July 17, 2016

July 17, 2016

Dear Family:

Thanks for the email! I love you guys... It's pretty crazy how fast the time is going. 

The first thing that I need to say is that I am getting transferred on August 7th to go work in Tarawa in an area called Buota.   I found out this morning and I just laid in bed for like two hours and didn't want to move because I don't want to leave Maiana to go to Tarawa. This place is my home with my second family.  I'm just trying to tell myself that nothing is permanent and I'm praying we can get some of the stuff done that we would like to so that I can feel like I accomplished what I was sent here to do. I'll continue to work hard until I leave. I just really will miss everything about being on an outer island. Maiana has been great and working in a ward will present challenges and stuff that I'm not used to. It's definitely a different game and it will take some adjusting.  Elder Hoskins and I are both really sad to be leaving each other. Elder Hoskins is the man and I've had a lot of fun with him. Seriously, he is just a way great kid and a good friend. He is one of those people that I could see myself hanging with after the mission

We should have three families get baptized in the next few weeks before I leave if all goes as planned. We just need a few of them to quit smoking and then they should be about ready for baptism. The one family moved houses temporarily and I think that they should be back this week so it should be good.

Anyway, I love you guys and I'm going to enjoy it here on Maiana this week. Love the people, the fish, the ocean, the beaches and everything. I'm going to miss sleeping in the hut. (I know my back is going to be in for a treat when I get back to Tarawa.)

Coming up this week is Independence Day in Kiribati and it should be awesome... There is a march and tons of food and sporting events for cash prizes. The whole island is in one place so work should be a little hard, but we will make it work alright after the celebration is over. 

Also a bunch of the village kids broke in the house and ate all our food last week haha

It sounds like all is going well at home. I love you guys.

Love,

Elder Parrish

Note from Jill:

We received a couple of photos from the mother of Zach's companion.  They are attached.  His companion sent the following explanations of the photos:

Here is a baby we blessed.  (Elder Parrish didn't know how to hold her so I had to in the picture.)  The other pic is a kid we sent on a mission. He couldn't afford the ticket to go to Tarawa or for his passport or medical stuff so we paid for it all. Since we are acting as branch presidents, we get to do all that cools stuff like bless babies.  (She is actually a year old, but they are new converts.)

We also received the following email and photo from President Larkin, Zach's new mission president. 

Dear Brother and Sister Parrish  

I am the new mission president for the Marshall Islands Majuro Mission (arrived two weeks ago) and yesterday my wife and I visited a number of outer islands in the Kiribati region, including the island of Maiana where your son is currently serving. I just wanted to let you know he is doing well physically, emotionally and spiritually - and is fulfilling his calling magnificently. 

I have attached a photo from yesterday's visit - includes your son and his companion (Elder Hoskins) and my assistants, Elder Peeti and Elder Lessor, and myself.   

Regards, 

President and Sister Larkin

Marshall Islands Majuro Mission

July 3, 2016

July 3, 2016

Dear Family:

Thanks for the email!  You asked about when I might be transferred.  To be honest, I have about as much of an idea with stuff going on in the mission as you.  We hardly ever talk to anyone from Tarawa. Our new mission president, President Larkin, is in the Marshalls, but I’m not exactly sure when he’s coming here. The next transfer isn’t until the first week of August and I think that I might be staying. I’m pretty much at peace with whatever. I love Maiana and I also feel like there are things that I would like to see through before I head out. We are going fishing later today, so I’m super pumped.  It’s going to be more like deep sea fishing I think. 

Its sounds like all is going well! I’m shocked that it’s the 4th of July. Kiribati Independence is on July 12th here which is going to be pretty sick even though there aren’t any fireworks. All is pretty much going well here on my end! We weren’t able to baptize that family... It’s a long story but hopefully we will be able to baptize them in the next few weeks. I continue to be shocked as well at how fast the time is going.

