...the honest seeker of truth

I just LOVE getting your emails on Monday and reading how each of y'all are doing! It brings a smile to my face and gets my p-day started in an awesome way :)

 

This week has been wonderful! It felt slower than the past few weeks but it didn't keep us from working hard and DOIN' WORK!

 

A lot of disappointing things happened this week with lots of people not home and people deciding not to learn anymore. We learned a valuable lesson from it as well! I was reading in Preach My Gospel and came across this as many things were falling through and not going as planned,

 

"Some may not accept your message even when they have received a spiritual witness that it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit."

 

Things happen in life! Whether you're a missionary or not. Things don't go as planned and certaintly not exactly the way you would like for it to either! So what I've learned is to make new goals and to work even harder. Being discouraged and taking a step back to pity yourself doesn't get you too far! So if you've been having a hard time and things aren't going to well, look up, take a step forward and smile :)

 

Some WAY exciting news is that we have a baptism today! The young woman who is getting baptized is SOO excited and has been wanting this for so long! She has finally prepared herself and is just thrilled for this evening; as we are too :) I'll be sure to send some pictures next week!

 

Another experience is that we found this young man who we've been teaching for a week. Literally, a week! No joke! It's funny how we started teaching him. He works at the news station here in Billings and asked one of the students from the singles ward out on a date. She ended up saying no but he then asked her a simple question; to tell him an experience that she will never forget! She said she would have to tell him later because it was a long story but eventually had the chance to share what she's been going through these past few months. She shared how Christ and His gospel had now given her faith and direction in her life and how blessed she has been lately! He was so interested he wanted to meet with us and learn why certain things had happened in his life and why he was here! We've been meeting with him 3 times a week and on Friday he said he wanted to get baptized! I love how the gospel touches and burns in the heart of the honest seeker of truth :) Every time we meet with him or talk to him he is just the happiest guy in the world!

 

I love y'all and hope all is well! 

LOVE,

 

-Elder Parr

PS. I DID get the INSANITY workout and we started it today! I'm soooooo stoked to finish the entire thing! Just the fit test was AMAZING! Thank you SOO much! Gettin' all the missionaries in the area to do it and get healthy! Missionaries eat so much junk and hardly work out! Haha Got to change the mind set!

Can't Help But Smile :)

So this week has been WONDERFUL! There have been sooooo many things that the Lord has blessed Elder Miner and I with! 

I guess I could start out with a few funny stories to get y'all smilin' :) Haha!

So we were in the home of a family teaching and the woman's children were just all over the place! I had no problem focusing because I'm used to little brothers and sisters being everywhere while I'm trying to do something ;) Well, one of the boys, who is about 4, was way wild and causing trouble and crying and upset. I said, "JB, come here boy!" So he slowly walked over to me still crying and sad. I placed him on my thigh and patted his back and he stopped crying. He was just tired so I just laid him on the couch to fall asleep and put a jacket over him. His legs were still kind of over mine a bit. So later on as we were coming to an end of our lesson I went to move his legs off of me. I felt that his sweat pants were wet and thought, "That's weird, he hasn't been playin' outside?" Smelt my hand and then my pants and yep, I'm sure you guessed it, he had wet his pants and had soaked my leg! I looked at him and asked, "JB did you wet your pants?" He nodded his head yes with a kind of gloomy look on his face. Hahahaha! I couldn't help but laugh at what had happened and Elder Miner was dumb founded Haha! I think the worst part was that day it was -12 degrees and so immediately going outside my pant leg was frozen solid! Haha 

So another moment this week; we were helping a couple get their car out of the slush and were successful. As we waited on the corner of the street afterwards to cross the road, I watched a black navigator down the street. He slowly crept close to the curb and just as he was passing us, WHAM! Hit a HUGE pile of slush which totally splashed us! Elder Miner was ticked and I was just laughing so hard and was like, "That was awesome!" as we ran across the street before we got hit! Haha Call me crazy but with everything bad that happened I couldn't help but smile and laugh :) 

From my stories you probably guessed that it snowed and got cold. It did and we got about a foot with temperatures to -12! I was freezin' but that didn't stop us from gettin' out and doing work! One specific day was the coldest and we decided to get out there and tract a bit. We had no idea where we were going but decided to get out and walk around. We walked around and then started knocking doors. No answer, no answer, then "Come in it's cold outside!" This older couple let us in and I can tell you it was the Lord leading us to them because they are searching for truth and want some answers. Her father passed away awhile ago and she has been searching so hard to find out about what happens after this life. I'm so grateful that God has revealed His wonderful Plan of Happiness for us that we can understand and know what happens to us and our loved ones after this life! That the life after is just as real as the one we live today!

Met with a woman who is Chinese, the same one that fed us that tendon last week! She shared her experience of how she came to believe in God. I think it's much more interesting that most people but she began to go to church just so she could learn english! Eventually, she began to learn more and came to a knowledge for herself! I thought it was wonderful because she said, "I have a chinese friend that doesn't believe in God and I want her to! I just don't know how to teach her!" When we truly become converted we have a desire to share it with our friends and family and those around us :) I've heard a lot lately about how, as missionaries, we are messengers sent to people. I would definitely agree but don't forget that YOU can be a messenger to those around you as well! YOU can be an instrument in God's hand to help someone else! Look for opportunities to do so each and every day :)

Well, weather has warmed up now and everything is melting which doesn't bother me :)

I sure do love y'all!

-Elder Parr

Bye Bye Summer :/

 So since winter has officially started here in Montana it really hasn't been the "average" winter. Not really any snow and highs in the 50's most of the time. Well, that all ended this morning when we woke up, sadly :/ Woke up to 2 inches of snow with it being 6 degrees outside! Montana Winter is here!!! I sure don't enjoy the cold but I'm not going to lie, we make it fun; especially since we're out in it 24/7 pretty much. I love when it snows because I have ENDLESS possibilities to shovel snow and do service, which is AMAZING!

Justin and Mattie

Anyways, not to drag you down with the cold weather but I hope and pray Mattie will survive in Idaho! I wrote her a letter today so hopefully that warms her up a bit if anything else won't ;) Haha!


This week was much better than last week :) As you know last week was pretty awesome, so this week was AMAZING! Billings is so much fun and I love every bit of it :) We taught a new high for me with 40 lessons! That means we met with 40 people and taught them and gave them commitments to draw closer to Christ. What a wonderful opportunity it is for me to be an instrument in the Lord's hands :)

We had leadership training this past week which was great! We talked about how we can encourage those around us and help everyone realize that they play a significant role in helping others come unto Christ! That EACH and every single one of us can share the message of Christ in the way we live our lives and the things we talk about in our conversations. I would encourage each of you to bring up the gospel in your casual conversations with your friends and neighbors and share how it has blessed your life!

We had a wonderful lesson this week which was AMAZING! We taught a young woman, a bit older than myself, the law of chastity which includes abstaining from sexual relations before marriage. We taught about how God's laws never change and are always the same and consistant. That often times God's commandments are not very popular in the worlds eyes because the world continues to change and the moral standards are slacked and forgotten. Well, this young lady had a boyfriend and was looking into moving in with him. We taught her why that wouldn't be the right thing to do and that it would be best to forgo their sexual relations at this time. She mentioned concerns how she didn't know how she could do that or what not. I realized that each of us eventually has to make a decision whether to follow God's commandments or not. We invited her to pray about it and find our for herself. She left discouraged and didn't know how she was going to do it. Well, we had faith and said a prayer and asked God if he would answer her prayers. Well, yesterday at church she came up to us and was SOOO excited! She said, "You won't believe what happened, Elders! So I was praying about what I should do and I decided I just needed to talk to my boyfriend about it. Well, I talked to him and he said that it would be fine if we didn't move in together. Then he also said it was fine if I didn't what to have any sexual relations with him right now! GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS! I can live the law of chastity! I know that it's true!!" Of course I said, "Hallelujah!!" It was such a great experience of how God answers each of His childrens prayers :) I know as we live the law of chastity that we can be blessed with self control, self worth and confidence in our relationships!

Another fun thing... I had probably the CRAZIEST meal ever! This chinese woman made us cow tendon!!! It was definitely not my favorite but it's a delicacy in China, I guess, and they only make it for special people so of course I ate it! Haha! Crazy stuff and I attached a picture of me holding it and her husband who is from cuba as well with some of it :)

There is SOOO much I could tell you about this week but their are other missionaries waiting so just know this week has been AWESOME!! I love what I have the opportunity to do each and every single day, serve God and His children :)

LOVE Y'ALL!

Elder Parr

Home Sweet Home!

Haha! I say that because when I got my call to come to Billings, President Gardner said, "So you ready to come home Elder Parr?" At first I thought he meant come home to Texas but now I know what he meant! Billings is truly home for our mission and home for me now :) The early part of the week was wild because we had TONS of missionaries here and we were in charge of finding a place for them to stay, meals to eat and work to do. It was lots of fun though, being around all the missionaries and I got to spend a few nights with my boy Elder White! It was great because I got to attend the greenie breakfast. That's the huge breakfast they make for all the new missionaries and the ones who are around Billings! SOOO good :) We took an awesome picture of 4 of us. From left to right it's, Elder Miner who trained me. I trained Elder  White and Elder White is training Elder Wasden! It was so sweet! 4 generations of missionaries right there!

