June 5th

June 5
 Hi guys, yes President Cook called me about it and let me know about that, he did not mention, as you have, the fact of Mr. Bowman keeling over! that's a surprise times two! (literally!) Personally I am concerned about the two Fitch missionaries currently serving! what are they going to think? and of another thought of concern now that I think of it, was it Lisa who got divorced a few years ago?  I think I remember something like that happening, but I am not sure, and if so, and with you mentioning that Samantha is at her father's house, I am starting to think that they were - sorry to be bringing up a painful subject like that at a time like this, probably doing something like what Miracle Max said in the Princes Bride,"while you're at it why don't you give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it!" my appologies for doing that.

And so it is in light of that I have decided to address the following insight for both them and any to whom this may be of help to.
I was informed of her passing during the evening of Friday the first of June.  Following the phone call I was left to wonder, being left in a state of bewilderment, about what I had just been told.  I then asked my companion if we could quickly conclude our session of nightly planning that I might have a little bit of time to think and organize my thoughts and feelings, he said sure but insisted that we at-least finish our plans that we might still be ready for the upcoming day. we did and then I was then left to think about what had happened, given that she was my aunt and not a member of my immediate family, it was not very hard for me to "deal with" it, but it was still a shock much like it was when I was informed of my other uncle's untimely passing.
much of my thoughts were things like: you would not have thought that she would die at a time like this, much less while she has two missionaries and (I think) one or more kids at home! she wasn't all that old, what would happen that would cause that?  (After some consideration of what you said happened and a recent occurrence of another kind I am wondering if it may have been appendicitis?) but regardless, as I thought on it and, essentially, what we have been doing as missionaries and the plan of salvation, I figured that there was no better time than the present to come to terms with what I actually believe.  Because if I could not testify about what happens to us after we die in a circumstance like this, how would I be able to do so in a circumstance where someone else just had a close relative or friend die without warning, or unexpectedly.
I then proceeded to make the matter a subject of earnest prayer when I went to bed that night, and so after concluding all other obligations for the night I went to my bed and began my nightly prayer. after covering all other subjects that were on my mind (mind you there were only a few other things that I was also wondering about that I bought up with our Heavenly Father) I proceeded to ask concerning the truthfulness of the doctrine of what happens to us after we die, hence by connection the plan of salvation as a whole and all that that implies.
while I was thus employed, an experience unlike anything I have ever had before occurred - a feeling of which I can only describe as a feeling of warmth, like a ball of heat entered into my chest, and as I can best describe in my limited vocab. settled in the center of my being and just remained there for a few moments.  There were no words, no amazing epiphanies, or anything of that sort, just a feeling of warm(and I guess this is the only way I can put it) comfort radiating from my center out to the edges of my body.  In response to this I then took a moment and out of a desire to be certain of my experience, asked if this was my answer and not just something I was imagining. Almost directly after that the feeling left and for a few moments I was left praying and wondering, but just before I closed my prayer I once again asked for a conformation of what had happened and then I began to notice that the same feeling had returned and I felt the exact same way, no thoughts or words, just the feeling and me, it had come little more slowly than before and I realized that it had already been returning before I had began to ask for the third time. I just hadn't noticed it until I had began to ask again.
 because of that experience and all that I have experienced out here and with everything that I have learned, I know for myself that this is God's true church upon the earth at this time, that the plan of salvation is God's plan for all of his children and that Aunt Lisa (aunt for me, aunt, sister, daughter, or mother for whomever it applies) has passed to the spirit world and so has all who have passed on and I know that we will all see them again.
this is my testimony and I encourage any who read it to find out for themselves, because I know that God our Heavenly Father will answer their prayers, because he has answered mine.  I pray that he will comfort all of you who are morning her and help you to continue to move forward with faith that you will wee her and any whom you miss, who have passed on, again, and I do so in the sacred name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ, amen.
good luck to you all and my love to everyone

Hi guys, glad to know things are not absolutely horrible, but I guess you could always take the "someone is always going to be having a worse day than you" view on some things, right? anyway, now to regular chit-chat;  

On Mon, Jun 4, 2012 at 11:25 PM, Guy Parker <gparkers@gmail.com> wrote:
So...how was your bday? (it was good)  Was it a good day?  I'm glad you liked the video, it was fun. (I can see that) ;)  I guess you've heard by now about Aunt Lisa.  Boy, life is crazy, huh?  I can't believe it. (you're telling me!) It's been a strange weekend, and it's going to be a long week as the funeral is Friday. (probably) I'm actually writing this on Monday, since I don't want to miss you tomorrow and we'll be running again.  I thought that being off for the summer would make it so I could get so much done!  Well, hopefully the rest of the summer will not be like the first day.  Or should I say weekend...sigh.
How are things going?  I hope you are having loads of success.  I guess tracting is coming to the second nature part, huh?  Do they have you guys do corner meetings?  I never got to do that, but I always thought it would be interesting.(kind of in this area we do a little thing called ask a mormon a question but I don't know if you would consider that the same thing)
You mentioned in one of your emails that you had a funny story about Penny and her fiance for us.  Do you remember what it was?
Remember the gospel is true, you have lots of angels helping to aid your work from your family now, so remember that when you become discouraged.
Love ya
mom
(love you too and write you next week, and please tell sherie, Keith and Aaron that I am sorry that I didn't get that letter that I promised to them I will try to do that this week)