Merry Christmas!!

A Missionary Christmas (author unknown)

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there. No pictures taken with Santa Claus, my decorating has no flair. His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun. I've bought him all white clothes because... This year I'm giving Christ my son. I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred. I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words. Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run. Abraham seems closer because, This year I'm giving Christ my son. I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war? Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more. My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton for two years we will pray for him, I'm giving Christ my son. I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine. He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine. The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one. I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year, I'm giving Him my son. Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand. It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's> done. My gift has taken years to make, This year... I'm giving Christ my son. I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making. Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking. For He has done it all before Greater love - there could be none. For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son. The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray; Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say. Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done, My gift has taken years to make. This year...I'm giving Christ my son.

Elder Paramore Mission Update to the Coral Canyon 1st ward..

Hello family and friends,I hope this finds you all happy and well and that you all have enjoyed this holiday season as much as we have. We were able to spend 90 minutes on Christmas day chatting with Elder Parmaore via google video, he looked good and it was wonderful to hear his voice and see his face. This is our first full time missionary experience and I must say it has been such a blessing to our family. Elder Paramore just recently got transferred from Yuba City to Oroville California. He is serving in, I believe the only Hmong branch in the mission. Last month he became a district leader and is enjoying that responsibility.

Elder Paramore was overwhelmed at the amount of letters, cards and packages he received from you all this Christmas.

I am so grateful for all your love and support, and mostly your prayers on his behalf. Thank you.


Dear Brother's & Sister's,
I have received so many letters and felt so much love from you all. I’ve never felt anything quite like it. We have a very special ward full of very special people. I just can’t explain the amount of gratitude that fills my heart when I think of my home ward. Thank you for your love and support. I hope everyone here knows how much our Living Father in Heaven loves each and everyone one of us individually. He does, and I testify that as we try our best to grow closer to Him we will begin to understand that more and more with each passing day.


It’s been so great to be able to take the last 10 1/2 months and serve the Lord as a full time missionary. A day doesn’t go by where I don’t learn anything. I’m constantly learning from my companions, from the Hmong people and their culture, from leaders and from studies. There hasn’t been one day that has been easy but everyday provides so much happiness. I never thought that trying to forget about yourself would be the one thing that brings the most happiness. The Lord says “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.” The thing that helps me to draw near to the Lord IS that selfless service.

My companions have been wonderful. Elder Carter trained me and he spoke Hmong better than the Hmong people! So the first few months were difficult. They spoke casually while I was busy trying to catch a word or two. My first day in the field we gave two blessings and we ate this spicy pepper that to most people is very undesirable. Elder Carter is from the Layton area and was the first boy in his family to serve a mission. We worked hard. He wasn’t a man of many words, and I love getting to know people so it was interesting sometimes. He left for home after he was done training me and at that point I realized just how blessed I was to have a companion like him. He loved being obedient and loved the people. When we love the Lord and do what he wants us to do we will naturally love others and desire their happiness. Elder Ramirez was my next companion. He’s from Chile and after High School he went to Florida to pursue aeronautical engineering. During his first year at school his mother passed away. His dad and mom were split up so his father lives in Japan. His first language is Spanish then English then Japanese then he was called to speak Hmong. None of his family are members of the church. He joined shortly after his mother passed away. He’s 24 now.  He’s very special to me and I’m grateful to have been able to learn from him. He helped me to realize even more so how special it is to be sealed to my family and to have been raised by parents who would ask me every night the question, “Who loves you baby?” To which I would answer, "Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my family. So from a young age I knew my Heavenly Father, my Savior and my family here on earth loved me very much. I know that my parents know that this work is very real and that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father live. Elder Ramirez and I had a lot of fun and a lot of success together. Elder Clawson was my next companion. He and I were together for a short time but we enjoyed our time together. When we first got together it was the first time I had been transferred from my original area so it was a bit of an adjustment. He was incredibly nice and always willing to do what was best. When I was with him it started to rain a lot. Brother Kelly taught me to be grateful for the rain, apparently the more it rains on me the prettier my wife will be. Then after about 9 months my MTC companion and I got back together for the Holiday season. He’s taught me a lot. He’s a jack of all  trades. He knows a bit about everything and is always trying to help others. Since I have been out we have been blessed to have found 3 people who were ready to hear and accept the news of the restoration and be baptized. We right now are teaching 5 individuals and a family of 6. Teaching Hmong people has been fun and a bit of an adjustment. Their culture is deep and some ideas or beliefs draw them far from the straight and narrow. Some of their foods draw you far from comfort as well. One of my favorite things to do is bare my testimony. Sometimes it’s hard to get through but I know the things which we teach are true and for them. For those that are prepared or have soft hearts the spirit carries that testimony into their hearts. I’ve seen the Gospel give focus and purpose to those who were lost. I’ve seen the spirit touch and bare testimony of the truthfulness of modern day prophets and apostles who speak on behalf of our Living Savior. I’ve seen miracles. Miracles will not provide faith but rather faith will provide miracles. Elder Reid and I love to work hard and be as obedient as we can so we can secure blessings from Heaven. I love this work! I wouldn’t change anything!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to my family. They are very special to me. I know the priesthood is real and I know that through that power we are sealed forever. I could not ask for more. My mission has been great. And I know it’ll continue to be that way as I continue to do what the Lord wants me to do.

