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 

 

 

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.

 

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

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

¡Viva Mexico!

My second companion is from Mexico!! Puebla to be exact, which is a city two hours away from Mexico City.  He is a lot of fun, but also doesn't know English, but he wants to learn.   He calls me "gringo loco" too from time to time. We seriously have super spiritual lessons together.  We even taught 11 lessons in one day, which is a lot.  It is interesting because we have about the same time on the mission (he has one more change than me) so we are a young companionship.  It is weird having to show him around and having to be the one to know the area, which is scary because I don't know the whole area perfectly (it is big).  We really have been striving to work more with the members this change, and so far it is going well.

This week though, I had the worst lesson of my mission.  We were teaching Feliciono about the Book of Mormon, and why it is important, and then he asked, "I know it is true, but why does just your church use this book?"  This question was gold, and we starting explaining when his wife came into the room.  I leaned to Elder Flores and explained to him that she was a member, but sometimes she has a lot of questions from her evangelical friends.  She then started to attack the Book of Mormon, asking question after question.  We were both shocked, we had answers to her questions, but she asked them quickly without really wanting a true response.  I told her that the only true way to know was to read it, ponder, and pray.  Without the faith we cannot know the will of God.   She continued asking questions and killed the spirit we had.  Even her husband (an investigator) defended the Book of Mormon, but she didn't want to listen.  We ended with a prayer and left feeling frustrated.

Luckily the next day we went to Pacanga the whole day and had wonderful lessons. We taught Piere and had lunch with his family too.  I love teaching recent converts, especially Piere because he wants to go on a mission.

It really is the testimonies of the people who have humbled themselves before God that helps keep me motivated.  Whenever I feel exhausted I think about how fulfilling this work is at the end of the day.

Te Amo

Elder Perryman

Lima!!

So another crazy week in Peru.  Which is good, because I always wonder what to write, but there is never an end to the things that go on down here.  We started this week with Family Home Evening in Pacanga.  Piere was baptized this Saturday so Pacanga is on its way to becoming a new area. Anyway we taught in the house of Hna Ana, who has a rock of a testimony.  Pres. Risso wants us to do a lot more work there.  We taught about being examples and rescuing those in need.  That really is missionary work, it is not baptizing, it is rescuing souls, members or not.

Anyway this was my last week with Elder Palacios and I will miss him as a companion, but I am excited to see what the future has in store.  This week we met Jesus and his wife.  Jesus is a inactive member, but he has a son now and is interested in having the gospel back in his life.  I hope that we can help his family out.  We weren't able to visit with Martina because she now has two jobs.  One working on the farms and the other selling bread, both are hard.  We did visit her kids a couple times to see how her family is doing.

I found out Wednesday that I would be going to Lima for my visa.  I was super excited because this meant I could see my group, but bummed because it meant I would miss the baptism of Piere.  Thursday in the morning we got up early to do service, which is easily the hardest work I have done here.  We put down a cement floor for a member.  Evening out a dirt floor is tough, and leveling out concrete is hard too, but mixing concrete is exhausting.  I loved it.  Below I have a picture of me afterward.  I truly enjoy working hard with members down here, it makes me appreciate so many gifts that I have in my life.  I always look up to the work ethic that my dad gave me.

Right after the service project I went back to Pueblo Nuevo, showered, took a car to Chepen, and then a bus to Chiclayo.  Most of my group was there, but every gringo guy was on the plane.  As we waited for the plane I met this a guy in the Chiclayo airport who couldn't speak Spanish.  His name was Julius and he looked like the rapper BoB.  He was from South Africa and had a sweet accent.  We talked about why he was there and then about missionary work.  He was super nice and had a lot of questions, but I think he was just a curious guy.  I shared a scripture with him and then told him about LDS.org and the 13 articles of faith because he wanted to know the difference between our faith and other Christian religions.  Missionary work doesn't take breaks.  We reached Lima around 9pm and our hotel around 11pm.  I know what you are all thinking, that is later than 10:30pm.  Luckily there is an exception to that rule for travel.  I was so tired, but the Elders in my room stayed up a bit longer exchanging crazy mission stories.

