Hello family, I'm glad that you are all having a good time. Easter was good. We didn't have an apostle come as told to us, but we did have Bishop Causee or something from the presiding bishopric in the morning at this super sacrament meeting where the whole MTC did the sacrament at the same time. Later in the day we had Sheri Dew come and talk to us, and then we watched a recording of a David A. Bednar talk that he gave in the MTC on Christmas. It was all really good. Also I've been reading a lot of Jesus the Christ later and it is an awesome book. I'm already on pg 138 but there are like 800 pages in it. Today a lot of the people in our zone are leaving, so we are all saying goodbye to all of the people. I think that in 2 weeks our group will be the oldest group in the zone. I guess they changed the rule so that we can email friends now and I don't really want to do that, but I do have 60 minutes that I can spend on email now so I guess I can write more or read more or whatever. I guess if you got my letters you read that I haven't gotten the camera card or card reader or anything. I got those gummy bears, but I don't know where the camera stuff is and I can't send you any pictures. Before the big sacrament meeting yesterday we all thought that there was going to be an apostle, so there were a ton of people sitting outside of that building waiting to get seats. We were in the choir, so we had to go to practice earlier, and we had to walk over all of the people that were waiting for seats. My companion was really disappointed that the guy wasn't "in the top 15," but I thought that it was pretty good. He was French. I guess I might see Gregory for a few days before I leave if I really do leave on the 29th. I guess that when we get travel plans we either go to consulates in SLC, Boise, or Las Vegas. We were talking to these other elders, and they said that the flew down to Las Vegas and spent the whole day driving around and talking to people and eating ice cream, and it was really fun. Now I think that we are all excited to go to Las Vegas. Plus I guess you get to call your family any time you fly anywhere from here. So this elder, (we aren't supposed to say guy or anything, they want us to say elder), called home from the airport in SLC, and then I guess you get a call when you have your travel plans finalized, so there should be some calls coming home in late April. I don't really know what else to say but I'm having a great time here, and I hope you guys are all having a great time at home, and I love you guys. I'll probably talk to you more this afternoon. So, bye until then.
(Later in the day) Alright I guess I might talk to you more about all my experiences later. Shari Dew talked about how Satan has three things he wants to do. He wants us to forget about the Savior, forget who we are, and not learn how to learn from the spirit. You should definitely read Jesus the Christ, because it is the most awesome book ever. James Talmage was super smart, and it uses a ton of big words but it is good. I think that a debit card is still the best way to get money to me. I don't know anything; they don't tell us a lot about Mexico yet, but they might in the last week or so. Now I will try to answer your questions. Also if you happen to buy a Nevada or Mexican flag, it would be awesome if you could mail it up.
1. Everything here is pretty great and it is a lot of fun. I like to have a lot of time to learn and do things and most of the people are alright most of the time.
2.Ya, I'm in the laundry room right now, because if you use any of the other computers you have to get all dressed up.
3.I am sharing a lot of the candy, but you guys are sending me a ton of stuff, and sometimes it is hard to share it all.
4. The bishop that spoke to us talked about a lot of stuff and I guess I'll write you a letter later. Sorry if I don't end up emailing a whole lot, but it is hard because there are a ton of people, and you don't get a ton of time on the computer. I'm looking forward to the next letter tonight, and I just wanted to tell you again about how I haven't got that memory card, so I can't take any pictures. Bye!
(Later still) Hey, I'm back again. The people I'm with determine whether or not I email and for how long I email, so sorry. I just looked over the notes that I took during the presiding bishop's talk, and he talked a lot about the Savior, of course. He talked about the way that the shepherds at Christ's birth, and then Mary at the tomb on Easter morning were both told by angels to go and spread the good news. And then we are called to do the same thing. We are just going to go out and share the good news of Christ's life and resurrection. He shared a quote out of Les Miserable, the book, and I guess he probably translated it himself, because he is French. "Love is the celestial respiration of the air of paradise." The first meeting was more quiet and everything, and the evening devotional with Sheri Dew was all loud and happy. Before it started we sang "Called to Serve" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and whenever all the missionaries sing songs like that we all just try to do it as loud as possible. A few more of the questions you had: I haven't really had any contact with the mission president, but they do send out these emails about the Monterrey West Mission, but they are all in Spanish, and I don't really have time to go through them. I am learning Spanish pretty well. My companion and I think that we are the best at it. He does, anyway, and it might be true. I am pretty good at understanding Spanish when people say it or anything, but I have a hard time saying things. We are all learning really fast, and it is pretty cool. We haven't taught Luis for a few days now, and we are going to get a new investigator named Sebastian this week. The investigators are our teachers, but we still have to treat them like real investigators and try to baptize them the best we can. Its kind of hard. Most, if not all, of the elders in my district have gone teaching with the missionaries before, so they all kind of have this head start on the whole teaching thing, but I guess that I'm getting better. Hey, you guys should check my grades on that online class, because every once and a while I wonder how I did on that. One of the weirdest things about being here is that I can barely remember or barely think about a lot of things. I will just sit there and remember a song that I would listen to all the time, and I can still remember it, but i don't think about it; the same thing with TV shows or home life in general. I don't know if it is just because I am so busy here or anything, but if it keeps up over the rest of the mission, this thing will be a piece of cake. Just kidding, but I'm having a great time here, and I love all of you guys, and I hope that you all have a good time too.
Love, Elder Parkes
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