A Kind Heart

This week I found out that Elder Parkinson had made a decision to help someone in his area in a monetary way.  I was very nervous about the whole situation, but also had mixed feelings at the same time.  Mission rules specifically tell these young men to never give people money.  They do this for their own protection.  My sweet boy had too big of a heart to say no this time and he ended up getting taken advantage of.  It was a good lesson for him to see that this is why there are mission rules.  I think everything will be okay and hopefully Jordan will not be soured to helping other people again.

Elder Parkinson:  Hi mom.  Um, yes I learned my lesson and I am positive that it happened for a reason because my faith and my testimony grew from it.  I also witnessed first-hand how much the Lord loves us.  Basically what happened is that there was this man who looked successful and told us that he had a break down in his car so we went and helped him out.  Usually I just say no when people ask for money, but I got a feeling to help this one time.  I hope that you and dad aren't mad about it, but I am going to talk to the mission president about it also.  You don't have to worry about anything because I know that God is with us and that he loves us.  Other than that, this week was good.  I am happy and I am just loving the work.  The ward is doing great and I love everyone here.  We are not in a group of 3 anymore, it's just Elder Gomm and I.  I hope that Austin works hard in what he does because he is so talented.  I am also glad to hear that Coop did well at the Westminster camp and that Llama and Austin made the high school football team.  I hope this season goes well for them with Coach Rose being gone.  Boog is a good guy and I like that man.  Well, everything is great here and I love the work.

Mom:  Of course we are not mad at you cutie.  I am proud to have a son who will follow the spirit and not judge others.  Just talk about it with your mission president and it will be fine.  Also remember that there are rules for a reason.  I am so impressed with your wonderful spirit and couldn't be happier knowing you are where you are at.  How did everything else go this week?  Any new news?  How is Elder Gomm?  Anything that you need?

Elder Parkinson:  Haha, this week was ok.  The work was a little slow, but it is picking up.  Elder Gomm and I are doing great and I love serving the Lord and seeing the blessings it brings.  I love my companion, my district and all of that.  They are always here for me and they are always there to pick me up and back me up.  Also, I love the Lord.  Yes, he will put us through trials and test our faith, but it always turns out to be a blessing.  It is so amazing.

Mom:  Yes, the Lord and this Gospel are amazing.  Keep working hard and sharing this wonderful blessing.  We love you soooooo much and are always here for you.

Elder Parkinson:  Well, I am about to leave.  I love you so much and I hope that this week is a better week.  Um, I hope that all is well back home and could you maybe send some canned chicken?

These are just a few of the Elders that Jordan loves.  They even build forts together :)

3 To A Room

Well, today was transfer day and Elder Parkinson gets to stay in Van Nuys again.  He is very happy about this because he LOVES his area, but he does know that this will probably be his last transfer there since he has been in Van Nuys since March.  He said this transfer was a little different because for right now they have 3 Elders in their companionship.  As always, he sounds great and is doing well.  I have come to accept the fact that I think his weekly emails will just get shorter and shorter.  I cannot complain though, because that means his focus is where it needs to be.

This is a picture of Jordan having breakfast with his former high school basketball coach last Thursday morning.  The Bountiful High team was in Anaheim last week and at least somebody got to see this cute Elder.

Elder Parkinson:  Hi mom.  It was great to have breakfast with Coach G.  It wasn't a distraction at all.  I loved it!  I am so happy and the work is still going well.  I hope that all is good back home.  Also,  I would like to say that I am staying with Elder Gomm in Van Nuys and Elder Christiansen is training with us for at least a few days so that is cool.  Oh, that gatorade flavor that you said you tried down here -lime cucumber- I am not a fan of it either.

Mom:  So is Elder Christiansen with you in your apartment?  Are you in a group of 3?  How were the Disney treats I had Gary bring to you?

Elder Parkinson:  Well, Elder Christiansen is with us today and tomorrow and until he gets his new guy he is with us.  I loved the treats and I already ate the lolly pop.  It was so good, hahah.  Um, the work is great and I am just working hard and just going hard in the paint.  It is starting to get hot here.  I love all of you guys and I love the Lord's work.

Mom:  Sounds like you are doing amazing!!!  So, you never told me if you got the popcorn balls that we sent and if you liked them.  Are you running low on anything or is there anything that you need?

