Week 59: I want to argue with you!‏

Hello!

Happy Monday everyone! 

So, I just realized that I only have 10 minutes left to email and it usually takes me roughly an hour to write this so, sorry!! 

This week was so much fun! We were walking all week long and we were blessed with gorgeous weather! Plus, the new semester is about ready to start up so there are students everywhere!! A few of our leaders gave us different challenges and they got us pumped up! One day, we made a list of all the awkward situations that we would normally avoid talking to someone and did all of them! We talked to groups, people with headphones on, and even crossed the street just to talk to someone! It was so cool to see the miracles that the Lord provided us as we were diligent and talked to everyone in sight! 

So, I have discovered that almost no one in Manhattan is actually from the United States. We have talked to anyone BUT Americans! I love hearing about other people's beliefs and cultures. When we added it all up these are the places where everyone is from: Ecuador, Paraguay, Nigeria, Argentina, China, Bangladesh, India, Srilanka, Mexico, Quaite, Senegal, and a few Muslims! 

So the funniest door of my whole mission happened the other day: 

We were trying to see an investigator and Sister Jensen had an impression to knock on another door. We did, and an ANCIENT lady answered the door! Imagine this: she is about 4 feet tall, her glasses are about a mile wide, and her hair is sticking straight up. Here is a basic run down of our conversation with her:

Her: "I was asleep! Who are you?"

Us: "We're the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!"

Her: "Oh..Latter-Day Saints...."

Us: "Oh! Have you talked to missionaries before?"

Her: "Well I'm not interested, I'm Southern Baptist! But I want you to come back sometime so I can          argue with you!" 

Us: "Uh................"

Her: "Do you have any literature?!"

Us: "Sure do!" I give her a Restoration pamphlet and explain that it talks about Jesus.

Her: "I already know Jesus Christ! He is my Savior and I hope that he is yours too!" 

Maybe you had to be there but it was hilarious! 

Well time is up! I love you all! Have a great week and remember that God answers prayers!! 

Sister Parry

Who can guess the 3 scripture stories??

Sunday is my favorite day

Am I the only one that finds this funny?

"soliciting and/or distribution of literature prohibited"

That's better! P day at the laundromat! 

Self-timer is hard

Week 58: Manhappening!

Happy Monday everyone! 

I don't think that any written form of my past 7 days will do any of it justice, but I will try my hardest for you! 

So getting transferred and closing an area proves to be INSANE. You would be amazed at how much junk builds up after sister missionaries live in an apartment for yearsss. Goodbyes were pretty hard. The investigators, the Lira's, Sister Bringhurst. :'( As we drove into Manhattan, I felt like a country-girl seeing the big city for the 1st time-it is HUGE! Going from the "Cowboy Capital of the World" to College-town is a culture shock. 

Manhattan is amazing, Sister Jensen is amazing, and the 2 wards that we cover are amazing! My first Sunday here describes everything quite nicely! 

First of all, the university branch and the ward both start at the same time, so my companion and I had to go on splits with members to be at both! Then, the elders decided to go to the ward so I was the ONLY missionary at the branch. Lastly, I knew NO ONE there. With all of that in mind, let me tell you a story: 

I was waiting for 2 investigators from Ecuador to come and meeting everyone in the branch. I was super bummed when sacrament meeting started and they still were not there. As the meeting continued, someone told me that there were a few people at the door. Excited, I ran over to meet the investigators! When I got there, I found 4 random men also from Ecuador. They told me that a friend that goes here invited them to church. Confused, I found them a seat and sat back down. A few minutes later, 3 more come in. Then 2 more. This kept happening until 11 NON- MEMBER ECUADORIANS WERE SITTING IN SACRAMENT MEETING literally doubling the size of the branch!!! We could practically make a whole new Ecuadorian Branch if they all get baptized! It turns out, that an girl from Ecuador just returned from a mission and is now going to K-State so she invited EVERYONE. Sheesh. She got more investigators to church than I ever have! :) 

This week, we talked to everyone in our path! It felt so good! Manhattan has lots of people from lots of different backgrounds and stories! I wish that I had the time to tell you every story from this week! I love all of you! Remember that God answers prayers! 

Sister Parry

Week 57: 13 Months?!

I'm sorry but this is going to be another week when my thoughts are in a thousand different directions and I don't know how to write an eligible email.

Have I really been out for 13 months?? Because it feels like it has only been 4! 

So, transfers are this week and all last week everyone in my district would not stop asking me where I think that I am going to. I guess that everyone assumes that your leaving when you have been in one place for nearly 6 months! There is something about transfers that is universal: they never end up how you think they will! 

