What are you doing?

You're curious about what I will be doing? I know if I didn't tell you anything that would just drive you crazy so I guess I can tell a little ;) I have my new companion, Elder Steinicke! He is the BEST! The first day I met him, back when I served in the Missoula zone, I said to myself, "I really like this kid! I bet I will serve with him sometime." I never expected it to really happen or in this way! President Gardner leaves Thursday afternoon after he has lunch and spends about an hour with President Mecham. After that, I really don't know what I will be doing. I do know we will have half the mission together here in Billings on Friday and then Saturday we will be in Helena with the other half of our mission. Then zone trainings following the next 2 weeks, so it's about that time to travel again. Rode trips are a piece of cake now for me! Ha! We just pack some bags and jump in the car and off we go, driving between 1-9 hours at a time! I will NEVER be a truck driver though; that's for sure!

Anything I can do for y'all?! Who have you been talkin' to about the church lately?

LOVE Y'ALL!!!!

-Elder Parr

See the need, Do the deed!

FAMILIA!!!!

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEK IT HAS BEEN!!!

Tuesday we welcomed in 13 new Elders and 1 Sister! Sister Vaka is from Tonga and it is her first time being in America. She is probably the funniest person I ever met! She was tellin' me in Tonga that they all want to come to America on their mission because when they do, they tell their family they are going to the promised land! haha Plus she has the BEST laugh ever :) They were a wonderful group filled with excitement and enthusiasm. I took one of them out tracting with me, one that was very shy and quite. Learned a very valuable lesson from that experience! The first door we knocked on this huge dog came runnin' to the door barkin' and what not and he said, "That's a big dog!" I replied, "Sure is! We call them the Montana doorbell because everyone has one." After sayin' that I realized that he was shakin' in his shoes...literally. Went to the next few doors and the same thing happened. Fear in his eyes and shakin' everytime he would see the dog run to the door. After about 5 doors I said, "Elder, don't worry about these dogs. If ANY dog comes out of these doors and tries to get you I'll punch him right in the nose for you! I won't let 'em get you!" He said, "Thanks" and never shaked after that. Funny, simple experience but helped me learn a lot! Many people around us need the assurance that we care about them and are there whatever the circumstance may be. Make sure you let those around you know that you love and care about them :)

 

Well Tuesday was filled with lots of excitement but not so sure if it was more than on Wednesday. Wednesday we spent the day with 20 Elders and Sisters who were going home. One of them being Elder Miller! We had a great day with them and had a western departing meal all out of dutch ovens! Elder Robison who is one of our senior missionaries, along with his wife, cooked a wonderful meal :) Check out the picture of all the dutch ovens stacked up! Such a sweet way to cook :) Sad as each of them shared their last words and testimony. Probably the first group I've been closest to that have gone home. 

 

The rest of the week was filled with tons of wonderful stories and experiences, one I want to share with y'all. One of the people we have been trying to see from the church for the longest time, we finally got a hold of. He told us that his family has been strugglin' lately and they have just kept to themselves. His brother was beat to death, and the same day he was buried his aunt passed away. Many others have passed away recently and it has just taken a toll on him and his family. He said while we were sittin' outside, "The sun is shining so bright, but I'm filled with darkness. I'm not myself and I just want to be happy again!" We had a tender experience with him but felt so good to bring peace and comfort to him at this time and see a smile on his face and have him laughing before we left :) I know that the only peace and comfort that can heal a wounded heart comes from our Savior Jesus Christ and what he has done for each of us :) I'm so grateful for that truth I have come to know and the opportunities I have to share it with others :)

 

Well, President Gardner leaves this week and President Mecham will be here Thursday. Just saddlin' up and gettin' ready for the transition :)

I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH!

-Elder Parr

Yeah yeah yeah!

Sooooo don't really have time at all to send much but wanted to let y'all know all is well!

This past week has been super busy and lots of fun! We've met lots of new people and are in preparation today to welcome all the new missionaries :)

 

These days are like the BEST days ever!

 

Sure LOVE Y'ALL!

 

-Elder Parr

 

 

YIPEEEEE!

So, first off I have some crazy news!!! There is an Elder Hunter in our mission and the other day while I was around him he was like, "Elder Parr do you know the Bush's from back home?" And I replied and asked if he was referring to Greg and Ronnie from Grand Prairie 1st Ward and he WASSSS! Come to find out they are actually cousins and spent quite a bit of time together! Pretty crazy, huh? That's like one of the only connections I've made since being in Montana to anyone I knew back home! 

