June 8, 2009

Dear Family,

Hello, hello from Jackson, Tennessee. I work in the west part of Jackson so they call our area “Jackson West”. Phew, it is getting hot and humid here. I am not a big fan of sweating and I am doing a lot of it. Our bike week just ended and boy, am I out of shape. It was good for me though, but my feet are kind of bothering me, just a little so the Zone Leaders are working on getting us full car. That would be such a blessing. But even if they don’t, it will still be good for me. Even if we do get full car, I will probably still ride my bike places because you can contact people easier outside on your bike, rather than in your car.

My companion is Elder Lyman. He is from Blanding, Utah. He is a nice kid. It might take a while to get used to him but I am not too worried about that. Elder Hansen (my previous companion) is training but he is waiting for his companion to come out of the MTC due to the swine flu outbreak. The missionaries should be coming out next week, I believe. I hope that they do for his sake.

So on the second day I was there, I got the call from the Zone Leaders that I was to be district leader over the missionaries in Jackson. I am kind of nervous because I have never been in leadership before and I don’t know if I really even want to but I will do it because I will do whatever the Lord requires of me. Our district consists of 4 missionaries: Myself, Elder Lyman, Elder Wilson (from Gilbert, AZ), and Elder Brand (Richfield, UT). Good district though but of course, there is always room for improvement for all of us.

Now, one of the duties of being a district leader is doing baptismal interviews. I have two to do tonight for the Jackson East Elders. I am kind of nervous for that as well because this will be my first time. I pray I do well and follow the spirit.

Sunday was good; I got to meet a lot of new people. This ward is huge. It covers about 3/10’s of Tennessee. It is huge! It covers the small little towns around it too. It has about 500-600 members. But only like 150-200 are active. There are a couple of black members here which is sweet! I actually met a member today in the library. Really nice guy.

This place may take a while to get used to because it is a big adjustment from Pocahontas. I will miss Pocahontas very much but the Lord needs me in Jackson. I am happy to serve here and I hope things go well. Thank you for the love, support and prayers you have given me in my behalf. I love y’all and miss y’all. Hope all is well at home.

Love,

Elder Parker

Hey, here are some pictures from the week. We went fishing and I found this sign in Jackson, Tennessee. It was pretty sweet! Hope you enjoy.

June 3, 2009 (Transferred to Jackson, TN)

Dear Family,

I am in my new area and I have a new companion. I am in Jackson, TN. It is about an hour east of Memphis. My companion is Elder Lyman. I am his follow-up trainer and they refer to that as “Mom”. I thought that was kind of funny. Anyway, he seems like a nice kind of guy but I am a little worried about the area. It is huge! It is going to be a while until I get my bearings here. But it looks like a good place with good people. We have met a couple of members here and they are pretty cool.

I will send another e-mail on Monday again! Wish me luck.

Love,

Elder Parker

June 1, 2009

Dear Family,

Wow, I can not believe that it is already June! Summer is here. It is getting really hot and humid and boy I am not too excited. A lot has happened so I have to report.

District meeting was last week so we took a district picture. Enjoy!

Wednesday was Aspen Lane's baptism. It was a neat experience. That was my first time ever that I actually performed the baptism. I was shaking so hard in the water and while saying the prayer but I luckily, I didn't mess up and did it the first time. Thank goodness!

Sunday was Aspen's confirmation. Elder Hansen did it and he did a great job! And something else happened that I am not happy about. I am getting transferred. I got the call last night. I don't know where I am going until I get there. The Lord needs me elsewhere, that I understand but I will really miss Pocahontas. I saw my first successes here and I made a lot of good friends here as well. I am going miss Pocahontas, Arkansas. Farewell, my good area. :) Elder Hansen was a good companion as well so I hope my next companion is as good as he is or better. :)

I will try and e-mail you guys on Wednesday to let you know where I am. I love you and please pray for me so I can be happy in my next area. I would greatly appreciate it!

Love,

Elder Parker

Pictures include: District Picture, Me, Aspen and Elder Hansen :D

May 25, 2009

Dear Family,

Hello, hello. Today is Memorial Day! I hope that all y'all have amazing plans today because that means no work and all fun, at least, I hope so for you. I, on the other hand, do not like holidays as a missionary because that means I get no mail. :( Sad day. Oh well, it's still P-day nonetheless.

This past week was fun. Tuesday was Elder Hansen's 6 month mark so we burned a tie for him. It was fun and brought back good memories of when I burned my tie 4 months ago. I hit my 10th month mark on Saturday so in 2 months, I get to burn a white shirt. I plan on burning a shirt I will buy at a thrift store because the ones I have are too good.

Wednesday, I went to Ash Flat with Elder Bond to do a baptismal interview for Aspen Lane, the 9 year old girl that is getting baptized on Wednesday. She almost didn't show up for the interview and Elder Bond came all the way from Jonesboro which is about 2 hours away and he needed to make an appointment. It was really stressful because we almost left until she showed up at the last minute. It wasn't her fault at all, it was her real dad's fault. Her family situation is really confusing but she has to stay at her real dad's house on certain days and the dad was late on purpose because I think he knew we were there. Oh well, she passed the interview and asked me to baptize her. I am scared because I have never baptized someone before so hopefully everything will go smoothly on Wednesday, May 27.

Thursday, Bot and Betty (some members) and Sister Winegar took us out to lunch in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. It was that place that has the underground spring. It was a lot of fun and we had a great time.

Saturday, the Witt's (a senior couple that served in Jacksonville with me) came up from Jacksonville and they came to Ash Flat with us to an appointment and then we went up to Hardy and went around all the shops with them. It was really fun to see them again. We had a good time. They are going home in July and they said they are really excited to go home. Good for them.

Sunday, we had an investigator, Joy, come to church. It actually surprised me because she never comes, so good for her.

So, as you can see, we had a great week and we are fixin' to have another good week due to a baptism so I am excited. Thank you for all of the love, support and prayers on my behalf. May the Lord Bless Y'all!

Love,

Elder Parker

Pictures Include: (1) Us at Mammoth Springs with Bot, Betty and Sister Winegar (2) The Witt's and I.

May 18, 2009 (Baptism!)

Dear Family,

Wow, what a week! Thank you, first of all, to all those who remembered my birthday! I appreciate all of the cards, gifts, etc. That really means a lot to mean and makes me feel warm inside because I was remembered! Thanks a ton!

My week was pretty good. On Wednesday, it was a crazy day! We had to get a baptismal interview and Jonesboro needed help with some of there investigators so we went on exchanges with the AP's and we went all over the place. I went with one of the Spanish Elders and we went and walked like 3 miles. We committed 3 black people to baptism but my feet were on fire! I got a blister or two, but I am fine.

My birthday was very fun. We went to very unique restaurant. It was a decommissioned airplane and they turned it into a restaurant. It was very good and cool. I took some pictures and stuff, it was fun!

Then the ultimate highlight of the week was the baptism of Nathan Lee. It was really neat. What a great birthday present from the Lord. :) So, overall, it was a great week. Next week, we should be having another baptism so I am excited about that too.

So overall, it was a sweet birthday week! I got a letter everyday, I got a baptism, got to eat on an airplane, etc. Man, life couldn't get any better!

Thanks for all of your love and support! I love you all very dearly! Thanks again!

Love,

Elder Kyle Parker

Pictures included: Me, Nathans brother, Nathan, Elder Hansen, Me and the airplane restaurant, inside the airplane restaurant.

May 11, 2009 (Still in Pocahontas)

Dear Family,

What a week. It was a stressful week due to just some things that happened during the week. But, it is much better now because I got to talk to most of you on Mother's Day. It was good to hear all of your voices again. Most of you sound very grown up and mature, especially Cade, Jarom and Ethan, oh and yes, you too Chad. :)

Also yesterday, we went to a funeral for a member’s mother. It was sad that she died before mother’s day but she is in a better place now.

Zone Conference was cool! I saw more of my missionary buddies. And I got to talk with president. From the sounds of it, I might say here another transfer. That would be cool. I would love to be here during 4th of July!

I wish I could write more but I kind of talked to you guys yesterday. :) I hope all is well. This week should be a could one, because we have a baptism this coming weekend! YAY! I love you all. I pray for y’all constantly. Thanks again for your thoughts, support and prayers. May the Lord bless you!

Love,

Elder Parker

Pictures included: At Captain Catfish with the Whitlows and Winegars and first time I had catfish. I probably won’t eat it again. :), Me, Elder Cornelius, Elder Fa, Elder Stapleton, Elder Hansen and Elder Carlson.

May 04, 2009

Dear Family,

I heard that Chad had a good birthday and that he demonstrated the missile hug. Now, we all know that I am the only person that can do it correctly. :) But good job for demonstrating it to everyone Chad! I hope that you had a wonderful day!

This week was good. We went and helped some members tare down a wall in a Chinese restaurant. They even fed us too. It was great!

We had a Zone meeting with our Zone on Tuesday in Memphis. We talked to everyone and what we could better as a Zone.

Our main focus this past week was in Ash Flat. It is about an hour away NW from Pocahontas. There used to be Senior Sisters there but they left so they don't have any missionaries there currently so we are serving as them. We are working with 2 people with Baptismal dates. They should both get baptized in May so that should be exciting. I am getting really stressed out though. Taking care of two areas and trying to please 2 branch presidents is difficult! But we should have more baptisms coming up, I am excited!

Other than that, nothing really that exciting happened. I am just looking forward to talking to y'all on Sunday. I am so excited! I have a lot to share. It should be pretty fun. Thank you for all the prayers and hard work. Keep it up. I love you as does the Lord. Stay strong!

Love,

Elder Parker

Pictures included: A really tiny turtle, and kid in ash flat (Scotty) in his backyard. I thought it was pretty!