Masvingo and the Mountains

Headed to the Big City!

So transfers were this week and well... I'll be leaving Masvingo and heading to the big city in Harare!!! Kabuzuma to be exact! And have a new wonderful companion that just got out of his 12 weeks, Elder Mbafu! Who is from Tanzania. Pretty sweet! From what I have seen he is a sweet and fun guy! Excited to see what will happen this next transfer.

Also sweetest moment of the mission. So my entire mission I have been away from the big city, and basically most of the missionaries. Haha so when I arrived at Harare I basically knew no one that was there. But hey I guess this is the transfer to meet a bunch of new missionaries. So anyways Since I have been away from the city for so long. I have not been able to see any of the Elders that I came with from the MTC. 

So after a year since I have last seen their faces. All 4 of us missionaries were reunited at the mission office. Haha it was so awesome! Think that was the most I have ever hugged on my mission! And even better, we will all be able to see each other much more often because we are all serving in Harare now. Elder Whiting is now the AP, Elder Bollinger is now my Zone Leader, and me and Elder Allen are both District leaders. So it's pretty sweet!

The Love of Masvingo!

Although I will be starting a new adventure I will truley miss the place of Masvingo. Served a good 4 1/2 months there! 

So things I will miss most will be the great friends that I have made there. Sister Makuwe is one. A recent convert mother who treats us like her children as well. I loved her so much and she worried and cared for us the entire time we were there. She also help out tons with the missionary work.

Also will miss a recent Convert Junior. He was such a great kid. And is super powerful in the church. Also I was able to beat him in a game of chess. (Because he is soooo sooo amazing at chess! Best I have ever seen) And I hope for the best for him and his future plans to serve a misison.

Lastly I will miss all the lovely members there that were very kind and welcoming at the branch.

It is sad to leave this peopel behind. But what I learned here "We Meet to part and part to Meet" So someday I'll see these wonderful people again.

High on a Mountain Top

One of the top experiences happened on my mission. So it was Friday and our district/house decided to have lunch together on top of the mountain. So we drive up to the top looking down at the whole Masvingo. Well while we were eating our tastey Chicking Inn. A man walks up to us and starts to talk.

He then tells us that he has met missionaries before and was told a bit about the Book of Mormon. Then we sit down and he asks us great questions about the Book of Mormon, Prophets, Baptism, and other deep questions. We answer him and introduce a bit of the message that we have to share. (That answers all of those questions) It was great! And during the conversation he told us something really awesome!

He said that he had gone up here to the mountain to pray to God with his friend. He said that he has been praying to know the truth and find a true church. Then he said that while he was praying we 4 missionaries come up to the top of the mountain. And he said he knew that God sent us to answer his questions. It was the most amazing thing ever. So then we taught then man on top of a mountain looking down across all of Masvingo. Not too often you can say you have done that on your mission. haha God truly works in mysterious ways.

Well I love all of you and hope that you have a great week! I am excited for what this new transfer will bring. Until next time!!

Zone conference, Sacrifices, and the big move!

Wow What a Wonderful Week it Went

So Lot's has happened this week. So much that you could put all the events this week and spread them over a space of 3 weeks and it would still sound like an eventful month... So Here's what Happened.

Zone Conference

Thursday we were able to drive up to Gweru for a wonderful zone conference. It was great. Talked a bit about the plan of Salvation and more on how we need to have the spirit in our lives. The thing that touched me the most however was that We Need the Spirit when we do missionary work. Because if we don't have the spirit in our teachings, then we are not teaching God's way. And if we are not teaching God's way, then nothing will happen in the work. You can baptize someone through your charisma and amazing teaching, but overall the investigator won't be truly converted. They have to feel the spirit in thier lives. Because that spirit is what converts people, not the missionary that is speaking.

This has made me reflect more about the way I teach. I know I have a gift of teaching, but it will do me no good if I don't have the spirit as well. So I have really now been trying hard to teach with the spirit rather than my own intellect. God knows best and the only way to follow his best plan is to follow his spirit.

We Moved!

Yes it is true. We have moved out of our small quaint kinda filthy and rundown home, to a much, nicer, new, giant house! It's awesome! We moved Friday afternoon and went pretty smoothly. So now we have 3 toilets, 2 showers, and big empty room and lots of other small rooms. It's pretty sweet! Although Transfers are next week and I'll probably be leaving.. I'll be enjoying this new house as much as I can!

