Hard Working Hands

Elder's Parkinson and Thacker after working hard to repair a timing belt.

Working on Cars

What a week!!!  First off, Jordan broke his streak of sending us a weekly sim card with pictures.  I guess he is just getting busier which is a good thing and we can't be upset about that.  I know that I should be extremely grateful that he can even send a sim card back and forth so easily, so I will not complain.  The next hiccup to the week was Memorial Day.  Since all of the libraries in his area are closed on Monday's, Jordan was not able to email on his P-Day.  I waited around for most of the morning on Tuesday and started getting very nervous that I wasn't going to get to hear from him this week.  Luckily, his email came through around 2:00.  I think that I just kinda miss this cute boy.

Elder Parkinson:  Hey, this week was very interesting because we did a lot of service.  What happened is that one of our investigator's cars broke down so we went to take a look.  It looked like the timing belt, so me and Elder Thacker said we could fix it.  When we started to fix it, all was going well and then there was a stripped bolt so we spent forever trying to get that off.  Then we were going to put the new part on and it snapped in half, so then we took it to Auto Zone and they fixed it.  Then, it wouldn't start!  We looked at the engine and it had a lot more problems than just the timing belt so she is just going to sell it for parts.  It was a fun week.  What is new back home?  I am excited to get that football and I have one more thing....would you send me a Chili's gift card because I want to take my comp out to eat for dinner and we are going to take the other 4 elders in our district too.  I still need a scale and I also found some sweet Oakley's that I want.  The library was closed yesterday, but I am here now.  Oh, and I didn't send a sim card home last week but I just sent one today.

Mom:  Hi sweetie!!!  I was getting nervous that something had happened to you.  Sounds like you were pretty handy this week :)  I have the football, Dixie State shirts and new black pants for you.  Do you want me to send them to you or the mission home?  Nothing much is new except that we went to Denver over the weekend for basketball and the boys are way excited that there are only 3 more days of school left.  Where did you find the Oakley's at?

Elder Parkinson:  Um, I would send them to the mission office.  I found the Oakley's at Macy's.

Mom:  Okay, I will send the package to the mission home.  So do you want a Chili's gift card, or do you just want to use your debit card?  Either way is fine with me.  Maybe you will need to get those Oakley's as a late birthday present.  So what did you do for P-day yesterday?

Elder Parkinson:  Um, well, I think that the debit card would be easier and I probably will buy those Oakley's with some of my birthday money.  We went and played basketball yesterday, then had a bbq and then played Nerts.  It was just a good time.  When are you guys going to Powell?

Mom:  Do you really want to know about Powell?

Elder Parkinson:  Yeah, why not?

Mom:  I just don't want you to be distracted.  We are going on July 1-6 and there are a total of five families.  It will be different without you there.

Elder Parkinson:  Oh nice!  I am so excited for you guys and don't worry, I am too busy to get distracted.  I am just working my butt off  :)  I also heard that you are getting a bigger houseboat this year.

Mom:  We had to get a five bedroom because there are five families going.  Also, I don't think dad is going to do jet skis this year.  He says they are too much trouble.  So, any baptisms in sight?

Elder Parkinson:  Um, no, we are just trying to get people to get baptized.  Good luck anchoring the houseboat without me, dave, rich or colton :)

Mom:  I know, we will definitely miss you strong boys!  Do you ever go to the mission home?

Elder Parkinson:  No, we don't have time to go and we are working way hard.  Um, so how have you been?

Mom:  I'm good.  I just miss seeing your cute face and hearing your laugh sometimes :)  Austin and Cooper are in that wonderful stage of teenage years.  I hope that I can survive both of them.  Is there anything else that you can think you need?  How is your cash?

Elder Parkinson:  Oh, um, maybe a little bit more cash and I don't have that much more time so I have to go.  I love you so much and I hope that you are doing good.  Um, can't wait for next week.

Mom:  I love you too!

American Football

Elder Parkinson:  Hey mom, all is well here in Cali.  We just got done playing American Football and will you send me out a real football?  It's nice to see a football instead of a futbol, haha.  This week was good, but sad at the same time because we worked hard but one of the hermanos in the ward had a stroke.  We went and visited him in the hospital and it was so hard to see him not be able to talk.  I was just thinking to myself, what if that was my dad or brother or mom.  I was so sad for the family so we spent a lot of time with them this week.  Um, yes, I got my bball shoes but Calder hasn't gotten his birthday present yet.  You should send out 2 Dixie State shirts.  One for Elder Calder and another for Elder Thacker.  How are things back home?  The baptisms didn't got through.  I was a little upset, but oh well, we are going to knock a lot this week to find new people.  I hope you get this quick.   I love you.


Mom:  Hi sweetheart.  I am so glad you got to play American Football :)  Yay!!!  How is the man doing who had the stroke?


Elder Parkinson:  He is going through rehab now.  It is so sad.


Mom:  That is way sad.  It is always hard to see people struggling.  I'm glad you guys are there for him and his family.  That is a wonderful blessing.  So what happened with your baptisms?


Elder Parkinson:  Well, one of our investigators still needs to come to church one more time and she was in San Francisco this week.  The others we didn't get to see this week because they were out of town too. So what is new?


