February 19, 2018

Hola Todos!!!!!!

Wow crazy week. Elder Ruiz is the district leader here and so there is a lot of running around to do. He planned a district meeting that we had on Wednesday and I found out that Elder Ericksen from the MTC is in my district!!!! This will be an awesome transfer. Turns out also that Elder Ruiz has a huge desire to learn English! So he always talks to me in English as much as he can and I correct him when needed and I talk to him only in Spanish!! It is awesome and I can already see it starting to pay off. It is super cool. 

On Saturday, we had a baptism! I haven't taught her at all but it was beautiful to see the first step in a life changing take place right before my eyes for Hermana Judith. She was crying and laughing and you could tell that the spirit was so strongly working on her in these moments. It was amazing!!!!!! Also, thanks to the magic of the internet I was able to see that Hermana Yehimy was baptized on Saturday as well! I am so happy for her and Fernando as they take these steps towards eternal families. 

I also included some pictures of us playing chess which is our pastime at night. My companion is super good but I had to take pictures of the two times that I won!!!!!!!!!! 

Today we didn't go to Cholula as I thought last week but instead a part member family took us to the smallest volcano in the world!!!! It's just sitting in the middle of the city and I believe from what I could understand of what the tour guide was saying that it is somehow connected to Popocatepetl which is the huge volcano nearby. They also took us to eat and I had famous Puebla Mole for the first time! It was really good. 

This mission has challenged me in so many ways already but days like Saturday, and today make it all worth it. To see lives change and also to have a great time in Puebla México. 

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

Mexico Puebla North Mission

It's a dead volcano so they were able to go down inside of it

This is Yemiy--the Hermana that Stephen taught and was baptized on Saturday (after he was transferred)

February 12, 2018

Buenas Tardes todos!

Well, yeah. I have officially finished six weeks in the field. And we were told that Elder Stones and I would be there in Alamos for at least another transfer. But then this morning we got a call that I was going to be transfered!! Yay! 

It'll be alright. I already know this. I have a great companion, Elder Ruiz, and we are going to kill it here in Estadios. Was quite a fun time to pack all my stuff in a small amount of time and move it all. But now I am settled into our nice little apartment and ready for another six weeks to finish my training. Elder Ruiz is the district leader here and he is from right here in México. Good thing I've been practicing my Spanish!!!!!! This is actually the area where Elder Stones did his training so.. What are the odds? pretty good I guess.

We did have to postpone the baptism this past weekend for Yehimy but she and her boyfriend Fernando are on their way to marriage and then hopefully this weekend to the waters of baptism!!! 

Missions are sure full of surprises and lots of interesting people. But it sure is a blast. I believe that this upcoming Monday Elder Ruiz and I are going to go to Cholula!!!! I am so excited for that especially with how much of a history geek I am. Super excited for that. Will make sure to include photos of that. 

The gospel is true. Christ lives. We can feel his love every day. We only need to look for it.

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

Mexico Puebla North Mission

February 5, 2018

Poor Tom Brady.... NOT!

Hi everyone!

Super Bowl Sunday is nowhere near as big here in México but I am so happy to hear that they pulled it out. Any loss of the patriots is a win for me! hahaha

ANYWAY... We are having a Baptism this Saturday!!!!! Hermana Yehimy Mendoza is going to be baptized and confirmed this weekend and we are so excited to see it happen. She has truly been prepared by the Lord and it is amazing to see. 

The other day we had the strangest contact ever. One of our planned appointments fell through so we were sitting on the curb trying to figure out what to do when this random guy carrying his laundry yelled across the street to follow him to his house and talk with him. We did and he gave us weird looks the whole time, had a gigantic house and a bunch of dogs, nice car, I thought "oh no. This is where the drug lord kidnaps me." but no. He was a lawyer and we think he just wanted to use some of his lawyer knowledge to try to catch us in our words. But we taught well and testified of truth. When we had no more time, we shook hands, said goodbye and that was it. Super strange.

Today we got our hair cut. We went first to a barber shop and it was a terrible haircut. Took everythig off the sides, left everything on top, cut my neck with a razorblade, and we paid him and left upset. We then went to the hairstylist down the street and she corrected everything so we are looking nice hahaha. Then, we had a district activity. There is a huge mall just outside our zone and we got permission to go bowling!!!!! It was so much fun even though I am terrible at it haha. 

It has been a truly great week.

