D&C 84: 88 :And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the Lima, Peru North Mission.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
September 10, 2016
Dear Family,
I'm happy to be able to write to you today and be able to read your letters. This will be my last time writing to you as a missionary. My heart is full of joy and is moved through the spirit to know that I have done everything I could have possibly done. This week the tender mercies of the Lord have caught my attention to notice small things and to be blessed with great love and power. I have a perfect image of the Master in my heart and mind. I know who he is, how he acts, and what he asks of me. I will truly miss this sacred calling to serve others and bring them unto repentance.
Yesterday we had our last inventory with the offices and it was awesome. Yesterday finally hit me that I was going home and my heart was so moved that I started crying. I couldn’t hold it in much longer and I thanked each of the missionaries for their help. I told them that I had learned a lot from them and that they are great. I have a gained such a firm testimony that any missionary can change through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This week me and Elder Landero were in the car together, we talked about many things that I had seen differently in him since he started his mission. Me and him are really good friends who have worked together several times in the mission. Since he started his mission he has changed for the bad with a lot of pride in him. During our conversation his heart was moved, he was able to admit that he was in error and that he had to change. He finally understood he had to help his companion and ask for forgiveness. I told him that his companion was scared of him and that his companion told me. He was surprised and said that the majority of his companions were scared of him. I made him reflect upon “why” and made him know what President Godfrey had told us about Elder Landero...."He is the most prideful zone leader I’ve seen so far". I went on to explain, that President put him in the offices so he can learn humility and to be virtuoso. This opened his heart and he started to listen. We talked about many other things and then I left on my work visit. The next day when Brother Ortega came to pick me up he told me that Elder Landero had changed, he now loved and respected his companion. He was actually trying to gain his confidence and even Elder Manuyama, Elder Landeros companion, said: "WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO TO ELDER LANDERO". This made me feel really pleased, to see the drastic change in him. Yesterday in the inventory we had he said "I’m not quite sure why the Lord keeps putting me with you Elder Parra in same zones but you are more than just a friend to me. Thank you for your example and for understanding me. I’m going to start my purification process and go back to how I started the mission. I’ve never seen Elder Landero cry before and I knew that this was a true sign of sincerity. My heart is so full of joy to have helped so many missionaries and change their eternity. I know that they will be blessed and more fully change to be able to become like Christ.
I have been having more faith and hope for good things to come. The Lord has tested me quite a few times this last change. I have gone through some trials of faith but I have been firm in the decisions I know are correct. While putting the goals for my 1 year, 5 years, and 10-year goals, I have really reflected upon my mission to see what I have been able to accomplish. This has led me to the conclusion of asking my Father in heaven if he is happy with my offering of my service of 2 years and if I have served an honorable mission. I have had the opportunity of asking him these couple days and I got an answer.....I’m really great full to know that God answers our prayers and hears us when we need him most. There is a scripture I would like to share that is in Enos 1: 12 "And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith." I know that this can come true when we are in harmony with Gods will. I Thank the Lord opportunity I have gotten to work here in the mission. I will never forget the inspiration and the spirit that I have felt in this last change. I have learned many things from President Godfrey and he has been a ministration angel. I will be talking to you in 2 days. Hasta muy, muy pronto.
I'm happy to be able to write to you today and be able to read your letters. This will be my last time writing to you as a missionary. My heart is full of joy and is moved through the spirit to know that I have done everything I could have possibly done. This week the tender mercies of the Lord have caught my attention to notice small things and to be blessed with great love and power. I have a perfect image of the Master in my heart and mind. I know who he is, how he acts, and what he asks of me. I will truly miss this sacred calling to serve others and bring them unto repentance.
