Final Email.

Family,

 

     Hi! I won't email next week. I would love to speak for 40 minutes. If it's ok with Peighton i'll take the bottom bunk. I think it'd be perfect to have a gathering on the 25th. Thank you mother for being so thoughtful and for loving the Lord first. I'm grateful for all you do and I hope you and the family know that your faith gives me so much power. I don't know what else to say:) I love being a missionary. I love the challenging times and feeling the atonement work in my life and I love loving people. I love those simple thoughts that comes from the spirit as we're exactly obedient. I enjoy the confidence I receive from being orderly in all aspects of my life. Please tell dad that I can't wait to be in his arms either. Please hug and kiss the littles for me. I love you all very much. I know that only through applying the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ can we have peace in this life and life to come. Thanks for always loving me and for showing so much faith. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

 

Love Elder Paramore

Elder Paramore returns!

Elder Paramore will be flying into the St. George airport on February 14th at 4:30 pm.
He will be speaking in Sacrament meeting on the 26th at 9 am. An open house is still tentative, I will keep you posted.  Thanks for all your love and support.

1/30/12

Dear family,

 

I don't have much time today:) I'm sorry. I just want you to know that I love you. The work is always so much fun and right now is no different. We had Ma Her and her Husband Chong Xeng get baptized on Tuesday and then yesterday Donna UIngaro was baptized. Each of them having their own experiences that have led them to show faith, feel the spirit and be baptized. It's been too good to work with Elder Moyle and Elder Talbot. I love being a missionary. We have a busy couple weeks coming up and it's exciting. Our entire zone is becoming more obedient and they are seeing the fruits from it. It's been a miracle to see the willingness and dedication of them all. I love Peighton so much. I love all the littles. Would you give them hugs and kisses for me. Tell Peight that he's one of my heros. He's touhger then I am:) Mom and dad I love you, I am grateful for you faith. I feel your prayers. I feel your love each day and in each moment. I'm tired, but it's the best. Ha I can't wait to be tired for the Lord for the rest of my life:) I hope all continues to go well. Thanks for all you do. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you:) I'm doing fine by they way. I just need you to keep being great:)

 

Love Elder Paramore

1/15/12

Hi Family! Oh my goodness do I love you all:) Thank you for the email and the love. I am always so uplifted by the things you have to say. I'm grateful Haizlee's ok, to be honest I was never to worried. She's tough:) Thank you for the address. I feel silly having burnt it while our furnace was broken. We probably burnt 15 boxes over a week or so. The address was on the box. So many wonderful things are happening in the California Roseville Mission. In our Zone now we have 14 people with dates. We'll have 3 people baptized this week in our companionship. We've been prayerful and diligent. Yesterday we asked John Thao if he'd pick Ma Her up for church and when they got there we saw that her husband came as well! I never would have though he'd come when just a week ago he was against her getting bapitzed. I fasted this week and tried my best to follow the spirit and when I saw them both walk in I was flushed with gratitude for the hand of Lord in this work. I know that it was Him through ways i'm not sure of nor can I see that hearts were softened. Now the husband wants to be baptized as well. These two only speak hmong and they're pretty old. This Sunday another woman will be baptized and we're excited for her as well! She first started learning about 4 weeks ago. When people feel the spirit and are willing their desires change and they no longer want silly things but have hope in those lasting things. It causes them to show their faith and really change and become happier. We're excited. It'll be a busy week. Then the following week a 19 year old young man will be baptized. I'm grateful for how powerful obedience is. I'm grateful for the covenants i've made and remember through my actions:) Life is too sweet. I also really feel grateful that i'm able to love the Elders and Sisters I serve around. I was reading the scriptures last Friday and I felt I needed to write down some of the ways I see Gods love in my life and as I started writing the first thing I felt to write was that you and dad had been sealed and have made sacred covenants and how that decision has shown me Gods love. I'm thankful for all the love and the faith you show. If it weren't for making and remembering that covenant as my parents then my life would be a lot less powerful. I'm excited for my future wife:) I really do love her very much and I think your examples have had a great impact on the way I feel. I love my companions. We have so much fun together:) They are both giants. We all run in the mornings and we all drink green smoothies. Yay for the word of wisdom! 

 Thanks for all you do and I hope you all have a great week. Love ya.

Love Elder Paramore 

1/15/12

Thank mom! Yeah we do have to keep giving our family to this work because we are part of Brother Tanner's family! Life is too good! I love love love love getting your emails. Before I forget...  That's great that you had 21 sisters to the lunch group! We had 14 Less actives again this week and 2 investigators. This week we set 3 baptismal dates. I'll tell ya what, I have two of the best companions right now. I love them each so much and i'm learning so many different things from this experience. I love the responsibilities I have and how they  allow me to spread my love and bare my testimony to others. I love being prayerful and pondering. It brings about the most sacred memories. I just don't know how to feel mom and dad. I love being a missionary... We had a great week. My companions are Elder Moyle from Enterprise UT and Elder Talbot from Plain City, maybe I already told you that...sorry. No, i'm not training again. It's just the way it worked out. Our heater broke in our house a couple days back so it was 46 degrees in one room this morning:) We have a fire place though so we just start a fire and study next to it until we get the heater fixed. I'm on track still to run 108 miles by transfers end:) I'm grateful the baby Grace is doing well. She's so so dang cute. Thanks for always hugging and kissing the littles for me. Could ya please tell my dad how much I love him. 

