Suriname is killing it again!

    Clarice got baptized!! Three people were baptized Saturday! You could say it was a good day. They all were so strong. You could see how strong they were when they bore their testimonies of the church. The spirit was so strong!  Another miracle! Dwayne (two transfers ago when I was with sister Ashcraft, we were teaching him and I was really sad to leave him because I knew he was going to be baptized. Well we have been teaching him still and he told us at an appointment that was originally going to just be helping him with English, he asked us to have a lesson instead. He said how he talked to his parents about it...and that they want him to and so does he! We were beyond happy! Because this is a huge step for him! Next transfer he will be baptized! Me and sister Ashcraft put our hearts into him, testifying over and over again of the truthfulness of this gospel. and now we will be able to baptize him! If this is my last baptism for the rest of the transfer I will be so happy still. I guess I kinda gave away transfer calls. But for once; everything with me is staying the same, finally no changes during this transfer. It is kinda nice to not have to worry about that!
    Nothing crazy well probably but it is all just normal life for us sisters here. I am thankful for this chance to be on a mission. and to help people come closer to Jesus Christ!
I  love you all!!
Zuster Parker

Clarecce got baptized!!

The North Zone

The North Zone!!!

Ik ben een beetje dikker geworden.

    So miracles!!!!! I feel like all this time; just planting seeds my whole mission, I feel like it is paying off! We are going to have an amazing girl Clarice be baptized! She was going to be baptized 2 months ago with another sister, but she backed out and kinda lost her testimony, or never had a really solid one. Well we were able to meet with her and just invited her to give it another chance, and she came to church and now she knows without a doubt this is the true church and so we set the date for this Saturday!! She is so sweet! I am so excited for her!!!!
    Second; we met this family, Rhanda and Lawrence, and they are so prepared!!! So much that he had people calling him (after our first lesson with him) and telling him bad things about the church, and you want to know what he said? He told them that the book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ just not in Jerusalem but in the Americas, and that it make sense. He told us this and that he doesn't care what they say he has made his decision.  In that same lesson he told us how they want to get married (and they have 2 kids together). They want to get married asap, and this was before we talked about chastity! Then the next lesson he told us how he wants to stop drinking, and this was before we taught him about that! They say the perfect answers, and it comes from their heart!! We love them!!! Haha, there have been some amazing miracles here.
    Nothing crazy going on, or everyday is cray, just depends on how you look at it.  I am just getting used to the crazy here.
    I am just grateful we did not see any flashers this P-day! Haha people here are crazy, but I love them!!!
I love you all!! Lobie!
Zuster Parker

Me and Zuster Vernes

Our service project

Laugh!

    The magnificent trio is still going strong! We are teaching with more unity now! We love our areas and each-other! There is not a day that goes bye that we do not laugh! We are always laughing and also working hard. We have accomplished the perfect balance! We tease each-other (in a loving way) and give support, and teach with power and authority.
    We had to really use these skills this weekend, because president Egbert came into town, and he had a conference with all the members, investigators and missionaries in Suriname. He asked me and my comps to do the role-play...... in dutch!!! We were beyond nervous, but we did it! And lets say it went a lot better than my talk! People afterward seemed to love it!! So it was good! I am just glad it is over! I do not like talking in front of a lot of people, but I was glad I had my comps with me.
    Zone conference was aaamazing! We talked about temples, and I wished I got this before I went through! It would have been more helpful even though I feel like I was prepared enough. I got more excited to go to the temple when I go home, I miss it so much! One thing I loved that he said was, "We go to the temple to also know the feeling, so that when we are not in the temple and we are making a decision and are asking Heavenly Father for confirmation we know what it will feel like; like the temple." I loved that!
    I am grateful to be here on my mission and to help the people here and to help convert my self into the gospel!
I love you all!! Lobie!!

 

 

Mother's Day!!!

This week was great! We sang love at home (we meaning the missionaries) at the Mothers Day activity Saturday. We sand the first verse in English, second in Dutch and third in Sranan. Everyone loved it! I ate way too much....lets just say some missionaries and members were underestimating my eating skills..I had to show them but I regretted it...I had to loosen my skirt... but it was such good food!
Then we had mothers day! I gave a talk at church and for some reason my dutch was the worst it has ever been. I could not read my hand writing and I could not say any of the words I wrote, I could see some people laughing at me. I do not know why it sucked! I was not feeling too hot about it after, but z. Zeegelaar said she could understand what I was saying so that was the most important part. I was not going to let anything get me down because I knew I was going to see my family that day! We went to the Abdulhamids (i spelled that wrong) to skype, and that was amazing! I loved seeing my family! I miss them, but I know I am supposed to be here and I am beyond happy to be here. Even when they tell me they are going to go to Holland to see our family that we haven't see in 8 years!!!! and Cole and Jessie do not even speak the language.... but it is ok, I would rather be here!
That night we had a lesson with a couple. They were a referral from a recent convert, it was her mom, and apparently she has been wanting the missionaries for a long time. Oh man....I have never met with people so prepared. They are humbled so much right now and have an open heart! They are amazing and they just kept giving and giving, even when they have nothing to give. I love them. They wanted us to see them everyday, but we explained we have two areas now but we will see them as often as we can! We invited them to be baptized and they said yes! They are amazing!
I love being  a missionary! I love my companions!
Lobie!
Zuster Parker

