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 :)

 

Day After Christmas

Ohhhh it was SOOO wonderful calling and talking to y'all yesterday! I LOVE y'all so much I can't even describe it! I think the one who surprised me the most was Preston! Boy! Has his voice got DEEP! Haha! I thought it was awesome, especially when I said when I got home I was going to take him and he said, "NO! I'm going to destroy you!" Haha; and it scared me ;) j/k  I'm glad to hear all is well and y'all have a sweet road trip towards Idaho! I sure do miss road trips with y'all, but I think I get plenty of opportunities for road trips here in Montana because everything is so far away! Haha I'm sure y'all will have more room in the car though, without my large tail in the way ;)

So I told you alot about what happened this week with the highlight being R's baptism which was awesome! I thought about what I might send to y'all today and I thought I would focus now on New Year's! As y'all know, New Year's resolutions drive me crazy because so many people focus so much on making them and then 3 months down the road completely forget about them and have gone no where with their goals. Not EVERYONE, but a bunch of them for sure. It's very important to make goals but it's important to make goals throughout the year and NOT just on New Year's! Write them down and look at them often and be sure you're doing something each day to help you accomplish whatever your goal may be!

I hope and pray that as y'all set goals at this time and throughout your life that you will remember to rely on the Lord with whatever your goals may be and remember that ALL good things come from God :) Once we begin to rely on Him we find success and achievement and happiness comes into our lives. Sure, we can try to do it on our own, but it's much easier and longer lasting when we rely on Him!

I love y'all so much and pray for y'all often! Have a Happy New Year and be sure to keep the spirit of Christmas, which is the spirit of Christ, with you ALL the time!

LOVE Y'ALL!

-Elder Parr

attached a few pictures



-dressed in my christmas gear

   
 

 
  

 




-Elder Scott opening the present I got him

 
  

 



-Rick's Baptism



-tracting out in the boonies

CHRISTMAS TIME!!

This week has been a suberb one for sure! So much has gone on I have no idea where to begin!

  

This weekend, on Christmas Eve, one of our investigators is getting baptized!! What an AWESOME way to begin Christmas Eve with someone entering the waters of baptism to follow Jesus Christ! Don't know a better present I could ask for than for that! Along with that I can testify that prayers ARE answered! This gentleman about 3 months ago didn't even believe in God let alone like LDS missionaries! The Lord has truly touched his life and softened his heart in so smany ways that has drawn him to a true knowledge and testimony of Him! So awesome!

 

This morning was a blast as we helped Bishop T put up his Christmas lights :) Reminded me of the many times dad was too chicken to get up on the roof and I would get up there! Especially the time when Dmitry came and helped :) I will definitely miss going to Interlocken and seeing all the lights and all the other Christmas celebrations we do each year! I'm sure y'all will have a blast and MATTIE, YOU BETTER ENJOY YOUR LAST CHRISTMAS HOME WHILE YOU CAN!! You will miss it; trust me! Hahaha

 

I'm just filled with happiness right now as so much is going on and I have the wonderful opportunity to truly bring the Christmas spirit to the hearts and homes of many:) Best thing I would want to be doing at this time!!!

 

Heard a song on one of the cd's I have here this morning I hadn't heard before! He sang about how each day is a battle that's hard to win, which made me think for a second. I can agree that each day is a battle and we need to fight for what's right!

 

LOVE Y'ALL!!

-Elder Parr

Yeeeehawwww!

This week has been WONDERFUL as every week on the mission is :) I wish all of you could be out here with me but hopefully y'all can feel the joy and happiness that comes from serving the Lord through my emails home!

A few things we were able to do this week truly opened my eyes. One is that we've been practicing with the community choir here to perform for the city. Well, our performance was yesterday afternoon amongst a crowd of about 200! Our choir consisted of members from multiple churches and faiths and we sang loud and proud for all those who attended! The lesson I learned is still the one I learned when I was younger but one step further this time. I still LOVE to sing but I have no good voice and the addition is that I would rather sit and enjoy those who CAN sing and congratulate them afterwards ;) Haha! None the less I had a great time and we definitely brought the Christmas spirit to Polson.

Last night we were invited to come up to Kalispell to attend mission prep for the youngmen here in the valley. We had 6 elders who attended and we made a panel where the young men asked us questions and we answered them all :) It was a blast and I put myself in their shoes just before I left on a mission. It was tons of fun!

One thing I wanted to share with you is how grateful I am for y'all! We met with a young lady at a members home and she expressed how her family is a mess and her parents are always fighting and her passion, horses, are going to be taken from her and she lives everyday regreting she was alive. It opened my eyes to how blessed I am with each of you by my side :) Family means everything to me! NEVER take for granted what we have in our lives because many others don't! I love y'all and I'm doing GREAT!

-Elder Parr

p.s. we had our ward christmas party here and we fed over 250 people and the church was PACKED!!! It was so much fun though! :)

You got served!

So this week has been a busy and crazy one! My subject definitely became our motto this week and we had a blast with it! I think we did more service this week, than I've EVER done in a week and it was totally SWEET! We branded cows, helped insulate an attic, moved a couple families and prepare for our nativity for the ward this week! It's been so much fun and an eventful week!

 

Tuesday was spent branding cattle which Elder Scott was pumped about until he saw how big they were. It's amazing how much a calf can grow in 2 weeks because they were MUCH bigger than last time we helped out! Haha I love helping them brand because you're around a bunch of cowboys. They are respectful, work hard and ALWAYS eat good afterwards! It was a great opportunity to lend a helping hand and often times a whole body as I had to jump on top of a few to hold them down! Haha

 

Wednesday was interesting as it was time to go to Helena for some leadership training. We had spent the night in Kalispell the night before and there would be 5 of us going to that meeting. Well, we heard a winter storm was going to come in and lay down 8 inches of snow. So with that they chose me, the Texan with hardly ANY driving in the snow experience, to drive. They also said it was because our vehicle is a 4x4 pickup. :) Haha Anyways, we woke up the next morning with no sight of snow at all! Well as we embarked on the 3 and a half hour drive at 5:30 am everyone fell asleep and I was the only one awake driving. Well there was definitely snow later on in the ride! I can tell you I said multiple prayers along the way as everyone laid asleep and the truck would slide or fishtail! Haha I'm thankful for God's protection that allowed all of us to arrive safely! We returned home in even a worse storm but none the less made it safely and I totaled 10 hours of driving in one day! Haha I did learn something very valuable in that meeting, though! I was reminded that this is the Lord's work. Not mine, not yours, nobody else's. That I'm not the one inviting people to do things but the Lord is! I'm just grateful I can be an instrument in his hand :)

 

The ward here had their annual nativity where we had over 200 nativities displayed and invited the entire public to come and to share the spirit of Christmas with us :) It was an incredible display and left many with tears in their eyes. We also hosted the first presidency message after and what a wonderful treat that was to watch! I pray that we will all find the true spirit of Christmas this year :)

 

I love y'all and hope the best for each of you! May God continue to bless and watch over you my dear family and friends :)

 

Love,

-Elder Parr