We Did It! He is Converted!

NOTE:  The next mission president for the Arizona Temple Mission was in the MTC and when these new presidents arrived it was always a shock to find out they were in charge of two 'missions.'  So, we decided to send the new president info on the program and Shad Driggs outlines how it got to his hands.

July 1990

Brother Parker,

WE DID IT.  HE IS CONVERTED!

I briefly met President Bailey in the halls.  One evening was set aside for missionaries to meet with their mission presidents.  I could not go, but one by one the Guides visited the man who holds the destiny of their favorite program.  Brian reported to me:  “He’s sold.  If it only makes you guys this excited—if that is the only thing it does—it is worth it.”  It teaches us how to be truly effective missionaries.  The missionaries were to have no other contact with their presidents except this night.

  I received your package, Bro. Parker, on the day they left.  I went through it to see what was there and put back the stuff to give them.  (I also copied your “Letter from the Directors.”)  I then took it to the Main building.  I went having faith that he was still there and that I could get it to him (although it was against MTC policy to do that.)  (Red Tape)  In the Main Hall, I found President Evans, 2^nd Counselor of the MTC Mission Presidency.  He used to be my Branch President and so he knew me by name.  We talked for a moment and I asked him how I could get this to President Bailey.  He said, “Go to my office.  Tell my Secretary that I sent you.  And she will help you get it to him.”  I went to her, told her that Pres. Evans sent me, and I told her what I needed.  She called the front desk, asked a couple of questions and told them that I would be there in a few minutes to deliver the package.  She then put an MTC label on the front of it.  I put his name on it and took it to the front desk.  The label made it official stuff and I was able to deliver.  I went from red tape to red carpet.  It was really cool.  I pulled a Bro. Parker.

The language is really tough.  I do very well when I have the Spirit, but when I don’t, I can hardly remember a thing.  I received a scare from the Consulate in Australia.  More forms that would take 12 weeks to process.  It turned out to be a mistake.  Whew!

P.S.  While you boil in 122 degree heat, I hear that Australia is having record cold and snow.

I decided I’m not finished, for I have somewhat more to speak unto my brethren.

As you can well imagine and have been told that Mandarin is one of the more difficult languages to learn.  I’ve had, myself, a particularly hard time in being patient with myself.  I’ve always been able to learn quickly, but something like Chinese cannot be learned quickly.  It has been very difficult to see Elders and Sisters who came in the same time I did, using their language in their study scriptures in Spanish, or German after only six weeks.  The people in my Mandarin branch, especially myself, can hardly talk in the language, and won’t be able to even read the Book of Mormon for at least a year or two.  It was under these discouraging circumstances—a time when my burden was just too heavy to bare and I didn’t think I could go on anymore—that my Branch President called me to be the Executive Secretary for the Branch.  More pressure was the last thing I wanted.  I shared my concern with him that I wasn’t sure I could handle it, or anything more, but I accepted anyway.  That is what you are supposed to do.

  Two nights later, the AP woke me in the middle of the night and told me to get dressed immediately.  A Sister could not be found.  The AP and I ran to the front desk where we met other Sisters and the Branch President.  We searched the temple grounds and the neighboring fields and we were very concerned about her.  She turned up all right.  Since then I’ve been able to administer to some ill missionaries, for it is my responsibility to look after the missionaries in the branch.  I go around and check on them every night.  I try to lift those that are down by lightening their burdens and making it my problem too.  I have found that in taking upon myself the burdens of others, my burden has disappeared.  I don’t have the time nor the energy to worry about myself, but constantly of others.  I am much happier.

  Because I’m not worrying about it, the language is coming along very well.  Chinese is so cool and I wouldn’t want to be learning any other thing.  (One tough part though is that there are nearly 60 different Chinese words for the English word “a” as in “a” book.)

  One day, the language wasn’t coming too terribly well.  I trudged through the whole day.  When I knelt to pray, I asked why I had such a hard time, why didn’t you help me?  I received a very distinct answer, “You didn’t ask.”  I like Alma 7:23 which says to “Ask for whatsoever thing you stand in need, both temporal and spiritual.”  I could spend my whole life fulfilling the other things in that verse as well.

Elder David Porter, do you remember my first referrals?  They were on Thursday in October when the Guides were inside.  I had been a set-apart Guide for nearly two years without a referral.  In the weeks preceding, I had prayed much and wrestled with the Spirit for that blessing.  On Thursday I had fasted all day and told Paul Gibson that I would fast until I got a referral.

  David and I gave a tour to an old friend of my family from when we lived in Scottsdale and the non-members he brought down.  We shared our feeling about the Savior in the Christus Room and then showed them “Together Forever.”  The Spirit was there as we told them about families.  They marked the box.

I received a letter the other day.  They were baptized the first week of July.  The member wanted me to thank you, David, for your testimony then.  That makes me feel so good that we were able to assist in bringing somebody into the Kingdom.  Even though I only saw them once, months ago, it is an awesome feeling to know that I had a part in that.

  It is so great to hear form each of you in the GUIDElines.  Thank you so much, Bro. Parker, for sacrificing your time so much.  I appreciate it.

  Love, Elder Shad Driggs (Chinese writing)

P.S.  Don’t put all of this in the GUIDElines.  Just what will help others.

Dear Bro. Parker                          7/4/90

  Hey Hey Hey!  How’s it going in the good o’ “Valley of the Sun?”  It is going great here!  I’m sorry I missed the GUIDElines deadline last month.  Things are so busy here!  I am still in my original area but with my 2^nd companion since I came out.  They changed our P-Day to today because of the holiday.  We had a lot of fun today going through the city.  Well, I told you I would keep this letter primarily about my “missionary” experience so far.  Bro. Parker – if there is one thing I have learned out here so far, it’s that Heavenly Father isn’t so much concerned with what you do when you are on an “up” or being successful.  I have found that He pays particular attention to your actions, thoughts, etc., when you are bogged down with trials and things aren’t quite going your way.  That is when we need to “Double our Faith” and tell Heavenly Father that we are willing to obey no matter what the circumstances or situation.  We are being so blessed at this time that it is sometimes unbelievable.  I know without any doubt that this work is definitely in the hands of the Lord and He’s not going to let us mortals flub it up!

  I would like to share a few ideas with my brothers around the world on a teaching method that was presented to us from Elder Loren C. Dunn and has proven to be near miraculous!  Think for a moment when the most spiritual parts of the discussions are.  Of course, it is right after you share the J.S. experience and say, “…this is my beloved Son, hear Him.”  Think back to the discussions you have taught and is that not the moment when the Spirit is just rocking your heart?  If we could capture that Spirit when we commit them to baptism—think of the numbers of people that would commit on the spot.  One thing that we do in this mission is commit everyone!  (Unless prompted otherwise) on the 1^st D. right after the J.S. experience using 1 Nephi 31.  In respect to the amount of room in the GUIDElines and Bro. Parker’s work I will share with you the exact procedure we are using in next month’s GUIDElines.  I want you all to know that I pray for you daily.  I know that the day will come when the Program will be a Church-wide institution due largely to the quality of missionaries it sends into the field.

  Bro. Parker – I want you to know how thankful I am for your work in our behalf and how thankful I am for Heavenly Father blessing you with employment.  You and the Program are always in my prayers!

  Your Brother, Craig

“UPDATE” Se Ya in 20!

Bro. Parker –

  You know that you are free to print any of my letters but this is just to you!  I want you to know how much I love and miss you.  You taught me so much and there are times I’d just love for you to drop in so we can talk and I can tell you how I am feeling and see what you think.  I want you to know that I amloving my mission.  I know this is where I should be.  There are times I am so down I could just die and actually enjoy it and then times I am so high I could extend for another 2 years!  Training is an interesting experience.  It is kind of challenging at times trying to get this person, who is his own someone, to do things that they don’t think they should have to do.  Well, I am kind of short on time so I’ll let you go for now.  I love you…Craig