We are just killing it!!!! Well we are trying! We are learning a bunch! How to plan better to work in both areas, and also working with each other. How to mix all 3 of our teaching styles together, and it is all good! We are just trying our best! Awesome Saturday we had!! We had 4 baptisms in Suriname!! One from Commewijne, two from Paramaribo, and one from Wanica. 4 in 1! soooo cool! and i was glad we could be apart of it!! One thing our zone is focusing on is to invite investigators to be baptized during first lesson, and set a date for the baptism on the on the second lesson. I love this because we can be more bold (with some love) and it helps us to push more and work harder, and it help the investigators to excel.  I know we will see the investigators just increase in progression too!! I am so excited.
Something I want to work on is getting as close as I can with the members. I love them to death andI don't have as long as the elders so I want to build strong relationships with them!
I love my comps! We are still able to laugh through the stressful times so I would say we are doing alright!
I am so excited to skype my family on Mother's Day!
Just letting y'all know it is raining like crazy here!!!!
hahha Lobie
Zuster Parker

 

 All the people who got baptized!

 

 Marry got baptized!

 

 

 Biking in the rain!!

 

 

 

Transfer of hard work!!!

Just started another transfer! I am back in Paramaribo. with sister Ashcraft but with a twist! We have z. Zeegelaar, from Suriname who is a visa waiter and might leave mid transfer. We are blanking Rainville (blanking means we are all new to the area and not one who was already there), but wait there is more! We are also working with Paramaribo North! So we have all of that area and all of ours... a lot of people to work with, and a lot...a lot of biking! like whoa! I have never slept sooooo goood before,  and I have never had so much muscle in my legs before! The only part of my body that has muscle right now....not going to lie I have put on a couple of pounds, but it is ok! I'm just giving everything to the mission!
We have amazing people we are teaching! There is this girl from the new area that the sisters were teaching that will be baptized Saturday! She is so cute! Her name is Marry, I think she is 14 and from Guyana. We also have this other really awesome investigator! His name is Josh. We are hoping to get him on date this week. He comes to church every Sunday and he told us in our lesson with him this week:"I just want to really know and understand the book of Mormon". He is originally from Africa, but moved around Asia from when he was 5 to 23. He spent most of his life in China, he knows Chinese, and he is so prepared! This transfer we have a lot more people to work with but because it is all new we have to get familiar with everything. It is going to require a lot more work than before, but we can do it! This transfer is going to be a transfer of working, working and more working! Doing everything we can, and the Savior will make up the rest.
I came across a quote in my personal study, and I thought of all of yall: "No matter if you are  actually a missionary or a member, you are called to the work!!!! "
it is from David O. McKay,
"Ours is the responsibility-greater than ever before:
1. To proclaim that the church was divinely established by the appearance of God the Father, and His son Jesus Christ to the prophet Joseph Smith, and that divine authority through the priesthood is given to represent deity in establishing Christs church upon the earth.
2. Proclaim that it's assigned responsibility [is] to fulfill the admonition of Jesus Christ to his apostles: "go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world amen."
We are all missionaries. We may drop a word here, bear our testimony, be an exemplar by what we do; and, as we accept this call and discharge our duties in the stakes, wards, quorums, and the mission field, our acts will roll from soul to soul and go forever and forever."
I love you all and I know if you share the gospel you will be blessed immensely!
Lobie
Zuster Parker

Comp unity: same moo moos with a candid laughing pic

Comp unity: same pj's

Cutest kids!!

 

Comp unity: we ride the same bike! 

Transfers...and I am moving...again!!!

So, transfer calls happened, and well I knew I was getting a new companion since z. Wood is dying, but I didn't think I would be leaving the Tamenga branch! I just got here! The next transfer we will be going from 8 to 4 sisters! I am going back the Parimaribo branch, they are closing down the area I am in right now, and also the one I was in last transfer. I am going to be in Rainville, and working with the investigators in Parimaribo North as well, so kinda 2 areas. I am going to be in a trio with zuster Zeegelaar who will be leaving in the middle of the transfer to go to her mission in Utah because she is a visa waiter, and will also back with sister Ashcraft. I am excited! It will be a good time! Back in the old branch, at least I know them! I am sad because I really love the branch here, but it is ok it is close by and I will see them often.
Well, amazing Sunday yesterday! First off an investigator came and she is just solid! She had the best experience anyone could have! She felt the spirit so strong in Sunday school she was crying, like sobbing! She could feel the love in Relief Society and she opened up and they all just fellow-shipped her! After she was just talking with everyone! Her 2 boys loved it! I love them two! I have talked about her before but she is was awesome!! I am going to be sad leaving her but I know she is in good hands and I will be there for her baptism!
Also, good news: forgot to tell you that the first person I taught in Mesa AZ, the one who had a baptismal date, well she is baptized! and I am so grateful I was able to be apart of that! I email her now and she is doing so great!!
Sorry not the most time in the world but I just want to express my love for the Savior! He has a plan for all of us, and I can see so many of his plans and see them play out. I am grateful I can have a front row seat! I love you all!!!! tot later!!!!!
Lobie
Zuster Parker!