Stolen Bike

Things are very exciting right now with all of the new missionaries getting their calls and seeing all of these wonderful young women choosing to serve missions.  It is definitely a great time to be a missionary as well as have a missionary out.  Elder Parkinson is still doing well and has one of the best attitudes that I know.  He is an inspiration to us all.

Elder Parkinson:  Hey mom.  This week was great and I'm doing great as well.  We did find 2 people that now have baptismal dates for the 24th of February.  I know that if you pray and read the scriptures, you will find an answer to what builder would be the best.  That sounds crazy with the ice storm.  I hope everyone is okay.  I am loving the mission!  That is so cool that Sam and Ali got their mission calls.  Tell them congratulations from me.  Now Sam and I will be able to speak spanish together.  Elder Flake and I are doing great.

Mom:  I am so glad to hear that things are going well and you have found some new investigators.  I will for sure keep praying and reading the scriptures to see if that helps with the decision.  What are your plans today?

Elder Parkinson:  Today we are going to play soccer and football.  I hope that all is good back home.  Also......my bike got stolen out of our garage.

Mom:  What!!!  How did your bike get stolen out of the garage?  Is it gone for good or did you find it?  I definitely want to hear this story.

Elder Parkinson:  Well, the other missionaries that we share a house with left the door open while we were studying and someone came in and stole it.  We have not found it and I don't know what I am going to do.  We filed a police report and I emailed the mission president to see.  I might have to get a new one.

This is the garage where the bike was taken from.  It must have looked exactly like this when the thief made his move.

Mom:  When did this happen?  How are you getting around?  I don't think it sounds too promising that it will return, but maybe a small miracle will occur.  Is there a bike store near you where you could get a new one?

Elder Parkinson:  It happened on Tuesday and I am borrowing someone's bike for now, but it is too small so it hurts my knee.  I might go to a car area, so I am going to see what happens with transfers and then I will get a new one.

Mom:  How long is it until transfers?  I don't want you hurting your knee, so if you need to get a new bike then get one.  Has your mission president talked to you about it yet?  I am sorry that you are having to go through that, but I guess someone needed your bike more than you did :(     Tell me about the investigators that you found.

Elder Parkinson:  Transfers are in 3 weeks.  The mission president will email me back soon and if it starts hurting too bad then I will get a new one.  So the new investigators are Jamie and Lucas.  They live in the same house and they are way cool.  One of them is 15 and the other is around 50.  They are so excited about the gospel.  I love them.  The only bad thing is that if I do get transferred then the baptism will be the week after I leave.

Mom:  I am so happy that you have found Jamie and Lucas.  They are so lucky to have you and Elder Flake!  Please, please get a new bike if your knee starts hurting too bad.  Are you doing okay with everything else?  Are you out of anything or needing anything?  I have dad, Austin and Cooper home today with the flu.

Elder Parkinson:  I feel so bad for you.  I hope that you can take care of them and they all start feeling better.  Could you send me some more bread?  I love you so much.

Mom:  Of course I will get you more bread :)    I love you too and I hope that you have a wonderful week!!!

Elder Parkinson:  You too!  I am going to play ball now.  Oh, I almost forgot, tell Zac to stay away from the girls.  They are only trouble until after you get home from your mission.  I love you.