Make Me a Match

Sooooo…….

Got my first brother-in-law this week.


No biggie. JK it was kinda a huge deal (check out my other blog www.sandandsunshine2.blogspot.com for more on this later!:)!

So yea....my sister has graduated to wife lyfe......and it still blows my mind that my best friend is actually MARRIED......(btw, trying to wrap your mind around that as a MISSIONARY is ten times harder than trying to do it in real life....just sayin......#lockyourheart #preskimball;). Congrats Julia and Zach! You two deserve the best!!

After helping out at an investigator's house for a couple hours this week, packing boxes, moving furniture, etc.  we got ready to head out the door, when our investigator showed us to the door where a brand new pair of UGGS were sitting, and said, "They're too small for me......want 'em?"

Is that even a question??

Basically, I'm most definitely serving in Libertyville (where else to people hand out Uggs for free??) and service most definitely brings blessings:) haha! #spoiled #luvourpeeps

Our next service project was actually more packing and moving....and yes, it all happened on the same day. This time, we showed up to a member's apartment, and one of the first thing she says is, "Ok girls....how good are you at playing Romeo and Juliet??"

Uber confused.

All I was thinking was, "well....i'm pretty good at the whole fainting thing....but the kissing thing....eh.....a little outta my league right now..." Sis Carroll just looked at me REALLY confused, so we just kinda did the awkward laugh and, "Uhhuh....what??"

She took us out to her balcony and explained, "So rather than taking all this stuff up and down the stairs to the car, I was thinking we could just lower everything over the balcony, Romeo and Juliet style."

  

Good thing I do push-ups in the morning. hahaha

We actually pulled it off surprisingly well, despite really weird looks from the neighbors, and we even managed to give away a mormon.org card in the process. #likeaboss

As I was about to take down a box, our member opened it to find why it was so heavy and found their spare change jar. She then grabbed my purse, with, "Here! open your bag!" before dumping nearly $40 worth of coins into my already too-full Coach purse.

Ummmmmmm. ok.

What she didn't know was that trying to get quarters to do laundry here can be such a pain, and now Sis C and I are are set. for. life. Yep.....service brings blessings;) (even though it took me a day and a half to dig through my purse get all the coins out:) haha! we love our members<3

On Saturday night, we carpooled with Ally to a district bonfire testimony meeting at a member's home. All the missionaries in our district invited less-actives and investigators to attend and we hoped that it would give them an opportunity to share/discover their testimonies in a more intimate setting. We showed up, ate dinner (a.m.a.z.i.n.g. homemade pizza.....mmmlicious:) and the elders headed out the door to "start the fire."

After 20 minutes or so, we followed wondering why it was taking them so long. We walked up and........let's just say my scout master dad would've been appalled. I'm no Boy Scout......but......i know for certain that's NOT how to start a fire.....#tomboy #noshame #comesinhandy

So I stood there, wondering what to say, while the elders kept devising ways to torch the pile of sticks. Yea.......guess where this is going.

GASOLINE

of course

The member hosting the bonfire, Bro K., came splitting through the ring of onlookers with a gasoline tank, DRENCHED the wood before anyone could say anything, and then one of the match-happy elders struck up and......yea.....we just about ALL got our eyebrows singed.

 And.......of course.....the fire only burned for under 2 minutes before going out with a poof. Next idea? The elders WOULD have Axe cologne in their car, now wouldn't they. Yep.....that came next. At this point, I feel like Sully watching Boo's costume going through the trash machine. Shoot me.

What are they gonna think of next??

The Axe-and-lighter technique only went so far before we heard an engine buzzing and turned to see the member walking over with a leaf blower. This is getting out. of. control. But no......in comes the leaf blower, and the fire lights up, THEN the leaf blower turns off, fire dies down, AND leaf blower goes on, fire goes up.....and so on and so on.

this is going NO WHERE

Finally, after 45 min of trying to get a fire started, one of the women of the group went to her car, pulled out a packaged fire log, and shoved it into the dying fire. ONLY then did the fire perk up and stay lit so we could manage to have our testimony meeting around an actual fire. Geez laweez.

Luckily, the testimony turned out to be fantastic!! The spirit was so strong and while Ally didn't bear her testimony, on the way home from the bonfire, she opened up to us on why she wants baptized! In her own special way, she was bearing her testimony to us--just us--for the first time, and it was SO incredibly heart-warming! I love that girl with all my heart and felt like a proud mama seeing her identifying her testimony for the first time! #priceless

We had another miracle moment this week, when we decided to do more leaf raking for those who needed it. The elders chose an investigator to serve and we showed up to help just as she was walking out the door. We told her why we’d come and asked if we could be of service. She stared at us for a moment then said, “What have you guys been taking??” This just got awkward. Fortunately, she laughed, and continued, “How did you guys know to come? Today was one of those days when everything is going wrong, and I was about ready to just cry! Then you all show up, and my day is completely turned around!!  You guys must be heaven-sent!"

tru dat

It was one of those moments when you’re like, “Yes! I’m doing my job!”  We got to talk for a while, and after serving her, the elders were able to teach her and she’s accepted the invitation to be baptized!! Service=miracles

Sis Carroll and I got creative with the whole service thing and decided to drop cookies off to some of our investigators, but make it anonymous.  Ok……well actually…….we rigged it so it was kinda like “I’ll bet I can guess who left these cookies on my porch, so maybe I should think of coming to church to thank them” type of deal.  I know. Brilliant;) hahaha! Either way, Sis C and I had fun swaggin our ninja costumes (black leggings and inside-out sweatshirts;) while doorbell ditching with treats (see below for pics…..they about sum up our lives;) haha

And last but not least, we had a prompting to drop by a potential investigator this week, and we walked up the driveway to find Dave (our investigator) sitting outside with a friend, Dan. Dave came up to us and we had a really friendly conversation about missions, what we do as missionaries, and why we do what we do. Dan sat quietly to the side, not really talking much, but clearly listening. After we’d shared with Dave a bit more about ourselves and missionary work, Dan got up, came over and said,

 “I wanna serve a mission. How do I do it??

*blink blink*

Come again??

He handed over his number, said to call him, and when we started talking about other kids he might know from the High School, he became even more interested and kept saying, “Yea! I guess I just need something more in my life.” Even Dave nudged him and said, “Yea, Dan, meet with these girls….they can help you find a path in life.”

Well, y’know Dave, we could do that for you too;) hahah! We left feeling SO grateful that the Lord had put us in the right place at the right time. This work is truly inspired. The Lord is clearly leading us to those that need us, and it’s hastening!

(Ok....so I know.....this email is getting REAL long....but just wanted to send a shout out to all my blog readers;) I love getting your letters and messages! They keep me going and I LOVE LOVE LOVE hearing about how it's helping you decide to serve and join in the work! <3 ya peeps)

Keep on keepin on!!!

Onward and upward,

Sister Anna Parker

Ok....so we had a girl's party at our apt on P-day with the sisters in the area.......it was definitely a pinterest-worthy party......minus the pinterest:) #missionarystatus #missmypins

this pic just looks like it BELONGS on pinterest;) 

YES. We did donuts on a string. Mom...you should be proud;) the other sisters weren't down....so.....we made fools of ourselves on our own;) lol 

Yep......bout sums us up:) lol

We got into an intense convo with the elders this week on whether or not ghosts are real. Don't ask. Day after, we found this in the library. PMG should add this to "questions of the soul" cause apparently the elders think they're legit. #boys

We then took these photos and told them we'd actually caught a ghost in out apartment.....#immabeliever

.....i do pretty good as a ghost....

isn't this kid just the living end?!?!?! AH!!! Never wanted a kid more in my life:) haha! #heartbreaker #futuremissionary

Fishy

On Monday night, we're eating at a members house and when we'd finished, we asked if there was anything we could do to serve them, especially since they are leaving for vacation soon. "Anything you need done while you're gone?" I asked. Their 10 year old son gasps, and says, "DAD!! They could take our fish for the week!!!"

Ummmmmm.........ehhhhhh........pg. 46, White Handbook........pg 46, White Handbook.....

We kinda awkwardly committed to asking for permission to see if we could have a pet fish for a week........weirdest service project I've ever accepted, but hey......

2 days later.......

"Hey Elders (Zone Leaders), we have a REALLY stupid question to ask you............can we HAVE A FISH??”

After awkwardly explaining our predicament, they basically referred us to the AP’s. Ok….so that’s not exactly what I wanted to hear………who wants to call the AP’s about keeping a fish??

4 days later……

“Hey Elder J--- (AP)…….dumb question……can we have a fish??”

More awko taco convo. Luckily, between laughs he says, “Hold up, I have to tell my companion this….” and then we hear him and his companion (the other AP) laughing on the other end.

Oh the things we do for members:)

A few minutes later, he comes back on the phone, “Sooooo…..’cause of white handbook rules, we can’t exactly give permission for that. You should call PRESIDENT on that one.”

Oh. Please. NO.

But what are ya gonna do?? Soooooo…..we pick up the phone…..AGAIN……and dial President.

“Hey President, so…….we have a really odd question to ask you…….”

And off we go again, explaining our fish problems. President just laughed and said, “Alright sisters, here’s what we’ll do. You can keep the fish for the week…..but if it dies…..just remember (and let the members know) I warned you it might die;)!”

#notguilty

We just laughed, and agreed. Talk about the weirdest conversation you’ll EVER have with your mission President. lol! 10 minutes later the AP’s called us, “What’d president say??”  We told them and they just laughed……and then told us, “Yea, well just remember….if the fish goes belly up….your member trust goes sinking down.”

Thanks, Elders.

Hahaha! Soooo…we should have our little fin in a week or two. #privlidged #testoftime #justkeepswimming

And because we didn’t get enough fishy business in for the week, we signed up to help at a community event…..a FISHING DERBY. Alriiiiiiiiiiiiight.  We showed up at 7 am in the morning, to start hauling tables, taping up signs, organizing materials, (oh, and getting free volunteer t-shirts…..LOVE those;). It was hosted by the local police department and hosted at……wait for it……the near-by catholic seminary that serves over 2500 students wanting to become catholic ministers, nuns, priests, etc.

Felt a bit outta place, but hey……represent your hood:)

So we kept our tags on (obviously), and between the peals of the chapel’s bells, struck up gospel conversation with the event’s participants, EMT’s, police officers, volunteers, and staff. Can’t count how many times people saw our tags and said, “Oh…..so you’re in training to become a NUN! That’s wonderful!”

Welllllllllllll….not exactly. 

The venue was absolutely breath-taking, though….right on the edge of a beautiful lake, with long piers stretching out into the lake, and garden over-looks above the shore. Aaaaaaand……watching families, couples, and friends out fishing together…..ah! I loved it…..(and have never wanted to fish more in my life!) haha!

By the end of our time there, we’d found two people to meet with and then got asked to help out at the next MPD service night in August.  

#score

We also went by this week to say goodbye to YUNG!!! I know!! It just about broke my heart!!! Because of her age and health, her family has decided to bring her back to Taiwan to die there, with family around her. When we came by, she had family friends over who were also saying their goodbyes. The daughter, pulled us aside and asked, “So do you know her life story??”

We confessed that we didn’t and she started into Yung’s past. Get this….she was a SPY FOR CHINA! Little 4’ 2” Grandma Yung was a legit S.P.Y. We just stood their floored while this woman tells us that Yung and her family were thrown in jail like 60-odd years ago back in China during their civil war, but when one of the jail guards saw Yung in prison, he stated that she was “too pretty to be in jail” and they released her, on the basis that she’d work as a spy for their army. Her role was to find out who in China were spies from other countries.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat???!!

And you think you know people………………..

Crazy. SO crazy. We just stood their dumb-founded, and shooting looks back and forth at Yung and each other. Well…..it’s true then…..you learn something new every day!

