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

"La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha, na na na na na na na".

I think Hermana Park ran out of time this week.  Here are a few short things she did say:

Toads do not make a lot of noise, cockroaches are giant here in the coast. A normal cockroach is like the size of the top part of your thumb... or well, my thumb. And the cockroaches here are like the size of all of my thumb. Yikes! Never thought I would see them so big.

Oh and here is a photo I stole off her companions blog:

Some information from my (mom) personal email:  

My foot still has problems with aching but I have learned to endure it more or less. We have to travel much by foot because our area is large and we have to walk fast, which causes it to be bothered a bit, but it`s not too bad. 

The people here in the coast are really receptive. There are some that are set in their religions but many more that accept us. 

I have eaten a couple of new things like yellow coconut and icaco, of which I will tell you more about in a later email. The meals we eat are always different. The only thing I have eaten twice is a hamburger but that`s because there wasn`t anything else. There is something we drink called Licuados. They are good. They are basically like milkshakes or smoothies but come in huge glasses. I will take a picture and send it to you.  

I love basically everything here. The weather is hot but the air makes things easier, and also there is a lot of rain when it rains. Our area doesn`t see a lot of rain, but when it does rain we get soaked.

What I do not like is that the cockroaches are huge! They are like the size of a mouse. Also many times I am jumpy because there are always frogs on the ground outside or geckos running along the walls.  The iguanas enter our house because we have open windows. They can climb in. The one I saw was pretty cool.

Dear Family,

I forgot to tell you last week about my district and zone. In the district there are 3 companionships, four elders and us sisters, which includes Me and Hermana Marin, Elder Taylor and Elder Jimenez, and the DL, Elder Toledo, and his comp (It is a bit different so I still haven`t learned the name). In the zone there are about 16 or 18 missionaries, and we are the only sisters of the zone. Also, our zone is the smallest of the mission, I believe. Half of the zone will finish their missions in 6 months or less. 

 

Of the things I have tried this week are coconuts, fresh coconuts, which has a water that is tangy. It is like a natural soda drink. Our neighbor, and owner of the house, cut them down for us. I also tried Icaco, which is like a prune but green outside, and inside is like a wet flavorless cotton. There are always geckos on the walls here and frogs, or rather toads, on the ground. Also, nearer by the water there are cranes. 

 

 

 

I have been applicating the scriptures more. I read from Alma 17 about King Lamoni and Ammon. The missionaries are Ammon, the leaders of the church are the servants, the members are the flocks, and the negative influences are like the bad guys. Now read that chapter and put all of these into the story, and you`ll be able to understand better how I saw it this week. I really am grateful to be here and to experience all that I am experiencing. It is a little hard, I must admit, but I am enjoying it. 

 

Tomorrow we will be going to the ocean so I will have to tell you more about that the next Monday. 

 

Sorry because I thought that this would be a longer email, but I ran out of things to write about and time as well is short. I love you all.

 

Love Hermana Destinee Park

(We haven't seen Jorge for awhile!)

Aloha Oi, Aloha Oi

Dear Family,

WOW! So I had changes, but before I tell you about that, last Tuesday we got together one last time as a zone and the elders played soccer. I would have played if they had said anything about it, but they didn`t so I just focused on writing in the baggys of other missionaries and having them write in mine.

 

Well, the changes were exactly how I thought they would be. I had changes to the Coast! I am now in La Gomera, which is the hottest area of the mission, but it isn`t too hot. It is like Utah during the summer right now but with humidity. It feels nice sometimes and other times it feels too hot, but I am adapting. 

 

 

It is so beautiful here. It is like I am in paradaise because it is pure tropics. Grandma would love it here. There are coconut trees and other trees of strange fruits I have never heard about. I have also seen starfruit trees. 

 

 

The coast is about 3 and a half to 4 hours away from the capital. In our area there are frogs, bats, lizards, geckos (occasionally in our bathroom), and I have even seen an owl. Also there are iguanas. They sometimes enter the house. I have heard that the people eat them but we have never been served iguana yet. 

