosquitoes and they have to really cover up at night to avoid millions of bites.  She has not bought mosquito netting yet.  she also said her house ahs a lot of spiders, but they are good because they eat the other bugs.

Her "residence", or neighborhood, is quiet.  The houses are Terracotta  and her house is yellow.  The area is better than other parts of the city and doesn't have too much violence.

Destinee said that she sleeps good some nights, and some nights not so good.  She is still getting used tot he heat, after so many months in the mountains.

As far as investigators, they have two husbands of members who have accepted Baptism, but need just a bit more time.  They have two minors who need guardians permission to get baptized or come to Church, but have not received it.  They also have a young family who are very promising.

She got to go to the Temple Tuesday for a Hermana's activity with Sister Baldwin.  President Baldwin and a Senior couple also went with them.  Afterwards they went to Wendy's for lunch.

She sounds happy, and it was good to hear her voice. 

What´s coming up on next week´s episode?

 Well, to tell the truth, the changes.

Dear Family,
Tuesday was the birthday of my companion. I called the elders of Petapa early and they brought a cake as a surprise for my companion. It wasn´t a surprise for me, but for her it was awesome. I took pictures. I couldn´t leave my companion so had to depend on the elders to do the work.

Wednesday we had our Super pday at  Las Colinas, Chimaltenango. It was cold. The air was like the mountains of Utah in October or November, or Yellowstone. I played volleyball and soccer, and had to run downhill after the ball twice into a mini valley.- It gave me much exercise. The second time I ran down, I couldn´t see the ball, so I knelt to pray. One of the sisters waiting wasn´t reverent and yelled down, ´´way to go Hermana Park. Pray!´´  I found where the ball was hiding. After lunch I played relay games. In one of these games each of 6 people on a team has a number. The number called from both teams runs to th e middle to grab a bottle and carry it back to his or her team before the other team´s number tags them. One of the times I was called I ran to tag the other person (so their team wouldn´t receive a point) and was running too fast that I couldn´t stop. I crashed into the wall.

Thursday we contacted in the morning a family and I asked them if they´d like to be together as a family forever. The man answered and said, ´´Ahorita no. Estamos apurados.´´ (´´Not right now. We are a little in a rush.´´) I didn´t know what to say. What a strange answer.

Friday my companion felt really ill so we were in the  house all afternoon. It was a little boring.
Saturday and Sunday were normal. This week on Tuesday we will have an activity with Hermana Baldwin and all the sisters of the mission. We are going to ´´breakfast´´ and then after to lunch. Wednesday we are going to have divisions so I will have to tell you about these events next week.  

The climate has been hotter here lately. I am glad I am not in the coast. Here there are men that are beginning to call out rude things to me, like they did in Comalapa. I didn´t have any problem in my first change here, but now I am. It makes me angry when the men here call out, spanish and english ´´Canchita bonita´´, ´´Hey baby, I love you´´, and things like that. Last night as we were entering the residence, there were a few men leaving. Some of them had been drinking and smoking and one of them almost hugged Hermana Gaitan. I snapped at the man and said ´´Dejala´´, or ´´Leave her´´. He didn´t do anything in the end. It makes the work harder for me because I lose trust in the people. When I lose trust in the people I don´t have the desire to contact. Maybe there is something I have to learn from all of this, but whatever it is I haven´t found out yet. I don´t know what it would be.

Well, I have been feeling ill  lately, more physically than spiritually. I have a cold and my throat hurts. I have been taking medicine but it doesn´t help much. My body some days feels weak and sore. Instead of exercising, most days I stretch only. This morning I did do exercises. Spiritually I am happy and can see positive results in the missionary work, although they aren´t the results I would like. Nevertheless, I know that someday I will see the results. I am happy.

´´The rains may fall hard,
the sun so burning shines,
but following the Lord and His love,
I really am doing fine.´´
(another poem I just barely wrote)

I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ´s true Church. He has prepared the way for us to find relief. The only thing he requires of us is that we turn to him. The Book of Mormon guides us and like the Bible testifies of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This record of scriptures was translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith, the prophet called to begin this last dispensation. We do not worship Joseph Smith; he was only a prophet, a tool of the Lord, but a man who knew his purpose. The Father has a great work to bring to pass here in this earth and we are the tools to do it, not only the missionaries but every member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If we find our purpose, we will find joy. I share all of this, as well as the testimony demonstrated by all that I am doing here in Guatemala, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  

Destinee will be calling for Mother's Day today.

I knew that Sunday was Mother´s day, but I don´t know how to do the call. There is a number that I have to dial first, and also we had fixed appointments to find new families Sunday, but I will call Tuesday. Tuesday is Mother´s day here. 

Mom, that´s weird about what happened to Kade because Thursday night I was praying before bed and I prayed that Kade would be protected and just as I said those words an image of several men holding a coffin came into my head. Ever since that night I have been worrying about Kade and what had happened to him because I felt like something bad had happened. It made me cry a bit and then I became anxious, looking forward to today to find out what you had to say about him. How glad I am that it wasn´t anything worse. (Hermana Park's brother, Elder Park, was hit by a truck last week while on his bike.  Luckily, he walked away with minor scrapes and bruising)

Sorry about your ankle. That´s no fun.(Yep, mom sprained her ankle)

About the mother´s day call I still don´t know. Mother´s day here is the 10 of May but if I don´t call that day I will call probably the 30 with my companion. More likely the 10th. I will have to let you know next week maybe.(???  I have no idea.  However Mothers Day is the 10th in Guatemala)

Nope. Didn´t get a bunch of emails but that´s okay. Dad said he´ll send dearelders. 

Well, there isn´t much that happened this week. We didn´t have success and things went by really fast. We had placed a fecha with an investigator for May 14 but I don´t think it will happen so soon. This investigator,  is the father of a member. Last Sunday he told us of something he has done that will take some time for him to be baptized. 

When Elder Musick told me of all of this by phone, I wanted to cry. (It isn´t Elder Musick´s fault so we can´t blame him) I say this because some parents would say ´´You made my daughter cry, you horrible person.´´ Just kidding. I am just a bit goofy at times and don´t have much to write so why not write some jokes? They aren´t that funny, sorry.(they make ME smile.....)

Well, other than this the changes are in 2 weeks. A short time, a few missionaries leaving (Elder Musick one of them), so we will have a new district leader for sure, but who knows what else will happen. 

Tomorrow is the birthday of my companion. 

Um... don´t know what else to write. Here are some new facts:
a) Before the mission my favorite day of the week was Sunday and the least favorite day Monday
b) Here on the mission my favorite day is monday and my least favorite day Sunday.

Sundays are so difficult. 

Well, love you much and hope all is well. I know that our Heavenly father loves us and that we as missionaries have angels watching us every day. If not... well, I would have gotten hurt by now. The church is truly the church of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Also, the Bible testifies much of the Book of Mormon and the restoration but the people do not understand it. Until next week.
Adios, Love Hermana Destinee Park

Here is a picture from the Mission blog:

The color purple is the the color of Easter in Guatemala..
it signifies the royal blood of Christ... purple flags drape all
the buildings in Antigua.

Not much this week.......

For Easter I made little baskets an put kinder eggs inside. I also made potato salad and deviled eggs. My companion liked the deviled eggs.

 Friday here was interesting because hardly anyone was in the street and there weren´t any buses running. We had a zone conference and had to ride with the elders of Petapa and a member from their ward. It was rainy and kind of dark and throughout the day I was looking at my watch and remembering the hours in which Jesus Christ was brought to be judged, when he was nailed to the cross, and when he died. It was strange to think of everything in that way.

Last Tuesday we played sports with zone Villa Hermosa at the stake center.  Thursday I did much praying and received much revelation from things such as a little game to how to help an investigator. It was fantastic. The weekend was quiet. Friday we had a zone conference. Sorry, I don´t have a lot to write this week. We didn´t have a successful week. Hopefully this next week. I love you and testify that the church is true. Stick to it and it´ll stick to you. Love Hermana Destinee Park

Hermana Park said: "Hermana Gaitan (is) awesome and says she´ll show me one day to make gallopinto, the traditional food of Nicaragua.  Last week, Monday was training for the greenies, tuesday was our meeting and internet, Wednesday I showed hermana Gaitan the market (mercado) and we cleaned the house and she slept for a couple of hours.

I don´t know about the traditions here,(for Easter) but Sunday there were fireworks. This week is the Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Many will be leaving, there will be more fireworks, and processions. I don´t know what else. This friday we will have a zone conference. This will be the last zone conference that President and Hermana Baldwin will have here. They leave in June with half of the mission. I will let you know about that next week"

And her email:

Family and all,

So with that, it may be possible that my shoes will be worn down at the end of the mission. I run, walk, sometimes get jabs of rocks in the bottom of my shoe that hurt my feet. Ouch, but still my shoes are living. Just my feet feel hot sometimes with all of the blisters and pricks of pebbles.  It is fun to hear about all of the adventures you all are having. Here there are adventures, but sometimes I wonder if they nearly kill me. For example, this week all went well. Friday we had a zone meeting and at the end played a game called animals, which is like the game signs. If I remember it, I´ll have to show you all. It is funny because each person has the sign of an animal, like elephant, frog, crocodile, flea, giraffe, and so on. If someone messes up in the rythm that goes with the game, they have to be a chicken in front of everyone. It was funny.

