Crusty Ties

I did get my box and it was great. Thank you very much.


The ties were very very nice ties - I liked them a lot. We usually exchange maybe a tie or two with a companion and sign the back so we know where we got ties and where they've been. We have posterity ties too, so I signed a tie and gave it to Elder Geren and if he ever trains (becomes a father) he will sign it and pass it down to his son - making me a grandpa. I like all ties. I just hope they stay in tact long. Cause with all the sweat - they are dreanched all day long and they dry all night and some get all crusty. So some ties ruin faster then others.


Glad the family reunion went well.

From last weeks e-mails: This I-pad thing sounds pretty cool. I still have no idea what one looks like or what it does, but a lotta ppl are talking about it. I receive Conner's e-mails, i just have barely any time. So I really do appreciate them, tell him he rocks.

My money is doing very well, we spend thrifty here. Ya, we've only ate about 5 times with members so it looks like well get fed about 25% of times which isn't too bad. I'm eating so healthy you'd be so pleased - wheat bread, yogurt, etc. Ya the World Cup seemed pretty good - the members fill us in. Good for Spain. Sounds like dad is staying busy while everyone is gone. Busy is good. How is Grandpa Perkins doing?

Here is my past couple weeks:


July 5 - played bball with Elders quorum president for a couple hours, then played bball with district for a couple hours, got haircurts, and then went to check on a referral who says she wants to start getting back into church - was never baptized when used to attend awhile ago. Began exchanges so I am now with one of my zone leaders, Elder Hall.


July 6 - Elder Geren and I are having tons of teaching opportunities - the Lord is placing people into our paths. We began teaching a 12 yr old boy named Fabian and his older sister, Sandra (already a member). It was fun.


July 7 - got a call at 8 am saying I'd be giving a talk at our 10am zone meeting. So i threw something together on how to be more urgent in the work.


July 8 - Weekly planning - went on tracting splits with some priests in our ward which was fun. Began teaching one of the Bishop's family friends who they have known for 21 years! Great lesson though. Had some visits and got McDonalds for dinner. Things are going great for us. The Lord Rocks!


July 9 - did tracting splits again. I went with an elder who is leaving on his mission in 2 weeks and basically ran him into the ground hard core. He had to leave early cause he was too tired - showed me just how hard Elder Geren and I push it here. Went out with our Bishop on some visits - working close to leaders is key.


July 10 - I weigh in at 162 with shoes on now. Brought another priest to a lesson (we get them as involved as we can) with another investigator and her less-active husband. It was funny because Elder Geren was talking about Joseph Smith's story and right when he got to the first vision account, the baby started crying so she got up to go check on it, so I jumped in and stalled the husband for like 5 minutes till she walked in and right when she sat down, I passed it back off to him and things went on. We are getting pretty good at working with each other when we teach. We went to a baptismal service and we forgot to bring our suit coats because we had lessons and were so busy and our Mission President happened to show up. So he got on us a bit but then was excited to hear about the work in our area that's going on. Met with an investigator and gave her a blessing.


July 11 - We are told every week by the members that we are the best they've had here - which is cool to hear. Church is fun.


July 12 - our whole zone met to play basketball today and the zone leaders came in with transfer news. Elder Geren and I will be staying here for another 6 weeks which is exciting. had a lesson with bishops friend again - really good.


July 13 - Transfer day - I had to go to a leadership training at 2 and it went well. It's fun knowing I'm apart of the leaders and can help out - they're are some phenominal Elders out there though, it's a bit intimidating sometimes. We have many new mission policies and changes about to happen. We have new curriculums and have to be in them by full force by next may. Next week we have training meetings everyday for 6 hours a day for all the leaders to learn and then implement. It's an excellent opportunity for growth - a lot to do though - it'll be fun - I'm pumped. got 3 new members of our district.


July 14 - had a district meeting to get to know the new people. And I talked for like 40 minutes on how we need to do better at extending baptism commitments. We have a fun district and i'm excited for this transfer. It is getting hot!! really really hot outside. Had a couple lessons.


July 15 - lesson. got up to 115 degrees today - it's hot to go tracting in. Had lesson with Bishops friend again. Then had correlation. Missionary work is really fun - having a blast.


July 16 - made some visits this morning and one was up in the country club of Anthem (which we cannot prosylyte in). So we tried to just sneak by like we usually do, but this time the security officers ran after us. He questioned where we were going - he was some goofy old man trying to act tough, pshh. After like a 5 min hold up he let us through and said he would arrest us if we handed out anything. pshh, like to see him try. Gave the sister missionaries a blessing, one was feeling a little homesick. A wind storm hit and we couldn't bike cause all the dust that kicked up - couldn't see. It knocked out the power for a couple hours. Elder Geren and I have fun teaching. We had an area in our district which wasn't producing much, but we were able to get a baptism date in it - yes. district is becoming bolder.


July 17 - Tracting splits with Priests. Then we took 2 investigators to a baptism in another area and it was crazy. It was kinda rocky from the start and then when they went in to do the baptism, there was only a foot of water - they had left the drain unplugged so it was draining the whole time. The Elders didn't know what to do, it was the ward mission leaders first baptism, the Bishop wasn't doing anything so i got up and had to tell them to start filling it up again - then led everyone in singing hymns for like 20 minutes while it filled up to try to keep the spirit there so everyone wouldn't just talk. Then it went on. Crazy day.


July 18 - had to get up at 4:30 - so tired. Went to Anthem ward from 8-11, got a ride home, biked to a lesson, taught her, got a ride to church, and had Gavilan Peak Ward from 2-5. We got some more shout outs which was cool. Got to talk in Relief Society about the office of an Elder. Then got a ride to our next dinner/lesson. Had like 5 girls around 7-10 yrs old crushing on Elder Geren and I - funny stuff. Then got dropped of there to another lesson. Then got home, took everyones weekly numbers, got in bed at 10:50. Long day.


So the work here is going great. We have 10 baptisms lined up for August - the most this place has seen in a really really long time. And if we can keep the dates we have, our district will break our zone recond for the month of August. The Lord is blessing this place and Elder Geren and I are lucky enough to be here at the right time. Hopefully all goes well.

Take care,


Elder Tyler Perkins