This week was a little tough to catch people that were willing to listen to us with the holidays and everything, but we still managed to have some really great lessons.  On Christmas day, we stopped by our investigator, R---’s house.  She came out , set up some chairs, and was so excited to see us and wish us a merry Christmas.  Almost immediately, she started talking about her sick brother who wasn’t able to make it over for their big family gathering earlier that day and then that led to her venting about her parents that have passed away, and she really expressed a lot of concerns about death, fear that she has about the next life, the loneliness she feels for her mom, and all of the uncertainty she has about what happens when we die.  Instantly, Elder Griffin just started bearing testimony of the resurrection and eternal families.  We just very simply testified, without even teaching.  She was so comforted and thanked us sooo much.  She invited us to come back this week and teach her the whole plan of salvation.

 

We had 2 lessons with J--- in the church building this week, and he wants to be baptized on the 11^th of January.  It is amazing to see how just a few weeks ago he was saying that he feels it is too late for him and he’s already too far gone and only here to try to make a difference for his grandkids.  Then, this week he was asking us what all he needs to do to be ready, because he wants to be baptized on the second Saturday in January!  I love it!

 

We also had a lesson with J-- on the gospel of Jesus Christ in the church building that went super good, as well.  He says that out of all of the different churches he has investigated and knows about we stand out from all of them, because of how dedicated we are to really living the way our Heavenly Father wants.  He went on to admit how he has had a hard time forgiving others. He committed to pray every night, and to report and repent of his doings to Heavenly Father every night.  It was his first time being in the church building and he said it was “beautiful and amazing.”

 

Another man showed up to church yesterday, who we had never met before, but he was bearing his testimony of how he prayed to know Joseph Smith was a prophet and the very strong answer he received.  We just figured he was a member….  Then, after the meeting, Hermana Linford and Hermana Wright were talking to him, and found out that it was just two days ago that he prayed and got an answer, and that he was here at church, because he wants to be baptized!

 

It was good to talk to and hear from all of you on Christmas.  It was kind of weird to be able to understand all of Mitch’s Spanish.  I realize that I’m already ahead Spanish-wise than a lot of missionaries that have been out much longer than me, but I’m trying not to get comfortable and lazy with my Spanish studies.  It sounds like everything is good there.  Don’t worry about me.  I hear a lot of missionaries go into depression mode after talking to the family for Christmas.  I don’t know why.  I know that there is absolutely nothing at home that could be better than what I’m doing right now.  It’s just illogical to worry about home.  I’m learning and growing so much.  Just the thought of the big picture and how my relationship has grown with my Savior trumps all hints of homesickness that might try to sneak up.

 

Love,

Elder Parrish

 

We had a Christmas devotional on Friday with the zone. There were musical talents and then we watched a bunch of the Bible videos available on lds.org that the church put out. I love them - they're so good.  I love how they portrayed Mary. Those videos, for some reason, just seem to fit what I picture in my mind so much better than most other videos. The Devotional was great, but then for some reason we just played games after that aaalll daaaay. I was glad to get back to our area and get to work.

Anyway, we still haven't been able to commit J---- to a baptismal date.  Yesterday before Sacrament Meeting, we had a little lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he agreed that baptism was the next step says that he needed to take in order to progress, but that its not a change he feels he can make at this time in his life.  He says it is because he is a leader at an Alcoholics Anonymous group, and he gives a lot of speeches where he talks about satan and stuff like that to basically scare the addicts and talk some sense into them, and that it makes him feel really dark and that it doesn't fit in with the soft, sweet manner that we are so used to in Church .  He says maybe its already too late for his salvation, but he is coming, because he wants his grandkids to be able to be saved...We assured him that that is the beauty of Christ's atonement and the ever outward stretched arms of our Heavenly Father's love, it is never too late. We had to hurry to get into the Sacrament Meeting, but during the meeting I heard him lean over to the brother next to him and ask how he felt after he was baptized.  I didn't catch all of his response, but it was something about 'change'.  After sacrament, in a sort of weird-fashioned way he ran out into the hall crying.... We went out there and his eye was all actin up and red and watering and he said his head was hurting really bad.  So he went out in the parking lot to find some Tylenol from his car and then he got a drink of water and was fine... He said that it happens every time he is in a church building for too long- That Satan attacks him in someway to get him out of the church... sometimes its pinching his chest and othertimes it is his eye... we just kinda stood there not knowing what to say to that..... and then as he was leaving, Joel said "soo ya I think you're right,.  I need to get baptized!"    It was really weird.....   but hey- he wants to be baptized!

 

 We found some solid new investigators this week.  We had two lessons with M----- this week and she really is starting to understand more and see why it is so important. We are working with her to set goals to get her husband involved and talk with us. We finally met him last night, and I think it went pretty good. He agreed that he would listen to our message and allow his wife to continue learning. 

Also, we finally got a hold of J---- with two of the hermanos that were present over the weeks when we taught him... It was a heart breaker.  He basically denounced everything he had learned and felt, gave us back everything-his Book of Mormon, all the pamphlets, DVDs, his Gospel Principles book, and all the other material he had--and told us not to come back.  It was so hard to take the books back from his hand.  We have no idea what happened.  He had such a desire to learn and to grow, and then just overnight he wanted nothing to do with it, and says he doesn't like it.  It feels like it was basically pointless to baptize him.  The only thing I can think of is just that the Lord knows him and knows what he is doing...whether perhaps Heavenly Father has some hidden lesson I need to learn from this, I don't know, but I will just trust Him that His way is better then mine.

Merry Christmas!  I'll talk to ya Wednesday!
Love,
Elder Parrish

 

 

Just like old times :)   this is the California i remember growing up (catching lizards)

Familia,
Sorry, I didn't even realize I didn't send a legit email last week. Oops.

AAh, it's crazy to think Mitch is home... Maddie's gotta be standing on her tippytoes in that picture, no doubt. You're all looking pasty white and cold. Tell Mitch to send me some sweet Nicaraguan ties for Christmas! (and one of the left over sweet pork burritos too.)  I forwarded the rules about calling for Christmas. Everything is good.

