Merry Christmas Skype from the Netherlands

Best Christmas Present Ever was to be able to talk to both of our missionaries for Christmas.  Sora Maegan Parr skyped first from Romania/Moldova mission.  It was fun to talk to her and hear of her experiences in Romania.  Then at 10:30 Elder Josh Parr was skyping from a wonderful members home in Delft, Netherlands. We were excited to have them on at the same time.  However since Elder Parr was on a tablet the 3 way Skype didn't work but we were able to use our tablet for Sora Parr and then the computer for Elder Parr and that worked out great. So we could all hear each other and get a fun family picture.

Elder Josh Parr shared some great stories with us.  We can't believe he has only been out 6 months.  He has grown SO much and we are SO proud of him.  His Dutch was wonderful.  He shared a beautiful testimony in Dutch.  I couldn't understand it but his dad who speaks German could understand it because the languages are very similar.  Sora Parr also gave a beautiful testimony in Romanian and sang a couple songs for us.  We love to hear her sing.

Then to close the skype Elder Josh Parr gave the most BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL, SPIRITUAL prayer I have heard.  The spirit filled our home and it was wonderful.  We are so thankful for our missionaries and we are so blessed.  We know that Heavenly Father watches over Both sets of Grandparents were able to be here to hear and talk to each missionary.  Best Christmas Present for sure.

Elder Josh Parr serving in Belguim/Netherlands out 6 months on Christmas Day!  Sora Maegan Parr serving in Romania/Moldova mission out 1 year on January 8th.  

It was SOO good to hear his voice and see his smile.  I LOVE his Smile!  He was soooo happy the entire time and you can tell each week when you read his letters how happy he is.  Love you my "Kanga" <3

Our Christmas Family Picture 2014 We love our missionaries.

Grandpa "Woof Woof" and Grandma Dixie Dansie 

Grandma and Grandpa Parr

This is how the 3 way would have worked.  It only showed Josh voice when he first called so we hurry and got a picture.  Then hung up with Maegan and called Josh.  We will have it down for Mother's Day call.

AWE!  My favorite two missionaries I sure love them.

Our nephew Jett and the Wilson clan was so excited to Skype with them.

It really was a wonderful day!  Loved every minute of it :)

Week 22 Delft -HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Hello Hello,

Can you believe it just like that and Christmas is gone! And 2015 is just around the corner. Oh how time flies and just doesn't seem to slow down. But I hope that you all had an amazing Christmas and also a Happy New Year!!

Well this week has been one to remember that's for sure. First Christmas away from home was something else. It was truly an incredible experience. Don't get me wrong I definitely missed not being with the family  but there is just something about Christmas as a missionary in the field. The spirit is so strong and the true meaning of Christmas becomes so much more real. It was actually a very big lesson learned for me in which I am very thankful. And Skyping the family was absolutely incredible. I Love them so so much!!

And not only Christmas made this week so great, get this THE NETHERLANDS SNOWED! This week Delft was covered in snow and oh how fun that was. The day it actually snowed was so cold but yet so much fun. I have missed the snow. But my favorite part about the snow was the day after when it all turned to ice. I found out how much fun it is to bike on ice haha. You can just drift all over the place and all of the sudden the ride to appointments become an extreme sport of bike skating. Funny story, so we were riding in the centrum to go and do a look up and we were riding over a bridge and just on the other side was a massive patch of ice.  So me, being myself was like Lunberg check this out I am going to have the sickest drift. So I start peddling as fast as I could and then just slammed on my brakes. (Keep in mind I was a perfect 8 for 8 up to this point) I bet you can guess what happened. I hit the ice my bike goes flying and I am right behind it and I slid all the way to the other side of the road. It was seriously the funniest thing that has happened to me. People were either one, dying of laughter or two freaking out because they thought that I got hurt. But no worries not a scratch:)

One of the highlights of my week was Saturday. We had an amazing day. We were able to meet with Tom, Mariaet and her husband (a new investigator who is super cool) and Josh, Estella and Jackpot. I want to focus on Jackpot. So he is a good friend of Josh's who came to the Netherlands with him from Ghana. And I remember the first day that I met him he wanted absolutely nothing to do with us, didn't want Josh to have anything to do with us and was set in his religion. (Muslim) The weeks went by and we continually but slowly started getting to him. Got him to come to Josh's baptism, a Christmas party at the church and then finally his heart was softened and we taught him. He was so open and absolutely loved the message that we had to share. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he is going to read and ask. He was so sincere about it as well. This was truly a miracle in my eyes. I was able to see the Lord give him just a little at a time until he was ready to truly accept it. What a blessing to be a part of and to see. The Lord is not far from his missionaries I see and realize that more and more everyday.

