Steve and Amanda are now "New Mexicans"...

Aaron and I did the roasting green chili's a few years ago...We only have a few bags left so we decided to get a box yesterday at Walmart. They roast them for you while you wait.

Steve and Amanda helped out yesterday with their first box. We had a lot of fun peeling the chili, getting all the seeds out and then bagging them. The final product went into the fridge over night to cool down and tomorrow we'll put them in the freezer...

We all now are offically "New Mexicans"

Our home still smells really good when you walk in...

Walt came to visit the first week of August...we had so much fun with him here...

Amanda and her friends wanted to hang out at the mall on Friday night...so we took them and they had a blast...We all met up at Johnny Rockets...

I taught both of these kids when they were in 4th grade. Good kids and a lot of fun being around them.

The polly wogs are now frogs...Amanda got some polly wogs from a member of our ward...now they are hopping every where...

Steve helped Amanda turn the old blue kiddie pool into the polly wog pool. They put half of it water and the other half sand/dirt. The polly wogs had a blast in it. They also put rocks in the water so they could hop when they got their legs... This is what they look like...Frogs hopping all over the backyard...Sassy and Taiko just sit and watch as Amanda plays with them...

Oh...she is my farm girl...

Oldie, but goodie...Rock Concert...Friday night...with Steve and Amanda, subway sandwiches, camping chairs in the park...Police even came by...

Steve called and asked if I wanted to go do something fun on Friday night. I was game...so he picked met me at home, got our lawn chairs, had subway sandwiches, diets, and we were ready to go. He told me we were going to a rock concert at the park. I started to laugh...

Then, I saw who was there...It was a total party...the band was made up with people from our stake. They called themselves the "Brothren"...The concert was called "Branch Stock"...

The drummer was the branch president from the single's branch, two high councilmen from both stakes in our area ...one played the bass and the other the key board and the another member from our stake was the lead singer and guitar player...the keyboard players wife was also singing with them...

They were so good and we had so much fun. They played for 2 hours straight...no breaks and just one song after another...they played a wide variety of songs and we loved all of them. Everyone was dancing, singing and just laughing and having a total party. The crowd was made up of a lot of members from the stake, so it was a fun evening..and no alcohol involved.

We did have to the police show up...a neighbor called because there was too much noise...We all laughed even harder...

It was just a fun night and totally enjoyed Steve taking us to it...Amanda even enjoyed it and sang along...She did think we were crazy a few times...Instead of bic lighters...we all waved our cell phones...oh the memories...

Aaron's letter from 8-10-09....I know I'm a little behind with moving, company, school starting and traveling with Steve to various places he works...

I can't believe that school is getting ready to start. That is so weird that Nettie starts school in a 2 days. Just think, when the school year ends I'll be almost finished with my mission. That is so wierd.

Amanda,
I miss you too and love you too.

The Weekly:
Hey everyone!!!
Well can you believe I have already been up here in Takayama for three weeks!!?? I can't!
And amanda so lovingly told me that I only have 9 months left!! But thankfully that is really 10 months and I still have some time left! It is just going going going! And it feels like the more companions and areas Iget, the faster it goes!
The work is still such a blast though. Right now we have about 4 good progressing investigators. Two chinese girls, one japanese girl, and a 17 year old japanese boy. They are great! We are really trying to get them to baptism right now.
One thing I have really come to realize over the past yearish is that baptism is where we are going and there is no point in skirting around that bush. So many blessings come from it that I want these people we have found to experience it themselves! Man, I just love this gospel so much.
Just sitting here and reading all your experiences as well is the best. I have been able to truly see miracles on the mission so far and I love it! On the other side, it hurts so bad when someone denies baptism or lets their natural man pride get to them.
This gospel really has NOTHING bad about it. If only that was in everyone's mind!!! haha. But really, as we align our lives with Christ's example and do those things we know are right, miracles and blessings come. It is so amazing.
Furthermore, as we do so, we can help others come to the joy as well!! HOW COOL! We are children of a Heavenly Father. We have an older brother named Jesus Christ who suffered for each one of us that we may feel of the joy of eternal life and forever families. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of this restoration of the fullness of truth. Ever since that time there has been a living prophet on the face of the earth that recieves diving guidance for the welfare of us. How amazing.
I love you all and wish you the best spiritually and physically as well!
Elder Parks

Aaron's letters on 8-24-09

Hey Dad!
Iya, senshuu minnasan ga inakatta kedo, tondemonai! zenzen ii yo!!Mada, aishiteiru kara, daijobu desu!Mata, omedetou! tanjoubi wa hontoni tanoshisou!! ikitakatta ga chotto dekin
akatta ne!
I can't believe Blake is already an elder! Wow! They are all just growing up! and is the girl Wes married the one from when I worked with him? That is way neat with all the stake new business. I am way excited to hear all about that! We have interviews tomorrow and so that will be exciting too! maybe some new news coming up!!
Well dad, honto ni aishiteiru yo!!!itsumo arigatou!!
Love,
Elder Parks

What a great message to make sure you are always ready for anything the Lord may call on you for! Way true for members and missionaries alike!

Investigators are doing great! No dates yet and we are just trying to plan for those now. We have found some new great potential last week and really want to work with them so things should get going good!

That is so true getting new members in the temple as soon as they are baptized!! I too think that if they just get in their for baptisms while waiting and preparing for endowments the next year, they will be so much the more strengthened! Way to go! I am so proud of all your work! Wow that's great with the temple time!! Way neat especially with all the returned missionaries there and getting the spirit of everyone boosted!! Way neat! I say hello back to all of them!!

That's way cool! Man you had quite the birthday slam! I am happy all worked out! So, is the tramp going to be moved around as things get set up or is it set?

Wow you had quite the time!!!!!and sweet birthday present!!! I can't wait! and so the bishop's family just rode up on their dirt bikes and fourwheelers to the back yard just like that!? That is so cool!!!! And wow that birthday meal and dessert sound great!! I am glad it all worked out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I know it was last week but I didn't talk to you then so...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Nettie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, you are all forgiven and yes, you did make up for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Family!!!!
Well last week I didn't have many emails and this week, BOOM! Got 29! thanks! I totally loved it!This week has been great! It seems like with certain companions you get more "good" experiences than others and lately I have been pondering on that.
I have had times of almost 100% "good times" and lately I wanted more of that. And....this past week became great!
To begin, last week we were housing a bit and nothing was effective there. So Elder Brox said "lets pray!" So of course we did. I felt to go to this one less actives house, not knowing why. Also, one thing you need to know is we had some extra cookies we made for less actives who weren't home.
So once I told Elder Brox who I felt we should visit he remembered it was her birthday in a few days!! Perfect! Well, she was at work but we made a successful delivery.
After we took an ice cream break and there was this one place I have been eyeing since I got here. There are always foreigners in this cool restaurant and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind for ever.
So, we took that is inspiration and went! Miracles! Right as we walked in the lady walked up to us, looked at our name tags (and I thought we were about to be kicked out!) and asked if we were Mormons? Long story short she home stayed about ten years ago in Idaho Falls!!!!! Crazy! So of course the family she stayed with were LDS and she loves Mormons!
Since that day, less than a week ago, she has readily accepted lessons 1, 2, and 3 pamphlets and the Book of Mormon! All from little promptings we now have her (who ends up being the owner of this restaurant!) and her sister as investigators with HUGE potential!
From that point I have noticed other times throughout the week where God has answered my prayer in other ways. It has been a great week and I truly know God listens to us and answers our concerns!
Also, yesterday I have found the new Elder Parks scripture...Alma 36:24-25. When I read that the other day in study I totally connected! That is how I feel, that is what I know!!
Ever since Dad told me I will see success back in November I have really been pondering that. And, I have seen it! I know the Lord uses us to find, teach, and baptize those He has prepared. The work is true. This church is the true church. We have everything we ever need to be happy!I love you all!
Elder Parks

Takayama treasures we bought while visiting for a week to celebrate my birthday a few years ago...

I loved collecting sake bottles while we lived in Japan. Amanda woke up at 3:00am due to jet lag and wanted to go out side...so Steve took her out for a walk.

They found the funnest morning market with lots of fun items to buy, places to shop at and one of our favorite little veggie, fruit markets.

...There was a sake place on the corner across the street. Steve and Amanda went shopping for my bithday. They bought the 2 smaller bottles and cup and then they emptied the sake out of the.

Aaron and I joined them at 5:00am to do some more exploring and shopping. I found the big bottle and thought I needed it as well. Steve convinced the clerk at the store to let him have the display, so we didn't have to dump out all the sake...We had a great time shopping and just being in Takayama and surrounding areas...

The wooden, square cup goes with the big bottle...

