companion inventories

Beloved brothers and sisters, it is a very special time in my mission, why? I think that I have been learning more in my mission in these last few months that in my entire mission. I have the opportunity to travel every now and then and as well with that learn from a variety of missionaries. This week we traveled to Zacatecas and spoke with a group of them I am amazed because I thought that I was going to teach them when in reality they taught me. As well this week was full of work my companions and I are getting to know a little bit better the area so were finding a lot of new investigators right now. As well we hope to baptize this month or next, but soon. 

More than anything I just want to share with you all a very important principle that we have be instructed in practicing in family and other relationships. As missionaries we have something that is called the companionship inventory. It consist of two elders or sisters taking the time to share what they do well as a companionship what they can work on as a companionship and then they get personal. They express the good things about their companion and the things that there companion can work on or improve to be a better missionary. Now in the church we have family counsels. This last week every day was a companionship inventory. Every day I learned from my companions and other missionaries what I need to be doing better. That I still need to be more patient, not stress as much, have a little more fun, etc. All of which edified me. After having learned all of these things I have come to love and learn that when I am told that which I do well and then hear that which I need to improve I truly progress. It may sound strange, but I can’t wait for marriage in which I will be able to do the same with my spouse. I know that the Lord had inventories with his followers all throughout his ministry. He always corrected his apostles and formed them into special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Nefi corrected his brothers and father. Joseph Smith corrected and was corrected by the lord. I know that as I receive correction that the Lord truly will make me into a holy man. As well I know that if you practice these same principles in your family, marriage, and quorums, the Lord will truly press and refine us into the heirs of the celestial king that we are. Therefore will you do it? I leave this blessing with you knowing that you will be blessed. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

No good effort is forgotten

Well it’s been a very busy week. There were transfers this week and I received a new companion. His name is Elder Hernandez and he is from Mexico City. He is a great Elder as well I have another companion who was with me last transfer Elder King. Elder King is going to end his mission this transfer so it’s going to be great learning from him I am so excited.

I wish I could tell you all more, but I just want to tell you all about an experience that I had this last week. So during the week my district leader called me and told me that the sister missionaries of my ward were going to baptize. Of course I was happy to hear the news, but what caught me off guard was what he then said,

 "Elder Perfili Diana is going to baptize and she has asked you to baptize her!”

To explain why this is so exciting. In my first area I served in Americas and the missionaries there are part of my district. This young women that had asked me to baptize her was a young women that I had found when I was in my first three months struggling to learn how to be a missionary. We found her family and they were less actives who wanted to come back. Before I left the area she said that she would get baptized, but I left and didn’t hear anything about her for about a year.

 I learned that she hadn’t been baptized still and that her family was still less active, but lived in the sister missionaries’ area now. Once I came to Colinas and was in the district I asked again and they said that they were still working with her, but she still didn’t want to get baptized. About a month later is when my district leader called and gave me the news that I had mention earlier in the letter. After 18 months of working with the missionaries Diana was baptized two Saturdays ago, and I performed the ordinance. It was such a beautiful experience knowing that my efforts in my first area had not been in vain, and that I was a part of a daughter of God coming home. Seeing this family was incredible I know without a doubt that the Lord loves his children and he loves me. I know that no good deed goes unpunished especially in missionary work. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Diana's baptism

a baptism

Well brothers and sisters another great week and with many miracles. To begin though my companion and I had a baptism! How wonderful it was, but I’ll get to that later. So this week began well and we did a few different exchanges with missionaries. I got to know a little bit better some of the Elders and how they teach. As well my companion and I went to Zacatecas this week and we visited the missionaries of Fresnillo and Zacatecas the two zones. We had a leadership conference with them and it was good. After having gone we then did quick exchanges with some Elderes in the zone of Fresnillo. After the quick exchanges we left to Zacatecas where we had another reunion with the missionaries which was very spiritual. Then in the same day we went back home, it was a lot of time in buses, but all worth it. Then this weekend we learned that our brother Jose Angel was going to be able to baptize this Sunday, but on the condition that the weather was perfect that day. He has an illness that one of his lungs is deteriorating so the weather affects his state of health sometimes. We were a little worried, but I know that God answered our prayers and those of Jose Angel. On Sunday morning we had a humble baptismal service and following the service he was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

So a small thought this week is this, that the power of prayer is incredible. I know without a doubt that God hears us and listens to our prayers and knows how to answer them. I love God and have come closer to him through prayer. I know him more personally now and I know that I lack still to come to know him more fully. I know that meaningful prayer can change lives, but not the will of God, Infect it will put our desires in line with his. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili

What is the Book of Mormon

Well not much passed this week, but I didn’t want to leave without writing anything. 

So this week and month the mission will be focusing a ton on what the Book of Mormon is. Many of us a members will know what the Book of Mormon is and how we would explain it those who are not members may have questions, doubts, or a limited knowledge of what the Book of Mormon is exactly. In my personal studies this week I had the opportunity to think and ponder on the different types of people that there are who may not or may know what the Book of Mormon is, but more importantly why it would have any relevance to them. If you are curious as to know or you think you know I would invite you to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon. There as you read what it has to say you will find a clear answer to the divinity of this Book. I will briefly summarize with my testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That God's children here I America had communication with him as that they kept a record of these things for us. I know that the Book of Mormon teaches us truly how to find peace and the path to salvation if we read it and study it with the thought in mind. I know that the prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and that it is the only book that brings us closer to God here on earth. I know because I have read, pondered, and prayed and the Holy Ghost manifested the truth of it unto me. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint is the true church of God and that Jesus is the Christ. This and more await for those who read, ponder, and pray to see if it is true.
 In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen