Where is my faith?

Mom

this week was BOM DEMAIS!!!  (translation is Too Good)

i got the package that you sent to londrina in my last area. and the envelope package with some meds in it from 3 months ago. thanks. i dont think ill ever get that first one you sent out. thanks for sending the other one this week like i asked. basically all the candy from the box is already eaten, these south americans go crazy for american candy.

    i hope that riley and koty had a really spiritual experience at efy this last week. santa barbara is a really good one to. thats so crazy to think that dakota is gonna start his senior year this august. he will have already graduated when i get back. i hope that for his mission dakota gets called to germany, did he ever wind up going to germany. looks like everyones growing up. i have to shave the hairs on my chin once every week. it was once every two weeks when i was in the ctm so, ya.

      i really dont have anything for this week. it was a regular old week on the mission. elder luchman is way different then elder zioli. elder zioli is this way chill surfer dude from sao paulo and elder luchman is from a small town in washington but he played football there and lifted weights a ton. he brings that same, pound your fists on the table and slam your head against the wall mentality to the mission. we used to have a good relationship with the people that live below us, but because of the barking and pounding at 8 in the morning, they hate us now. but hes cool, hes got a strong desire to help people, and we baptized. so he can do whatever he wants just so long as were baptizing.

     congratulations to dustin and roni, whats the little buggers name.

     congrats to nicole also for the patriarchal blessing, that always helps someone out in there life. in her letter she said that chads gonna get out this next april, thats not fair i dont get out until next november.

     im learning that as a missionary for Jesus Christ, as a representative of Him, im terrible. how can i call myself a representative of a Perfect Being. this is His work. im just an instrument in His Hands. but i must live worthy, and give all that i have so that i can be this instrument in His Hands for the longest time possible. i like how in the bible when he sends the twelve off to there missions, He says to not think about what you will say, because it will be given you in that very moment by the Holy Ghost what you should say. its a simple as that. im just a physical vessel that the Lord can use for 2 years. i dont speak the words that i think, i just let the Holy Ghost take over and speak to the people. if i ever tried to teach people by my own understanding i would never even baptize a single soul. but because i have been humbled by the Spirit, i can teach by the spirit, and let the understanding of the Holy Ghost convert people before they even enter the water. if only i could have learned how simple missionary work is when i first entered the mission field, my baptisms would probably be triple what they are. these missionaries in the bible and book of mormon baptize hundreds even thousands because of the faith they posses, i still find myself asking,  Onde está minha fé? (Translation is Where is my faith?)

                            -Elder Parker