Sunday was amazing as well. We taught the English class which was so funny. We were the only two white people in the whole class. I almost felt like I was in Africa for a minute. But that was a good time and they sure seemed to love it. I also passed the sacrament for the first time in the field. Shows you how big this ward is. That was fun to do:) I miss it.

Well I don't have much time today so sorry that it was so short. But I just want to add that I KNOW that this gospel is true. That its the gospel of our Heavenly Father and that through it was receive so many blessings. This mission has changed me, and I have come to know that so much better. I have truly rooted my testimony in the Savior and Know that he loves us!! The Church is true!

Love, Elder Parr
#ReturnWithHonor

Week 21 Delft -MERRY CHRISTMAS (Prettige Veestdagen!) 6 Months Out

Hello everyone,

Can you all believe it, Christmas time already!  Holy cow has time flown by. 6 Months already gone, It's unreal how fast a mission can really go by. But its been the best 6 months ever!! What a wonderful time of year it is to have the opportunity of being a missionary. It has been such a wonderful past week just being able to talk to people about the true meaning of Christmas. People giving us the time of day to talk about Our Savior. What a blessing.

So this past week or so we have been sharing the video "Hij is het Geschenk"Or "He is the Gift" with everyone who would give us the chance. And Watching that over and over my gratitude has grown so much. I am beyond grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and that Our Father was willing to send him down to earth to suffer, die and overcome death for everyone of us. What a beautiful message we bare. This church is true, everything about it. It's the greatest blessing that we have. And what a wonderful time of the year it is to take some time and really, truly show our Gratitude for the Birth of our Savior.

This week was great. We were truly blessed in many different ways. One of the highlights of my week was actually Sunday. We were late to church because we missed our train. So when we got to church walked in the doors and saw Josh made it by himself, and 3 less actives sitting in priesthood. I couldn't help but tear up. Wow have these people changed. That has been the greatest blessing to me having the chance to be that instrument in the Lords hands to help these people change. What an amazing experience that was. And to top it off, after church today we ordained Josh to the office of a priest and gave him the aaronic priesthood. I love that guy!! Words can't even describe the joy that I have by seeing him grow and share that testimony with others.

Josh has even invited his best friend to start taking lessons from us. What a blessing. He is such an amazing member already. And already wants and is sharing this gospel with others. The Lord is working miracles through the hand of his servants.

I hope that you all have an amazing Christmas and keep in mind the reason behind the season. I love you all and am so grateful for all that you do for me. The prayers, the support, the gifts. I love you all!! You are all amazing! The Church is true!!

Love,

Elder Parr

#returnwithhonor

 

Week 20 Delft - Living the life here in Delft

Hello Hello,

 

What an adventure this week has been. New companion, crazy weather and some very spiritual moments! The first couple days of this week were just nuts and yet so funny. So we all thought 100% that I was getting transferred because you never stay in your greeny city for 4....very rare here. So I had already said goodbye to so many people and then wow Elder Lee is leaving.. We ended running all over the place and biking like mad men to get to say bye to people for him. What an adventure. I sure love that kid and really gonna miss him. Had some amazing experinces with eachother. Some that I will never forget. It's cool how good of a relationship you can build with a comp. in such a short time. Love it!

 

 My new companion Elder Lundberg is great. He is a funny dude and we get along great. I am excited to get to know him and continue to go to work here in  Delft. I am gonna leave here with no regrets! I love this city so much. It has my heart that is for sure. Though it can not make up its mind on weather it wants to have nice weather or terrible weather. We wake up and its beautiful and sunny walk out side its POURING rain then sunny again then crazy winds! (which is sometimes nice becuase you dont even have to pedal it just pushs you....but mostly you have to pedal twice as hard) Ah I love it!!!

 

I have three stories I want to share with you all this week. The first is with our investigator Miguel a 17 year old kid who I found the last week with Elder Hulet. We had a lesson with him this Saturday unlike any that we have had before. It was very simple we read Alma 7:9-16 and did a whole lesson from those texts. And I know 100% that is exactly what he needed to hear at that time. The spirit took total control of that lesson and because of that he felt our Saviors love for him. He accepted a baptisimal Invitation for January 18th 2015. How cool is that. This kid opened up and tolded us some things that have gone on in his life and how much it means to him to have a loving Savior and now know all that he has done for him. I have not once seen him so emotional since I have met him. Definitely a lesson I won't forget and will forever be grateful for. These are the moments you live for on a mission.

 

The second is heart breaking for me but an answer to prayers. I have been praying for as long as I have been in Delft that I could develope a love for these people and I believe that this week I was filled with that love. And it was hard, it hurt. But It was sweet at the same time. We went to go visit Vilma and Daphne and were just talking about why they have stopped coming to church and how much they NEED the blessing. Excuse after excuse, I felt that I finally had a true love for these people when it literally just crushed me seeing them not except something I know they need. It just makes me think of our Savior and how he feels when his children reject him over and over. And yet He still loves them, He is still there for them. And is never going to turn his back on them. A powerful expereince for me.

