WEEK 94: New Friends

What's up?? Such a good week here in Fortaleza. We are constantly seeing miracles as the Lord allows us to further the work in this great city.

Transfers will be happening this week! Fortunately for me, I will be staying for another transfer here in Genibaú with Elder Viana. I am so excited for the continued successes we will see, and the experiences we will have here. I have grown to love this area and the many members, friends, and missionaries that make it special.

We had so many miracles this week! On Tuesday, we had the honor to baptize 3 of our good friends, and one more on Sunday. Tuesday was the baptism of Wesley, Douglas, and Emilly. They all live right next to the chapel, and we have been teaching them and their families for a while! Emilly, in fact, is the sister of Ravi and Davi, who we baptized recently. It has been really great working with these families, and seeing the light that is brought into their lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It really does make such a big difference. And our friend Sophia is the niece of one of the members of our ward. She has lots of family in the church, and was very excited to join them. Her uncle, Erivelton, was able to baptize her. It was a very special meeting. I felt the spirit so strong during these two baptismal meetings this week. I love being able to participate in such a great work.

We also had sacrament meeting for the first time this week! I could hardly believe it. This was my first sacrament meeting since I arrived again in Brazil. We weren't sure if it was going to happen until late the night before, so we had a hard time advising everyone, but there was a great turnout, and some of our recently baptized friends were able to come with us. It was nice having the opportunity to play the hymns in sacrament meeting again. 

Other than this, we have just been working hard! We got pretty sick for a couple days this week after eating some poorly cooked meat, but we are both 100% now! I am still sweating all day every day and I am still loving Brazil.

Love,

Elder Perry

WEEK 93: Planting Seeds

Hello everyone! Hope you all had an excellent week. We have been working extremely hard here in Fortaleza, and seeing many blessings as a result. I am so happy to be able to finish my mission here, and enjoy this great city.

We had two great miracles this week in the form of our friends Mario and Davi. They have both been asking us to be baptized for a while now, and with everything taught, and parental approval, we were able to make that happen. Davi is the brother of a young man named Ravi, who we helped get baptized about a week ago. Davi and Ravi also invited their sister, Emily to watch the baptism, and she has a desire to be baptized this next week as well. It has been such a wonderful experience working with these youth. They all have such a strong faith, and connection with each other. I can't wait to see the future that lies ahead for them as members of the true Church of Jesus Christ.

The work is moving along quite well here in this area. We are teaching many people, and planting many seeds as well. It is amazing to know that even though our efforts don't see immediate results, the seeds we plant have the capacity to produce fruit one day. Our zone is also doing very well. Everyone here seems really excited, and is working hard to help people enter into the waters of baptism. I could not be happier with what is happening here.

As for Fortaleza - still incredibly hot. Even when I'm just sitting down doing nothing, I start sweating. I wish I was more accustomed, but the years of snow back in Utah have made that impossible. I don't understand how some of the kids here can run around for hours in the scorching sun, barefoot, and not even break a sweat. We have not yet had a sacrament meeting yet, but we are expecting that we will be having one this coming Sunday!! Exciting! The meals members have been providing have also been great. I must say that I have not tired of rice and beans.

I love working in the city of Fortaleza. This really is such a blessed place and I know that many small miracles had to happen to enable my return. I love the people here, and I love my Savior.

Love,

Elder Perry

WEEK 92: Making Marmitas

Hello everyone! We had a couple really cool experiences and miracles this week!

 
The first was the baptism of our friend Daniel! He had been asking to be baptized since we got to the area, and we were finally able to help him do just that. When we went to pick him up for the baptism though, he wasn't at his home. His parents said that his grandmother had taken him to her house because she didn't want him to be baptized. We asked to be let in to the parents house, and we began teaching and bearing our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong in that moment. When we had finished, the father had tears in his eyes, and he hopped on his bike to go get Daniel. He had such a big smile on his face when we walked into the chapel with us. This gospel is undoubtedly true, and has the power to change lives.

We had our interviews with Presidente Priday this week as well! He is the man. We love the great counsel and wisdom he provides to this mission. We spent a lot of time talking about the zone and making important plans. I'm looking forward to the progress we will see in the near future in Zona Ceará.

We also got to participate in several service projects this week! With Ala Sevilha, we made "marmitas" - lunch plates, and handed them out all over the neighborhood. We met some cool people doing this as well. With Ala Genibaú, we made a huge pot of soup and gave it out to people in the neighborhood as well. It was such a blessing to see the happiness of the people service, and the people being served. This really is the way Christ lived.

Other than that, we have just been hard at work. Teaching everyone we come into contact with, and trying to further the work in our area and the zone. It is not easy, but missionary work was not meant to be easy. I am grateful for every difficulty, every problem that must be solved, and for every chance I have to learn and grow. I would never trade this mission for anything. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Perry

WEEK 91: Sunshine In My Soul

Hello all! I hope everyone enjoyed the week, and had a fantastic Mother's Day! Mother's are so important, and I know that I would never be where I am today without mine! Love you Mom!

We had a very busy week! Our big project was a list of people who had been baptized in the past two years, who have become less active. We went to their homes to try to track them down because it seems to be too easy to decline a phone call these days. We met some really cool people, and even some relatives to those people who we hope to start teaching here in the near future. We have been blessed with many people to teach, and some great members who have been helping us.

One miracle this week was the baptism of Pamela! She is another youth that lives near the chapel. We have been teaching her for a little while as well as her mother. They have both progressed so much, and Pamela decided to be an example and be baptized. I had the privilege to baptize Pamela and feel her strong spirit. It has been great working with this family, and we are looking forward to the progress that will continue to help them.

Other than that work, we have just been busy trying to solve all the problems in the zone. It seems like every time we take care of one issue, 10 more appear! But we are trying to stay organized, and trying to make the most of what we have.

A quick spiritual thought comes from a talk and a chapter from the new testament. "The Inconvenient Messiah" by Elder Holland, and chapter 4 of Matthew. Christ is being tempted by Satan and is offered several different things. He is tempted to use his power to make his life easier immediately. Elder Holland teaches that the life of Jesus Christ was not designed to be convenient, nor the lives of those who choose to follow him. It is only through trials and hardship that we grow.

Love,
Elder Perry

WEEK 90: Blessed in Brazil

Hello everyone! We had yet another great week here in the great city of Fortaleza. Every day I spend here feels like a little miracle. I know that I am meant to be here now, and that there is much work awaiting me as I finish strong.

One big miracle this week was the baptism of our young friend Mateus! He is neighbors with a family of members, so teaching him and helping him feel part of the family was not difficult at all. It was not easy to get authorization, but Mateus' mother was understanding, and in the end, supported his great decision. We are so happy for him, and we're excited to see what progress the church will help him make in his life.

We had zone conference this week as well! It's crazy to think that I have only one, or maybe two zone conferences left. Always a great opportunity to feel the spirit, and help the zone get excited to get to work. The theme was the Book of Mormon and we talked a lot about its use in the missionary work. The training that Elder Viana and I gave to our zone was centralized in the fact that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. We made some great goals together and everyone is excited to hit the ground running.

The work has not slowed in this area! Almost every day, we receive at least 2 new referrals to contact. It has been great, and we have found some success with those people. The referrals, coupled with the online Facebook contacting and contacting near the chapel, has given us a large teaching pool and has continued to bless us.

Other than that, the week has just been hard work. I am still sweating all day and loving the rice and beans but I have no complaints. I love Brazil, and I love the work. I am ready to finish strong. 

Love you all!

Elder Perry