He who receiveth, receiveth more

There are a few verses from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 28, that remind me of several mission experiences. Those we found to teach from other religions would receive us and then tell us that we were wrong for introducing something such as the Book of Mormon to them. Why? Because the Book of Mormon is a second set of scripture. The verses I like most are as follows:

"And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!'' (2 Nephi 28:5-6, 29)

What I like to compare these verses to are my experiences of which the people would let us in and would tell us that there is no need to have a prophet on the earth today or the Book of Mormon as another testament of Christ because God has told us everything we need to know in the Bible. Then they usually told us about how their priest or preacher had healed them by the power of God. If God does not work through men any longer by guiding us, He cannot work through men to heal us either.
However, I testify that God does work through men and the power of his holy priesthood, that there is a prophet to guide us even today, and that the Book of Mormon has been and is given to us to guide us and to prove as a second witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. God will continue to give us more ''line upon line, precept upon precept.''

''The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.'' D&C 18:10

Each and every individual has trials in their life and many times we lose the hope that can help us us through theose trials. Sunday, after having some minor trials of my own during the week, I pondered the question, ''How do we have faith and maintain hope when faced with adversity?"

One of the ways we can have and maintain hope is to remember that when we are going through something that we think no one else would understand, Christ does understand. We will unfortunately make mistakes because we are imperfect and will remain imperfect until the next life, but even with our errors we should make each day the ''best today.''

President Hinckley said in his book 'Way to Be' that, ''You have to stay on your feet and keep moving if you are going to have light in your life. Nothing of real substance comes without work.''
This includes helping others to maintain hope in their life as well. When people lose hope they often begin to withdraw from the gospel and from our Heavenly Father. They become as the small sheep that had wandered from the comforting path. Each individual is uniquely important and deserves our love and care.
Elder Uchtorf said, ''Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself... Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith.''

Something more that I think can help is, ''Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope.''
It is satisfying to study and hear about subjects relevant to faith and hope because I realize that the darkest moments always come right before we reach either our goal or the end. For example, Lucifer attempted to kill Joseph Smith before he saw God and Jesus Christ; Christ was tempted right before he performed the atonement; Moses and the children of Israel were stuck between the Egyptian armies and the sea before the water opened before them; a runner feels faintest before finishing the race. I also experienced darkness and opposition, even from family members and friends, before I left to serve a mission. Each time we are about to do good, Lucifer tries to stop us, but if we have hope we can pull through.

No longer the mission life, but on to a greater mission

It is a little strange to write into a blog, especially when it still says ''sister destinee park'' in its title, considering I am no longer a full-time sister missionary. However, writing helps a person, in this case me, to clear out the mind and put it down for everyone else to read. I have found the changes from the mission life to the regular life unusual because I still feel that I have been placed in a different time zone. Many missionaries out in the field, as they are at the point of returning home, say that they are returning ''to real life''. The truth is that once someone has served a mission they realize that we do not live in the ''real life'' because the real life is out there, serving God and not focusing on yourself.
Since returning home I have had the opportunity to re-learn a few things, make new friends, and ponder about what I will continue doing in my life. Have you ever had the feeling that you want to do something fantastic but do not know what? I often feel like that. I can sense that I have the potential to do great things but I am still unsure about which path to choose.
The scriptures say that '' by small and simple things are great things brought to pass (Alma 37:6) and I know that with my Heavenly Father's help I will be able to reach my potential. Once I explained this to someone using the example of Indiana Jones. Most of the time we cannot see what is before us but we often have to take that leap of faith. In one of the Indiana Jones movies Jones had a deep, dark chasm before him but he needed to cross to the other side. Although he saw nothing he jumped and as he landed a block lit up. He took another step and another, lighting up a path as he went.
When we cannot see what is before us we just simply have to walk forward and God will light the way. I know that He does light the way for us and prepares our way for us. I know that He will guide my future, though sometimes it is difficult to believe, but He does not forsake His children.