We got up early in morning Saturday to go to immigrations.  We felt an earthquake too, which is the first one I have really felt noticeably in my life.  We then went to the "Spanish DMV" as I like to call it until 1pm.  I was hoping that we would have time to visit the temple, but I was let down.  We then got lunch and all chatted.  I talked with our driver, who is a super sweet guy.  He served his mission in Peru during the time they wouldn't let Gringos serve here and he had some crazy stories.  After lunch we went straight to the airport to return home.

Once we got into Chiclayo Elder Bowyer (my trip companion) and I stayed with the office missionaries.  We had dinner with them at a local burger place (the burgers here arent real) and statyed up talking with Elder Dalley, the financial secretary, until it was time for bed.  He was super sweet, but told us that he can't wait to get out of Chiclayo and go to a more remote area (he has been in Chiclayo for his whole mission so far).

We got back too late for the baptism, but I have a picture and I heard it was awesome.  I pleaded for Piere´s forgiveness for missing it on Sunday.  He just laughed and made me sit by him in class.  I am so blessed to have investigators like him.  He has so much potential as a kid (like me) with only 19 years of age.  I hope that I can visit this area when he is getting close to serving a mission (that's the dream).

I feel like this transfer flew by, and I can't wait to see what the next weeks have in store for me.  I know it is a fact that the harder you work in the mission the more fun you will have and the more time will fly.  I love it here, even when it is hard, I am thankful for my calling everyday.

Te Amo

Elder Perryman

Buscamos Milagros

Que tal familia

I am so happy to hear about mom and dad starting their work in the temple.  My area is too far from a temple to visit in my mission, and I miss temples a lot.  They truly are the houses of the Lord.  

To answer some questions, I will probably get a new companion but stay in Pueblo Nuevo.  This is fine because I love this humble area, and my zone.  Also one of my friends here in the mission (Elder Boywer) who is also in my group is from Gilbert.  It would be crazy if his family is in the same ward as the Low's.  

Wow this week was crazy. We had an exchange with the Zone leaders and it was great.  I was with Elder Samame in Chepen and the day flew by.  Elder Samame is great and his area is a lot of fun (it is more like a city).  We worked so hard and he taught me a lot of things.  We also made tacos in his apartment, and talked about how much we miss Mexican food (he is from Panama which is more like Mexico then South America).  We had a really good companionship study together and we talked about miracles and obedience.  Which is ironic because Clara sent me "obedience brings blessing perfect obedience brings miracles".  We also talked a lot about how funny the Spanish language is, like how everyone in Peru says "Claro" or "ya pe"  or how the word "cita" means date (like a romantic date) or appointment (like teaching appointment).

So here is my section about food.  There are a lot of things I miss about US food, but one thing I know I will miss one day about Peru is their panaderias.  Think about a slice of the celestial kingdom squeezed into a sketchy corner building and that's what it is.  Really though the bread here is so good, and the pastries are even better.  The tastiest stuff has the funniest names, like calocones or piononos.  A lot of the food is stuffed with this stuff called majarblanca, which is this caramel like stuff that dad would love.  But a lot of the stuff is also topped with shredded coconut, which I love, but dad would not love.

I am starting to become really familiar with all the members and the area.  Tonight we are going to Pacanga for a FHE with a member.  We are trying to grow this area for more missionaries to enter in the future.  Piere is from Pacanga, and I am so excited for his baptism this week.  Also Martina is so close to getting baptized, I just feel it, but we need to work better at finding new people and teaching with members.

There are things I just love about this mission, like waiting in a mototaxi for a heard of cattle to pass or holding the parrot of an investigator.  I really love this country.  But there are also tough, humbling parts of the mission.  Watching a recent convert struggle with alcoholism, or mental illness, or hearing a sister in the branch cry because she cant read, but she wants to be an example to her children.  It shows me how Satan wants to bring people down, but there are also moments when I see the tender mercies of the Lord.  Like when an investigator completely changes his life and walks away from alcoholism (he just needs to get divorced and then married for baptism).  Or maybe my favorite moment of the week, when we were walking to our room and we saw through a window our landlord, Segundo, who is a recent convert on his knees offering a secret prayer.  It is moments like that, that make the mission fulfilling.  Not everyone accepts our message, but I see real change in the lives of every single person who accepts the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives.  I know this is the work of the Lord.

Love
Elder Perryman

PS: The photos are of a parade in Guadalupe, and an open air market in Pacasmayo (because I know mom loves open air markets).