Three Blizzards in July #teamCanada

Hey 

So last P-day was literally the best ever on account of Sarah, Sharon and Brianna supplise-ing me and showing up in Fredericton for a 15 minute reunion. Oh man, I've missed them so much. Crazy that I've almost been away from Newfoundland for 3 months.

Also, it's like 32 degrees and the humidity is super thick, but I'm not complaining bc it's better than winter on the Rock ha ha.

Saw plenty of miracles, one of the biggest being able to teach the Restoration on the street (a few times) and inviting someone to be baptized. We're meeting with him again hopefully this week, so I'll let you know how that goes.

We had a special zone conference, so here's a picture of all of the Sisters in the New Brunswick West aka New Brunswick Best zone.

 

I've been trying to convert Sister Anderson to my green smoothies (for those of you who followed me on twitter last summer, the obsession is back). It kinda failed though and we ended up getting Blizzards from DQ three times this week (which is basically a record for me since considering my limit was once a month. lol).

I've been reading over the General Conference addresses again and oh my goodness I am so thankful for the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for a prophet, I'm grateful for the Priesthood, I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon. But even more than my gratitude, I know that it's true. The purpose of the Savior's Church is to bring His brothers and sisters to Him so that He can heal, cleanse, change, purify, and, ultimately, perfect them. That is why we do missionary work.

"Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls unto Him." - President Thomas S. Monson

Love you! The Church is true!

Sister Park

Tiny Tender Mercies

Hey guys,

So honestly, not the best week. But that's okay, it was just a bad week, not a bad mission or a bad life. And really, it wasn't actually that bad. Just a little rough around the edges.

We saw lots of little miracles this week. Something I've had to learn this transfer is to take the miracles where you can get them, no matter how small. Tiny tender mercies are still tender mercies. They also double as great evidence that our Heavenly Father loves us, is aware of us, and will help us keep going.

Today (July 18), is kind of a special day for me. On July 18, 2015, I opened my mission call and learned that I would be serving in the Canada Halifax Mission. Before I even knew this was where I would be serving, I knew that I needed to be here. I prayed before opening my call and asked Heavenly Father to help me know that the place written on my call was the place he wanted me to be. For those of you who have seen the video of me opening my call (the one where I'm shaking like crazy), you can see the moment that I read Canada Halifax Mission, I knew. I could barely say the words. 

Now that I'm actually here, I'm still finding the reasons why, but I'm grateful for the confidence and peace that comes from knowing I am exactly where God wants me to be.

No matter how much patience and perseverance is required, good things always come to those who love God. It's not always easy to leave our nets or our boats or our families or whatever, but sacrifice has always been necessary to develop the faith needed to one day dwell in the presence of God and receive the gift of eternal life. I've still got a long way to go until that point, but I'm grateful to know that it's possible, because of the Savior. He really lived, He really suffered, He really died, He really was resurrected, He really did call another prophet, He really loves us. 

It kills me because every person walking around this city, at one point, had an understanding of the Plan of Salvation and a hope that comes from being on the side of the Savior. We all chose to come here. For whatever reason, people close their hearts or their minds or both to the truth that God loves them so much that He has a plan for everything to work out, no matter how difficult, or horrible, or scary. He's already figured it out. That is why obedience is so important and so beautiful. God already has a plan in place for everything to work out perfectly. The reason we pray is to align our will with His. As we increase in faithfulness, God increases our faith. And that is where the phrase "peace in this life and happiness in the life to come" comes into play.

Elder Richard G. Scott teaches us "You are one of the noblest of God's creations. His intent is that your life be gloriously beautiful regardless of your circumstances. As you are grateful and obedient, you can become all that God intends you to be." 

Despite humidity, despite postal services going on strike, despite door slams, and "not interested"s, despite the Elders not letting me be on their Pirate Ship team, despite everything else that just blows the flame right off my birthday candles, God intends my life to be beautiful. And I am grateful to be here. I am grateful to serve, regardless of what happens (s/o to Seminary Council 2015). 

Turning into @preachykylie once again ha ha.

Canada is great, missions are great.

Remember that God is God and things will all work out.

Love you!

Sister Park

P.S. Canada Post got their crap together, so we're all good.


When the Elders try to teach you dating tips you've known since you were 16.


It's been one year since I opened my call.


It's been one year since I opened my call.



I opened my call one year ago.



Canoe at a gas station that I would've climbed in if I wasn't a missionary.



Our NB flag. The Elders went out in the parking lot then came back in and knocked on the office door. I opened it and they were all standing there with their arms crossed, super ticked. They're just jealous because they don't have a pirate ship flag.


