Trials

Daniel asked me to post this message as is:

Well this week was a challenge. Just had hot wet weather the whole week. But that is ok the work must go on. It has really been so hot everyday. The days that we do not have sun it is raining like no other but still hot. I love brazil. The new area is going good. IT has been a little hard with two areas combined in one. We have two wards and they are challenges at times but that is ok. I love a good challenge. I also know that the Lord will always help us when we need him. We have found some good investigators in these past few days that i am really excited to teach. The only weird thing is that i am really learning a lot here these past few days as a senior. I have to talk more. So the language is getting better and the lord has really blessed me to increase my knowledge of the scriptures. My companion and i are really different but that is ok i like him. We are having a good time serving the lord. These past few days i have been reading about some people in the bible who really had some difficulties. Man they had some tough times. The great thing is that everytime they had a hard time they counted on the lord and were freed from there trial. That is really how the world works. In helaman 12:3 it talks about trials. Unfortunantly one of the reasons why we have trials and difficulties is so that God can test our faith and that we could remember him again. How easy it is to forget our father in heaven when we dont have any problems. He put the opportunity for trials on the earth to grow and to really know who wants to live with him again. This life is a test. In Alma 34:32-34 says that this life is the time to prepare to meet God. A time for us to have trials and repent and have trials and repent and have trials and repent. It is that way. The church is a place for people that are making mistakes everyday but that want to change. A place for people to remember God and come unto him. The people in the church are not perfect but that church is perfect because it is Jesus Christs church. We can repent in alma 5:33 says that his arms are open for us. And also 3 Nephi 9:13-14 talk about repentance. How great of a blessing to repent and be cleaned and remember our God and our blessgings and be clean again. I glory in my trials as did Paul. yes they are hard. Yes they hurt and yes we can get through them. I want you to read about the church history and than tell me if our trials are hard. I want you to read about Christ and than tell me if our life is hard. I want you to read the Book of Mormon but not just read ponder and than pray and than tell me if this church is not true. After you have done this think.... Can Jesus really help me? If you have a doubt after you did all this read the book of mormon again and than read Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-11 and after you read that read Doctrine and Covenants 127 and see how much Joseph Smith changed. And than ask yourself. Can Jesus Really help me? Can i be forgiven? Can i do what is right? And can i live with my family and my father again? Once you have done this think really think. I will answer these for you. Yes Jesus Christ can really help you. He did not just suffer for nothing. Read Alma 7:11-12 and than read Doctrine and Covenants 76: 22-24. Jesus lives and can help. next questions yes you can be forgiven. Read about christ and what he suffered read miracle of forgiveness and read alma 5:33. or read about the story of the lady that commited adultery and went unto christ. HE wants to forgive us we have to want to be forgiven. That is the key. next question. Yes you can do what is right. Read Nephi 3:7. we can do all things. and than read almost about any prophet or in the bible that he will not give us anything unless we can pass through it to live with him again. Next question. Yes we can live as a family again. Christ died for us and lives again. We have the priesthood authority(Gods power). Yes i do not have one doubt in my mind that i will live with you all and megan and Grandma and God again. I know that God is just he would not take you away from me and nor could he. I love you all so much. He is so just all mankind will know Christ what a blessing. I know i will live with you again. We have to work together in this world. We were not sent here alone. I have brothers i have sisters and have a mom and a dad. But not all i have God and Christ. We need to use all our instruments to stay together. Satans goal is to tear us apart. Christ goal is the bring us together and that is my goal to. LIft where you stand an apostle of the lord said that. Dad lift where you are to bring us closer together, mom lift where you are to bring us closer together, and brothers and sisters lift where you are to bring us together. If one person stops lifting it gets hard. But if we all lift we can lift each other to live for all eternity together. All of us need to really think and repent and try our hardest to live with one another again. This world is tough. Satan wants to destroy our family and the families of the world. Buy why? Through a strong family comes strong warriors and through a strong family comes a whole family to God again. DOnt forget this. Do what you need to do. All of you. Christ didnt do his work alone he had apostles. He was Christ and he needed help. Are we better than he? We all need one another to get back in the presence of our father again. Without you justin, without you krystal with out Jason and without you Shane and without megan i can not make it to heaven again. But most important without you Dad and without you Mom i cannot and will not leave this life to live without you. We are one big eternal family. We are brothers and sisters. Lift where you stand. Take pride out of your life. Humble yourself and give the Lord and broken heart and contrite spirit and a want to change and he will take that and make a great man. Not just a great man or woman but a son and daughter that can live with our father again. The trick to this life is doing the little things. How many times in my life i fell into the arms of satan and was tricked to not do the things that i need. How many times now i have realized that without scriptures and without praying(personal and family), and without church and temple it is impossible for us to live with God again. Do the simple things that is my challege for you. Satan wants to teach us we dont need to pray just read 2 nephi 32 the last two verses. We need to pray. Read Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-11 we need to forgive others. i Will finish this with three scriptures and my testimony. First scripture. in Doctrine and Covenants 103:36 says the only way to win is to be diligent and faithful and pray with what? with Faith. I ask you all to do this. Next talking about blessings listen to what is said in Doctrine and Covenants 82:10 about blessings. YOu can not gain help or blessing with out trying your hardest to do what is right. I love you all so much. i know you can all do this so easy. The last scripture in 2 Nephi 31:17-20 talks about endure to the end. After baptisms and temple and holy ghost we can not stop there. We have to keep going and do the little things not almost do them. Put the word almost in front of the words(i dont know exactly becuase i only have a book of mormon in portuguese) i think the words are endure(continue), perfect, all men, enduring(continuing), feasting, endure, (after behold says the father). Put almost in this scipture and it kinda stinks. You will be in front of you father in heaven and he will say you almost recieved eternal life with me. But why? Becuase you almost did all the things you needed to do. We can not almost do the things we have to do them. Especially the little things. i will finish this just saying. That all is well in the mission. I know that God loves me and i know that i need to be here in the mission. There are so many broken families in brazil and so many sad families. i have a message to brighten there day if they do the little things. I know that Joseph smith was a prophet and he restored this church. I love this gospel with all my heart. I know that we can be forgiven i know that God wants us to talk to him, and i know that the Book of Mormon and the scriptures have the power to change lives if we read them. I love you all so much. I know that we can be an eternal family. Stay strong and do the little thing. I love you all. Until next week.

Elder Parkinson

Help from the Mission President

Well, this week has been great. I had the great chance to have an interview with our mission President. That went so well. You can really feel his love for you. Before that interview I was having some challenges but he really helped me out and I feel so great now.

Again I will say to help you all out who maybe have a doubt -- families are forever through the temple. I have no doubt in my mind about this. I know that God sent us here in families so that we can learn and grow and help each other. In the family is the place that all learning needs to begin. I have really seen this the past few days.

This last week started out slow with numbers. We weren’t teaching a lot of people and finding many people in the street. Everyone was gone I felt like and all of our appointments fell through. In the interview, our mission president helped us to find new ways to find new people and to teach better. We tried it Saturday and Sunday and I can really tell you he is an inspired man. We had great numbers Saturday and Sunday and finished the week great. We had one baptism. Her name is Jaine. She is so great. She is 11 years old and I see Ashley every time I look at her. I am so glad that I was here to help her join the church and come unto Christ. She is such a great example for her family. Now I think we have the chance to marry her father and mother. They accepted marriage and after great time for baptism I am so excited for that family.

Saturday we taught a family that we have taught for a long time. They already turned us down one time for baptism but our mission president said if we plan hard great things could happen. He also told us to focus on this family so we went to work. Planned a great lesson for this family about baptism we took about an hour and a half to plan. When we got there they had a lot of doubts and so our lesson changed so much. The incredible thing is that lesson was the best lesson I have ever had. My companion and I were talking but it was not like me to talk. Our whole lesson was completely different than the one we planned we didn’t use anything we chose to use before. I don’t know what happened. When I was talking I felt so comfortable it was not me talking. The best Portuguese I have ever had and my companion said that I was almost screaming I was talking so loud. I said things I never thought to say. I used Joseph Smith testimony about how he knew he saw a vision. Afterword I bore my testimony. When I was talking my whole body was warm and pulsing extremely fast. When we said amen to finish the lesson my normal Portuguese started again. I know that it was because of the preparation that we had that gave us the spirit. The Lord knew how much we prepared for that lesson and he talked through us.

On Sunday we talked again with the family. Again we planned like crazy. And again we didn’t use our lesson when we got there. And again the Lord talked through us. I spoke bold and powerful my companion spoke clear and to the point. The Lord really helped us. I know that when we do all that we can the Lord is just waiting to bless us. This time they didn’t turn down our baptism invite they accepted. I really hope they go through with it. Their family is amazing.

I know that this is the true church. Like Elder Holland the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Joseph Smith was the prophet who restored the church to the earth with the power of God. I know that we have all the knowledge and tools we need to live with God again. All we have to do is study and prayer to receive them. I love this gospel so much. I love you all. I really hope you all keep doing all the things you need to live with me and Megan and grandma and God again. I will try my hardest to live with God again and I hope you all will to. Just do all the little things. I love you all so much. I have to go -- just know that I pray for you every day.

