So Letter or email day is the best! I now see what all those missionary moms were talking about. It is wonderful to hear what Mikayla is doing. I love the pictures she sent. It's makes all this worth it that she is happy serving the Lord. Thank you to all of you that are praying for her. The pictures are of her and her Companion and her district in front of the Bogota, Colombia Temple.
Greeting from Hermana Parker:
Thank you so much for your email. I feel so very loved. I am doing really good mom. The first couple days were pretty brutal. I couldn't understand what anyone was saying to me, the food was grossing me out, all I wanted to do was sleep, I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone. It was just really rough. After the first two days, it all started going by really fast. we were teaching investigators (just other teachers acting as people) in Spanish. Me and my companion, Hermana Tirrell, scripted everything we had to say. But it didn't take very long for us to start getting the hang of things. I think we get better at teaching every single day. We are able to use less script every day, I can pray in Spanish, I can bare my testimony in Spanish, and we are learning grammar. Which is a pain but you would be surprised how helpful it is and how quickly you start to pick things up.
Sunday was the best day ever. All Sunday is, is Sacrament meeting, Relief Society, and then we have three devotionals taught in English by President and Hermana Duvall. You are going to get a kick out of this. So our first devotional was on families. We talked a lot about marriage. I kid you not President Duvall said these exact words... you may not think you are responsible enough to get married after you get home from your mission... you are... so get married. And I just sat there in shock because I remember when I told you that I didn't think I was responsible enough to get married this young and then you told me that I should. And of course i just shook that off. But now I'm sitting here like wow my mom is so right. Always! I'm sorry I never believe you the first time.
We got to go to the temple this morning and it was incredible. The temple rents the temple clothes to missionaries for free so no need to worry about that ever. They did the session in English so that was very nice. But I was just so happy to get back in the temple. I missed it so much. I have some pictures so ill try to include those for you if I can figure it out hahaha.
The letter you gave me, and the letter dad gave me were amazing. I literally read them every day. They make me feel so at home. Your my mom so I can say this but I really do miss home. Like I am okay I promise. But there are times where I am like dang I wish I could call my mom right now. I hope that doesn't make you upset but more happy knowing that I still need my mom. I promise I am doing good. I am happy here. I don't want to freak you out. and I would tell you if I wasn't doing okay. I know I am doing what I am supposed to and I know that the Lord is going to help me through this.
My testimony of prayer has grown so strong since I have been here. I pray so much its almost ridiculous. before every meal, before every class, before every lesson, we pray so much. and I rely on it sooooooo much.
I don't know if I am going to have enough time to email every body AND do a big email so you might have to take snippets from this and put it on the blog. I trust you to know what to do hahaha.
I love you guys. I think about you guys LITERALLY ALL THE TIME and I am always praying for you. and I can feel that you guys are praying for me too. so thank you.
I already can't wait to hear from you next week. I love you so much!
Hermana Parker