 

 

We have two areas, which are La Gomera and Sipacate. One can see the ocean from Sipacate, or rather it is by the ocean. I still haven`t seen it but I have heard it. Hopefully I will see the ocean Tuesday. 

 

My companion is Hermana Marin from Washington. She`s awesome. She has 10 months in the mission and doesn`t speak Spanish (fluently), but she always talks to the people and that`s what is important. It`s weird also because we are the only companionship of sister missionaries that have two ``Gringas``, or missionaries from the states.

 

Something interesting about the coast is that Santa Lucia, the zone, does not have a stake, but rather it has a district. Just about every area has branches. There is a possibility to have wards but there are a lot of inactive members. 

 

It doesn`t rain often here, but it`s been raining somewhat since I have arrived and so the weather has been a little cooler. Saturday night we were caught in a huge storm while walking to our house. The streets had rivers that were in some places knee-deep. The lightning was very strong and made huge flashes. We were completely soaked when we arrived home, bu I have never had such a fun experience. 

 

 

I love it here. I know that at first I always said that I never wanted to go to the coast because it was too hot, but while in Villa Nueva I felt ready to go. Now I am so glad that I could come here. There is no place more beautiful of our mission that I have seen and I feel fantastic about the area. I sometimes wonder why couldn`t I have come earlier? Funny right? Really I am so happy. We are always placed where we are needed and when we are needed, and also when we can definitely handle our circumstances. If I had come here at the beginning of the year I would have died of heat and would haven`t felt ready.

 

I still know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the church of Christ, the true church. It has the proper authority and the proper prophet. I know that Jesus Christ lives and guides us, and that the Book of Mormon and Bible testify of Him. I love you all.

Love Hermana Destinee Park

 

 

photo of our shower (so cool because it is just a faucet. We shower much faster, and it has cold water only)

And the doctor said,  "Well, the doctor told me that it ´s probably some  bone or cartalage broken around the joint of the toe, and that there is nothing I could do about it except provide more support with cotton and take IBU, but it´s healing well enough."

Questions and answers:

What was the best thing you did this week?
I returned to my first area! Woo hoo. Find out more in next email´s special.

What could have made this week better?
I probably could have served and smiled more.

What little thing did you find joy in this week?
A member gave me an umbrella because he saw how my umbrella was broken. His family is awesome.

What are your goals for next week?
Contact more and work my hardest. With three changes left, I want to make them the best i can make them. Ammon  power!

What was the best thing you learned in Church yesterday?
Trust in God completely. He can play pianos better than I can.

What did you have for dinner last night?
2 little muffins because earlier some members gave us atol and pan dulce.

What is something you learned about your companion?
She has a lot of compassion for those who are suffering.

This week's email:

Dear family and all,

Tuesday I did go to the doctor b ut it was a waste of time to go there because he basically told me that I needed better shoes, reviewed my shoes and found them mission-worthy, and told me to take more ibuprofen. Later in the night while proselyting, we passed by the drinking corner in San Antonio three times and found one of our recent converts sitting, a bit drunken. We talked to him and he said, ´´Perdonenme´´ or  ´´forgive me´´. I felt like crying and knew how his wife would feel. I carried his large heavy bag from work and we walked with him to his house. The bag was as a physical representation  of the burden I felt at that moment.

For Wednesday and Thursday we had divisions. I returned back to La Justo!! The members I talked to still remember me.

This week while studying from the book of Job I learned some pretty good things. Sometimes we do all we should do but all seems to go wrong. It is not that we are wicked but that we are being tried. To be changed from a lovely rock to a strong and beautiful diamond we must pass through the furnace of affliction. Our trials are only a small moment in the span of eternity.

Sunday I played the piano in Sacrament meeting, in front of 138 people and without practicing beforehand. I sure felt a bit of pressure, but I knew I would be well. I missed many notes, but afterward many of the members came up to me and told me I did well and how they were surprised I could play the piano. Maybe the prayers I did beforehand made it not so obvious when I did miss notes. We were disappointed by many recent converts, one of which lied to us, but we talked to ****** into coming, and although he awoke late he arrived to church. 

