Hurricane Weather

 Hello brothers and sisters it’s crazy that we are once again in that holiday time of the year when it’s Halloween and before we know it Christmas. This week was tough, not because we didn’t have a lot of work, but because it was full of teaching moments that really pulled and refined me, in the end though I am extremely grateful. On Monday we spent the day teaching a recent convert whose name is Erika she is very funny because she can talk for hours. On Tuesday we then taught a few new investigators and a recent convert Carlos. His story is really cool but he is a very nice guy and his wife is the sister that served her misión in Anaheim California. We spent the week teaching, but on Friday is when we learned about the Hurricane. The entire day it rained and we worked the entire day wet and tired. Then at the end of the day we learned that the hurricane was going to pass right over us, but we slept the entire night in peace and the following day was rain free. A true blessing. We then continued work with the investigators that we have two families, but they didn’t come to church on Sunday! It’s frustrating when this happens, but something that is necessary for an investigator to want to come to church is that they know someone there. Today as well I took photos of a few of the church’s here in Jerez which are the oldest churches here in Jerez. This week I’m excited because I’m going to get to see Halloween here in Mexico as well as Dia de Los Muertos. I’ll take pictures if I can.

Well this week I was thinking about what it is that I can do better to be a more effective and successful missionary. I then heard about three or four times this week about the talk that Elder Durant gave which is in English I don’t know the word, but in Spanish it is meditizar. To ponder 80% and memorize 20% of a scripture of your choice. I like that he promised that we would increase our knowledge of the scripture, but as well we will change our thoughts. As we choose to ponder on the scriptures we begin to elevate our thoughts and as we do so we invite the spirit to be with us. If the spirit is with us then we make good desciones. As well if we ponder on the scriptures we make ourselves mentally and spiritually strong in keeping pure thoughts. This week I am using a scripture in Alma and I lie the idea of doing this because I really do feel that is we follow the invitation of Elder Durrant that as we do it over a long period of time for example 52 scriptures for one year and our goal is for 2 years, then we learn 104 scriptures, but if we do it for more years our knowledge and our reward is greater. I know that the scriptures are the words of Christ and that they will tell us all things that we must do. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili       

the two oldest church's in Jerez

First week in Jerez

Well another week and in a new place. This week I was able to get to know a little bit better my companion, but as well I got to know more my Zone Leader as well. So the area in which I serve is a ward. There are four missionaries in total, two Elders and two sisters. I still am in a small city, but the city is still really big for us four. My companion and I were working a lot this week in finding, but as well in teaching less actives. I am still getting to know the ward, but what I have seen I have enjoyed. The city here is very similar to Ojocaliente, because it’s extremely colonial. Work right now with investigators as pretty good this week, because we found about 8, a family as well. Unfortunately though on Sunday we weren’t able o see any of the investigators in church. It’s alright though, because it’s the first week. The ward here is kind of small, but the members are very friendly. This week as well I went back to the city of Zacatecas with one of my Zone Leaders for exchanges. His name is Elder Greene, and he is a really good missionary. In Zacatecas I was able to once again experience the very high hills of the city these hills are like those of San Francisco, but I enjoyed learning from him. 

This week I had been pondering a lot about my work and what I need to do better. I think we all do this now and then and it’s important, but I found that when we do this that for all the pondering that we do as well there is something else we can do. Every night as we kneel down in prayer this is our opportunity to give an account of what we have done in the day. I was reading Preach My Gospel, and I learned something, and that is when we are praying that we still ask our Father in 

Heaven as well, "What Else Can I do?” I know that if we have thought it out first in our mind and we then ask God that he will tell us what we should do. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili  

Transfer to Jerez, Zacatecas

Well Brothers and sisters I have been transferred to another area. I left Rio Grande today with my companion and we arrived in Fresnillo. From there we left once again to Zacatecas and after 6 months in Fresnillo. I’m back again in Zacatecas and in another one of the small cities outside of the big city. There is a song in Spanish that says, "Si Señor Yo Soy del Rancho", and at this point I can say that where I have served has been soiled ranchitos. I’m excited though because I’m now in Jerez Zacatecas as the District Leader. I don’t know how that happened, but okay. My companions name is Elder Dominguez and he is from Puebla Mexico like my trainer was. He actually ends his mission in two transfers as well. Well I don’t have a ton of news on the new area, but I do want to say what Elder Paniagua and I were able to accomplish in the area before transfers. Throughout the week we were looking for a lot of new investigators, but we lost a lot, and as well we are having a few problems with the investigator that was going to be baptized. At the end of the week I was worried, but everything on Sunday was perfect because we were able to move into the new chapel. The new chapel was absolutely amazing, and it was a powerful testimony meeting. The spirit was so strong this day and I know that I received an answer to my fast. 

Well I don’t have a lot to say, but I do want to share my testimony on fasting. This weekend as many of you all did I fasted. I was able to abstain from food and water for 24 hours for the purpose to receive personal revelation, and I received it. I like the explication of the fast that my companion gives he says when we pray is a very soft knock at the door of God, but when we fast it’s a great big pound that opens the door a little bit faster. I know that this is true and that the law of the fast is a true principle of the gospel. I know that as Isaias promises that when we do so that the Lord will respond by saying, here I am. Of this I testify.

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again  

 Elder Perfili

One Year Closer to God

Well my brothers and sisters I'm going to keep this letter short. This week was full of lessons and lots of learning moments. Throughout the week we had lessons with some of the investigators that are progressing, but they are struggling because Satan really stinks. Something that I saw those that was key in helping them was that we brought a member and that these members borre a very strong testimony that helped them to stay focused and that the Spirit could testify to there hearts of what was being said. As well we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders this week and we were able to learn a lot from them or at least I was. One thing was to just do the absolute best that you can. On Saturday and Sunday we were truly blessed to hear from Prophets and apostles of God and see three more be called and sustained as members of the quorum of the 12. The talks this conference were amazing and I loved every single one of them. Unfortunately though this week we won't be baptizing, we had to change the baptismal date of the woman we have been teaching. It hurts, but She'll be ready and strong. As well exciting news for the Branch here, they finished the chapel and we're going to be in it on Sunday. For those who want to know transfers are at the end of the week and were hoping no, but six months here probably means it's my turn. Wherever I am though I know who I am serving.

Well yes I have one year in the misión I have to face it, but I just want to share with you the gift of what happens when we put God first for a year of our lives. I  came to my misión as a very confident 18 year old Young man who thought he knew what a misión would be like. I discovered an adversity I had never encountered before and a range of emotions that I never thought possible. This year of my life I would never trade it for anything because I have grown closer to God. I have come to know him a Little bit better and he knows me better now as well. I know without a doubt in my mind I am a participant of this his work and that he is guiding me everyday. In one year I have come to learn more of the commandments of God and repent and keep myself worthy. For one year I have felt the presence of God in the best of times and the worst. In one year I have come to know that the Gospel of Jesús Christ has been restored and that it has a prophet on the earth. In just one year I have grown closer to God I can't wait to know what two years is like.

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili