The Beautiful Thing About Disaster

Hey everyone,

I feel so good today.

This week was hard and dramatic to be totally honest. President Pratt ET'd me to Wolfville, NS so I could be closer to the metro because of some health concerns. It was so hard. 

As hard as leaving Gander was, I feel so much peace. I just know that I'm supposed to be here now. I'd been praying all week that Heavenly Father would raise up friends for me to help me through this week. He came through big time and help me to recognize all of the wonderful ones I already had.

The people of Gander took such good care of me. I only was able to say goodbye to Rose in person, and that was such a special moment for me. She is on date again to be baptized! I am so happy for her.

Due to a huge blizzard, everyone on mainland got snowed in and we got stuck in Corner Brook for a few days because of delayed and canceled flights. That turned out to be a tender mercy though. I got to see and talk to a good handful of the members there. Sister Sheppard even made me one last Jigg's Dinner. I got to see some old investigators too, along with the Edwards.

I am so grateful for Priesthood blessings. I've received a few on my mission. Elder Smith gave me such a beautiful one before I left Newfoundland. I know that it came from my Heavenly Father. What a beautiful thing it is to have such close communication with our Father in Heaven.

It's been a little uncomfortable adjusting to Wolfville, but also really good for me. We have an actual ward with an actual building. President and Sister Pratt came to church here yesterday and so I got to talk with each of them. They really have been so good to me.

My new companion is Sister Grunauer. She's from Austria which is super rad. Honestly, she just reminds me of sunshine ha ha. This is her second transfer so I'm finishing up her 12 week with her. I had a crazy realization that at the end of this transfer I'll only have 12 weeks left :(

We are teaching some Chinese students and they are so excited to get baptized. We taught them the Word of Wisdom, which was a little shocking to them, but they are so willing to exercise faith and just try it. One of them, Yuan, said the opening prayer. 

"Dear Heavenly Father,

I haven't seen you in a while.

I miss you a lot.

..."

I loved it! It was such a good reminder to me that our Heavenly Father knows us. He has always known us!

So I wanted to share this story and I really don't know how accurate it is, but just look for the principle I guess.

I heard once that while Thomas Edison was working to invent the light bulb, his workshop caught fire and all of his work was destroyed. It's reported that of this event he said,

"The beautiful thing about disaster is that all of our mistakes are burned up."

I was talking to Sister Pratt yesterday and she gave me a journal. She opened it up to the first page and said "This is your fresh start."

At one time or another, all of us will struggle. No one is exempt. And more than likely, it will probably feel like a total disaster. The good news is that because of the Atonement and Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can always have a fresh start. Our struggles will not always immediately disappear, but when we do all we can to come back and stay close to the Lord, nothing will be impossible to us. I am so grateful for the gift of our Savior. Because of Him, we can change. We can start over. We can be assured that "all will be well", as Elder Iacopucci said in a blessing he gave me on Monday. All is well!

Thank you for your prayers!

Here's my new address for now.

Not sure how long I will be in Wolfville, but here you go!

684 A Main Street

Wolfville, NS

B4P 1G4

Canada

Sister Park

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life.” - President Ezra Taft Benson

Pictures: Newfie cold plate, cake and HERBAL tea with Rose :), church in Gander with Rose. Twillingate, Rose, some of the the people I taught in Corner Brook (Ivan, Sharon and Matt), Jigg's Dinner...and some Grand Falls saints!

6 Feb 2017

Hey guys,

So this week has been good for me. 

We started teaching Erica and James again :) While they were in the Bahamas, she had a really cool experience. She was babysitting a baby that would not stop crying. The internet is also not really reliable there. She was staying at her grandmother's home who recently passed away. We sent her the 20 minute Restoration video, so she decided to watch it. A few minutes in the baby started watching too, stopped crying, then fell asleep. She was able to peacefully watch the video. As soon as it finished playing, the internet cut out. She told us that she felt her grandmother wanted her to watch it. She wants to be baptized! We will keep teaching her to make sure she is ready :)

They both drove 2 hours to come to church at our little church apartment! It was amazing :)

Sister O and I gave a training with the zone leaders about talking with everyone. It went well, it was Sister O's first one. It was fun.

We had interviews with Pres this week. It was really good for me. He was so gentle and kind and I reallllly needed that. He also gave me a priesthood blessing which was also needed. I am sooo grateful for priesthood leaders and especially for my mission president. I wish I could see him more but I will just try to remember. He just said all the right things for me.

We went to Rosie's for supper and to breakfast with the Pratts and Terry. I also took Sister Pratt for a drive while Sister O had her interview which is a privilege not any other missionary has had. 

Things are getting better for me. Someone reminded me about my 15 month mark yesterday so that made me reallllly sad. 

More than anything I am developing a deep gratitude for my Savior. I can not adequately express my love and gratitude for Him and His Atonement.

We also went hiking as a district today but then the storm got realllllly bad and we're not allowed to drive anymore.

Love you!

Sister Park