We got to sit down with Yung for a few minutes, and told her we’d miss her and loved her, and she quietly responded, “I’ll see you again……I’ll see you again…..” pointing her small finger towards us and squinting her eyes together in a sweet smile. 

Annnnnnd…….that’s when I lost it. I legit cried saying goodbye to her. But what she said was true….I will see her again! Whether in this life or the next, we will be together again! I’ve never been so grateful for the knowledge! And Yung has good things in store for her when she reaches the other side…..I’m convinced!!! It was hard, but good knowing that Yung will be back in her own country with family for the last months of her life!

On Saturday, we went over to an investigator’s house to do service for 5 hours! We shampooed carpets, vacuumed, cleaned, and re-arranged rooms, and it was FANTASTIC. I absolutely LOVE doing service for investigators. It’s such a perfect opportunity to live your religion and show others that we truly care! Afterwards, we got to share a message with them, and they opened up to us about their difficulties. I’m a believer…….service is the way to anyone’s heart!  

I found myself on the opposite end of that equation this week, when we showed up to Missionary Correlation Meeting. (oh…and btw….James just got his first calling…..he’s the newest WARD MISSIONARY!!!! Ah!! SO stoked! He’s the perfect addition to the team;) Anyways…….so we’re walking up to our ward mission leader’s house, and James tells me he has something for me.

He goes to the car, and comes back with a bag, smiling, saying, “I was in the mall, and when I saw this, I thought of you…..and it’s just your size.”

Ok….now I’m D.Y.I.N.G. cause I’m pretty sure I know what it is……

YEP. He legit went out and got me a RUGBY BALL ‘cause he knew I’d been trying to find one for f.o.r.e.v.e.r. now!!! OMG!!! Coolest. Convert. EVER.!! Hahaha! Sometimes, stuff like that means the WORLD to you as a missionary….and it totally came on one of those days when I needed it!!!

We’ve decided to keep James around….at least a little longer:) lol

Ok…so to wrap up…..last night, we went over to one of our recent-convert’s houses, to visit with two of his friends that were over to watch the world cup (don’t ask……..#teamgermany:). We got to talking and our conversation started getting quite intense fast.

They opened up to us about difficulties they were facing, and how they didn’t believe that God would allow bad things like that to happen, and how not everything good in this life could be accredited to God. Hearing them contend with us like that, broke. my. heart. It’s tough. As a missionary, we often get the reaction, “you’re only 19 or 20…how could you possibly know what I’m going through” or “you’ve been taught this your whole life….it’s just a brain-washed ideal for you” or “you’re so young…what could you’ve possibly been through in your life that could even compare with the trials I’m facing right now.”

Honestly….it’s true.

I don’t know how to solve all your problems. I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t been raised Mormon. I don’t know don’t know how to relate to you in every way.

But this I DO KNOW….that God is real. He loves each of His children individually. He cares about us. And that is why we have a Savior. He knows our pain. He knows our weakness. He knows what we’re going through. And His arm is ALWAYS extended to us if we will but take it, and be led by Him.

I don’t know everything, but like Elder Anderson said, “I know enough!” Yea, we walked out of that lesson feeling belittled and mocked, tried and shot, but I felt my testimony burning even stronger in me! These confrontational conversations coming from people, have seemed to be hitting us right and left over the past two weeks….but honestly, it hasn’t changed my opinion of this church, of God, or of this work, one bit.

If nothing else, it’s reminded me how precious the knowledge of the restoration of God’s truth is to me.Everyone needs it. And it is readily available to ALL!! I told one of the investigators last night, “All we want to do is place this truth in your hands, and let you decided what to do with it! Try it….give it a chance! It brings peace and happiness, and answers to your questions.” 

And just as I promised him then, I believe it still now:  IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!!!

Onward and upward!!

Sister Anna Parker

Saying goodbye to my Chinese grandma:(

#ballersgottaball       #meetmyconvert:)

#selfiesunday