HELLO EVERYONE!!

Man to be honest I am getting a little sick of these weekly letters. The work just becomes so routine here and so there isnt much to talk about.. But we are working our butts off. I broke FOUR of my personal mission records this past week. For example lets say the most addresses I have gotten in a week was 100, this week we got 109. So I was very happy. The Lord is blessing us with so many amazing new investigators, I don´t know if I will be able to keep up with all of them! We have two people lined up for baptism this week, it will be really cool because we will do it inbetween the sunday sessions. We have 14 dates marked for baptism! That is also another mission record. There are so many people its cool because I am literally losing myself in the work and focusing on others and their needs.

Here in our neighborhood there is a sweet gang war going on. So if anyone is out after 10 and they find you, you are DEAD. Haha but luckily we get in at 9. I have heard people saying one night they counted 15 gunshots at a time… idiot gangsters. Brasil is a great country but MAN have they some serious problems. If you think the US government is bad, you have no idea. The schools are TERRIBLE quality as is the police and paramedic/fire support. May I just say that America is truly a BLESSED land. The apostasy here is outrageous.. so many ridiculous churches teaching insane ideas. BUT, thankfully we have the truth and we NEED to share it. I have been listening to talks, recently from LeGrand Richards.. he is the MAN!! He has helped me to build more courage. Sometimes I got nervous around people and never was to bold about our beliefs, but now I could CARE LESS what they think! Haha I love going up to the crentes (beleivers, usually carrying a bible under their arm walking in a suit, or the ladies always wear dresses and have LONG hair) and talking about Joseph SMith, the Book of Mormon, etc. Some are so blind and hardhearted its sad, but by talking directly about the restored gospel, you will be able to find out who will listen.

The choir is getting really good, wish you could all be here to listen to it. Me and Elder Coats made salsa the other day, MAN it was delicious. ITs funny when we do divisions because the other elders freak out when they see a nice clean and neat zone leaders house, STOCKED with food. That is something that you rarely come across haha. Hey if anyone reading this wants me to get them something cool from Brasil, let me know. Most of my Freinds and my family will already be getting souvenirs. I love you all and wish you all a prosperous week FULL of missionary experiences!!

Your brother in the gospel,
Elder Parker Boyack

Hello,
Well the time continues to fly here in Curitiba. I hit 1 year and 8 months yesterday… so insane. My comp Elder Coats only has 1 transfer left after this one, so needless to say we are both somewhat… trunky. Haha and in our area its where the planes make the turn to go off to their destinations coming from the airport so it DOENST help lol. Yesterday we had the Zone Leader Counsel which went very well. I learned a lot and am excited to put into practice the things we learned. I got burned a little bit cuz I had some trunky habits and i even told people I am a trunky dude, but you dont have to worry because I am still working my butt off. But I decided yesterday that I should just get rid of these habits and I shouldnt even say Im trunky because it doesnt help.

The work is progressing here in Parigot de Souza, we had lots of investigators that aren´t progressing and we decided to focus on finding the elects in our area. I also resolved to be more bold in our lessons, especially when it comes to things that hinder our investigators from getting baptized. Yesterday we stright up taught the Law of Chastity with and young couple and challeneged them to get married (at least legally and do the church ceremony later) and they accepted!! Here in Brasil you have to go to a place to sign some documents to be married, you cant get legally married in the temple or at the church.

The mission choir is getting really good, we will have do multistake performances at the end of april which will be awesome, unfortunately we are practicing every pday (wed) and sat morning which i am already tired of. Not much more happened this week.. My mind has been somewhat braindead these past couple days. I tried writing in my journal and sat there for a few minuted trying to think about what I could write lol.

Thats all for now, let me know how you are doing cuz i really enjoying reading the letters and emails from you guys. I love you all!

HELLO EVERYONE!!

How are you all doing?!! I am doing GREAT. Guess what happened today? TRANSFERS!! My comp Elder Rossi got transferred to the interior to a city called Guarapuava. Then the LZ that was in Guarapuava came here! His name is Elder Coats, from Preston, Idaho. He is the MAN. I am so happy right now. He arrived on the mish 1 transfer before me, and has only 2 more left (which means I only have 3!!) so I will prob stay with him for 2 transfers and kill him then someone will come in his place to kill me. HOLY COW MY MISSION IS COMING TO AN END!!!!!!! I dont say that happily, its more like a shocked, weird/strange feeling. Elder Coats is way into motorcycles and cars, so we get along very well For his senior project he built a SWEET chopper bike, so rad.
This past Friday we had interviews with Prez, man that guy is INSPIRED. He told me two things i really need to focus on. 1. Applying the scriptures to my life and 2. always keeping a prayer in my heart, def 2 things i need to get better at. One of the missionaries in the zone went home a few days early to take the SAT test so in his place we got a boy from the ward to help us out. He will be leaving on a mission soon and he saw how TOUGHT it is, I was honestly scared he was going to not want to go aanymore haha but he gained a big respect for the work and even bought us all pizza last night!!

Here in the mish we have an easter choir, its way cool. We practice every Wednesday/Saturday which is brutal. But its paying off and we are getting a lot better. As for news that is about it. I am really excited to have Elder Coats here because this area is GREAT but the ward has some problems. Elder Rossi knew so much and he was really bummed out about it all. so I am not going to tell ELder Coats ANYTHING haha and if he figures it out it ok but if not even better. So we have lots of péople just ready to be baptized, all we have to do is mark a date! So this week should be STELLAR.

Sorry my letter is so short, not much to talk about haha but I promise next week it will be longer. falou!!

Hello all,
How are you doing?? I would love to hear from you. LEtters, emails, whatever, let me know hows life!! Here things are great. One more week on the good ol mish. Lots of stuff happened this week. Normally lots of stuff happens but I dont write it down and just forget. This time I wrote EVERYTHING down so I have lots to say On Thursday we went to visit the sisters area. When you leave Curitiba, there is a city called Fazenda Rio Grande, which has two companionships. AFTER that there are the small cities of Mandirituba, Areia Branca, then Quitandinha. We got confused and got off in the wrong city haha but everything went fine and we had a good time. Its funny cuz in small cities there are nice big catholic churches ALWAYS in the center. While coming home, the bus broke haha so we waited for another one then when we got into the terminal there was a man that was practically dying so me and Elder Rossi helped him find his wife then we waited like HALF AN HOUR for an ambulance.. so ridiculous.

On Saturday morning we helped a family we are teaching clear their property. It actually belongs to the city they have just been there forever but now the city wants it and depending on the state of the property they might be able to get a free house in compensation. Needless to say my hands took most of the beating. But it was really good to see our investigators happy

This Sunday was stake conference… WOW. That was our main focus this past week was to get EVERYONE we are teaching to the conference. We should have had about 15 people but only 8 were able to make it. ALL who went had spiritual experiences and in these next few weeks we should baptize all of those 8 people. IN other words, when you have a conference, BRING SOMEONE!!

On Monday it was the last district meeting for our Distrcit LEader, he left 10 days early (Transfers are on the 17th) so we had a sweet jepordy/scripture chase thing and i dominated haha all the other elders had it easy because they had put tabs in their scriptures and could eaily open them, but I (with tabless scriptures) was the champion, and for my prize, a box of chocolates

YEsterday we had zone conference. MAN was it good. Prez talked about the importance of working with the members and the leadership. SO important. To all of those who are Ward Mission Leaders, your support and help to the missionaries is CRUCIAL!! PLEASE help them and always maintain contact with them.

I am pretty sure I told you all about the golden family we found a few weeks ago, the dad of the family had two strokes. So they are TOTALLY getting baptized, just still dont know when haha. On Tues we were teachin g the word of wisdom and then when I was bearing my testimony about how I have NEVER smoked, drank acohol/coffee, or used drugs Laerte (the dad) said “wait, wait, wait, hold on right there. You are a PERFECT candidate to marry my daughter!!” (she was sitting in front of me haha) and then he said “alright, you can continue.” Haha he is the coolest guy ever. We just need to get them to meet the members and get to church!!

Well that was most of my week. Lots of WORK. Lots more to do. I am pumped for these next weeks/months. Every day I get a little more excited. This really is the Lords work, and we are his representatives. THIS is the true chuch of Jesus Christ. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I love you and wish you all a wondferful week FULL of missionary moments!!

Elder Boyack

Thats what I feel like recently.. I feel like I am on the final strech! My time is ticking and I and running faster and faster. To be honest, I am super tired. Haha I was telling one of thesisters the other day how I need a vacation!! I swear the first week home I will sleep for a week… STRAIGHT!! Haha but I am loving this time. Its sweet because I feel like I am one of the more experienced missonaries and i am in an amazing area but with a challenging ward. To be honest I hope I “die” (end my mission) here to see what diffrence I have made. The Lord is really helping/blessing us in the work here. This pace has LOTS of potential and I am excited to see what will happen.

The golden family we foudnt the other day while knocking doors is doing very well. This weekend we will have stake coference and we should have at LEAST 15 investigators at church. President Araujo will be coming to speak which should be awesome. We fond out today that the area doctor will be coming as well which will be pretty cool. I am super stoked about this weekend!! I looked at all my records throughout the mission and this weekend I am fighting to beat my record of investigators in sac meeting.

This week we have Silva with a baptismal date. she has been taught for YEARS by the missionaries and loves the church. The ONLY thing that is stopping her fro being baptized is a “confirmation” that this is what she needs to do. She felt this when she was baptize/confirmed in the catholic church (she was 22) and wants to feel the same way to know that she needs to join this church. SO, what I need from ALL of you is the following:

PLEASE say a special prayer for Silva. Pray for the Lord to show her the truthfulness of these things and that she can receive this “confirmation”. Please pray for her to be baptized THIS WEEKEND. I know that if we get everyone reading this to pray, the Lord wil soften her heart.

Yeah there isn´t much else to say. Things are good, life is great, and the church is true!! What more do I need? 8 baptisms this month would be nice

I love you all!