Parker was set apart as a missionary on Sunday August 6th! It was a spiritual experience for our family. Our stake president, President Hudson, shared some amazing experiences from his mission with all of us. Parker wrote these thoughts, "Last Sunday at 4:30. I was set apart as a missionary and thus starting the two-year-long vlog/movie that will be my mission. When I was set apart as a missionary it all went so fast. On moment I was at home playing video games with my brother Hayden and then the next I was completely surrounded by this feeling I had never felt before. It was quite amazing and everyone was excited!"
Parker drew this picture of a missionary when he was seven years old. I love it! I saved it all these years and we had it on display at his farewell.
Parker started at home MTC on Monday August 7th. We had his room all set up with his Argentine flag hanging behind him. At home MTC doesn't require socks or shoes! We loved having this experience with Parker it made us feel a part of his mission. Parker shared this, "My first class was my Spanish class and let me tell ya, they have Spanish immersion in high school and whatnot but THIS, ohh boyyy was something else! This was immersion by FIRE AND EXPLOSIVES! They don't speak ANY English and I remember sitting there with everything going over my head except "Hola" to which I proceeded to say "Aloha"
Parker also said, "At the end of the day I have a Preach My Gospel class and this class is definitely my favorite. It is also the longest and sometimes the hardest to pay attention with it being four hours long. It always goes over the allotted time for it. Usually by the end I'm ready for my nightly walk. Walks are great and I highly recommend."
I enjoyed our walks around the neighborhood. Addy took this picture of us and I love how Parker has his arm around me. I was trying to soak up every last minute that we had together.
On Friday August 11th we went to visit the Frost family. It was Ryker's 18th birthday that day. I love that these two have been friends since they were two years old. The Frost family loved hearing about Parker's missionary experiences that week. It was fun hanging out with them on their driveway. It brought back great memories of when we were their across the street neighbors for almost 14 years!
Saturday August 12th was Parker's first P-day. We had an appointment at the Mount Timpanogos temple.
It was a sweet experience to be there with our Elder Foster. Many people came up to talk with him and ask where he was going to serve on his mission.
We went to eat afterwards at Seven Brother's. Parker and Kev both can't get enough of it since we went to Hawaii.
Sunday August 13th was cousin Liz Browns homecoming. She served in the Leeds England mission with Kenna. We enjoyed hearing about her mission experiences. It was cool that she came home right before Parker was going out. One of Liz's friends just got back from serving in Argentina and he was so excited to talk with Parker. He told him that the Spanish he will speak on his mission will be different then what he was learning in the MTC. He raved about how good the food was on his mission. It was a tender mercy that Parker met him and heard such positive things about Argentina.
Later that day, was the Saratoga Springs Temple dedication. We went to watch the streaming at our church. Parker saw his friend Brody who is also a missionary. Parker and Brody were both on the mountain biking team in high school.
We were happy that Kenna and Bryson came down to spend the day with us.
It was another tender mercy that Elder Foster was able to be with us for the temple dedication, before he left to the MTC in Mexico.
On Monday August 14th Parkers friend, Zoey, brought him by some lunch. She brought him a sandwich and soup from Zupas. It was their go to place for lunch in high school. He gave her a Book of Mormon with his testimony in it. They did their secret handshake at the door before she went home. I know that she is really going to miss Parker. She gave him several letters to open while on his mission. One said to open on his first day, another when he was homesick, and another to open when everything was going right. It was a sweet and thoughtful gift!
On Tuesday August 15th we woke up bright and early to get Parker to the airport. Parker shared these memories, "Tuesday morning at about 5 something, we woke up and did last minute packing (because packing suckkssss)
I took this picture of Parker eating his breakfast that morning. I'm really going to miss seeing his happy face at our kitchen table everyday!!
I asked Kev to take some pictures of us at home before we left. I knew that I was probably going to be an emotional mess at the airport.
The kids are really going to miss their big brother! I know that they look up to him in many ways.
Kev took this fun selfie of us on the way to the airport. I sat in the back with Parker so I could scratch his back and be near him.
The sweetest moment happened at the airport. Elder Foster gave Hayden a Book of Mormon with his testimony it it. I know that it meant a lot for Hayden to receive this gift from his big brother. I couldn't hold back the tears at this point. Elder Foster is already an amazing missionary!
It was hard saying goodbye and it brought back memories of dropping Sister Foster off at the MTC in Provo.
I thought it would be a little easier the second time but it was not.
I loved this hug from Parker. It was hard knowing that it would be my last hug for two years. The only reason that I'm able to part with my sweet boy is knowing that the gospel is true. I know that Elder Foster needs to share this message with others who need the truth in their lives.
We were able to take a family picture before he went through security. Kev and I stood together and watched until we couldn't see him anymore. It was another bittersweet day for all of us.
This was the first picture we received of Parker at the MTC. He sent us a short email that said, " Hey mom, hey dad! I made it to Mexico!! It super cool down here and it's been a great time thus far! Love you guys!! -Your favorite son"
Parker shared this about arriving at the MTC, "First interesting experience was when we went to the Thomas S Monson Building for the introductory stuff and to meet the MTC Presidency in person. When it was my turn I walked up to the mission president and after some simple introductory stuff he said, "Wait, did your grandpa serve in your same mission?" At first I was like hey you stole my line and second how the flip did you know that. Turns out that he went to high school with my grandpa and my grandpa had told them that the super awesome epic Elder Foster would be arriving that day. Instant celebrity status has been achieved. Thank you Grandpa! Hahaha!"