Still Here For Awhile

I will try to make this letter short and sweet but we will see. Transfers came and I am staying in the same area same house and with same companion. So you can send me some letters straight to my house. My dad and mom have the address. But you have to send quicker than later because if you wait too long I could be gone from here. Also I could really use some letters that would be great. I am pretty excited to stay here because I know that it is help me out learn patience and other things. My companion is great so that is good as well.

Feel free to fill me in on any sports! That would always be appreciated. I would also like some updated pictures of the family. Also Justin and Crystal, do you have pictures of the time we went to the temple grounds with Tashi and everyone I have some people that would like some of those pictures of the temple ground etc.

Also to start this great week I had diarrhea -- that was great fun. I had it for like 3 days. But I kept working through it that was great. My companion also got pink eye so we were both sick for a bit but that just made it more fun to teach. Good news is I did not get pink eye. We also had a presentation in our chapel this past Saturday that was really good. We had a choir sing and people talk about the Book of Mormon. We got new investigators because of it and helped bring less active back to church so it was a success. Also I got to participate with my companion. That was fun to talk Portuguese in the front of like 300 people. The cool thing is they will be making CDs of the music and I should get one for free sometime so that will be sweet to show you all. The language is coming along a lot better and better every day. The hardest thing is I just need more words and a little better with all the conjugations but I am talking without translating now and I am told that my Portuguese sounds more Brazilian than an American talking so that is good. We have a lot of good families that we are teaching a lot of good new investigators that we found. We have also settled into the area so I expect great things this next transfer we will change this area. Missionaries in this area have struggled with baptisms for a while but we will change that.

The only bad thing is that we have had clouds and fog and rain everyday for the past 2 weeks or more -- that sucks. Fog here is an everyday thing. So if you didn’t like fog you would hate it here. That is about all for this message. I just hope that you are all getting ready to send me some great packages and letters. Oh one thing don’t send packages to my house just letters. I love you all. I know this is the true church with all my heart. I love this gospel. I love the opportunity that I have to be here. It is changing my life and I just hope I am helping the people around me. I know that God loves us and will help us in all things we just have to talk with him and he will respond. I know that the Book of Mormon has power -- we just have to open it and read. I love you all so much! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Read the Book of Mormon

So this week has been interesting. We had a ton of appointments this week that fell through. So that was not good but because of the fallen appointments we had great opportunities with new investigators. So we have a lot of great new investigators and I'm really excited to start to teach them. Also it rained a lot this week and was really foggy every night. You could not really see your feet so that was cool. Really difficult to talk to people when you can’t even see them. I got really down on myself this week I just didn’t thing that I was good enough or worthy enough for things and that is why we had so many appointments fall through. But my companion helped with that. He said that one of the best ways for Satan to get at us is telling us that we are not good enough or need to do more. I really agree now I feel Satan trying to bring me down every day. But how great of a blessing it is to have angels of the Lord and Megan with me every day of every hour to fight against the angels of Satan. All I have to do is be worthy of the angels and try my hardest and I will always win. Also I have really gained a testimony and invite you all to bless your houses to the Lord if you have not done so already. It is pretty simple. But I think that all our homes really need it so if you haven’t done so please do so. Also for all my members of the family. My companion wants to train his English and wants to talk to my family so I think he wants to send you all a letter. So be expecting one. It won't be long but it will come. He also said it would be great if you actually replied. He wants to thank my brothers for great example and mom for the recipe for pasta with the works (I made it this week and he loved it, thanks mom). And for the love of my mom and just everyone. He really says my family must be great and I one hundred percent agree. So one person we are teaching is infested with bugs. When we left her house I had bug bites everywhere they are not good bug bites so hopefully I don’t pick up some kind of disease. But there is a promise in Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon that I will be protected and I believe that I just have to stay close to the spirit. So I beat my companion in soccer the other day. And they say Americans don’t play soccer. That is what I am talking about -- one point to America. . The person we baptized the other day really is like my grandma here. She really loves me and thinks I have so much courage and other things. She would get along with Grandma Parkinson very well always telling stories. At times stories I really don’t want to hear. So we went to the temple today. We have the opportunity every three transfers if we are close enough. It was only two hours by train to get there and two hours to return but it was worth it. I love going to the temple. I figured out something amazing. The temple is the same in every country and every language. The spirit was really strong there and I really just loved every minute of being there. I really did not want to leave but I guess I have to continue with the mission. I really would love to go there tomorrow but there are people in the world that need to hear the gospel so that they for themselves can enjoy the great blessing that I have to go to the temple. That is the ultimate goal a mission has for his investigators. I want you all to know that dad does a great job with the blog. I really write pretty sloppy for him in the emails because I don’t have that much time. So I want everyone to tell him thank you. Like I said the week I had some ups and downs but I am still going and excited for what lies ahead. My companion and I are going to have a race to ten. All the ten books that missionaries can read we are going to see who can finish them first. I will win just you wait. I also finished the Book of Mormon last week and oh what a blessing that was in my life. I love this book with all my heart because it brings me closer to my Savior and redeemer and my Heavenly Father. I know that this Book the Book of Mormon is the word of God and when we read it, we can gain a testimony and strength for the days if we go about reading it with faith and an open mind. I have to get going sorry. But letters would be appreciated from all. I love you all so very much. I want you all to try to find a person to share the gospel with. pray for an experience to help a child of God come back to him. I know if you pray for a person to enter your life you will find. I love this gospel so very much. I know that it is true. I know that God loves us and that Jesus Christ died so that we could live. I know that he is the only one that really knows all that we feel in our lives. HE KNOWS US and what we go through. I know that he is waiting with his arms wide open to comfort us and say it is ok. I am here to help. I know that if you pray to God he listens and really want to talk to you. I have such a strong testimony of the fact that families are forever so love your family prays for them and if you teach the things you need to teach. You can be with them forever. I know all these things are true and I leave my testimony with you in the name of our brother and redeemer Jesus Christ Amen. I love you and miss you all.