The other churches here on Maiana definitely present a challenge.  It’s just really hard being the only missionaries on a pretty big island. Eighty members is a decent amount, but it is a small number compared to the number of members that the Catholics and Protestants have here. I always take comfort when I think how incredible the church is on Tarawa. It’s just a different ball game because EVERY member of the other churches is counted on by their congregations for fundraising etc.  If their members takes lessons from the missionaries, everyone will know about it and they will be shunned. You’re seen by the ENTIRE village if you go to teach a family because the houses are open, and multi-generational families live in one house.  The older generation generally dislikes the church and won’t let the more open younger generation lesson. All is well though, and I believe that if we are smart about it then we can see some miracles. If no strong members of the Catholic or Protestant churches converted to Mormonism then there would be no members here on Maiana or on Tarawa or in the world. 

I’m feeling a more visible spirit with me all the time that I love. Have you read the book titled “Three Degrees of Glory” by Melvin J. Ballard? I’ve been reading it and it’s blowing my mind-- teaching me so much. It’s been interesting to study because we are teaching a mother and her three kids whose husband and father died last year. They are progressing towards baptism and it’s been fun to study.

I love you and I hope that all is well at home! All is well here on Maiana.

Elder Parrish

Note from Jill:

This week, the family of Zach’s current companion forwarded his email to us.  It was interesting to get his perspective.  I know Zach has really enjoyed working with him and it sounds like they are really getting along well.  Here is his letter:

This week has been good. Elder Parrish and I are really hitting our stride in our companionship.  I  think he probably only has a little while longer here on Maiana, but I’ll miss him when he’s gone. He definitely exhibits every attribute of good missionary and 99% of the time I love him. We are really getting some work done. I love it.

One thing that really stood out to me this week was how much I feel Kiribati is really like Palmyra of Joseph Smith’s time. We have the Catholics and the Protestants bashing each other and bashing us.  We can’t teach a single person without the Catholic or Protestant ministers visiting them and bashing our church. There’s so many sheep with no shepherd here. It is honestly the same as Joseph described:  religious confusion. It’s no wonder he had a question. I’m so glad I was born as Nephi of goodly parents and raised in the gospel. I’ve never been more solid in my testimony.  I’ve never been more confident and bold in sharing it either. I’m not scared to meet with anyone, whether it be minister or average person. Bring them on. Parrish and I might not be able to convert everyone, but we sure can bear our testimonies.

I guess that’s all for this week!

Crazy Week!

June 26, 2016

Quick Update:

Crazy week with some of the biggest ups AND the biggest downs. Let's start with the positives:

Three Baptisms: 

Rootia went from a Book of Mormon burning Pentecostal member to a baptized and confirmed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this week. The best part? She did it right next to her 20 year old son.

Bakoanuea (a teenager) also was baptized this week. Pretty crazy to see him baptized knowing that he has lessoned with Elders for about three years. He's got what it takes to endure.

Riona (Liahona in English) and his wife are going to get baptized this week despite INTENSE persecution from family and THE ENTIRE village. People are telling them that "they want to be rich" and that they are "scared of fundraising" in the protestant church and that they are running away to "Te Moomon."  They are seriously SO solid and just NOT phased. It just goes to show that if you've found the truth, then you'll do WHATEVER IT TAKES. Love that fam!

Negatives:

One family that we were lessoning with was visited by the Catholic missionary and was told that they couldn't lesson with us because "they already have a religion."

Lessons with another family were going well until the father got a call from his dad in Tarawa who said if he lessoned again with us then he would have to find a new place to live. 

There's a pretty large amount of Anti-Mormon stuff floating around from religious leaders of other churches. They are all things with no credibility that have been started/made-up by Catholic Fathers etc. It's difficult because these Kiribati people believe things when they hear them since they have zero idea of America and have a hard time discerning truth from lies.  Here are some of the biggest lies floating around:

-Joseph Smith stole gold to start the church.

-He was killed in a prison after he broke a bunch of laws.

-He went to get the plates on a horse and there were no horses in America when Joseph Smith was alive.  HAHAH--that's a well thought-out one.

That's only the start, but I've got a great idea of what Joseph Smith felt in the 1800's when people were "carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Eph 4: 11-14) and had a hard time finding the truth because of the bashing going on. The gospel is going to rolllll forth as Daniel puts it.

Love you guys and I hope all is going well at home!

Elder Parrish

Don't Let Anyone Tell Me A Mall Bathroom is Bad

June 19, 2016

Dear Family,

Thanks for the email!! Everything is going well here! I'm kind of running short on time because I think that we are going to go fishing, but I will send a picture of the bathroom and the inside of the house for you guys. It sounds like all is going well at home.

We had a harder week work-wise, but we got super blessed to find some really good investigators at the end of it and had eight investigators at church. I also think that the mom and son (who I've mentioned before) will be baptized this week and I'm super excited. Next week, I think that we also going to be baptizing a young family who has two little cute kids. I'm super excited. We haven't had baptisms for a while so these next few weeks should be awesome! 

We haven't made smoothies or bread yet because we are waiting for the bananas to get ripe. President Weir is finished on July 1.  There will be like 20 new missionaries in August and October, which will be crazy.  Because a big group of missionaries just came home, we are a bit short on missionaries.  All of the outer island are open, but a few small areas in Tarawa were closed. 

I think that I may have gained some weight.  I'm pretty fat! I love this fish more than the world. My package came on Friday.  Thank you guys so much! The clothes you sent are really nice for the people here. Everything else is well.  I can't think of anything that I might need!

A quick story:  I have had a feeling that we need to visit this older lady who is not a member and ask her for lessons.  She has never met with missionaries before.  But every time we went to her house, she wasn't there. Long story short, we were biking by her house this week and she was there. We went and kind of tracted it and she was so happy to hear our message.  We had an awesome spirit filled lesson. Yesterday I was fasting for help in this area and we got hit up with two referrals (haven't had any in forever.) It was awesome!

Love you guys. I'll send some pictures. 

Elder Parrish 

Quick Email

June 12, 2016

Dear Family:

Thanks for the email!  I will try to send a group one maybe this week or next week if there's time. That's crazy that the twins already went to Girls’ State and that Jacko is in DC. I think it sounds fun and I'm sure that it will be great for Jacko to be away from home a little while.

Elder Hoskins is a good Elder and I'm grateful that I have gotten to work with him.  He works hard but is laid back at the same time. We really do have a lot of similar interests.  The time is going crazy fast though.

We actually just got back from fishing this morning. We went on the boat and it was wayyy fun. I'm honestly so happy and just having the time of my life. Like I'm doing these things and finding ways to have fun doing these once in a lifetime things. The only thing crazier to me is how fast the week actually goes. Tuesday to Sunday goes even faster than anything. One of the slower parts of the week is P-day on Monday. 

The work is going well too. We teach TONS of people, but some are taught in villages where no church is held and it makes it really hard. We are waiting for seven people to quit smoking or to get married and then they will all be baptized. Somehow we found a family that is about ready to be baptized. The entire family came to church yesterday and I was sooooo pumped! It's a mom and a dad with two little kids and a third on the way. They are basically golden and we were definitely led to them. 

I have no clue on transfers... I think I've got one more transfer here... maybe two if I'm lucky. I'm happy to stay here as long as they leave me.  I don't want to leave this area until I have hopefully been able to see some awesome investigators get baptized. I feel like a lot of the people who are close to baptism are people who are going to stay strong in the church. 

I don't have much to write because last P-day seems like yesterday! But you will find it interesting that the waterproof camera that I brought on my mission literally broke this week. The screen died and I have no clue why. It was a legit blessing that you guys just sent me a back-up camera.  My camera literally broke the week I received the new one. Thanks for that! And I thought you were overreacting when you sent me the spare--hahaha. 