Elder Parkinson:  Um, yes I got the popcorn balls and they were good.  Did you just get the recipe from Abbey?  No, I don't think that there is anything that I need right now, I am doing good on everything.  I am just tired, haha, because we are working so hard which is a good thing.

Mom:  Yes, I got the recipe from her mom.  I think Abbey is really busy right now with college and basketball stuff.  I am so proud of you and how hard you are working sharing this amazing gospel.  Thank you for being such a wonderful example to all of us.  I love you SO much!

Elder Parkinson:  Well, I am about to leave.  I love you so much and I hope that all is good back home because all is great back here in Cali.  Just working hard and about to go have a BBQ.  It is going to be a great week!  Talk to you next week.

These are the 4 Elders who got treated to breakfast last Thursday morning by Coach G

Elders Just Wanna Have Fun

 Elder Parkinson Modeling The Elmo Backpack

(It is actually from a little girl in one of his investigators families)

 Getting Ready For The Water Balloon Fight At Zone Conference

Van Nuys, District 5 Was Prepped To Win

Jordan's Lake Powell Tye Dyed Shirt That His Dad Made For Him

So Close, Yet So Far Away

Van Nuys, California - As Seen Through The Lens Of Elder Parkinson

This week our family will be traveling to Anaheim, California for a basketball tournament.  This will make us only about 45 minutes away from Elder Parkinson.  It is such a struggle for me to know that I am going to be so close to him, yet I won't be able to have any contact with him.  I know that it is for the better and he probably doesn't want to see us anyway, but I do wish I could just spy on him from afar :)  In the email this week, he was very excited that one of his high school basketball coaches, who will also be at the tournament, is going to get to see him and take him to lunch.  I guess I will just have to send some extra special goodies and a hug to be delivered by Coach G.

Elder Parkinson:  Hey mom, haha, no I didn't have time last week to send a letter and a sim card home but I will try to do better this week.  I did get the Lake Powell shirt though and I love it!  Tell Dad thanks for tye dying it for me.  I am doing great.  We don't have any new dates set, but we did get some member referrals this week and that was cool.  Um, about the transfers next week, I hope that I get to stay for another transfer.  There is nothing else that I really need except for maybe a little more cash, but I am just going to go to the ATM and pull some out so don't worry about that.  I really miss good ole football conditioning.  That was a great time in my life.  Tell Austin that he better keep the legacy of JP up, haha.  What more....I am doing very well and I did get the post card that you sent from Powell.  It has been up on my wall since the minute that I got it.  So, about you guys coming to Cali, hahaha, that is going to be a little hard.  Is Coach G still planning on taking me out to lunch?  I love you so much!

Mom:  Hi cutie.  I'm not sure if coach is going to take you to lunch or not.  I will ask him if he has time.  Do you think it's okay for him to do that.  It won't distract from your mission or break any rules will it?  How is the lady that you baptized doing?  Have you spoken in church yet or born your testimony?

Elder Parkinson:  I think it would be just fine if coach took me and my comp for just like an hour.  We get an hour lunch break everyday, so it would work great.  The lady that I baptized is doing great.  I have born my testimony, but haven't spoken yet.  I love this mission and I love everyone around me.  I hope all is well back home and um como esta su espanol?

Mom:  Mi español es bien :)  I will check with Coach G and see what his schedule is like.  What is the best way for him to get in touch with you?  How is your spanish coming?  Are you speaking fluently?

Elder Parkinson:  The best way for Coach G to contact me is through our mission cell phone.  I am excited to see him.  I know a lot of spanish words, but I still have the gringo accent, hahaha.  Well, I am about to leave.  I love you SO much and can't wait to email next week.  I love you!!!

Mom:  I love you too Elder Parkinson!