Elder Superman

This week was great! We had a ton of people cancel on us but that is ok. I was happy the whole week. It helps when your companion is great. We get along really well and joke around quite a bit. We have the same personality but the only difference is he is Brazilian. Even though we had a ton of people cancel on us this week (which was really hard), we worked through it and had a baptism too. It was great! A lady named Sueli. She is Japanese and knew nothing about Jesus Christ before we taught her. She absolutely loves Him as do I and I bet a lot of you as well.

We have a train station that looks exactly like the train station in the movie The Best Two Years. I love that! Every time I see our train station, I laugh because of what happens in the train station in the movie.

I fixed my pants last week. That was cool because I sewed them myself. They are not perfect but they work. The rain has been incredible! It doesn’t ever really stop but I kind of love it. I have gone through three umbrellas. I have really bad luck with them. The second one I bought, I opened it too fast. I guess I am still too strong.

I have really started to love the scriptures so much. I just never want to stop reading them. I will finish the Book of Mormon in 6 days - maybe sooner. So I read it in only 5 weeks that is how much I love them. There are so many sweet stories that if you apply them to your life, they help so much.

My nickname in this area in my ward is Superman or Clark. That’s because a lot of people think I look like Superman or Clark from Smallville. It’s cool that that followed me here. I am ok with looking like Superman. What a great name -- Elder Superman. I am kind of famous here -- I might not want to go back to the United States. I am like the only one that has blue eyes, so everyone stares at me. The eyes and the name plaque are the key. Only bad thing is there are a lot of girls that try to get close to you and flirt and things. Girls here are a lot more open which is not a good thing. But I will push through.

The work is progressing a ton. We have a lot of new investigators who really love our message. We gave a first lesson the other day, and they asked about baptism! The guy said to us, “So how do I become baptized in your church?” How great! I love this work! I love my companion, and I love the Lord. I love you all. I am just so full with love and gratitude lately. I have been blessed so much in my life, and I am so glad I can try to bless the lives of others. I know this is the true church with all my heart. I know I am here for a reason. Reading the scriptures is a key to success in your life. I know that Jesus suffered for us and really does know what we feel and has his arms ready to help. I know that with all my heart. The Church is true!. I testify to this in the name of Jesus Christ., Amen.

Elder Daniel J Parkinson

The Snakes

This week has been great actually. I have been blessed a ton but also had some tough times but who doesn’t?

We have a lot of tea here. They always want to give us coffee but that is a “no go”. So they give us a fruit tea. Don’t worry – it’s straight fruit tea. I am allowed! I have grown to like the tea. I didn’t before my mission - well to be honest, I don’t really remember having it a lot before my mission. But here I get the opportunity to have it. It is not amazing, but I do seem to enjoy it.

They do not know what hot chocolate is. I realized I could make bank here in Brazil! I would sell cookies and hot chocolate and tons of other things.

We had a service project the other day that was great. We did a landscape sort of thing. It was great to be doing that again. I love service projects. The only bad thing is it cuts into my study time. But that is ok - it is always good to serve God’s children. For as it says in Mosiah 2;17, when we serve his children, we serve God. (Yes, Justin I know that was your plaque scripture.) I have come to love that scripture.

