You're Gonna Miss This

 

 

"There's a country song for that" could adequately describe just about every aspect of my life. Even on the mission, after 18 months of being country music-less I still get those feel-good songs running through my head. This week was no exception. 

"You're Gonna Miss This" has been playing in my mind over and over again as  I am coming to grips with the fact that this chapter of my life is about to close. 

I AM going to miss this. That fact was made even more apparent to me as we sat in a mission-wide conference this week with Elder Zwick of the 70 and were taught by him and other leaders for almost 5 hours. 

Sitting there, soaking up every ounce of spiritual sunlight from that inspired man, I realized just how precious this experience is. The love, power, wisdom, and inspiration that he shared with us, left me feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude for this gospel, for the Spirit, for this work, and for my chance to be a part of it. I'm going to miss this.

And as I realize that this mission of mine is about to all be over, I wonder sometimes if I have done enough. I was wrestling with that thought during the meeting with Elder Zwick and felt like I wasn't receiving much of an answer. However, in his closing remarks, after hours of previous instruction, he said, almost out of the blue, "If you do your best and then get on your knees, every night, sincerely asking, "Lord, wilt thou accept the best that we gave today?" then it will be enough." 

The Lord answers prayers.

President promised us that if we came to that meeting with questions of our souls, actively seeking for answers, that we would find them. I found mine. As my mission comes to a close, I realize that it is enough, not because of my own efforts, but because HE makes it enough. He fills in where I can't. He magnifies me when I'm weak. He accepts all of my offering and appreciates every sacrifice I make for Him. It is enough. And I am SO grateful for priesthood leaders and the Spirit that bring answers from the Lord to each of us!

The rest of our week was kind of a blur. My poor companion was sick for 3 days with a head cold and we were cooped up indoors for most of that time so she could recover. Despite getting a bit stir crazy, it did offer me some much-needed time to think about and process my life and how it's all about to change....and to clean the apartment:). #tendermercies

We also closed out the week with yet another blood drive and this time around it was a huge success! We had multiple non-members and investigators come, some with member friends, and a lot of ward members turned out to support us. One ward member commented, "It's just so good to see the missionaries doing all kinds of things to help out in the community and give us members opportunities to serve as well. This is the kind of thing that makes me realize that missionary work can be fun and creative and well....easy!"

Mission Accomplished:)

I also had the opportunity yesterday to bear my testimony one last time as a full-time missionary during Fast and Testimony Meeting. It's kind of heartbreaking.....so no, I didn't make it through without crying, in case you're wondering:). 

As a missionary, you get to bear testimony so often yet somehow it never gets old. It still gives me a rush every time, because every time I testify, I rediscover just how true, and powerful, and glorious this gospel is! I only have one more week of being a missionary, but that testimony--that conviction--I know, will go with me beyond the paths of this life as a full-time representative of Him, because it has become who I am. 

I KNOW that this gospel and the church is espouses is true. That, in my mind, is undeniable, because I have LIVED it. I have witnessed it, preached it, sacrificed for it, embraced it, acted upon it, and learned to LOVE it. That is the gift given to each of us from Him, who's church this is, if we will but act in faith. He promises that He will manifest the truth of this gospel to us, if we will but ask, and then live according to the knowledge that we receive.

I plan to do that and much more for this last week of my mission, and beyond!!!

Onward and upward,

Sis Anna Parker

 

 

 

 

guess who I saw at mission conference?!?!? #besties

What I do when my companion is sick and I get stir crazy cooped up in the apartment for three days...... :)

What we do in Chicago when the weather gets up to 45 degrees!!! #balmy #doorswideopen

What Hispanic investigators feed us.....after we've already had dinner at another members' home. #getonourlevel #nowthatsatorta:) #SOfull


 

 

Should I Serve A Mission???

A little while ago, a family member who is soon to submit mission papers wrote me and asked, "Tell me everything there is to LOVE about a mission. I've heard enough about the hard.....tell me what makes it all worth it."

