1/29/2024 - Week 28 - Biking in the rain, uphill, in 20 mph winds

Howdy,

This week has felt like 10 years but also a blink of the eye. Don't ask me how that works, I don't know.

On Tuesday, we got Breonaa's Baptism all finalized and she asked me to play the piano for her baptism! I was super excited and a little nervous because my already not fantastic accompanying skills had become rather lackluster in the 6 months it's been since I've practiced regularly. We also had a lesson with Brian and Oliva and they are doing well. Brian even found Preach My Gospel on the Gospel Library app and would randomly mention during the lesson that he's been reading and say "I'm reading the book you guys study from!" 

Wednesday we got transfer news and I found out that I would be transferring to Tipp City, Ohio and would be the district leader there (as well as greenie breaking my comp - Elder Despain). 

Thursday we visited our favorite sister Helen Ray and told her the news that I would be leaving and she was sad, but she was super excited because she was giving the talk on the Holy Ghost for Breonaa's baptism!! So we gave her some stuff to read about the Holy Ghost and she was ready!

Friday was transfers and it was the usual panic and pandemonium trying to get everyone back to their areas with all their luggage. It was also my first time driving since I became a missionary and it wasn't too crazy (Elder Despain confirms). I apparently had too much confidence in my ability to ride bikes and I have been severely humbled by my comp and been absolutely exhausted since Friday. 

Friday and Saturday were some of the worst rain and wind Elder Despain has seen since he got to Tipp City three months ago. So that was a fun welcome into the area. Our apartment is also outside of our area boundaries (I have no clue why) so we have to bike into our area and there are maybe 5 towns and 4 of those five towns are "towns" half the size of Emmett, ID with less than half the gas stations and store parking lots to find in (if that's even possible, plus they don't have Roe-Anns). It's gonna be a large adjustment from being in Dayton and Cincinnati.

We did have a miracle this week: We were biking home for dinner from a town about 6 miles away from our apartment and we decided to bike a different way than Elder Despain usually did to get back home that went through a little neighborhood. We talked to a guy who was working on his trailer, and he wasn't interested in coming to church, but when we asked if he knew anyone who might be interested, he told us to go to his neighbor across the street. We knocked on that door and the guy who answered wasn't interested and didn't know anyone who was looking for a church; HOWEVER, I heard a guy yelling something and looked around for about 30 seconds before I saw a guy waving us over to his house asking us to come inside! We biked on over and he said he had seen missionaries bike past for a long time and now he wanted to hear what we had to say! We stopped by for a little bit and talked about a lot of stuff, including how he's seen the power of prayer as he recovered fully from a stroke after he said a prayer in his darkest hour. He was just a really cool guy and said he wanted to make changes in his life to come closer to Jesus Christ (which people RARELY seem to want to do). He's an absolute dawg and we cant wait to meet up with him again!

We also had a fire Church Service on Sunday because the ward here is SUPER missionary oriented and are always looking for ways to help with the work! We were able to get a ride up to Tippecanoe (ye olde name for Tipp City) from a member in the ward who just happened to be featured on the first season of American Ninja Warrior. We also had dinner with the Stake President's family and his son made some absolutely fire Chicken (Thai?) Curry. 

We also had a fire Devotional last night about planning from our Mission 1st counsellor! He served in the Army for 20 years and was a Green Beret (Army equivalent of Navy SEAL) in Afghanistan and Iraq. He told us a ton of stories from his time in the Army as a soldier and as an instructor. I think he kinda wanted to tell us a ton of stories (which no one was complaining about because they are cool) but he also tied them in really well to the gospel (especially how God knows and loves each and every one of us) and planning (if you fail to plan, you plan to fail).

Tender Mercies: On Thursday Elder Whiffen and Elder Nwobi took us to BWW and we got wings and had a good time. It was nice. I also bought the new double Big Mac because I hate my arteries apparently, and when they brought it out, they brought me 2 of them (even though I only paid for one). It may not seem like a lot, but I love food and free food is the best food!

Anyways, I love y'all and I love getting emails from you guys! Please reach out if you want to talk!

Elder Parker Hansen

New address : 5562 Aisenbrey Rd Huber Heights, OH 45424 United States


Biking in the rain in Tipp City
Breonaa's baptism!!!
I wasn't able to be there even though I was super close by 
because I am on bikes and not in a car area. 
Very sad. Still a little upset about it
Double Double Big Mac
Last time at service with the Hansen's (Senior couple) aka. Family reunion
Arnold helping me to work out every morning
Last time with the Dayton District
Some Lee's Bussin (famous) Chicken
Brother Heines after helping us with a lesson
Lunch from some members in the Huber Heights ward

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