This is one of my favorite pictures of Elder Foster at the CCM. He loved all the palm trees and it reminded him of Hawaii.
Parker said, "After the devotional the new missionaries had to stay behind and they made sure we were all doing good and had figured everything out. Except me, Elder Cook, and Elder Burt had not eaten dinner yet. So they told us we would be escorted to the cafeteria to have dinner at about 9 something at night. Drumroll please, and the first food I had at the Mexico MTC was a Costco chicken bake. And it was the most glorious food specimen of food that has entered my body this entire week. Nothing has beat it. It absolutely SMACKED the spot. Pretty much everything else has been mid or really really bad. The fruit I guess has been really good but pretty much that was it."
Parker shared these thoughts, "I freaking love my district! My district is some of the coolest people I've ever met! I am super stoked to meet every single one of them on Tuesday. We all just know how to have a fun time. I swear I have almost peed myself 3 times for dying of laughter. Pronouncing things all together when most of us have no idea what we are saying. Good times all around. Since the moment I knew about them I would constantly get promptings to reach out to certain people."
He also said, "Another funny thing that happens when your a missionary is seeing yourself and so many other Elders fall asleep in literally every place you could've possibly think of and it's pure comedy. I myself have fallen asleep once and it was because we were on really comfy chairs, we were watching a video, head was against the wall and it was POURING outside. Perfect conditions for an awesome nap."
Parker had his first p-day in Mexico, on Saturday August 19th. We were so happy to talk with him and hear about his experiences there. He took this fun screenshot when we were talking with him.
Parker's district got to ride a bus to the Mexico City Temple on Monday August 21st. They were able to participate in baptisms. In Parker's weekly epistle he said, "I am very grateful to be out here learning more about my savior. Even through all the ups and downs, I always feel Gods love for me and what I am doing."
Parker messaged us on August 23rd and told us that he was having a hard time at the MTC. He also had been having panic attacks. It was incredibly hard knowing that he was struggling and not being able to be there to help him. I'm very grateful to all those who helped him when we couldn't. His mission president, the therapist, and Elder Sargent. Parker took some time to pray about whether he should come home. It was a very difficult decision to make. He really wanted to stay and serve but felt he was supposed to come home. We told him that we would support him, no matter what he decided.
Parker flew home on Saturday August 26th. There were two other Elders that came home with him. I was grateful that he was not alone. I could not relax until I knew that he was safe at home with us. We made posters and bought some balloons for him. I was grateful to all the the family that showed up to welcome him home!
I was so happy to get a big hug from Parker! I really missed him!
It was a happy reunion for everyone. I hope Parker felt our love and support for him.
Heather told us that Logan said, "My best friend is coming home!" I thought that was the sweetest!
I know that Parker's cousins love him and look up to him!
It was so good to be together as a family again. We love Parker and the light he brings to our family!
Parker bought out the MTC store before he came home. He shared all the snacks and treats with us. Our stake president decided to let Parker have a week at home to decide what he wanted to do.
On Monday August 28th I got to be Parker's companion for the day. We drove up Provo Canyon and then got some food at Grannys. The service missionaries also came over to talk with Parker about a service mission. He decided that was not the best thing for him right now.
Unfortunately, Hayden's bunny fluffy died. Hayden was devastated. We are all going to miss Fluffy! Parker took Hayden on Wednesday August 30th to pick out a new bunny. It was sweet of him to cheer up his brother!
Parker was so excited for Halle when she got asked to the homecoming dance on August 31st. I'm grateful for how loving and supportive he is to his siblings.
Parker came with us to the Saratoga Springs temple on the morning of September 1st. It was sweet to be able to attend the temple again with him as a missionary. It was our first time doing an endowment session at the new temple.
Parker reached out to our stake president and told him that he wanted to be released as a missionary. President Hudson came over to our house that night. Parker was honorably released for medical reasons.
I am incredibly proud of Parker and his righteous desire to serve a mission! I told him that it doesn't matter to our Heavenly Father how long he served. I know that he is grateful for Parker's willingness to serve. It has been beautiful to see Parker's testimony grow. I felt the spirit strongly when he said his first family prayer in Spanish. I know that he was blessed with the gift of tongues. He shared a video from the MTC of him bearing his testimony in Spanish. It was amazing how fast he picked up the language. I hope that he will continue to work on his Spanish now that he is home. I admire the courage it took for him to make the decision to come home. It hasn't been easy since he came home but I'm hopeful that things will get better. I know that he will continue to serve and bless the lives of others!
Parker shared these thoughts in one of his weekly emails, "One of my favorite things about this week was talking about my purpose as a missionary. As some of you can probably remember, my talk had a main focus on loving people and loving people is what I am gonna do. It's really hard to explain the feeling with being a missionary, the amount of times I've cried, the amount of times I have caught myself just beaming out of control. I have come to know my purpose as a missionary and I know I am where I'm supposed to be. I know this is the Lords work and I feel especially honored to be his servant. I love my Savior and I know that only through him all things are possible. He is eager to hear from you. He knows you. He knows your struggles the things that are weighing heavily on you. Please come unto him. Break down those barriers of pride and come unto him. There is a quote that came up during one of our meetings and it says, "If you're starving for Christ, you're too full of yourself". We can't do it all by ourselves and that's okay. It's okay to feel sad, it's okay to be scared. He is there and he is eager to help. Come unto him and he will give you rest."
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