Later while contacting a woman began talking to us from a higher window across the street. She was crying and continually entered and then returned to the window. She was extremely depressed but there wasn´t anything we could do for her  because we weren´t allowed to enter and talk to her. A couple of times she called out ´´help me´´. It gave me a glimpse of what hell would be like.

Also, we heard of what one of our positive investigators had done. He was waiting for his letter from the first presidency to give him permission to be baptized but he lost hope and began drinking last week. Sunday morning he entered into his house and tried killing his ´wife´, one of our recent converts. His children, ages 19 and 20 tried stopping him but he threw them both. However, the recent convert had the chance to escape and left. I feel much sorrow for them and how they are suffering.

Well, for this week that is all that I have as far as experiences go. I will have to write to you about the changes next week. I still know the church is the church of Christ.

I love you all.  (photos of my 2 broken umbrellas I bought in this area, of our zone, and of the stake center)
Love Hermana Park

 

Water, water, water... no swimming

from a personal email to me:  Mom,I will be able to go to the doctor tomorrow. I talked to the nurse Thursday.  My foot has been hurting less but it could be that i am getting used to it. (I will let everyone know after next weeks email how the doctor's appointment went and what is wrong with her foot.  Thanks everyone for the many prayers on Hermana Park's behalf)

What did you eat for dinner last night?
I ate arroz con leche, a piece of toast, and an egg.

How are your shoes holding up?
My shoes still look pretty new, other than the rubber ones, which are more or less fine.

Are you teaching anyone right now?
We are teaching a lot of people, but not here in internet.(ha ha ha) Our last lesson was with a couple of missionaries during our district meeting.

What could have made the week better?
The week would have been better if the two of us had perfect health and had been able to contact more and find. We contacted, but didn´t find.

What was your favorite thing this week?
The zone conference and Tuesday which you will hear about more later.

What was your least favorite thing this week?
Being a little ill.

What did you learn in Church yesterday?  What were the talks about?
The talks were about the scriptures and how they teach of Jesus Christ. I learned that sometimes our teachers aren´t always correct. The mission leader said that God only calls one prophet at a time, but then after I showed him about two prophets that were around the same time in Esdras 5:1

Dear Family,

For Pday all the missionaries in our zone brought costumes and we did little acts. It was hilarious. After we played a water balloon game, which was like volleyball and with towels. After using up all the balloons, we played volleyball. 

Thursday we had a zone conference, in which I learned some things:
1) We should teach so that even a child will understand. We don't have to use object lessons but we should teach simply and clearly.
2) The first things we learn are often the most important. I need to teach as if I was in the MTC.
3) The contacts we do are references from heaven.
4) All I have to do is talk to people.
5) Faith is to believe and act.
6) The church never fell, only was retired from the earth.
7) I thought of how Peter began to walk on water but then began to sink. I came into the area with a lot of faith but I think in between some changes I began to lack it and became like Peter.
8) Every person on the Earth, if they aren't members, are inactive members of the church because everyone once accepted the gospel when we were in the Great Council with our Heavenly Father.

That day, Thursday, we saw lightning strike a lamp post near the church during a meeting. It sounded and looked like fireworks.

Other than that, I have a cold.  However, I am happy because I did my best (with a certain family she had been teaching) and I'll be able to say at the last day, "I did all that I could do to bring these unto Thee, and they would not." It's interesting to apply the words of Moroni to my life.

I am happy and we have a goal, more or less, to find 11 families this week. It will be difficult to do, and we have never done it before, but I am willing to try. It was more like Elder Nielson asked us how many families we thought we found as a district the past week and I said 11 as my guess, and then after telling us all what we achieved he told us that the numbers we guessed are our commitment for what we will find this week. I don't know how we'll do it, but we will attempt.

Next week will be the changes. Well, That's it for now. I bid you farewell until next week.
Love Hermana Destinee Park