Book of Mormon/ Family Challenge

Yes I did hear about Mckinley. I am very excited to have one more Niece. I just cannot believe that when I left on my mission I only had 7 but now I have 10. haha. I am very excited to be able to see them all. But all of that will come on its on time. For now my time is in the Lords hands. I have had the opportunity to have leadership meetings today and yesterday and will have one more tomorrow. It has been such a great experience and I really believe that if I put the things that I am learning in practice I will become a better missionary and a better person. I have been searching a lot lately on how I can become better. I really have so much more that I need to do. I really feel as though I have not yet reached my full potential that God knows that I can reach. I really just need to start to search for his spirit so that I can find this spirit in my life. I need it so much and I will need it a lot after the mission as well. The key to teaching the Gospel is the Spirit of the Lord. I love my mission so much.
I am so glad that you were able to finish the Book Of Mormon with Krystal. I bet that that was such a great experience. I am starting to read the Book of Mormon again and as of right now it has been such a great experience. I have only read the first 16 chapters but I have really been trying to study and understand what is going on. It has been such a great experience. As Elder Holland stated. I know that this is a true Book and as we get closer to this book we will get closer to Christ. I love this book so much. It really is the key stone of our religion. If we know that the Book of Mormon is true we will know that Christ is our savior and that Joseph smith was a prophet and that this is the only true church on the whole Earth. I know that these things are true. I love my father in heaven so much. I know he loves me. God really wants us to do what he asks so that we can receive the blessings that are awaiting us. I bet there are so many blessings that we really just don’t understand. I cannot even describe the Love that I have for my father in the Heaven. He is way too good to me. He helps me a lot more than I think I deserve. For as Joseph Smith and many other great men have said I feel unworthy to receive so many blessings. I love this gospel so much.
I am so very excited that the girls read the Book of Mormon. That is so great. I really hope that they continue to do that. I think it would be great for you to invite the Whole family to read the D&C. I promise that if you do this God will open up the windows of Heaven and bless our family as a whole. He will pour out his love and all will be edified. I will try to do the same but I don’t know if I can. I am trying to finish the Book of Mormon again. Also just to let you know. Please Please Please do not forget to read the Book of Mormon. Even if you are studying D&C you cannot stop reading the Book of Mormon. At least read one chapter or less each day from the Book of Mormon. This is so important. If we stop to read the Book of Mormon our faith and our testimony in this Church could be affected. I pray and hope that you are all doing things to strengthen your faith and your testimony and that you are all doing little things to help your purpose to live with God for time and all eternity. He is waiting for you and so are Megan and many others. Let us do our part so that our family can be together forever. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. Until next week I love you so much.
Elder Daniel Parkinson

Change/Remember to Pray

Well this week has been interesting. I am now taking care of two wards and two stakes and my zone. haha. I guess the Lord has more confidence in me than what I have in myself. It will be interesting. It is great though to have my comp with me. He will help a lot with all of this. He is always pretty positive. My ward split last week and they didn't even tell us that they would do that. Our mission president didn’t even know. So it was a pretty big surprise. So now I will be taking care of two wards and a little bit more area than before. That will be great. I always have liked a good challenge. Well this last week has been great and a little bumpy. I would ask you all to pray for me always. It seems as though the enemy lately would like me to stop my work. I would ask for you all to pray for me to have strength and to stay animated and always do the little things. I will need your prayers. Prayers really do make miracles happen. Until now though no worries all is well and I really love my mission. I just would ask for your prayers to help me come even closer to the Lord. Yesterday we found a family that is really amazing. They are so great. We found a family where the mom and dad are married, that is very rare here in Brazil. They are a great family and seem to be very united and really yearning for the Gospel. I am excited to keep teaching them. It will be a great experience. Thank you for everything that you are all doing for me. I know that this is the true church and that God is always on our side when we do the things we need to. I love my savior and know that he suffered for me and paid for my sins. That is such a great blessing to know these things. I also know that God made a perfect plan for all of us. It is so great to know these things. I feel really blessed to have this knowledge in my life. Sorry that I cannot write that much more. I need to go and teach the people about our Heavenly Father and Savior. They need to hear this great message that we have. I love my mission so much. I tell you all now that I don’t know if I will get a chance to write next week. We will have a big meeting with all the leaders. I will try my hardest but just a warning. Love you all. I KNOW THIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH AND THAT GOD LOVES US. Be strong and do the little things and God will be on your side. Thank you again for everything. Know that all is well.
Elder Daniel Parkinson.

