Brady's Blog

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 This past week for me has been really good. We had two baptisms. The first was B B. She was golden when I met her and in only six weeks of taking the lessons, she is baptized. The other is E S. He is a 14 Navajo boy who is way excited about the church. What's interesting is the fact that I am serving on another reservation. It is the Maricopa Indian Reservation. So I have now worked on my mission with the Navajo, the Pima, and the Maricopa along with working closely with the Hopi and the Apache. It's pretty cool. Elder Parkin Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Last week was pretty slow but this week we have three baptisms. The H kids (even though their last names aren't H). It should be a good service. B's daughter is now going to start taking the lessons and maybe even their neighbor. Now converts are always such good missionaries. Did you get to see any of conference? If not, or even if so, check out Jeffery R. Holland. That was i...

Brady e-mailed me about this incident and I was going to look up some information on it, when I checked my mom's e-mail and saw the following link sent to her from her brother (Thanks Rob!) She didn't quite know what the e-mail was about so I called later to let them know that it was an article and news story with Brady in it. We hope you enjoy "seeing" Elder Parkin. I know we have watched it a number of times already at our house today. My oldest son (4) keeps waving at his uncle everytime he sees him and my younger son (2) just keeps saying, "That's my Bubba." Make sure to click on the video as well as read the article (I missed the video the first time around.) PD: Vandals target cars in church, grocery parking lots - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News ABC15.com Posted using ShareThis

* I got an e-mail and letter from Brady on the same day so here is the compilation of the two.* Aug 26, 2009 Things here are alright. Sorry its been a bit since I last wrote. Things are crazy and it seems like something is always happening . . . except now . . . kinda. My companion, Elder Lee, has pneumonia and has ad it for a while (almost a week) so i haven't really been doing much of anything . . . The work seems to be picking up unless it is just another illusion (I hope not.) Missionary work definitely has its challenges but the blessings are tremendous. It is very fun to see the Light of Christ flood into someone. It truly brings joy when you "see many of [your] brethren truly penitent" (Alma 29:10). I wish I had more to write but I have hardly been out of the apartment for 5 days. Not very fun, but important for Elder Lee's health and the work of the Lord. Love, Elder Brady Parkin * Email received on September 1, 2009 * Hey y'all, Guess what. I got transfe...

* Make sure to read the post following this one. I have been a little slow in getting these up.* Things here are too hot. Consistently 110 plus degrees, even with he rain, lightning and dust storms. The heat has made the work really slow. No one is in town or they don't answer their door. In addition, the scorching heat makes you not even want to go outside at all so it is a trail of faith. As far as our investigators, everything has stalled; frozen in time. Progression is minimal but we are trying to work through it and do the best we can. Results aren't coming . . .yet. They will. The Lord has prepared people and we must find them. And fast hopefully. Love Elder Brady Parkin

Things here are great. A couple weeks ago was transfers and since then things have been crazy. I am still in Surprise but rather than Kingswood Park and Surprise 2nd, I have Surprise 1st and 2nd. My new companion is Elder Davis from Portland, Oregon. He is awesome. Since the transfer, the work has been mainly organization and just trying to figure everything out. We are still trying to do so but I think we are beginning to expedite the work in the area. As for a spiritual experience, it isn't anything to do with missionary work but it was the most powerful one I've had ever. In an effort to reconfirm my testimony, I prayed all last week for the spirit to manifest itself stronger than I had ever felt to tell me about the truth and to strengthen my testimony. Tuesday morning as I began to read the Book of Mormon early in Alma, the Spirit flooded my heart. it was the strongest I had ever felt it. the next morning was the same drill. It was so strong that at one point I had to put ...

How are things going? Things here are good. Service works! Four of our new investigators we found while helping them move in. They are such nice people:V, T, V, & B. We have taught them about the Restoration of the gospel and because of the bond of trust, they were more than willing to put the Book of Mormon to the test. No results yet but they will come. Nothing else is really new on the works side of things. As far as my studies go, I am immersing myself in the New Testament and the life of Christ. I have just finished mark and one common theme is jumping out at me: Faith. What a concept. It is no wonder that it is the first principle of the gospel. Without faith, we as a people, would be nowhere. I think back to the ever prevalent pride cycle in the Book of Mormon. When people stopped relying and putting their faith in God, they began to rely on themselves which led them to destruction. If they would have just kept faith in Jesus Christ they would have recognized themselves goin...