-- 

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

Mexico Puebla North Mission

P.S. I posted the picture of the ham package because I got a kick out of the fact that the name of the company is "Food"

January 29, 2018

Hi everyone!

Lots of running around this week from one side of the area to another. But boy are we seeing success. We added another baptismal date this week and Elder Stones and I are getting really excited. As with everyone, there are some obstacles that each of these people have to overcome, but with the Lord, we know anything is possible. 

I am just a few days from one month in the field and wow it is crazy just how fast the time flies. I can't believe it has already been a month!!!! We have been working hard though and it is true what they say. "The days pass like months but the months pass like days"

We see the hand of Christ in everything we do. It is amazing what a huge blessing the members of the ward have been in blessing this area with missionary work. Almost everyone that we are teaching at the moment that have serious interest in the gospel are from member references. That is where success seems to come from. And when these investigators hear a gospel truth for the first time it is crazy cool to see a light flicker in their eyes as the Holy Spirit is testifying to them through Elder Stones and I. We are nothing but instruments in the Lords hand and as long as we keep ourselves well tuned, we can play beautiful music to those who have never heard it before. 

We did a lot of shopping and cleaning today. But man did those ham sandwiches and doritos (Which in mexico taste like Jalepeño cheetos) were the Bomb. This is a great work I have the opportunity to do. The gospel is true. And all you have to do to know that is pick up a Book of Mormon and ask our father if it is true. IT IS AMAZING

¡Gloria a Dios en lo alto!

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

México Puebla North

January 22, 2018

Hola!!!!!!

Wow this has been quite the week. Opening the area was really hard. Lots of challenges the first week in trying to track down old investigators as well as find some of our own. But now, we are seeing the fruits of our labors. We are currently teaching five people who each have a baptisimal date set from our invitations within the last week. Your prayers for them to be able to continue to progress would be wonderful! They're names are Yehmie (Jamie), Vicente, Dolores, Ana Laura, and Fernanda. We have very high hopes that they will continue to progress to the waters of baptism and beyond in the gospel. 

Most days, we spend going to appointments that we have set. It is lots of walking and walking and walking. In between these appointments, we also do door contacts and street contacts. It is more sucessful when we have member references, as the Alamos ward has been filling our schedule with these references, but we still have to try and see if there is anyone ready that we don't know yet. We are teaching a few of these people, and even gave a blessing to an old man with a terrible kidney stone the other day. Afterwards, we taught him a lesson and he invited us back for another lesson this week. We also had a super drunk old man come up to us in the street and give us hugs and stuff because we were talking about God and we took him back to his house safely (practically carrying him back to his house) and left him with a word of wisdom pamphlet. Lets see what happens there hahaha. I have learned a lot this week about just trying to share the gospel with everyone and anyone. It really is a beautiful message we have. 

I did get Salmonila twice in the past two weeks (the second time had me in bed for a long time) but I know that this is just the firey darts trying to keep me down and I know the Lord will strengthen me. He already has so much! The language is gradually coming along. I don't have to look at Elder Stones for help 24/7 anymore which is super nice. The gift of tongues is real. It really is.

We have had a kinda laid back P-Day today with lots of laundry and shopping to do so there aren't very many pictures. But the days really do fly by. I cannot believe It is almost an entire month since I left the MTC. This is the work of the Lord!

BTW... Congratulations to the Eagles on making it to the Super Bowl. Now go crush the Pats and Tom Brady for me. 

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

Mexico Puebla North Mission

January 15, 2018

A Golden Contact and . . .Salmonella!

(a note from Mom: Stephen had a really busy week this week so he asked me to put together a post for him. This is excerpts from the letters that he sent to us)

Opening an area really is like starting from scratch and it has been lots of door knocking and it's tough. But now this week we have a packed schedule of people to teach. And on Thursday night, we were visiting with a family and asking for references. The oldest boy said he had a girlfriend who had gone to church multiple times and said she had a desire to join the church. They just never got in touch with the missionaries. We were like"Why!?? She sounds like a golden investigator!" And then we found out why. Because she suddenly knocked at the door and we talked with her, set an appointment for Saturday, and gave her a Book of Mormon. On Saturday we committed her to baptism. Miracles happen. And it is amazing. [Her name is Jamie and she has accepted a baptism date for February 4th. Keep her in your prayers!]