Baptism/Transfer

Mother you really are a blessing to me and a hero of mine. I love you so much. I love you all family. I have been thinking lately about the mission. I really love the mission so much. I think it will be hard for me to go home because Brazil is now my home. I love it here and I love the people and the Language. The Lord is amazing. He blesses us so much if we just do what he asks us to do. Me and my companion have been blessed so much this last transfer. This last Sunday we had one more baptism. It was the best transfer(as far as baptisms go) that I have had on the mission yet. The baptism we had this last Sunday was great. I sang a special musical number for the person and I hope that he enjoyed it. The meeting was really spiritual. We are planning on having one more baptism this coming week. This baptism would really be a blessing. We have not had that much time to teach this person but she just seems to be progressing so much every single day. The Lord really does work miracles. One more miracle is that finally I stayed in an area. I will be here one more Transfer and even with the same companion. My companion keeps joking around that he is training me to be the next assistant to the President. I sure hope he is joking at least. I would accept the calling but it would be pretty hard. I really do not think I have to worry about it that much. Well all and all the mission is going great. I love the Lord so much and I love doing His work. I hope that you are all doing well.
I to know that our family can be together forever. It just means that all of us have to do the little things. Because salvation is completed and gained individually but if we all do our part we can be together forever. What a blessing that is. For this reason all of us have to stick together to help lift the other one up. In 4 Nephi it says that they were obeying all the commandments and praying always. After it says that it says that they were the happiest people out of all of Gods creations. So that is the key. If we all do our part and help others as well we will be happy. We will have true happiness with us, a happiness that does not end with this life.
I am truly excited to drive a car again. YOU better plan on letting me drive from the airport. Is the new car automatic or manual? One day I really want a manual car but we will just have to see what happens. haha. Why didn't you get a truck mom? Just joking. For some reason I really do not think you are the truck type.
Thank you mother for letting me use that money to pay for the wedding. I really hope and pray that they will go through with this marriage and then finish it off in the waters of Baptism. They are such a great family. I really like them a lot. On Sunday the wife couldn't go to church because she was sick but even with a sick wife the husband went to church. It is great to see their dedication in obeying the things that God would have them do. The field really is white. I feel so grateful for the confidence that the Lord has in me to work in his field and to bring his children unto him. I love this gospel and I learn more every single day. I really had a few days of amazing study these last few days. I really love the Book Of Mormon. I have a lot to learn but I am glad that God is patient and willing to mold me into someone better. Love you mom and love you all. Until next time.
Elder Daniel J Parkinson

Baptism

Mother,

Well sounds like you are doing pretty good. I do however think it is kind of weird that you are the only one that can cut Grandma´s toenails. haha. You can tell her that when i get back I can cut them for her. ha. I really hope that Grandma is doing good. I really miss her and love her so much. I am very excited to get back and sit down and her side while we watch a game together. ha. That was always fun. It has been a while since I have received a letter from good old Grams. I look forward to the next one that she is able to send me. By the way you are talking you make me kinda of nervous to see what you are talking about. I am anxious to see what it is. Just know that God is always on your side and will always help you in everything. Mother I know it is hard with Dad and with him not talking to your etc.. but just trust in God in all things and like it say is 2 nephi 32 8-9 i believe. We need to always pray unto God before we do anything. Pray unto God before you talk with Dad so that you can have the spirit with you and so that you can talk together calmly. I agree that being rich is not the key to eternal happiness. The only key to eternal happiness are the spiritual things that we do. The material things will some day come to an end. The only thing that I need is a bike and a bed. haha. Sure what I think about is having a car when I get back but if it does not work out that is fine. I just want a bike at the least. ha. Thank you for everything you do for me. I love you so much.

Well I would like to have other white shirts and ties and garments, but you don't really have to worry about it. If you cant right now that is fine. I really don't know if i need more white shirts right now. I still have one in the suitcase that I have not used yet. I am holding it off until i hit one year and 6 months. I think the garments are more needed than the white shirts. I have holes in a lot of my garments. Remember it is 34 waist and i think medium tall or small tall. I don't remember but i think medium tall.

So did you have the chance to look into my box yet? Well i think i should tell you something. Here in a little bit I will be taking out about 120 dollars out of my account. We found an amazing couple with a brand new baby. We took them to mark there wedding. Apparently to mark a wedding here in Brazil it is 140 dollars. So they could only pay about 20 dollars and I said I would pay the rest. You don't need to put more money in if you cant. I will be fine. They needed help. I really want them to be married so they can obey the commandments of God and be married after the wedding. They are amazing. They have changed so much. I just thought i would let you know so you don't get confused at where the money went. Like i said don't worry about having to put more money in there. I will make it through without. You need to take care of yourself. The Lord will take care of me.

Good to hear that Kortnee is doing good. I am really excited to get back and go the Baptism of Rachel. That will be great. I would be honored to go there and watch or talk or sing for her Baptism.

I am glad to hear that you are taking care of your body and your spirit. I am happy you are able to walk every single day and even more happy that you are reading the Book of Mormon. It really is a source of Power and Strength. I love that Book so much. I know that true power comes from self control and doing the little things every single day and week. That is where we really gain true power. I love this gospel so much. We have been blessed lately. God has really been blessing our work. We are just trying to do all the little things and work hard every single day and week. I have been really tired lately but I only have 9 months left. Plus I will have 12 hours on the flight ride home to relax after the mission. As for now the work must go on swiftly and nobly. And because of that I will work my hardest every single day. The lord blessed us with a baptism this last week. Also will bless us with another baptism this coming week. I am so very happy. The last week was baptized a young man and this week one more young man. They are future missionaries and will do great things if they stay close to God. I love my work so much. It is the best Job that I have ever had. Plus my boss(Christ) is pretty good. Actually my boss is perfect. How many times can you say that about your bosses.

This coming week is another transfer. I really hope to stay here for at least one more transfer. I would be pretty sad to leave so soon again. But I will go where the Lord wants me to go. Well I cant talk much longer. I got to go. I love you so much Mother and Family. I really want to live with you all for all eternity. I really hope that you all are doing the little things every single day. I am trying my hardest to become better every day so that I can live with you all for eternity. It is not easy but I am trying to let God mold me into what he wants from me. I realized that I am far from perfect but that through him I can become better. I love you all so much. I really do. I know that this is the true church. I love Brazil and the people. I was called by God to be here and that comforts me. Sometimes when i don't think I can do it i think well God called me and so I can. We will all pass difficulties in life but what makes the difference is our attitude and our actions during the difficulties. Be happy and be animated always. Know that God loves you and cares for you and will be on your side if you let him. Let us be one here on earth and one for all eternity. I love you all so much. Again I repeat I know that God loves us and this is the true church!!!! Until next time.

Elder Daniel James Parkinson

Salvation/Eternal Family/Zone Conference

Well in the last conference they chose me to sing a song with a sister missionary. It went really well. I am really learning to love to sing and to love to do things with instruments. It has been going pretty good. Also me and my companion made a song to sing for the zone conference. All of the Zones had to present something that explained there work and so me and my companion made a song that goes with the tune of "Have I done any good in the world today". It was really good. Really funny as well. Everyone loved our presentation.
I agree. It is really so hard to always have the Spirit with us and to one day live with our father in Heaven again. I think what needs to happen is that everyone needs to do the little things and really search to live with him again. I think sometimes we forget how important our salvation is. We work harder in our jobs or in sports or other things like that and we don’t try near as hard for our Salvation. I think actually I know that we should always put more effort into our salvation than to the things of this world. Because the things of this world will only bring happiness for this life but the little things and thinking of our Lord always will bring happiness that will never end. What a great blessing. The scriptures say that Eternal life is the biggest and best gift that we can get from God. It is better than being a doctor it is better than have 2 million dollars it is better than being the best football player. So why don’t we search it? At times I think we just forget why we are really here. We are not here to just have the joy of the world. We are here to have the joy in our savior and eternal joy and to choose the right. Sorry I kind of got out of control there. haa.
Well this last week has been great. I really love the missionary work so much. I have really come close to my new companion and we are teaching really well together now. He is helping me become better and I am trying to help him as well. We are supposed to start to baptize again starting this week. We have a few weeks marked in a row for baptisms. We are hoping to at least baptize three weeks strait. This last week we saw an amazing change in someone. They were very different the very first time we saw them. They had a baby about 3 months ago and are living together. They are not married and told us that they do not plan on getting married for at least 5 years. They have been together for about 3 years already. We started to teach them and the spirit started to do his job. After a few times passing by and after they went to church they changed completely. They are obeying the word of wisdom and we are going to mark a date for their wedding for this coming month. I am so very excited. I am excited to be here and to help the Lord work his miracles through me. I am nothing but with my savior I can do all things. I am so grateful that the Lord is blessing me and I know that you and the family cannot see it right now but he is blessing our family as well. The thing is that blessings do not come easy. We have to earn them. The Lord is waiting to just bless our family like no other but as a family we have to do the little things and be together. We have to look to God. Once we all pass these challenges the Lord will bless our family tremendously. WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER AND DO THE LITTLE THINGS. WE NEED TO STAY IN OUR OWN SPOT AND STAY TOGETHER. That is how Moroni and his armies won so many battles in the Book of Mormon. They were together in their cause and they search for guidance from the Lord. That is what we need to do. I know that God loves us and wants to bless us; we just have to do our part. We have to beat these opportunities of growth (trials) so that we can receive the blessings and increase in wisdom, etc... I love you so much mother. Thank you so much for everything that you do for me and for your prayers. Thank you (the whole family) I have so many great examples. I am thankful for my family and my friends every single day. I love you all. Jason stay strong and take care of your kids and do the little things. Shane search search search for the love of the savior. He is the great healer of all things. Have patience and forgiveness and know always that I love you and look up to you. You were always there to help me when I was little and so now let me help you and be there for you. I know that I am little and younger than you but I also know that I can help you, but first you have to help yourself and do the little things and plead unto the father for the things that you need. I love you Shane. Justin practice sports a little more so that you have a chance against me and always show your love for your family. They are your first priority not your schooling. Love them and do the little things with them. Take care of your kids and take care of your wife that you were blessed with. Krystal be patient in your trials and with your child. Look to God to help you and know that I love you and so does your father in Heaven. Mother let your light shine for the whole world. Be an example of the righteous. Do the little things always and go to the temple. I love you mother with all my heart. You are my example and my hero. I love you all. Be strong and be one. God said if you are not one you are not his. Be one and do the little things. We CANNOT LET SATAN WIN THIS BATTLE OF OUR SOULS AND OF OUR ETERNAL FAMILY. This is a plead and an invite to you all. If you are doing the little things keep doing them and if you are not repent and start to do them. WE MUST BE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED! Stay close to God and live. I love you all. Until next week. Know that all is well.
Elder Parkinson