I also got a letter from the Heatons:) Do you know if they had their baby yet? I'd love to work at the Bar 10 again so we'll see what happens. Elder Jordan Houston wrote me a couple days back and he'll be out there again this year when he gets back. I hope it works out. I love the Bar 10 and I sure do love the Heatons. They're too nice. I hope all continues to go well for you all this upcoming week. Thank you for your faith. Please know that I just love ya. Tell Wayne i'm excited to be able to speak a little bit of hmong with him but mostly excited just to see him:) All is well and we have a great week ahead of us. Our zone right now has had 5 baptized this month already and we have 9 people with dates for the next couple weeks:) There are people out there, it's up to us to find them. Lifes too good. Thanks for all you do. If there's anything I can do for you let me know. Oh and yes i'm in the Olivehurst Ward. Thanks for sharing about the man who's taking lessons from the missionaries. We should have the missionaries over if possible a few days after I get home. I love you. Please hug and kiss the littles for me and please hug and kiss my dad:) 

Love Elder Paramore

PS That'd be awesome if Chandis worked at the Bar 10!

1/9/12

Hello Family, 

Thank you thank you for the email:) I always enjoy them. No matter how much or little you write. I enjoy hearing about your sabbath days and all about the littles and how they're doing. I don't think life gets much better than right now. I hope baby Grace is going to be alright. She is so precious. I bet it's the best responsibility in the world to raise littles. I remember the times when she was a baby and she'd be sick and there was nothing I could do but hold her. Oh my goodness, I can't believe she isn't a baby anymore but am still grateful she has given me permission to call her baby because she's "the baby of the family." Mom and dad I don't think I need anything. I'm getting along just fine. It's been a whole different learning experience being with two companions. I feel as if I got good at learning how to be with just one companion all the time and know two is so neat. I'm learning lots and loving much. Elder Moyle is from Enterprise UT. So it's a 40 minute drive from St. George. He went to Dixie before he came out. He's awesome and he and Talbot are two peas in a pod. We still managed to teach a lot last week. We're now covering Hmong work in the entire stake and the Olivehurst ward. I'm on track to run 108 miles this transfer which is such a neat feeling. I love living the word of wisdom. I enjoy my studies each morning and the power and strength they bring to me. We found two new investigators this week. Not Hmong. Between English and Hmong we had 18 less actives to church and we had 1 Hmong investigator. Last week being the first week of the transfer we had some things to figure out so that we could find the best way to teach all the people we're both teaching. It's going to be a busy week. We already have 12 lessons set up by Thursday. Mom and Dad I love being a missionary. I'm grateful for all your love and faith. All really is too well here. We were tracting a couple weeks back and we found some Hmong men playing basketball so we took off our suit coats and played:) They expressed that they'd like to play in a gym so we open our gym for them every Friday from 7-9. Before they play we stand in front of them and remind them where we're at and to watch their mouths then we have a prayer. It's really neat to watch them being careful of the things they say and how they act while they're in there. You can tell people are trying to be respectful and we're confident they'll feel the spirit of that. I'm beat. I feel tired. It's the best tired i've ever felt. While I was saying my prayers last night I was caught in pondering and this overwhelming feeling came over me that I was loved and supported by not only Heavenly Father but in a very real way my ancestors. I couldn't help but cry in gratitude for how tired they must have been as they diligently came across the plains, or stood up to robbers and all kinds of persecutions. I know they loved it because they knew the things they hoped for and they enjoyed becoming more like Christ. They loved all those who did them wrong and only wanted them to be happy as well. If they didn't then they do know:) Life is always good. Loving is so much fun. I don't think I have anything else. I love you all. If ya meet my future wife tell her I love her:) Please hug and kiss those littles for me and tell them I love them. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you all. Love ya.

Love Elder Paramore

1/2/12

Hi! 

Thank you for that wonderful email. I did! I felt so grateful that Bishop Hansen will welcome me back:) Mom you're to great. I love reading your testimony. You're such a powerful women! I bet it was a bit quite around there. I'm just glad they're back ha. I kind of worried that they'd get stuck there or something. Everything will be alright:) Always. Yeah i'm reading the George Albert Smith book as well. I'm grateful for men and women that love the Lord first. I had a great week. We were obedient and worked hard. I love serving with Elder Talbot. He's always upbeat and optimistic. Hmong people are so so special.  I enjoy the spiritual battle. I enjoy being exactly obedient, prayerful and moldable to the spirit that we might be able to help each person we're working with individually. It's so much fun loving people. Yeah transfers were today and all is still pretty much the same. We'll have a busy busy week ahead! We're excited. Mom I love you. Please hug and kiss the littles for me and when ya see dad let him know that I love him and give him a big hug and kiss for me. I sure do love you all. Thanks for all your faith.

Love Elder Paramore

PS Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you and thanks for being tired for the Lord:)

12/26/11

Howdy:) 

Yeah things are wonderful here! We had a great Christmas day. We had an investigator who has never come before show up. She was picked up by a recent convert:) Missionary mind is a healthy one. There were also 6 less actives that we're working with that came. It was great! I love seeing people at church. It's kind of like the rest of the week you're striving to be obedient so that you can know how to help, then you do your best, then Sunday is game time ha. Sometimes people show their desire/faith and show up and sometimes they don't but Elder Talbot and I have so much fun just loving them. I too enjoyed seeing you all. I can't believe how tough you are.  Those Little's are so darn cute. I can't believe how well they speak English:) I really enjoyed my time with Landon. My goodness is he a survivor. He just never quits. He's such a powerful influence. I hope he knows that. Thanks for sharing your experience about cleaning the church every Sat.. I know that it's in those small moments of decision that change us and mold us into who we need to be. Those Little's are never going to forget how dedicated their mom is. My wife is going to be top notch like yourself mother.  Thanks. Living in St. George is kinda like reading and praying about the Book of Mormon, it changes the way you think and your whole perspective when you come to know it's true, so yeah we can be hopeful the Salley's will come back:) Jk. But seriously. Thank you again for that book of testimonies and thanks for covering each one with a plastic cover. I really do have some of the greatest friends and family. Each one of them makes me want to be better and I can tell that they too are striving to remember the Lord in all things. Life's good. The rest of the day I studied from the Book of Mormon. I lost in a game called Settlers of Catan. I'm miserable at games, then we went to Xia's and ate with some of her family. It was a great day. This upcoming week will be busy busy. We have 3 exchanges to go on and there's a lot of people to teach and find. Thanks for the email. I love hearing from you all. I hope all continues to go well and I hope you know how much I love ya. Let's just keep being tired for the Lord:) It really is the best. If there's anything I can do for you let me know. Please hug and kiss those Little's for me and don't forget to give my dad a huge hug and kiss!  K love ya. 

Love Elder Paramore 

12/05/11

Hi!
  How are you all? I really got teary eyed and I'm holding back! I understand Bishop has to move to wherever he needs to but my goodness am I going to miss him. He has definitely been an instrument in the Lords hand where our family is concerned. I hope he knows how much he means to us and how truly grateful we are to him. I know wherever he goes he'll help other young men show faith and become who Heavenly Father needs them and wants them to be. I'll be excited to meet the new bishop when I return. Yeah last week I was a bit under the weather with a headache and I just felt really weak. It's the first time I've slept in past 6:30 in I can't remember how long. I feel a bit better now. Still a bit weak but it's all good. I enjoy challenges:) The apartment wasn't too messy. It was good. We set up a Christmas tree Xia let us borrow and Sister Chilson surprised us with some lights for it. It's nice. All is well here though. We're working hard and having fun. I didn't anticipate how challenging it'd be to get used to a new area. Even though I know a lot of people and love them it's still different. It's been a neat experience to really try and be that much more obedient. When I'm not sure how to think or what to do I just be obedient. When a lot of worries or other things cloud my thoughts it's hard for me to know what's best. I love the work. I love how every effort to do good bears fruit. 

     Right now we're teaching a few people. We're very hopeful that they'll just humble themselves and be sensitive to the spirit so they might change. I love being prepared to help them repent. I enjoy studying each morning then with my companion. He's a good Elder. His family situation is rough but he understands that the more obedient he is and the harder he works the more it'll bless his family. We have a lot of fun together. He makes sound effects for everything he does ha. It cracks me up. He and Elder Sandall were MTC companions and like Elder Sandall he's very very good at Hmong already. He's 6'4 and weighs 205. He played football in High School and enjoys tough things, they get him excited:) He's great. 

     I love dad so much:) I think of y'all often and how hard you always work for us. I know you love us very much. Thank you for all you do and for all the prayers you and dad and the Little's say for me and for the work. I can feel them and I can feel your love every single day. Mom and Dad I love being a missionary, with all my heart. I love every part of it. I mean it. Mom I love you. You're quite the woman and I know we needed YOUR love to become who Heavenly Father wants and needs us to become. I feel blessed to be apart of such a family. Our ancestors too worked very hard for us and I know our posterity will feel every single effort we put forth to love and follow the Savior. I miss you all. I hope you know that I pray for you as well. Thanks for being so great. Please keep hugging and kissing those Little's for me ha. I hope Landon gets well soon. He's tough.  Xia is awesome. I am so grateful to  her thank you for all she does. She's too good to us and she works hard for the Lord. Also Nancy. They help us a lot. 

     Tell Brooks that I'll get back to him:) That'd be so exciting. I was just thinking yesterday or a couple days ago how neat it'd be to be able to serve with him or any of our other friends. That'll be neat. I think that's all I got for ya this week.  Oh and please keep remembering the Savior in all you do, the Spirit of Christ is contagious.

Love Elder Paramore

11/22/11

My goodness Mom, I sure do love you and I can't believe how much love I feel from you. Your words always mean so much to me and I am truly jealous that you get to hang out with my dad:) I want to go on a date with him ha. He's the best dad and I hope he knows that every single one of us feel the effects from his love in each moment in our lives. Thank you for the words to come come ye saints. I love that hymn and sometimes I just need to read the words and feel the power within. I love being a missionary. It really is the best. I'm staying in Chico again for the 8th transfer in a row and it doesn't get old. I love the members and I love all the people we work with. I feel fortunate to be here. I was a bit surprised to find out:) Elder Sandall and I are very anxious and ready to work hard. We've set some good goals to improve this transfer.

 

We had a good week. On Friday we had a big dinner with the Hmong that come to our ESL class. Members came as well. I love people and I enjoy learning from them. Nblia's husband who is old culture came to the class the day after. He's really opening up. We had a rough time getting into the homes of all our investigators and even Less actives this week but we accomplished much good and have seen fruits from our labors. Elder Sandall is an awesome Elder and impresses me how hard he works and willing he is. Yesterday we had Stake Conference and the messages were perfect. 

 

Thanks for all the updates on everyone:) I love hearing how everyone is doing. I took a lot of pictures for you to see but I won't be able to send them till Thursday or maybe next Monday. Sorry! I wish I had more time to write so much more, sorry again ha. Life is good and I can feel your prayers. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you. I love ya. Please hug and kiss the Little's for me and let them know that I love them.

 

Love Elder Paramore

11/14/11

Mom,

You must have truly been inspired to stop and ask me the questions you did. Thank you:) Even though the work is going great right now and we're laboring diligently and striving to be exactly obedient so we can do what we need  to do and become who we need to become I feel beat up. I'm tired. I'm in tears... I love being a missionary so much. I would've quit a long time ago if I didn't know this was all true. There is no choice but to push forward with my GREATEST efforts. There's a very deep feeling inside me that reminds me continually at how it felt to not have faith in the atonement. It's so real. I FEEL the fruits of our Saviors love and dedication to doing the Fathers will every single day. I'm doing good. I'm just tired. I sometimes hang my head, to quickly realize that I'm in this for the long haul. I want to literally spend my life away in the service of my God. There really is nothing better or no greater feeling when one knows they've done what they're suppose to or when they've followed the promptings of the spirit. Thank you for following with your email. I try not to think about the fact that I come home 3 months from today but it's hard, I've never been home sick but I've always been family sick. I love you all so much. I hope you feel how hard I'm working through the blessings you're receiving. What's even better is I know that our families exact obedience and dedication to the gospel isn't dependant on outcomes. We do it because we HAVE FELT our Savior in a very literal way put His hand on us and say "your forgiven." Because of that I know we all work hard each day at becoming more like him. I push myself to stay effective and prayerful every second of everyday. I've come to understand that becoming like the Savior isn't for sissy's, it's only for those who are willing to stretch and struggle to BECOME over and over again. It's the best. It really is fun but my goodness it is hard, well for me. I'm probably weaker then most so this carnal man is hard to overcome but I hate him and he will be overcome. Your boy is good:) Your boy is happy. Your boy is grateful to feel like your right next to him and he can just talk to you. My strength is weak but my spirit is strong. My testimony is undying, I promise I will never quit loving the Lord. My attitude is great as well. I love all that I'm asked to do and understand that anything and everything that comes my way can be for my benefit. I hope ya know I love you too mom, so much. I hope dad knows just how much I love him as well. Please keep hugging and kissing those Little's. They really are mighty spirits and you've been trusted with them:) Holy cow! Mom you're quite the woman and we all know it. Thanks for being you. 

 

I couldn't believe it either that Shenise was turning 22! Ha I'm sure it was one tasty burrito:) How is she doing? 

 

I'm glad to hear that you had such a good weekend! You have such a good attitude all the time. You really are amazing mother. Will they let a young man come to the sisters luncheon? It sounds so nice. Ha  Thanks for sharing all that. I feel bogged down sometimes with my responsibilities and I can't imagine how dad must feel. What a blessing it is to have him. 

 

Next week is transfers. If I stay one more then I will have been here for every month this year and every holiday. We'll see what happens. We had just 1 non-member at church yesterday. It was a good sabbath though. I enjoyed it. I'm grateful for the commandment to take the sacrament and to observe the sabbath day. We saw an older lady last night and we taught her about the restoration of the gospel and she prayed right there to know if what we teach is true and if the priesthood was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. It was really fun:) She'll pray each day this week and remember to ask that. We'll see her again tomorrow. Our ESL Class is going very well. People are becoming more and more confident in their English speaking abilities. Elder Sandall and I still run hard each morning. This morning we ran 3 miles and my first mile was 6:30. His was even faster. It's fun to try and keep up:) I'm grateful for my body and all it can do. Taking care of it is so fun and quite the learning experience each day. 

 

Yeah the New Year is basically a fair/huge celebration, yep. Yes we just had a booth and people would walk by and we teach them about the gospel. The sister you wrote is doing well. She came to church yesterday and is staying strong:) Thanks for writing her. Thanks mom and yeah I'll take more pictures ha. Sorry. I think the only thing you all can do for me is keep loving the Lord and striving to become more like Him each and every day. I love you all so much. Thanks for all you do and for all your prayers and love. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you all. 

 

Love Elder Paramore

11/7/11

Mom,

 

     Let me just start by saying that I'm full. I'm so grateful for your love and dedication to the gospel. I see a lot of sad families out here and my heart hurts for them and for their beautiful children. The other day in Sacrament meeting I received a bag of muddy buddies from a family in the ward that knew I liked them. I asked them one day if the container of food on their fridge was muddy buddies to find out it was only dog food. Hmm... Anyway they made some and gave them too me. Maybe I told you that already, it's the same family where their husband shoots squirrels for our people:) So I was sitting in sacrament meeting next to one of Nblia's little boys (this was last week not yesterday and yes Nblia came again and brought 4 kids this time) and I remembered that I'd been given the muddy buddies so I cracked open the bag and we shared them during the meeting. I remember feeling the spirit very strongly then looking at this little boy and his cute smile and thinking that I have no idea what it'd take to get him on a mission in 15 years. He's so cute and so innocent and he'll be the product of the faith his parents show. His mom, Nblia, is so faithful but is held back by a deep culture. We're just blessed and it makes me so happy to see that my very own family recognizes the hand of the Lord in their lives. Thanks for loving the Savior and thanks for loving me. I know dad loves me. I feel it everyday. I've driven through Orland a couple times lately and every time I think to myself that my dad could be here. My heart seems to jump onto the top of the car and search for my dad. He's the best. You're one lucky woman! We had countless miracles happen this week... 4 non-members came to church yesterday. One of them is a recent converts husband who just got out of prison and his brother, the other was Nblia and then an older man. My companion and I were so grateful they came, it was exciting for us and it was exciting for the ward to see as well. We're so excited to work hard this week and know that as we're truly dedicating ourselves to the work then whatever fruits are born will be tasty. We had a good week. We went to the Yuba City Hmong new year on Saturday. It was good to see the 4 other Hmong elders in the mission and to talk to people about the gospel. One man was brought over by the church from Thailand, he lived in Salt Lake for two years and then moved to CA about 30 years ago. Another man was hovering around our booth so we went up to him and just started talking about what he believed and he really opened up and when they open up it's so much fun to testify because you know they're eating what you say. Another Elder was standing with me as we taught him about the Book Of Mormon. He was my MTC companion so it was a lot of fun to do that with him. He's a good Elder.

