WEEK 97: Mission Conference

Hello everyone! We had a great week with lots of great miracles!

The first of which was the baptism of our friend Kelly! We have been teaching her for close to a month now, and this week she was finally feeling ready to be baptized. She had lots of questions, and her preparation was super cool. I had the honor of baptizing her. Her mother was baptized several years ago and is beginning to come back to church with us as well. Kelly also has a little brother named Kaio who is 7 years old and is full of energy. They are such a great family, and we have become very close with them. Kelly's baptism was so special, and she already began bonding with the young women in the ward. In fact, the leaders have already helped her get signed up for seminary. 

Another highlight was our mission conference. Everyone in the mission (except any companionships feeling sick) went to the chapel of the temple for the conference. It was so cool to see everyone together, and be back in my first area. The theme of the conference was The Restoration. We discussed, had trainings, watched videos, and felt the spirit so strong. I feel very lucky to have been able to participate. One of the best parts was taking a picture of our original CTM group - which has gone from 9 to 5 Elders. They are some great dudes, and we are all finishing our missions together in the next couple of months. What a day that was. 

We have been working hard every day. We have some great families we are teaching, and many youth as well. We are hoping for more success coming down the stretch. I am so thankful to be able to finish my mission here.

Love, 

Elder Perry

WEEK 96: Here Comes the Sun

E aí! What's up everyone!? We had a great week here na missão Brasil Fortaleza. The work is going great, and the miracles keep on coming. 

This week's highlight was the baptism of our friends Armando and Liandra! We have been teaching them for a little bit, and they both felt ready to take this important step in their lives. We were so happy for them. The Lord has really prepared so many people in this area to be taught. Living so close to the chapel, and having a solid group of youth, it is reassuring to know that the future of the church here lies in good hands. The seeds we plant here will last for a long time. 

We have several other close friends who are progressing towards their baptisms this week. We could not be happier about that. Many of them were also able to attend sacrament meeting with us this week. I am so glad I had the chance to return to Fortaleza to finish the work I started over a year and a half ago. 

I have seen such a change in myself since I have started back up here. My testimony, my faith, and my mentality have all been increased by the Lord. I love my mission.

Love,

Elder Perry

WEEK 95: Two Sacrament Meetings!

Bom dia! Hope everyone is doing so great! We had another successful week in the Genibaú and Sevilha areas. The blessings are coming in one after another, and I couldn't be happier.

One exceptional, wonderful miracle that happened for us this week was our two sacrament meetings! We are lucky enough to be having those meetings again, and this week we were able to bring a lot of our friends with us. As we walked around the favela, calling for the kids to join us, more and more joined in to become part of our big family. We have several of them who are preparing to be baptized this week! Exciting stuff! For our second sacrament meeting, we were able to bring our friend Larissa. We have been teaching her for a couple of weeks now. She is 20 and is good friends with an RM who lives in Messejana. He travelled here to go to sacrament meeting with us too! We are hoping to help her get baptized in the next couple of weeks.

We have been having a hard time in relation to health in the zone. One companionship has COVID and are both feeling really sick. Many people here in Fortaleza are getting sick and it doesn't seem like the situation is improving at all. We are praying that things start to get better soon. We did get an announcement that we can start registering to get vaccinated this week. We have heard that right now, it is very hard for young, healthy people to get vaccinated, but we hope that things work out in the next couple weeks.

We have been working hard and loving life here. Always problems to be solved and battles to be won, but this life as a missionary is the most rewarding there is. I am thankful for the chance to be here, and finish strong in this great place.

Love,
Elder Perry