Week 3 Amsterdam - All a big blur!

Hello Hello!!

Missions are incredible!! But man can I just say this week just disappeared!! I swear I was just sitting behind this screen emailing yesterday. This week has gone by so fast, sitting here looking back I almost can't remember what even happened. It really has been, one big blur. But none the less I know it was an amazing week! Cause every week brings plenty of things to put a big smile on your face!! So thank goodness for journals so you can see how much the Lord blesses you every single day. Daily miracles and tender mercies are so real! I can say that much!!

This week ended up being a lot of finding, some pretty crazy adventures and meeting some pretty interesting people that you just got to love!

Unfortunately we weren't able to meet with Peter and Evy this week. This first week of peters new job has kept them very very busy. But it has also been a huge blessing in their lives so that's okay. But those two are incredible! Satan is trying so hard to stop this baptism from happening, but they are committed to the gospel. So the birth certificate came and they went and had their appointment with the city and they said that there needed to be a stamp from Brazil on the certificate so they send it back to Brazil to get it stamped. That has been pretty nerve racking for me. But they just keep on surprising me with their faith and enthusiasm about the gospel. They know this is where they need to be and they aren't going to give up! That for me has been such a testimony builder and a huge miracle. The Lord will help us through our trails, sometimes we have a bumpy road and have to beat the snakes and bears on our paths, but as we press forward in faith it will all work out!!

So Saturday there was a crazy storm in the Netherlands! We were heading to Ijmuiden to teach with the sisters and us and the Zl's got stuck on a train for 3 hours or so!!!!! It was nuts. Every single train in North Holland was shut down as well as buses. When we finally were able to make our way back we passed all these massive trees that had been uprooted and power lines that were destroyed! It was actually quite the adventure to say the least. But we survived!!

We also were blessed with 5 investigators in church!! That has never happened for me on my mission!! What a blessing and what a miracle!! It was amazing to see so many investigators there with big smiles on their faces. The Lord is truly hastening His work! The Church is true!! I know that with my heart and soul! I love this gospel!

Thank you all for the love and support you give to us missionaries! Love you all!!!

Love, Elder Parr
#ReturnWithHonor

Thought we'd try and take a short cut:)

Week 2 Amsterdam - My Eyes Were Open

Hello Hello!!:)

Were to begin....this week has been full of so many crazy adventures and great miracles and tender mercies. Is all I know for sure is that Heavenly Father, knows who I am, He's is so much closer to me then I thought. This is His work and it is not slowing down for anything.

This past week has been fun for sure. Working with Elder Bringhurst has been an absolute blast. It's been so fun to have him as a companion. Still kinda in a shock, I mean who would of guessed we would end up in Amsterdam together, kinda a one in a million chance. But I wouldn't change it for the world, cause life is great! It has been so fun to just go out and work hard and laugh and have a great time the whole time we are doing it. Sure makes missionary work a lot different! A good different that is:)

So, we were able to meet with Peter and Evy a couple of times this week and it has been incredible to see so many miracles come into their lives. Here are some of the miracles that they have seen the past couple of days. Peter has got a job that is going to help him support his family so much better and one that he enjoys. They were able to get a car so now they don't have to rely on anyone to come to church. They finally have an appointment to go and meet with the city tomorrow so they can get married!! Every time we go over to their home, they just tell us how grateful they are for this new light we have brought into their lives. I wish you could all just see them now. They have a new light in their eyes, Jesus Christ has entered into their hearts and they are new people. I have never met an investigator who has such a strong testimony is our Savior and Our Heavenly Father. They have so much trust is Him it is touching to see. I was telling Elder Bringhurst this week that every time I go over to their house I feel like I am going to my Aunts or something. They are literally family to me. So great. Oh and get this, I finally was able to convince Peter to let us try and carry up a fridge they have been wanting to get up stairs. Well it was crazy....We had to carry a American size fridge, I say American cause that is very rare to see here, up 8 flights of stairs cause there was no elevator. But guess who came out on top! we did:) We weren't going to be beat by a fridge haha. But they really appreciated that too, Peter and I had a good laugh that we finally did it. But I just love that family so much. They are so ready to be baptized and can't wait either. One big miracle.

This week my eyes were also opened a little bit. In two different ways. One I can give 100% credit to Elder Bringhurst for. He has opened my eyes on how stinking lucky we are to have the mission that we have. We really do have one of the coolest places ever! I love my mission so much! My eyes were also opened this week by my Father In Heaven, for the first time I really began to see everyone as a child of God. I finally was able to see God's children as He sees them, glorious, amazing, full of potential. I know that we really all are children of a loving Heavenly Father, He knows all of us perfectly and truly does talk to us. He is there always and is never EVER going to give up on us. Why? Because we mean everything to Him! How incredible is that!?

I also had the incredible opportunity to go back to Delft on Saturday and say goodbye to Josh Ampah, one of my best friends! It was the greatest welcome ever. He had no idea I was coming and we walk in and he was laying on the floor and I was like 'my brother!' and He jumped up so fast and gave me the biggest hug. I can't even bring it into words how great that was. That is what life is all about. Seeing that smile on someone who you have come to love face. We were able to have a nice lunch and enjoy the afternoon with each other, a big tender mercy to me that's for sure. And being back in Delft just brought back so many good memories. But it also hit me, missions go by to fast. I am going to make the best of every second, because it's true what they say time flies!

