Week 1 Genk Belgium - Genk!!

Hello Everyone!! 

Well before I start I am going to apologize for the super bad grammar and probably a lot of miss spelled words here to come! First treat about Belgium is a messed up key board. So don't make fun :)

This week was one, my last week in a city that truly has stolen my heart and given me some of the greatest memories that I could ask for!! Delft is always going to have a special place in my heart. the people the memories and the life changing events and lessons. You really can't get any better than that. My last week in Delft was amazing though!! I was able to say goodbye to almost everyone and end with a bang! We left Delft with a boiling pot of potential and I think I can proudly say that Heavenly Father allowed me to take part in really changing Delft. I remember when I first got there how slow it was compared to when I left. I was beyond blessed with the time that I got to spend in Delft and with the people I got to work with!! I could never be more grateful for starting in an amazing city!! Going to miss that place a lot!!

This week I was also began my journey in the great city of Genk! It is going to be an awesome experience that’s for sure. Elder taggart is awesome we are going to have a great time together! and living in a four man is a blast, I got a cool group of guys too so that’s even better. It is a little bit harder to go to sleep on time though. ;) But okay. Genk has got a lot of potential and Elder Taggart and I are excited to hit the ground running and go out and see some success. The Lord is preparing people now we get to go and find them! I can't wait to get out and really work. 

Church, holy cow church is soooooo different here than in Den Haag. I went from the biggest ward in the mission to one of the smallest. There are probably 20 or so members. It is such a loving ward though. some really nice people and a loving environment. But it really made me super grateful for where I got to begin my mission but also how blessed I was back home to be surrounded with amazing members! What a blessing that was to me as I look back on life. It is going to be an amazing experience working here with these people though! and I am going to do all that I can to help this place grow. :)

I know this is where I am meant to be right now, yes it’s a different culture then before, a different language pretty much haha and a different kind work. But it’s where my Father in Heaven wants me to be and I am ready to take on the new challenge!! 

Cool story I called Josh last night and guess what!! He went through the temple and did baptisms for the dead!!!! Ah he said it was the coolest experience ever and was telling me all about how he is so excited to go and find his grandparents to do their work! Man he really is an incredible member already. Love that guy so much and miss him. Amazing miracle and amazing friend!! 

Oh and one other, so this week it snowed for like the entire day so we got to mob in the snow again. Lucky you don't use your bikes nearly as much here or I probably would have wrecked again. But it was fun having the snow and seeing all the kids out building snowmen and having a good time with one another. This place really is amazing, a lot of happy smiling faces who are open to talk. It's a blessing. 

I know that this church is true and really is 100% directed by our Father in Heaven. I love it and am grateful I get to be out here at this time doing it. I LOVE it!! Thank you all for the kind emails and letters. I love you all and hope that you have an amazing week!

And sorry this email wasn't super detailed or anything I am trying to get used to this keyboard. Next week will be better :) 

Love, Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

Week 25 - Transfer Week :) I'm Getting Transferred! :)

Hello everyone,

Well this week has been crazy! Super busy running from place to place and city to city. And to be honest I am completely pooped. But it's all been worth it, because we saw some pretty cool things happen just cause a little effort! The Lord is blessing us.

I will begin with one of the highlights of my week. It was this Sunday. Since I have been here we have 1. Baptized Josh and 2. Reactivated Tom. And this Sunday both of them got their temple recommends and are going to go do Baptisms for the dead this Thursday!!:) I can't explain the joy that I have gotten because of those two remarkable people, it has been a beyond amazing blessing to have the opportunity to serve with them!

Another amazing miracle that happened this week was Micha. So we finally finally did the Stop Smoking program with him. And can I just say that it went so so good!!:) I have never seen him how I have this past week. This was exactly what he needed, it truly hit him for once that we ALL need this gospel. And we all need the Lord in our lives. We got him to get rid of all of his smoking things from lighter to cigarettes to what ever else he had. That was fun we got to go watch him throw it in the canal. But a couple days later he had a smoke from his friend. He called the Romigs and told them and said he was disappointed in himself, and really did want to stop. So for the first time in his life, on his own, not being asked, he knelt down and truly prayed to our Heavenly Father for strength to stop smoking, and said it was something that he had never yet experienced. How much joy and emotion that brought just hearing that phone call. That man has changed, and I can't be more grateful for the chance I had to be a little part of that process. We had some times that I will never, ever forget! What a blessing!

This week we were also able to find a lot of new investigators and get a lot of appointments set up. Delft is boiling with potential right now and is soon going to explode with success! I am proud to say that I have left this city better then I found it. 

Okay now that you know I am being transferred after reading those first couple paragraphs I guess I'll tell you where too. I have been called to go down to Belgium and serve in the city of Genk, speaking Flemish:) I can't tell how 1. Excited I am and 2. Super nervous. But I know I am going there for a reason and it will all be well. And guess what else, delft is getting white washed with two new elders. And a cool story behind that, so this whole transfer Lundberg and I have been preparing things like it was going to get whitewashed. We did so many things that we had no idea why we did at the time. It took time and was boring, yet we did it. A few weeks later now we know the reason. Delft is as ready as it could be for a white wash as sad as it is. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

I am sure going to miss this blessed city, it has a piece of my heart that’s for sure!! I can't even begin to explain how big of an impact and how much I have learned while serving in Delft. It's definitely going to be hard to say goodbye, but I will always have good memories to look back on. And that is one thing I can't be more happy about! I love this mission, I know this is the Lords work and he is with us 100% of the time through the ups and downs. I love this work and am excited to hit the ground running in Genk. 

I love you all thanks for your prayers and support. I hope you have an amazing week!!!

Love,
Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

** These pictures are from the Romigs who are the senior missionaries serving in Delft.  They are such great examples to the missionaries and take such great care of them. Thank you Elder and Sister Romig.

Week 24 Delft " Walking in a WINDY Wonderland"

Hello everyone,

This has yet again been another amazing week for me. It has been the craziest weather of my mission and probably one the coldest but yet so much fun. It was hilarious on the bikes this week when the wind was behind you, you'd absolutely fly and couldn't even control yourself. When it was in your face you'd pedal your heart out and not even move ha. And the side wind, oh boy I don't even want to go there. You literally would ride your bike slanted to stay on. Hilarious! Oh and don't forget the lovely rain:) Man you have got to love this country.

This week we were able to teach some great lesson, have some awesome appointments and really see the spirit take over our work and lead us to places that we needed to be. Here are some highlights of this week.

First, Thursdays was a blast, we met with Josh and all of his African brothers again and made them some big fluffy American pancakes, they absolutely loved them. It was super fun. But after that we were able to watch the restoration video and really fill that room with the spirit. There were a few friends of josh there and at the end of the lesson we extended a baptismal invitation for them all. And they accepted. We haven't really set a date yet, but that was quite a miracle of its own. And a lot of the potential investigators that we have found are going great. I love working with these people so much, it's a whole other world, but amazing!

Second, It was Friday night and Lunberg and I had an appointment fall through so we were going to do some look ups. And on our way we passed a former investigators street ( who I have tried for 6 months to get a hold of and hadn't til this point) And I really felt that we needed to go try his door. We discussed it and kept riding then a little further I just turned around and headed to his house. Lunberg followed me of course. Well we knocked on his door and what do you know he was home and we were able to get to know him and have two awesome lessons this week. What a miracle that was for us. So cool. He is one of the coolest people I have met since I have been out here.

Lastly, funny story behind this one. On our way to church we were sitting in the bus and I was like hey Elder Lundberg have you ever given a talk in sacrament meeting? And he was like ya  a few. Then i said well I don't think that I will ever have to give one. I mean I have been here for 6 months and only have seen 2 missionaries give a talk. So I am good. Well we walk into church that morning and one of the brothers stopped me and was like hey could I ask a favor of you? One of our speakers couldn't make it today would you be willing to fill their spot? In my mind i was thinking how did i know. Well of course I said yes. So Sunday was my first talk in sacrament since I've been here. And it was actually a cool little blessing for me because i was wondering how I was going to be able to thank this word for all they have done for me . Since I am pretty positive that i will be leaving next week. Well the Lord provided a way to me to do it. And It ended up being super good and the members loved it. All I can say is that through the lord the language has come and I have grown. That is something that I am so so thankful for.