We are seeing good progress with our investigator, J---. He has been to church 4 times in a row, and yesterday he brought both his granddaughter and his grandson with intentions to hopefully get the older other grandkids to eventually follow and come along as well. Our lessons have been improving with him, as well. At first, it was all we could do to state a truth of the Restored Gospel, because all he wanted to do was talk about everything in his life.  But we have seen an interest spark, where now he is excited to learn more and read and ask questions. He especially likes to walk around with us on Sundays in between classes and look at all the paintings in the church. He wants to know the stories behind every picture. He really liked the picture of the 2000 stripling warriors, and wanted to know more about how none of them died. We have an appointment with him this Wednesday in the church house while his granddaughter is going to participate in the Activity Days with the English ward. He's great. No doubt he will be baptized...when he is ready. That's one thing that was kind of a slap in the face to me and Elder Griffin is to see J---, who I baptized a few weeks ago- kind of fall off the map and hasn't been to church in a couple weeks.  We are worried about him. 

We found a new senora and her daughter while knocking an apartment complex.  The daughter was actually our waitress at a little taqueria we went to with a member a few weeks ago, and she remembered us.  After sharing the restoration and bearing testimony that WE KNOW these things are true, she asked: How do you know?.. the perfect question :) She read Moroni 10:3-5 for us and I could feel the spirit. We have an appointment with her this Wednesday, too.

I am continually reminded of the nothingness of my self every day.  I would be able to do absolutely nothing without the help of my Father in Heaven.  Just like in Helaman 12:7, I truly am less than the dust of the earth, and it is so humbling and amazing to me that my Father in Heaven could have a place prepared in His kingdom for little ole me, and all I have to do is stay on the path. And on top of that, somehow I was lucky enough to be born on the path and reared in it my whole life in an amazing and righteous family with righteous parents, when I look around me and see all these people less fortunate than me and who have absolutely no idea what they are missing. I am even more humbled that the Lord would choose little ole me to be an instrument in his hands to help get them back.

Love, Elder Parrish

Salamwe aleko! (That means peace be unto you in Arabic. Yup, taught an Arabic guy.)

Wow its already Monday again. it feels like we had preparation day just yesterday.  I only have 606 days left.... going too fast. 

 

On Wednesday, we found a kid skateboarding on the corner, and we stopped to talk to him.  He is 16 years old. His family is Catholic and he is pretty familiar with the Bible, but doesn't have any background attending church. It turns out he wrestles for SB High, so we got to talk about all that, and really hit it off. He's wrestling 160 lbs. varsity as a sophomore and he's a stud skateboarder that can throw kickflips and heelflips off the curb with no problem all over the place. We taught the Restoration and invited him to be baptized. He accepted to be baptized after he knows the Book of Mormon is true. We set up a return appointment, and then he prayed with us. He didn't want us to leave. (haha)  He just wanted to keep talking more and learning more.  I have really good feelings about him.  We also had a lesson with a girl named C---, who we were really excited for. We set up a return appointment, and when we went, we found out that she got arrested, and will be in jail for a while. Because of that, though, we got the chance to meet her little sister, A----, who is super nice, and said she wants to receive the lessons from the missionaries. She speaks English, though, so we have to refer her over to the English-speaking missionaries.
 

Today is the end of the transfer.  Elder Griffin and I are staying here in Santa Barbara on our bikes. There are only 2 sets of elders in the whole mission that are on bikes only. All the other bikers have car-share areas, where they rotate every other day.  But I'm glad I get to stay here biking for this long.  Imma go stir crazy when I have to drive a car all the time. 

 

My ADD has been kicking in bad this week. (haha)  Elder Griffin thinks I'm crazy. He falls asleep

within 30 seconds of his head hitting his pillow, and can just sit still in his chair for hours.

 

Thanksgiving was great.  Thanks for the Christmas tree!  That's awesome.  Everything about this time of year gets me excited.  I'm so happy I get to spend Christmas with F----. He says he considers me his son, and has never loved another missionary more.  He's told me everything about his life.  I love to listen to his childhood stories in Mexico. Grompa Parrish taught me that skill :)  He bought a brand new Cadillac this week that we get to roll around in. It's pretty sweet. He says he is giving me his Lincoln Town Car for Christmas. I'm worried, cuz he's dead serious. He wants to know if we can park it at Gramma's house until I finish my mission.................... Love, Elder Parrish

I had a great experience at my first zone conference, and it really set the tone to get out and get back to work. It was like a whole day of motivational speeches, filling us with the energy to go and share the gospel at our best level. I loved the words of Sister Castro about feasting upon the scriptures. President Castro talked about how we represent Jesus Christ, and especially how important our eyes are. They are the window to the soul, and the sincerity of our eyes can make or break all the difference when meeting, finding, and teaching.

 Now that J---- is baptized, We are trying to focus on his wife and kids.  We had a lesson with them this week inside the church house on Tuesday night, and it went really well. His wife loves us and thanks us for everything we do, and the children love us as well, but his wife still feels like she can't "abandon" her Catholic roots.

We are teaching another lady named M----.  She has had all the lessons and knows it is true and knows she needs to be baptized, but is letting her husband hold her back. We still have not been able to even contact her husband, but she is praying to soften his heart and so are we.

Last week a random man approached us and asked us for the address of our church because he wanted to attend, and then he actually showed up yesterday! His name is J---.  He attended all 3 hours with his granddaughter.  We visited him in the evening and had a lesson, and he really wants to keep coming and learn more. He belonged to a Christian church for 13 years, but said he got tired of all the screaming and yelling they do, and said he really enjoyed the peace he felt at our church. Hermana Coleman and Hermana Linford played "Yo Se Que Vive Mi Senor" on their violins in Sacrament Meeting again like they did at zone conference, and the spirit was really strong.  He said he loved it.

We also have a baptismal date with S--- for the 14th of December, but we found out it has to be pushed back.

R---, a less active recent convert we have been seeing is still battling with his alcohol addiction, and it seems like every time he takes one step forward, the next week he takes 2 steps back. But he has a great knowledge of the gospel and is committed to change.  It is just taking a lot longer than he and we would like.

But everything is going well! I got a flat tire on my bike this week, and Elder Griffin got 2 flat tires and his pedal broke. Elder Griffin was a little ticked, but I was happy, because it was nice to take a break and get to work with my hands and fix all his stuff and teach him how to do it.