Since Jordan Forgot His Camera, This Is The Best Photo We Have Of His First Baptism

The JP Jinx

Our family just returned from a week-long trip to Lake Powell.  This is Jordan's favorite place to be and what he considers to be heaven on earth.  We were a little sad about not having him with us this year, but also a little interested to see if the JP Jinx would hold true.  Jordan has always told us that whenever we take the boat out without him, something goes wrong.  He said that the boat just loves him so much that it misses him when he's not there and doesn't like to run.  We were all hoping that this wouldn't hold true, but much to our dismay, the JP Jinx lives on.  Halfway through our trip, the fuel pump on the boat went out and we couldn't get it fixed.  Luckily, we were there with some other families and still had two working boats.  The Jinx only gets better as the story goes on.  As we were heading home from a great week, we made it just past Kanab and the axle went out on the boat trailer.  This left us stranded for about 3 hours waiting for a tow truck and eventually had us leaving the boat and the trailer at the entrance to Bryce Canyon.  Maybe we will just leave it there until our cute Elder Parkinson comes home and can enjoy the boat with us again :)

Elder Parkinson:  Hahahahahaha!!  I told you guys that the boat doesn't like to run without me.  Was dad mad?  No, I didn't get the postcard from Powell, but yes I did get the cd's and thanks for sending me bread.  I am doing great and love the work.  We are in a little slump with the investigators, but we will get to work.  Our next transfer is in two weeks and yes I did get to meet the new mission president.  He is so cool, haha.  Um, I hope that dad still likes Malibus.

Mom:  I am sad that you didn't get the postcard.  Hopefully it will come soon.  Dad said he is not sure what he is going to do with the boat, but I'm sure there will still be a boat here when you get home.  Maybe we should just wait to go boating until you get home so we don't have the JP curse :)  Did you get to play any sports this morning?

Elder Parkinson:  Haha!  Well, I hope that I get the postcard too.  I love the Malibu's, but oh well, whatever works best.  I am doing great and we played soccer again this morning.  It was fun.  We are working hard and my exchanges with Thacker were great.  We taught 6 lessons and had 3 dinners.  It was good.  Um, I don't have much to say, sorry.

Mom:  I am so happy to hear that you are doing well.  I'm sure the investigators will pick up and you will be able to share this wonderful gospel with many more.  So Austin went to his first day of football conditioning at the high school this morning.  He puked :)  Guess who was there and is back at Bountiful High?  Coach Johnson!!!  He told me to tell you hello.

Elder Parkinson:  Oh yes, I love that guy.  Tell him hi for me and also give him my address.  I am sorry that this is being so slow.  I love you so much.  We have to go because we have a zone activity.  It is a water balloon fight, so we need to get ready for that.  I love you guys so much and I hope that all is well.  Tell Austin to tell Larry (Wall) hi for me.  He is a good man.

Mom:  I will have Austin do that.  Thank you so much for your amazing example and attitude.  You are an inspiration to us all.  We love you so much and hope that you have a great week.

Elder Parkinson:  Well, I am leaving.  I love you guys and I hope that you also have a great week.

Proud to Carry My Name

Our Family was in Lake Powell this week and so I wasn't able to email back and forth with Jordan this week.  I did get his email on Monday afternoon while we were there and it brought tears to my eyes.  Lake Powell has always been Jordan's favorite place and so it was a little sad not having him there with us this year, but we know he is exactly where he is supposed to be right now.

Well, the baptism went great yesterday and I was the one who did it but I forgot my camera so I am going to have Elder Gomm email them to me so I will have the pictures.  It was such a cool experience.  I am so happy that I got to do it.  Um, what else, haha.  I'm sure the boat is clean enough and that is weird that our family has the least amount of people going to Powell this year.  I hope everything goes smooth down there.  It is a great place and I am sure going to miss that place this year.  Um, the week was great.  THis week I get to go on exchanges with Elder Thacker so we are excited about that.  Tell Zac to write to me, haha, I miss that kid.  Um, I do need some new bread and also if you could ask Abbey's mom about the popcorn balls one more time that would be great.  Elder Gomm and I are doing great.  We are working hard and finding a lot of people.  The only thing is, is that the people aren't coming to church so we don't have any more dates yet.  I am kinda frustrated about that because we always have great lessons with them and then Sunday comes around and we call them and they don't answer.  We played soccer this morning again.  I was not too happy about that.  That is so sad to hear about Goza (one of Jordan's teammates from Dixie who hurt his knee).  Will you get his address for me.  I really love that kid.  He is such a stud and I love how he just was so nice to me and helped me out.  Well, that is all that I have to say.  I am doing great and am so happy that I had amazing parents that raised me the way that you guys did and taught me all of the attributes that I have.  I am proud to carry the name of Parkinson along side of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love you and I will talk to you next week.