I responded, and now, a few weeks later, I figured I'd upload my letter for all of you who feel the same way....



"So....you asked me some really good questions--good in a number of ways: good for you to know, as well as good for me to answer. To preface, though, I gotta say, I'm totally having de-ja-vu to back before my mission.....the whole "enough of hard! what about the good?"


"So, lemme just say, I wish I'd heard more about the good before I came out. The questions you asked made me reflect on both the the hard and the joy of mission life. I realized there is much of mission life that I take for granted, which made me realize that there is even more joy to be found in this lifestyle than I sometimes realize.  Sooooo......take this letter--which is focused on the joys and blessings of missionary life--not as the 24/7-life-is-always-easy norm, but also remember to find joy in the small things, then that makes the work joyous.


"Ok....'nuff said. Rambling.....trashed. Here's really what you want to know! 



1st question: What makes me crazy happy? People. Love the people and you'll love your mission. Whether it's having someone accept the invitation to meet with you, be baptized, or report to you that they prayed for the first time ever....that is when I'm CRAZY HAPPY! Like get-back-into-the-car-and-just-scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs happy!!! Because it's about them!!! It's sometimes hard or unnatural to love, but invest your heart in e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. you meet and talk to.....and love (and happiness:) follows!

2nd question: What is fun about a mission? Being weird. Being crazy. Getting teased. Having adventures. Little kids loving you as "their missi-mary." Eating new foods. Pranking friends. Comp selfies. District lunches. Zone activities. Sightseeing. Transfer giddiness. Laughing at old church films (Legacy.....easy cheesy! lol). Teasing companions. Meeting strange people. Getting called funny names. Mission jokes. Taking pictures. Running back to the apartment at 8:55 p.m.. Life bloopers. A lot of things, really. But a lot of times, you have to make the fun! Get creative and learn to laugh at yourself;)

3rd question: What is rewarding about missionary life? SO MUCH. period. The Lord rewards His full-time missionaries in SO many ways! I see His tender mercies around me all. the. time.! It's rewarding in ways you also don't expect, though. After a long hard day, going to bed tired? Rewarding. An opportunity to do a random act of service? Rewarding. A prayer from an investigator thanking God for sending YOU to them? Rewarding. A lesson so fulled with the spirit that you have no idea what you said, but it worked? Rewarding. The first time an investigator walks through the doors of the chapel in jeans and a t-shirt? Rewarding. Helping a new young missionary find the power of their testimony? Rewarding. There is SO much reward in store for full-time representatives of the Lord! Like I said in a past email, there is NO way this is not the Lord's work, because NO such satisfaction and joy could come from work so hard! It truly is SO rewarding.

4th question: What is the power of being a missionary like? GAH!!! I L.O.V.E. it!!!! There is nothing like it!!  It's like being superhuman, really;) Like, ya put on the tag and suddenly, there's no bars held--you can talk to anyone and everyone, people respect and admire you instantly, inviting yourself in and over to people's houses isn't weird at all, you open your mouth and no matter how stupid or incoherent you sound, your words somehow make it to their hearts.....and the list goes on! There's also unseen power from God which leaves you standing there in awe of HIS power. Check out Jacob 5:72. Nuff said. He's in this work WITH US!! What more power could you ask for?? The power is unmatched but....you also have to work for it, look for it, love it, and appreciate it! Then IT COMES!!! Those are the days when you can't help but shout, "I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!"

5th question: What makes the mission amazing? Well, I guess the answer to that is just a summary of the last 4 questions;). It's amazing in many ways (probably most of which, I won't even fully appreciate or recognize until it's all past). One thing, I gotta say that is amazing about being a missionary is the incredible support system that you have access to. I'm constantly surrounded by people--the mission president, his wife, district leaders, zone leaders, the bishop, ward members, senior couple missionaries, fellow missionaries, etc.--who are my biggest fans and most constant supporters just because I wear the badge!! It's truly amazing being surrounded by incredibly young peple all the time, who are going through the exact same things you are. It's kinda like EFY on steroids;) hahaha!


Every now and then, I have those mind-blowing moments where I all of the sudden realize, "This is sick!" and I also have to realize how hard it will eventually be to have to resign from the ranks and go back to "normal life" (yea, whatever that is;).


6th Question: Why is a mission both amazing and hard? Yea, you hear about the hard, because it IS hard. But it's an experience that teaches you so much! You will NEVER regret serving! The longer I'm out here, the more I realize, "Dang, idk how I would have every gotten marries, had kids, raised a family, accepted church callings, etc. if I'd never served a mission!" You will learn SO much about yourself, other people, the world, the church, gospel doctrine, and most importantly, about the love of Christ and His atonement as you serve--more than you could learn anywhere else in so short a time!


You will develop incredible relationships, meet amazing people, make best friends out of companions, and see and do things you'd never dreamed of! haha! It's an a.d.v.e.n.t.u.r.e.! Take on the challenge! (And don't worry...you'll get used to people staring awkwardly at your chest until you remember that's where your tag is at;) 


Sometimes you'll feel like your badge is really a 10 foot pole with a sign tacked to the end "keep your distance and avoid eye contact at all costs otherwise, I'll be really friendly and try to convert you!" hahaha! and again, at other times, your tag is what prompts showers of praise, questions, compliments, and requests for help and a listening ear......its b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.! There are so. many. blessings. that come with the tag--protection, comfort, strength, discernment, power, etc.!


Ok so to wrap up......I was thinking about those emotions some of us feel.....specifically, not wanting to go. My word of advice would be to make a list of the "why's"--why you're going. Rack your brains if you have to:)! As you go along, and throughout your mission, review it and add to it. It often brings things back into perspective for me when the going gets tough.


And just remember, a mission isn't meant to be easy all the time. But all the time, it's worth it! Go out and have a blast! Turn your heart and will over to the Lord and watch and see what amazing miracles He will work through and for you!  The work is hastening this last time! This is the lat time He will send for His laborers to find the elect! The urgency is there!    Don't let this incredible opportunity pass you by!    Join the ranks! "We are as the armies of Heleman...in these latter days!"


You'll find (and re-find) the fire of missionary work! It WILL come, just wait and see! It doesn't come all at once and sometimes not as fast as you'd like, but it does come! Hold out and hold fast! Sacrifice truly does bring forth the blessing of heaven!


Keep walking--you're moving in the right direction and the Lord knows and understands how frightening and even painful that step into the darkness can be. Just think, even before the most important step in the history of mankind--the Atonement--Jesus Christ himself pled,  



"If it be thy will, let this cup pass from me."

 He knows what that's like! He knows exactly what you're feeling!

"Never-the-less (think about the meaning of that word!) glory be to the Father, and I partook!" (DC 19:9)  Your mission is a "never-the-less"! 



The blessings and miracles brought about both to you and to others will far out-weigh any sacrifice you make! I love you! Your faith and willingness to obey will be an inspiration to many!



Onward and upward!



Sister Anna Parker

Man Caves, Miracles, and Marathons

Convo while handing out family history fliers:

        Me: "Would you guys be interested in learning more about your family history, where your ancestors are from, etc.?"
        Woman: "Heh, from what I know about my family, I don't think I'd like to know where the rest of them came from."

Mmmmmmmmmmkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.   


Welp, that's the hood of Chicago for ya......... #realdeal



Aaaaaaaannnnnnddddd....our adventure pick of the week was........MAN CAVE TRACTING. We showed up to a street we felt good about, started knocking doors, and as the pavement dragged on, the houses started getting more and more sketch. Padlocks on doors, pit bulls on guard, and boarded up windows.

MAN CAVES.

Oooooooo hooo hooo. Get some! We got all the reactions as we knocked on those doors. The usual: introduce who we are, detect the unbroken stare and slick smile as the wrong type of interest, aaaaaaand.....walk away. Fast. We also got the one random white guy who did everything in his power to brush of the involuntary doorknob grab-and-slam reaction after we said who we were. And then he brushed us off. And last, but not least, we got the sweet Africa American women who were touched by the glimpse we gave them of the gospel message, and who agree to let us come back.