What an amazing week! J--- was baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday.  I am so grateful to be fortunate enough to be the person he chose to perform the baptismal ordinance. (Secretly, I wanted to do it soo bad, but we thought for sure he was gonna choose one of the members to do it.)  It was my first time, and honestly I was more than a little nervous!  I've practiced saying the baptismal prayer in Spanish with his name like 10 times every single morning in the shower ever since we taught him the first lesson and I felt like he would be the one.  Haha.  Before the baptism, he expressed concern to me how his wife wasn't very excited about him getting baptized and making this step in his life.  We prayed that everything would go smoothly and be ok, and that his wife would be able to feel the Spirit. The whole service went amazing.  Then, when I baptized him, I completely spaced, and couldn't remember his middle name or where to stress the accent on his last name! I stood there with my arm at the square for what seemed like minutes... And then somehow i just started talking... "J---...habiendo sido comisionado por Jesucristo, yo te bautizo en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espiritu Santo, Amen."  Then, I dunked him.  It turns out our ward mission leader didn't quite fill up the font with enough water, and I had to go waaay down, and then struggle to lift him back up using only my back (haha), but it was smooth, and it all was good, and it counted.

When we were changing, I asked him how he felt, and he just took a huge deep breath and said "tranquilo" in the calmest, most relaxed voice I've ever heard.  Aaah, I can't even describe how good it feels.  Elder Griffin and I somehow actually did it.  Then, after the service, the members busted out a whole meal of refreshments and treats, which was completely unplanned (perks of a Spanish branch) and then Elder Griffin and I got the chance to talk to his wife afterward. She said that when he was submerged under the water, she felt something really strong in her chest, and she really enjoyed the entire experience.  The members of the branch did such a good job at fellowshipping her and making her feel welcomed, and they really created a great family atmosphere for their three children too.  As we were talking with their kids about church and baptism, but still trying to be cool (and acting like we know a ton about soccer), the youngest of their kids who is 8 was asking questions like "So I can do the same thing my dad just did in the water too?"  We are really excited and hope that this will be the start of their entire family coming to church and being baptized, as well. His wife is a woman with a ton of faith and already has the great standards of the Church established in her life. But in her husband's words, she is "Catholic to the bones," but I think this could really be the turning point.  It was the best day ever, and words can't even describe how happy we are. Love it.

On Wednesday, I had the great opportunity of serving with Elder Reese for a day in Isla Vista on exchanges. What a great example he is to me. The day was full of miracles, and we were able to teach a guy name R---.  He is actually the guy I met on exchanges with Elder Robison a few weeks ago.  When we first found him on the street, we had an amazing declare that ended with him crying and accepting baptism.  Now, like 5-6 weeks later he has completely changed his life, quit drinking, and is ready to be baptized here in a couple weeks.  We taught the Plan of Salvation, and I can't even believe how much he understands.  Thanks to Elder Reese asking some amazing inspired questions, he was able to basically figure everything out on his own, and we really didn't have to teach him much.  I am excited for zone conference tomorrow!

 Love,
Elder Parrish

Another great week!

We have been focusing on trying to have daily contact with our investigator Julio.  It is amazing to see the difference in him after just one week of contact. On our first lesson, he had so many doubts and questions about the Mormons, and now he is totally into it, with an incredible desire to find pure truth. He accepted baptism for Sunday the 17th of October.  He attended church yesterday for the 2nd time, and said he definitely felt "something" during the testimonies that were shared during Sacrament Meeting. He said it felt like his chest basically melted and dispursed outward. Haha, obviously it was the Spirit! We are really excited for him, as well as his wife and family.  They haven't acted on their faith yet and attended church with him, but they definitely like what they are learning and totally support Julio in his decision of what he feels is right.

 

We spent a lot of time knocking doors this week and contacting people.  The Spirit directed us to a lot of people that were open to our message, and we set up some promising return appointments for this week. I sometimes can't even believe how many miracles we see daily...with our Spanish and with the people. The ward council is starting to really step up and everyone in the ward council is involved with our investigators. I think that is one of the biggest things that has made the difference with Julio. He has gotten the chance to see how the gospel has blessed so many regular people just like him.  It has become a sort of hunger to be a part of it.  I am so happy when I think about Julio, and I pray like crazy for him all day every day.

We are struggling with Marisol, one of our investigators.  She wants to be baptized, but not without her husband, and her husband won't even give us a chance.   We are setting up a carne asada night, where we can invite her and her husband in a members home.

I am so excited to see my Spanish improving.  Elder Griffin and I are doing our best, and the Lord is absolutely covering the rest and making up where we lack.

 

On Halloween, we had to be in our apartment by 7, but we were able to go to the Santa Barbara trunk-or-treat for a little bit with Julio's kids and another investigator. The Santa Barbara trunk-or-treat is a little different than the Brigham City 14th Ward trunk-or-treat.  There are Jaguars, BMW's, all fancy cars with bowls full of one dollar bills instead of candy.  So needless to say, all the poor people and kids from our Spanish branch love it, and all this week the poorer kids just walk around the street trying to sell their Halloween candy.  It is so crazy to see the class difference between the rich people on the hill and the families stacked in 1-room apartments.

 

I saw the big black guy from the "Longest Yard" on State Street! He is the guy that sells McDonald's in jail and is crazy ripped and dunks.  Cheeseburger Eddy, I think is his name. I shook his hand (which was monstrous) and declared to him and he was way cool, but all he wanted to talk about was the World Series and BYU and Steve Young, and he was drinking, but it was still sweet!

 

Love, 

Elder Parrish

This week has been one to remember.  My companion, Elder Griffin is from Provo and wrestled for Provo High, (haha) so we have found connections all over the place.   We started talking about wrestling a little bit and were excited to wrestle around a little bit, but then once he found out I wrestled for Box Elder, he won't wrestle with me now. haha.  I kind of feel bad, but I guess that's just Box Elder's reputation. We do get along really well so far.  He is technically my follow up trainer, but he has only been out 6 weeks longer than me, and my Spanish is actually a lot better than his, because his first area was in Morro Bay in an English area.  So basically it feels like I'm training him.  Obviously, I was more than a little apprehensive about being alone here to do the Spanish work with both of us being far from fluent with our Spanish...like I was stressing a ton.  I was lost, had no clue what do to, where to go, or who to see.  Then, on top of that the Branch President asked us to speak in Sacrament Meeting yesterday.   I was already stressed to the max, and then I had to prepare a talk to give all in Spanish.  I have no clue how we made it through the week, but I'm amazed as I look back on the week and see all the miracles that somehow got us through. This week seriously took a year.