El Regreso

Family,

As you all know I have finally returned from my mission to Guatemala City Central. I am grateful for the experiences I have had and I am grateful to be back. I would never trade my mission experiences for anything because it was one of the best things I have been able to do in my lifetime. I have learned much and know that the mission experiences have prepared me for life even more. Well, this past week on Wednesday we had a testimony meeting as the leaving group. The next day we had to arise really early so that we could be at the airport at 6 although our flight did not leave until 8:55 AM. We had started out as 5 sisters and 5 elders leaving, but 3 of the elders were from Guatemala and didn't have to travel by plane; one elder flew to Honduras and another flew to Panama. Hermana Benavides, one of the sisters stayed with her family who had come to pick her up, one sister left by bus to El Salvador, and one flew to Ecuador. Hermana Moeai and I flew to Dallas, Texas, but we were accompanied by six elders from the south mission. At Dallas, Hermana Moeai left to another plane and I continued on alone. I felt strange without a companion and without knowing really where to go. I tried waiting to see if the five elders who were continuing on to Utah would come, but I couldn't see them anywhere, so I prayed for guidance and was led to where I needed to go to wait for the plane. While I was waiting the elders came up and left their bags with me, I telling them that I was willing to watch the bags but if they were stolen it wasn't my fault. I was a little confused because my watch still had the time of Guatemala and I had forgotten that the states have Daylight savings time. However, I was fine and I finally arrived to the Salt Lake Valley, where the climate was much colder than what I am use to. I am thankful for the amazing journey I had these 18 and a half months. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of Christ that He had established on the earth while He walked in His ministry. We have a prophet to guide us today and we are guided by our Heavenly Father. I love you all. I definitely recommend serving a mission. It will change your life!

Love Hermana Destinee L Park (now a released missionary) 

 

 

Destinee's last email was all in Spanish because she said that is what she knows best. I loaded it into google translate, and read the translation. She said I could use someone else to translate and to "please not use google translate, because it lies". Oh well. :)

She talked about how this past Sunday people gathered all over Guatemala in Stake Centers to witness the dedication of the Temple in Quetzaltenango Guatemala by President Ucthdorf. She said, "To be there in a secluded part of the temple on Sunday was something I will never forget." She also said that 36 years or so ago, the people of Guatemala didn't think there would ever be a Temple in Guatemala.

She also said, "We can not have a complete testimony if you have not read the Book of Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church is complete and true, guided by a prophet of God"

My Last 30 days

Dear Family,

So now I am into my last 30 days of the mission. For these last 30 days I have some high goals that I want to achieve because I will not have the chance to do it again. First, I want to reach 210 contacts. I want to find 40 new investigators in a week. I want to put a baptismal date with a family because I will not be seeing the baptism of one. I plan to cast fire to the area and then to my old clothes, finishing it all with a huge fire (no worries because it isn`t literal. Others always say that I am casting fire). I love my mission with all I have because it is a time when I can serve my Heavenly Father, when I can be free from the worries of the world, and where I can change. 

 

As for this, I will tell you about my week because it was interesting. One of the days in the morning my companion was washing something outside. I was cooking breakfast, part of it included rice. I went outside to wash the rice and as I was by the pila (note that my companion was still outside) the door shut on us. I panicked a little because I left the stove on and we did not have the keys with us. The only thing we thought to do was to break the glass so that we could reach in and open the door, but as I reached for the broom by a larger window, I realized that we could lift up one of the slips of glass (the window was put together with several horizontal panes of glass) and stick our hand through it. So I began to do this instead. I was able to get my hand through and open the door, but in the process I broke a bit of the glass and cut myself on it. It wasn`t too bad but I was bleeding. It was a crazy experience. 

 

Thursday we had a super Christmas activity with President Brough and family, and the zones of Esquintla and our zone Villa Hermosa. It was fun because we played basketball, a soccer game that was like crocket, and a human bowling game with soccer balls. Later at night we watched a movie called ´´17 miracles´´ which I would highly suggest seeing. Part of what touched me most was that at the end of the movie the narrator stated how he felt many times like giving up while pulling his handcart, but each time he reached the ´´giving up´´ point he felt the cart pushing him. He said that he knew then that the angels of God were there helping him. My first few weeks in the mission field I received a letter from mom that had that quote on it. That is what has helped me to keep pressing forward each day of my mission. I have laminated that letter with tape and have posted it by my desk so that I can read it each day and remember again that the angels of God are with me and that I can do hard things. 

 

The next morning we had to wake up at 3, be at the stake center at 4, and we left at 4:30 AM for the temple. It was a fantastic experience because other missionaries always finish their mission going to the temple, but they always go alone. I had the blessing of going with all of my zone and with President and Sister Brough. We had a couple of experiences this week of contacting and after an hour or so of contacting we finally contact a door, even at the very end of the night, that opens to us. I have had a difficult week, but a week that was full of many blessings. I know that Heavenly Father watches over us and guides us, and that the angels of God surround us to help us keep going.

 

Finally, this morning as we left the house there was hardly anyone in the street but I said if I see someone in the street I am going to contact them. Well, out of who-knows-where a woman began walking toward us. Therefore, I contacted her and we placed an appointment with her. Sometimes we have to make promises before we receive, and God will not give us what we aren`t willing to keep. 

 

Well, that is probably it for this week. I know the gospel is what we need in our lives to be truly happy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only completely true church although other churches have a little bit of truth. But this church is the true church of Christ. Our Heavenly Father answers our prayers even if it is not at the moment that we want because often we must prove ourselves first to show that we really want the answer. 

 

I love you all. Have a fantastic week. Don`t be baggy, and be happy. Take the ugly things and make them beautiful. And for ever and always, be True and have Faith. 

Love Hermana Destinee Leuana Park

Dear family,

Well, for a brief look on the week, not much happened but at the same time much happened. Last week our pday was on Thursday instead of Tuesday and we had it with all of our zone and President and Sister Brough. We first ate a thanksgiving meal of turkey, potatoes, and vegetables, and after lunch played some silly circle games. We all (like 34 of us) put chairs in a big circle and the first game was called "zip zap zop". In this game one person started saying zip, and pointed at another. The person to whom the first pointed pointed at another and said zap, and then that person pointed to another saying zop. This continued until someone messed up saying the incorrect word or taking too much time answering. This would be added to the list of ways the mission is like Harry Potter: finger Wands. 

 

The second game maybe dad would like. We had to make car revving noises or brake noises, moving it in a circle. We couldn't show our teeth or we were out. I couldn't stay in long because the noises were getting to me and I burst out laughing. It was fun. We also played red light, green light.

 

Friday and Saturday we had divisions and I returned to Las Margaritas, which I guess is a good thing because today I found out we cannot return to an old area anymore. I found that one of the people that was baptized when I was there hadn't attended much, had gotten frustrated with the missionaries, and had had some problems. We couldn't find him Friday night, but Saturday we did find him and could talk to him. The sister that was with me hadn't even met him. However, hopefully all is well now. I was a bit frustrated because our letters of support were in a pile on the desk and never had been given to the recent converts. 

 

We had some funny experiences because we didn't have much success. For example, I thought last week was the fastest reject when someone shook their head after we introduced ourselves in contacting, but Saturday we knocked the door of someone and a woman came to the window, opened the curtain, closed the curtain and walked away. We waited five minutes but no one returned. I told those people, without them hearing, that we would return every chance possible to knock their door until they open it. 

 

We had a pretty tough week, but it's probably for our good. There are worse things that happen. 

 

I know the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that we have a prophet to guides us today. The Book of Mormon is just as much the word of God as the Bible, and it is amazing to see how the Bible truly testifies of the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of the church. The best goal we can achieve is the temple because the temple binds us and those who have gone on to the spirit world together.

Love you all. Until next week.

Love Hermana Destinee Park

Family and Friends,

This week was boring but with a lot of funny experiences.

Sunday was stake conference and we got to hear from Elder Uchtorf, Elder Holland, Elder Clarke, and Sister Cook. Elder Holland started out in Spanish, and we were watching it in English so it was translated. We changed the channel to Spanish, and then he changed to English, so we changed back to English. It was awesome.

Last week we found 12 new investigators but all were women and children. We also found a 14-year old gay guy. He is awesome because his family is Catholic but he doesn`t agree with the Catholics.

Well, other than that... not much happened. The funny experiences I will have to look up and tell you all later because I cannot remember and I am running out of time. I had to take time last night by instruction of President Brough to meditate and look back on my mission and see how I have grown. It was a cool experience. Anyway, love you all. I will write more next week. Have an awesome week. Love, Hermana Destinee Park

Additional information: Thanksgiving Thursday will be spent as a zone and with the President. Villa Hermosa was the most successful zone and so I will be part of the thanksgiving feast.

The area is quiet, really calm, and most of the people speak English. I call it mini California. It is a residence, well actually two residences and a small area outside. But nothing happens here other than the harry potter stuff like I said last time. I like it although it is a little different. There is a lot of work to do. There are a lot of mini-stores and businesses. Nothing interesting.

We ARE

Dear Family and others,

First for the studies. This week I read a little from Helaman 10 and 11 and here it talks about Nephi and how he worked hard to help the people know more about Christ. He unfortunately did not have success and the people rejected his words. There is no greater example of diligence and patience in the scriptures because he worked nearly three years before he had success. 

Also, the Jews placed upon themselves a curse, of which we read in Matthew 27:25. They claimed the responsibility for the death of Christ. 

