Week 2

Week 2
January 1, 2018

Hey everyone! This week went so great! Our guy in charge of getting the mail finally grabbed the dear elders and the elders were calling me Justin Bieber for a bit cause they said I was probably famous cause of all the mail you all sent me! So thanks a lot!! but actually thanks so much, I love the dear elders because I read them on my little bed every night before I go to sleep, and they're so great to read.

I started off my week by fasting for the people of my zone to feel comfort, my companion to recover from his sickness, and the elders leaving us to feel comfort. As well as a couple other reasons. 

That same day at open gym time the volleyball actually looked half decent so i decided to go play. Great choice, there was this really cocky guy from California and first play I packed him in the face sooo hard. After that he stopped trying and essentially, I took his throne hahahah. Also our first "investigator" is now one of our teachers, kinda weird but she's awesome and only 22 which is crazy. 

The next day I told an Elder in my district (Elder Throolin) I was taking him to get a fresh cut. Which I did and he looks sooo much better. His next hair cut will be unreal. Other than that I didn't do all that much that day. 

The next day I said my first goodbye Sister Brownelle left to go to Lisbon Portugal! We also got a new "investigator" and I'm nervous for that cause supposedly he acts like a jerk. But if I put faith in the lord I will be able to say the right things and know what to say. I finally got to play some good ball as well. There's an Elder going to Russia (I forgot his last name) but he played div 1 ball in the states for a year. He's 6'5 and an unreal shooter. We played 3v3 and we have had a couple of decent players on our team. My team won the best of 5 series 3-2 though. Me and him are buddies tho, and next time we have gym together we wanna play together and just demolish. The "Canadian Mamba" nickname still stays. 

The next day I didn't that much. 

Yesterday was great at the end. It started with breakfast followed by 4 straight hours of church (Cause Zone leaders have an extra early meeting), then lunch, then basically 3 more hours of church followed by dinner. The night was crazy good tho. We heard a great speaker named Brad Wilcox, as well as this 15 year old girl named Lexi Walker, who was UNREAL at singing. Like as good as it gets. She sung "I need thee every hour" which is one of my fav's and they way she sung it was absolutely amazing.Following that we watched a talk by Elder Bednar which was so good. 

That night back at the residence, however, was the best part but also sad. Elders Brown, McIntyre, Smith, Blackburn, and Devashrayee all had they're last night at the residence. They were the missionaries who welcomed us to the MTC and were like my older brothers in the MTC even tho i was older than a couple of them. But anyways they all asked me to give them a priesthood blessing of comfort before they left to Brazil. Everyone in the zone gathered to help me bless, and watch. It was amazing, and other elders after the older guys were done asked for blessings and I asked Elder Smith to give me one. Unreal experience. After that the older guys and I each talked one on one and the things they told me about who I am won't ever leave me. I care for them so much and let them know how I felt as well. Elder Smith (blue jacket, red tie in the pic) ​​ told me that I was the man he wanted to become and that one of his mission goals was to be like me. I will 100% see these elders again in 2 years. Unreal night. Oh yeah, elder Blackburn and Smith said they wanna name their first little boys Parks. Amazing. I love how much love I have for every Elder here and how well we all get along. I also had the blessing to help two companions through a fight and now they're super tight! 

This week was crazy good and everything has been so amazing, I'm so glad I chose to serve, great decision. 

We get 6 new Elders on Wednesday and 0 new sisters, so i guess it's out with the old, and in with the new aha.

Also I met a missionary with the last name Schmeed.

Elder out
Mamba out​

parks.layton@myldsmail.net

Elder Parks Stewart Layton
Portugal Porto Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 East.    Unit #157
Provo, UT.  
United States    84602





A Visit to the Grounds of the Provo Temple



Parks' Companion - Elder Webb


The Roommates


Elder Throolin with a new haircut


Fresh snow at the MTC






                                                                                  Elder Smith and Elder Layton

















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