He that trusteth in the Lord shall be made fat

To start out I'm not sure about when I'll be calling or how long we will be able
to talk, I'll find that out in a week or so (I think), I will let you know as soon
as I can.
The changes that have taken place around my waistline are kinda depressing,
but as it says in PRO 28:25 "He that trusteth in the Lord shall be made fat" so
you see, it's a good thing... yeah in know it didn't convince me either.
I had a really good experience this last week. I keep wondering why the
language is so hard for me. I seem to be working harder, longer then anyone
but nothing seems to help. I just keep telling myself "on the Lords time table."
I was giving an interview this last week to a sister. While I was in the
interview I started talking about the language and started telling her about
my struggles with it as well. It was right here when I realized why I was
struggling. I am able to relate to those missionaries who are struggling, and
they feel like they can come to me anytime, and that I will know what they're
going through. The sister I was interviewing broke down and started to cry. I
shared with her how Moses struggled with speech as well; I helped her see
God's hand in her life. After that experience I realized how glad I am that the
language is so hard for me. I wouldn't have it any other way. We all have our
own personal cross we have to carry up the hill on Calvary, and I am so glad
the Lord trusts me enough to give me these struggles.
So this whole going from all girls, to all guys is still a bit weird. I've always
joked about how living in a house of all girls can get pretty emotional...NOT
IN THE LEAST. Some of these Missionaries are way worse then any girl. I had
two missionaries sitting next to me on the bed last night talking about all
these emotional problems, I couldn't believe it. There are so many times
when Missionaries act like all those "chicks" in all the chick flicks I watched
(most of the time by force). What an eye opener.
While teaching this week I had quite an experience, one of those getting the
language messed up and saying something that really throws everyone for a
loop. So I was teaching about Joseph Smith, the spirit was there and the
lesson was going really good. All of the sudden I told the investigators that
"a fungus (located on the foot) prayed to God, God appeared to the fungus
and called it to be a prophet." Now if that didn't confuse everyone I don't
know what would have. I laughed so hard after our teacher came up to me
and he told me what I said, we laughed for ever. good times, good times!
Remember my toe? the one that finally healed... well... the other day I was
playing basketball, and you see...ok, here it goes... someone stepped on it
real hard and it started bleeding and is all swollen and infected again. After
8 weeks I'm kinda sick of it. Oh well "what doesn't kill you makes you
stronger."
My testimony has grown so much the past 7 weeks, I have become a new
person. I love this gospel with all my heart and I can't wait to share it with
the people of Thailand. I already feel such a love for that people and I haven't
even met them.
God lives, he loves each and every one of us, the one Being who can divide
His love between all the world and still every person has all His love. I love
Him, He had helped me more then I can say to which I will ever be in debt.
I love you all so much
Elder Parkinson

If God is for us, who can be against us?

I want to start out by thanking you for your prayers, i
know they've helped me so much in the last few weeks. it's
amazing, the power of prayer.

Ok so to finish up the story from last week. Obviously I'm
still alive which goes to say that everything is Ok now.
After last weeks email I was thinking a lot about the
events of the past few days, and I was trying to find a way
to help this poor elder who might end up in prison. I
invited him to come to the temple with us. While we were
there we started talking about what had happened and what
we could do to make the situation better. I talked to him
about his relationship with God, and told him that it
doesn't matter what will happen, it's in Gods hands. We
talked for a while longer. We prayed together all of the
time and I was constantly taking him to interviews. The
case went all the way to the First Pres. Finally after a
while we got the news that he was going to be able to
finish his mission. We were so excited to hear it. The
growth that has taken place in this elder during this hard
time is amazing. The Lord worked in mysterious ways.

So this week was a really big one as far as the language.
We had to teach the first lesson for 45 min all in Thai. I
was out of my mind all week with all I had going on but I
had spiritual help, even though the studying didn't happen
because of assignments I had, I still learned all that I
would have otherwise. I went into "the lesson" and asked
the first question, naf92348y8q7 y3498yqpaf...??? I had no
clue what they said back. I'm sure my mouth was wide open and
my eyes must have been huge. So i just said OK, thanks, and
then moved right on. Do you know those promises in the
scriptures that our mouths will be filled if we exercise
faith...It Works. I kept running into dead ends, they keep
asking me questions that were hard to answer but every time
my mouth was filled and I was able to use words that I
really didn't know. "If God is for us, who can be against
us?"