I love you all and am thankful for the love and support! Have an amazing week!

Love, Elder Parr
#RetrunWithHonor

Elder Bringhurst and I

Our Big Reunion with Josh and former companion Elder Lee

Week 1 Amsterdam - Can it get any better?!?!

Hello Hello,

I don't even know where to begin....this week has been so crazy and so busy. But it has definitely been one of the greatest weeks. Just full of smiles and laughs. And we all know if you are smiling and laughing then life is great and your happy. And when you're happy the work goes great.

So the beginning of this week was kinda interesting. My old companion, Elder Frisby, got released a little bit early because the missionary who baptized him came to the Netherlands to pick him up. And he was able to go and take him around to some places that he had served. He was super excited and I was happy for him. So I said goodbye to him Monday morning and then Joined Elder Taggart and Elder Eby for two days in Amsterdam. We had a great couple of days together. Were able to go out and and teach a couple of incredible lessons and really see the spirit work on the hearts of the people we met with. It was super fun being able to be with Taggart the last couple of days of his mission. Me and him really got close.

But anyway, when Wednesday morning finally rolled around, it hit me. My mission was about to change for the rest of my time in this beautiful country. Over the past 2 transfers 50 missionaries have gone home and are now being replaced by a bunch of new ones. So just like that I am all of the sudden one of the older missionaries in the mission. I am not going to lie I got a little nervous. And then on top of that white washing, training and District Leader. Kinda a big change to the way my mission has been so far. So as I was sitting on the train heading over to the Sheraton hotel to pick up my new companion. It hit me, harder then it has up to this point. That I NEED to rely 100% on my Savior Jesus Christ. Because I knew I couldn't do it alone. I knew that if i was going to try and go into these new responsibilities alone, i would fail. I sat down and opened my scriptures and just looked and the verse in Philippians and read it over and over. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The spirit hit me like a wall, and said, "Elder Parr, trust in me, lean on me, I will strengthen thee, I will help thee." It was a great experience to have. At that moment I just knew everything was going to be alright as I turned to my Savior with all my heart.

Well I finally made it to the hotel and the time had finally come to go and meet my new companion. And you won't believe who it is. Drum roll please........Elder Wade Bringhurst! I walk in to the room and see Elder Bringhurst walking towards me and I am like no way, you have got to be kidding me. It can't be him, am I seriously training one of my buddies from high school. And sure enough I am:)!!!! If only you all could of seen how happy we were when we saw each other. Both of our faces were just glowing. (Well that's what President said at least haha). It was just amazing. I can't even Begin to say how excited I am to be working with Him. We are going to have an absolutely amazing transfer together because he is such a stud. If only you could see him already out here speaking dutch like a champ, and working hard. I have the best greenie in the world!!

It has only been 3 days of so with each other and we are already having the time of our lives. We have already seen some amazing things happen. Have found potential investigators left and right, and have taught some amazing lessons. Unfortunately I don't have the time to share them all but I will share one.

So, I don't know if any of you know, but I have been waiting my entire mission to find someone out playing basketball and go up and talk to them and play. Well it finally happened. After knocking doors for a solid 40 minutes and not seeing anything we hopped on our bikes and I say a younger guy playing by himself. I said "Bringhurst I know you are down for some ball lets go talk to this guy." So we went over to him and started talking to him about basketball and such. And then the questions started rolling. As we were playing our game of horse he continued to ask questions about the gospel. And we were able to talk to him about what we believe and why we believe it. It ended up being an amazing experience for Elder Bringhurst and myself. I am excited to see what happens with him and we continue to work with him.

I love this work so much. Missions are amazing and the greatest blessing. I know this church is true! I love you all so much. Thanks for everything. And Maegan, congratulation, you did it!:) 18 months in Romania being an amazing example to me and the rest of our family. I love you.

Have an amazing week!!

Love, Elder Parr
#ReturnWithHonor

Bringhurst and I at the Sheraton:)

Week 6 Zaandam - Crazy Week!!

Hello hello,

Sorry this is going to be the shortest email known to man! This week has been absolutely crazy and so so busy. So I have very little time on the computer today.

So here is some of the news in short.

1. We officially have a new mission president, President Bunnel. I have heard he is incredible. I can't wait to work with him and learn form him as well!

2. Peter and Evy are doing so so good! They are still excited to be baptized hopefully August 2nd or earlier. They are the biggest miracle ever!

3. I am being transferred to Amsterdam. I will be whitewashing Amsterdam, Training and becoming a District Leader. Talk about a whole new experience for me. I am super excited to learn and grow from this new opportunity. I know that the Lord sends us where we are needed and that He can qualify us for all he requires.

4. I love you all and am so thankful for the love and support. I know I say that every time but it's true. You have made a difference in my mission so thank you!  My sister Maegan comes home from her mission in Romania on Wednesday.  So happy for her and know that my family is excited. Love you all.

I hope you all have an amazing week this week and continue to enjoy the nice weather! The Church is true!!!

Love, Elder Parr
#ReturnWithHonor

(Mom sorry I forgot my camera so no pictures this week:( )