Parker's Aussie Adventure: ONE YEAR DOWN FELLAS! hahhaa jk. but it's felt like a year.

ONE YEAR DOWN FELLAS! hahhaa jk. but it's felt like a year. everyone says the first week is the worst but once you make it to Sunday you're good. Sunday came, and then we were reminded we had four more days until P day. but hey. IT'S HERE AND HAPPY PDAY TO ME.

*big sigh* okay. HOW IS EVERYONE!? here in Provo, everyone is nice and friendly. there are a few interesting ones who don't like to follow the rules but I'm being obedient ahhhhh. so much has happened. you wouldn't think that talking about the gospel is tiring. but let me tell you. it. is. hard. but it's sooooo worth it. by the end of the day, everyone is so exhausted and we all just want to sleep. then we get in our pj's and we get hungry and slap happy. it's interesting how tired you get but again, it's all worth it.

so WEEKLY RECAP!!! but I'll make it short and sweet and then share a cool thought along with some pictures and videos to make your day brighter.

aug 21- first day here. way overwhelming and the number of people that said "welcome to the MTC" I can't even tell you haha. but I loved feeling loved. lots of getting to know you questions. Lots of weird looks when I said I like cleaning for my interesting fact but oh well.

aug 22- we got home at 950pm this day. when we were supposed to be home at FREAKIN 9. but it's okay. we heard about everyone's mission call openings from our zone which was cool. and we straight up had to share our testimony. kinda scary but it's crazy the spirit you feel.

aug 23- I woke up early than usual this day. which was hard. but I'm waking up at 620 every morning and according to @Kolton McCluskey, I can't do that so look at me now HaHHH. just kidding. but that day we had some interactive classes. we got to share our thoughts with people who don't have the gospel in their life. we sat in a big room and we asked them questions. tried to figure out what they needed. and it was so totally hard talking to strangers let alone sharing your testimony but I got up twice. pretty cool the power that the spirit has.

aug 24- harder of the days. we start out bright and early with classes and usually with teaching. which is hard but it's so good to learn and to grow. but we taught our FIRST EVERY TRC. brother brother (our teacher) doesn't even know what that stands for. but we basically teach real people the gospel. and figure out what they need. it's a lot more complicated than that. but it went good and we did it. my comp, Sister Kinslow and I do really well together. ill insert pictures of her.

aug 25- I AM THE CHOSEN ONE. our first Sunday. we got told on Thursday that the presidency of our branch likes to pick who speaks as he announces who is speaking. during the actual sacrament. and yep. you guessed it. although he did pull me aside and go "we don't normally do this but because you're new id thought id let you know. will you speak today?" BUT WEIRD THING IS I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN. earlier in the week (Friday) during personal study, I went to write the talk. (because we were told they pick people so to come prepared). and I just went off. I got in 4 pages about the power of the holy ghost in 15 minutes. so weird but as soon as I finished I just knew I would have to share. and I did. and I was terrified. but I did it and like 6 people told me it was amazing???? so weird. but okay. gotta do what you gotta do. and when you do it THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU AND HELP YOU. so that was cool

Aug 26- Monday! our first normal day. no get to know you classes or beginners workshops. so it was fun. had another TRC meeting with our person Mitchell. he's a tough cookie. doesn't open up and so it's hard to read him. I had my first disappointing moment when I shared my testimony and cried and his reaction was a shoulder shrug. but I understand not everyone is ready to receive the gospel but as long as I give it my all and give him every opportunity to accept it, ill be okay, and it's up to him. so that's where we're at. we're hoping a priesthood blessing (which he accepted) will help him with what he's struggling with.

aug 27- had a new TRC and he's wanting to get married in the temple. he's already married and she's a member but he's had a hard time accepting the gospel because his mom is not religious and his dad went from a member to an atheist. but he reads the book of Mormon and prays with his wife every night and so we think it'll have a good outcome. we also had service today. tough. I scrubbed 4 flights of 3 different staircases. that was sick. but we love service because we LOVE THE LORD

Aug 28- most normal day. we had study time and Sister Anderson and I went on a run again. we love a skinny legend.

and then today!! we get to go to the temple in a little bit and I'm so excited. I love the temple and it's so close to here which is also cool.

okay this is getting too long haha. but I'm attaching pictures because you'll enjoy them I promise.

don't forget to love God and doing everything in His name. he loves us and knows you and me perfectly. I've seen so many tiny miracles already and I know it's because of Him and the spirit of all the missionaries around me. AND don't forget that we're ALL a part of GOD'S ARMY.

ps. siestok means hello and goodbye in Hungarian. soo....SIESTOK.

LOVE SISTER LOCKHART