Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Dad Taught Me This...

I tell ya, missing college football is going to be tough.



I just get really sick to my stomach. I didn't even think about it till Sunday when someone mentioned that BYU won. Just the excitement, the statistics, the rivalries, the rankings, the Heisman, how will Georgia do with new defensive staff, and star wide receiver - and then there is all the other teams. It will def be what I miss the most.


But you forget it once you start working and realize that we have 5 more people being baptized this month, district meetings, mission meetings, teaching, correlations, auxiliaries, etc - so much you don't even remember.

Excited for the Tennessee game y'all get to go to - have fun. Lots of good notes - thanks for the details - I like them.


30 August 2010 - took 3 hr nap - just phenomenal. Lesson with Yvonne Ogburn. Went to Pete's. E-mailin Jeff Cotten. It's weird that I am really starting to love the investigators - I didn't think I would ever get really attached to them.


31 August 2010 - had district meeting. I like teaching and bringing up new ideas/insights - it's fun to study. We got to have the release-time seminary students practice teaching us the First Vision so they can be good missionaries at school. Lesson with Alvarez family - I love them. Saw a couple havalina (javalina, not sure spelling) - like wild pigs. Elder Bird is a funny companion - he's a farm boy from Idaho who works hard.


1 Sept - leadership training meeting all day. How to be effective district leader & solve special challenges. Got slushie with zone leaders. Dinner and lesson with Alvarez family at Potters home.


2 Sept - had another leadership meeting all day on how to be catalyst of spirit. hap baptismal interview.


3 Sept - had 3 wonderful lessons with new investigators - hopefully they continue to progress. went to Del taco and some members came and bought our meal - blessings for them. So much is going on here - blessed to be serving in Anthem today.


4 Sept - always get the biggest moving truck you can find when you move. Always - I think dad taught me this. We've done a lot of moving and always go big. We were biking and felt like stopping at an older couples home and found out the husband had passed away night before - good timing by spirit - nice visit.


5 September - Yvonne and Shalayne finally came to church! so happy. Went to a Bday party dinner for one of our investigators. Lesson with Alvarez family.

Great week - work moves forward.

Lots of love.

Elder Perkins

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Loving Every Moment

Well I haven't gotten a letter from ya, so here was my past week - VERY BUSY!!!

August 23, 2010 - Got news that I will be in Anthem for another 6 weeks which is great. I have been here for 6 months already, so this will put me at 7.5 months here. Elder Geren (my firstborn son) was transferred and I got a call from President Beck informing me I would be training another Elder fresh from the MTC. I'm really excited - I love training. I will birth him into the field tomorrow. Had a lesson with Pete - pumped for his baptism.


August 24 2010 - Last day with Elder Geren so I took him to Jack-n-the-box for some tacos - that's the only thing I order there - just amazingly good. Kinda sad he's leaving - we did great together - great friend. Was in meetings most the day. Started at 2 with leadership training - my nose started to bleed while President Beck was speaking. Then had a trainers training meeting. Then I got my second son, Elder Bird. He is my farm boy from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He is a state champion wrestler and get this - when he was a freshman, he actually wrestled my trainer (my dad) who was a senior at the time. My trainer, Elder Nielsen is from Pocatello, ID - pretty close to Idaho Falls I hear. Fun stuff. He's pumped to work. Had a great lesson with the Alvarez family at the Gunderson's home.


August 25, 2010 - Brother Mowry took us up to buy a bike for Elder Bird, then he took us to Quizno's for lunch - members here are great to us. Made some visits, had to run to Wal-mart to get some food for Elder Bird. Then tracted. Taught 4 lessons tonight. Trying to finalize all the baptisms this weekend.


August 26, 2010 - Weekly planning, had a district meeting afterwards. Had lesson with Spencer Davis, had dinner a family who is looking into church. Still working on these baptisms for this week.


August 27, 2010 - Had a lesson with a woman from England - cool accent. Tracted a lot. Had Pete's baptism - was way great. The ward support is awesome - after the baptism we all went to the Bishop's home and had ice-cream and talked. Fun event.


August 28, 2010 - Had 3 baptisms today. So we were at the church most the day setting up - had to set up the gym for a dinner also. I got to baptize Spencer (a 10 yr old) - it was the first baptism I've done - really fun.


August 29, 2010 - I got to confirm Pete and Spencer today and give them both the gift of the Holy Ghost - which was awesome. I really love the wards we are in. We had a lesson with the Alvarez family. Both the children are members (Fabian was baptized about 4 weeks ago). We committed the mom to be baptized and she accepted for Sept 25, but is nervous, and not sure about anything - wants to learn more - her 20 yr old daughter was crying when we committed her and it was just an awesome experience. Missionary work is just the best thing ever - bringing families together. We committed them to have family prayer and scripture study each day. I love what we do. Elder Bird is doing great. We are going to have a fun transfer.

August is almost over, we had 7 baptisms this month and have 5 set for next month which is exciting. The Lord is blessing us and I am loving every moment of the work.

Take care,

Elder Perkins