I'm going to Manhattan University! And here is the real shocker, Sister Bringhurst is leaving too! It gets better: No one is going to replace us! WHAT. The other missionaries in Dodge will take over our area. I'm torn. BUT fortunately, the Lord is the one in charge here! I know that this coming transfer is going to be a great one! 

The weather. I just don't understand it especially in Kansas! The other morning, we walked outside and Sister Bringhurst mentioned how nice it felt. By that night, BAM. BLIZZARD. The best part is that our car was parked most of the week so the Lira's drove us home and it took over an hour to drive what usually takes 10-15 minutes. They even canceled church! 

This week, we saw so many miracles! We found so many solid people which is an answer to my prayers! There is 3 new people that are so serious about searching for truth in their own life! I love working with people like that because they usually have an open mind and are prepared for the Gospel. 

I have discovered how much I take the Gospel for granted! We started teaching Beatriz's aunt and, wow. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and I have never received so many questions in such a short amount of time! We went through the whole thing with her and asked if she had any more questions and all she said was, "No. it all makes sense. I've asked so many people these questions and no one could make me feel like you have." When we were teaching her about the first vision, she started crying and praying to thank God. Yesterday, we went over and she was in a bad spot. She told us that she was ready to give up. It was amazing to watch her whole attitude and demeanor change as we testified to her about the atonement. It is so hard to describe but I haven't experienced anything like that moment. The Spirit came into the room so strong and we all knew that God loves her SO MUCH. 

I hope that you all are falling in love with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as much as I am! I love and miss you all! Remember that God answers prayers! 

Sister Parry

Quote of the week: 

"Grandma! If you're going to get baptized then you can't drink beer!" (coming from 4 year-old Julian Lira to his grandma who haven't been the biggest fan of them getting baptized) LOL 

A solid 5 degrees outside. Don't worry, it dropped even lower after we took the picture!! 

In the middle of the blizzard

Week 56: Pants?!

The hardest part about writing a letter is starting it out. I always try to shoot for a good balance, of positive/funny/spiritual, you know, something that will keep your attention for a few paragraphs!

Did anyone else realize that for a whole year, almost none of you knew me or saw me! Weird. Where did 2014 go?! Oh yeah, I'm on a mission; therefore I am in the biggest time warp! 

This week started off on an interesting note, we went ice skating with like 30 missionaries. I love ice skating, so I have been pumped for this for a few weeks now. Then I realized that ice skating requires wearing pants. Believe it or not, I have completely forgotten HOW to wear pants. How do you put them on? How do you move in them? Is this what I really look like with pants on? Where is my skirt?!? The minute that we walked into the ice rink, a few recent converts saw us and the first thing that they said to us was, "YOU LOOK LIKE HUMANS!!!" :/ All I could say back was, "I know! :'( Where's my skirt??" From this experience, I decided that I am only going to wear skirts for at least a month after I get home. 

We had such a great lesson with the Lira's this week. We talked about the priesthood and it was 

amazing to watch Gonzalo take his priesthood duty so seriously! We talked about the keys that he holds now, and had the elders talk to him about worthiness and preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood. The whole thing was of course focused on the whole family and the temple as always. :) 

Is Christmas really gone already?? This week, there is nothing I wanted more than to be as busy as possible. That turned out to be a little hard because no one was home! Given, visiting family is the 2nd best thing to do other than to hear about the Restored Gospel. :) We celebrated by going caroling a few times, going to a baptism, eating TONS of food, and skyping the family!! 

An adventure this week was that everyone and their dog as sick this week! Including me!! It was enough to keep me in the apartment for a day. Being sick as a missionary is just so weird. All you do is sleep, read the Book of Mormon, and watch church movies(I probably watched more church movies than I ever have on my whole mission combined!) 

So, I don't know if I mentioned it but at the end of November, we were challenged to finish the Book of Mormon by Christmas looking for examples of faith and every time that the Savior is mentioned. This has been such a great blessing! I have a new-found testimony that the Book of Mormon truly is a way to get to know Jesus Christ so much better no matter how well you think that you know him! 

There is so much more that I want to tell you all about but this email is getting long so I will bid you all farewell until next year! I love you all! Remember that God answers prayers!

Sister Parry

favorite quote of the week: 

"Sometimes, I feel that you two are spies sent to watch me and my family!"

ummmmm NOT the impression that we were going for! 

I taught my daughter how to ice skate! PS don't look at what I am wearing!

"What am I wearing?!" So the down side to ice skating is that it requires wearing pants!

I finally got a pony for Christmas! 

The whole crew