Estoy enfermo

Do not worry (I'm talking to you mom), but I am sick this week.  Apparently I am 1 of the 30 missionaries in my group that are sick.  Saturday night when we got to our room I felt super cold, which doesn't happen in Peru.  On Sunday I gave a talk and when I sat down I felt super bad.  I had a fever of 38.5C, I don't know what that means because its not in Fahrenheit.  Luckily my Pinchinista has been looking after me the past couple days.  Being sick on the mission is not fun, because I just want to go out and serve and learn the language.  I guess this is Gods way of slowing me down a bit. Anyway I am feeling much better now.

We have had a great week in terms of lessons with our investigators.  I feel way more confident with the language.  I have started to love teaching about the Restoration.  When I tell people that God loves us so He sends us prophets or when I talk about Joseph Smith I can feel power behind my words.  I know it is the truth that we have a prophet on the earth today, and that knowledge brings me so much joy.  The message of the restoration comforts my soul and makes so much sense to my mind.

We also had a multi-zone conference this week.  I finally got my interview with President Risso, and I was right, he doesn't speak English.  Also I saw Elder Coons, my CCM companion, there.  We talked for a good while and I asked him about his area.  He said that he bathes with a bucket, which makes me extremely happy that I have a shower.  President Risso got all the missionaries who traveled to Chiclayo KFC.  I had forgotten how much I love fried chicken.

A lot of other things have happened this week, but my brain is not working super well right now and I can't remember everything.  I hope that I feel better tomorrow so I can go out and teach.  Sorry there are no pictures this week, I have been in bed all day.

Te Amo,

Elder Perryman

Cheveré

This week has been so great.  I'm still not fluent, but I know the gift of tongues is so real.  I had a conversation about economics, then about missionary work of course, today in Spanish with an old man and my companion didn't say a thing.  I work so hard to learn this language, and it is only after I strive for a goal that the Lord blesses me.  People I talk to say I have great Spanish for a new missionary, but I want it to be better.  I make vocab cards everyday and when I am done with them I give them to my companion to learn English.  I also read the Book of Mormon in Spanish out-loud every chance I get: between appointments, on the bus, and before I go to bed.  There is so much power in the Book of Mormon, the doctrines inside really can be applied to everything in life.

I just want to take a minute and talk about food.  First of all when I found out that the Spanish have a word for "a party with chicken" (Pollada) I instantly decided Spanish is the best language ever.  I have rice for every meal, except for sometimes breakfast.  There is a sauce here called Tarí, which is spicy, but super good.  My pinchinista is fabulous, everything she cooks is good.  They have a drink here called Kímbo (I am not a huge fan) which they call Mormon coffee.  It tastes just like coffee but it is herbal or something.  They have tamales here that Mom would love and eat everyday.  At one "Noche de Amigos" that we put on we had tamales and chicha morada.  Chicha morada is a Peruvian drink that I am starting to get a taste for.  It is basically the juice of purple corn.  Also I can confidently say I have eaten every part of a chicken.  They eat a lot of chicken here, which I have no problem with.  Also the candy here is super different.  My favorite sweet, which I am now addicted to, is Chokosoda, which is a saltine dipped in chocolate.  Also I have broken my "no drinking pop" rule.  When we go to members homes, or sometimes even when we go out and teach people will bring us glasses of Inca cola, orange pop, or coke (The only 3 drinks they have here besides juice).  The juice here is so good, all the fruit is fresh, and delicious.  Also Peru is apparently know for there avocados, we have them for salads a lot, and they are better then anything in the States.

Now for the weird things section.  I see the weirdest things when teaching/walking on the streets, that to people here, is completely normal.  The other day I saw a man training his rooster for cock fighting by baiting it with another.  During a lesson we were teaching an old couple and the abolito was sick and couldn't leave his hammock.  During the lesson he had to pee, so his wife got up and helped him pee into a bottle, during our lesson (now that's love).  Also women here breast feed everywhere, there is even a statue of it in Chepén.  On Sunday Elder Palacios and I were teaching a class and one of the hermanas just started feeding her kid.  No one else seemed to mind.  The other day was elder Palacios birthday and for his present one of the members smashed a cake in his face,.  The tradition is eggs, but we didn't want that much of a mess.

It took a bit of adjustment, but I love it here.  The people are so faithful.  The lives they live are very humble, and simple.  I like the simplicity.  There are certain blessings here that I wouldn't have at home, like being able to see the stars at night.  I love looking up at the night sky when it is full of stars, because it is proof to me of Heavenly Fathers Love and Power.  There are many people we teach here who are so close to baptism, but need to get divorced, then married to whomever they live with.  This is a very common problem here in Peru.  I love teaching.  I am not always the strongest speaker, but the is nothing better than being in the home of an investigator or recent convert.  I love looking into the eyes of the people here and testifying that they can be with there families forever.

Te Amo

Elder Perryman

I made it!!!

This has officially been the longest week (week and a half)  of my life.  We woke up at 2:30 AM on Tuesday to catch an early morning flight to Chiclayo.  At the airport I grabbed breakfast with Elder Coons and we talked for a bit.  He was such a great companion, and a great man.  I am glad he is in my mission and I know he will be the AP in a matter of months.

When we arrived I was amazed at how small the Chiclayo airport was, it made the Idaho falls airport look massive.  We drove to the mission home and had a little breakfast.  All the missionaries (except for a few from Cajamarca) were there.  We had a brief meeting and met the president and our new companions.  My trainer is Elder Palacio, from Lima.  He is really nice and speaks no English.  No one really talked much with President Risso (no interviews or anything) he just kind of sent us off on our marry way.  We are assigned to work in Pueblo Nuevo, which is an incredibly humble town with wonderful people.  Elder Palacio and I went to the bus station with other missionaries in our zone and waiting for a bus.  Imagine a south American gray hound bus station.  I really needed to use the bathroom but as I walked I noticed that there was no toilet paper, and no seat.  Welcome to Peru (for real this time).  Hna. Batman (a sister in my district, and yes that is her real name) then told me that bathrooms here are not as good as the one in the bus station.  We took an hour and a half bus to Guadalupe, which is the center of our zone.  Then we took a cambi (a little van) to Pueblo Nuevo, and then a moto taxi to our room.  We dropped our stuff off and then Elder Palacios told me that we had work to do.

The next week after this moment was the most humbling time of my life.  I met The branch President, David Garrido and some other members.  We also gave a blessing and I did the anointing.  Everyone here has about 4 or 5 names so blessing can be a tad difficult for gringos.

I do not have time to write about everything that has happened in the past week, and there are already things I don't want to tell mom about.  The first few days I felt so alone, I didn't understand anyone, I was in a new world.  I relied heavenly on prayer.  This was a time where my faith was truly tested, I needed it.  Faith is crucial and this week has made me realize how real God is.  I know that I could not speak the amount of Spanish I can today without the help of God. The gift of tongues is real.  How happiness does not come from the world, but from heave.  I know that as we focus on our families and on Christ we will feel indescribable joy.

I have been setting many goals for myself and each time I accomplish one I feel closer to being a true missionary.  We were challenged on Friday at our Zone meeting to read PME (PMG) entirely by Wednesday.  I finished today and now I am challenging myself to read the whole Book of Mormon out loud in Spanish, in my first 12 weeks.  All things are possible through the Lord, who strengthens me.  Elder Greene, a gringo who has hit the year mark, told me that if I get rid of everything English I will learn Spanish faster.  It is my companions birthday soon so I will give him my English Book of Mormon.  

I have a bunch of random things written in my daily planer, too much for a single email.  But I will share a few things.  One of the members here, Pedro, my be the nicest happiest guy I have met in my life.  He served his mission in Columbia.  When I asked him what Columbia was like he said: "Its like Peru with beautiful women."  Every one drivers motorcycles and they are just called motos here. I have seen everything on a moto from 5 people to a mattress, to 15 feet of rebar.  It shows me how much ingenuity the people here have.  People here also park there motos in there "living rooms"  During language study we were going through vocab and one of the words was "conquer".  Elder Palacios looked at me and said "like, to conquer a woman".  I started laughing and then told him to never use that phrase and instead say "steal her heart".  The people here are so nice.  I cannot explain how gracious they are.  The other day we were walking and a member invited us in to share her birthday cake with her.  The "cake" was basically cornbread.  Also Mom thank you for the glow sticks, the little kids here love them.

I am so glad to be out here serving the Lord.  The people of Peru posses so much faith.  I did not understand how blessed my life was until I came down here.  I pray to God and count my blessings everyday.  There is a man in our ward, who has tremendous faith, who doesn't even have a door.  I cannot imagine thinking of a door as a blessing.  I know that the people here are prepared to here the gospel.  The first days were rough for me, but if they were easy I would have learned nothing.  I continually read the Invictus Poem president K gave me.  I know that God cares about every single one of his children.  It is amazing that even out here I know without a doubt in my mind that God is watching over me.

Te Amo,

Elder Perryman

PS I am sorry if I was scatter brained, a lot has happened this week.  Also these pictures are from the CCM and from when our bus broke down.