I am sorry that there wasn't a whole lot of detail had to keep it a little short this week. I will try and do better next week. But Thank you all for the nice letters this week. Put a smile on my face. And on that note, I would suggest that if you want to send a letter this week don't send it to Delft but rather the mission home.

Thank you all for your love and support I feel your prayers everyday:) You are all the best have an amazing week!!

Love,

Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

Pancake Party 

Those are some wet thermals Elder Parr.

Venus Fly Trap (probably the first time he has seen one of those)

Week 23 Delft - Happy 2015!!

Hello everyone,

Can you guys believe it....2015 already! Oh how 2014 just flew by. It was sure an amazing year though. But this one is going to be just as good if not better. All us missionaries have just begun our 'Year" to the Lord." How cool is that. I can not wait to make this year count. Its definitely going to be one to remember!

Well these past couple of weeks have been pretty crazy due to the holidays. Running from here to there, drunk people everywhere and some pretty crazy fireworks. I can't even begin to explain how crazy these things were, I have NEVER seen anything like it in my life. A straight 6 hours of nonstop fireworks that are crazy loud. We had to be in at 4 pm because people here get so nuts. So we played some games and even ordered some Domino's pizza! haha. Still doesn't compare to the one in America though. That has been super fun and all, definitely some great memories made, but I am excited to get back in the grove of things and hit the ground running. Cause this work isn't slowing down for anybody. It's incredible.

Funny story, so Saturday night we had some appointments fall through, which is never fun, and it was FREEZING outside so we didn't want to go door to door. Then it clicked, we were going to be serving in "Africa" for the night. The building where Josh lives is 100% Africans and has tons of people. And the best part, where you do the bell ups is indoor! You wouldn't believe what happened about 1 in every 6 bells someone answered, and now for the cool part. Every single one of them either let us in or said that we could come back. We gave out 2 Books of Mormon and made 2 appointments and got 7 new potentials. Now I know what its like to be a missionary in Africa haha. A great people. I don't know why i didn't think of that earlier but we are going to triple the English class in Den Haag from all of Josh's African buddies:) After a rough day we were sure blessed!

Another miracle for us this week was Sunday. Oh this Sunday was one of the best ones since I have been here! For a few reason, One, Josh got to pass the sacrament with us for the first time. I can't tell you how cool it has been for me to see this man change! He's taught me more then I could ever teach him. I love that man! And two, Tom got the priesthood today!! We have been working with him for a while and it finally happened! And josh even got to stand in the circle, that was something truly special. Tom probably has one of the biggest hearts out of anybody i know, sure he is a little different but i can't even begin to explain the impact he has had on us through just being himself. He will just leave voicemails on his phone asking how our day was then tell us how his day was then just pray for our success. What an example of love!

Friday night was one of the funniest nights of my life haha. So us and the zone leader all went to Josh's house to eat. We show up and Josh had invited 3 of his friends and they were all super cool! Gonna baptize them!! But dinner was crazy pure African and probably the grossest thing I've eaten. We had fufu, which wasn't to terrible actually but far from amazing. But we had this bancu stuff like last time but with some crazy sauce. You should of seen us Elders trying to eat it, they were all just dying of laughter watching us. To good!

Tuesday was also a miracle. I was on exchanges with Elder Elkins in Den Haag and all the things that were planned fell through. So we decided to do a bunch of look ups instead. And can I just say my testimony of being in an area for a reason grew a ton. We went to several different places and non of the look ups were home and after everyone we knocked a couple of doors. And without fail Heavenly Father put someone in our path. We were able to find 8 potential investigators, set up two appointments and get let in on the door and give a baptism invitation. Tell me that that is not a miracle! The Lord waited till we decided to get lost in the work and then he blessed us immensely! He is so close to us in all we do, that's something I have come to know and am so grateful for!

Well I love you all and can't thank you enough for the sweet letters for you! They put a big smile on my face and gave me some good laughs! So thank you for that! I hope that you all have an amazing week and an even better 2015! The Church is true!!!

Love, Elder Parr

#ReturnWithHonor

Me and my Brothers! (Elder Elkins, Elder T, Josh, Jackpot, Rashad and Gis) :)