 

I think it's so cool that you all got to go to the temple visitors center! Those Little's are so darn cute:) My goodness do I love them. I hope they know that. I think about them often and how faithful they are and how much of a blessing they are to our family. Tell P Wang to keep being a good example to all the other Little's, to give them hugs and tell then he loves them and to always help them and you when y'all need it. I can't believe how big Haizlee is! She couldn't even grow hair when I left and you were scared it might never grow ha. I love you all very much. Chandis let me know about the car situations:) That's great! I think we should just get horses personally:) I don't think dad would object. Anyway... I love you all. I hope you know that. Life is too good so I hope you have your smiles on this week:) Thanks for all you do and thank you thank you for the pictures. Elder Clawson is the man. If you get to talk to him let him know that I'm grateful for him and all he's done for me and to have lots of kids right when he gets married:) oh and no skydiving and call him a dirty dog:)

 

Love Elder Paramore

PS I already know who my wife is, Chandis found me one:) Haha

 

10/31/11

Hey!

  That was perfect! Thank you mom.  Yeah we got your cookies and I think they were the best batch ever. My companion commented that they were addicting then another treat that was made for us this weekend was muddy buddies!  Needless to say I became a bit weak and ate some of the sugary goodness that was given to me this weekend. Man o man those Little's are so precious. They looked good! Peights picture in the bushes was intense. He's quite the soldier:) If you would please thank Peight for his testimony again. He's a powerful soldier for Heavenly Father as well. So what were the good candy's he gave up? That's be hard! They are some faithful kids. Dad looks great! Hey mom could ya do me a huge favor and give dad a huge hug for me and a big kiss and just tell him that I love him then tell him that he's hugging you for me:) One way that I feel Heavenly Fathers love each day is through the mom and dad I have. Thanks for being so great.

 

All is well here. We had a great week full of so many miracles. Our ESL class went really well both days. The rest of the week we tracted and tried to find those that have desires to come unto Christ. So Nblia Chang is one woman that we tried to teach when Elder Clawson was here. We found her in the phonebook. Then after a few visits she didn't seem to want to do much. She was very nice. Well then after about a month is when we decided that starting an ESL class would be good for the work and the community so we made fliers and hung them up in Hmong markets and laundromats all over town. We got a call one day from a woman who wanted to learn English and it was Nblia. So she began coming and has been for the past 4 months. When we've taught about principals of the gospel she's asked great questions and she started praying the day we taught about prayer. When we taught about fasting she did that as well. Her husband won't let her come to church. Maybe I've explained this before but the men still buy their wives so the women "have" to do what their husbands say. Last week we went to her house and while we were visiting she had to leave to go pick up kids from school so that left us there with her husband. He's very nice. We politely asked that if Nblia wanted to come to church would he allow it and he said yes. We were so excited! So Sunday came around and Nblia was a bit nervous but she came! She had a great time and one of her six children came and enjoyed primary. The Hmong members were very excited to see her there. Some members told us that they shooting squirrels in their backyard due to them burying nuts everywhere (Same members that gave us muddy buddies). The Hmong people love eating squirrel. During a few months of the year it's legal to kill them so we called the Ze Lor family and asked if they would want the squirrels he shot to eat and they were excited about it so we take the squirrels he shoots to them. I'm really sorry for my grammar. I feel like my vocab is very elementary.  I hope that all makes sense. This member was doing it just to keep them from burying all kinds of stuff and now he's excited to have more reason to kill them. 

 

All is well here:) I love being a missionary! I really do. The work is always great and there will always be fruit if your truly trying your best to live worthy of receiving revelation then being diligent in following it. Elder Sandall and I are having a great time together. He's one good Elder. Thanks for all you do for me and please let me know if there's anything I can do for you all. I love you all very much. Please hug and kiss the Little's for me:) 

 

Love Elder Paramore 

10/24/11

Hi!

     Thank you mom for taking the time to write:) I am always so excited and feel so grateful to read about what happened in your lives. Landon's quite the man. I hope he and dad are ready to play 21 at the elementary when I get back. Man we're getting old! Landon will almost be 27 when I get back. He's probably better then me by now, I hope he takes it easy on me:) Oh my goodness! The primary program was this weekend for us too! There's nothing quite like hearing those children sing. I always think of Peight and Haiz first when I think of any little children. I really love them so much. Thanks mom and dad for loving all of us and thanks for having at least two more unplanned children before you tied the chances of anymore! Ha just kidding, but seriously. I am so happy Jenna came over. Her and Carlos Sr. are too awesome. I can't imagine a more awesome couple and holy cow I bet their baby is the cutest little guy! Thanks for saying hi to my friends for me and thanks for calling sister Hamblin she called me right afterwards and let me know. She's a neat woman. I don't need anything but those bags sound great! Thank you. 

 

All is well here:) One of my most favorite things to do is to Remember the Savior in all that I do. Lately I've been more tired and more beat up then usual. I love it though. I won't get into specifics I just hope ya know that I really am trying my hardest to do what the Lord wants me to do. I don't try and please anyone else, I never put on a show or justify a little disobedience to convenience me or too fit in with others. I'm happiest when I'm doing those things that invite the spirit and it's fun to strive to do all the small things. Obedience brings a peace of mind that nothing else can. When I do this I feel and know that I'm also doing what's best for all those around me. If we know true principals we should do our best to apply them. We can show those around us how much we love them through obedience to God and through always trying to repent and become more like the Savior. Life is too good. Repentance is fun ha. We've had a slow week full of great effort and many prayers. We don't have a lot of people to teach right now but the ones that we are teaching are doing well. There is a woman who we just taught about fasting on the 14th and she's been praying already for the nerve to ask her husband if she can go to church. In their culture the man still buys the woman so it's up to him completely. When we taught her about fasting she was excited and just last Friday we followed up with her at our ESL class and she said that she had fasted and prayed. When people are willing to follow and show faith miracles always happen. They happen for us everyday. We'll finish up a list today of about 300 Hmong people in Chico that we've organized from our area book. We're anxious to knock on doors and really just love them. The work is great. I feel blessed to have the companion I have and have had in the past. I've been here since 1 Feb 2011 so come 21 Nov 2011 we'll see if I'll stay again. This area has gone up and down with those who have desires to change and we always feel confident we'll find them as we're obedient willingly and prayerful in remembering the source of our potential. 