Last week in Lima

Feilz Navidad!

Today is the 25th of July and the dead of winter in Peru, so my District has decided to celebrate Christmas today!  One of the impactful experiences I have had here is watching others change.  I love the talk given by President Monson last fall about seeing men for there potential.  Something my companion and I have been saying to each other is "Every man is destine for greatness".  I want to live these words.  I know men change everyday.  I know that Heavenly Father would not have placed us here on this earth if we were not foreordained for greatness.  I feel like the days go by faster and faster as I get lost in the work.  My companion and I feel like we have know each other forever, and have great doctrinal and spiritual discussions.  He is a perfectionist, and I am not, so it has been fun for us to teach each other and learn from each other to serve the Lord.

I found out this week that over 1/4 of the Church speaks Spanish.  That is outstanding.  I am so blessed to be here in Peru, where the Lords work is hastening.  I love the people here.  I know, I know, I say that every email, but I mean it with all my heart.  With the little Spanish I know I love telling bromas (jokes) with the Latinos and finding out more about there culture.  Some of the Latinos ask (as a joke) if I am from Cajamarca, which is a town in Peru of white Latinos.  Also when Latinos see my name tag they say "¡Perry! like Feneus and Ferb".  For those of you who don't know, Feneus and Ferb is a Disney show for kids.  And another weird thing is when Latinos imamate dogs (don't ask how I know this) instead of saying "ruff" they say "Wah".  I even love the staff here at the CCM, one of the janitors always comes up to my companion and I and says "¡Mi Carazon! es enferma.  Necisito chocolaté."  If we tell him that we don't have any he tells us that he will die soon without chocolate.

Today is the last day to go to the temple in a couple of years.  It has been a gift to be able to go every week, and I wish I had gone more when I was home.  I realized that my purpose here is not to baptize Gods children, but to fully change there lives and bring them to the temple.  I know that God has a purpose for me here in Peru.  I feel so blessed everyday by Him.  I see miracles everyday and I grow everyday.  I am truly doing the Lords work.

Te Amo,

Elder Perryman

Ustedes pueden hacer esto

Buenos Dias!

I just want to begin by apologizing for my spelling from here on out, learning Spanish is not helping my English.  By the way "ñ" <---these thingy's are on the keyboards here and its so cool. The title of this one mean "you can do it", it is from a talk which we heard this week, which I loved.  I enjoyed getting/reading all of your emails this week.  This week has been so busy/gratifying.  In my letter I sent home I mostly talked about my experience of "prosilitismo" out in the streets of Peru.  It was a severely humbling experience.  I love the people here and how willing they are to listen to us.  One of the "homes" that we went into was so rough that just thinking about it makes me sad.  Some of the people here live in the most humble conditions.  Though most Peruvians are happy, this is because this country has such a strong faith in Christ.

Our little adventure for this week was going to Immigración. Picture the DMV, with three floors, all in Spanish.  It was a trial of patience to say the least.  Think about a stack of paperwork, then make it into a different language.  This was nice though because it gave me some time to test my Spanish.  The fun part was that while most people took a tourist bus there, me and a couple other missionaries took a cab.  The cab drivers name was Oscar and he liked to drive fast.  We drove further into the city and the roads got even crazier.  We saw forklifts on the main roads and no one really seemed to mind it.

Today was P-day and it was so great.  We got to go to the temple, which is always fantastic.  Also we went to Tottus and got fried chicken, we call it PFC and it is delicious.  Later today Elder Coons and I got to introduce ourselves to all the new North Americans, because we are zone leaders.  A friend from back home (Carson Tunney) came in this shipment.  I have already talked to him a bit and I can tell he will be a stellar missionary.

Some fun things with the language: The more I speak with Latinos the more I find out about words I shouldn't mix up, because of the faces they give me.  When I tell them that I am from Ohio every once and a while they think I am saying I am angry (Enojado).  Pescado means fish, and pecado means sin.  And my favorite from this week is Sagrado means sacred and sangrado means bloody.  So while teaching a lesson about the Restoration I accidentally said "The Bloody Grove".

Lessons are going super well besides that.  Elder Coons and I are working super well as a companionship.  We are exact opposite, but it works for our benefit.  He is very serious, but deep down he has a heart of gold.  He is a great example of being focused as a servant of the Lord.  When we teach I can feel the Spirit testifying through us.  It is such a great experience to be able to be an instrument in the hands of God.

I have never been so grateful for the wonderful life that I have.  I am so blessed to have a loving family, a girlfriend who is a supreme example to me and many others, and a gospel which brings happiness to everyone who will hear it.  I know this church is true.  I know that I must go forward with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, to serve the Lord.  I owe it to Him.