Mom:  So do you have anything exciting planned for P-day today?  When are your next transfers?
Things are pretty much the same here.  It has been warm, which is nice.  Austin and Cooper are busy with sports.  Austin hurt his back doing weights with bad form.  He has a hard time even putting on his own socks!  He has a basketball tournament in Denver this weekend.  I love you SO very much!!!!


Elder Parkinson:  No, nothing really exciting planned for today.  Our transfers are in 3 weeks and I think Calder will leave, which will be sad.  A back injury is always bad.  I hope he gets feeling better.  I am doing so great and I hope that all of you are happy.  We don't have that much time left so I love you and if I don't respond it is because we left.


Mom:  So happy that you are happy!  I LOVE YOU!!!


Elder Parkinson:  Love you so much.  My week was great and I do need to buy a scale somewhere so I can see how much I weigh, haha.  The only things that I can think I'd need for you to send are those Dixie shirts, a real football and idk, whatever else.

I Love Ford's

When we talked to Elder Parkinson on Mother's Day, he seemed to be doing awesome!  He was so happy and loved everything about his area and his mission.  He gets along very well with his companion and loves the hispanic people.  He said that he is the biggest elder there, so all of the latinos feed him extra.  He was excited that they got to go to Galpin Auto Sports for their P-day again.  It is the same company that does the show "Pimp My Ride."  He said the owner loves the missionaries.

Cooper loved the colors on this car

This was mom's favorite.  Too cute!!!

I'm sure Jordan was wishing this was his.

Elder Parkinson displaying some of the things he bought at Galpin.  Can you tell that he loves Ford's?

Chef Parkinson

The pictures this week were hilarious.  Jordan gave us 100 to choose from and I thought these were some of the best.

So Excited To Cook Some Dino Nuggets

 The Chef  With His Dino Nuggets

 Working Out While Drinking A Coke Zero (That's My Boy :))

 Proudly Displaying His Pancake Masterpiece

The New Model For Pop Tarts

I Love To Knock Doors

Elder Parkinson:  Hey mom.  Sorry it is so late, we only have an hour today to email.  The confirmation went really well yesterday and the baptisms that were scheduled got moved back to this coming week.  I am doing great out here in Cali.  I haven't bought anything for Alex, but maybe you could send a little something out.  Tell Cooper thanks for the update on the 49ers.  Dang, they are going to be stacked this year.  Um, what else....the work is still great out here and the weather is starting to get hot.  I love everything out here!  I just bought some cleats because I hurt my knee a little bit today playing ultimate frisbee, but it is ok now.  That is cool that Coop got to travel with baseball.  How is Austin's confidence now?  I am so happy!  Well, how are you doing?


Mom:  Hi honey, I am doing good.  It sounds like everything is going well for you out in Cali.  What kind of cleats did you need to buy?


Elder Parkinson:  I just bought some turf cleats at Ross for $13, hahaha.  It was a good deal.


Mom:  That is a good deal :)  Thank you so much for writing that letter to Austin.  I can already see small changes in his confidence.  You are such a great example to your younger brothers.  Did you guys have any celebrations for Cinco De Mayo?


Elder Parkinson:  Haha, that day we went knocking for 4 hours and it was no fun, but oh well.  Um, how about you guys?


Mom:  Nope.  I was in Wendover with Cooper for baseball.  I just wasn't sure if the members of your ward had a celebration.  How is the work coming?  How many lessons are you teaching?  How many investigators do you have?


Elder Parkinson:  Um, the work is great.  We taught 18 lessons this week.  For this transfer we have a goal of handing out 40 Book of Mormons.  We are doing well so far.  We have about 6 investigators.  Um, what else....we have been knocking a lot for new people.  I love to knock doors.


Mom:  That sounds awesome!!!  What are your 6 investigators like?


Elder Parkinson:  They all love me and they are really progressing.  I love them also.  They are such kind people.  I love the Latino people because they really are so nice.  So about this Sunday, what time is your church?


Mom:  The Latino people are great.  They have wonderful hearts.  We have church from 11-2.  Do you know how the calling is going to work?  Where do you call from?


Elder Parkinson:  Um, ok, so I will call in the morning just to tell you what's going to go down.  My companion will call right after church because his family has church at 9 just like us and we call on our mission phone.  So that is how it will work.


Mom:  Okay.  So when you call me, should I call the phone number back so I can pay for the charges?  Dad has shown me how we can do a conference call with everyone.  Will your mission president not allow Skype?


Elder Parkinson:  No, I will just call you and you can set up the conference call from there.  We can Skype, but there isn't anyone out here with Skype that we know, so idk what to do about that.


Mom:  That sounds great.  It doesn't matter if we Skype or not, I am just excited to hear your voice and talk to you :)  Is there anything else that you are needing?  More bread?  Specific cd's?


Elder Parkinson:  Oh, um, some more bread and any cd would be cool.  Um, so just plan on a call around 7 or 7:30 and I love you, but I have to go.  Maybe you could send me a Kenney Chesney cd, haha ;)
I love you so much and can't wait to talk to you on Sunday.

First Baptism

 Alex's Baptism Day

April 29, 2012

Alex and Elder Parkinson