Monday, December 31, 2012

Hello everyone!!!

Nate is going to Scotland and Ireland??? That is Awesome!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! So far everything here has been pretty good. We are starting to get more and more people to teach. It is hard here in my new area because there are a lot of really rich people and they all tell us the same thing and that is that they are not interested. I am hoping that will change soon. I wonder how Scotland and Ireland will be like. Im sure it will be Awesome!! I have a friend that left a couple of weeks after me that went to that mission! His name is Shane Park. He is an Awesome Guy!!!! I hope Nate will be companions with him! That would be Awesome!!  Jeff Johnston also went to that mission!!! You all will have to ask him about it!!!! Unfortunately I cant watch the video because the computer here doesn't support it. I will have to see it when i get home. So that is exciting that Nate's girlfriend got her call too!!! That is so Awesome!!!

So Nate, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MISSION CALL!!!!!! That will be so exciting to go to Scotland!!! My trainer is from Scotland! He leaves for home this February! I will have to let him know to look out for you!!! I also have my friend that is serving there as well! His name is Shane Park. He is an Awesome guy! I hope you will be his companion! That would be Awesome!! So one piece of advice I can give you is start reading your book of mormon now! You will use that a lot! I look forward hear how you prepare for your mission!  You will be a great missionary!! Always remember to never let yourself get discouraged no matter how hard times seem to be!! You will do great and I am here to give you support if needed! I obviously cant come to England or Scotland to give you the support but I can help you with your experiences! Work hard to learn more and more from the scriptures and you will do fine! Take care and have a great week!!

Mom, That is Awesome that Nate got his mission call!!! I am so excited for him!! I am looking forward to how he does!! That is so great that he is preparing now for his mission!! I remember how fast everything seemed to go after I got the call!! Time will fly right on by if we works hard to preparing for his mission! Hopefully the passport will not take too long! My passport didnt take too long. It only took 4 weeks if i remember right. So I got my new camera today! It is a really good camera! I definitely think it will last me a long time!! So I hope all is going well at home with everyone getting their new toys for Christmas! That is so Awesome that your friend Kelly and her husband moved into the ward that Morgan lives in! I have some friends that live in that ward and they always talk good about that ward so it will be a good place for them. So i found out the last name of those people that I was talking about when I said they were from Orem. Their last name is Bonet. (bownay). The family that I used their phone is the Omdahl family. I will send the address to them next week so that I can get it for you. I dont have it on me right now but I will get it soon. Well I hope you have a great week and take care!!

Dad, Im sorry that you have the flu!!!! I hope you get better soon!! So I got my new camera!! It will be a good one for me to have for a long time!!! I will have to work on getting my other one home in one piece! I hope all is going well at home and I hope you have a good week!! Get well soon!!!

Jake, That is Awesome that you got a PS3!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to seeing it when I get home!!! I hope you share with everyone else!!! Dont cause problems!! So for my Christmas it was really good!! I got to call home to you all and then I also got to relax for the most part! It was really good! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas!! Tell the Golders I said Hi and have a great week!

Josh, That is Awesome that you got an Xbox!!! That is so exciting!!! So what happened to my Xbox??? It sounds like it doesn't get used anymore!! I hope you are enjoying your week!! I hope you are sharing your Xbox with everyone!!! Dont cause problems and have a great week!!!

Alex, Maybe you will  go to Australia!! that would be Awesome!! That is Awesome that Nate is going to Scotland and Ireland!!! That will be a really good experience for him!! Have a great week and take care!!

I love you all very much and have a great week!!!
- Elder Parks

Monday, December 24, 2012


Hello everyone!!!!!

This week has been a very crazy week!!!! I was transferred on Wednesday and now I am in an area called Randburg. It also covers a city called Santon. It is the Richest part of Johannesburg!!! The entire area is full of Mansions and huge gates!!! There is a huge mall as well called Santon City Mall!! The ward is Awesome!!! It is a normal ward that you would find at home!! Everything here in this area is exactly like Salt Lake! The only difference is the size of houses! Its like me going to mikes neighborhood and going and knocking on doors there!! This area is the Richest area of our mission and in Johannesburg! So far everything has been so crazy!!! We spent an entire day pushing buttons on call boxes to the giant houses!! so far no success has come out of it but I am confident something may come out of it. I will have to keep you informed how the new area is going. So my new companion is actually someone that came out the exact same time as me!!! We met at Chicago Airport so it has been really good so far!! His name is Elder Hansen! He is from Oregon. He is an Awesome Guy!!