Yesterday we had our last inventory with the offices and it was awesome. Yesterday finally hit me that I was going home and my heart was so moved that I started crying. I couldn’t hold it in much longer and I thanked each of the missionaries for their help. I told them that I had learned a lot from them and that they are great. I have a gained such a firm testimony that any missionary can change through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This week me and Elder Landero were in the car together, we talked about many things that I had seen differently in him since he started his mission. Me and him are really good friends who have worked together several times in the mission. Since he started his mission he has changed for the bad with a lot of pride in him. During our conversation his heart was moved, he was able to admit that he was in error and that he had to change. He finally understood he had to help his companion and ask for forgiveness. I told him that his companion was scared of him and that his companion told me. He was surprised and said that the majority of his companions were scared of him. I made him reflect upon “why” and made him know what President Godfrey had told us about Elder Landero...."He is the most prideful zone leader I’ve seen so far". I went on to explain, that President put him in the offices so he can learn humility and to be virtuoso. This opened his heart and he started to listen. We talked about many other things and then I left on my work visit. The next day when Brother Ortega came to pick me up he told me that Elder Landero had changed, he now loved and respected his companion. He was actually trying to gain his confidence and even Elder Manuyama, Elder Landeros companion, said: "WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO TO ELDER LANDERO". This made me feel really pleased, to see the drastic change in him. Yesterday in the inventory we had he said "I’m not quite sure why the Lord keeps putting me with you Elder Parra in same zones but you are more than just a friend to me. Thank you for your example and for understanding me. I’m going to start my purification process and go back to how I started the mission. I’ve never seen Elder Landero cry before and I knew that this was a true sign of sincerity. My heart is so full of joy to have helped so many missionaries and change their eternity. I know that they will be blessed and more fully change to be able to become like Christ.
I have been having more faith and hope for good things to come. The Lord has tested me quite a few times this last change. I have gone through some trials of faith but I have been firm in the decisions I know are correct. While putting the goals for my 1 year, 5 years, and 10-year goals, I have really reflected upon my mission to see what I have been able to accomplish. This has led me to the conclusion of asking my Father in heaven if he is happy with my offering of my service of 2 years and if I have served an honorable mission. I have had the opportunity of asking him these couple days and I got an answer.....I’m really great full to know that God answers our prayers and hears us when we need him most. There is a scripture I would like to share that is in Enos 1: 12 "And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith." I know that this can come true when we are in harmony with Gods will. I Thank the Lord opportunity I have gotten to work here in the mission. I will never forget the inspiration and the spirit that I have felt in this last change. I have learned many things from President Godfrey and he has been a ministration angel. I will be talking to you in 2 days. Hasta muy, muy pronto.
Elder Parra
M.P.L.N.
La mejor misión del mundo
M.P.L.N.
La mejor misión del mundo
"Like Messi"
We basically play soccer every day and we are improving to become like Messi.
The other photo is a picture of me and my convert that is now serving here in the mission as a mini Missionary. The awesome part is that he is serving with one of my companions. This has been a really nice experience to see him serve for a couple weeks.
September 3, 2016
Dear Family,
We have had great experiences serving here in the mission and we are excited to keep working in our area. We have talked to many people this week that have been hard of heart. We have prayed for them and desire to bring them unto the Lord. Here in my last area they are really poor but they still don’t want to repent. There is a lot of bad things that happen in our area and just as Mosiah said “he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God; " The people don’t appreciate the commandments of God and put them under their feet, they don’t value them or know them. They are stuck with their traditions of their fathers which is really sad.
We have talked to a lot of people and are searching for the people that want to repent or change. We have worked hard and have found some families that can progress. A really awesome experience that happened this week was that one of my converts was called to be a mini missionary. My convert Adrian Cuevas got the opportunity of serving for 2 weeks with one of my old companions Elder Guerrero. This was such a blessing for me to see him be a missionary and to serve at the same time I’m serving. He is a great young man and he will be missed. I probably won’t see him again in my life which is sad but I know that he will be the successful missionary.