Costco poutine ❤


Selfie Sunday


When your companion wants to make dinner but you're starving.


My call came on July 15, dated just the day before (July 14, 2015).


My call and some of my favorite things.


One of the bridges over the river


Super sketchy elevator in an apartment building that we think used to be a hospital?

"Show me in the Bible..."

Uptown Dreamers and Soul Sisters

Hey guys,

Weird week with a lot of weird people but it was a whole lot of fun.

Exchange in St. Johns with my soul sister, Sister Taylor. We met in the Celestial room 8 months ago and have been trying to serve together ever since. Had some interesting experiences which probably shouldn't be mentioned over email involving a moose statue, huge puddles, a graveyard, an electronic wheelchair and a whole bunch of other stuff. There's people all over uptown St. John who just hang out in their pajama pants (kinda like the Tooele Walmart), hence the name, Uptown Dreamers. 

Also, we got a member to bring us Hi-Chews from the States. 

We also hiked a "mountain" and saw the Kennebecasis River, so here's some pictures. There's no place like St. John ha ha.

People are crazy in Fredericton too ha ha. Talked to some... interesting people. One of them gave me a coloring book of pictures he'd drawn and showed me his tattoos for his dead girl friend and explained 10 different dimensions to me. It was really sweet that he gave me a coloring book though. Generally, people are good at heart.

Taught 4 lessons, got dumped twice but we're not gonna talk about that because it's really sad. At the end of the day, the Church is true. Still trying to find people who are looking to know where God wants them to go. The thing is, God loves you and He wants you in His Church. So if this is it, it's super important that you find out for yourself, so you can have the peace and confidence of knowing you're where God wants you to be, not to mention on the right track to eternal perfection.

At our lemonade stand on Saturday, I saw the very first person I ever taught in the mission field, back when I was in Halifax for like 2 days. Her name is Chloe and she just moved to Fredericton! So that was crazy. Gonna try to teach her again, that's be sweet. She gave us samosas and they were super good (told you people are good at heart).

Been listening to Christmas and ukulele hymns all week :)

I can't remember much else of what happened this week but missions are great and the Church is true.

Love you!!

Sister Park

Oh, P.S. Canada Post is on strike which is the pits, so in the unlikely chance that any of you were planning on mailing me anything, don't, at least until they get their stuff together. Thanks :)

Teaching Jehovah's Witnesses about Jehovah

Hey guys,

It has been an interesting week here in Freddytown. But good. Always good.

Sometimes it's hard for me to even remember everything that has happened, it's all a blur ha ha. Oh, 8 months today! That's exciting. Also crazy and a little bit sad.

Canada Day was so so hot. Like 32 but the humidity is insane. It was good, they had some sort of celebration downtown, but not as a big as America. There wasn't even a parade. I guess Canadians are just too humble for that ha ha. An elderly woman wanted us to go with her to this sketchy Chinese buffet and we watched her practically choke on her food for like 20 minutes I was nervous I was gonna have to whip out the Heimlich. 

Oh, also, we celebrated the 4th of July. Canadians are so cute, caring about other countries besides themselves, aww. Kathy had all of the missionaries over for a BBQ, here's a picture. We lit sparklers and had fun.

Sister Anderson is Canadian, but since I'm her trainer, I've been forcing her to listen to "God Bless America" all day. She's not impressed, here's a video. <God Bless America.AVI>

So yesterday we had a lesson with a family of Jehovah's Witnesses from Africa. lol. The thing is, they didn't tell us they were JWs until we sat down. Also, English is not their first language. I tried not to Bible bash too much. But I walked away with an even stronger testimony and also it was pretty funny. The Church is true, guys. It's literally the kingdom of God established on the earth and anyone who sincerely desires to know that can know it by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Everything hangs on that book. And it's true!

Also, there's this convention going on in Fredericton and it's like ComicCon but its called Animaritime and let's just say we handed out some lemonade to a wide variety of people that day. It was great.

So there's all the random bits, but at the end of the day, my mission is truly the best decision I have ever made and I love it. I work so so hard and I know that Heavenly Father will bless my efforts one way or another. Thank you for your prayers, all of us missionaries appreciate them! 

Sometimes it can be challenging to not compare myself to other missions or missionaries, and Heavenly Father is aware of that. He is helping me as I strive to be more patient and it's something that we will work on together. That's a huge way we can use the ultimate gift He has given us, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. As we yolk ourselves to Him, we will become more like Him.

So here's some pictures and stuff. Hope you like the really awkward one of us in the car ft. my double chin. Happy Canada Day and 4th of July!!

Love you!!

Sister Park