My Last Week in the MTC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Letter from 1/9/15)

Holy Cow this is my last week in the MTC. I can't believe that. It's soo crazy!!!!!!!

My friends at the CCM

Friends from the CCM

This past week has been amazing!!!!! This last week was full of amazing things. My favorite part was Last Friday all the missionaries that have been here for 5 weeks had the amazing opportunity to go out into the field. I had such an amazing time!!!!!!!! My companion was Elder De Long. He was a great example for me, he talked English and Spanish which really helped me. While we were in the field he got to talk a lot about what its like in the field he said it was a lot of fun. We had 5 appointments and we walked everywhere!!!!!!!!! In every appointment I had to say the prayer because I was new!!!!!!! My prayers are getting better, it was really hard for me to understand what was going on in the lesson, but my companion would say something near the end and then look at me and say "I just told them that you will share with them your testimony." I could feel the spirit so much and I had the littlest amount of Spanish possible. I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have had here in the CCM. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. In the field it is way different than here in the CCM - I am not in a gated area!!!!!! The people are so nice here and always listen to what we have to say!!!!!!!!

 

Silly Elders!

 

Elder Moss and Elder Ahanonu

One thing that hit me and has helped me this week is this poem:

Footprints in the Sand

I dreamed I was walking along the beach
with the Lord..

Across the sky flashed scenes from my life..
For each scene, I noticed two sets of

footprints in the sand,
one belonging to me, and the other to the Lord..

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life
there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me 

and I questioned the Lord about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most 

troublesome times in my life 

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why 

when I need you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied:

"My precious child, I love you and would

never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering,

when you see only one set of footprints, it was then

that I carried you."

 

I am so grateful for everything I had back at home, but I am glad I have this opportunity to serve a mission. I am so grateful for all my family and friends!!!!!!!! I know with all my heart that this gospel is true. I am so grateful for the scriptures and everything they have helped me with since I have been here. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission and be able to learn Spanish.I am so grateful for this poem because it has helped me so much. It shows me that my Savior is always there for me and helps me always!!!!!!! I love this gospel and I love all of you!!!!!!!!

Elder Moss

Hi there, it's me - Kara ... Here are some other answers/replies that Elder Moss sent this week:

Mom:  Kenzie and Kadie have asked boys to go to MORP.

Elder Moss: Kadie did a great job on asking!!!!!! Kenzie didn't tell me )or show me pictures) who and how she asked!!!!

Mom: Shannon went to a meeting tonight for HIGH SCHOOL -- yes, HIGH SCHOOL!!! Crazy, right? I can't believe how grown up she is getting.

Elder Moss: Tell Shannon that she can't go to High school - I FORBID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom: You've never really mentioned any of the Christmas presents you got. 

Elder Moss:  The Christmas Presents were amazing. Thank you so much. The marshmallow shooters were amazing. We have made some secret attacks with them on the other district that came in with us.

Mom:  Did you get any pics with Elder De Long?

Elder Moss:  No. I will get some tomorrow because I get to go out again.

Dad: I am so excited for you to be going to PR next week.  I know it might be scary but know that all things are possible with the Lord and He has promised to be on your right hand and on your left.

Elder Moss: Everything is going great over here. I am so excited to get into the field. I am really going to miss having a set schedule but I am ready to leave. We leave here Tuesday Morning (1/13/15) at 5:30 AM my time - so 2:30 your time. That is to early.

Dad: I love you with all my heart and miss you.  But I am so grateful that the Lord has provided this opportunity for you.

Elder Moss: I love you and Miss you and please pray for me on Sunday as I will be singing in Sacrament meeting!!!!!!!!!!! (1/11/15)

Elder Moss - Last week in the CCM

Crazy face.

My new knot - the Trinity Knot

Mission Call

*NOTE: This first post was written by me (Mom) as I was creating Parker's blog. I chose to write as if Parker, himself, was telling his story. From December 3rd, 2014, until he returns from serving, all other posts will be written by Parker - from the mission field, and posted by me. Enjoy!

The history of the CALL!

I received my mission call in March of 2014. I have been preparing my whole life for the time when I would be able to serve the Lord. I submitted my mission paperwork early this year and finally my time had come. My call was waiting in the mail for me when I returned home from our family vacation in Hawaii.

Before we returned home from Hawaii, my uncles thought it would be cool to trick me, so they played a little prank on me. They invited some of our friends over, created a fake mission call, and sent us a video of them opening my "call." The video showed my uncle reading my "call" to the Tennessee Nashville mission!!! (Remember, the call was a total fake!) He said that I would report to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah on July 9, 2014. Needless to say, I was totally bummed and couldn't understand why they would open my call - after all, it was MY call! It took me a few minutes to realize that it was a joke and that they had not really opened it. They are total pranksters and love to have fun. When we got home, we planned a day when I could invite my friends over to open my REAL mission call.

Video of my FAKE mission call to the 

Tennessee Nashville Mission 

Courtesy of my crazy uncles!

Here is the video of me opening my original mission call. 

It was assigned on March 11, 2014.

I was so excited. It was my turn to serve the Lord and I was ready. We got all of the paperwork done and all of my immunizations taken care of as soon as we possibly could. We got my passport and then waited until 30 days before I was to report to the MTC in Provo to apply for my visa. As it turned out, we ran into some hiccups when applying for my visa and my mission was put on hold - postponed until we could get everything straightened out.

We waited and waited and waited some more for everything to get straightened out. Through this waiting period, I learned a lot about myself. I learned about the power of prayer. I learned how to be more patient. I learned that I have so many people who love and support me. I felt the power of the Atonement at work. I got to feel of my Savior's love more than ever. The poem "Footprints" really is true.

My Father in Heaven would never forsake me. He would never forget me. I knew that all I needed to do was pray and my prayers would be answered. I know that my timing and my Heavenly Father's timing are very different. I didn't know when my prayers would be answered, just that they would be answered. I have a strong testimony of prayer and knew that through prayer and faith I would be able to serve my Lord on a full-time mission. I know that I was carried through this trial and that I am loved by Him who created me.

In early October, we got a call from Salt Lake (Church Headquarters). They told me that my mission was no longer postponed, and that I would be issued a new mission call. It was issued on October 15, 2014; 7 months and 4 days after my original call was issued.  I received my new call in the mail. I am so blessed to be able to serve a mission. I intend to make the most of my next two years. I am eternally grateful for all the love and support I have received.

Before I actually received my reassignment call (the actual paperwork) my dad received and email from Salt Lake (this time, church travel) detailing my travel to the MTC. That email was an error, it was not supposed to be sent out when it was! My dad knew where I was being reassigned. He wouldn't tell any of us where I was going. We knew the actual paperwork would arrive in the mail, so we all decided to wait to hear the verdict. Dad would keep the secret until the paperwork came in the mail. It did not come the next day or the day after that.

By this time, I was getting very antsy - I wanted to know where I was going! My dad gave me a few options. 1. He could just tell me where I was going. 2. We could wait until my call arrived. 3. He could announce it in church for EVERYONE to find out at the same time or 4. He could recreate a normal mission call, using the original paperwork (the stuff from Costa Rica) and I could read it for family. After thinking about it for a while, I chose option #4. My dad retyped the whole mission call, inserting all the new information. I was able to do the big REVEAL in front of my family. That is what is in the video above. When I finally got my paperwork in the mail, the 2nd letter below is what was inside. It was simple - "you've been reassigned!" I love it. I cannot wait to serve the people of Puerto Rico for two years.

My original Mission call

My re-assigned mission call