This ward is great but they are kind of not helping us like the last ward. They just don’t feel like they have time, but that is ok. I will keep doing my work and hopefully some day this will change. We will have a baptism this week-- the first one in five months in this area. I am very excited! She is so great! Her name is Sueli. She is Japanese and hilarious. To teach her the law of chastity was so funny because she wanted to tell us stories (which is never a good thing). When we taught the word of wisdom, my companion finished and said so all these things don’t help you at all, right? She said, “Yeah, but I guess but alcohol helps me when I am cold.” But that is ok she has stopped all that. She never knew who Jesus Christ was before, so that was fun to teach her about Him. She really loves him so much. We just taught her about fasting and in her prayer to end she said thank you for fasting and help me to fast so I can receive blessings. She needs them! Her neighbors are sometimes ridiculous, but I love them. Satan is working hard to not have this baptism go right. I realized this week I was blessed and our family was blessed so much. I had a car that actually worked unlike a lot of people here but they are so happy to get there car that dies every mile. I was so blessed with a whole family who loves the Gospel. There are about 40 different churches or here in Rio Grande da Serra alone. That is a lot!

I have grown to love the music here and cannot wait to listen to it when I get back. It is funny that everyone here loves to sing their hearts out, but let’s just say there are a lot that aren’t so great. I hope I can still sing a little when I return.

So there are a ton of snakes here. No, not the animal but what we call a girl who just wants the Gospel because she wants the missionary. We had to drop one family because of this. Let’s just say they tried to get a little too friendly with us missionaries. So, we thought it was best to let that family be for a while. Also, a lot of girls notice my blue eyes and seem to really like me. I dont know why -- maybe because I’m American or who knows. There was a group of girls that we passed the other day. When we passed they starting yelling “nossa, nossa, olha seus olhos! nossa nossa vende para me” along with some other things. They were saying something like Holy crap, holy crap, look at his eyes. But a little different than that. Some things I had to change in translation to make more sense. So, yeah there are a lot of snakes here.

I miss you all so much and love you so much. I am so grateful to be here. I am so glad I am on my mission! At times I wish I was with you, but I know this is where I need to be. So I will finish with my testimony and a story and an invitation for you.

It is has been really hot here at least for me. Everyone else is still in jackets, but I have been sweating so much every single day -- I do not like that. The other day I was really having a hard time in the morning. We planned for the day and studied and that day I had to give the lesson I don’t like because it is the hardest in Portuguese. I love the lesson -- it is the second lesson, but it has a ton of weird words in Portuguese. And you have to teach it very well or they really don’t understand. So I was frustrated for not knowing the language and started to think and think and got sad. We got ready to leave for the day. I was frustrated and it was my turn to pray. I told my companion I didn’t want to so he started. When he started to pray, I had the strongest feeling come over me. It told me get in the room get on your knees and pray. So his prayer ended. I went into the room to pray. All I said was “Father” and the best feeling came over me. I felt love. I felt comfort. I felt better - the greatest feeling ever. I continued the prayer but he weird thing is I think I talked about things I was grateful for more than asking for help, and that was not my intent when I went to pray. After the prayer I got up and all my sadness, all my frustration, and all my nerves were gone. I know that through prayer we talk to our Father who listens. At times all we need to say is “Father” and He knows what we need. I know that through prayer we can find peace, love, and comfort beyond belief, and also through prayer we can receive answers to everything we need. I know this because I have seen so many people try it and afterwards receive. I have done it myself and it is real. I love this gospel! I know it is true. I know that we can repent and be forgiven through Jesus Christ. In Alma 5:33 it says something like come unto to me and repent because my arms are open to receive you after repentance. I know that is true He is there waiting. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Oh how great it is to have it in our lives. I love this mission I am on. I only hope that I can help to bring one soul unto God and hopefully change the lives of many including mine. I challenge you all to pray and ask again with a sincere heart if this Church is true, if the Book of Mormon is true, and if Joseph Smith restored the gospel. I know they are all true but you need to know for yourself. So pray and ask. I challenge you to pray always and never cease because when you do you are lead to temptation when you stop talking with God. I love this Gospel will all my heart. I know the Lord will protect us as he did Alma when he was teaching the Lamanites. I hope and prayer you stay close to God always. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dont forget your Elder out her! Letters and pictures are always appreciated. Love you all lots.

Elder Parkinson

P.S. Miracles do happen! I know we just need faith. Just look at Hebrews 11 if you have a doubt about faith.

A Hard Week

Well, this week has been the toughest of my life. I really had a hard time Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t know if I could keep going. I was sad about the language, sad about my old area, sad about family, and I let Satan fill my head with doubts that almost destroyed me. I know that Satan has power now, and so we really need to be close to the spirit so he can not fill our heads with doubts. I really felt dark and sad. But after a prayer and blessing and reading more in the scriptures and your old letters, I am strong again. I know with all my heart the Lord has blessed me. I know with all my heart I need to be here. But now for a little more info.

The new area is huge - 31 sq km. Freaking huge! I walked an hour and a half to one of our investigators houses. That was really fun! Some preparation day soon there is a waterfall close by and a member is going to take us there and hike next to it. I am pumped. I think that we walk for about five hours of each day. Then we have lessons for the other 3 hours, and other than that, we eat and study and sleep. My companion is really strange at times but really loving and knows the gospel very well. He helped me get through my struggles this week even though I almost brought him down with me. But, we are pushing through together. The thing is, I need more patience, and he needs more confidence. He is a great missionary but does not know that.