[insert fist pump]

Ahhhhhh! Tracting............It's a joy.

We also were graced by the public safety department of Glencoe this week: 2 PARKING TICKETS. Oh and get this, we got them the s.a.m.e.  d.a.y.! What is this? Soooooo.....we come out to our car in the morning to find one tucked nicely behind the other......color coordinated yellow and red too. Presh.


GIVE ME A BREAK.


Luckily, we're getting reimbursed by the mission for them, since we don't have parking access yet, but......still. I'm single-handedly keeping the state of IL outta bankruptcy with my parking tickets. #ideserveaplaque


Mana does come from heaven, though. Work hard and blessings come in all shapes and sizes........like the size of old snow-soaked dollar bills lying in the middle of the road on the way to an appointment the same day you get two parking tickets. Oh ho....yea, those blessings.

#truestory


After a lengthy debate over what to do with the found $20, we finally decided to place a call to the top jock, Elder (aka grandpa) Taggart to beg some advice. Result:

TAKE AND THANK. Take the miracle, thank for the blessing.

God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, He decides to lessen the sting of consequences brought on by stupid mistakes. Love it when He does that:) #feelinblessed


We've been at work, trying to find more people to teach too. With a non-progressing teaching pool, we're doing all we can to find the "elect." One night, while handing out fliers for an upcoming event, we found a woman who'd already decided she wanted to attend when she saw the invitation elsewhere a week or so ago. Right before we were about to leave her door, I asked, "Do you know of anyone else who would like an invitation as well?"

5 minutes later: 5 REFERRALS!!!!!

That's a record for us!! Geez laweez! Blessings also come when you follow the spirit and ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM EVERYONE! I read that somewhere:)



Satan's also been out to stop us, though. One day, after Sis Teare had been faithfully calling former investigators to request visits again, we got a phone call back from a misdialed number. The woman on the other end......lezzzzzzz just say.......lashed out irrationally (where's Neil when I need him?:). She basically threatened to report us, harassed us with phone calls and voicemail messages, and told us that if we were truly who we said we were (young 20 year old girls hundreds of miles away from home just trying to share a message about Jesus Christ) that we should go back home before our lives were made miserable by her.


 YIKES.


It left us feeling kinda beat down and uneasy. It's tough listening to someone tell you that you're a liar, and that you should give up serving a cause you know to be right.  I do believe that Satan was trying to discourage us from working hard and searching out it those who DO need and want us. 

Ain't gonna happen:) Back out to work we go!!




Our weekly highlights included seeing Abass get the priesthood, serving ward members, and handing out rice crispy treats to two homeless guys on the side of the road. 

Unplanned acts of kindness, anyone?? Hahaha!

Our laughs for the week included spotting a POLICE MINI VAN (lamest. idea. ever. Like which officer wants to drive that?? It's probably a punishment the police department invested in....."Mike, ya didn't bring in enough traffic citations this week......you're on mini van duty." Hahaha!), getting asked by an employee of Sports Authority, "Sister Parker? What store is that?" (Awwwwwkwwwwward), and playing the part of greased pig around male investigators who want a hug.

#lifeofasismish

Gotta love it.



Aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnddddddd nowwwwww......the weekly bit of booster:



Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace it!


Sometimes life is a breeze, a downhill jog and the going is good. Sometimes it's tough, a steep pitch under the blistering sun. But, life's not just about the finish line, it's about the journey along the way. Pace yourself!

Don't burn yourself out or tear yourself down when you can't seem to match up to your past (or even your future) PR! Every experienced athlete knows that pacing is one of the most crucial skills to learn in any long-distance event. 


A mission is a mini life crammed into 18 months. Same thing, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes you can give it everything you've got. Other times, The Lord says, "Hold up, regroup and refuel." 


Focus on where you're at right now. What is the best you CAN and SHOULD give NOW? If it's your all-time best, go for it! Take it on! And don't let the opportunity pass you by! If NOT, rein in. Let the unimportant go. Face the pace and breath deep. Conserve energy and trust that the view at the top will be worth the wait. 

Ok, ok, so I'll cut the preaching......and let Paul do the rest:) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2) 

KEEP CALM and PACE ON.

Onward and upward!

Sister Anna Parker

See, I'm not the only one who says it:)

If ya follow me on FB, you know what this is:) Embrace who you are!!!

Cowgirls, Couches, and Converts-To-Be

Transfers. THEY DO THINGS TO YA.

This time around it was ten times worse than norm. First off, the tensely-awaited text took FOREVER to be sent......

11am......1pm.......3pm.........nothing.......5pm......nothing.......6pm.........nothing.......7pm.....nothing.....8:05
pm.....

"Ah! Finally!!"

"You will NOT be receiving a transfer call to tonight"


GLORY HALLELUJAH!!


Yea, well.....life's not that simple. 5 minutes later....

"You WILL be receiving a transfer call tonight"


WAIT, WHAT??


Way to kill that party. And instead, we start panicking. Only one thing left to do: frantically call the AP's and demand an explanation. Good plan.....until they don't answer their phone.

So we sit there, staring hopelessly at each other, wheels turning, palms sweating, tears forming, with NO idea what to think.

Then the phone buzzes again........half terrified we read the text: "Sorry about the confusion. this is the real thing: You will NOT be receiving a transfer call tonight."

GLORY HALLELUJAH!!!

But.....not so much. 5 short-lived minutes later.....

"The real deal: you WILL be receiving a transfer call tonight."

WHAT ON EARTH!? My life is a lie. After being mind-wracked and question-tortured, and TEN YEARS  LATER......the assistants call to apologize for the confusion and to tell us we will NOT be getting transferred!!!!

That, people, is the only way this story could have ended well:)



So yea!!! I'm staying in North Shore 1 for at least 6 more weeks with 11 investigators, two on date for baptism, and with the best companion ever!

LIFE IS GOOD.

The only downer to transfers is that we have to move apartments because of some re-arranging conflicts. BLAH. So.....despite staying in the area, we're moving.........

JOY

We're actually downsizing from one of the largest apartments in the mission to one of the smallest. Oh well. Good thing Sister Teare and I have reached that point in our relationship........hello, close quarters. Hahaha! 

(Btw, it's CRAZY how much stuff we girls collect in only a few short months:)

Have no fear, though. Sis Teare and I had quite the adventure this week with moving are now experienced in the process. We arranged for a couch that Yolanda didn't want any more to be given to Margaret our
other investigator (who's on date for baptism!!!!). Being the capable sisters we are ;) we were able to swap cars with the Chi 1 district leaders so....

I GOT A TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep. My country-loving heart was BEYOND STOKED!!!! Driving that beauty was out. of. this. world.! Doesn't take much to make this cowgirl happy:)

Heads up, Chi-town, these girls done gone and got themselves a truck!!! Yehaw!

So anyways, after finally getting the heavy bulky couch out of Yolanda's house (oh, and we found out half way through the awkward process that it originally took 4 guys to move it IN......#sisterskillz!) and loaded into the truck.......and despite "compliments" from the construction guys across the street.......we
were on our way to deliver it an hour later. Whew. Best yet to come, though. After unloading the couch and getting it half way up two flights of stairs, we realized that it was too big to fit around the corner right before Margaret's apt.

OH SWEET MERCY.

Back out the door we go......all the way around to the back of the building, in a last attempt to get it up the somewhat wider back stairs. 20 pinched hands and fingers later, we managed to finally get that pain-in-the-neck mammoth couch into Margaret's apartment. All that work, effort, pain, and sweat though, was ALL worth seeing the happiness and gratitude on Margaret's face!! Service like that makes. my. DAY!!!!!