 

Elder Miner, Elder Parr, Elder White, Elder Wasden

 

This week has been an AWESOME one! I've met so many people and have been able to do SOOOO much :) We taught over 33 lessons, which is a high for me on my mission. Elder Miner and I are just tearin' it up and helpin' everyone we meet. It's amazing! Nothin' better than being the Lord's representative and serving everyone!

 

So, a cool experience... We live right close to the hospital and we get called multiple times a week to go give blessings to those in need there. We have given 4 blessings since I've been here this week. I can honestly say my testimony has been renewed in the power of the priesthood! I don't think there is any better feeling than walking into a hospital with the purpose of blessing one of God's children. I'm grateful that God's authority has been restored to the earth and that those who hold the priesthood worthily can bless the lives of His children. I also have learned, to a greater degree, of how blessings work. Blessings are REAL and they are given upon FAITH. I think back to the new testament in which Christ performed MANY miracles and blessings; even rose some from the dead. Tremendous and miraculous events I would say. They didn't happen just because Christ did them. No, not at all. They happened as the people believed and had faith that they would be healed. Here are a few examples...

 

Matthew 9:2 - And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Matthew 9:22 - But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matthew 9:29 - Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 15:28 - Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

The power of faith can be evident in each of our lives as we trust in the Lord and the promises He has made to each of us as we are obedient to His commandments! I pray for each of you daily and hope all is well back home! I'm doing wonderful and lovin' every second of my mission :)  I LOVE Y'ALL!

 

-Elder Parr

New Year, New Opportunities!

Well, as all of y'all have cheated and found out that I'm being transferred to Billings, I guess that's not new news for y'all! Haha!! What is new though is that I will be serving with my trainer, Elder Miner again! I'm so stoked and ready to tear it up again with him! I will also be serving as a Zone Leader there in the east side of Billings. Don't know what's in store with that but whatever it is I'm ready for it :) I will have the opportunity to be very close to the mission home and President Gardner, go to the temple as well as being in a district with the Assitants to the President :) I'm stoked! At the same time though I am very bummed. Leaving an area is like leaving y'all again. It's like leaving a family behind and starting to find another one. I will miss every one here in Polson and the majority of them want me to come live here! HA! I told them I didn't know about living here but I will definitely be vacationing here with y'all! So, my new address is...

 

2023 Wilshire

Billings, Mt 59102

 

Or you can just send it to the mission home because I will be super close.

 

1848 Rimrock Rd

Billings, Mt 59102

 

My week has been amazing! I've spent it doing my best to touch the lives that I could for the remainder of my time here in Polson :) I have enjoyed serving here SOOOO much you don't even know! As I have had the opportunity to touch the lives of those around me, many times they touch my life as well and I learn so much!

 

A couple we found who has let us in found out that we are only allowed to call home twice a year and talk to our families. I tried to explain it the best I could to help her understand. I think it's a sacrifice worth making to leave our families to go out into the world to unite and bring other families closer together and to teach them how the gospel can bless each of their lives. There isn't a thing I would rather be doing right now!

 

So, I've attached a few pictures, most of which being our New Year celebration :) We celebrated at a families home which I love! He reminds me of Uncle Lary and she reminds me of Aunt Franci :) They are AWESOME! Anyways, they had all their kids home and we celebrated by lighting 2 voltswagon engine casings on fire! WOW! It was sweet!! They were so bright and lit up the entire shoreline pretty much :) It was tons of fun and everyone there enjoyed themselves.

 

Something that stuck out at church yesterday I wanted to share with you is this... The sister spoke about commitment. The first part was that we don't need to become "someone" but rather become "something". It inspired me to do more to become an example of our Savior. To become reliable, trustworthy, dedicated and all those other wholesome attributes. So I would encourage each of you to become something this new year, whatever it may be, as long as it's good ;) The other thing that inspired me was that we need to look forward to the future with hope. To remember the good things in our lives that have happened, forget the bad and look forward seeking to have better opportunities and accomplishments :) If I had to shorten it all up I would just tell y'all to DO WORK! haha

 

Busy day ahead with packing and all the other stuff that goes along with being transferred!

 

Sure do love y'all!

-Elder Parr

 

p.s. I get from Polson to Billings by getting on the 15 passenger van that the mission has that takes all of us where we need to go along with our luggage :) I will leave tomorrow morning and will be there by tomorrow afternoon :)