February 22, 2016

Dear Family,

This week has been really awesome and exciting but worrying. I have been really stressed and worried. I have been fasting a lot and praying constantly to know what the Lord wants from me. I have been trying to find ways to help the zone be more sucessfull. Their have been hard times and really have been asking myself what the Lord wants me to learn from these expiriences. Im happy to say that the Lord is putting me to test and that he does love me but pushes me so that I can become more like him.

It has been hard to teach my companion how to be a zone leader and also help the zone out with its potentials. I think that for this month we are going to end with 14 baptisms in our zone. Im really sad that we wernt able to make it to our potential but at the same time happy to know that we are getting better at bringing people unto Christ. I have thought a lot this week on what I can get better at as a zone leader and now I understand why the Lord left me here in this zone. I have to mold myself in the way the Lord wants me to learn. I think that this change is going to take all my energies. I plead that you pray fervantly for me and my companion. My faith is really being put to test and I have a perfect hope that things will get better.

This week I would like to tell you of a story that I had with one of my district leaders. I went on a visit with him and we started knocking on doors. He was really sad because he didnt have people progressing. Me and my companion went to his area. We did divisions and we headed of not knowing where to go. We were guided by the spirit and having hope that we were going to find people that truly needed help. While we were knocking on doors a lady came out and she looked at us and said oh I thought it was my grandson that was knocking my door.

While we talked to her she started telling us how she was going to a church with her family. While we were at the door we presented ourselves and started trying to know her. She said since its so hot outside its ok if you guys come in for a bit. We were excited to be able to go in and sit down and talk to her. While we started talking to her, her husband came in, and her daughter. We were excited to see a whole family. While we taught the Restoration of the church the Brother had a lot of questions. He said comments of things that weren't very true. We cleared up some of the ideas he had. At first we thought he was really evangelist and then found out that he had not been going very often. When we got to the first vision we bore testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The spirit was so strong in that very moment and we could see that in their eyes they knew it was true too.

At the end we asked the brother what he thought of our message. HE said I know its true I can feel it in my heart. Everything happens for a reason and I know that the Lord sent you guys here. He started to cry a little and thats when we knew that he was ready to hear the restored gospel. That made me feel so good and the district leader came out really excited, with hope in his eyes. Im greatfull to be a worthy servant of the Lord. I feel it in my bones. I know the savior lives and loves us. He is truly the master and the Prince of Peace. I love him so much and Im trying to be like him every day.

I love you guys and thank you for my package. You dont know how much it means to me. This week I am going to the temple. I will pray for you guys in the Celestial room. I truly need this power from the house of the Lord to keep pressing forward.

Till next time.

Elder Parra