The first appointment we had on Wednesday ended with our investigator accepting baptism. We don't have a date, because she wants her husband to be involved, but everything we have taught has really clicked with her, and she has a really good relationship with one of the members in the branch.  Later that night we met a friend of one of the members in the English Santa Barbara ward.  Honestly, I don't know how they are friends, because the investigator doesn't speak any English and the member doesn't speak any Spanish, so that's kind of weird, but she already had a Book of Mormon that she has been reading and she accepted baptism as well!  Currently she is living in a shelter, but there are plans for her to move in with her friend the first of November, so we are really hopeful and excited for her.

 

Thursday, we taught an 8 year old boy whose mom is a member, but less active.  She wants him to be baptized, but as we have talked to him about it, we are struggling with his comprehension. He doesn't really understand, and his attention span is extremely short.  All he wants to do is play video games and iphone. (Never let Marshall have an ipod.)  Also he doesn't want to be baptized, because he is scared to drown in the water.  No matter how many times we explain it, he can't get over his fear for the water. We are planning to get them one of the Church's DVD's that have a baptism in it, so he can watch it to understand a little more.  I feel like he just isn't mature enough to understand, though, so I don't know.  

 

On Saturday, we had a great lesson with another couple investigating the Church, but he had some questions about polygamy and angels and some other garbage that he found on the internet.  Elder Griffin and I could not explain with our limited Spanish, but he attended church yesterday, and then we had a lesson with them at his house after church with the Branch President.  The first thing his wife asked us was where the heck he was this morning. We told her that he came to church with us. I guess when he was at church with us, she called him on  "facetime" on their iphones, and he didn't answer because he was in Sacrament Meeting with us. But on her side of the phone, some random woman popped up and answered, so she thought he was off with another woman.  Obviously she was ticked, and he was totally innocent.  We had  a really spiritual lesson anyway, and afterward they both said that they feel certain that some how Satan switched the phone lines trying to cause something-anything to cause contention and keep them from hearing the message. Crazy!  But now we all know that Satan is going to try to stop it anyway he can, so that's a little nerve wracking. But this man is really excited to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and says that if this what the Holy Ghost indicates for him to do, then he is "all in" and the whole family will be baptized. His wife is a little more conservative, but is really interested. They both said they like how our religion is not just a place to go on Sunday, but it is a lifestyle. They have 3 kids age 11, 9, and 8. We feel really good about them.

 

Well, last week when Elder Trujillo left we only had one investigator that was close to baptism, and now at the end of this week with 2 white boys with terrible Spanish, we have 8 people that have all accepted baptism and are just waiting on confirmations from the Lord before they set dates.  I'm so confused.  I don't even know how it happened, but its great! :)

Let's see.. this week:

Elder Trujillo got super sick.

We went to the temple.

I saw a guy on a bike get hit by a car.

F--- stood up for us, and got punched by a guy.

We had our first baptism.

It's transfers and I get a new companion: Elder Griffin.

 

My companion was sick in bed for 24 hours and I made him some fancy Ecuadorian tea and beckoned to his every call. We had to stay in the apartment all day, and I read like 50 chapters in the Book of Mormon.

 

The chance to go to the temple this week was absolutely amazing.  I feel so blessed to have had the blessings of the temple in our home growing up.  I can see the difference it makes in our lives when I see those who don't have it here in Santa Barbara.  Sometimes I think If everyone could just go inside the temple, our work would be easy. (Haha.)

 



Los Angeles Temple Visitors' Center

Some guy ran a red light and smashed a guy on a bike.  He just laid there screaming for a few minutes, but was able to eventually stand up and walk away.  We were stopped at the light with Felipe and got front row seats to the whole thing.  We were ready to run in there and raise him from the dead, but it turned out he was ok.

 

We were teaching an old woman, and her son started swearing at us, trying to start trouble.  Felipe just told him to have some respect, and the guy punched him in the collar bone out of nowhere.  So obviously it was time to leave, so as we were walking away the guy swung again and hit him in the shoulder.  I was pumped and hoped Felipe would beat the tar out of him... but of course he's much too Christ-like for that. so we just left.  But if the guy would have punched me... I'm not so sure I would be able to restrain from busting his face...

 

 

Elder Trujillo baptized Alphonso on Saturday, and that was an awesome experience to be a part of, as I was able to participate in the confirmation. 

 

Tomorrow, I get my new companion Elder Griffin. Elder Trujillo is getting transfered to Ventura.  I'm staying here in Santa Barbara, and I'm kind of nervous because basically I'm going to have to take the lead on everything that I have been relying on Elder Trujillo for, because he isn't going to know the people or area.  But I'm really glad I get to stay here, and Felipe is too.  (Haha.)  And I should see Thatcher tomorrow!!!  

 

Me and Roberto

And Ma, we had a lot of earthquakes when I was in Mexico.  I guess one was pretty bad, but it still wasn't nearly as strong for us in the MTC.

 

 

 

This week was great. We have been trying our best to strive for the standards of excellence with the key indicators, specific lessons and things that our planner outlines for us to teach that we set weekly and daily goals for.  (President Castro gives us a standard of excellence that he feels we are capable of.)  At first the standards seemed insanely impossible and exaggerated. but as we just work hard and do our best, I can tell the difference it makes in our success, and just in the confidence that we know we are using our time efficiently and not wasting a minute of the Lord's time. We have plans to set a few baptismal dates this week, specifically with one woman named L---. We are really excited for her.

 

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Robison on Wednesday, and that was an awesome experience.  We went to Isla Vista on the campus of UCSB.  ENGLISH speaking :) Elder Robison is from Montana and likes to ski.  He was home-schooled, so he didnt play any sports, but he is surprisingly a really normal cool guy for being home-schooled.  I look up to him so much, and he taught me a lot through out the day. It's weird-he reminds me exactly of Mitch, and looks like him too.  There were a bunch of times throughout the day when I had to do a double-take, because it felt like Mitch and I were walking talking and teaching together. Haha, kind of weird.  