Sacrifice Brings Blessings

So i just want to end with this amazing family that showed up to church this SUdnay. On Sunday we walked into the chapel and see this family with a mother, father, and their 3 kids tucked away in the back corner. And none of us Elders recognized them. Well we found out that they were investigators interested in joining and learning about he church. But the most amazing part is thier story.

So this family once came in contact with the church in Gweru. And it left such an impact that they needed to come again. Although they lived in the Kumusha (Like suburbs/farm area with no electricity and running water), and were directed to come to the closest church building from thier house in Masvingo...which... was 85 kilometers away. So when we saw them this morning. I asked when they arrived. And they said we left a little before 6am, and hitch hiked thier way from the kumusha until they got to the church. They had to take three different transportations in order to get there, and miraculously they were able to arrive at the chapel in a little over an hour! Which itself is a miracle. So they arrived at around 7am... and then waited infront of the church until 9:30am when church started! And that's not all but the total cost for his family to come to church because of transportation was around 10$!!! Which is a lot for a family especially living in the kumusha. 

That family is already truely converted. They know the worth of what the gospel offers and are willing to give anything to get it. 

In Matt 13:45-46 is similar to this: 

45: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:"

46: "Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, wen t and sold all that he had, and bought it."

I know that this gospel is worth more than anything in the world and we should be able to have that sacrafice in order to obtain it!

I hope that everyone had a great week!!! I love you all!! Until Next Time!

Love,

Elder Parco

Pictures:

-Zone COnference Pictures!!

-My piles of juice I have had! I love juice!

-Moving!!

-Best Birthday Breakfast in the World!! Blue Eggs, Bacon and chocolate chip pancakes!!

Charles the new man

Baptisms and soccer games

Elder Parco's Minni Updates for the Week:

Baptisms:

We were able to have two baptisms this week! It was so amazing! Ngonizvashe and Tinahse were baptized this Saturday. Tinahse is a young man about the age of 14 who absolutely can't miss a day of church. And he has a strong testimony about the Restoration and how this church is true. And has even influenced his dad into comming to church. 

ANd Ngonizvashe. He is super powerful young adult who from the very beginning of teach has been open to the teachings and has keeped all the commitments that we set for him. Even that very day we talked about the word of wisdom and how he should follow these things, he stopped his addiction of drinking. It was amazing.

I am so excited for these guys to continue to progress in the gospel. I know for a fact that it is true.

Investigators:

So first Tinashe's dad. Baba Tinashe as we call him. He is amazing! He came to church this week as well and got to see his son confirmed and become a member of the church. Although he has not committed to baptism yet, I can already see the many changes that are starting to happen in his life.

Also Munyaratzi is preparing himself for baptism this week. He is an amazing guy! And he was a referral from our good member friend Taka. Hew's super nice and is so ready to be baptized. Apparently he has been coming to church for the last 3 years but no missionaries have ever taught him about the gospel.

And lastly Baba Talent. He came to church again! And he now has the strong desire to be baptized. We are working on it. Just have to take care of some marriage problems and all will be well. Also He had a problem with smoking and we told him that the gospel can help. ANd ever since then he has gone from 10 cigarettes a day to only 2 a day. It's awesome! 

I absolutely love this gospel and know that it changes lives.

Soreness:

So just a little update. Seems like our house goes through pain together. But this Saturday we put together a little game of soccer with members and thier friends. And random people from the street also showed up to the churhc to play with us also. It was great! haha But the consequesnces of it. All our legs are basically dead. haha Sunday was a struggle of walking. Jealous of Elder Anderson and Koch who actually have the car for thier area. But yeah, no pain no gain.

Fact About Elder Whittier:

So he talks in his sleep. haha last night I woke up in the middle of the night and he just starting talking. haha I don't remember exactly what he said but he sure was happy to see someone in his dream. 

Well I hope that everyone has a great week this week! I love you all!! Until Next time!!

Love,

Elder Parco

Pictures!!!

Baptism!

And we went to the game park again!!! Nice

Things are starting to buzz!

Yeah so first things first. I just got a haircut. Yep, went to the barber, sat down, and he just went at it buzzing away the hair. So now my hair is super short on all sides. But hey it actually looks pretty good. Now I know what I would look like if I ever would join the military. I'll send a picture of the outcome. But anyways, here was my week. 

Things are starting to Buzz!

