Hermosa Formosa - August 13, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Remember how last week I said that transfers were coming up and that this week I would probably be writing you from Posadas? I guessed wrong. I am now in FORMOSA! I can´t believe it. This means I have now had the chance to serve in all 4 provinces of my mission (Corrientes, Chaco, Misiones and now, Formosa). Hermana Griffeth stayed in Posadas for her 6th transfer in a row and she is training the only new sister missionary to arrive this transfer.

My new area is called "Parque" which means "Park" and I have already gotten a lot of hilarious jokes about "Parker in Parque". My companion is Hermana Medina from Buenos Aires and she is really great! This is only her second transfer in the mission so technically I am training again because we have to finish the new 12-week training program together. I love her already, she is hilarious and interesting and fun. One cool connection we recently discovered: her brother is also currently serving a mission in Bolivia, Cochabamba. When she told me that I said, "Cool! A boy from my home ward is serving there!" When I said that she started to ask me all sorts of questions because her brother´s current companion is from Hawaii and in no time we discovered that her brother is serving with Bryan McArthur!! In fact, just a second ago she showed me a photo of her brother and Brian McArthur together. Small world!!

So far I am loving my new area. Everyone always talks about Formosa like it is the promised land of the mission and I could seriously feel a difference the second I arrived. There is just something about this place. I have gone from city city (downtown Posadas) back to country again. We have lots of lovely dusty winding dirt roads, wide open spaces with makeshift soccer fields where little kids play soccer barefoot all through the afternoon, trees and brush, and (when it rains) LOTS of mud. As we were out walking last night, when the sun was going down, I watched a father and son flying a kite, I took a deep breath, looked at the clouds, felt the wind... It felt a little like coming home.

There are things I am going to miss so much about Posadas. I am definitely already missing Hna Griffeth. I love that girl. I will also miss desperately our investigators and amazing new converts. The mission can be a little cruel in that you form bonds with people, love them, feel very invested in their lives and progress, pray for them night and day and then you are often ripped away with little warning. Our phone call about transfers came at 9:30 PM and by 1:30 AM (4 hours later!) I already had to be packed and ready to go. But I am sending them letters and photos... and in the meantime I intend to love this area and these people just as much.

Something I love about Parque (besides that it is country again) are all the kids. There is nothing better than cute little kids yelling "hermanas!" and running to hug you. The only thing is I am pretty sure all the kids here think I am actually Spiderman´s real live sister. When I introduced myself as "Hermana Parker" they all said "oh, like Peter Parker! Like Spiderman!" and I said "Yeah, he´s my brother!" Their eyes got really big, and now they basically adore me and are always talking about Spiderman when we come by. I am not sure if I need to break it to them that I am not actually Spiderman´s sister. I think I might let them live with the fantasy...

Well that´s all for this week. More stories and pictures next week. Now we are off to go visit a JUNGLE with MONKIES! I am very excited.

Love from the jungle,

Hermana Parker