 

Our day on exchanges was full of miracles. The very first person we stopped to talk to and declare on the street, we ended up teaching him the Restoration right there on the sidewalk. He was a baseball player, and looks like Mike K. He started crying when he saw the picture in the pamphlet of Jesus with his hands on the apostles.  It was kind of weird to see a 20-something year-old cool college kid just start crying like that in the streets of Isla Vista.  But I guess that is what the Spirit can do to a person. :)  Then, after we told him about the First Vision, he said he believes it is true, and said that no body could make that up. We invited him to be baptized, and he said yes.  I was like, "What the heck, that was so easy!" and Elder Robison said, "Trust me, they don't all go that good.

After that, we went to a lesson with a girl named S---. We taught her the restoration in the Institute building. I still can't believe how prepared she was. She read the entire book of First Nephi, including the Introduction and Testimony of the Three Witnesses the day before, and looked up basically all of our beliefs online. After everything we taught, she just kept saying, "Yeah, that makes so much sense!" She said she will pray and ask to know if this is true, and I invited her to be baptized.  She said "I definitely want to get baptized!"  After she left, I felt pretty positive that Elder Robison just got members that he paid to act like random people for the day, but Elder Robison was just as confused as I was. Haha.  We don't know why everything went so well, but it did.  We went 2 for 2 on baptismal challenges and acceptances and it was so easy, but it was nothing that we did. The rest of the day was full of more miracles.  And we got invited to play beer pong with a fraternity, too, so that was funny.  I learned basically two things.  1- I want to be a missionary just like Elder Robison, and 2- I love English.

 

The Spanish is going rough.  Everyone says I'm really good, but I'm not stupid, I know they're just being nice.  No one's gonna tell me that my Spanish is bad.  I bore my testimony in Sacrament Meeting yesterday in Spanish, and I feel like I can talk ok, but I still can't understand what they say, especially when they ask me questions specifically.  There are 2 Spanish-speaking sisters in our branch, too, two white girls.  I asked them how long it took them to feel comfortable with the language, and they both said 6 months.... sheesh.

 

Mom, they forward packages or send them with zone leaders on their rounds.  And I get to go to the temple on Wednesday!     

General Conference was amazing.  I cant even explain the gratitude I have right now at the close of conference.  I fasted and prayed that I might be able to receive specific revelation that I could apply to me.  Obviously this is something that occurs every time in my studies, instruction from leaders, and especially conference, but I was truly humbled as nearly every single talk said something that hit me hard and touched my heart. There are so many exciting things happening as the Lord is hastening his work, and I am so grateful to have the chance to be a part of it as a full time missionary!

One cool miracle we experienced was as we were on our way to a meeting.  We saw R---...  I feel like I've talked about him a lot, but we meet with him almost every day, and we have seen so many cool things with him.  Over these past 4 weeks, he has gone from a homeless man with no job to a clean-cut working man, who has attended church with out fail.  That is an intense battle with his alcohol addiction.  As we rode past, we saw him enter a liquor store. Our hearts sank.  All the progress he had made, all the work put in, was about to be shattered.  As he came out of the liquor store, we rode over to talk to him as he carried his bag with a bottle inside. He greeted us calmly and said, "Hey elders!" He then pulled out a bottle of water from the bag--just regular plain old drinking water.  We were so relieved and proud. We feared for the worst, but we thank our Father in Heaven for the strength he has given R--- to continue to battle. Even though he is a less-active member, and we don't get to participate in a baptism with him, it still feels amazing to be an instrument in helping him become converted and grow closer to his Father in Heaven.

My birthday was great! It was not quite the same as playing a football game on Friday night and catching the 4th down conversion that set me up to kick the game winning field goal, like last years birthday... But a B-day in the mission field on the same day as conference was amazing! :)  Haha.  I'm pretty sure I had more presents than I usually do at home. 

One of the members, F----, is my new best friend.  He's an awesome, 57 year-old, short, chubby man.  He is going to move to Utah in two years, and were gonna be best friends forever.  He took really good care of me.  He got me an amazing Oreo cake, and the gift he gave me was a digital Spanish-English translator thing with all these learning materials on it.  It talks Spanish to me. It's so cool.  I get mad at him, because he spends so much money on Elder Trujillo and me, but he says he likes to, because the more he helps the missionaries, the more the Lord helps him. 

It's so cool to see how involved the members are here and makes me sad when I realize how tough it would be to be a missionary in Brigham City, Utah. But I'm sure all is going to change with the announcements and challenges of the work of salvation for members. My companion can't eat chocolate, so I ate the entire cake myself, and tons of food and candy that I got too... I'm getting so out of shape. Haha.   

Hola! Hola!  I realized I didn't answer any of the questions I was asked last week, so I'll do my best. The weather- beautiful every single day all year long. When I got here, they asked me if I remembered to bring my umbrella.  I said yes and they said, "Good, because you are going to use it exactly one time on your whole mission. Sooo ya, I do not need a jacket or boots.  I don't know why they are on the call packet.

And you asked what I wanted for my birthday.  I guess it's too late, because you already sent the package, but I would like one of this year's Box Elder football shirts. I'm sure Gunter would be glad to give you a deal on one.  

 

On Friday night, we rode our bikes past the local high school and saw the football game going on. Elder Trujillo wouldn't let me stop and watch it, of course, but I was going crazy.  I definitely miss football.  I read the article the other day in the September Ensign about how important it is to have good role models, but more importantly worthy priesthood holders as role models, and I couldn't help but think about all my coaches that I've had over the years, what a big impact they played on my up- bringing.  Box Elder is lucky enough to have coaches that not only train good athletes, but train young men how to be men. Every week in football, we had an area of focus or an attribute that we were going to learn about that week. This focus always was something that applied both on and off the field.  I don't know, words can't describe how grateful I am to Gunter.  Obviously because of sports, I know that I can do anything, and nothing is ever going to be too hard or impossible to acheive.  Even more than being a role model, Coach Gunter could teach us about these attributes, because he lived them.  He cared about us beyond the field, and wanted us to have success our whole lives, not just on Friday nights. ....keep me updated on the team :)

  

Another thing I was wondering!  I'm not sure the exact date when I get to go to the temple, but if Grandma and Taina could just so happen go to the temple at the same time... that would be really cool.  I'm not sure if that's allowed, but I can find out, and if they could, that'd be sweet.