Love,

Elder Perryman

P.S. - My new address after the next couple weeks will be:
Peru Chiclayo Mission
Calle Maria Izaga #690, 3er Piso
(Cruce con Av. Balta)
Chiclayo, Lambayeque
Peru

Addresses are super confusing here...

¿Qué en el Mundo?

I am half way through the CCM! It feels as though I have been here for an eternity already.  Some of the elders have started to call is spiritual Alcatraz, because it is surrounded by high walls.  But I know that the walls are for our sake and not for the people outside.  I am really starting to love giving lessons in Spanish.  It is really comforting having Elder Coons teach with me because he knows a lot of Spanish already.  A couple lessons ago our investigator started telling us that he is worried about faith, but I counseled him (in Spanish) that his faith was like my learning Spanish, it is a great process but it only happens "poco a poco".

We have new roommates, they are fantastic guys.  They are from Honduras, Chile, and Peru.  I gave them all some of my peanut butter (which they loved) and then I traded the rest for some stamps.  So please send me more stamps, and Peanut butter, once I am out in the field.  The Spanish language is great.  I love speaking with Latinos in Spanish and they attempt to respond in English.  Learning from and teaching one another is the best way to acquire a skill.  We have three language books here and the missionaries call them Nacho, chancho, y Eskeleto.  We have two great teachers, and one of them knows no English, the other day he tried to spell Utah on the board and spelled it "Yuta".  Also this language has a couple of interesting slang terms.  If you want to say someone is really guapo or lindo (handsome or pretty) you call them a churro.  It funny things like that make me love Spanish.

As we reach our halfway point we are starting to get into a comfort zone.  I am trying to remind myself of Sam´s email constantly that there is no growth in the comfort zone.  That I need to stretch myself if I am to grow and learn.  Everyday I try my hardest to learn the language, memorize scripture, and pray earnestly.  Some days are super rewarding and some days are frustrating.  The thing that matters though is the change I can see through the power of Christ.  I know that it is through him that we can make the most impactful change in our life's and the life's of others.  I see miracles occur everyday hear and I can see Gods hand ion our work.

I love all of you and I promise I read every email, even if I don't respond.  Thank you for all the love and support.

Nos Vemos,

Elder Perryman

Yes, he is that tall!!! 

Poco a poco

Hola familia!

I love getting and reading everyone's email.  They are great moral boosters and it is nice to hear about what is going on back home.  Also can you please send me by mail (not email) a copy of the Voices of the Valiant.  I want to challenge you because this surge in missionary work, to find families for us missionaries to teach.  We are dependent on the faithful members of this fine church.  I love the Peruvian people, they help me so mcuh with Spanish and I help them a bit with English.  By the way Peruvians can not pronounce "d"s, its pretty funny.  The other night we were teaching the Peruvians tongue twisters and Elder Gutierrez came up one that goes something like "Perryman tiene perros, pero un perro de Perryman toro Perros, pero e perro fue a Peru".  Tongue twisters in Spanish are way harder, this one roughly translates to "Perryman had a bunch of dogs but one left for Peru."

Elder Christoffereson came and spoke to us on the 28th, it was a very powerful experience.  He spoke with so much conviction, it made me so excited to get out into the field (even though I can't speak Spanish yet).  Our first group of Latinos have left to serve in the field, I miss them already. 

 

Elder Ortiz, one of my roommates will be a fanastic missionary.  He has only been a convert for one year, but when he bears his tesimony (even though I dont catch everything he says) I feel overwhelmed by the spirit.  He really has a heart of gold.  Elder Ortiz has been working since he was 9 years old, selling fireworks.  He has had many jobs since then, and he told me that after his mission he want to take a trip to America with what he has earned.  His truly humble spirit has made a huge impact on me, I feel so spoiled for all the blessings I have taken advantage of in America.  Today is Independence day!!!  To celebrate they had a huge buffet, it was so good.  We also recieved a new shipment of Elders and Hermanas today.  They are mostly from Honduras or Utah. 

 

We went to the temple again today, it is so fantastic!  Though it is interesting going through in Spanish.  We take a cramped bus to go to the temple.  It feels like you are riding a rollercaoster and the other cars are always only about an inch away.  We also go out and shop around town every P-day, which is a new experience.  The stores are pretty nice, but it is weird seeing everything is Spanish.  One of the pictures attatched is of the Elders of my zone.  I love all of them and we work so hard together to prepare to server those in Chiclayo.  I know the Lord put us all together for a reason.  I know that I need to be here and I know I must serve.  I love you all and I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Love,

Elder Perryman