This week was amazing! Or more like this weekend was amazing! Things are truly starting to happen in Masvingo! And super pumped to see what will come out of it. So like I said before, the weekend was great! But the weekdays. Probably some of the hardest. But hey this week proved that sacrifice prepares us for something better. And that weekend was that something better. So the week. Basically lots of fall throughs and empty days. And Wednesday was horrible. Our whole house got sick again, except this time just with some queasiness and bad stomachs, with the feeling of throwing up. But luckily it only lasted for about 2 days. And Wednesday was one of those days. That day was pretty empty as well. Only really taught two lessons. And the rest of the time we were walking around Rujeko with sick stomachs, finding out that no one is home. But we endured and survived. But here is why the weekend is so amazing.

Friday and Saturday. Those days made up for the rest. They were packed and filled with so many people and great lessons. 

One new investigator that we found was a friend of Taka's. Who has been going to church for ages but noone has taught him. So we taught him. He is so engaged, believes these things are true and set a date for his baptism on the 9th of September. Also Tinashe. Last Sunday asked when he could be baptized. So when we met with him, we went over baptism and set a date with him on the 2nd. And lastly Ngonizvashe. We have been teaching him for some time and set a date for him as well on the 2nd! So that is amazing! 

Also funny moment, we met his guy named Joshua. And when we visited him he was like, "Alright I want you guys to teach me. But when you teach I want it to look like I'm teaching you, but still teach me about the gospel." Haha So we went through the lesson with him and every time someone walked by the street where we were, he would just start reading the pamphlet we gave him and act like he was teaching us. It was funny. So that was the week. Super successful in the end.  

Power of the Book of Mormon!

But the biggest miracle of all was Sunday. I have found this week that there is a strong correlation between someone reading the Book of Mormon and their conversion. Here's why. Tinahse, the boy we have been teaching and set a date for him has a father who has been listening in on the lessons. And the whole time usually the father is somewhat interested but hasn't really participated much. SO on Wednesday we taught about the Book of Mormon and leave it with them. Then here is the miracle, On Friday. We visit the family again. And we start teaching a bit about the Plan of Salvation. Then all of a sudden the father opens up to us and just starts talking about how he needs engage in the gospel, and wants to eventually join the church. And he said that all because he read the Book of Mormon. He said he believes this gospel is true and wants to be apart of it. And even that he said that the example of his son last week. It was cold last Sunday and the father asked the son if he was going to go to church. And the son said nothing will stop me from going. And walked the 1 hour journey to the church. Then he told us how he was going to be there this Sunday. And when Sunday rolled around he was there! With his son! It was truly a miracle!

The second miracle comes from an investigator named Mai Avante. We have been really focusing on the Restoration and Mai Avante and her nephew both go to another church. SO recently we have been leaving chapters for Mai Avante to read from the Book of Mormon. Starting from 3 Nephi Ch. 11. And we show back up and she read it. So then we assign her ch. 12. WE come back of Saturday and she read it. And says that she absolutely loves the book. Then that Saturday we invite them to church and then said, if nothing comes up then they will try to come. Well to our surprise, when Sunday rolled around she was there!! It was quite a miracle! And she seemed so happy to be there!

I truly know the power that the Book of Mormon has from just reading it. ANd that by reading this book it truly changes lives! I hope everyone continues to read the book everyday! Because there is a power that comes from it.

I love you all and hope you all have a great week!! Until Next Time!

Love,

Elder Parco

Pictures: my haircut

Miracle Wednesdays and Service Saturdays

Empty Wednesday

This day was a bit of a dud. But ended off pretty well. So all day we didn't have any appointments set up. So we first went around to potential investigators to see if they were around to teach or set another appointment. Got to each house and then... Nothing. Every single person we saw was not home. Until We finally found Mai Avante. Taught her a great lesson then continued on with the day. SO at this point, we had no one else to see. So went then went along and contacted houses.. Had some good conversations here and there but ultimately... nothing.

So we were walking down the street, and see this big fire in the field. And here's what happened.

Me: "Hey do you want to take a picture by that fire over there?

Elder Whittier: "Sure, why not. Do you want to?" 

Me: "Only if there is a path"  

Walked like 10 feet 

Whittier: "Well, There's a path, let's go!"

So we go over to this fire. And then these twin boys come over and want to take a picture with us. So we do and start becoming friends with them. Then we tell them our purpose, and they invite us to come over to teach them some other time. It was pretty cool.

Then on the way back to our house. We take this "shortcut" Which leads to a boe hole. (a well) And we just start helping this guy fill his water and take it to his house. Then when we were going to leave, this guy on his own says, "Hey Take my number to teach me and invite me on church on Sunday, I'll be free." 

