November 19, 2012

Mexico City LDS Temple

Elder Park and friends...

Elder Alverez and Elder Park

 Elder Park, Elder Alverez and Rosario after her baptism!

Tyler on his baptismal day - May 5, 2001  'Cinco De Mayo'

Temple and Baptism

Well Family everything is going great here in Amilcingo Mexico.  I’m trying to be the best I can be in all things that I’m doing.  I’m trying to have patience with Elder Alverez but he’s super stubborn and doesn’t like to do things that I want to do. I have 5 messes and he has 8 or 9 but it doesn’t matter.  I’m a Park and so I’m the Boss haha.   We’re going to Find, Teach, and Baptize people who will be converted to the Gospel.  I’m doing better with the language. I still have tough times but I’m learning how to speak and understand.  The baptism with Rosario went great and we felt the spirit really strong.  I’m grateful for the blessing that I have and that now Rosario will have.  The Temple was amazing!!!! Super beautiful! It is the most beautiful temple in all of the world because it’s in my Home!!!  I love the people here, it’s different, but it’s my home.  Hope turkey day is going great and GO COWBOYS THEY’RE GOING TO GO THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR.  Boo Texans sorry Hannah but their chafismas.  Translation they are really bad haha. 

Here with the comp is going good but we just have to get over a few things but it’s all good.  I’m super excited for the 23 of this month, this Friday, because I’m going to complete...wait for it....6 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!!!  Man has it gone fast. I’m super scared that pretty soon I’m going to have to leave home for my home but I’m going to focus on this right now.  I’m doing great.  I’m learning so much as a servant of the Lord.  I want to tell you something that I learned in the temple.  When we have frustrations in our life with people, or work, just remember how Christ felt when he was hung on the cross and what he said to the all the people that were mocking him and torturing him.  He said to the Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  If we can have more of this attitude or Charity the world will be a better place in TEXAS and MEXICO.

Familia quiero testificarles que se que esta iglesia es la Iglesia de Jesucristo y que El da revelacion a Thomas S Monson para que podamos tener mas de su conocimiento y sabio.  Estoy agradecido por los Templos y por el Espiritu de ellos.  Familia aunque yo tenga muchas pruebas y afliciones como Misionero y humano estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Dios.  Que podemos ser salvos por medio de la expiacion de Jesucristo.  Esta iglesia no es una iglesia de cosas para hacer en facto es un Evangelio de Promesas que nos invitan para hacer cosas para que podamos tener mas bendicions y la felizidad en la Vida.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon...Estas Cosas SON VERDADERAS se que eso

Con Amor Elder Park...Disfruten el dia de gracias y coman mucha pay de calabeza por mi jaja




Translation:

Family would like to testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that he gives revelation to Thomas S. Monson so that we can have more knowledge and be wise. I am grateful for the temples and the spirit of them. Family, although I have many tests and afflictions as a missionary and human, I am grateful for this Gospel of God that we can be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This church is not a church of things to do, in fact, it is a Gospel of promises that invite us to do things so that we can have more blessings and happiness in life. I love y’all with all my heart...These things ARE REAL AND TRUE!

With love Elder Park...Enjoy Thanksgiving and eat a lot of turkey for me!  

    

November 12, 2012

El Dia de los Muertos ...

... Day of the Dead

At first glance, the Mexican custom of El Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — may sound much like the U.S. custom of Halloween. After all, the celebration traditionally starts at midnight the night of Oct. 31, and the festivities are abundant in images related to death.

But the customs have different origins, and their attitudes toward death are different: In the typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared. But in el día de los muertos, death — or at least the memories of those who have died — is something to be celebrated.

El día de los muertos, which continues until Nov. 2, has become one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, and celebrations are becoming more common in areas of the United States with a large Hispanic population. Its origins are distinctly Mexican: During the time of the Aztecs, a monthlong summer celebration was overseen by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Aztecs were conquered by Spain and Catholicism became the dominant religion, the customs became intertwined with the Christian commemoration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1.

Specifics of the celebration vary with region, but one of the most common customs is the making of elaborate altars to welcome departed spirits home. Vigils are held, and families often go to cemeteries to fix up the graves of their departed relatives. Festivities also frequently include traditional foods such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead), which can conceal a miniature skeleton.

November 12, 2012

CAMBIOS ESPECIALES!!!!!  (Special Changes)

So this past week we had Conferencia de la Zona and we learned a lot of things on how to be safe, have the spirit and really be a better missionary of Christ and how to bring people to him.  In the Conference we were able to listen a man from the church about security and he was pretty funny about the things that he had to say.  But as y’all already know missionaries in Mexico aren’t allowed to knock doors or contact people in the calles.  Well if the spirit prompts us to contact someone in the street we can do it but for the most part we don’t contact and we are really trying to work through the members.  A day after the Conference Elder Hessing y Yo were teaching a lesson to Rosario who is going to be baptized this Friday at 4 and she is super fiel (faithful) and already and has a strong testimony.  During this lesson with her and her family I received a call from our Zone leaders who said Elder, I need to talk to Hessing.  I said we were in a lesson right now can we call you later and he said NO haha.  Well Elder Hessing is now in Galiena to be Zone leader there.  I’m not surprised but it was really crazy this past week.   My new companion is Elder Alvarez and he is from Peru.  I don’t know if it was the same in Argentina, Chile, or Texas but missionaries from Peru are very hard to get along with.  So far the companionship is going pretty well but were going to work hard.  

This Miercoles our distrito is going to the temple in Mexico City and I’m super pumped and a little bit nervous for a session in Spanish. I’m pretty sure I will be able to understand but what come afterwards is what’s going to be a cool experience.  In my weekly letters to President Kusch he responded with now you have a new challenge that I know you are ready for.  It made me feel good to hear that Presidente says that I’m ready for this challenge to have special changes with a Peruvian.  We’re going to work hard!  If he doesn’t want to work well that’s too bad because this isn’t mission TRIP this is Mission WORK.  I’m going to be baptizing Rosario because she doesn’t know elder Alvarez very well.  I’m excited that she’s going to take these steps for baptism.  Also, we found a joven named Duban that is taking the placticas right now and he’s really excited and I can’t wait to have another cita with him and hear if he has received ananswer that this is true.  Because it is true and he’s going to get an answer. 

Familia les amo.  con todo mi corazon.  Estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Jesucristo y que esta iglesi fue restuarado por Jose Smith.  Que tenemos todas las verdades de Dios en estos Ultimos dias.  Se que por medio de los escrituras y la oracion vamos a recibir respuestas y con suelo por nuestras purebas y afliciones.  Esta semana pasada fue bien rara porque de los cambios y todo.  Pero mediante estas pruebas creo que yo entiendo mucho mejor de la obra misional.  Les Amo y sigan el Ejemplo de Jesucristo en Nuestras vidas por Perseverando hasta el fin!!!  

Elder Park  Disfruten las fotos de El dia de los muertos 

Translation:

Family, I love y’all with all my heart. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that this church has been restored by Joseph Smith. We have all the truths of God in these last days. I know that through the scriptures and prayer, we continue to receive answers and with tests and by our afflictions we press upon. This past week was rather rare because of the changes and everything. But through these tests I think I understand better the missionary work. I love y’all and follow the example of Jesus Christ in our lives by persevering until the end!

Elder Park Enjoy the photos of the day of the dead

September 24, 2012 - November 5, 2012

September 24, 2012

This week Elder Hessing and I are going to have a baptism with Pilar. Its also going to be really awesome because she is going to be baptized on Elder Hessing´s birthday. She has came to church every single Sunday so she’s pretty excited and knows that’s it true!

         This stuff is real!!!

This past week we went to have a lesson with Iker he’s the Joven that already believes in the Restauracion and the Book of Mormon. He just has to come to church and have some more of the lessons or Charlas. Also we went to have a lesson with his family and it hoped it was going good but His dad is a Borracho. He drinks twice a day or he gets hammered twice a day everyday and it is really sad. One day I guess I said something that really hit him because he told me in his drunk mind that I was his Angel…me dijo... Tú eres mi Angel. He also said to me that He chose me to be his Angel before we came to the Earth...but in a way that’s kind of true according to the Plan de Salvacion. The next day we went to check on him and see if he had been drinking and he hadn’t. He really is trying to get better and stay away from Alcohol!!! This stuff is real its super cool to see the change in people in only a couple of days. I hope all of y’all are doing good and keep reading the scriptures and saying your prayers because we know the truth and we should take advantage of it everyday that we can...I challenge everyone of you to talk to at least one person this week about the gospel and invite them to the capilla.                                

         Con Amor, Elder Park

October 1, 2012
BAUTISMO!!!
Familia!!! que paso
Ok this last week we had a baptism for Pilar and it went great. Elder Hessing baptized her because it was his birthday. It was super awesome to see her make that step and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority. It’s even cooler because the first time we met her we both said that she was super Chafa and that she didn’t want listen to us. But through out the charlas we saw a change in her. She started to read the scriptures and pray for forgiveness and answers! It was awesome to see her use the power of the atonement and be forgiven for all of her sins and mistakes in her last life.
Its going to be weird this next two weeks because in Transfers I could actually transfer to another area and have to start over with another companion and area...I think I´m going to be transferred but its all good. Cool thing that happened this past week is with Erik we made goals for him and of course we set his meta por the Temple in one year and he’s super excited about his Endowment and hopefully we can go depending on where we are in the mission. He already wants to do temple work for his familia in the temple with bautimos primero. But of course the City of Mexico Temple is closed for 1 month or something like that. It’s super cool to see how his entire life has changed and that you can see the joy in his life from this gospel. He has already invited 5 or more people to go to church and take the charlas with elders but all of his friends don’t live in our area!! But it’s ok I can forgive him.

Pues...Famila yo quiero compartir mi testimonio que este Evangelio es verdadero y esta Iglesia es la unica y verdadera iglesia en todo el mundo. Por medio el profeta José Smith tenemos El Libro De Mormon y el Sacerdocio. Con estas cosas sabemos la verdad y tenemos el Plentitud del Evangelio Eterno. Yo se que Jesucristo sufrio y murio para nostoros que podemos regresar con el despues esta vida y ser familias eternas. Les Quiero y yo digo esta cosas por la atoridad del Sacerdocio y un misinero de Jesucristo en el nombre de Jesucristo...
Amen.
Because ... Family I would like to share my testimony that this Gospel is true and this Church is the one and only true church throughout the world. Through the prophet Joseph Smith we have the Book of Mormon and the Priesthood. With these things we know the truth and we have a the everlasting gospel. I know that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us that we can return with the Him after this life and be eternal families. I want to and I say things by the authority of the priesthood and a missionary of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ ... Amen.

Go COWBOYS, RANGERS, MAVS ... Go share the Gospel!!!

Elder Hessing, Pilar and Elder Park

October 8, 2012
La Conferencia General
This past week was general conference and we learned so much from the Apostles and the Profet. It was great to hear the news about the new age for the missionaries and I was really surprised about the sisters that they can go when they are 19 but our profet recieved Revelation so Its probably the right thing to do.
Ok to start out the Saturday session we went to the Capilla en Amilcingo but the computer wasn’t working so we had to Palmas to watch the session so we missed half of the first session. When we arrived in Palmas Elder Hessing wanted to watch it in English so we watched it in English I wanted to watch it in Spanish but it’s probably good that I could understand in it first in English haha. The work here in Amilcingo is really tough the people don’t really want to listen to us and it’s really hard to find nuevos that want to hear about the Restored Gospel...but I’m not worried I know that I’m suppose to learn something from this experience. The one talk that I just loved in Conference was the talk by President Eyring in the Priesthood Session, "Help Them Aim High". By President Henry B. Eyring It talks about the gfts of the spirit and how we all have gifts. It made me think about the gifts I was given and I’m going to receive through exact obedience...
The best think about this past was that I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish on Friday. I didn’t understand a whole lot but I felt a whole lot more. Now I’m starting again in the Book of Mormon that you gave me Robbie. I’m going over it with a marker to count or underline the names of Christ. There’s a promise if you study the Book of Mormon in Spanish and underline all of the names of Christ you will become fluent by the time you finish... I hope that every one of you are doing great. Always remember to do the little things because in the end it makes all of the difference.
Tambien se que Thomas S Monson es el Profeta para nosotros y por todo el Mundo. Por medio sus palabras podemos entender mas de la voluntdad de dios. Las Escrituras son por nuestro provecho e instruccion! Pero para mi la cosa mas importante es que necesitamos orar a dios siempre...porque el es nuestro padre y el quiere escucharnos...
Translation:
I also know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet for us and all over the world. Through his words we can understand more of the plan of God. The Scriptures are for our benefit and training! But for me the most important thing is that we need to pray to God always ... because he is our father and he wants to listen to us...
Mi Escritura de la semana Primer Nefi 13..40
Con Amor Elder Parque

                                                View from a member's home.

Oh by the way, I ate 'Crickets' the other day and they were Bien RICA!!! Very Good!

October 15, 2012
TRANSFERS
Ok so in this past change I´m now in....AMILCINGO still with Elder Hessing. I really like Amilcingo and it is a really nice place! The other thing is that we always get good food but not much because we really only have two meals every day. This past week was super hard though. Almost every lesson or cita with an investigator fell through so we have to try and find new investigators or escogidos or the people who are searching for the truth. The other thing I found out about Amilcingo is that missionaries stay in Amilcingo for a really really, really long time...there have been elders who have stayed here for 7 and 8 months...So maybe I’ll be here for a really, really long time. But whatever happens I’m fine with it.
My Spanish I hope its getting better. It’s super hard to see progress because I can’t see how much I have improved. I´m just trying my hardest to learn and only speak Spanish but it’s super hard to do that with a American comp. So really I’m trying to learn diligence and how to keep my self focused on what’s ahead and what I need to do...but also its hard because i don’t know a lot of words except in the gospel haha.
I’m starting to do push ups and workouts with the bands and everything but its super hard to do it in the morning. So what I do is throughout my studies if I’m starting to have sleep I’ll start doing some pushups or something with the bands for 2 or 3 minutes so I can stay awake and of course look good haha....DAD watch out I’m going to out pass you in push ups when you were in Chile. And Robbie I think I already out passed ya!. But I´m loving it out here...Ya it’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but for those moments of feeling the spirit and seeing some one make a covenant with Heavenly Father...that’s what its all about.
se que por medio nuestro labores y haciendos podemos recibir las bendiciones de Dios. Tambien algo que yo pense...es que Dios sabe mejor que nosotros...Entonces nuestro obetivo en esta vida es seguir la voluntdad de Dios y siempre tener la Fe en nuestras vidas...

       
Translation:
I know that through our work and haciendos we can receive the blessings of God. Also something that I thought is that God knows better than we do ... Then our goal in this life is to follow the plan of God and always have faith in our lives ...

          Con Amor Elder Park Disfruten las fotos

COMO JEFE I know that it doesn't translate in Spanish  but its still fun to sayI love TACOS!

                                     We had a visitor on Sunday for family dinner...

October 22, 2012
Nada
Here in Amilcingo is really tough...I really have to work hard to see results but I love it! The other elders are having lots of success and are having lots of baptisms but Elder Hessing and I still only have 2 in 3 months here in Amilcingo. But I’m not complaining. I’m trying to improve my Spanish every day by talking with other elders and always writing down words that I hear and don’t know so later I can find out what they mean and have a better vocabulary. I’m learning a lot here though and I’m really becoming better at everything with the language and all. Right now I’m in Mosiah in the old Book of Mormon that Robbie gave me and I’m underlining all words of Christ or names like that. It’s a promise that if you do that and really study it you will become fluent. But all together I have read the Book of Mormon 3 times...twice in English and 1 in Spanish and now I’m reading in Spanish again.
One thing that Elder Hessing and I are really good at are getting refrencias...yesterday we received seventeen and so maybe I’m suppose to learn how to do that also because we need all the help we can get. One thing that is really tough here is always we have citas that fall but I’m learning how to plan with back plans and what to do if something else happens. I love the challenge here though. This week I want to challenge all of you to have one missionary experience and invite them to come to church and nothing else. If they come to church you could tell the missionaries that this person isn’t a member and if they could talk to them…help out the other Elders in your ward.
One thing that i really can say is that Prayers are real!!!! They are always answered!!! The Scripture that I found this week that I love is this se encuentra en Mosiah capitulo 2 verciculo 24 y dice...Y en segundo lugar, el requiere que hagais lo que os ha mandado, por lo que, si lo haceis, EL OS BENDICE INMEDIATAMENTE. es una Promesa de Dios a sus hijos. Se que por medio de las escrituras podemos encontrar respuestas y con suelo. Por medio de las Escrituras podemos entender la voluntdad de dios y que el quiere por nosotros. Se que Dios Sabe todo y el sabe lo mejor para nosotros. Se que esta iglesia es la unica y verdadera iglesia en todo el mundo no otra iglesia tiene el sacerdocio de Dios... Les Quiero
Elder Park....estas fotos son chides

Translation:
Located in Mosiah chapter 2 verse 24 it says ... and in second place, he requires them to do the things that I have commanded you, by what, if you do, HE blesses you immediately, it is a promise of God to their children. I know that through the scriptures we can find answers. Through the scriptures we can understand the plan of God and what he wants for us. I know that God knows everything and he knows what is best for us. I know that this church is the one and only true church in the whole world… not another church has the priesthood of God ... I want to bless IMMEDIATELY. That is a promise of God to their children
Elder Park ... these photos are chidas

Volcano!

October 29, 2012
I'm doing great and Safe. They want us to send this because were going to have some changes in the mission...so don't worry MOM!

This is the letter we received from President and Sister Kusch:

          Dear Family of a Missionary in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission:

We want to make you aware that at upcoming zone conferences in November representatives from the Church Security Department will be making a presentation to our missionaries regarding safety and security while serving in Mexico. Please know that this security training is preventative in nature; it is not being provided because of specific issues in the mission. While we acknowledge that we serve in a nation that has and is experiencing danger in many places, missionaries generally are not in areas, or with people that would put them in harm’s way. We also know that these good elders and sisters are under the watchful care of a loving Heavenly Father. Please be assured that we will always do our best to educate and protect our missionaries, and your children.
Sincerely,
President Bruce C. Kusch
Sister Alynda Kusch
Mexico Cuernavaca Mission 

I want like to tell y’all that everything is going great down here in Mexico. We have two investigators that are progressing for baptism very well. The dad is named Daniel y his daughter is named Rosario. They both have testimonies of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon. It’s really important they attended church that’s a first. Rosario I’m pretty sure is a safe bet for baptism because she has friends in the church and she told us that she has received a testimony and so she is doing really well. With her dad he believes in everything but the thing with him is that he isn’t married and so we would have to have him be married with his wife. But before that we would have to have his wife divorce her husband and the rest of his family are members...so there’s support.

The work here is getting better and we are finding out how to find and teach people. Were gaining the trust of the members and hopefully we will be obtaining some references soon. Right now I’m in Alma 7 in the Book of Mormon and its super cool about the story of Alma and Amulek. I feel like Amulek a little bit in scriptures because he talks about he has been called many of times but hasn’t always followed perfectly...but now he’s a good missionary and hopefully I can be a little bit like him if not better. My Spanish is ok I’m trying each day to obtain the gift of tongues by my studies and by talking in Spanish and really doing almost everything in Spanish...I know that the time will come when I will be able to talk and understand with everyone but for right its super tough. But that doesn’t matter right now...I know if I follow and do what I’m suppose to do I will be blessed spiritually and temporally. I hope that all of you are doing the little things that make the difference. READ PRAY ATTENDED CHURCH...most people over look these simple basic points but really by doing these points we will become converted to the Gospel of Christ.
Se que por medio de los cosas chiquitas vamos a tener un testimonio mas fuerte en el Evangelio do Cristo. Las escrituras no son registros de antiguos profetas...son palabras y ayuda en Nuestra vida. Realmente hay una razón que tenemos estas sagradas escrituras. También puedo testificarles que nuestras oraciones son escuchadas y Dios quiere que hablemos con el por medio oración sincera. Pues se que todo de esta Iglesia es la unica y verdadera Iglesia en todo el mundo....

          Elder Park

Translation:
I know that through the small things we are going to have a stronger testimony in the Gospel of Christ. The scriptures are not records of ancient prophets ... these are words that aid in our lives. Actually there is a reason we have these sacred scriptures. I can also witnessing that our prayers are heard and God wants to speak with us through heartfelt prayer. I know that all of this church is the one and only true church in the entire world....

November 1, 2012
Dia de los Muertos
Ok this past week was El dia de los muertos (The Day of the Dead). This day is like Halloween but on some serious steroids!!!! They prepare for these two days for almost 2 weeks and so it’s kind of a big deal here in Mexico. So what happened on this day…we going to our citas and trying to teach and talk about these things that we do...but almost everyone one of our investigators except Rosario because she is segura for this next week. But the entire town went to the panteon (cemetery) for the dia de los muertos. What they do is place flowers on the graves and place their ofrendas...and the ofrendas are what the person liked to eat while they were alive...wheter tamales,enchiladas,tacos dorados,spageti,mole, and other Mexican food especially fruits. So it was super cool to see everyone in the panteon. You would have loved it mom super cool!
So the work is going good. We are going to have a baptism for Rosario for the 16 of Noviembre and she’s super excited for this baptism. Her dad won’t be able to be baptized because he and his wife have a lot of work to do to be married before his baptism…but he will be baptized one day this is claro. Elder Hessing and I are learning how to work in Amilcingo now well at least better. We are finding more people and teaching more lessons. I feel like a pro teaching the First lesson. Or the Restauración. I’m trying my hardest to work hard and to learn all I can to be a better missionary and holder of the priesthood. It’s still tough but it’s always going to be tough but I’m glad to be able to work.
The food here is AMAZING it’s off the chain. I’m super glad I was called here and not some place like Argentina (Robbie) or somewhere in South America (Dad) haha but the food here is so much better. I’ve learned to love the spice of chiles a lot more now. NO pica no Rica. haha. I hope everything is going well in the good ol USofA. I’m going to have the Zone Conference on Wednesday and hopefully then I will have my package and my letters so yes mom I still haven’t received it yet but I believe I will have it soon.
se que todo es verdadero. Y realmente esto es todo. lean el discurso de el Elder Bednar se llama Convertidos al Señor. Este Discurso es bien bien poderoso.

Translation:

 I know that everything is true.  Read the talk from Elder Bednar. It is called "Converted Unto The Lord".  This speech is so powerful. BY ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR

Con Amor

Elder Park Go COWBOYS!