 

The third was just an ervaring that I had at stake conference this week. Which was so so good. President Oddens was released as stake president after 10 years of serving and guess who was called. Our mission presidents counselor President Scheltinga, boy is he going to be one heck of a stake president. I sure love that man so much. Such a power house. But during the conference Elder Dyches shared a scripture in D&C 88:84 that talks about angels being round about us as we are on our missions. And memories just flashed back thought my mind and I can not tell you how much I have a testimony of that promise. Our Heavenly Father Loves his missionaries so much and is NOT far away. He is here with us and His angels truly are round about us. What a blessing that is. Oh How I love this Gospel and Love my mission. Yes it is hard....you are tired, its cold, more rejections than I can even count, get cursed, get laughed at, have your faith tested and so much more. But it is something that I will never trade, I have grown more in the short 6 months that I have been out here then any other time in my life. I know its worth it!

 

Well thank you all so so much for the Christmas letters and packages. They make my day. I love you all so much and pray for you in all you do. Thanks for all you prayers in return. I hope you have an amazing week. And never forget The Church Is True!

 

Love, Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

Me and my brother George, Such a solid member

LOVE the Christmas Tree Thank you SO much! I love all the snowflake notes and pictures. <3

Elder Lundberg my new companion.

Week 19 Delft " Another AMAZING week in the Netherlands!"

Dear Family and friends,

Oh where to begin. This week has been another great week for Elder Lee and I. The City is beginning to look like Christmas, trees and lights going up everywhere. So beautiful. How I have been blessed to serve in such an amazing city with so many wonderful people.

This week it snowed TWICE, that never happens I guess. None of it stuck but hey the snowflakes were pretty big. We were with all the missionaries and Elder Abunki from Suriname was freaking out because it was the first time that he has ever seen snow. SO funny. So that was fun to have this week.

Highlight of my week was Saturday. Saturday was easily the most spiritual day of my mission. Joshua Ampah was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of my best friends. That is going to be a day that I will never forget. I remember the day that we met him and ever since then have been the best of friends. Seeing him be baptized was more than amazing, it is a feeling that I cannot describe. I will never forget the look on his face when he came out of the water with tears in his eyes looked at me and gave me the biggest smile that I have seen. Something that I have never experienced before. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity that I have had to teach him and watch him progress. That is what this work is all about. And no matter where you are, Europe, Mexico, America, Taiwan, South America. The Lord is not slowing down, he is going to provide us with a way to be successful. I saw that this week. What a spiritual moment it was for me! I love this church and know without a doubt in my heart that it is the true church. That Jesus Christ is our Savior and that this is God’s Plan.

So along with Josh's baptism we also were blessed with an amazing week. This time of year is so great for missionary work, people are happy and the spirit is strong. Even the Dutch. It's honestly been a miracle in my books.

This week was also transfer calls. I am staying in Delft for one last one. President called me last night and said that there is still work here for me to do here.  :)  I am getting a new companion Elder Lundberg. I have never met him but am excited to hit the ground running and go get that work done that the Lord has planned for me!

Thank you all so much for your love and support, I can feel it every day. I love you all! Have a wonderful week. And God bless!

Love, Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

In this mission they try to have the ward members baptize the new member so it helps form a relationship and gives the new member someone to lean on.  I loved when I heard that - members helping the missionaries :)

Elder Parr was SO excited for Josh can you just see the smile on his face.  :)

1st baptism - friends forever Josh A. and Elder Josh Parr

Delft Blue - I can't wait to go and pick him up and see this beautiful country.

What a handsome missionary - glad he is keeping warm.  I told him he needs to wear his 
scarf and hat :)

Week 18 Delft "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

Hello everyone!

Sorry this week is actually going to be a short one I have hardly any time. But I will do my best to share as much as I can.

This was another great week for me we had a lot of finding, lessons, zone conferences and memories. I guess the highlight of the week for me was confirming Joshua A. baptism this week!! I am so excited for him. He has made such a big change in his life since the first day he met us missionaries. I know that the Heavenly Father has played a huge part in his conversion and He was with us in every lesson. The experiences that I have had teaching him have been ones that will last a life time. It amazing how good of friend you can become with someone in such a short amount of time. I sure love all of my investigators and this work so so much.

Faith has definitely been challenged this week, there was plenty of rejection and a lot of just straight up hard work. But spending a lot of time on my knees I found that comfort and peace that so many long for. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that I have a loving heavenly father and that means the world to me. I am so happy I get the chance to share that knowledge with the people of the Netherlands.

I love you all so much, thanks for the prayers and the support! It means the world to me!

The church is true!

Love, Elder Parr

#ReturnwithHonor

This picture is for you Mom <3

Train Station