 

This week was good.  Our numbers are improving, but we can still do better.  Our investigator Araceli who had a baptismal date for Oct. 12, called us and told us that she has received her confirmation that these things are indeed true, but she doesn't want to be baptized anymore.  She has kind of fallen off the map for a bit, and we can't seem to get a hold of her. That is disappointing, but we are still going to do our best to find out what happened and help her. She is an amazing lady and we want nothing more than to see her receive the blessings that this church brings.

Last week, we found a lady that seemed interested named Sandra.  She gave us her address and told us we could stop by. When we went to her house to see her, it turns out that she really wasn't that interested, but her friend, Carmen who was there said "Hey, you can talk to me!"  We had a great lesson with her, and left her with a Book of Mormon.  She was really excited to read it and learn more. We have high hopes for her, and it was interesting to see how the Lord used Sandra as his vessel for us to be able to see Carmen, who otherwise we never would have met.

 

We also found another potential investigator that looks promising, named Marisol. She used to live in Mexico, and said that she attended church with her friend in Mexico, but since she moved here, she has lost contact and hasn't known about the church here. So we have a scheduled appointment with her this week that we are excited for.

Lorena is a lady that we have had a few lessons with, and all of them were with members present. She attended church yesterday, and we are planning to set her with a baptismal date this week.

I am really excited for this week, and I think we are going to see some really cool things happen. Our focus this week is going to be on having members present in our lessons, and of course invite everyone to General Conference.




The words of the prophet and apostles are so powerful.  It is going to be an incredible chance for them to feel the Spirit.  And to top it all off, Conference this Saturday is on my birthday! I can't get a better birthday present than that. I can't wait!

Sincerely,

Elder Parrish

Santa Barbara Independent article from September 26, 2013

Elders Robison, Parrish, Trujillo, and Pentz (from left) pause on their rounds downtown while serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on their traditional two-year missions. “My favorite part [of S.B.] is the diversity; it’s cool to see so many different people, different beliefs, and find things in common with them,” said Robison, who took time off from college in Utah to serve. “I like how everyone here is spiritual; they might not believe in god, but they are spiritual,” said Elder Pentz.

View from the top of the Santa Barbara Courthouse

We taught a lot of lessons this week, and things are looking more and more positive each day.  The Spanish is still obviously a struggle, but it is slowly coming along, and I find myself being able to understand and say a little more everyday. But all is well.

We found some new people this week, and we have really good feelings about a couple of them. A lot of our existing investigators have somewhat stopped progressing. They have had all the lessons, and want to be baptized, but there are just one or two little things holding them back.  One, Sister Roman has the desire, but she is an 80 year old woman, and has been living with a 70 year old man for 50 years now.  She cannot be baptized until they are married, and he doesn't want to.  Gabriella is in the same situation.  She knows everything, but is living with her boyfriend, who doesn't want to get married. A girl named Alma accepted baptism, but there's nothing we can do about it until she either moves out from her boyfriend or they get married. Araceli's husband is holding her back from coming to church as well.  

 

We found another man named Carlos, who is an alcoholic. We went to visit him and he was drunk. We started talking about his addiction, and he just broke down crying, because he knows he needs to change and wants to set a good example for his children, but just doesn't think he can stop.  We shared with him our simple testimonies that we know this gospel is the pathway that he needs to be on to help his family and also himself, and he just kept crying and said that that is what he wants.  We set a return appointment for Tuesday. He's such a nice man, and I want nothing more than to see him change his life for the better and receive the blessings that only the gospel can give.  

 

We also had a 30 minute talk with a homeless man that obviously hadn't eaten in days, so I bought him a piece of chicken for a dollar and it was like he'd just gotten a million dollars. It was cool to see.  Haha.

 

The members have been great, and we have been going out teaching lessons with one, Felipe Perez. He's great, always willing to help and be bold, sharing his testimony. We love him.

 

Elder Trujillo is continuing to set a great example for me, and throwing me right in the mix of this great work. 

Elder Trujillo and I have started a small money laundering and printing business in our apartment on the side. (haha)
I'll be rich in no time. 

 

First week in California

So, I sent a letter in the mail, but I don't know if you've gotten it yet.  The first night here, I spent the night at a member's home in Ventura.  It was huge! It was the nicest house I've ever been in, and it overlooked the ocean.  Anyway, so then on Tuesday, we went back and received our companions and assignments.
 

 

My companion is Elder Trujillo.  He is from Ecuador, and is fluent in Spanish, but he moved to Canada by himself when he was 16 and lived there for 8 years on his own.  He is 24. but he looks 18.  He has graduated from college, and is a certified fitness trainer, which I find a little odd, because he doesn't ever want to exercise.  But  he is a great example to me, and is working us hard. I do feel a little bad for him, because my Spanish is still far from adequate, so he ends up carrying most of the weight in our lessons, because I do not understand most of what the conversing is about.    

We live in a small apartment, but its clean and not too shabby. We are serving in Santa Barbara in the LOS OLIVOS area.  So basically, I went from the nicest part of rich Ventura to the poorest part of Santa Barbara, and the difference is crazy. People here have nothing, and they all live in either tiny apartments or most of them in trailer parks. I got a bike, and I love riding it.  I ride wheelies all over Santa Barbara.  It cost about 400 dollars for the bike, helmet, front and back lights, kickstand, and a lock. 

 

Our area is like 5 minutes from the beach, and we can go look at it, but not go near it... It just so happens that this is one of the most strict missions in the world. Haha... perfect for me.

 

The members here are amazing and so nice.  They all try to help me with my Spanish, and always insist on giving us something to eat, as well.  They feed us a ton!  A lot of the members are always looking for opportunities to come serve with us, and participate in lessons with us.

 

Cali is a lot different than Utah, that's for sure.  The other day, we taught a lesson at the library literally 10 ft away from some 12-13 year olds smoking pot.  It was like watching Marshall do drugs.  It was so weird. 