Mom, I received your package!!! I was able to open every present starting with number one! Thank you so much!!! That was a great idea to do that!! Thank you for all the candy and the books and the stockings!! That was a great package!! So you all went to see the lights?? Thats Awesome!!!! I look forward to doing that when I get home!! That is so Awesome that Nate is getting his call on Wednesday!!! I will have to talk to my mission president if I can call you all and see where he is going. I will let you know tomorrow when I call home. So is there any chance you can put $200 in my account? If not that is ok with me. I am working on getting me a camera but the ones here are a little more than the ones in my last area. They are really good cameras still so i may get one or not we will see. I will talk to you tomorrow!!!

Dad, I look forward to calling home tomorrow!! I cant wait to see how everyone is doing!!! I hope you all are doing really well at home right now!! I will have to talk to my mission president to see if I can call home on wednesday to see if nate got his call or not. I will let you know what he says tomorrow when I call home. So my new area is where all the billionares and Millionares live!!! In our ward we have some families that are actually from the US!!! They have been treating us very well since I have been here. They have also been feeding us some American food that you and mom always made. We had Tacos a couple of days ago with a family that is from Utah. I think they said they were from Orem. It is so cool to be in this area. So I was able to get the package from all of you! Thank you so much for the package!! That is Awesome that you all went to see the lights at temple square!! I look forward to doing that when I get home!! I will talk to you tomorrow!!

Nate, that is so Awesome that your mission call is coming in this week!!! I am so excited to hear where you are going!!! I look forward to hearing about that! So you feel you are going to asia? I am looking forward to hearing where you are going! I hope you have had a great week and I will talk to you tomorrow!!

Jake, That is Awesome that the Golders are going to Cali for Christmas!! I hope the Dodgers do really good!! That should be a great game to go and see!! I will talk to you tomorrow!!

Josh, that is Awesome that Christmas is tomorrow!! I will talk to you tomorrow!!

Alex, That is so great that you went and saw the lights! I look forward to being able to go and see them when I get home! Talk to you tomorrow!!

I love you all very much and I will talk to you tomorrow!!!
- Elder Parks

Monday, December 17, 2012


Hello Everyone!!!
 
I cant believe that Christmas is already here!!! It is so crazy that time went by so fast!! So this week has been alright. It just got really heckic because I am being transferred!! I am leaving to my new area on Wednesday. Im not sure where I am going yet but I will let you all know as soon as I can. So it sounds like things are going pretty good for the most part. I am really excited to call you all in 8 days! So I was planning on calling from here at 8 PM which will make it 11 AM your time. I hope that will work for all of you. I am going to be calling from a landline or our cell phone. I will let you know next monday the 23rd which phone I will be using. So which ever phone you want me to call I will call. Let me know if you want me to call you when you all will be in Roy or just before you all go. I will call at 12 your time if that works better. Let me know the time next week when you would like me to call and I will call by then.  I have not received a package yet but I am hoping that it is at our office. I will check if it is in the office today and I will let you know as soon as I can. I am happy that you all got your package and I am happy that Grandma and Grandpa Wright got thiers as well. Did by chance Grandma and Grandpa Parks get theirs yet? I sent some cards to everyone for christmas so I hope they all got there.
 
Mom, I am really hoping that the package you sent will be at the office today when I go! The office couple at the office said that there were a lot of packages at the post office that they were waiting to be released to them. I am hoping that they will be there. So Nate turned in his papers?? That is AWESOME!!!  I am Excited to hear where he is going!! I hope his call letter gets there before next week!!! So I will send my camera home this week or next month. This month is a little busy for the post office so hopefully I will be able to send it home soon. Im not sure what happened to it but the battery doesnt charge. So it snowed again?? That is Awesome!!! So Dakota has Arthritis? Thats not good!!! I will keep him in my prayers. That will be so cool when Nate goes to the temple!! That will be a good experience for him!! So for Christmas they are having a Christmas party at the mission home so if I am close to the office I will be able to go. We will have to see. Well I hope you have a great week! Take Care!
 
Dad, So things here are ok for the most part. The appointments got really good this past week! We had a lot of full days of appointments. It was really good for the most part. We had the opportunity of teaching some really good families and help them come closer to Christ. We found a really Awesome family this past week!! I am really excited to teach them! They are so humble and willing to listen. I am being transferred on Wednesday so I will have to see how it goes with my companion and his new companion. So you got the snow blower out?? That is Awesome! That is good that Utah is finally getting snow. Hopefully it will get more soon. So I am planning on calling one of your phones. You will have to let me know which one to call next monday when I email you all. I hope all is going well at home and I hope you all have a great Christmas! Have a great week and Take Care!
 
