Elder James Park

“Don't Look Around, Look Up!”

I can’t believe it, week five in Chile is over! I am so grateful for this opportunity that Heavenly Father has given me to learn and grow closer to Him and our Savior. I love being a missionary and representing Jesus Christ everyday as I put his name on my chest.

This week some of my highlights included:

I got to visit two new small towns that were super pretty and fun!

(Loncoche and Gorbea)

I got to go on splits with a different district leader from Peru. On this day we found many new people to teach and we had the opportunity to set two different baptismal dates! 🥳🙂‍↕️🥳
We played cards and poker to celebrate later that night.. I’m starting to get used to playing cards and board games in Spanish 🤣
I helped a family make soapipillas! 👨‍🍳😋
I tried Matte for the first time! For anyone who may not know, Matte is a super bitter grass flavor drink that is served boiling hot. I burned my tongue first sip so really I can't explain the flavor very well 🥴😅. *From what I tasted.. I recommend drinking hot chocolate 🙂‍↕️☕️*
I sang a special musical number with my companion in sacrament meeting. Neither of us sing very well but I think the branch loved it.. 🎶😬🎶
🌊 I had my first tsunami in the mission! 🌊 This is when all of the missionaries in the zone get together in one town or sector and all find and teach people. It was a super cool experience and opportunity to learn 😎

*Below is my spiritual thought for this week.*

I wanted to share a story with an important perspective. The story is about a young boy whose name is Yoon Hwan Choi and says…

One day, a few months after my baptism, I heard some members criticizing each other in church. I was very disappointed. I went home and told my father that maybe I should not go to church anymore. It was difficult to see members criticize others like that. After listening, my father taught me that the gospel had been restored and it is perfect but members are not yet, neither himself nor me. He firmly said, “Do not lose your faith because of the people around you, but build a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. “Don’t look around, look up!” Look Up to Jesus Christ, it is He who has the power to change our hearts during our times of uncertainty.

This relates to one of my favorite scriptures that I wanted to share this week and it's found in Doctrine and Covenants chapter 6:36-37 which says,

“36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.”

Thanks to our Loving Savior Jesus Christ we all have the ability and opportunity to Look Up. His arms are always open to you and to me at all times and in all places. We must never forget that there are generations before us and after us who are depending on us to follow Christ so that we can be an eternal family of God.

This is a great work that we've been given where we each have our own unique responsibilities. I love sharing this good news of Jesus Christ with others! I know that Heavenly Father is never too far away to hear our prayers. I can testify that He loves each one of us.

Thank you for all of your many prayers. I am so grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to love and serve my Father in Heaven and represent our Savior Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for each of you!

-Elder Park 🙋