I miss a lot of people as well but this week I got mail every day so that was nice. I look at the family pictures on a daily basis and think about how much I really care about all of you. I appreciate all of your support for me going on this journey and I am going to continually need it. There is almost a 100% guarantee that I will be reassigned for a month while we wait for me visa. Pray that I get sent to San Antonio. That is where I want to go more than anything. I want to walk even more in the footsteps of our fearless sasquatian hero.
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He was referring to his father in that last sentence, who served his mission in San Antonio, Texas.
While at the MTC, Parker had the privilege of attending a Spanish session at the Provo temple as well as hearing from many wonderful speakers. Jeffery R. Holland challenged the missionaries not only to GO on a mission, but to BECOME missionaries. It was his favorite talk and really got him thinking about the importance of his personal growth. Dallin H. Oaks also made an impression on him:
Elder Oaks came to talk to us and it was an answer to my prayers. I have been really trying to hone in on how to recognize and better invite the spirit in my life so that I may create the environment where people can be touched by it. It is something that I still have to work on but we have talked about it in class a lot this week and I've studied it as well. Elder Oaks came and talked on exactly that subject it was a pretty cool experience.
The end of March rolled around and we received some exciting news in Parker's weekly email:
Oh yeah by the way one minor thing...if there is any way you could possibly get tickets to the saturday afternoon session of general conference...I was accepted to sing in the MTC Choir!!! only 364 out of 2000 were acceted! Make sure you record it if you cant go and look for me because I will be singing! I just have to work hard on the music and make every practice so that I can go. The other night Conte (Parker's companion) woke up and turned on the light and started yelling and shaking the beds and said WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE TO CHOIR!!! IT'S 3:40! and there is only one problem with that choir is at 7. So I was like Conte, it's 3:40 go to bed! and he was like...whoops haha it was really stange and somewhat a bummer because sleep is so precious here but worth it for the story.
He also sustained an injury while playing basketball on his P-day. We all breathed a sigh of relief learning that it wasn't his knee!!! That would have been the third knee injury, in the same month, for the third year in a row! He was worried that because of it, he may be reassigned to a different mission as he had seen happen with another missionary with a similar injury.
Last night I had a little bit of a scare. I was playing basketball and I stepped on a guys foot and rolled my ankle pretty bad. It is really sore today and is wrapped but I am just so very thankful it wasn't my knee. I think this is the Lord's way of saying that I need to stop playing for a while until I go out where I'm supposed to be. My ankle is doing ok, it has been hard once again sitting in the training room watching everyone else play, but it is only my ankle thank goodness.
Although we tried to convince Parker prior to his mission that the "cool" silk ties probably weren't the best idea for the humidity of Mexico, he wanted the "stylish ones" so we acquiecsed. About a month and a half into his time at the MTC, we received an email requesting as many polyester ties as we could find. He specifically asked that each of his brothers pick one out for him so he would be able to have something special from each of them that he'd be able to wear every day. Off to the store we went and sent his "new tie package" off that week so it would get to him before he left for Mexico.
First off thank you so very much for the package it was wonderful! Let me just say that those ties are so sweet! definitely picked by my stunna brothas! Except Brody he has taste like Dad...conincedence? I dont think so...but it is still wonderful and I will wear it with pride...and humility :)
Time drew near to the April 9th departure date and he informed us that he had heard stories from other missionaries about the "jungles" of Mexico. Needless to say, prior to him leaving for the MTC, the only concerns we heard about his mission from him were, #1 - the large spiders and, #2 - the food. His final email prior to Mexico addressed these fears:
I will have a new address soon in the boonies of mexico I can feel it. I've heard people say that it is a JUNGLE and we get machetes in some areas to cut down paths. I am excited but...with jungles always comes, HUGE BUGS. Oh well if I get jumped by a couple of sucka bugs too bad they dont have a dang machete and I do. Seriously that and possibly eating like a leg of a rat are my biggest fears right now. I am ready to teach though.
Parker and the Provo MTC President
Parker and the other fine Elders in his MTC district
Visas came through the Wednesday prior to scheduled departure, so....on
April 9th, Parker made the journey down to Mexico (in the boonies) for his first assignment. It was truly wonderful to hear about all of the great, growth-promoting experiences our son was able to have during his time at the Missionary Training Center. We are so grateful to all of his wonderful leaders and teachers and all others who wrote and showed so much support! We are truly blessed!
The next post will talk about his eye-opening adventures in the new land over the past 7 weeks as he meets new people and stretches to find himself and most importantly communicate in a language he can't yet speak!