 

I hope you know I love y'all and if there's anything I can do for ya let me know. Please hug and kiss the Little's for me. 

 

Love Elder Paramore

 

PS. I look forward to the Chili Verde and the package thank you:) Yay! for righteousness:) 

10/10/11

Hi!

 Hello mom and dad:) All is well and thank you so much for the email. It sounds too me that our family has turned into some hikers. That's great! Apparently you all are learning a lot of lessons out of it too. Nothing makes me happier then to see someone overcoming weaknesses and temptations. I don't think Landon realizes how far reaching his faith will be. I sure do love him and we're lucky he's a part of our family. Yeah I got two wonderful emails from my beautiful sisters and they seem to be doing well:) Transfers were today actually and I'm staying in Chico. I really do love it here. Elder Sandall is still such a great companion and is always just willingly obedient and strives to change through the atonement each day. We have a lot of fun together and work hard. Lately we've enjoyed memorizing things so we'll keep doing that. Mom and Dad I love the Atonement. I love change. Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I don't even know how to think or feel but I enjoy pushing through and remembering our family both those that came before us and the faith they've shown and my family in the future. I enjoy thinking of the Savior when I recognize another weakness then change it with a prayerful smile. Being tired for the Lord is the best tired. We have a beautiful family:) I know that Lord needs us to continue being so faithful. There's always work for us to do and growth to be had and it's wonderful:) We didn't get to see Steven this week. We have great plans for this week and transfer though and we're excited to do all we can to dedicate ourselves in all the small ways to see if we can't find the elect:) Life is indeed good. Mom and dad I love you more then language can explain.

 

There is only one thing you can do for me and that's to continue to love the Lord in all things 1st. After that I don't need much. Right now I live with Elder Scott and Elder Adams then my companion. Elder Adams just got transferred though and Elder Garner is coming here:) We email at the Family History Center. Love ya and please let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Love ya.

 

Love Elder Paramore

10/3/11

Hey!

     Thank you thank you! I love you all very much. I'm excited to hang out with Landon as well and hope we'll get to spend good time with one another. I sure do love him. It sounds like you all had a great week! I especially liked the experience P had with climbing the hill. He's too awesome. I can never choose a favorite talk either but I will say that I loved when the Children sang families can be together forever. I think of Peighton and Haizlee whenever I hear children then I also think of my own children and how much I love them. I loved Sister Daltons talk on fathers. During times of weakness I think of my father, I think of my wife, I think of you and  all and our ancestors. We've been blessed with such an incredible family and I draw so much strength from you all and the faith you show. 

     We too had a great week. It was a week full of unknown but diligent preparation. I don't always know what to do but I do know that if I'm prayerful and have a willing heart to be exactly obedient, even in all the small things, then everything will be alright. And it was! We didn't go to the Hmong New Year:( Maybe we'll get a chance to go to Yuba City's or Oroville's. The leadership meeting went smooth. Our district meetings always go well and ESL was very successful. We're teaching one lady that has great desires to be apart of the gospel and church but she can't because her husband is old culture and will not give her permission to join. Some buy their wives:(  Hmong women are so sweet, strong and so hard working. I learned a lot about myself these past couple weeks. I love the atonement. I love change to become more Christlike. Life is too good. My companion is doing great! He's still willing as ever and works hard. He sets good goals and reaches them. We had a neat experience while walking in downtown Chico the other day...We ran into a group of homeless hippies and as we were talking with them the ones who weren't too interested kind of filtered out so eventually we were talking with a man named Steven. He expressed his love for truth and continued by letting us know that the streets call him wise and refer to him as an Elder. We bore testimony of a loving Heavenly Father and felt it'd be best after promising blessings to check his desires and dedication by setting up a return appointment to the same bench on the corner of 3rd and main. So after the morning session we walked back to that bench and found him there. After a few radical ideas we were able to steer the conversation to heart changing truths by talking about the Book of Mormon and they way it came forth. I recited the first vision and after only doing it in Hmong for the last little while it was tough but my companion was praying for me and it came out fine. He then described what he felt. He said the feeling was as if the one you love most, gently brushed their fingers down your spine. His heart was open! We invited him to ride his bike the 30 minutes to join us for the last session of General Conference and he did. We'll meet with him again at that same bench tomorrow. There really are so many people out there that if they will just open their hearts and show faith their lives can be changed.  They can go from no hope to everlasting hope and happines. We never know what's going to happen with people like Steven but we do know that if we're prayerful and strive for exact obedience then we'll be taught what to do. We can only pray he'll have and nourish that desire to know and do more. We just keep looking for people. We have great plans and are excited to work hard this upcoming week. 

     Our running is going well. He runs hard and I try to keep up. There really is something so attractive about someone who works hard at living the word of wisdom. I know there are real hidden treasures of knowledge that lie within the word of wisdom.  I'm grateful for revelation and the guidance it is for us. I enjoy not worrying, but just doing my best in being obedient willingly trusting that promised blessing will come. I love you all very much. Please hug and kiss the littles for me. Tell Peight I sent out his rings so people all over know his testimony and wear that CTR ring. He doesn't remember Anna but she was so grateful to receive it and she too knows that the church is true and the Heavenly Father lives and loves us very much. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you all. 