Had the wonderful opportunity to go and spend some time down in Wyoming this week which was a TON of fun! I like the Big Horn Basin a LOT better than the portion I drove through with Jeff the first time I drove through Wyoming! Haha We had 2 great zone conferences and lots of teamups; which are always a blast! I LOVE getting to spend time with all the missionaries in our mission and getting to know them all a bit better :) All of the Zone Conferences we've had this transfer have been centered around the movie "17 Miracles" which has been sweeeeeet! It's President Gardner's last ones so he definitely went out with a big bang! He taught us something that was so profound and something that impacted me so much! It's what we call the "Divine Center"! I won't teach it to y'all now but please remind me first thing when I get home because I want to share it with y'all :)

 

As you can see from the pictures I've seen some pretty gorgeous scenes this past week as well. I must say, I serve in one of the most beautiful places in the world! Can't wait to take y'all around. It's funny because a 4 hour road trip is like a piece of cake now and feels like nothing!

One experience I would like to share with y'all is one I had preparing for my talk last Sunday! Elder Miller and I were asked to speak in sacrament meeting and I was asked to speak on using our agency to be engaged in a good cause. I want to share a poem that was shared with me that I read and feel summarizes that point very well! It's called

"I WILL"

"I will do more than belong, I will participate.

I will do more than care, I will help.

I will do more than believe, I will practice

I will do more than forgive, I will forget.

I will do more than teach, I will inspire.

I will do more than dream, I will work.

I will do more than give, I will serve.

I will do more than earn, I will enrich.

I will do more than live, I will grow.

I will do more than be fair, I will be kind.

I will do more than be friendly, I will be a friend."

I sure love y'all and pray for y'all daily :)
Stay strong and remember to choose the right and be engaged in a good cause!

-Elder Parr

Life is a Highway!

What a crazy, wild week it's been so far!!! I want to start by wishing the twins a Happy Day Late Birthday Wish!! Y'all are gettin' so old now! I was thinkin' the other day that when I get home y'all could pick me up and drive me home. RIDICULOUS to think about that! Y'all are gettin' too big!

 I have driven over 1,200 miles this week! Yeah, that's a longgggg way for sure! We left Tuesday afternoon for Bigfork, Mt and didn't get home 'til late saturday evening! The time was spent with wonderful team-ups and meetings and exciting experiences :)

Bigfork, Mt is beautiful and is just north of Polson, where I used to serve, so I got to stop in and see a few people, which was awesome, and then got to spend a day with Elder Hanson, one of the missionaries that I came out with :) We had a blast and did lots of good work! We had lunch with their host family, which is the one that sent you that picture mom! Haha. Hope you enjoyed that little surprise ;) After our time in Big Fork we headed to Missoula and spent a day there and had zone conference; which was amazing! It was funny there because the missionaries have never met their neighbors before because the people keep

to themselves, but I met ALL of them while I stayed there! Haha Helped one of them move in and ran into the other 2 couples as they were getting our of their cars. Super nice people! Early the next morning we headed to Helena for another meeting! Right after we booked it over to Great Falls for team-ups with Elder Owens and Henriksen :) Did lots of service there like helping someone move and going to Belt, Mt to volunteer at a Rodeo! The things we get to do for service in Montana is so much fun! Belt is just an itty bitty town with lots of cowboys! Learned a lot about bull ridin' in the process of helping out which was cool :) We headed home after that and didn't get

back 'til late and boy was it good to sleep in our beds again! :)

It was a pretty spiritual week as well as we were able to attend a baptism in Great Falls. I just love being in an environment that allows the Spirit to be present :) Church was a miraculous experience as well! So many people came out of the wood work. It  was way incredible! People we had met or have been workin' with for awhile came to church; which was awesome! One gentleman, who we have been teaching his son and is going to get baptized this coming week, came to church for the first time in 4 years and bore his testimony! Very neat! I think my favorite experience at church though was a woman who came up to us and told us about a tender situation where her daughters baby was born with cancer and isn't doing well.

This experience reminds me of the story from Matthew 9:20-22

 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

 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.)

The lady who spoke to us had complete faith that if her grand daughter received a blessing that she would be healed. Honestly, I've never seen someone with more faith than that woman speaking to us. She was so sincere! I will NEVER forget that woman and what she taught me from her faith!

Life is just incredible right now and the Lord is so good to us here! I love y'all so much!! I hope y'all enjoy all the pictures I sent!

-Elder Parr