Knock, Knock!

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Nobody.          

Nobody who?

........

Average missionary knock knock joke cause it happens all the time ;) HAHA!

This week has been wonderful! Able to do SOOO much service which y'all know is my favorite :) We helped out at an assisted living center here in town where they had an event with all the Pre-school children! They had 5 different events and some of the ladies in the center ran the events and we just helped them out. I was paired up with this sweet little lady :) I love grandmas so much! Anyways, we were asked to do bowling! It was a BLAST! I got the kids SOO pumped and they had a blast at our station! It was so much fun to be around little kids and just to see them have fun and get along with each other!

We also helped out a memeber with his apples! Sad to say, but I picked my first apple (that I can remember) when I was 20 years old! WOW that's a long time! haha Not only just picked one but shook 3 trees worth and picked them up and then pressed and juiced them right then and there! Freshest apple juice I've ever had in my life! It was so much fun and made me want to plant apple trees when I get home so I can make apple juice :) Not only was it a blast but I had a pretty spiritual experience as well! You may wonder, "How do you have a spiritual experience pickin' apples and makin' apple juice?!" Well, while I was up in the trees shakin' them, I didn't realize until later, but my missionary tag had been knocked off by a branch I assume. I only knew that once I got to the ground and saw the name part and picked it up. Well it was my magnetic one so there is a little green magnetic piece that was still missing. I assumed it was in that general area but as I looked I couldn't find it anywhere. I gave up a few times but would continue to walk over and look for it here and there with no luck. It was the only tag I had on me and I just assumed I wouldn't find it. It was time to leave and I thought about what I should do about it. I decided to just say a quick prayer in my heart and ask Heavenly Father to help me find it. As soon as I walked back over to the trees, "BAM!" It was clear as day light layin' on the ground! It wasn't even close to where I thought it would be either! I was so surprised but immediately shouted, "PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED!!!" I was so excited and made sure I gave a prayer of thanks to my Father in heaven :) It helped me learn that sometimes we just can't give up. We need not rely on our own strength and wisdom but ask God for help! I know He answers prayers because he answered my weak and doubtful prayer! Also made me want to exercise my faith even more and watch the miracles that can be performed :)

Sunday was great because the primary had their program :) I always enjoy sitting and listening to them sing primary songs! Brings back many good memories from when I was a kid. Also able to teach the gospel principles class which was about what our life was like before we came here to earth. I LOVED teaching it and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask me on facebook or somethin'! Well, those 3 hours of church were great but 3 other hours of Sunday were not! Haha! Let's just say within 3 hours we had 3 meals. That averages out to be 1 meal every hour for those 3 hours! We had SOOO much food and we weren't planning on ANY of it! We didn't have lunch because we forgot to grab something from home on the way out but each person we visited before dinner had already prepared something for us to eat so we had grill cheese, chicken noodle soup, ham sandwiches and then for dinner beef and potatoes! SOOO much food! When I got in the car as we were headed to our next appointment I told Elder White, "I never want to have beef and potatoes for the rest of my life!" Haha SOO much food. I'll just say they feed us PLENTY here in Montana. No worries about me going hungry.

Just something funny too.

I cut my hair by myself this morning.......I look ridiculous! hahahaha  ----->

By the way, I said I was memorizing a scripture a week. I failed to tell you which one last week, but here it is, Mosiah 4:19:

      "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?"

I love it because sometimes I think I have everything taken care of but really I depend solely on Heavenly Father for all that I have!

Well, the one for this week is Mosiah 4:40:

      "But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not."

  

We have to make sure everything we're doing is in line with what is right or we begin to stray!

"REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR!"  -Mamaaaaa Parr

                                  

I LOVE Y'ALL!

-Elder Parr

Preacher Parr #2

So this week I hit my year mark, sadly :/ That means I only have a year left to do the Lord's work full-time! It has helped me realize the urgency in helping others and doing ALL I can do to help as many people as I can! Once it's done it's done and I'm not going home with any regrets! Going to DO WORK :)

 

Yesterday at church Elder White and I were asked to speak in sacrament. I had the wonderful privilege of speaking on the importance of families :) It was fun as I prepared my talk and looked back on many of the events and memories we have had together! Well, I focused on how to make successful and happy families! Although I don't have a family of my own, it was great to look back and see all the things that we have done to make our family the way it is today! I'd say our family is, "BEAST" as Carson or the boys would say! Haha. I used, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (http://lds.org/family/proclamation?lang=eng)  which is so great! Well, after the talk and after church a member came up to me joking and said, "You know Elder Parr, if you ever leave the church you would make an awesome Baptist preacher!" I had to laugh and said, "I must get it from my dad and his Baptist childhood!" It was hilarious and I thought about how all of the young men called you "Preacher Parr", dad! Haha It was hilarious!

 

I also got to travel to Helena, Montana again for some leadership training which was AWESOME! I love being with President Gardner and all the other missionaries and this time we had 2 visitors! Brother Hemmingway and Brother Jackman. Brother Hemmingway is over all the online proslyting for the church as well as Brother Jackman who was influencial with creating mormon.org. It was a GREAT meeting and I was greatly uplifted and filled with new knowledge, which is always awesome!

 

We had the opportunity to help drywall again which was lots of fun! I think if I had to I could drywall my own home. 'If I had to' is the key phrase ;) haha I always love serving side by side with others and working together to accomplish something worthwhile and benificial :)

 

We met with a new girl this week which was AWESOME! She said she feels like there is something missing in her life and that she has gone and done so many things to fill it and even when she is the happiest she still feels like there is a hole. We taught her about how God calls prophets and how God has called a prophet today and what the Book of Mormon can do for her. She soaked it all in and kept asking awesome questions! It was so much fun because she is a college student and it made me feel like I was back in Bozeman teaching all those college kids! Haha! Every time I teach about the restoration it increases my testimony of the reality of how true it is. That God really does love us and has called a prophet to lead and guide us in these troubled times. That a prophet IS necessary and that God speaks to us today! I'm grateful he does because following the prophets counsel has always brought me happiness and direction!

 

The members here are AMAZING and Polson is beautiful. Pretty chilly morning in the low 40's and they are expecting snow to come pretty soon. Going to be another winter wonderland this year! Haha

 

I LOVE y'all and think of y'all often!

 

-Elder Parr

Ohhh yeahhh!

This week has been...WONDERFUL :)  I love every second of every day! There is no better way to live your life than serving the Lord. We were asked to attend priest quorum as they talked about missionaries and watched a video about them as well. No one helps me out when they ask me how long I've been out and I say almost a year and they say, "OH! You're wrapping it up! What are your plans when you get home?!" I don't want it to be over! After watching that video I've come to realize even more that being a full-time missionary is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don't get to do this again. This is it! I've already finished just about half of it. What will I do with my last year? I'm going to work my tail off! I love each person I meet so much, I just want to give them a glimpse of what the gospel can do for their lives. How the Savior's atonement can make ALL things right! That they can find peace and happiness through Jesus Christ and His gospel! The gospel is for EVERYONE :)  I love the gospel SO much and I love sharing it with everyone I meet :)

After watching conference I've decided to take some of the words of counsel from Richard G. Scott and to memorize scriptures. I've memorized many but I'm making a goal to memorize one per week :) The scripture I've chosen for this week is Omni 1:26,

"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of His salvation, and the power of His redemption. Yea, come unto Him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto Him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

I LOVE this scripture because it's what I have to do and the opportunity I have to help others do as well. If I'm not doing it myself, how am I supposed to help others do it? I can testify that the Savior's love is real and eternal :) I'm grateful for it in my lfie!

This week was GREAT as I got to mow a yard again! Mowed the Senior Citizen Center's lawn as well fixed up a flower bed! It was awesome because we weren't expecting to do it and ended up doing it all in our suits! It was so funny as people stared at us as they drove by and what not! I loved getting my hands dirty again! I've definitely missed mowing for sure! Helped someone do an oil change, moved someone out, and lots of other stuff! This week was filled with ways to serve and love others! I would encourage each of you to find ways to help others around you :) It's what Christ asked us to do, you know?! I can promise you that you will find answers to your prayers and peace in your life as you do so :)

I have so much I could talk about, but have to get going. I love each of y'all SO much and hope that God will continue to bless each of you! You're in my prayers always :)

Love,

-Elder Parr

Lessons learned left and right :)

So I'm happy to say that I'm staying another 6 weeks at least; here in Polson, Montana! It's been chilly the past few days and there is snow in the mountains already! YIKES!! Haha!

I have loved EVERY second of this week! It's been full of the spirit and lessons learned left and right  :)

It rained for 3 straight days, here in Polson, and I would say those were 3 of the BEST days. Many people when it rains like to stay inside. For missionaries like us, we are outside working, rain, snow or sunshine! We were in a trailer park this week while it was POURING down rain, which of course we just get soaked! Our day hadn't been too successful up to that point and we knocked on this door. A man opened the door and asked what we were doing. We told him who we were and asked if we could come in and share a message with him. He said, "Hold on", shut the door and a few minutes later opened it back up. We sat on the floor of his humble trailer and as we talked to him we found out that he had lost his first son a month after his birth. He said he had prayed for God to help him and to let his son live but he felt his prayers were not answered  :/  We talked about the Plan of Salvation and assured him of the reality of life after this one and about prayer. (http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/) He didn't have much time but invited us back. We went somewhere else in town and ended up in another home, with a similiar experience, except her son was still born. These experiences opened my view even more to life. That life is truly a gift and that we spend every second like it's our last! That we should express our love for others and serve those around us! I'm so grateful for the knowledge that I have that we can be with our families and loved ones after this life because these 2 individuals did not know that until we met with them!

Another cool experience was that we met this couple on the street. I saw that he was wearing a Cowboys cap and wanted to find out if he was from Texas or not. He wasn't, sadly :/ But got to talking and found out that their son plays for the high school here in Polson. They invited us to the game which was awesome because we met SOOO many people there and watched a good game! I haven't been to a football game in forever! Nothing like Texas football though! Haha! It was good to be out amongst the public and to meet so many people. Like the WHOLE town comes to the game :)

One of our investigators was baptized on Saturday, too! It was a GREAT experience! Not only with her but her husband as well! He was against her learning completely, at first, but yesterday came to church with her in his suit lookin' SO FRESH! It's been such a joy to see their progress as they've drawn closer to our Father in heaven :) I'll send a picture of it soon! :)

I met a man who wanted me to deny to Book of Mormon this week, as well. It got me SO pumped up as I told him the Book of Mormon was true and that I was willing to do whatever it took to defend it! I know that the Book of Mormon is true. That it is another record of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I've read, studied and pondered the book. Each page truly testifies and points to our Savior! I'm grateful for the second witness it provides to the reality and divinity of his ministry and his atonement. It strengthens my testimony that God loves us today and wants us to seek and find truth. I know the Book of Mormon is a tool in which we can learn and apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives :) It has helped me in SOOO many ways!

Polson is wonderful and the people are wonderful :)    I LOVE Y'ALL :)

-Elder Parr 

"Live your life in a manner that people know what you stand for!  I DO WORK!" ~Elder Parr

YIPEE!!!

Am I fine to say this week was WONDERFUL?!! It was AMAZING :) Conference definitely filled my soul this weekend. I took the counsel I received to go into conference with questions and things I wanted to find answers to. I prayed about certain things and questions I had and asked God to allow me to find those answers as I listened to the talks given. EVERY single question or concern I had was answered and the spirit bore witness to be time and time again throughout the sessions! I have been edified and uplifted with a stronger determination to do more to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ :) It's my testimony that He lives and loves us! I found one line very interesting as I listened which, in my poor summary, goes something like this, "The things that are important to us become what is important to God because he loves us that much!" Whatever we desire to know or do becomes God's interest as well because He wants us to succeed and be happy :) I'm just on cloud nine from this weekend's conference! I would encourage each of you before next conference to have questions or things that you would like to know prior to conference. I can promise you they will ALL be answered because God answered mine :)
(Listen to or read the messages here... http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/10?lang=eng

We did lots of service this week and I learned multiple new talents. Some of which include electrical wiring and hanging sheet rock :) We had a blast helping a family work on a small barn and working along side each of them! I can't tell you how much I love working hard and serving others! It puts me in such a great mood and makes me want to do it 24/7. We also helped clean out an above ground pool (don't worry the pool was empty) just got all the moss and algae out!

I guess I could tell y'all that my birthday was AMAZING! It was truly celebrated with friends and family I've made here :) Thank you for all the birthday wishes and gifts! They are ALL greatly appreciated! I had lots of homemade huckleberry cheesecake and ribs for sure! Now, I'm an old 20 years old. No longer a fun teenager! haha.

Polson is amazing and I'm loving every second of it :) I sure hope I get to stay here much longer! One of our investigators is getting baptized on Saturday this week! We are SO excited for her and were able to have lunch at her house with her husband. I felt after the meal and conversations we had together he is a LOT more comfortable with what's going on and even said he would like to come to church and learn more! Best thing we could have heard from him.

I LOVE hearing from y'all and glad to know things are going well back home! I love y'all and pray for y'all often! Thank y'all for your prayers. I can definitely feel them each day and they lift and strengthen me :)

-Elder Parr

Okay I guess I can share a crazy story with y'all. So we were down in Pablo (remember I'm on the reservation in Polson, but Pablo is more of the real reservation) Well we were down there with bishop trying to see some people and there was this house that we decided we were going to knock on. Bishop stayed in the car and off we went. Well if you were looking forward it was a blue trailer on your right on the corner lot with another trailer perpendicular to it in the back, like an L shape, with a chain link fence on the left with a little shed as well. Kind of like a little alley area as you walked to the back trailer. I was excited to knock on the door and share our message with whoever lived there, if anyone did at all. A man answered the door and we spoke to him. A very nice fellow indeed :) We learned that he lived alone and all he does is play internet games all day. I'm not sure if anything will come of our visit, he did invite us back but I did learn something valuable that day...That as we live the principles of the gospel, we live clean and wholesome lives, which allows us to serve and strengthen others around us :) 

Remember to do what is right, at the right time, for the right reason, without delay!  :)