Week 4

So this past week has been very busy... A lot of it has been training and meetings to prepare for this next week and getting investigators to watch general conference... Speaking of I'm very excited for that, the once in a lifetime event of naming three apostles in one conference session, is so momentous that I can't even really describe my excitement. This past week has been awesome... Not! We had our person on date for baptism, postpone to a date not yet decided, had 7 investigators drop us, 0 of our investigators show up to sacrament, and 12 lessons cancel on us. Let's just say that that was very discouraging... But I feel like I just need to put my faith in the Lord and persevere. Sorry that I don't have a great amount to write today. But all I can say is make an effort to watch General Conference and focus on the words that the Prophet and Apostles have to tell us on what we need to do in these very troubling times in our world. Until next week.

Elder Parker N. Fleming

A Tour of My First Apartment

My unorganized study desk... I have no way to keep my books up, it really bothers me how unorganized it is! 

My beautiful bike.

I know our apartment is messy... This was taken before we cleaned today.

I just thought this looked cool when I set them down!

This is a close up of the area that we cover for Sutherlin.

We have a random board where Elders that have gone on exchanges or lived in the apartment draw something and put their name on it.

Week Three

So this week was kind of a lull... We had a lot of cancellations and people that just were not there when we showed up. But Wednesday was kind of a good day! Our Wednesday's are our service days, so most of the day is just service. We helped out at the local food pantry and I saw some people that would kind of take advantage of the system, but, for the most part, people were genuinely struggling and the look of gratitude that was on their faces just from us helping them with food was amazing and  I teared up a couple of times. Then we helped a less active member move some stuff out of her yard because she was moving.... Followed by helping out at a soup kitchen....
Thursday was a lull day again, but Friday got interesting. Elder Scott had District Leader Training and so I was dragged to that, but I just went on splits with Elder Watson because his trainer is a DL too. We decided to go to the Stake Center 11 miles away in Roseburg and ended up getting lost and drove around Roseburg for about an hour. So needless to say, we aren't ready to navigate Oregon yet! Then I actually went on splits with the Zone Leaders and I actually helped put one of their investigators on date for baptism!!
On Saturday, I was still on splits and we got up early and went, as a Zone, to help put together Winter Survival kits for veterans. Then we had a few more lessons and I was returned to Elder Scott. I felt a lot more at home on Sunday. I knew names and was able to answer questions that were asked! lol.
So all in all, I'd give my week a 7. So please keep me in your prayers to have the best week I can possibly have. I love you guys and am very grateful for your support. Have an awesome week!!

Elder Parker Fleming

Welcome to Oregon!

So today is my second P-day and day 21 of the mission. I have been assigned to labor in the Sutherlin Ward of the Roseburg Area in the Oregon Eugene Mission. It is very HOT here. Apparently they haven't had rain in awhile!
The Last couple days at the MTC seemed like they were a blur. We woke up late and just barely made the bus to the Airport. I got to call my mom and dad and it was amazing! I literally cried the entire call. 

Being greeted at the airport by President and Sister Russell

After we got to the mission, we spent that evening tracting with some Elders from the Eugene area. I had five doors slammed in my face☺️!  One of the doors was answered by a guy who said, "Let me make this easy for you, no!" and slammed the door. But anyways, we finished the night and then I was assigned to be companions with the amazing Elder Thomas Scott. I am his first Son (trainee) and he has been out for about a year, and seems pretty good at this whole missionary thing.  We had New missionary training on Friday Morning and then we went tracting unsuccessfully. We then had our full schedule on Saturday all cancel on us... So we went tracting, again unsuccessfully. Yesterday was pretty good we went to church, a lady walked up to us and said,"I want to be baptized. Teach me more!"  Another person, who has mild autism, who had never wanted us to teach him but
would hang out with us and go to church with his mom who is a member, said he wanted us to teach him and that he was open to being baptized. So yesterday made up for everything else. 
Sutherlin is a strange town. Apparently it is the culture to have a very cluttered house and not really let the missionaries in. But it seems cool, and clearly there is a reason for me to be here because President Russell said that I was supposed to be in Eugene but after meeting me felt that I needed to be in Sutherlin. I'm actually very happy to be here, I know I'm in Sutherlin, Oregon for a reason that someone has the need to hear the word of the gospel from me. And I'm glad to be doing the Lord's work.

Elder Parker Nash Fleming

MTC Photos

My Companion, Elder Hill

Elder Halliday and Elder Luke

Elder Thompson

Elder Luke, Sister Perrson, Sister Campbell

Sister Figeuroa, Sister Hernaez, Elder Hill

Elder Thompson, Sister Luke, Sister Perrson

​Thompson, Richardson, Luke, Hill, Halliday, Campbell, Fleming, Perrson, Hernaez, Figueroa​ 

Provo LDS Temple

Elder Hill (companion) and Elder Fleming

Elder Fleming and Elder Shaffer

A Quick Note

Hey Guys,
So the field is great! Me and my comp (Elder Thomas Scott) are the only missionaries in Sutherlin, Oregon in the Roseburg Zone. Everything is going pretty well, except it is very warm, and we don't have a/c, so pray for us to get rain please!
I love hearing from you guys and reading emails from you. I received notification that I have a package but will not be able to receive it until Tuesday at the earliest, they said it could not be forwarded because it was not priority mail. That doesn't matter too much, just won't be able to get them till about a week later.
We taught this family last night that is a part member, less active family. There is a 12 year old girl that is already on date to be baptized. The Spirit was so strong that she actually ended up crying. Well, that's all I have time for right now... I love you guys and will try to write more soon.
Love You. TTYL

Elder Parker Nash Fleming

From the Missionary Training Center (MTC)

So Wednesday was SOOOOOOOO long... we had so many different orientations and I couldn't even handle all the information that was being put into my brain, I just about died. Thursday, Firday and Saturday were all kinda mingled into one... We had class, Food, Class, Study, Class, and bed. Sunday was kinda cool! We had Sacrament service, Most spiritual sacrament Ever!!!, followed by priesthood, and then we had a District Meeting which I ran because I am District Leader for district 42-B, then we had a temple walk and I was able to meet my companion, Elder Hill's parents (shhhhhh) they seem pretty nice. Then we had, you guessed it, more Class. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were about the same as last week but we had investigators that we taught mingled into the Schedule, which is awesome. The investigators are definitely the way that you learn how to teach. If anyone wants to know how the food is in the MTC you should look up Jeremiah 4:19. Ummm.... I'm not very good at remembering my week. Oh!! Dallin H. Oaks of the Twelve came and talked to us on Tuesday Evening... He talked about the importance of teaching by/with the spirit and letting the spirit direct the lesson. Today was pretty cool, we went to the Temple and did Endowments, then we took a nap and did laundry and are now emailing... Sorry if this is too bland or anything im really horrible about remembering my week (that's why I journal) But anyways the MTC is Great the Spirit is so strong here all the time. My teacher said that the reason that you are always so tired in the MTC is because your physical body is not used to used to being spiritually charged 24/7 and so it has a lot of wear and tear on it. But I feel great... Well P-day is almost over so I guess that is all for this week... I Love everyone and miss you all, if you want to email me i will do my best to answer them, just send it to pfleming@myldsmail.net

Elder Parker Nash Fleming