It was pretty awesome! Even thought the whole day was a bit tiring. That last hour made it worth it. 

Miracle Thursday

Thursday was truly a miracle. So today we were in Rujeko area. Which takes about 1 hour walk from the church. So we go there and try to find this kid who came to church about two weeks ago. Tinashe. Before then however, we walked around to people we had set appointments with, however all were fall throughs. So we are walking through the area, keeping in the back of our minds the street that we need to find. Then all of a sudden we look at where we are and it's that street! Miracle. So we find Tinashe's house and we ask for him. And right at that moment Tinashe just arrived at the house. And the look of his excitement on his face was priceless. He was so happy to see us missionaries. So we talk to the parents, introduce ourselves and set an appointment for us to come back. 

Then we started walking to a RC's but on the way took a wrong street, and run into a potential investigator from like 3 months ago. He starts asking us questions about the Restoration that we taught all that time ago and asks us to come by the house another day. Then just 10 steps further on the street a guy calls us over and tells us to take down his details because he wants to be taught. Awesome. Then we are walking on another street. Back on track to the Recent Convert and I see these house and tell Elder Whittier, I've always had a feeling to contact these houses but never have. Then right after I said that things lady comes out onto the street, tells us that she wants to be taught. We asked here where she lives and she pointed to the house I just was talking about! It was truly a miracle! haha 

That whole day was amazing and found so many new investigators that day. I love all the opportunities that Heavenly Father has given us.

Service Saturday

Saturday We were able to help with Mormon Helping Hands at an orphanage. It was awesome. Just helped out on yard work. But Bro. Vanerai and us four missionaries jobs were to till all of the field. And wow was that a lot of work. Got 3 nasty blisters on my hand from it. But it was pretty great experience. So now know how to till a field with a hoe!

Well this was quite an eventful week! I hope everyone elses week's are just as eventful!! I love you all Until Next Time!

Love,
Elder Parco

Pictures:

The Fire and the kids

Serive on Saturday 

Transfer week!

Transfer Week!

So we celebrated a funeral this week. Of my beloved companion Elder Chimtengo. haha Sunday night we celebrated his last breaths of air in the Zimbabwe territory, as he moves onto greater and better things in Malawi. We had a funeral service and everything for him. Ending with the Danish cake that Elder Koch received from home. It was nice. But it was sad to see him go. I will truly miss serving with Elder Chimtengo. He had an unbelievable knowledge about the scriptures the bible especially. And he knew how to work effectively. I am now honored to carry on what he has left with me.

But in other news, I am staying in Masvingo!! ANd now have a new companion. Elder Whittier. Who is apparently the youngest missionary on the mission. Turning 19 on the 26th of August! haha So We'll get to celebrate that fun stuff! Also Fun Fact: All of my companions expect Elder Young Yen I have been their companions while it was their birthdays. (Elder Luvuno, Barrus, Richardson, Chimtengo, and now Whittier) Haha so starting to get good at these birthday celebrations. Plus their packages from home are always nice! haha 

But a bit about Whitter: I already know him. So not much a surprise of who he is. haha. He is from South Denver Colorado, and a pretty chill, funny guy. And the same height as Elder Anderson, who is about 6 feet 6 inches (maybe) But it makes me feel super short. Since we have also Elder Koch who is about 5 inches taller than both of them. So ready for all those neck cramps this transfer for looking up the whole time. haha So That's all I got for now on information about my comp, but I'll keep you posted on... "Facts about Whittier". haha

Junior Was Baptized!

This Saturday we were able to have the baptism of Junior! IT was amazing and it made me realize how much joy I have when one gets baptized. Besides the baptism of Junior, the other Elders were also able to have baptisms of 6 people! Mostly a family and then two twin boys. But it was amazing. I remember that feeling on Sunday when all of them came to church early for their confirmation, and seeing all their bright and happy faces. It just made me feel complete joy. Something I really can't even describe. It was amazing. 7 new members who took the commitment to follow Christ and be numbered in his fold. 

It made me realize what is true joy. What really makes you happy in this life. It's the gospel. It's following Jesus Christ and keeping his commandments. Many times we see commandments as restrictions and a burden. But a way my preivous companion explained it is that it's a light. It brings in light to the darkness of the world. It makes the world a better place. This weekend was really a motivation for me to even work harder in the missionary work. Because I realized that the most joy I feel on mission, is when I see someone elses life change for the better.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week this week! I love you all and be safe! Until next time...

Love,

THe one and only Elder Parco

Pictures:

Baptisms and our district!