 

I am not the only one I´ve discovered that has had the protection of dogs. Other missionaries have said that while walking through dark places there are dogs that will walk along until they reach a safer place. It comes to show that each missionary has angels attending them daily, but sometimes they come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they come in the shape of dogs. 

 

With those beautiful experiences, the weekend came, and I am pretty sure that I have never had a more stressful weekend in all of my mission. We walked and walked, and hurried and hurried, and waited and waited, and gathered and gathered to bring people to church Sunday, but our attendance was less than any other week. Sunday we went to gather several people in a half an hour in two separate sides of our area, and waited for one of the families for more than a half an hour. We were late to Sacrament meeting and missed the Sacrament, arriving in time for the last talk and closing hymn and prayer. And after we had set appointments so there was no time to rest really. 

Then later we visited some recent converts which have had troubles lately and I realized that perhaps I am better off and shouldn´t give up. I also thought of (my friend) and her trials, which she wrote about in a letter to me and I came up with a poem (writing poetry helps me often). Here is the summary of my mission in poetry form that each person can apply to their own life as well.

 

They told me that I´d never be great, but I took the climb

They told me I´d never reach the top, but I made it up just fine.

I grew breathless at a couple of points but I enjoyed the sights,

At times it rained until I was soaked, and I didn´t sleep well each night.

My muscles were sore and I felt ill. I nearly wished to give in,

And it made me discouraged to think about how their faces would each hold a grin.

Their mocking and laughter would bring me to tears as they tell me I shouldn´t have tried,

And they´d point and laught at my attempt as I stood there and cried.

With a prayer in my heart I remembered all that God wanted me to be.

I put one foot in front of the other and ignored all that could happen to me,

And with a smile on my face I kept walking. Determination played on my mind.

Though it was painful I kept hiking and I continued trying to make the climb.

I honestly tell you that it was hard. I wanted to give up many times.

But though they said I couldn´t do it, I indeed made the climb.

 

So there is my poem, no one steal it, ha ha. For each of us there are difficulties and problems, trials and pains, but I know that if we place our trust in God and remember who we are, we will make the climb at the end and God will give us the determination to finish what we´ve begin. I love you all and testify that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and living, that we have a prophet, and that our Heavenly Father loves us. Hasta Ver, or Hasta escribir,

Love Hermana Destinee Park

Dear Family,
For the changes, Hermana Elvir left for Antigua, San Pedro, with the house that is very pretty because it's like a large cabin with mirrors all over, a nice patio, huge beds... Yeah, I know it. I received as companion Hermana Gaitan, who came from San Pedro. She has 5 months in the mission, a twin sister, and there is no one but she and her twin who are members of the family. She is from Nicaragua, Managua. There were two missionaries that left for their houses: Elder Romeros and Elder Tux. Nearly one half of the mission was there in the changes it appeared, and President Baldwin shared with us of the anniversary of the church, or rather the organization of the church. The Church began with 6 members and now, as I looked around in the meeting of changes, each of the many missionaries represent a family of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is beautiful to see and receive insights like that.

Thursday when Elder Musick called us and I answered he said, "Que tal, Hermana Parquecito?" He said the same thing last night also. Funny funny. Well, at the end of this week I felt ready to crash. Due to this and minor illness we took a break sunday for a couple of hours to rest. 

How have things gone for everyone? I received some dearelders and a card today. I will send letters tomorrow, hopefully. Oh, we are writing today and had our meeting today because yesterday there was a training meeting for the new missionaries. Tomorrow will be our Pday. 

We haven't heard anything else about the mareros... but this reminds me of something funny. The sister that cooks our lunch told us that all of the stores by the main street have been bothered by the mareros, that the mareros always go to those stores to take money. After this we stopped at the store within our residence. I said to the young man of the store, "did you know that the mareros have bothered the storekeepers on the main street?" He misheard the first time and said, eyes growing wide, "Mareros? Donde?" We assured him there weren't any nearby and then repeated the question and if they had bothered him before. Within the residence the people are safe from the mareros it appears.

Well, I really can't think of much more to write... We don't have any baptisms prepared for this week, maybe for the week to come. I really would like to see a baptism each week.

I know without a doubt that this is the Church of Christ. He is the head of the church and has called a prophet to guide us. I love you. Write to you next week, and have a fun week. Love Desty



 

No email from Destinee today. I will post it as soon as I get one.  Hopefully tomorrow.

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: