Popocateptl ... active volcano!

Cholula's Church Popocateptl. Popocatépetl is an active volcano located in the states of Puebla, State of Mexico, and Morelos, in Central Mexico, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. At 5,426 m (17,802 ft) it is the second highest peak in Mexico, after the Pico de Orizaba at 5,636 m (18,491 ft). Popocatepetl is linked to the Iztaccihuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés.

August 20th, 2012

Beautiful 'unique' flower ...

EL JEFE means 'THE BOSS' in English

Heaven's Nectar!

Texas boy with his Mexican Sombrero 

Ok so this past week was a tough week.  Jesus was suppose to be baptized this week but we had to change his baptismal date for the 15th...but he still came to church this week so he understands the importance of church which is really good.  Eric is still on track for his baptism this Friday.  Elder Hessing told me that I'm going to baptize him so I'm pretty excited about that...Eric is escogido really!!! He’s already talking about after his baptism his goal is to go the Temple so he is pretty awesome.

Spanish is still really hard to understand but I feel like I can speak better than I can understand because I can’t understand a lot haha.  So yesterday after church and planning and about to go to bed, I just reflected on all the things that I have in my life with y’all and the scriptures and the Church today...and of course about my mission.  I'm so grateful for my blessings it’s hard to put in words. I'm just so happy for my life and the knowledge of the Savior.  I know this church is real and the priesthood is real.  The people and their faith in changing their lives to follow the Example of Jesucristo is just amazing to me.  I also know that God hears and answers our prayers always.

por ejemplo, this last Sunday I was given the opportunity to work with a Hermano Beltran and he doesn’t know any English and I had to work with him for about 2 hours. It was difficult.  In one of our lessons with the menos activos he started talking about politics and I was just lost. But during my day dreaming I realized that Heavenly Father was answering my prayers about Spanish.  It wasn’t in the way I would like, and it wasn't easy, but it was answered. I just need to do my best to try to become better in Spanish and the Gospel...

Yo se que el libro de mormon es verdadero y mediante sus palabras nosotros podemos llegar a ser mas como Jesucristo...con las escrituras y oracion debemos agradecidos por nuestros pruebas y desafios en esta vida...yo se que esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo y el sacerdocio es real estoy agradecido por sus ejemplos para mi y mis bendiciones.  

disfrutan las fotos

Con Amor Elder PARK

English version:

I know that the Book of Mormon is true and through his words we can become more like Jesus Christ ... with the scriptures and prayer.  We must be grateful for our tests and challenges in this life ... I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ and the priesthood is real.  I am grateful to you for your examples to me and for my blessings.

Enjoy the photos

August 13, 2012 - Letter from President Kusch

Elder Park after arriving in Mexico City - May 23, 2012

Elder Park with President & Sister Kusch at the Mission Home in Cuernavaca!

August 13th, 2012

Love this boy!!!

Cuautla (kwau-tlah) officially La heroica e histórica Cuautla de Morelos, (The Heroic and Historic Cuautla of Morelos) or H. H. Cuautla de Morelos, the city and municipality in the Mexican state of Morelos and Popocatepetl, the dormant volcano and, at, the second highest peak in Mexico after the Pico de Orizaba.  

Soaked after one of the rainstorms!

OK everyone so Mexico is going well.  This week we started to get in to the groove because my first few weeks have been absolutely crazy.  This next week we plan on baptizing Eric, of course, and another man named Jesus.  So both Elder Hessing and I should be dressed in white, so it will be pretty cool.  This past Domingo both Eric and Jesus went to church and so they are on track for baptisim on the 24th.  Even though its hard to speak and understand anything, I know the spirit can tell the investigators everything they need to know because the spirit understands all languages even when I don't haha.

The weather here is amazing!! its about mid 80's to low 90's here and it's the rainy season.  It poured on us a couple of times and I started to sing "there is sunshine in my soul today" Ya I know I'm really a missionary haha.  It was super fun to have that experience.  Also, I found out I'm not allergic to bees!  That was a good sign because I was stung by two huge red hornets and I didn't mess with them this time ...  it was like what the heck!!!  But it's all good. When I was stung some Mexican man started laughing at me hah.  This past Sunday I didn't have to give a talk.  My first Sunday I had to give a testimony and a scripture and just tell the people in my Spanglish that I'm exited to be here.  This past Sunday they called me up to say the prayer without telling me and I was like ok that's new haha.  