After the teaching appointment we came back to class to find
out that we are leaving to Thailand early, we're supposed
to leave on Aug 10. We've grown faster, and learned more
than a lot of missionaries, I always wondered why, now I
know we were being prepared to leave early. I'm so excited
and still scared out of my mind. All the things I'll be
experiencing: rice, fish and other nasty critters that
aren't meant for human consumption, and I'll have more
experience with those bathrooms =) oh boy!

I'm going to be sending a package in the next few weeks
because I have way to much stuff, the weight limit on the
plane we're traveling on is less then what my mission papers
said, and to think, i was already way over the weight limit.

I'm out of time now, time sure does fly! Please keep me in
your prayers, I know I'll need them. I know God lives, he is
my Father in Heaven who loves each and every one of us more
then we can even know, Jesus Christ is the savior and
redeemer of mankind. Prayer is a true concept, even though
God is an all powerful being, who controls the vast powers of
space, He still has time to listen to the prayer of a child
asking for comfort. I love this gospel I KNOW it is true, I
can't say it enough.

I love you all with all my heart, I pray for you every night.

Elder Parkinson

To tell or not to tell, that is the question.

Wow, what a week! I'm going to start out taking about
something that happened this week that isn't exactly the
spiritual testimony building stuff. But before coming out
here my mom made me promise "you better tell me
everything, it won't worry me" so...here it goes.
there is this Elder who had been here for about three
weeks who I have really struggled with. He is one of those
"tall tale" type of people who have killed seven people all
in the noble cause of defending those he loved and who
invented aluminum foil shortly following his all expense
paid trip to the moon. I had always tried to avoid this
Elder because obviously he rubbed me the wrong way. But,
one night I was getting a drink of water, I was the only
one in the hall (I thought) all of the sudden I turned
around and there he was. He said some comment about
beating me up or something that I just ignored. This made
him kinda mad. All of the sudden he pulled out a knife and
pretended to stab me a couple times and then held the knife
up to my throat. A few days later I was approached by the
police to find out that right after this wonderful
experience, (not) this Elder was angry and attacked someone
else with this knife. The Elder is okay but I'm afraid The
elder with the knife might go to prison. I became zone
leader a couple days later and he ended up being in my
zone. I have been working with the police a lot, giving
statements and stuff, but I have also been working with
him a lot as well. He's a really great kid who just does
stupid things to try and fit in. I don't know what will
happen but if you wouldn't mind keeping him in your
prayers I would be so grateful.
Zone leader...if I ever thought i didn't have time to
study, I was wrong. oncmy first day I was up at 4 in the
morning helping Elders clean out there rooms so that they
could leave that day. I get to do this a couple times per
week. whoot whoot! It's a lot of work, especially with the
events of the past week but I love it. And now have the
opportunity to help so many Missionaries. it's amazing to
see how helping someone know that their savior really loves
them and wants them to do well can totaly change the life of
a missionary. I've been working with one sister a lot. She is
from an abusive home and doesn't have any self worth. i have
spent so much time writing her letters and going out of my
way to help her, this week the progress she has made is
incredible. She will now try and speak Thai in front of
people and will talk in class.
Now about the Thai language. Last week me and Elder McConkie
taught our first lesson in Thai, and from now it's all in
Thai. it's amazing how I go into a teaching appointment
scared to death and after a 20min lesson (all in Thai) on
prayer you feel like you could take on the world. I know
the spirit is helping me learn this language. I can now
read Thai as well, I don't have a clue what I'm saying but
I can read it.
I got to clean the temple the other day it was such a
great experience, I love the temple and am really going to
miss it for 21 months. It truly is the house of the Lord.
Angels walk the halls of that sacred building. The Savior
Himself has been in every room.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and for fasting for
me the other day. I feel your prayers and know that they are
helping me. This gospel is so true, I love it with all my
heart. If ever I was a "Peter Presthood" you can only
imagine how bad i am now.
I love you all so much, I can't express in words what I feel,
I am so glad your example has shaped my life so that i
don't fit in where I don't belong. this gospel is the work
of angels, the Savior is the head of this church, God lives
and knows each and every one of us individually and wants
the best for us. The prophet is seer of our day, his words
are the words of God
I love you so much
Elder Parkinson