Love Elder Paramore

9/25/11

Hi Hi Hi!

 

     Oh goodness! Life really is too good:) so this week is packed:) It seems as if everybody planned everything for this week. We'll have a district meeting a leadership meeting, we'll teach English as a Second Language, we'll get to go to conference and we've set up two Hmong dinners:) Oh yeahhhh ha. Oh and it's Hmong New Year here in Chico this Saturday and Sunday... Life really is good mom and dad! I've been here in Chico for 8 months now and i've seen  women have there children and those children are almost walking. The babies that were around a year have grown so so much. It just reminds me of the littles and how much I love them. I think it's awesome that you go to the school! I'm sure Peighton just loves it!  You, Landon and Dad are too cool. Keep going strong, there really are hidden treasures of knowledge in living the word of wisdom to the best of our abilities:) It takes a lot of faith too. Tell dad i'm excited to find trails to hike with him:) I remember Holloween two years ago... It was on a Saturday and that was the day Bishop sent my papers to the Stake President. We had a ward party under the pavillion and we ate chili:) P was spiderman. Do the littles have any idea of what they want to be this year? 

 

     Oh man when I read about the wallet incident I thought it was so cool that everything worked out the way it did. I hope that lady is ok too. I wonder what caused her to make the decision to steal it and then after getting caught I wonder if her desires changed at all??? I sure hope so. Chandis should have born testimony of the power of the Atonement and promised her that she could change and be happy ha:) for real. The only way to set our desires right are through the atonement. 

 

     This week was good for us, Elder Sandall is getting a little more confident in every aspect:) He's great. Running is tough! So right after I emailed you I change my goal. So instead of running 3 miles in under 20 i'm shooting for a 5:30 mile. We run 3 miles on most days and the other days are different running workouts and one long day which is on preparation day. It feels so nice to take care of your body and eat right. You really begin to understand more of the blessing your body is to you and the love our Heavenly Father has for us. We were able to go to the Relief Society Broadcast as well! We had 3 non-members go and a few less actives. It was so neat. I've never been but I sure did enjoy being surrounded by righteous women! I thought about my wife and how she was watching it somewhere. She left with a greater desire to become more converted to loving our Savior first in all things:) I just know it! She also probably left saying I want 10-12 kids and my first sons name will be Zebedee:) Crazy! Jk. All is well. I still love it here and hope I can stay a few more weeks:) The members here are the best. I sure do love you all. Thank you for all your faith. I know that Sister Williamson will be alright:) Thank you for your prayers. Please keep showing your faith:) Tell Landon I love him. Give him a 3 minute hug for me. I know you never forget but please hug and kiss the littles for me and let them know that I really love them. Thanks for all you do and let me know if there' anything I can do for you all. 

 

Love Elder Paramore

9/19/11

Hi!


My goodness did I love and enjoy that email:) Thank you. I hope Peighton knows how much I look up to him as well. I could only imagine what his face looked like after all that happened. I'm glad he's able to laugh about it now. And Landon is the man. I sure do love him. I'm glad to hear about the cardiology appointment. He's running off of blessings! Tell him i'm excited to study the scriptures with him when I get back. What a man!

I think i've told you this before but I gain so much strength from your and dads faith. I always have to get teary eyed during an emailing session. Thank you for pleading with our Heavenly Father on my behalf. I feel those prayers being answered. We had a good week. We taught a ton and had fun. We've been fasting and being as prayerful, obedient, diligent and faithful as we can to find new people to teach. It's been great. We haven't found many but it doesn't get us down. During a lesson we had last week we were teaching and I stopped so my companion could take over and as I did that it was silent for a bit, which is fine, but then after a minute I looked at him and he was stuffing his face with ice cream cake hahaha. Oh my goodness it was so funny. When he realized that we were teaching he felt really bad and said sorry a few times and then was able to carry on. See junk food is distracting spiritually! He must have been pretty hungry for sweets:) Good thing the lesson was with an active member:) He's such a good Elder. He's only been out 3 weeks and is exactly obedient and willing. We have great studies and each day is so much fun because we can focus on what's important rather then silly selfish things. Maybe I just can't explain how great life is so I attempt through talking about certain experiences that don't really describe anything that goes on. I just hope ya know that I love the Lord with all my heart. I really do. I try my best to follow the spirit and do what he would want me to do and because of that I can feel confident, peaceful and full of joy.

We've gotten a running routine. Last week I ran 3 miles and averaged a 6:57 mile. We run 3 miles each day but I haven't been trying to get faster just been trying to get a good cardio workout. His ankle is fine now and we run hard each morning. We've set goals to reach by the time next transfer ends so a 9 week duration. By the end I want to be able to run 3 miles in under 20 minutes. This morning we ran a 4 mile at 7:40 pace and tomorrow we'll have a .5 mile warm up then sprint a mile and try to do that in under 6 then have a .5 mile cool down then Wednesday will be a good run at around 7:30 for 3 miles and Thursday will be .5 warm up 2 mile sprint at 6:30 then a .5 cool down then Friday and Saturday will be 3 mile run at a good strong pace. Then next week it'll be a bit different. We ran this morning in Bidwell Park. It's a huge park here that is pretty much just forest and wildlife. We saw a deer this morning on our run. I'm very grateful for my body. They really are such a blessing to us and we each as individuals can take care of ouselves. By doing so we learn so much. There really are hidden treasures of knowledge in living the word of wisdom. Oh and my companion runs quite a bit faster then me ha i'm usually way behind. 