In closing I just want everyone to know that I love you. I’m again grateful for you. I hope all are happy and well. Pray for missionary opportunities the Lord will provide them. In the Doctrine and Covenants we learn that all victory and glory is brought to pass through our diligence, faithfulness and prayers of faith. No greater joy can we have then to share the thing that is of most significance. When we share the gospel with others our sins are forgiven us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

12/12/10

I've been so lucky to have found 3 people who were very prepared for the message of the restoration. They were baptized. Mai Tong is a girl we're teaching now. She's 21 and such a sweet spirited person. She has seemingly real desires to know the truth. We are being blessed very much. We're working hard. We found a family last week that is interested in learning and we've taught one lesson and have a return appointment. It was in all Hmong. It was neat. Especially because Elder Reid and I were MTC companions. It's pretty cool.

11/29/10

I'm glad thanksgiving went well. I feel your love and prayers. I'm very grateful for that as well. I love Val and Caroline very much. I can't believe how big P is getting and Haizlee is growing like a weed! She is getting so so so big! They are so cute! Thanks for the pictures. Our Thanksgiving was great. We woke up and played football for 3 hours. I was pretty sore but it was all good:) Then we were invited to the Papa's and we hung out there from 3ish to 6. It was fun. They are such a neat family. All their kids are grown up and moved out. I enjoyed the spirit of their home. Oh they will also be in St. George in December and they wanted our address so they might pay you a visit. You'll be busy:) I hope they get to meet you all. Oh before that we were at the Saykhu's just emailing and they had just finished preparing their feast. So we ate there too. After the Papas we had one last dinner at Brother Yang's. He's the 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency. It was all good. We then came home and planned and went to bed. We were very blessed to be able to be with all these families. I thought a lot about how grateful I was and am for you all. I really love you so much. We're doing great ha.  The devil is so cunning that he tricks us with such silly things that make us think we're happy but true and lasting happiness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel. I love ya mom. Would ya tell the other I love them too. I really do. It'd be nice to be able to talk to Shenise on Christmas but I'm sure she's going to have a ton of fun in Florida.


I'm glad you read the talk. I haven't read the whole thing yet. I just want to bare testimony real quick of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know it's true. Forget all things that pull us away from our Heavenly Father and read this Book that has been prepared by the Lord through Prophets of God. I know it was written for us today. I have felt a very real feeling overcome me while reading The Book of Mormon that I know no other Book could give. It's real, it's true and if one would do as the introduction/Moroni directs and reads with real intent and a sincere desire to know of it's truthfulness that they too will come to know and understand of it's divinity. If they do this, they will know that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration and that Jesus is the Christ and that that Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints is the Lords Church again established on the earth preparatory to the second coming of the messiah. When one shows faith that one knows the the Book of Mormon is true this will lead them back to our Heavenly Father. I hope we can all become comfortable talking about this book and sharing it with everyone. It is the tool given to us today to build the Lords kingdom on earth. I love you all I'm grateful for you all  and all you do for me.

Love, Elder Paramore

11/21/10

Do this one thing for me... Look up the conference talk "When our Children go Astray" on LDS.org. It is very comforting. We don't understand a lot. The real sealing power in the temple is far more powerful then we think. Please read. Don't procrastinate it. I love you very much. Keep doing your best. We're on our way back but we still have work to do:)