So, my week has been pretty crazy. We are doing a lot of tracting and it is not easy or fun in 100 degree weather. It's all good though. We got a bunch of potential investigators this week. This Saturday are our two baptisms. I am excited for that. With them getting baptized, Elder Lewis and I have a lot of work to do getting new investigators. It is hard work. In my studies this past three months I have been focusing on the Plan of Salvation. It is such a blessing just to have a knowledge and understanding of it all. Knowing that I am on this earth for the purpose of becoming like my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and how I can return to live with God again along with my family. I know that through true faith in Jesus Christ we will be motivated to do what is right at all times thus gaining companionship of the Holy Ghost. I have a testimony of action. As plans are moved into action and work is put forth with that true fai...

Things are going well and the weather is hot! This week it should be mostly in the 100s. The work in the area is full of goods and bad. L&V J moved this week so we lost them. However HF and EA are set for baptism on May 16th. I don't know if I told you about E but at the beginning of a recent lesson we were told that she intended on joining a convent and becoming a nun so that she could help people. After a little conversation we shared Mosiah 18:8-10 talking about mourning with those that mourn and comforting those who need comfort. When we read in verse 10 "If this be the desire of your heart, what have you against being baptized?" all she could say is "It's true!" She was almost in tears. It was the sign she had been looking for. She accepted a baptism date on the spot. It was a 180* turn in an hour, as well as a miracle. I remember going straight back to the apartment and flipping out. Ten million prayers of gratitude came from my mouth that day. I a...

(This is taken from a few different e-mails from the past two weeks and written in my words. ~ Heather) Last Wednesday brought a lot of changes for Elder Parkin. Although he stayed in the same area (Surprise, Arizona) he got a new companion, Elder Lewis. Along with a new companion, he also was given a new assignment as a district leader. I asked him what exactly this meant and he told me that he will now have stewardship over a small group of elders. He will call them each night and see how their day was, how their investigators are doing, and all that jazz. He also will get to plan district meetings and conduct companion exchanges. Lots of fun things in store for him. Just another quick note - Brady's birthday is on the 24th of this month and I know he would love hearing from you. Thanks for all the support you have given him!

(I am going to start this blog by giving an update to what Elder Parkin has been up to in the past few weeks. I have got short e-mails and have received most of this information from my parents, so hopefully I get it right. Brady was transfered to Surprise, Arizona at the end of February. He was also made a senior companion!!!!! There were some concerns with his new companion but they really got to work and really accomplished a lot! He was put into wards that had just split and have a lot of building to do. From my take on the situation, it sounds like a difficult area, but know that he can handle whatever comes his way. Now to the letter . . . ) So I just got a phone call - my companion is leaving for home and I am being transfered somewhat. I am in the same apartment complex but I have a new companion and a new area but it is in the same stake. My companion should be (and is) Elder Ulima who I was in the MTC with. He is a big Samoan from Hawaii and is one of the coolest people I kn...

Things have been crazy still. On Monday was K.K.'s baptism. It was awesome. The Relief Society room was all the way back to standing room only. That's a good thing though. It was such a spirit filled service. Last week was interviews with President Beck. In my interview, I committed myself to getting 3 new investigators each week. President Beck looked a little suprised but I knoew that I could do it (our area averages less then 1 per week.) On Friday, I got some help. I went on exchanges with Elder Crampton and he taught me by example, to "teach when you find>" He is so good at door approaches. So this week I have implemented some of his "teachings" and we already have 1 new investigator with a possibility of 3 more today and tomorrow. Sorry it's a short letter but it is not P-day. Gotta get to work. Love Elder Brady Parkin PS Transfers on the 25th. Cross your fingers.

My mom received an e-mail from a lady in one of the wards Brady is serving in. Brady and his companion had dinner at their house and they sent these fun pictures to my mom.

I am so sorry that I have not written in the past couple of weeks. Things here have been so crazy. The work is crazier than ever and we are pushing harder than ever because we are having a hard time teaching 20 lessons a week and getting 10 hours of tracting. This past week especially has been extremely eventful. On Thursday, Elder L. Tom Perry was here to speak to us. Yeah! The Apostle. What do you think of that. It was really cool. He shook every missionary's hand and one of the senior sisters, whose home ward I serve in, said that after I shook his hand I was walking on air. I think that I was. He talked a lot about Preach My Gospel and teaching more lessons and getting the members involved and everything so it was amazing. Along with that amazingness, we had a baptism on Saturday for S P. Boy does she have a strong testimony or what?!! Missionary work is amazing and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. S's husband was telling us about this and said that he wo...

How is everything going? Things here are great. Last time I wrote there were two baptisms coming up. Now there are three. K has a date now for February 16. It is really exciting. Transfers are this week but both me and my companion are staying. That is good news because now I get to see all of the baptisms. I hope. That is what I said last time before that odd and crazy transfer. I have learned just nor to expect the ordinary though it usually comes. Other than that, work is still work and it still has to be done, so I do. Working here is harder the the Rez for various reasons even though the Rez had its challenges too. Well I think that's all for now. Love Elder Brady Parkin