Hello everyone!!!

So it sounds like this last week has been really good! Yes Jake i am jealous that I wasnt able to go but I will hopefully see a lion or a giraffe soon. Sounds like things back at home are going really well. My experiences here are Awesome so far. We have been teaching more and more people lately and have been busy preparing them for baptism for the coming month. People here are hard to get to baptism because they dont keep commitments very well. We are working hard and are hoping that we will have baptisms soon. My old companion was transferred to a place called Thembiso. My new companion's name is Elder Foote. He got transferred here from a place called SunnySide. It is near South Africa's capital, Pretoria. He just turned 21 and He has been out for a year not to long ago. He is from Reno, Nevada. He has been an Awesome companion so far!! So I will be transferred July 10 or August 21. They dont tell us when we are leaving until the Saturday before transfer day. We then have a transfer meeting and after that they tell us where we are going. I will probably be leaving next month or in August. We will have to see.

So mom, Thank you again for your package!! I used the baking soda and the brown sugar and chocolate chips and was able to make Awesome Chocolate chip cookies!!!! Thank you so much!! So it sounds like Yellowstone was really good!! Its good to hear that everyone had fun! I hope you all enjoyed the chocolate!! Its good to hear that the package made it home!! Oh hey when you get the chance this next Sunday will you ask brother Harris and Brother Ames and ask them if they got their letters??? I dont know if they made it home or not. That is Awesome that Grandma and Grandpa went on a cruise to Alaska!! The temperature here is in the high 50's  and the low 60's. This last week it has been close to the 70's. So far it hasnt been to bad. I was told by the members that it gets a lot colder than that though so we will see.

So dad, Its good to hear that Yellowstone went well!!! That is Awesome that you guys saw some bears!!! I still havent seen any cool animals yet but I will let you know as soon as I do! So how was Fathers day?? Its good to hear that you got my card. I found that card in the store here and I thought that would be an Awesome card to send home. So how is the sprinkler situation??? is it better or is the neighbors tree tearing it apart? I hope things will get better there. So i was thinking of sending Grandpa Parks a missionary name tag saying Elder Parks. I dont know if he still has his or not. I asked Grandma if he still had his still so we will have to see.

Nate, That is AWESOME that Dwayne offered you that job!!!!!! That is a really good job! That is crazy that you are already going to college!!! Beware of Humanities!!! You have to think a lot! Unfortunately it is required for the Associates degree so work hard and you will do fine! If you want to register to Institute you need to go to the bishop and ask him how to register. He will help you with that. Work hard and everything will fall into place! That is one thing I have learned here on my mission.

Jake, I am glad that you enjoyed the chocolate!! I will do my best to send a surprise home next month for your birthday. I am going to try to send everyone something but i need to wait until everything mellows out again so I can send another package. You will have to let me know how Erica and Austin liked EFY. I can probably relate some of my EFY experiences to theirs. I hope everything is going well at home and tell the Golders hi for me.

Josh, Its good to hear that everything went well going to Yellowstone! Sounds like you all got eaten alive by mosquitoes! Thats not good. Time flies by so fast! I have been out for 4 months now! By the way my old companion went to a place called Thembiso. My new companion came from a place called Sunny Side. Work hard and have a great week!

Alex, Its good to hear that Yellowstone went well!!! I hope that the swimming lessons will go well!! I remember when I took swimming lessons! They were pretty fun! Im glad that you enjoyed the chocolate! Have a great week and Work hard!

I love you all very much and I hope you all have wonderful week! I look forward to hearing from you all next Monday! 

- Elder Parks

Hello everyone!!

Sounds like everything is going well back at home. Sounds like Nate's Graduation was great!! That is Awesome that you guys took the top and the doors off the Jeep! I am so Jealous! I miss going on Vacation so badly!! But other than that things here in South Africa are going pretty good! This last week has been really crazy! I got a new companion on Thursday. His name is Elder Foote. He is from Reno, Nevada. He is a really cool guy and I really look forward to serving with him her in Carletonville. I only have till July 10 or August 21 until I move to another area. Time is going so fast!! Thank you by the way for the recipes mom!!! I look forward to making them. Im not sure if i got your package yet because I havent been to our office yet. I hope that I will be able to go there soon! I will let you know as soon as I can when i get the package. I am going to send a package home with some goodies in it as well as a card for dad on Father's Day. I hope that you will get it next week or the week after. 

So mom thank you so much for the enchilada recipe!! I really look forward to making those!! I also look forward to making the peanut butter bars as well!! Is there any chance you can send me one more recipe?? I really want to make some banana bread but im not sure how to make it. So it sounds like Nates graduation went well until all of his friends went home with their families. Thats too bad that he ended up going home by himself. But other than that it sounds like his senior trip will be fun! I am also jealous that he gets to go to Lake Powell!! Tell him to be careful and not to hot dog around! I know that he will have fund and things will go well. 

Dad, I am sending some goods home for everyone and a card for you for Father's day! I hope the package will arrive next week or the week after! I am sending it today so hopefully it wont take to long. So how is my memorial garden going so far? I thought it was funny that me and Nate have our own gardens! I love it that we both have one! So Darrel came home last week?!? That is Awesome!! I cant believe that he is already home! Time is going so fast! I am almost done with my first area. I only have 6 to 11 weeks left of this area! I have no idea when i am going but i know that it is soon because you only stay in an area for about 4 1/2 to 6 months. I am coming up on my 4 month mark so I will have to see where and when they send me. 

Nate, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You are now a High School Graduate!! That is Awesome!! So it sounds like graduation was good! That is way funny that a beach ball was going around when Hicks was talking. I could totally see someone doing that during graduation. I really wish i would have gone to the graduation party though! I missed it because i had to work when they hosted one for us. Its good to hear that it was fun though! So i laughed so hard when you told me about Craig and what you did to him!!! I couldnt stop laughing!! I could totally see you doing that! That is Awesome!! By the way is there any chance you can do me a favor? Can you log on to my Facebook and update it? I dont want Facebook closing my account because of inactivity. The user name is ColbyParks@msn.com and the password is parksmonster18. Please dont reply to any messages that come into the box because I have no idea what may end up in there. If you will accept all friend requests that would be awesome! let me know if there is any problems and i will do it myself if i have to. Will you also look up Stacie Lyman on my facebook and tell here that I said hi and if she asks how to write me please tell here to go to dearelder.com. Have fun at Lake Powell and be safe!!! I want to find out that my brother came home in one piece and that he had a fun time on his senior trip. Enjoy Lake Powell!!

Jake, so it sounds like you had a good week with the Golders!! Its not good that you guys rolled the side by side! Its good to hear that you all are ok and that the only injury that occurred was a black eye from sun glasses. I will be sending home some goodies but it my be a little longer before I can send some rugby stuff home. I will do the best I can.

Josh, Things here are going really well. I love South Africa! The weather here right now is cold but it is still good. That is Awesome that you got good grades!!! Great Job!!! How is Sparq? Is it good? I know when I lifted weights it was tough!! Work hard and I know that you will do well!! I would imagine that Football is going to start soon. That will be fun. I will be sending home some goodies so watch for them in the mail. I am sending them off today so you will all get them next week or the week after. Have a good week!

Alex, Work hard for mom and do your chores and you may earn a points card for the Xbox. Things here are going really well. I found a real tank sitting in a park the other day. I will take a picture of it and send it to you next monday. Have a good week!

I love you all and I hope that you all have a fantastic week!! I will email you all next monday!

- Elder Parks