Monday, November 25, 2013

Elder Nelson was Great!

So Elder Nelson was great.  He was so nice and his talk was great.  Both he and his wife spoke a lot about family history work and how there are generations of people on our side.  I had a bit of a fever this week, but I was determined to go see Elder Nelson despite my condition.  I actually felt completely better after his talk.

It is weird that I am having a change soon (probably).  I love this area, and my companion right now, but I need a change.  We have been working hard this week and we were able to place two baptismal dates on the same day.  Sadly I will not be here for them and I really don't want to miss the baptism of Martina.  Though I know she is in good hands with Elder Flores.

This week has been hard to work with the President of the Rama [Branch], it is teaching me patience. We do not have a Relief Society President or a Young Men's President.  Also we had a branch meeting, for every branch council, in Pacasmayo, and it was just me and Elder Flores.  When there was a segment to have a mock branch council, everyone had there members and we had each other.  But at least I have a branch, there are areas in this mission with only three members. 

It is weird that Thanksgiving is this week.  I have totally forgotten about it.  The celebrations here are so different and I am forgetting about stuff from America.  I will definitely be missing a white Christmas this year.

I love you family, keep it up.  I love getting everyone's emails.  I always print them off and read them.  You are all in my prayers.

Te amo
Elder Perryman 


 

 

Monday, November 18, 2013

ELDER NELSON!!

Elder Nelson is coming to our mission this week and I am so excited!!  I don't know why but for us missionaries, stuff like this is bigger than the super bowl (Or the world cup here).  I am excited to here him speak, and we have all been told to think of questions and seek for answers in his visit.

This week has flown by, we have been working hard, especially in Pacanga, and it is starting to pay off.  The people here are so nice, almost every door that we touch lets us in.  The people here love to talk, but that is fine as long as they listen to the discussions about the gospel.

I love learning Spanish.  It is just fun now to study this language.  I really want to learn a third language after my mission too.  It truly is a gift of God to communicate in different tongues.  I feel confident with my Spanish now because we had a reunion in Chiclayo this week for gringos.   In one of the classes we talked about how to learn the language, and the teacher just told us that we have to talk, not be afraid to mess us, and learn jokes.  I think that has helped me a lot.  I am glad Heavenly Father gave me the ability to love jokes.

Peru is great, but there are things here that are normal, that would be bizarre in the states. For example, people walk up and down the streets with open bags of candy selling just one piece at a time.  If that happened in the states someone would be arrested.  Also here seeing 5 people on a moto isn't weird and it is perfectly normal to sit in the trunk of a car.  I love the culture.

While we were in Chiclayo we went shopping at a grocery store, because there aren't any in our zone.  I found BBQ sauce and I thought I was going to cry.  My companion and I ate BBQ chicken for dinner and I felt like I could die happy.

There is also a video we watched about the Atonement and missionary work, which I want to watch everyday.  It is a mix of talks by Eyring and Holland, and it is extremely powerful.  It truly puts into perspective the work of our Savior and how we must follow his path.  This week we ate dinner at a members house and when we finished her son, Carlos, and his friend, Omar, came in.  Carlos is a chef in Trujillo and was inactive, but want to go on a mission, and Omar is one of the few youth in the ward, with about 16 years. We shared a message with there family and talked with them both for a long time.  Usually we don't stay more than an hour in a house, but we made an exception here.  Neither of them have much support from there fathers, but both are fantastic.  We spoke about our duty as disciples of Christ and then talked about Peru, and Mexico, and the US.  It was really fun and it helped my Spanish to speak more casually.  The thing I love the most, is that when we left they we excited to serve missions.  They felt the spirit and they knew what was right.  I pray that there are people to lead ALL young men on missions.  I couldn't help but think about the youth in my home ward and wish that every single one will one day join me in this marvelous work.

Te Amo
Elder Perryman


 
The first photo is of our dinner (sorry mom)
 
 
 
The second photo is the night my companion found out his girlfriend was engaged.

 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Peru: The one place you can rock the satchel

My Companions foot is better so we were able to work hard this week.  Honestly, this week flew by, and I really forget what happened.  I did learn a lot this week though.  Elder Flores helps me a bunch with Spanish and I have taught him a thing or two in English.  We work well together, so we have a lot of fun, and have meaningful lessons.   The other day I told him to "remember the Alamo" because he said something about America and he looked at me confused.  We just both laughed after that.  Many people ask us if we get along because of the border troubles, and we always just smile or laugh when we here that question.  I think I am getting a change in December but I want to keep working with Elder Flores for a bit longer.

It is crazy how much my taste buds have changed (Sorry I always have to talk about food, but it is good here).  There are things which at first I didn't like or thought were weird, like chicha morada, that I now crave.  Mom I will try to stop having cuy, but it is so good, if prepared right.

I am really starting to love the people here, especially the families we teach.  The family of Piere is awesome.  We visit them twice a week and we want for there whole family to become committed to the gospel of Christ.  This week we taught them about the Family: a proclamation to the world.  We were a little hesitant about sharing this, because the parents aren't married, but felt like it needed to be taught.  It went really well, and later in the day the father, Carlos, told us, "I am leaving now, but if you need anything, the door is unlocked, and you are welcome relax in my house."  We didn't accept but it is crazy how much the family loves the missionaries.

It is weird because I do not feel like I know Spanish, but at the end of the day I always realize "Wait I didn't speak any English today".  It is strange because there was no "ah ha" moment or a point where it all came to me. All I know is that my first week I couldn't understand a thing and now I feel comfortable speaking to random strangers about whatever.  I know that this is a gift from God.  Step by step we can walk a mile as we follow
Christ´s footsteps.  Alma explain faith as a little seed could never be clearer to me in my life than now.  I know that the things that are eternal, the things that matter can only be possessed little by little.  Like how a seed turns into a tree or how the ignorant are lifted up into enlightenment, we must be patient with our eternal progression.

Love
Elder Perryman




Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Como, como Méxicano

I completely forgot about Halloween, holidays are so different here, and I cant keep track of what season it is without large store displays near by to remind me.

My companion is awesome.  People ask us a lot if we have contention because he is Mexican and I am a gringo and we always laugh at this.  One of the photos is of us eating tacos, we spend a lot of time talking about Mexican food.  I now eat more like a Mexican, with more spice and a lime with everything.  Sometimes when he offers me something spicy and I say no he says "caballero" which means "cowboy" or in this context "man up".

So we did not get to do a lot of work this week because my companion hurt his foot last Pday.  We went to the doctor and he just told him to take a bunch of drugs.  Like a lot.  But it was fine because medicine is super cheap here.  Elder Flores got his shot and came out limping (because of his foot).  I died laughing because of the face of a little kid who saw him walk out after getting his shot (he was next).

We then went to Chepen to get X rays, which was a crazy experience.  While we were there our landlord, Segundo also came in because he fell off his motor cycle.  It was so sad to see the look of worry on his wife's face.  We tried to help them as much as we could, but I felt so lucky to have the knowledge of the Plan of salvation in that moment.

On Thursday we went to Chiclayo to complete my training with an exam.  It was great to see all the missionaries in my group.  One of the senior companions had a huge pony tail and I asked one of the Elders why.  He simply said "He's from Ecuador".  I have heard the craziest things about Ecuadorian culture.   I also had an interview with President Risso, it was great.  The more I talk with him the happier I am he is my mission president.  Though it was funny when he asked my companion about his foot and after my companion responded with "Pday" President Risso started to make hand motions and say "Ta siempre Pday".  

I have now had Cuy 5 times (which means I'm loved), its alright, and not weird to me at all now.  Piere is our pension now, for the days we are in Pacanga.  I have seen great changes in Piere and I am so happy that he has started his mission papers.

There was a baptism this week for the son of the Branch President.  it was funny because after his baptism President Garrido blasted Mark Antony with the chapel speakers and every one was drinking chicha morrada, I am used to church music and cookies after baptisms.

Also the Presidencia of our branch is crazy.  It was a crazy week of working with them and talking with President Risso, but things seem to be better now.  This has basically taught me that every thing in D&C 121 is true, and we always have to be on the look out for pride.

Now that summer is coming up (isn't that strange) the mosquitos are coming out.  Because I live in a farming village it there are sooo many mosquitos.

I also reread the fourth missionary this week. I love this talk.  Anyone who wants to serve a mission or is serving needs to read it.  We can not serve because it is what I parents want.  We can not simply serve to serve.  We must serve with charity, loving everything.  We cant also be perfect but we can not simply endure our duty.  We must embrace it and find joy in it.  The more I forget myself here, the more fun it is.  Not only is it more fun, but I can feel the spirit more.  It is not enough to simply be obedient, we must want to be obedient.

Te Amo
Elder Perryman