Today we went to the centro today and explored a little. We found a CIRCLE K!!!!!!!!!!! The frosters weren't as good as at home but they were so great. We also went inside that huge catholic chapel and it was so cool. And then we got Pizza hut. It has been a great week.

On Thursday I got Salmonella. But, luckily, my Mission President is a doctor and he told me to fast (except water) for two days just to clean everything out. It was really rough but I have stayed strong so far!

(This next part is from a letter from Stephen's mission companion, Elder Stones, that his mom forwarded to me)

Elder Parr is a stud! These past couple weeks have been super hard with all the responsibilities and getting to know the area, but my "son" has been doing pretty well. He reminds me a lot about when I first got to the mission. There has been a couple moments where we've had to sit down and work some things out, but he´s so far been a champ. He struggles a lot with Spanish from time to time, but we´re working together a lot and he´s progressed a ton! It´s definitely hard having to be the guy that does most of the talking, but whenever it´s his turn to talk, he brings a special spirit into the room.

January 8, 2018

First week in the books!

Hola Todos!

Well, holy culture shock. This is all so much different than I thought it would be. But it is good. I am ready and able to do this work and to learn the language and everything I need to. I do appreciate all the prayers that I know have been offered in my behalf and please, everyone continue. I can feel the power that it gives me to get through each day. 

Today, my companion and I went to what is called the centro or is kinda the downtown area of Puebla. We were there for some interviews with our Mission president so we didn't get to do much sightseeing but I believe we are going back next week to really explore. It was so beautiful. And I got my first real Mexican tacos! They were so good.

Right now, we are teaching a lady named Ana and I believe that we could really change her life with the gospel. 

Not much to report besides amazing food and a great week so far! Much more next week.

January 2, 2018

¡HOLA!

Well everyone, the day finally came for me to leave the comfort of the CCM. I will miss so much the fullness of the spirit and the people that have made the past six weeks a joy. I thank my teachers for all they did for me to help me learn as much as I can about teaching and about the language before I left. And my district for being such awesome people who have become my little CCM family. They will do amazing things here in the mission field.

Puebla is beautiful and the people are so kind. We took a 2 and a half hour busride from the México city airport to the mission. It was nice and the whole time was trying not to fall asleep. And then we got to the bus terminal and met our mission president and his wife right away. They are very kind and full of love for missionaries. We then drove a short distance to a building where all mission meetings are held and had a few classes about the field and how to effectively contact people in the street. It wasn't until I got here that I realized how much I have to learn. And it freaks me out a bit, but I know with the Lord on my side I can do this. 

We then were introduced to our trainers. My new companion is Elder Stone and he is also from Colorado! Small world. He has been in his mission for I believe 16 months. And he is pretty fluent in the language which will help me out a lot in my first few months. I will be here in my area "Alamos" for 12 weeks. So I will have plenty of time to learn a lot from the people here about missionary work and about the culture here in Puebla. 

We had a short devotional and then jumped right into a taxi and headed to our area. We found our house and wow is it different. There is a gate by the street and from the outside it doesnt look like much. But on the inside of the gate is a big courtyard with a garden and such. We live with some members of the church and they are so nice. It is quite humbling to not understand half of what is said though. 

We then set out with the ward mission leader to scout out the area and learn more about it. (as we are opening this area) Up until us, there have been only sisters in the area which may prove a little challenging because the investigators are used to the spirit a sister carries but I'm sure it'll turn out great. We met some members in the area and sat down and had a short little meeting with a family here. They were so kind and very understanding of my weakness in the language. And we left them with a short spiritual message that I bore testimony of in broken spanish but the spirit was felt. 

We also met the bishop who owns a bakery here in this area. He was very kind and even let me take home a little treat free of charge. We also met the Stake president and his family. They were very kind and gave us a bite to eat which was wonderful. I will say though that was the strangest take on spagetti I've ever had. Was different, but pretty good. I can tell that as I continue to focus on loving these people as I have already begun to, I will be blessed immensely. I need lots of prayers from home though for comfort and strength. This is going to be very hard. But I know I can do it. 

I love you all at home and while Sunday night was going insane in Mexico city with fireworks, music, and just lots of strange noises, I hope that all had a wonderful time on this new year. I sure know what my new years resolution is. Learn Spanish. I love this gospel and every part of this life points to the fact that it is true. Have a wonderful week everyone and Happy New Year!

With Love,

Elder Stephen Parr

Mexico Puebla North Mission