MTC Week 3

Hello all!

This week has been an interesting one. My zone has almost tripled in size since I got here. The first Wednesday we lost 6 elders and got 16 back and this week was about the same as well. Apparently, this is happening to everyone because the food line is now insanely long haha. Classes this week have turned into less class and more teaching. It's amazing to see people progress and it's cool to see their faces light up when they get what I am explaining to them. I also sang in the choir this week! It was super cool too. My whole district went and did it (partially to get good seats for the devotional) and the choir director ended up sharing super cool stories about the pioneers and the early members. Tuesday devotional ended up being really good too as it talked a lot about how "words are forgotten but feelings are enduring". Through teaching this week I've really seen just how true that statement is. When we teach someone, they might not always remember us or exactly what we said, but as the Holy Ghost confirms what we are saying, they never forget what we teach.

I also got to go to the temple for the first time in a long while today! That was super sweet. It's a lot different looking than the Georgia one inside but still really beautiful.

I leave the MTC here on Tuesday and head out to the real world! It is so crazy to think I have already been out for 3 weeks. Time really does fly.

Elder Parker 

Week 3 - Dad email

Three weeks went way fast. Singing here was super awesome. Where did you stay/have classes at? I found some of the old facilities they aren't using and explored a little bit and it was cool. I wonder if I found where you had class!

That's a sign I found way back up in there.

The mission has been a blast and I can't wait to see what's in store!

Nathan

MTC Week 2

Hello all!

This week has been an amazing one to say the least, and so many cool things have happened. The MTC is truly a beautiful place. I'll try and attach some pictures of the views from the places I study at. It is really spectacular. My district I am in is also really cool. They are from all over the United States and are going all over in the United States. We all do basically everything together and they are all really helpful to me. The food here is alright, could be better, but once a week they cater from the outside world so that's a relief, hahaha.

Something super cool happened this week too. We were supposed to work and prepare a lesson for one of the people we were teaching and it wasn't going really well. We kinda just threw things together but we felt like it didn't really pertain to the person, so we were nervous when we had to go teach, but when we got there, it was a completely different person that I had never seen before. We began talking to her and it turned out that the lesson we felt was prepared poorly turned out to be exactly what she needed. It was crazy to me to see that and it just proved to me even more that this truly is the Lord's work and taught me that we may not always know the reason we have to do things, but God knows and if we do what he wants us to do, things will work out. Also, if any of you know people who want to be on this email list and are not, please feel free to send me their emails!

Elder Parker

Ps, I found a cat!

MTC Week 2 - family email

Hello! How are you guys!

The pictures from England looked awesome! How was it all??? And home??? How was home??? Still working without me???? Hahaha. This week has flown by and it's really been amazing. I taught my first real person this week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He was a philosophy and political science double major from California who moved here to be with friends. He had no idea of who God was or anything really. We taught him how to pray and read the Book of Mormon. It was really awesome to see a change in him and see him feel comfort about the loss of his mother. Yesterday he told us he was highly considering being baptized. It was crazy to me to see just how powerful the spirit can be, bringing someone who knew nothing to loving God and wanting baptism in just 3 short hour long lessons (plus homework). He was a super cool guy and I wish I could keep talking to him and teaching him more and more, but sadly the MTC won't let us. Anyways, that was my awesome week. Hopefully yours was awesome too.

Love, Elder Parker

Emma email

One of the guys here is a big John Denver fan so every now and then we all sing it, or something else (like spice girls) in the shower hahaha. The MTC is a really cool and beautiful place. It's honestly been one of the most uplifting weeks in my entire life, just wish the food was a bit better haha.

MTC Week 1

This week has been really good! I am in a trio for the time I am here with Elder Borsky and Elder Keetch (aka Elder Brodsky and Elder Keesh) the have been awesome and super helpful. Classes have been good and fun. It's really cool being in the gospel all the time, it's kind of nice not having to worry about anything. I've got 9 people in my district, 7 elders and 2 sisters and they are all great examples, although my zone leaders are rather rowdy and gave us a bunch of not so great advice, so we as a district decided to not be like them, and they kind of haven't talked much to us since. I have taught 2 lessons already too! They have been to my teacher pretending, but it still feels very real to me.

How are things back home? how is/was England? How was being at home? I am excited to hear.

Love,

Elder Parker

Also, here is my trio.

Saying goodbye at the MTC