The only misery that day was having to give the truck back:( I just about cried. This is why Sis Teare and I need to be the first sister District leaders so we can drive the truck all the time! Haha! Jk:)

We were eventually able to go back and teach Margaret a lesson as well. She is such a sweet woman! She's had a lot of struggles lately and throughout her life, but it's incredible seeing the difference the gospel is making in her life. She's happier. She's hopeful. And she's at home!! The gospel is changing her life for the better! How lucky I am to be a part of it!!!!!!!

Abass is making great progress too!! We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ this week, and watching his dark eyes sincerely watching us and listening to everything we say is absolutely p.r.i.c.e.l.e.s.s.! At the end of our lesson, Marie (his mom) said, "So, Abass, you think someday you'll teach this to other people? Be a missionary?" His answer sent happy chills all through me....."YES!" That beaming white smile and bright eyes of his was proof enough that he knows it's true and will be an incredible missionary one day!!

This week also consisted of the dreaded APARTMENT INSPECTIONS. duhn, duhn,  duhn....


In the past, the senior sisters who inspect the apartments have showed up at least a half hour late so OF COURSE when Sis Teare and I decide to go all out and deep clean e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. they show up right
on time, with us still in our cleaning grubbies, no make-up on, and frantically trying to do last minute cleaning with them on our doorstep.  At the end if the day, though,  our apartment passed with flying colors. WHAAAAAAAAT:)

Last night, following our dinner appointment, we were about it go home to finish packing, when I felt a strong impression to visit a certain potential investigator, Dawon. We'd had difficulty getting a hold of
him since first running into him, so it seemed like a vain effort, but.....off we went. Sure enough, he was home!!!! He came down into the entry way to talk with us. We asked if he'd had a chance to read any of the Book of Mormon (which he was holding) and he said "Yea, I've read a little of it. Sorry, I haven't read much, but it want to keep reading." He stepped closer to show me his bookmarked page: CHAPTER TWENTY of 1ST NEPHI!!!! 

Dude, you're doing great!!! Hahaha!


He's so sincere and curious......we've found an ELECT!! We're meeting with him this coming Saturday and he wants to come to church with us as well!!!! Does happiness like this exist anywhere else?!!? NOPE.

So, we're pressing on! Our mishaps for the week include accidentally leaving our cooking dinner in the oven while we ran out to a teach (luckily we didn't burn the complex down, only our kitchen. Just
kidding, mom:), me hobbling around for days after doing 100 calf raises during my morning workout (oh sweet soreness!), and being road bullied by a guy who saw me changing lanes in front of him as an attack on him, his family, and his dog. Narrowly escaped that one, thanks be to our personal Spiritual Security agents.

The joy to be experienced as a missionary is UNMATCHED! Yea, it's tough, yea it's long, yea it's tedious, yea it's demanding......but it is ALL WORTH IT!!! There isn't a day that goes by that I don't, in some way or another, count myself so blessed to be a missionary!!

I'm including an object lesson (re-drawn in my journal:) that our district leader shared with us on  Wednesday. Hopefully it'll make sense, if not.......email me (I've gotta find you reasons to write me,
see?;)

I believe that it's lessons can apply to any aspect of our lives, when we are searching for greater peace and happiness. Let me know what you think!!!



I love you all!!  Miss ya lots, and know that your prayers are felt out here!!!!


Onward and upward!


Sister Anna Parker

(Hope you can read my writing....and enjoy the hot pink and zebra border......my fav;)

Ringin' in the Good Times

Christmas on a mission is so bittersweet. It's really tough being away from everything you love and are familiar with, but there's also a deep sense of God's love and appreciation for you as one of His full-time missionaries. It can be really lonely not being with friends and family, not being part of the gift-buying and present-purchasing,
and feeling like you don't really belong anywhere. But through it all, you develop a deeper compassion and love for those who experience those same feelings year after year at Christmas time.

