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| Elder Perry on splits teaching investigators |
We were able to get a lot of things done this week. Talking with lots of investigators and making more contacts. I have learned that you can never have too many investigators. We spent quite a bit of time in one young man’s house, because we were preparing him to get baptized on Saturday. Everything was great, he was accepting the lessons, and he did great on the pre-interview. But when Saturday rolled around and we went to interview, he said he didn’t want to be baptized anymore. Pretty devastating because we were all prepared for the baptism that day. We are pretty sure someone in his family said something to him that scared him, so we are going to try to work on him again this week. But overall, that was a pretty tough experience.
This week we were able to celebrate the birthday of our district leader, Elder Lopes. He had insisted on all of us going to Johnny Rockets to celebrate. It was a little strange to enter a restaurant that had such an American atmosphere. We had some ice cream and everyone came around and sang to him. That was a strange experience -- feeling American again. We also celebrated Elder Lopes’s birthday in an investigator’s apartment, on the 19th (penultimate) floor overlooking the ocean. That was a little insane. Not to mention what we ate. There were two large pots of rice with some meat inside. I scooped some out for myself like everyone else was doing, and happened to get a large meaty item in my spoon. Happened to be some nice looking chicken feet. There was a lot of bone and not a whole lot of meat. Just mostly some cartilage. Not going to lie, I am not really a fan.
I played the piano again in sacrament meeting. It usually goes pretty smoothly, but some rough patches because I never know what hymns I’m going to have to play. But it’s already become that time where I have to start practicing the Christmas hymns. This Sunday was the Portuguese version of “Ôh Come, All Ye Faithful.” I was also asked to play the piano for the ward´s Christmas program on December 20th. The president of the Relief Society would like me to play on the piano “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, while the other American in our ward, Elder Haddock, sings. So for now, I am looking for the music online and hoping I don’t get transferred,or don’t get transferred too far from here when the transfer ends on the 16th.
The work here is really great. We do have a full spread of investigators, even when some of our baptisms are falling. We should have a couple more this coming Saturday.
One spiritual thing really quick for all of you. What I have been trying to work on lately is reading the New Testament with an emphasis on using the examples and teachings of Jesus Christ to make me a better missionary. It has been helping a ton. I know you all are probably almost done with the New Testament right now, but I know that following his example will help us to improve in whatever we are doing. I know that this gospel is true, and that it has the power to change lives. I also know that our Heavenly Father is preparing people specifically for us to teach, but it is our responsibility to find them.
Elder Perry
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| A rare lunch outing at KFC |
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| Brazilian bats everywhere |