All is well here. I love being a missionary. I hope the ward knows how much I love them back there. Please don't forget to hug and kiss the littles for me. I love you mom. Thanks for everything. Please let me know if I can do anything for you all. Love ya.

Love Elder Paramore

9/13/11

Hey!

 

     Holy cow life is so so so so so good! I love being a missionary:) I really really do. It makes me so happy to pray then to act then receive guidance and follow it. It's the best feeling. I'm grateful for the week we've had. My companion is great! He's willing and he just enjoys baring testimony and working hard. We've really just tried our very best to be exactly obedient. It's changes a person if they can truly dedicate themselves in all the small ways:) I know it's true! We're still just doing our best to find people to teach. We've had success in our efforts and we love love love just contacting people we see in public. It's so much fun to walk up to them and really just listen to the spirit as they talk. The Lords promises are real. We had an experience just this morning as we were taking some clothing to a Hmong family and a man was walking by, we said he and he walked over to us. We were able to listen to him and the spirit told us everything we needed to say. He broke down and cried as we bore testimony of how much our Heavenly Father loves him. Moments like these are more rewarding than most and it warms my heart. As I looked into his eyes and told him these things I knew he was in that moment lifted up a bit from his state of unhappiness and stress. He said a prayer right there with us and he wants us to come over on Friday. It's so important for us to be ready at all times and in all places. My companion actually rolled is ankle last preparation day so he hasn't been able to run and it's killing him ha. He's taking it pretty well. He's tough. English class was wonderful on both Friday and Saturday of last week! We taught and drew out the connection between the spirit world and temples. Hmong culture worships their ancestors so we taught how Gods culture helps their ancestors then the next day we drew it out again and taught about the celestial kingdom and bore testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is the only way. After we finished a women asked if we'd teach her how to pray so she can begin to ask Heavenly Father if these things are true:) Life's good. When we can't see the small miracles in our lives it means we aren't looking. They're there and they are so so so fruitful. The conference we had yesterday was great! We heard from Elder Kearon of the seventy and we talked a lot about the spirit. Sometimes it seems I have to labor so hard for spiritual things to come. It was great. There was also a music video we watched were there was a picture of the Savior holding a young girl and she looked liked Shenise. I just love her so much. She's so precious. Elder and Sister Kearon had a boy die at 3 weeks in open heart surgery and the moment they told us that the spirit was so strong. I don't think Landon can even begin to comprehend how important he is in this great plan. I hope he knows that and I hope he knows that we're so lucky to be apart of his life the way we are. I love him. I'm glad to hear that all is well.   Life is good. I love you all. Please don't forget to hug and kiss the Little's for me. Mom and dad I don't know if I've told you this before but I sure am grateful for all your love and faith. I can cry at any moment if I think about how much I love you and and how much you've always loved me. I also love my wife and children so so so much! I don't know exactly who they are but I know we're preparing together to raise beautiful children. If there's anything I can do for you all please let me know. Ha ya there are a ton of little birdies out here:) 

 

Love Elder Paramore

8/22/11

Hi Family!

Well I don't know what to say! Even when it seems like things are quite around there they're always loud to hear about. I love you all very much and miss you as well. The work is so much fun! Each day is so filling. I wish I could explain more but it just wouldn't suffice. The Lor family is doing well. We are constantly praying for ways to help them physically and spiritually. They come each Friday and Saturday to an ESL class that we teach (English as a Second Language). We just barely got some good material to teach last week. An ESL Teacher at Butte College gave us some of her older text and workbooks. They are diligent learners. Mai Houa, their daughter that was baptized in March and the 2nd oldest son will be attending seminary. Though they don't know English they have faith it will help. Chio Saelee is still going through a divorce and she's also looking to move out of her current house. She's sick right now:( She picks up odd jobs here and there and most the time it's harvesting some kind of nut, fruit or vegetables. I think she overdid herself the last couple days. My companion, Elder Jones went home on Friday. It was a bit early so they sent me a missionary for 11 days til the end of the transfer. That means I get the opportunity to teach English then translate for meetings and a couple hours during church:) He's from Samoa and learned English to come on a mission. He doesn't talk a whole lot but he's very nice. I'm anxious to see what happens at transfers end:) So all is well here. We started teaching a new family last week as well. We were in a drought for finding new investigators. This family is neat. Their young and have 3 kids. They have a desire to learn how to read and write Hmong. Alot of them can speak not many can do it all. So we've been able to implement the Gospel while we help them. It's been fun.

So just real quick. I hope ya know that disobedience is something that I cannot stand. I know that if we're just willing to experiment upon the teachings of our Savior then our hearts will begin to change. There is a direct correlation between obedience and growth. We have to be doing something, and I feel that we all know and understand the things we should be doing, so why don't we get uncomfortable and grow a little?! When missionary's are purposely disobedient it just makes me so sad! I don't get it. No matter how hard it may seem to an individual he or she can always find comfort in doing what's right, it may not be easy but it promotes growth and builds testimony. When trying our hardest to be obedient it's so important to be prayerful.

Yeah, just tell dad that I love him and thanks for working so hard. I cannot wait to be at the temple with him and with all of you. That day will come! Mom I don't think there's a single thing you can do for me outside of all that you already do. I had something deep to say about how much you love me and how that effects me today and each day i'm out here but I can't think of the way to say it anymore so I gave up. You do way too much and i'm grateful. Thanks mom. No we actually only eat at the Guymons maybe twice a month. They're such a neat family.

K I better go but if there's anything I can do for you please let me know. I love ya. Please don't forget to hug and kiss those littles. Tell P that I gave his CTR rings and testimony to other missionary's to give out too. He's such a good missionary. Thank him for sharing his testimony and let him know that Heavenly Father is so happy when we do. Love ya:)

Love Elder Paramore