Christmas Eve we got to spend with the Whittle and Myer families! They're both such incredible families.....there's no other place and no other people I'd rather spend Christmas with out here! It was such
a blessing and comfort, being able to be in their home that night. It was a tough night emotionally for me, understandably so. Your heart aches to feel like you belong, to be home with those you love, and to feel like you're not alone or forgotten. Being with them that night, truly eased that pain. We left feeling loved, comforted, and appreciated.

The Lord has a deep love for all His missionaries and He gives us a greater portion, I believe, of love, comfort, and peace during the Christmas season. It's beautiful, how when the usual Christmas festivities and distractions are no longer a part of your Christmas holiday an a missionary, you really come to understand and worship more deeply the true reason to rejoice....the birth of Christ. And, like Preach My Gospel promises, your understanding of the Atonement grows, and with it brings and increased desire to share the gospel!

So....we're stayin' missionaries for the time being:)


Christmas Day we woke up to open packages only after sitting in the 6:30 am dark for a few minutes, confused as to how to open our gifts when there were no parents there to tell us when.  Hahaha!

"Ready, set, go!" was as good as it got.......LAME, I know:)

We were both totally stoked by what we got in our packages.....best.christmas.ever.! Thanks fam!!

After gifts, we got ready to run off to........DISTRICT MEETING.

Get dressed in an attempted Christmasy outfit, throw on some makeup, pull on boots, scarves, hats, and gloves, grab iPads, purses, phone, and keys, dash out the door, hop in the car, start the...........nope. DEAD. TOTALLY COMPLETELY UTTERLY DEAD ENGINE. ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!"

Yep. Just our luck. And, of course, on a CHRISTMAS MORNING, NO ONE IS OUT. They're nestled all warmly all snug in their beds, with no visions of desperate sister missionaries dancing in their heads.

Great.

So, of course, we say a prayer, and then with no other option, we decide to FLAG DOWN CARS.

Someone shoot me. Worst. Moment. Of. My. Life.

First car starts approaching......."ah! It's a police car! Yay, this isn't weird, he's gotta be used to being flagged down. And, he's gotta help us! No probs."

The officer rolls down his window, and I explain our predicament. He then replies,

"Sorry, miss, I don't have jumper cables. If you need a tow, though, we can call the company we use, but it'll be expensive."

Well thanks for nothing. WHAT POLICEMAN DOESN'T HAVE CABLES?! Glad I can count on tax-funded public safety personnel to help me out when I'm in a tough spot:)

So he drives off, sipping his coffee, while we try another ten times to flag a car down with no success. BLAST.

Finally, frustrated and desperate, we decide to buzz people in the neighboring complex. After one awkward rejection, we finally got a guy to come down and jump us! Total knight in shining armor for two damsels in distress!! Haha!

First thing we both said when we got back in our car, with now a running engine.....

"FAITH IN HUMANITY.....RESTORED!!"  With an added fist bump to the sky.

It was a memorable Christmas:) district meeting was awesome, lunch was delicious (we got real fancy and bought ourselves Telestial pizza--Little Caesars. According to Sis. Teare, only Papa John's is Celestial Pizza), and then we got to SKYPE HOME!

It was tough seeing family--it made me realize how much I miss them all!! Love ya fam!!!!

Coming out of skyping, I just sat there and bawled. Sometimes, we girls just have to do that, and afterwards sure enough, we feel much better. Leaving the building, though, we ran into a member, with me all red-eyed and mascara-streaked.

Great.

Right as we were about to get into our car, he waved us back to the church door, handed me $20 dollars and said "Merry Christmas, sisters." I just wanted to start bawling ALL over again!! He was SO kind and it came in a moment just when I needed it! The Lord answers prayers and that act of kindness was such a tender mercy from heaven!

The rest of the day was enjoyable. We had dinner with a sweet family in the ward with two ADORABLE boys (can't get enough of those:), and then we headed to a nearby soup kitchen to help serve Christmas dinner to the homeless. We showed up only to find out that dinner had already been served 2 hours ago.

Well this is awkward.

Oh well, at least we tried. And showed our faces as willing Mormons ready to do service for the community:) we deserve kudos for something like that, right? ;)

So.....long story short...Christmas was good. Different, but good:)



On a teaching note, we had an awesome experience this week!!!!! One night this week, we were coming back from a teach and stopped in at Walgreens to grab a bite to eat. We came back out to the parking lot to leave, but right before we were about to drive off, a Hispanic man, Rafael, came and tapped on my window. I got out of the car and began talking with him. He needed directions, so I pulled out my GPS and found directions for him. I decided to write them down on none other than....wait for it...A RESTORATION PAMPHLET. It's like I think like a sister missionary or something:) haha!

I also wrote down our number on a card, handed him the pamphlet with the directions, told him we were sister missionaries for the church, and offered to let him call us if he needed further help. And off he drove.

So later that night, we're starting our planning session, and we get a phone call. I realize it's Rafael, and my first thought was that he was calling for more directions. Nope. First thing he says, "I wanna
come to your church."

WAIT, ARE YOU SERIOUS??

Yep. He's Hispanic and tried to read the pamphlet but couldn't understand it. He asked for a copy in Spanish and asked for the address and time for Sunday meetings.

HOLY LANTA.

Small means, great things. We're excited to meet with him and introduce him to the Spanish elders....and all because of directions written on a pamphlet.

#missionarywin


We also got a new investigator this week!!!! She's awesome! We actually found her one night when we went to meet with one of our recent converts, Marie. We taught Marie a lesson on missionary work and we're about to close in prayer when she opened up to us about all her efforts to share the gospel. We were kinda FLOORED, because she moved here recently from Sierra Leon and doesn't speak English very well. However, she recounted her (multiple) conversations with friends about the Book of Mormon, church, and other gospel topics. Then, out of no where, she picks up her phone, calls her downstairs neighbor, and says, "Hi, Margaret.....the missionaries are here with me. Should we come down, or are you coming up to meet them?"

We just sat there kinda stunned by this incredible member missionary!!! Lemme just say, I LOVE CONVERTS!!! They're the best missionaries and are so passionate when it comes to their love of this church. After a short while, we went downstairs, taught her neighbor the Restoration, and shared the Book of Mormon with her. The very next day, she was sitting in church, stayed all three hours, and said she loved it!!!

MIRACLES ARE WORKED THROUGH MEMBER MISSIONARIES!!!

We're anxious to go back and teach her the Plan of Salvation!! She's from Ghana and is a sweet woman. Please pray that her interest and testimony continues to grow!! We. Love. Her!



Funny story: one night tracting, we approached a house lit by many lights and a large tv screen in the window. A guy comes to the door, and with him, a wave of weed stench.

Alriiiiiiiiighty. Here goes.

So we start our door approach, but before we can finish, his friend pushes him out of the doorway and says, "Thanks girls, but this is a good Christian home, and we're just fine."

You sure about that?? Cause I would swear good Christian homes don't smell like they're made of marijuana. Just a thought.

Haha! We had a good laugh walking away from that door:)



Sister Teare and I are continuing to work hard between trying over 40 times to make testimony videos to post to Facebook (our bloopers are p.r.i.c.e.l.e.s.s.:), killing creepy spiders in our apartment during comp study with our hymnals, and trying to not freeze our faces off in the -15 degree weather:)

It's a work in progress.



Line of the week:

Elder Ray (the Spanish elder for our area): Sister Parker, where are you from again?
Me: New Hampshire
Elder Ray: Really?? You don't act like it!
Me: What's THAT supposed to mean??
Elder Ray: You're so normal!

THANKS??

Hahaha! Oh elders. We love em:)




The work is sweet, the blessings great! I love and miss you all!! Keep the letters coming!!


Onward and upward!


Sister Anna Parker

Christmas Eve Dinner......canned clam chowder and a freezer-burned roll. Gotta keep the fam bam traditions alive:)

The extent of our Christmas decorations.....and our chairs waiting to be visited by Santa:) 

The adieu:(    (and me trying not to cry:)