The work here is different than Batistini. They have not had a baptism for five months here and don’t think they will again anytime soon but I will change that. I think we can get 8 baptisms this transfer. I am pumped for the work. I just hope I always have the spirit with me. That is the only way I can do anything -- especially learn the language. The chapel is so much better than the old area. The old area was a warehouse. Here the chapel is beautiful and reminds me of home but a little different. We have 150 members strong in this ward and soon more to come. I am also planning on working with the less active members. They really need the Gospel in their lives. All people need it. My companion makes incredible food, and so I would really like it if some members of the family sent me some recipes that are cheap, fast and easy to make and easy to find the ingredients. Plus, I need the recipe for scratch brownies since they do not have a prepared brownie box for you here.

I just finished Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. That was amazing!. I plan on spending five weeks to finish the Book of Mormon for the second time of my mission - we will see. I will have zone conference this week, so I will receive letters. I hope you all sent them! I will also put my current house address in this note, so if you send fast (I mean fast), I can get your letters and send an answer back. But you can’t wait long since as far as I know, I am only here for five weeks. It could be 11 weeks but who knows. I could use letters to help me through the hard times, but enough about hard times.

I love this work so very much! I am so glad I am here! Two neat experiences for you. The first is that a lady in a family I know had a family member die. Because of my sister Megan, I have been able to help her. She is so great and her family is great. I really hope they start to have the testimony that I have that I will see Megan again and that our family is forever. I know Megan is with me helping me every day. If it were not for this knowledge, I would not be here.

In the other experience, the missionaries have tried to teach this lady, but she would not let them in until now. When she saw me, she said that it reminded her of her son that passed away. She said she could see his image in me. I really hope I can help them all.

The weird thing is in this area they really look at me a ton. One girl of around 14 was just staring at me for the whole time we had lunch at their house. She wouldn’t stop. She was always asking if I needed anything and really “touchy”. Not good!! There are a lot of snakes as Brazilians say here. A snake is a woman that you have to be careful around. I stand out a lot here. Because of my eyes etc.. They told me to compliment the family for their eyes. One kid said I looked like Superman I am pumped. Smallville all over again- LOL.

Well, that is all for today. I hope all is going well. I know that this is the true church and I know that Thomas S. Monsen has all the keys and power given him from God so he can lead this church. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and saw God and Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon can change lives and has the words of God in them and so we need to read. And so here is my invitation for you all. I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon at least one time through before I get back from my mission. Here is the promise. I promise that your life will be happier. I promise that you will be able to accomplish all the things that you need to. I promise you will feel the love of God more in your life. I love reading every day. I never thought I would say that. But it has helped me so much. I have learned some new and incredible things since reading. I love this gospel. I know I was called by God to serve here. I just hope I can make Him proud. I love you all and miss you so much. Write me soon.

Elder Parkinson

Address

Elder Daniel J. Parkinson
Rua Agostinho Cardoso 245 C/4
Vila Figueiredo
Rio Grande Da Serra-SP 09450-000

Elder Gigante

Family and friends:

This last week has been eventful to say the least and has been great as wel!. So after 10 days of straight rain, we finally got sun. That was GREAT to see! The rain wouldn’t be so bad if it were not for our house flooding. That is no fun. We had to move everything around. It flooded our kitchen all the way back to our study room. But they are fixing our house today, so I am excited. The rain here is a lot worse than back home, that is for sure. When it wants to rain, it rains. I found out the hard way that missionaries work in all kinds of weather - does not matter what is going on around you. But that is ok -- just fun things to talk about. Also they closed all the schools here because of the swine flu. We had inspections and interviews with the mission president this week. That was fun with our house flooded. But the interview was great. Plus I got letters -- that was amazing! Hmmm…where are everyone else’s letters. That is not acceptable!

So I have a new name here. The kids like to call me Elder Gigante (Giant). That is great! All the families that feed us here talk about how they love how much I eat. They say most Americans don’t eat. But I sure do and they love me for it. So there…. You always made fun of how much I ate. I was just preparing for my mission.

I thought I would not see blue and orange here. They actually have a Blue and Orange Store here. Not for BSU thank goodness but still just the colors are not good. [Editorial comment – Daniel is decidedly NOT a Boise State fan!]

The lessons are going great! My language is starting to become better and better. The members have noticed a difference and I talk a little faster with things I know now. I even talk to people in the street. I still get frustrated every once and a while about the language but that is ok.

I have felt myself think about home or work in the weirdest times. I miss home and life there and the family a lot but this is where I am needed. I have noticed that the people here really need us. My comp and I are getting closer and I think because of that, we have had some amazing miracles happen. We gave a blessing to a person. They let me do it in English so they didn’t understand a word but the next day the person felt better. The people here have such great faith. It was not me that healed him. It was his faith in Jesus Christ. We have had so many miracles like that one. He was not doing very good at all. Also another miracle still is Patricia. She is getting baptized this week. She has stop drinking, coffee and alcohol, smoking, drugs and so many other things, and she is ready to be clean. She is incredible! She reads the Book of Mormon everyday and the Liahona. Everyone around her keeps telling us that they notice a difference and so do I. She didn’t even want to live anymore before she accepted the Gospel. This work is great! The Lord works miracles, I am just glad I can be His hands. Also, we had a baptism last week. So two in my first area already. I am pumped! Oh, and Patricia she brought her whole family with her to church -- her nephew and four kids and her mom. They all loved it and her nephew wants to be baptized as well, so we will baptize him this Sunday. I love this work!

We had a little party last night for my comp’s birthday. We had tons of cake. And it was spiritual as well. I loved it! My personality is starting to show more here because I can speak the language.

Well that is all for this week. I love this Gospel. I know it is true. With faith all things are possible -- I have found that out. I know that God loves and knows us and will help us always. I love you all and miss you. Until next week!

Elder Parkinson

A short one but a great one....

So this will be a short note, but a great one! The place here is so different from the states but still good. I am still not used to it yet. But that is ok, I guess I will be in two years. The sunsets here are amazing, and so is the lake.

Our investigators are great! They are really changing. One is incredible. Patricia feels the change in her life and people notice it around her. It’s amazing that before we met her, she did so many not so good things. She was almost going to kill herself, but she loves her life right now and loves to go to church with us every Sunday. She is not wealthy, but rich with love for her family and faith in God. We’ve also got some great new investigators! I am very excited about two amazing families who I will get to teach tonight. This week has been the best one yet! I was able to be companions with my old comp for a day because of splits. That was great! Both new missionaries and we taught some lessons that went incredible! Amazing how much Portuguese I know that I didn’t think I knew. The Lord is helping me so much with that. It is really hard for me to be here, but I need to be here. The people need it so much.

It has been raining for the past 6 days straight. It wouldn’t bother me if it were not for our house flooding. But life goes on. I miss a ton of things from home like the family, friends, sports and just life. I even miss work. I am reminded of work every time I see someone wearing any colors of my favorite teams. I really miss the family so much, so letters would be great and pictures even better.

We have another baptism this week, and I am so excited for it. I really hope all goes well with it. So almost one transfer down. Time does go by pretty quickly. My comp is so weird always talking to himself but he is so intelligent and has such a great testimony. I really want to be able to teach like him someday. He is great!

I love you all so much. I miss you and love you. The church is true and that is why I am here telling the people about this amazing gospel. They really need it, and so does the whole world.

Elder Parkinson

English versus Portuguese

I would like to start off by saying thank you so much for the support. You have really helped me a ton to calm down a little bit with all the letters. I still have a long way to go, and I get frustrated every now and again because of language etc. But I will get over it I guess. The lessons are going great and getting better, but sometimes I go totally blank because my English fights with my Portuguese which is never a good thing. We normally teach like 26 lessons a week still. That is always a good thing. The investigators are great! They are really starting to love the lessons. One has totally stopped everything almost and is almost ready for baptism. She did a ton of things – crack, smoked tons. She loves to read the Book of Mormon and reads it every day.

We have so many great investigators right now. I am so happy and cannot wait till the next baptism. We had one this past week, and the little girl chose me to get in the water and baptize her. She is ten years old and reminds me a lot of Melissa. I love that little girl, and she is very intelligent for her age. Another good thing is that her brother is the one that told us about her. Her mom and dad are not baptized but they are next. That feeling of baptizing her and then confirming her was so great. It didn’t hit me till a little bit after the baptism how great it was. She gave me a short little note on Sunday. I will put it in Portuguese and then translate. Elder Daniel Parkinson: Eu agradeço por você e o Elder Machado ter me ensinado muita coisas legal e boa, e eu Niyara Jade faço está cartinha para você em nome de Jesus Cristo amém. Sua grande amiga Niyara Jade Longo Rebeiro. English now. Elder Daniel Parkinson: I am grateful for you and Elder Machado to have taught me many things cool and good. And I, Niyara Jade, make this small letter for you in the name of Jesus Christ amen. Your Great Friend Niyara Jade Longo Rebeiro.