Scarred for Life

What a week... we've had all the mission presidents here this
week (the new ones) and we've had all 15 of the apostles here
too. The other night at the fireside I was right at the front
with 7 general authorities. It was the most amazing
experience. Elder Holland gave the talk, what a spiritual
giant. To hear him bear testimony was amazing.

The other day we came into class to a total culture shock. we
talked about the toilets we would be using in Thailand. We
were told that if we weren't in the city we would be in for
an experience. They have a wood platform that you stand on
with a small hole cut out of it. You can figure out the rest,
the advice we were given was "aim". i hope this isn't to
gross but I thought I'd tell you anyway. after your done
they have a water basin where you take your hand and get it
wet and then clean yourself that process takes a while
they say...I couldn't believe it but that's how it is, and
to wash your hands you just clean them in the same basin as
you just used to do..."it" =)If the language doesn't kill
me this experience will, i have no doubt I'll came home
scarred for life. I'll sit at home the rest of my life on
my bed, rocking back and forth crying because of the things
I had to go through. ha ha!!!

So about this language I'm trying to learn. It's killing me
but as they say, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger"
the longest word is over a page and a half long ...ahhh and
 that word has about 60 tones, but i will probably never use
that word so I don't have to learn it!!! The word "practice"
in Thai is the "F" word in English and "opportunity" is OMG,
it's really weird using them because I feel really bad but
I know it's not, crazy huh!

I've always wondered how I would be able to live with guys
after being with girls (and DAD) my whole life. I am very
happy to say...it's very much the same. Where there used to
be a matted mess of hair in the drain, now there's snot all
over the walls (i guess that's a guy thing?), and trying to
get a spot in front of the mirror is even harder because some
guys seem to think the distance from one shoulder to the
other is twice their own height. Patience is a virtue, I
have to keep telling myself that.

It's so hard to see missionaries who don't care, missionaries
who go into their room when they think no one's there and
listen to the radio, the Elders who still tell the same jokes
and act like they're in a high school locker room. This next
two years is going to change the rest of their lives, why not
grow closer to your savior and become the greatest missionary
you can be. I, for one will never be done till my good is
better, and my better is best!

I love this gospel so much and I'm so glad  for you all, and
for your examples that have shaped my life so I fit in where
I belong.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! God lives and loves every one of you.
Elder Parkinson
P.S. Yes mom, I got the package and I'm getting all your Dear
elders.

Flying Lunch Trays

To start off, no, I didn't get a package from Dear Elder.

Ok, so the funniest thing happened the other day. We were in class when someone asked a question about the resurrection, I gave him an answer and then from across the room I heard an objection to my comment. So I explained it to him and he started getting angry because I was preaching false doctrine. I just went back to reading because I could see this was probably not the greatest conversation to pursue. But, this conversation continued for about 40 min. between everyone. While we were at lunch a Elder grabbed my arm and pulled me into this line with him, he was pretty angry with me and he wanted to change my mind, a couple more people jumped in line and started arguing as well. I was thinking to myself "only in the MTC" when from out of no where a food tray "accidently" slammed into my head. I couldn't believe how angry everyone was getting. I went and sat at another table and watched them, this argument was about an hour and a half, no where else would this happen.

Last night we had an elder who was feeling really sick and who had a temperature of 102 which was kinda scary. We came back to the dorm to give him a blessing. We can back to find out that he had been sent to the hospital because he was having a hard time breathing. I still don't know what really happened but I'm worried for him!

I had the coolest experience the other day. We were having a lesson on Joseph Smith when that scene from the Joseph Smith movie popped into my head. When Joseph is going through his surgery and the only thing he needs is his "Father" to hold him. While the surgery is going on you see Joseph in pain, and very scared, holding onto his father so tight. His father is holding him and crying because he knows what his child is suffering. This thought I had was followed by a picture of our Father in Heaven that came to my mind. I realized that this should be our relationship with the savior as well. When we go through hard times, pain, sorrow, we can always rely on out Father in Heaven, He is always there with his arms out stretched. When we need comfort, get on your knees and pray, and the savior will put his arms around you and give you the comfort you need. He knows everything we've gone through, and no one knows best how to comfort us.

I love you all, God lives, he loves us, Christ is our Savior. I love this gospel with all my heart. I Have 30 seconds left on my time before I get kicked off...whoot whoot!!

Oh No! I'm fat and the swine is every where.

I'm so glad to hear that you're all doing great! I hope you know I pary for you all every night, everyone individually.
About the rain we've had this week. I seriously didn't even know it rained this week, I am in classrooms from 7:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night so I don't get much time to "smell the roses", if you will.
Last week the most amazing thing happened, Elder David A. Bednar came and spoke to us here at the MTC. That man has such a spirit, I hot to be only a few feet away from him. One of the things he told us, which is good for everyone, "If your wondering if it's the spirit prompting you, or whether it's just you...don't worry about it, go to work...if you are being a good boy/girl the Lord will fill your mouth and he will guide your footsteps!" What a powerful experience.
It's crazy to think that in the short time I've been here I can testify and pray in Thai, and I mean I can go minute after minute sometimes. I know that someone upstairs is helping me. We've been learning to read Romanized Thai, so that we can now learn to read the actual script, it doesn't make sense to learn to read a language so you can learn a totally different one, but what do i know, right?
Well, about the swine flu! It's been kinda scary the last little bit. One of the Elders in our district who sleeps right next door to me and who I sat by everyday in class just got it and has been sent to quarantine for 5 days, another elder who sleeps on the other side of me just got it yesterday, and another elder that I play ball with every day in gym and who I sit by in class has also been taken. We have two other people in our class, one of which sleeps in my room who are being watched because they think they'll get it. Kinda scary Huh! But, no worries I have been called to go preach to the people of Thailand and the "Lord giveth no comandment unto the childrn of men save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he cammandeth them", which means...I'll be okay Mom!
The MTC is loosing it's savor in the sense that the food is nasty, I never have time to move around (unless I'm going to the bathroom), which means...I"M GOING TO GET FAT!!! NO NO NO NO! Actually, right after I got here I started loosing weight, so I started eating more and now I'm gaining. I'm sick of the food, gaining weight, and my back side isn't liking my chair anymore. I really can't say what I'll look like when I get back! I really do love the MTC, the spirit you feel here is something only comparable to the temple, my testimony has grown so much, I love the gospel, I know God lives and knows us individually, He has felt everything we have, down to the smallest hang nail.
Sorry, for the spelling on this email, I have 30 minutes to read all the emails and to write them so I don't have time to check for spelling, and the computer doesn't have spell check.
I love you all, I pray for you every night!
Elder Parkinson

MTC

Well, we got Tyrel off to the MTC last week and it was quite the day. The MTC drop off experience changed the week he went in, due to the swine flu, they no longer have the families go in for the tear jerking meeting before hand. They just have you drop them off at the curb. Hopefully you get a chance to give them a hug before they send you on your merry way. Because it was the first week for the big change, it turns out that the news crews were there and unknown to us filmed our sorry experience. And I mean sorry, 5 sobbing sisters, a flustered mother and one in control father (there has to be at least one in control to be the designated driver), not to mention the teary eyed boy. I'm sure a sight to behold. They must have waited for just the right family to pull up so they could get some great footage.

We got Tyrel's first letter on Monday and were so excited to hear from him. He sounds great and already sounds like a different person. He has had some great spiritual experiences and is loving his first week in the MTC. He loves his 6' 4" companion Elder McConkie and says the language is coming bit be bit. He can now pray, introduce himself and he says that he is beginning to learn to testify in Thai. The Lord does amazing things for his missionaries.

We are so proud of Tyrel and his decision to serve the Lord at this time.