The work is going good here.  Our area is completely different from other areas because our area is pretty well off and so we cant just contact on the street like most other missionary's so our numbers are not that good. Besides that it's going really well . I'm so happy to be en Mexico and even though its the toughest thing I have ever done in mi vida its one of the most rewarding in my life.  We work so hard to bring people to the waters of baptism.  Why? Because we know it is a covenant that leads to the door of eternal life.  I know that this work is real and true and through the gospel and the scriptures we can become more like Christ...because that is our actual goal to become like our Heavenly Father and his son each day !! That's our meta for our life and eternity.  I know that this is true....

Scripture of the week Mosiah 4:6-12 about faith and the atonement.  (see below)

I know that this church is true ... and through Joseph Smith and the power of God and Jesus Christ, the priesthood is on the earth today. I know that the scriptures are for our benefit and can help us if we apply them in our life. Spanish is difficult but with God's help and your kindness; every thing is possible. I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of God.

With Love Elder Park

 6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the ^{foundation of} the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

 7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

 8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

 9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

 10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in ^sincerity of heart that he would ^{forgive you;}  and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

 11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness; and his goodness; and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.



Tucker Roeller from Southlake will be serving in Tyler's area this Fall.  He had a couple questions for him and here are the answers.  I think I'm going to always say 'someone else' wants to know something and then I'll get the answers to my questions...  ;)

OK so for tucker tell him that:

1 I haven''t bought any boots and don't think I will because Eccos are water proof and I don't walk in the rain but tambien tell him if he gets some make sure they are light and durable

2 backpack ...have a nice backpack but not too nice but here they give us fanny packs and they are amazing 

3  we go to the lavaderia they are members so they wash all of our clothes for free

4 sickness I've been lucky so far just don't drink the water and pray a lot !!!

August 6, 2012

Another email from August 6th...

Eating is great and the Food is amazing!! The members are nice i just wish i knew what they were saying hahah but its all good. Could you tell Dad to send the talk that he gave me in the Email to Cuernavaca...also send brownie mix we have an oven !!!!!!


Ok so be nice to my computer which is yours now haha.  Ya my apartment is super nice and really really big!! sorry I didn´t bring my camera to the internet cafe but I'll do it next week I promise...Things are going good here in Mexico well not really haha because my first week we were in a tri companionship and Elder Fuertes became sick and so we couldn´t work for an entire week but i think it made me more anxious to serve...also this past week elder Hessing had to go to Cuerna for a training session and so I was without him for about  2 days and they gave me a companion that only speaks Spanish  so it was tough haha but even Elder Hessing had a weird couple weeks here but he said mine tops his haha but its all well.  I'm trying so hard in Spanish and I can´t see the progress yet but i´m just going to keep on trying and Pursue with Excelence!! Miracle of the week!!!  a man named Eric called us and told us he has been reading the BOM and wants to have the lessons so we were like awesome!!!  So in our first visit with him he has read all the way to Enos and we have a baptism for him on the 24th so its pretty awesome people always say there are people waiting for you in the World...that's true with Eric

Con Amor Elder Park

Email - July 23, 2012

Elder Park 
Area:  Amilcingo, Cuaulta
State:  Morelos
Zone:  Palmas

Someone was tired!

?

3 Liters...drink away just not the WATER!

Love his missionary tag ...  Elder Parque

The flight was good and the APs picked us up at the airport and then we had a two hour bus drive to Cuernavaca but it wasn't that bad. It's so beautiful down here it's really green hilly and the food is absolutely amazing !!! I wasn't able to work a lot because we were in a tri-companionship for this first week but that elder is leaving which is good because he was really lazy and didn't want to work.  But Elder Hessing and I are going to do great we have some big goals but we can do it!  The language is tough but I'm hopefully picking it up haha but I'm not to worried about it...it's not like I have to talk to these people or anything haha...hows Texas? I bet really hot it's not too bad down here.

I'm doing great and love you all just keeping thinking about me and my Spanish.

 

Con Amor Elder Park

Ok so the flight over was awesome and Mexico City is huge !!! We were over it for a good 10 minutes.  So the APs picked us up and took us to Cuernavaca... I'll start off by saying the food is amazing here.  I was never a big fan of Mexican food until now and its absolutely amazing!!  The first week was tough because we had an extra elder with us and he was sick for the entire time and just is really frito!! It's ok he's gone and Elder Hessing and I are going to do awesome things...the only hard part right now is Spanish they speak so fast and I not so fast haha but that will come with time and work hopefully lol  but I love you and I pumped up the Football today it was a glorious thing haha...hows on the Cover of NCAA 13 just wondering love y'all!

Elder Park

Elder Park's phone call from SL on his way to Mexico!

So thankful for technology!  We had everyone on the call...

Sister Kusch's email - Mission President's wife!

This email and picture came as a 'SURPRISE' on June 23rd from Elder Park's Mission President's Wife:

Sister Park,

I wanted to let you know that we got to meet your great Elder tonight at the Mission President's Seminar. He is doing wonderful and will make a fantastic missionary. It was so good to be with him and hear his testimony. 

 I asked him to write a little note to you and here it is:

Mother! I met my mission president and his wife Kusch! I want to let you know that I'm great. I pray for y'all every prayer, which is a lot. I hope everything is going great. I challenge y'all to read the B.O.M. and read cada dia (every day). 

 Love y'all more than you can imagine!
Love, Elder Park.

I want you to know that we will take very good care of your son.

Con amor,
Hermana Kusch

VEGAS!!!

Elder Park's emails from last week - July 10th!  In the subject line was:  VEGAS!!!

 #1

Well everything is going well. I know that I'm going to leave the MTC on time because 5 of us are going to Las Vegas tomorrow to receive our Visa's and do something. I don't know why were leaving to go to Vegas but its whatever...Mexicans are so weird.  Well that's cool that Jaxson finally got his call but I have to wait more until he opens it .  My Spanish is getting better day by day. As being ZL's all I really do is go to a lot of meetings on Sundays and after each day visit the Zone and talk about the Gospel or questions that they have...I love being the ZL because I get to meet new elders and  become better friends and just serve them.  I'm sorry for Aunt Marla and for Uncle Elmo.  I hope that he is doing OK.   I bet he is because he has the gospel and knows it is true and that he will see her again for time and all eternity.  Well I love you so much and glad for you example to me.

Con Amor  Your favorite Elder Park

 #2

pues this wednesday 5 of us are leaving for VEGAS to recieve our Visas so that means I will be leaving the MTC soon and On time for mexico !!!

estoy muy agradecido por el CCM y por mi Maestros.  estoy agradecido por las escrituras Y todo las palabras de dios.  Yo se que cuando nosotros leemos el LDM y SB nosotros sentiremos el espiritu santo o el amor de Dios.  Gracias por todo sus ejemplos en mi vida!! 

Yo se que la Iglesia is verdadera y que mediante Jesucristo estaremos limpios Con Amor

Elder Park

SO, how funny it was to read he was going to VEGAS!  I'm thinking to myself...no one asked me if he could fly to VEGAS!!!

Tyler had been on my mind all day Tuesday and Wednesday and on Wednesday I received this picture and text:

I just met your son at the UNLV Institute. He's doing great.
He's here today to work on getting his visa. 

 I'm from Sandy, Utah working here this week.  

I sent a text back asking why they were there and this was his response:  

They were there to process their visas. They take them to the institute and usually over to the temple 

while they're there. Usually just a one day trip.

It was such a wonderful surprise, tender mercy, and answered prayer to a missionary mom from someone I don't know.

Thank you!

Pictures from Tyler's camera - Utah & MTC!

Elder Park with Mom and Dad at Temple Square the day before he went into the MTC.

My Baby Boy!

Tyler took this picture...didn't know until he sent his memory card home.  :)

Tyler thought this was SO hilarious that he had to take a picture ... PLAID FAMILY! 

 The next few pictures might be duplicates but they were on Tyler's camera.

May 23, 2012

Salt Lake City Temple

 At the Provo Temple parking lot getting in a few throws with dad before going into the MTC.

 Elder Park and Elder Evans (Bountiful, UT) - Zone Leaders!  Check out his tan towel...yes it's folded and hung up!

 Once a week the Elder's get to go the Provo Temple.

 The sign says "PLEASE DON'T WRITE ON SIDEWALKS"!  People (girls) try to write messages on the sidewalks with chalk so their missionaries can see it on their way to the Provo Temple.

 The mountains are beautiful!

 My favorite Elder is on the right!!!!

 Provo Canyon

 Provo Temple  with the MTC in the background.

There are 4 elders leaving for Cuernavaca on July 23rd...I'm thinking this might be them!

Provo Temple across the street from the MTC - Missionary Training Center 

 Angel Moroni

Colleyville Texas Stake - Elder Park (Keller 1st Ward) & Elder Siebach (Southlake Ward)