The food here is really good. We have good meals every day. I miss having a good dinner and breakfast but that is ok. I have yogurt and fruit every morning and sometimes a sandwich at night. The lunches are amazing. Also tomatoes are starting to grow on me. They always have them in the salad, and I felt bad always taking them out so I starting to eat them. At first I didn’t like them one bit but now I can handle them. Another great thing! My first companion is in my district which is great! Every week we see each other and get to talk English. The language is going alright. I get really frustrated sometimes when I can’t say what I want. I feel like an idiot. But I hope they understand through the spirit. I really love this gospel so much, and I really just want to be able to talk to them. I sometimes break down and cry in our house about the language or thinking about family. When I can’t talk, I think a ton about back home. family, friends etc., but I guess I will make it through. I can almost understand all things now!

Dogs are always in the street barking. If I was not a missionary I would probably be dead right now. I miss the family a ton so keep praying for me to have the courage and the strength to push forward. I want you to know that I am fine, the Lord has really taken care of me, and every time I feel bad and then pray, He comforts me. I know this is the true gospel with all my heart. He answers prayers. I love the book of Mormon so much -- I love reading it every morning and feeling the power that comes from it. Well, I got to go. May God always be with you. Try your hardest to be worthy to have it with you.

Reports from the Mission Field

Now that Daniel is actually serving in an area, his time is limited. As people write to Daniel, he tries to answer them on a personal basis. But, he is sending me a "mission update" each week that I will try to get on the blog for everyone. So, I'll be doing several of them today cause I've gotten behind. Daniel is of the "text generation" so I have to do a little editorial work before posting them.

So here's his first one:

For three days straight, it has rained. Let’s just say you multiply the most rain we have ever gotten in Idaho by two, and that is what it was like for three days straight. Our house started to leak all over and flood. But we pushed through it. I prayed to have the water stop leaking because I knew the rain wasn’t stopping and after that, the water wasn’t so bad in the house. I know that Heavenly Father loves and answers our prayers. Oh and my backpack is rain proof for a little but not for a long time. So it soaked everything in my backpack. Not good but I dried it. Also I had to buy an umbrella. I got a small one that I could put in my backpack. It didn’t work -- too small for rain here so I had to get a big one -- pretty frustrated about that.

So I am in America as far as clothes and music go. Everyone listens to American music even though they have no clue what is going on. They all know about Michael Jackson and ask me regularly about him. I also know why they are good at soccer here. They learn balance from the buses -- they are insane. And the hills give them leg strength -- I feel like I am always going uphill. We had huge spiders in our apartment but I killed them. The ward is amazing, and I love them. My comp is strange but I’m getting used to him. He has a great testimony and strength when he teaches. I took some worm meds we got at our zone conference we have to take them every six weeks. They give you diarrhea to get all the creatures out of you. Great….

I gave my first blessing in Portuguese a day ago. It was great but really hard. I still felt the spirit. I am doing a baptism for a little girl this week. She chose me! She is ten. We also have two others with her that are getting baptized and five scheduled for next week. We will see if these ones actually get baptized. We are teaching about 29 lessons per week. So the work is good. Investigators are great. it is so neat to see the change in them. That is the only thing that is keeping me going. I love this work but I really miss you all so very much but I guess I will get over it. I miss sports and other things too, but I miss the family and Idaho the most. Love you all. This is the true church. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. Love you all. The work must go on!

In The Field At Last....

This is the big week! Since Daniel's missionary training center (CTM) was in Brazil, he was pretty much in the "mission field" already, but he moved to this first area this week. Daniel said it is called Bastistini-São Bernado, but from what we can see, it might be spelled "Batistini" in São Bernado do Campo. This is a region just south of São Paulo proper. He had only gotten there 30 minutes prior to sending us this week's email.

He said it was kind out of in the "boonies" and a bit "ghetto" (to quote Daniel) - quite a ways from the city and in a forest. Before he left home, he was told his mission would be very much an urban one -- hardly ever see a tree. Well maybe not....

He had an interesting bus ride there with so many people on one bus. And, he reports, "the girls down here try to get close to you on purpose" -- he was thankful for his companion. His companion is a Brazilian who speaks no English. That should help with language immersion!

You can tell he will really miss the CTM - his old companion, his trainers, and his district. This last Sunday, he and another elder in his district sang a duet during their last fireside. But the work goes on!

He was eager to get going. In fact, he and his companion (trainer) were heading out to teach three discussions last night. And, they had a baptism scheduled for this coming Sunday! He was excited to see how the Lord had prepared the people in this place to receive the Gospel.

He closed by saying he knew the work "will be hard but I will work through it. I love this gospel so much. I know it is true or I would not be here. I can not wait to bring people to the gospel. I only hope the spirit will be with me."

Please note the address change! All snail mail should now be sent to his mission home. He will only get that mail about 3 times during a transfer, so email is still the better way to communicate. Daniel sends his love to all!!