Nate, THAT IS AWESOME THAT YOUR PAPERS ARE IN!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED TO HEAR WHERE YOU ARE GOING!!!!! That is Awesome that Maddy sent her papers in as well!! I am excited for both of you!! Please keep me informed how it goes for both of you!! Im sorry about the grades!! A C is still good though! I hope you have a very Merry Chrismas and have a great week!!!
 
Madalyn, It is so great to meet you! So far South Africa has been good so far!!! Thank you so much for sending me an email!! That is exciting that you are turning in your papers!!! I am so excited to hear where you will be going!!! I am so excited to hear where both of you are going!! I hope you have a great week and Merry Christmas!!
 
Jake, You saw The Hobbit?????? LUCKY!!! I am so excited to go and see that!!! I was told there is 3 parts to it so I will be able to see the 3rd part in the theatres. This week has been pretty good for the most part. I am being transferred to another area wednesday so I will have to keep you all informed. I hope you have a great week and Tell the Golders HI for me!!
 
Josh, Things here are ok. It is a little crazy because everyone has left or are leaving for the Christmas. We will see how it goes. That is Awesome that you guys got lots of snow!! That is so great!! Here it is definately in the middle of summer! It is so hot during the day. It also has rained a lot as well. I hope things are going well and I hope you have a great week!!!
 
Alex, That is Awesome that you made an Igloo!! Unfortunately there is no snow here so I cant do that. I hope all is going well for you!! Have a great week!!
 
I love you all very much and have a great week!!
- Elder Parks

Monday, December 10, 2012


Hello Everyone!!!
 
So this week has been an interesting week! Because of the Holidays everyone is cancelling on us because they are all going to visit family members. It has been an interesting week. So I got the package from Jody and Grandma and Grandpa Wright but I havent recieved your package yet. I need the tracking number so I can figure out what post office it ended up arriving at. So my camera is not working unfortunately. I think it is the battery because the camera itself works but the battery will not charge. I was thinking of sending it home so you can send it back for the warranty on it. Im not too sure what to do in this situation. The cameras they sell here are very cheep so I may buy a new one and just send mine home and continue from there. So no matter what for my Christmas call I will definately be able to call home regardless if I am transfered or not. So I sent home a package for Christmas!! please dont open till Christmas!! Put it under the Christmas tree!!
 
So mom, that is so great that you all had the Richards Christmas party this last week!  That is Awesome that everyone is getting so big! I cant believe that time is going so fast!! I have been out for almost 10 months!! In a little less than a couple of months I will only have a year left!! That is so great that Nate is getting his papers in so quickly!!! I am excited to hear where he will be going. So do you think he will be going to a foreign mission or a states mission?? I think he will be going somewhere in the pacific Islands, maybe tonga or samoa. I am excited to hear where he is going. So I recieved a letter from Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Eva yesterday. They said that one of their grandsons got his mission call!! He is going to Oregon! I think his name is Arlington? Im not sure I think it is something like that. That is so crazy that it is starting to snow now!! I hope the mountains are getting snow!! I cant imagine how different things will be when I get home!! its crazy!! So I am going to need the tracking number to your package so I can track it and go and pick it up. Thank you so much for giving Rebekah my email adress!! We actually can email friends. Our mission president has told us that we can as long as we limit how much time we use to email them. I hope all is going well at home! have a great week!!
 
Dad, That is so crazy that two people have hit your car!!!! I hope everyone is ok!! So that is so Awesome that Nate is so close to getting his mission call and his temple experience!!! I am very happy for him and very excited for the choices he is making! So that is Awesome that you all are getting snow finally!!! So the weather here has been very HOT!!!! The temperatures here have been in the 30's (celcius) (90's Farenheit). It has been so hot lately!! I cant believe that Christmas is coming up so fast!!!! So the work here has been a little interesting. People are listening to us but are refusing to leave their church or come to the one we attend because of the distance. It is very tough right now but it has been rewarding. I have learned how to be more patient. It has taught me a lot of things and I am interested to see how my next area will be for me. So my camera battery is finished. It wont charge but the camera works just fine. I am thinking about sending it home so that you can get another one because of the warranty. The papers for the warranty are in my dresser in my room if they have not been thrown away yet. I am probably going to buy a new one because there are some really good ones here for cheap!! Sony has really good prices in this country so their electronics are dirt cheap and they are very high quality!! I think it is because EVERYONE buys sony here for their TV and entertainment system. Well I hope all is going well at home right now and have a great week!!!
 