Another birthday treasure from Takayama from Aaron... Found these amazing items that the people cook with in Takayama...Many were out by their homes cooking breakfast while we were exploring each morning. They also use them for different meals. So, I bought a couple of sets...They are so fun to use, but I did learn you use charcoal and not the solid fuel candles.

I use these for decoration above my kitchen cabinets... and we also pull them down on occassion and cook on them...
Aaron remembers the fun shops and is thrilled to be back in Takayama to go exploring some more and to be apart of the charm that can only be found in Takayama...The people are so friendly and love to visit and share their info about their families and their fabulous mountain town.
One of our family's favorite places to stay and visit in Japan...

Aaron's letter's 8-3-09

Thanks for that email! I am glad to hear of your testimonies! I am happy to hear Amanda too is coming to a knowledge of truth herself! It is so important to know for ourselves that these things are true. We will come to times in life that challenge our belief but as we hold to our testimony we will have the success we need!i love you all too!

Hey! so Annette asked me these questions (thanks Annette!) and I figured I would group send them out for fun!
1. So what fun things are you doing this fine p-day? no plans for sure...but I wouldn't mind walking around some of the cool streets of Takayama. There is just so much to look at and it would be way fun...so we will see...
2. How did your baptism go ? amazing!! It was one of the best I have experienced thus far. At first she was getting nervous and so naturally I did too a bit. But, then with the prayers of us all and the whole zone too, she did it!! Then as she came out in her dry clothes she had the cutest smile on her face and when asked quietly in her ear how she was, said, *ureshii* which means happy! That totally made my day, and week for that matter! She is the cutest old lady ever and the gospel is so good for her!
3. Any new investigators? We now have a young chinese girl working for two years here in Japan. She lives in the building next to us and we meet her a lot at the foot spa at the hotel she works at, which is right next to our apartment! She has already been to church twice and asked about baptism! And when I asked, she said she would like to do the baptism thing too!! So now we just have to teach her all the lessons and get her there! (her Chinese name is Tai, and her english name, which she gave herself, is Candy)
4. Any old ones that you are working with? Kumi is not too old, but now we are really working with her towards baptism. She is amazing and loves us too. She because of our tight relationship she wants to get baptized but us now working on more desiring it for herself! Almost there!!!
5. How was the Toyama party? Way fun! I exchanged over there and met with the relief society pres and her family. Way good time and they all said I look different. Like I had been to the army or something!! haha, way cool family! Then the summer bash party is this Saturday, which we are going to as well!
6. Were they happy and surprised to see you? Way happy! We pulled up at the same time as them and they had huge smiles on their faces, just like me! Way fun time and they were all smiling the whole time! I love that family!

Weekly:

Hey Family!!
Well there goes my first week up here in the beautiful Takayama!! And it sure is just that, beautiful! The weather has only just begun the hot slide so we are way lucky! The rest of the mission has been suffering down there for a while now. We aren:t complaining one bit up here! It has rained buckets practically the whole time i have been up here and that rainy season has finally stopped. The rivers got way full and looked sweet!
The baptism on sunday was the bomb! Man, it was honestly one of the best i have experienced so far! Since church here is only two hours, from 10 to 12, we just took the first hour and switched it from sunday school to baptism! Worked perfectly!
Mizuguchi was a bit nervous leading up to getting into the tub so we all prayed and prayed that she would be ok. Then, once she came out of the water and got her dry clothes on, she had the nicest smile glued on her face! It was way cute!
And she loves talking some english with us too so she always says *thank you very much* in her heavily accented english and *wonderful*. i have made it a habit to tell her she is *wonderful* everytime i see her and she loves it!
The whole experience was truly a miracle and i feel once again blessed to have been a part of it! The Lord really is working through various means to bring his children unto Him.
A big portion of that work is the members. Missionaries, when things are done right, just do the teaching. However, when members are working right along with us, it flies!! Not only that, then the new members have friends already inside!
I just love being here and watching everything go foreward.
I have officially begun to start feeling *old* in the mission are realize my time is short!
I am relishing in the beauty of baptisms and striving to see many more souls unto Christ! I have been blessed with miracles but still feel there is so much more still to do!!!
I know the church is true. God is our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ is our older brother and Savior too. We have all the help we need to lead successfull lives. The Spirit can be our constant guide as we live in accordance with the commandments of God.
I love you all and truly do appreciate all the love, support and prayers!
God Speed!
Elder Parks