Dear People Reading This,

Notice something different? Perhaps the fact that I am writing my letter on a WEDNESDAY!!?? How crazy/awesome is that! Well now you would like to know where your favorite missionary is living/working right?? I am in the beautiful city of Paranaguá! Think BEACH and HOT. How awesome is that!! I am an LZ with Elder Wardell, who was my LZ when I was in Jardim do Sol. You guys have no idea how stoked I am to be here. I already love the place. The city of Paranaguá is actually the old capitol of the state of Paraná, then it was changed to Curitiba. So there are lots of really cool old buildings and streets.

Today we ate lunch at an Irmãs house who had a photo album of missionaries since 1996!! So crazy to see who all has passed here. This area has really grown and is one of the top two baptizing zones in the mission… YES!!!! The city of Paranaguá isn´t right on the beach, it´s actually a port city but we are close to the beach. From all the photos I have seen there are some really cool places to visit so you will be getting some great pictures. We even have our own stake! So the Lords work is progressing and will continue to get better and better!

Me and Elder Wardell are really excited. Our zone isn´t that very big (only 5 duplas (companionships) so it helps us to closely watch over the missionaries. One of the wards is getting a brand new chapel which should really produce some good results. The people here are really receptive and luckily there isn´t much crime or flavela (look up that word). My area includes the Center of PAranaguá as well as this big island to the east (Ilha das Valadares). I am so pumped to get to work! From now on all you are going to hear of is BAPTISMS!!! Hooray! Haha anyways that all for now.

I was thinking a lot lately about relationships. No, not girlfriends and what not but our friends and relatives, etc. I had a lot of friends leave this transfer and realized how I will probably never see most of them again. I learned the value of a good friend and how you should never let it go. ALWAYS keep contact, you never know what will come of it! I realized I had so many good friends just go, without getting any contact information. Lame! But I repented and will start to do that. Its amazing how many friends I have made here. Its hard for me to make friends but its funny how you naturally become close to people. So, challenge for the week, contact some of your old friends, family members, whatever. Talks about the “good times” and let them know you were thinking about them. NOTHING bad will come of it and it only takes a few minutes! I love you all, keep up the good work.

Dear Family and everyone else reading this,

I can´t believe it… this will be the last time I will write a letter being in the office… aHH!! That means no more free internet.. dang. That’s one thing I hate is going to a lan house where kids play video games and the dude working watches a movie with the volume blaring.. so annoying.

This week was great. Transfers are winding down and a transfer or two ago I asked President if I could participate. He told me to wait.. then yesterday he asked me to get the new missionaries papers and when I handed them to him he pulled me in  So he let me see who was training and I got to watch him pick who will train who. We are getting 16 new missionaries; I think the biggest group that has ever arrived! It took a long time and was a really great experience. He didn’t show me where I am going yet, usually he does that Monday afternoon. There are so many possibilities of where I can go, I am definitely shooting for the interior.

This week Yone had her “baptismal interview” I even got President to do it for us, but she said she still needs a little more preparation. President told me she should be baptized in about a month and IF I am in Curitiba (haha) he will let me come and see it. She is such a great lady and I am very happy to have been able to teach and get to know her.

I have been cranking through the old testament (trying to finish is before the new year) and have been learning so much!! Its amazing what happened to the people of Israel. Also I recently read a book (not very long, finished it in one day here in the office) called “As a Man Thinketh” by I think his name is James Allen..? Man it was so deep, I had a hard time understanding it but what I did understand really helped me. I really understood the concept that we can control our thoughts and we are what we think. So it really helped me as a missionary.

Well that’s about it, this week wasn´t very eventful. But I am doing great and happy! I love you all, write me letters!!

Dear All,

Hello! How are you? I haven´t been receiving any letters due to the mail strike, man I really hate strikes. Anyways everyone hear is saying the economy is picking up. It makes me so happy! Its funny how much what people say actually influences things. When EVERYONE was saying there would be a recession, what happened? Now people are being more optimistic.

This week was great. On Thursday we had our Zone conference. There were two topics: sanctification (look it up in the BOM index) and planning/area book. They both were things I really needed help with. President showed a really cool example. He spoke about the christlike attributes and how the provide a foundation for us. Read Helaman 5:12. So first he let a missionary choose two attributes. Faith, and Virtue, two great ones. So then he grabbed two bricks and set them on the ground then had the missionary stand on top. Then once the “winds” and “temptations” came (in other words, President pushing the missionary) he fell off. So then he did 4, then 6, and not until all 9 was the missionary able to withstand the blows. Its interesting because we can have faith, we can be obedient, and charitable. But if we are lacking diligence and virtue, we can still fall. He talked about the sad fact that some missionaries become inactive after the mission. That is why we need to take advantage of this special time to prepare our foundations.

Things with Yone, our 80 year old investigator, are going GREAT!! Last night we brought a member with us who ended up staying in the other room with Yone´s daughter (member) so it was just us 3. There was a really strong spirit and she said (after we taught) “THAT is whatI have been needing. I completely understand now.” She gave the closing prayer and it was amazing. I had such a big simle on my face, should have taken a picture. She is a little apprehensive about the baptism but still really wants to take this important step. She is so awesome!

Only 10 more days!! I am so nervous about where I will go. A few transfers ago I asked President if I could participate once in the transfers and he said maybe. I reminded him the other day and he told me to ask him the last week of the transfer (Monday!) so I am hoping he lets me.

Well my time is up. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Dear Family,

Well I hate to say it, but im not in the mood to write. This week was pretty good, except for the rain!! We found some awesome families and are having trouble keeping up with our current investigators. Yone, our baptismal date for this weekend, got sick and won´t be able to be baptized this week. BUT I know she will be able to be baptized later on, she is awesome!

We only have about two weeks left in the transfer so I am getting pretty nervous! Our mission will be getting 14 new missionaries so its even possible I could open a new area and train at the same time!! AHH! Haha that would be sweet though.

I definitely agree with what Elder Neuenswander said in his letter. EVERY person has such an important role in the church. Usually people who are inactive are just lazy and don´t want to help. Its amazing how many faithful members there are that don´t magnify their callings. COULD YOU IMAGINE how the church would be if everyone did their part!? That’s what Zion is all about. Think of the pioneers.. they sure were a lot more closer to Zion than we are. We all have an important part as members of the church. One of the biggest problems is helping others. Its amazing how much we don’t. Sure the church does tons of service, im not saying we do nothing. But we have an amazing capacity to do so much more. People here ask for my money a lot. Usually I just say no but the other day this guy was really needing food. So I was like well, if you want food come with me. So I took him to a snack stand and bought some hamburgers and a coke for him and his buddies. Sure, I really could have used the 5 bucks, but he needed it more. Its amazing the impact service has on people. So this week, I challenge you all to fulfill your callings, do your visiting teaching (however it is in English) and help others!! You will feel so much better. Just like Gordon B. Hinckleys dad said to him, “Forget yourself and  GO TO WORK!” haha what an amazing phrase.
Have a great week, sorry this letter is so short, I love you all!

Parker created and set this:

Dear Everyone,

Well I don’t have much time. Today we (the assistants and secretarys) went to presidents house for breakfast, it is always soooooo good! Tons of strawberries, I LOVE strawberries. Anyways after that we went to Barigui park on a monkey hunt. We found a little one that was so cool! We played some Frisbee and then hiked around for a bit. Its always nice to get out of the normal routine.

Well it has been warming up here. I wore the first short sleeve shirt the other day in about 4 months!! Haha its great. Things are going well here in the office. Time is flying by and I am trying to get Elder Alendes ready for me to leave haha. He is having some difficulties with typing and computer what not so we are really working hard on that. Basically I am for sure leaving here (there was a rumor of me being the next financial secretary.. ahh!) so I am way stoked. I am trying to guess where I will go, but without saying anything because we all know what happens when you say something.

As for investigators things are picking up. This week we taught some new ones and had some great experiences. One family had NEVER heard of the “mormons” or the book of mormon so we were really excited haha because then they don’t already have those weird prejudices (does that word work right??)  in their heads. Our 80 year old investigator Yone is doing ok. She is having trouble stopping drinking coffee and she doesn’t think she can pay tithing with her meager income. So we are working with her. We also have another investigator, Marcos, that is a crazy story. I think I told it in my last letter.. but anyways his mom died this week and he pretty much died with her. Not physically but mentally. He was REALLY praying for a miracle and is mad God didn’t give him one. So we are working with him, focusing a lot about temples.

This week I really have been thinking about callings in the church. I had a calling at BYU and to be honest, didn’t hardly do anything. I am pretty ashamed about it. I see members here who have the same problem. To them, a calling is more like a title than a responsibility/duty. For example, our ward mission leader. I won’t say names but to be honest, he does a terrible job. Either he comes late to the meetings, or doesn’t show up at all. He NEVER takes on tasks, he loves to delegate things. I was thinking a lot about how I am NEVER going to be like that. I read a great conference talk about the power of the aaronic priesthood quorums and imagined myself as the deacons quorum advisor (however you call it) and how much work it would be. Luckily I was blessed with AMAZING leaders who always magnified their callings. Could you imagine how powerful the church would be if everyone worked hard to fulfill their callings and responsibilities!!?? It would truly be an amazing sight. Also I read a little on mormon doctrine and am totally obsessed with the millennium. How AWESOME would that be to live during the millennium? We will see what happens

Have an excellent week, magnify your calling, and be a member missionary!!

Love,

Elder Parker Boyack
Praça Joseph Smith 15
Portão – Curitiba – PR
80610-210    BRASIL