Nate, That is so great that you are going to get your mission call soon!!!!! I cant wait to hear where you are going!!! I am guessing that you will go to the pacific Islands!!! Maybe Tonga or Samoa! I am excited to hear where you will be going!! I am also excited to hear that you will be going to the temple soon!! I love the temple so much!! I enjoyed my experience so much!! I still to this day enjoy my experience!! I hope all is going well at home!! I am excited to hear the progress of how the papers are going. Take care and have a great week!!
 
Jake, DONT DO DOUGHNUTS IN THE XTERRA PLEASE!!! haha I really loved that car so please dont wreck it by hot dogging in it! So how are the golders doing?? Are they good? So here in South Africa it is summer! All the schools are on Summer break! They are the exact opposite of the schools in Utah!! Crazy huh!! The temperature here is VERY HOT!!! That is Awesome that you guys are getting snow right now!! Take care and have a great week!! Tell the Golders I said Hi!!!
 
Josh, That is great that your are getting your grades up!!! That is AWESOME!!! Great job!! So I hope all is going well for you right now!! That is not good that happened to dad's cop car!! I hope you have a great week!!
 
Alex, I hope all goes well for the play at your school!! Study your part and make sure you memorize your part. Take car and have a great week!!
 
I Love you all and have a great week!!!!
- Elder Parks

Monday, December 3, 2012


Hello Everyone!!!
Wow.. I cant believe Mr. Treglown died this last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was my gym teacher and he was a great teacher as well!!! I cant believe that happened! I will definately keep them in my prayers as I go through the week!! Man he was such a great teacher! That is too bad that happened! So this week has been a pretty good week for the most part. We were able to teach some really good lessons about The Book of Mormon!! So far everything has been pretty good for the most part! I cant believe that its Christmas this month!!!! So it sounds like the weather is not that cool right now!! It has been the same temperature here in South Africa the last couple of days because of all the rain that we have received here. It has been raining here like crazy!! I hope it will get sunny soon!! So I am going to the office today so my package should be there. I will look out for it!!
Mom, That is Awesome that you put up the Christmas tree!! That is so great!!! So I will be going to the mission office today so Im sure it will be there. I will keep you informed! Please dont loose the tracking number just in case it is not the office. If it is not there i can track it using the South Africa Post Office system and find out where it is. So everyone is already making fudge??? AWESOME!!! Can you please send me the recipe?? I want to try to make it soon!! So that is so great that you are helping the children that are in need!! Im sure they will love the things that you get for them!! So we will be watching the Christmas devotional on the 9th of December (this sunday). So far everything has been going pretty good for the most part. SO I will have to start planning how I am going to call home soon!! That is so great that nate may have his papers by Christmas!! I cant wait to here where he will go!!
Dad, That is so crazy that the temperature is so high right now!!! I thought it would be a lot lower this time of year!! Im sure it will drop as time goes on!! That is Awesome that you have been going hunting lately!! That is so funny that the F-16 did that!!! That would have made me jump so bad!!! So you will have to keep me updated how the hunting is going. I look forward to doing that when I get home. So far everything has been going well for the most part. I am really enjoying it here in South Africa. SO that is too bad that Mr. Treglown passed away!!! I hope his family is doing ok!!! So I may be transferred this month!! It will be on the 18th of December so We will see if it really happens or not. I will keep you all informed. I hope you have a great week!
Nate, So you made fudge??? That is so AWESOME!!!! Im sure it turned out really good!! That is Awesome that you made your own!!!! So I havent seen the Christmas devotional but I will soon!! They are having the broadcast this sunday!! I will be able to see it then!! So I hope school is going pretty good so far!!! It sounds like you have been busy with all the finals and reports!! I hope all goes well!! keep me informend how the papers are going!! Have a great week!!
Jake, That is too bad that Coach Treglown passed away!! I hope the family is doing ok!!!! I cant believe that happened!!! So I will be watching the Christmas devotional soon (this sunday). That is Awesome that you are going shooting with the Golders!! Have fun and be safe!! I hope you have a great week!!!
Josh, I CANT BELIEVE THAT COACH TREGLOWN PASSED AWAY!!!!! I hope his family is doing ok!! That is so Awesome that South Jordan Middle School did that for him!! I hope you and all of your friends are doing ok!! I hope all is going well for the school!! Im sorry that happened!!
Alex, That is Awesome that you helped mom put up the Christmas tree!! I hope all is going well right now for you!!! Have a great week!!
I love you all and have a great week!!!
- Elder Parks