Well, I found another reason about why the mission is like Harry Potter. There is a little of witchcraft and wizardry, which I will have to explain more later. Just know that I am a little freaked out by this part. 

My shoes are finally beginning to wear out. One pair is definitely worn out, and the other is on its way. I believe all of this is from the rain there in the coast, which should have worn them down a bit. My clothes are still good, but I have decided for the clothes that are more worn out by the end of this change, and that no one would want, I will burn. It would be a great death day also, for which I could stand behind the burning pile and it would appear that I am burning. All missionaries always do things like that for their death day. But I am not sure about that still because we would have to be able to find the things that would make all of this safe, and also we´d need the help of a member, so maybe it won´t be brought to pass. However, the idea was cool. 

Sunday was crazy. I had to play the piano, but there were a series of events. We went to talk to the bishop before the meetings and I told him that I was playing the piano and I had chosen hymns to play, but he said that they were choosing the hymns. It just so happened that three of the 4 I hadn´t played before, which was bad news for me because I hadn´t practiced much for at least three months. We entered in the sacrament hall and someone was playing the piano, so I was relieved, but when I went to show him the hymns he said he couldn´t play them and said it was better that I play them. I did a lot of praying, and somehow during the meeting I played each one just fine. Later in the night we went with a big group (we were 11) to visit recent converts, but the way is narrow and dangerous. We didn´t have any problems but it was scary in returning because it was already dark and we only had our flashlights. By the end of Sunday night we had found 10 new investigators and finished up 200 contacts for the week. I saw some miracles this week, for which I am grateful because it always helps us know that God has not abandoned us.

As always, I am grateful to be serving here and to be on the mission because it is a fantastic experience. I have learned from many experiences and challenges. Love you all.

Until next week, Hermana Destinee Park

I`m in the bubble of the world

Dear Family and friends, or whoever reads this,

Right now I am writing while listening to evangelical music in the background because that is what is playing right now in this internet place. Well, I guess I should take all of this step by step right? Monday night, this is the conversation when the district leader called us (translated to English):

``Buenas.``

``Que tal, hermana? I have the changes.``

``Ok``

``In Siquinalah, Elder Taylor leaves. Elder Jimenez stays and has an interview. In Ceiba Amelia... What do you think?``

``You two stay together.``

``Right. Well, that`s all then. Is there anything else we can do for you?``

``No. All is good.``

``Fine. We`ll talk to you tomorrow then.``

``Ok.``

``Hermana, wait. In your area... You leave. Hermana Manzanares stays.``

``What? Are you serious, elder?``

``Hermana, would I lie to you?``

I thought about it. Elder Toledo does not joke or lie.

 

So, Tuesday I packed a little, we went and learned how to make hammocks, played volleyball with waterballoons with the youth, and I bid farewell to those I could, and we had a lesson. 

 

Wednesday we met at the change meeting. Nearly all the sisters had changes. I am now in Riveras del Rio of Villa Hermosa (it`s like where else could I have gone? I`ve been nearly every where else and the mountains are too far to finish the mission in) with Hermana Johansen. She told me that before the mission she had read my blog and so the first time she saw me she told her companion that she knew who I was. She`s awesome. She`s from Morgan, Utah and has 7 months in the mission. 

 

The area is really calm and is like my subject, a bubble. It is boring after my other areas. I met all the rest of the district this tuesday. Now I have a bunch of elders bothering me about when I return home. There is nothing worse than that. 

 

The change of the food bothered my stomach for a few days. In the coast I wasn`t eating much and not of the same substance, so here when they give me a lot of food it is too much. I have trouble eating full meals. The time is running too fast here. It is as if we wake up, contact and teach, and then suddenly it`s nighttime, and then as I hit the pillow to sleep it is time to arise. I have no idea where the time is going but I am doing what I can to use every minute wisely. 

 

Sunday I tried fiambre. It is a big salad of meats, cheese, and vegetables like radish, green olives, onions, brussel sprouts, and other things. It is interesting, but maybe not the best thing I have tried. 

 

Tuesday this week we played football as a district. It was fun although I fumbled many times, but luckily between me and the district leader we made a goal, hurting one of our teammates in the way. There are 8 missionaries in the district, of which I will write maybe later because I want to try sending photos also. 

 

Well, until next week then. I love you all. I am doing well although the adjusting to a new area is difficult. I will keep going. Hasta luego. 

Love Hermana Destinee Park

 

Licuados

My last Tuesday in La Gomera, with the youth of the branch.

My last Tuesday in La Gomera, with the youth of the branch.

I and Hermana Manzanares (one of the youth, Victor, took this photo)