Week 90: New Companion, But Staying in Fishers.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Transfers went really well! Elder Williams is actually training a new missionary (making me a mission grandpa) the picture of our posterity is on drive. I have a new companion, Elder Walker. He actually reminds me a little of Elder Steab. He's super fresh though I'm actually his 2nd companion. I'm thinking he might be my last one but I'm not entirely sure. He's from Texas, but has lived all over due to his dad being in the Air Force. He and I have pretty similar interests, so I'm pretty happy right now he is a welcome changed from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I just don't even want to think about last transfer at all haha. As far as the week goes it went super well until sunday when wendy missed church, and has stopped answering our texts. We found out from the member that referred her that her daughters have been really struggling. We are currently sending out a mass call for prayers both from missionaries and members alike. PLEASE! keep her in your prayers. She needs them really bad right now. She is getting slammed by the adversary soo hard right now. But other than that I can't believe it actually happened! I didn't think that kid was ever gonna grow up! and certainly not when I was on my mission! I feel so old and out of touch right now.... Good on him though! Sounds like a pretty good date to me! We'll have to do some doubles when I get home! Yea don't worry tell Emily I'll be up there a year after I get home. I already have a roommate picked out! Haha me and Sneddon talk about it all the time. I'm pretty excited for that! Well I think that's about everything, love you guys!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 89: Transfer Time . . . . Should I Be So Happy?

Dear Mom and Dad, 

This week was pretty awesome we saw so many miracles this week! Wendy actually just showed up to church and she absolutely loved it! She is super excited to have her kids all come and see it next week! So that was awesome! Also Bruckman is out this transfer and all I can say is nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey goodbye! I shouldn't be so happy about that... But I don't care anymore haha. Yes I got your package thanks so much! I very much enjoyed the salsa. I celebrated by making nachos that night haha. We went out to this restaraunt but other than that nothing really just the same old same old. Getting more trunky by the minute haha if that's anything to talk about. I'm really hoping my next companion is someone I can just finish strong with. But I don't know, I don't think I will get that. But anyway that's really all I can think of kinda stressed out today. I have to take another missionary's companion which by the looks of it means I get to babysit 2 missionaries until transfers. So there's that. Thanks for all your support I love you!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 88: Happy Mother's Day!

We were able to skype with Braken yesterday for Mother's Day.  That's the best present ever!  Anyway, I had asked Braken about how big Fishers was and this was his reply.....

Um Fishers is a lot like PG in the fact that its kind of a tumor off of Indianapolis like PG is to Provo. There's no real separation between the two just somewhere Indy ends and Fishers begins. Thanks for the support I really appreciate it! I loved talking to you guys too. The only problem is now I'm super trunky!! Thanks also for praying for Wendy! It's Wendy Osmun definitely keep her in your prayers! Love you guys talk to you next week!

Love, Elder Park

(Wendy is one of his newest investigators.  She has 3 daughters too.)

Week 87: ..."and The Holy Ghost will tell you all things that ye should do..."

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things are doing much better. Well nothing's really changed except that I gave a training in District meeting on becoming more fully converted (with some visual aid from Elder Bednar) and how we can, like the people of ammon, give up the "weapons of our rebellion" and "fight no more against our God." So I had everyone write on pieces of paper what their "weapons of rebellion" were. Mine was my crappy attitude about my companion. So I buried it in the earth, AKA the Fishers trash service. Since then I have been really praying hard for the gift of charity, and in "Act in Doctrine" Elder Bednar talks about praying to see things as they really are. It's not something to be casual about at all, because the Holy Ghost will tell you exactly how it is. It will rebuke you for things you aren't doing right, but it will also praise you for what you are doing right. I decided to undertake that with my fast this sunday, and it was a much needed experience. I felt immense peace about how I was doing with the work, and parts of how I was dealing with my companion. I also got rebuked about a couple things I need to work on. So it was a very painful experience and also a very wonderful one. So that could be something to consider. Other than that it's been a slow week here in fishers. Lots of walking around. Me and Elder Bruckman got pretty sunburned saturday. We took one of our lunch breaks and went fishing in the pond behind our apartment and caught some pretty nice fish, (see pics on drive). Us and the other fishers Elders are trying our hardest to find as much service as possible so we can stay busy because our finding isn't working. So that's lot's of fun. So my 20th birthday... My thoughts are honestly I'd almost prefer to wait for that because I'll be home in 3 months and I'll want a phone.... I honestly can't think of anything I really want right now just because it'll be more stuff to carry around or have to pack home. I'm already putting together a package of clothes and miscellaneous crap I don't really need out here. So that's my thoughts, but we do get to skype on Sunday so we can talk in more detail then. Dad is making me trunky for the dunes.... I miss Hal!!!! But it's ok I'll see him in 3 months :) Um that's really all I can think of so I guess I'll talk to you next week! Love you guys!

Love, Elder Braken Park