 

Anyway, we have had a lot of lessons this week, and have seen some miracles already! One man, Roberto was baptized years ago, but never went back to church, because he only got baptized in hopes that his ex wife would take him back.  Now, he has many problems including an addiction to alcohol, and recently got kicked out of his apartment, because he doesn't have a job and has no money. We talked with him several times this week, one of which he had been drinking.  But he is truly looking for a change in his life, and is really trying to understand everything we teach. He attended church yesterday, and he said that he could really feel the Spirit, and knows that this is what he needs to be doing for his life to change.

 

The second miracle was with a lady named Araceli.  On Saturday, she called us, and said that she believes everything about the Church, but that she doesn't want to be baptized because she feels satisfied with a life of glory in the terrestrial kingdom after she dies.  We felt really bad, and didn't know what to do, but Elder Trujillo just said we need to go see her. We went to her house and she expressed to us her concerns.  We ended up having a really great lesson on her porch, and explained that God loves her and that these feelings of doubt can only come from one place, and it is not from God.  She committed to pray and ask Heavenly Father if these things are true, and committed to us that if she receives an answer, she will be baptized on October 12th!  So that was a miracle. She really does already know that the gospel is true, but I think her husband is just holding her back.  It would be great if he could understand and give her some support. We talked to him a little on Saturday, as well, and he is a nice guy.  He just doesn't seem to have very much interest in the Church.

 

All in all, it has been a great week, and we are looking to have even better this week. I want the Spanish to be better than it is, but I guess it is slowly coming along...  Line upon line, precept upon precept, right?  

 

We only get an hour for emails (We had 2 hours in the MTC) and 30 minutes of it is designated for us to email President Castro, so really I only have 30 minutes... so that might be hard.

 

Adios!

Elder Parrish

 

 

 

Arriving in Ventura

This was the snail mail letter that McKay wrote when he arrived.  We received it today, the 16th, the same day as his first email:


Dear Family, 

Today is Tuesday Sep. 10.  I got to Ventura Yesterday, and we met the mission president and his wife, Sister Castro.  I like President Castro a lot.  In our interview last night, he told me how President Eyring blessed him with the gift of discernment when he was set apart.  Then, he continued to tell me he could see that I was going to do great things and said a ton of things that were crazy specific for me. 

Last night, I stayed at a member's home with another elder from Tooele.  They lived in Ventura and I think it was the nicest house I've ever been in!  It was huge and way fancy, and they all drive Priuses.  Out the back door was a big hill overlooking the ocean right from their house.  We stayed in a separate house right next to them that was on top of their garage.  It was full of Oreos and milk that they told us better not be there in the morning, so that was sweet. 

In the airport, as soon as we got to L.A., Elder Banks and I went straight to Carl's Jr. and ordered Western Bacon Cheeseburgers.  Then, we had a 30 min. flight to Santa Barbara in the tiniest plane that only held like 20 people.  In total, there are 32 new missionaries that got here yesterday and like 7 of us Spanish speakers.

This morning, we are filling out a bunch of paperwork, and then we will receive our assignments and trainer companions and get to work. 

Last week in a Santa Barbara Stake Conference, President Eyring said this was the most obedient mission in the world...So I'm going to have to work really hard!  We have 5 guidelines that I am excited to live by.  We in the Great California Ventura Mission: 1) We are Preach My Gospel Missionaries.  2) We baptize.  3) We obey with exactness.  4) We seek to be trusted more than loved.  5) We teach with power and authority. 

I can't wait to get started!

McKay

Last night in the MTC

Hey! 

We just got set up for our flights, and everything is good to go.  I leave here in the morning at 5 a.m. and my flight leaves at 9:15 a.m.  I have a little bit of laundry to finish up tonight and finish packing, and then I'll be ready to go.  It's crazy to think that by this time tomorrow I could be teaching a real person in real Spanish for real.

We just got out of an awesome devotional from Elder Holland that he gave to the Provo MTC back in January, and it got Elder Mecham and I pretty pumped to go out and get to finally work. Seriously, if it weren't for Elder Mecham being in my district the past 6 weeks, I would have either gone crazy or killed someone.  So I think there was definitely a reason why he and I ended up together.  I was so lucky to have him set an amazing example for me in my MTC experience. 

Anyway, I gotta go take pictures with our district and teachers and then go pack.  Rasten and Alec are coming over to our casa tonight to say goodbyes.  It is like the day before I left all over again. 

Adios!

Semana cinco

¡Hola! 

 

We just got back from the temple, ate lunch, and now we're emailing.  They havent told us anything about being able to call home from the airport, but I do get to email Sunday night before I leave Monday.  The temple today was alot easier than last time. I could understand a lot more and it was tons easier, but they still show the old movie here and everyone wants to see the new one.  Elder Banks and I did those names you sent with Alec, and I'll send them back when I get to California. It took me like 20 minutes talking to the desk trying to get the name cards back. They were trying to keep them.

 

Ugh!  There are so many dove here just chilling on the lawns at the MTC, and I just want to kill one, so I can cook it and eat it.  Maddie´s boots are lookin a little big for her.  (haha.)  [I'm sure this is in response to pictures Mont sent of dove hunting with Maddie and Marshall.]

 

We all can't wait to get out of the MTC and get into the field. The last week just drags, and you dont really learn anything new.  Everyone is ready to go, but yesterday all the hermanas in our district just started bawling, because they don't think they're ready, so we didn't even have class, just so they could all cry and get their feelings out.  I don't know why, because Elder Mecham, Elder Banks, and I  are all stoked to go to work for real.

 

Oh yeah, thanks for the package you sent with Alec.  I got it on Wednesday night.  The umbrella was muchly needed.  When I get to California, I'm going to have to get some new running shoes... mine are completely shredded from playing soccer.

 

I got a haircut last week from a Mexican lady.  They dont mess around.

 

Elder Mecham has been teaching me a thing or two about basketball, as well. It's funny, because we come here and it seems like all the kids from Utah are by far the best athletes. We school everyone in basically every sport. No se, pero esta bien.

 

I've scored some pretty sweet ties in the tie trades we have with other districts.

 

I don't sleep really at all, but its all good.

 

I will send an email Sunday night, i guess, and then the next time you hear from me I will be in California! First thing that Elder Banks and I are going to do is hit an In-n-Out Burger.