I know that this gospel is true and that it can change someone’s heart. Jesus Christ has changed my heart and I don’t desire the same things I’ve desired before. I’m so happy to feel his spirit and to feel clean to know that I’m ready to live in his presence. I know that the only way to be redeemed from the fall is being in God’s presence again. I know one day I will see him face to face and know that he is the great “I am”. I’m making personal covenants with him so that my spiritual level can stay high and I can become more like Christ. I know that he is the creator of all things. There is a scripture that Ammon said " And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning." I’m so happy to have been able to receive a true image of the master. I know who he is and what he did. Now I can reach my goal and become like him. The Mission Council is this week and it will be my last meeting, I pray for the spirit to guide me and enlighten me. I know that my Master and Friend Jesus Christ lives and loves us. I’m giving him all I’ve got and just as Lehi said “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” I have felt his loving arms and I'm eternally grateful for him.
Thanks for all your support and we will be talking in 10 days or less haha.
Love you guys…
Elder Parra
M.P.L.N.
We have had great experiences serving here in the mission and we are excited to keep working in our area. We have talked to many people this week that have been hard of heart. We have prayed for them and desire to bring them unto the Lord. Here in my last area they are really poor but they still don’t want to repent. There is a lot of bad things that happen in our area and just as Mosiah said “he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God; " The people don’t appreciate the commandments of God and put them under their feet, they don’t value them or know them. They are stuck with their traditions of their fathers which is really sad.
We have talked to a lot of people and are searching for the people that want to repent or change. We have worked hard and have found some families that can progress. A really awesome experience that happened this week was that one of my converts was called to be a mini missionary. My convert Adrian Cuevas got the opportunity of serving for 2 weeks with one of my old companions Elder Guerrero. This was such a blessing for me to see him be a missionary and to serve at the same time I’m serving. He is a great young man and he will be missed. I probably won’t see him again in my life which is sad but I know that he will be the successful missionary.
I know that this gospel is true and that it can change someone’s heart. Jesus Christ has changed my heart and I don’t desire the same things I’ve desired before. I’m so happy to feel his spirit and to feel clean to know that I’m ready to live in his presence. I know that the only way to be redeemed from the fall is being in God’s presence again. I know one day I will see him face to face and know that he is the great “I am”. I’m making personal covenants with him so that my spiritual level can stay high and I can become more like Christ. I know that he is the creator of all things. There is a scripture that Ammon said " And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning." I’m so happy to have been able to receive a true image of the master. I know who he is and what he did. Now I can reach my goal and become like him. The Mission Council is this week and it will be my last meeting, I pray for the spirit to guide me and enlighten me. I know that my Master and Friend Jesus Christ lives and loves us. I’m giving him all I’ve got and just as Lehi said “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” I have felt his loving arms and I'm eternally grateful for him.
Thanks for all your support and we will be talking in 10 days or less haha.
Love you guys…
Elder Parra
M.P.L.N.
August 27, 2016
Dear Family,
wow time flies by and I’m really excited to be able to continue to work here in Vineyard of the Lord. I know that this is his work and that we are edifying his church. Me and my new companion are working hard to find new people that desire to repent. We are just getting to know each other but it’s hard because I will only be able to get to know him for 2 more weeks. President Godfrey is receiving a lot revelation and is helping the mission progress with higher goals. Also I like the way he helps the missionaries serve the Lord with love and appreciation for what he did for them.
This week we had a baptism of Brother Ronald and he was really happy going into the waters of baptism. He has told us that "he is more at peace and happier". This has made me feel good and my heart has been moved through the spirit to bring someone to Christ. I have made several promises with the Lord when I finish my mission. One of the promises I have made is that I will read my Book of Mormon each and every day. Doesn’t matter what happens I will do it with sincerity of heart and with a real intent to know Gods will. I’m great full for the savior and I would like to share a scripture that has moved my heart too this week.
In Helaman 14:
"12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.
13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits."
I will be using my time wisely this week to do everything the Lord tells me to do. I have been talking to more people and teaching his gospel with more power so that they know that I know that these things are true. I testify that the Savior lives and loves us. He is our great and eternal head. I love him and desire to live with him again.
I will be seeing you guys in a couple days.
Talk to you soon and thank you for your support.
Till next week............
Elder Parra
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