I love you guys and I’m doing great.  Constantly shocked at how fast the time is flying.  I seriously love Maiana TONS though and I'm going to be really sad to leave. I'm hoping that it isn't coming for a while. I hope that all continues to go well at home. I'm growing little by little.  I might not become a GA at age 20, but I'm having a good time doing the work so that’s all that matters.

Have a good week!  Love you!

Elder Parrish

Master Fisher

June 5, 2016

Dear Family:

Thanks for the email! That is exciting about Grandma and Grandpa's mission call. How long are they going to be serving? If I can go without seeing them for two years, then I guess I can go a little bit longer.  It’s crazy how fast time is going for all of you guys at home. I can't believe school is out already. Time is flyingggg!!!! 

As far as I know, I should be staying on Maiana for one more transfer. It’s going to be interesting with the mission president change and stuff. I have no clue where I could be going after that. My intake will start becoming mission leaders and stuff, etc. 

The work is going well here on Maiana. We should have a baptism this week and hopefully a couple more next week. We legitimately do a lot of finding by tracting, but it's good. We are teaching a lot of adults and families right now and I believe that these people that we are working with could be really solid members if they actually get converted. We have been teaching a lot of lessons and should hopefully see some pay off soon.  All is well.

Elder Hoskins and I get along well. He works hard and I like him. I really couldn't ask for much more. I am super content. 

Not much happened last week, but we had an awesome thing when this sick investigator showed up to church and bore his testimony! Hopefully his wife and kids will come next week.

Have a great week!

Elder Parrish

Mauri-ooooo

May 29, 2016

Heyyyy everyone,

I guess I'll give a quick update since I haven't done one in a while. Fishing > Emailing, but emailing is pretty good too :) If anyone is wondering, I hit 10 months as a missionary yesterday and I just realized it. I remember months ago when people told me that as I got further into my mission I wouldn’t even realize when I was hitting month marks. It's crazy that I'll be counting down pretty soon.

I guess I'll talk a little bit about the work. Elder Hoskins is my companion who I have been with for a month.  He’s from Georgia. He's pretty chill and it's nice to be with a comp who has similar visions for the work.  He's pretty sick and I'm happy overall. We have had like four baptisms in the past month and should have several more on the way.

I guess I want to talk about some of my investigators cuz they're pretty much my life lol.

My favorite investigator and one of the reasons I believe that I was sent to Maiana is for Rootia. She is a 60 year-old lady with one son and a grandchild here. She is (was hehe) a firm member of the Pentecostal church, legit has read the bible from start to finish, and is pretty knowledgeable. We got wrecked on our first lesson teaching about the Godhead and she was trying to bible bash a little bit. We held our ground, but it wasn't great. We taught the restoration for our second lesson and I've never seen a bigger change in a person. Our lesson about revelation from heaven and God's priesthood on the earth really touched her heart.  She is

already in 2nd Nephi in the Book of Mormon and is trying to quit smoking so she can get baptized. She accepts everything we teach and has the strongest faith. She promised us that she will never burn a Book of Mormon again. (Apparently, she burned one that other Elders gave her once before.)  She is thinking about staying here to be a member of the church and not going back to Tarawa where they will try to pull her back to the Pentecostal faith.

Sickkkk <3  We are gonna baptize her alongside her son if all continues to go well.

Our other investigator is Mata. He literally stopped smoking and drinking cold turkey and hasn't started since. He has tattoos everywhere, but he cut his hair and I literally see a visible light in him.  His face and eyes look different and he's the man.

No need to even answer the question that I get every week, "How is your health?" Couldn't be betterrrrrr. We are gonna keep working hard. We are going to be dropping some investigators and finding some who are better prepared to hear our message.  It's a big responsibility to serve as Branch Presidents on this island, but we are up to the task.

We will always be under the same moon :')

Elder Parrish