 

 

week 4

Mexico City Sunrise

So right now feels like a Saturday morning after a Friday night football game.  I'm so sore.  Yesterday, we got to play soccer for like 3 hours, and it was basically team USA verses Mexico.  All the natives against a bunch of white boys.  All of the Mexicans had on their entire uniforms jerseys, cleats, and all.  They were way cocky, and thought they were going to destroy us, but we actually had a pretty good team and won like 7-2.  All the Mexicans would just go off with all their fancy footwork and crazy moves, so in order to make up for my lack of playing for the past 5 years, I just played way physical, and most of them couldn't take it and shut down.  My soccer is all coming back to me, and it's fun when we get to actually nudge shoulders and play rough for once.   Today, my legs are way sore and shins kill from being kicked by all the Mexicans with their cleats. 

 

Also, Elder Mecham and I  befriended one of the workers, and got him to bring us real live tacos from the city. 

The stuff they give us for lunch every day can get real old real fast, and they try to Americanize everything for us, so its not as good as it could be.  Anyway, he brought us some, and we'll probably get the runs, but they were totally worth it.  I guess I successfully completed a taco deal all in Spanish with a native who doesn't speak any English, so I guess I know enough to get by... and I'm basically a man now- I have to shave like twice a week.  It's really annoying.

 

I heard that Conner Udy is wearing my number 3 this year.  It drives me crazy to think about football.  Rasten and I sit by each other at the devotionals, and just talk about football and wrestling with this other elder from Arizona, Elder Wright.  We all get along really well, and I think he has helped Rasten a lot.  But it sucks to think about football.

 

I saw Alec yesterday when he got here, and talked to him for a while, so that was cool.

"Gringo"

 

My companion, Elder Banks is from Lovell, Wyoming.  He went to a very small school.  He only had 20 kids in his graduating class. a lot like Rich High School where Alec went.  He didn't play any sports in high, but he was the girls' basketball and volleyball team manager and would iron all of their uniforms before every game, so he comes in really handy when I ask if he can iron my shirts for me.  (haha)  He has a lot of hunting stories about bears and mountain lions, though, so that's cool.  He worked on a ranch, and likes to ride dirt bikes and 4-wheelers, so we have a lot of the same stories that way. 

 

We dont get to go to the temple this week, but I am hoping we do again next week.

 

Learning Spanish is going fine.  As far as all the words go, I know a lot of them pretty well, but for every verb there are six ways of saying it, depending on who youre talking about.  Then there are 6 more different ways for each one of those, depending on whether your talking in the present, past, future, infinitive, particíple, commands, questions, and then theres more different endings depending on whether the verb ends in  ar, er, or ir and all of that junk, so it's just hard to keep straight which way means what.  I don't even know any of that present/past participle stuff in English, so I have no clue what they're talking about when they say how it works in Spanish.  Box Elder English teachers didn't teach us much, and Taylor Jones and I just watched the Simpsons every day in Mrs. Thompson's Language Arts class.  Anyway, I end up saying almost everything in just the infinitive form, so it probably comes out something like ´to read you tonight Book of Mormon,' so they probably think we're idiots, but it sounds right to us. 

 

Adios!

Elder Parrish

 

 

 

Note from mom:  I can't stand bad grammar, so I confess to correcting all of his past/present participles, as well as punctuation, spelling, and other grammar errors.  We missionary moms have noticed that these elders write letters like they are texting and don't pay attention to these things at all, but we love the emails and will take them however they come!   

Week 3

3 weeks down, only 101 more to go!  

 

We just got back from the Mexico City Temple.  It was awesome, but I had no clue what was goin on, but it was still way cool. It was weird, because I had no clue what I was saying, but I actually could do most of it on my own.  The Spanish is coming along I guess.  I can understand a whole lot more than I can actually speak. 

 

Elder Banks are liking each other more and more.  He is awesome and I love him.  When we teach, he still feels like he can't do it in Spanish, but this week I just talked to him and showed him all the promises in the scriptures of the gift of tongues and where if we open our mouths, then they will be filled in the very hour, yea even in the very moment when we need them.  So right before our lesson, I got him to rip up his notes, and we just went in there and taught straight by the spirit and committed "Carlos" to baptism.  Even though they are fake investigators, they're still trained to basically be the hardest on us as they can.  Until that point, we had taught him 3 lessons that went absolutely nowhere, so it was cool, and it got Elder Banks pretty excited and feeling like he does know at least enough spanish to get through a lesson. 

 

I loved driving to the temple this morning.  The streets are so cool and dangerous.  We almost got in like 6 crashes, and all the cops just walk around with AR-15's and shotguns, pointing them around all the time.  I wish they would let us out into the city, so we could talk to all the people in the streets.  

 

We got a new teacher, Hermano Brown, who teaches in the night, and I like him a lot.  He reminds me of Rob King.  He basically gets in our face, and tells us to quit screwin around, because we are here for the Lord.  He won't let us speak any English, only Spanish, and is just a lot stricter than our other teacher, Hermano Sagers, who we have in the morning.  After the first day Hermano Brown taught us, everyone was just like all stressed out, because he pushes us way hard, but I like it.  No more of this sissy stuff.  

Taylor Lancastor just left yesterday, and Taylor Jones, too.  We still have Kyler, Rasten, Landon Anderson, Schuyler Bradley, Morgan McCormick are all here, but we don't really get to see each other except for at meals. 

This is my schedule:

630-wake up

7- breakfast

730- personal study

9-language

12-lunch

1-language

2-(myfavorite part of the day) gym time

3-language program on the on the computers

430-additionsal study

5-daily planning

530 dinner

615- teach investigators

companion study

language

 and more classroom stuff till 930

1015 quiet time

1030 lights out.

 

Some of my shirts got burnt in the dryer, so they have shirts I can buy in the tienda.  That's why I needed my debit pin.

 

The thing I miss the most is being able to look at the stars.  You could see the stars soo good at Deseret, and here it's so smoggy, there is absolutely no starts at all, ever.

 

We have had fish for dinner a couple times, and that always reminds me of home and makes me miss fishing, which made me realize that the archery deer/elk hunt opened last Saturday, so that is depressing too.

 

But all is well!  I'm half way done with the MTC.  My branch president told us that a mission is one year, and five minutes long- the first year takes a year, and the second year takes 5 minutes.  It seems like just the MTC has taken a year, but I'm almost outta here, then I get to go teach for real... where I will realize that I actually don't know Spanish at all.

 

Adios!