photos for 6/20/16

the power of decisions - 6/13/16

I was getting ready for girl's camp then at camp so letters are a bit behind.

Well once again it is my blessing and opportunity to write you this week. The weather here is changing for those that are curious. Right now it begins to rain for a few months and then it goes back to being hot. This week were in the state of Zacatecas for a few days working with missionaries. While there I was able to once again see the giant hills that seem impossible that someone could live on, but they do. As well when we went to Fresnillo I was able to work in the city and check up on how the elders of Rio Grande have been doing. After traveling we returned back to the Aguascalientes and had another conference with the missionaries. - Its nice because the zone here is full of missionaries that I have known for a long time. My district leader is Elder Jones, my companion from the MTC, and Elder Paniagua, my trainee, are here with others. President Villarreal is keeping the mission on its toes which is a great thing. As well the transfer is ending next week. How time flies here. 

So this week in many of my personal studies and conferences with President Villarreal this week I have been thinking a lot about the message our beloved prophet Thomas S Monson gave in this last general conference. He spoke about the importance of making choices, or better yet decisions. As I have pondered on this I think about why he would God through him would convey this message. As I thought I came to see why. Every day as we all very well know we have to decide between good and evil, better and best, repentance and sin. Every choice we make can bring us closer to the throne of God or farther away. Our choices though also provide the way in which we can progress or fall backwards. As a missionary I make desciones every day that affect others and me, but these descions when taken with the spirit or the determination to do good allow for a loving God to help me learn and grow. The prophet said that we should choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. As a sure testimony I express to you that the more we base and make desciones on what our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ require us to do we will be led to them in every step, and have the growth that we so desperately need in the mortal experience. I know and testify that repentance is a crucial decision that we all must make and that it is a harder right, but a blessing at the end of the day and will be throughout eternity. This is my humble testimony and I share it with love in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

 Well there is a lot that has happened in these last few days. For example we traveled a lot the mission visiting the different zones in San Luis Potosi. I was able to actually visit a few old areas also. For example I went back a ward that I served in called Joyas. I was able to teach with the missionaries from there and also see the people that I had taught and see the converts that I was helping progress in there conversions. After having visited San Luis we then traveled to Matehuala which are two branches that belong to the mission. Its a really nice little town it kind of reminded me of the smaller cities in the united states. Really beautiful place and time to have been there. After visiting Matehuala we then returned back to Aguascalientes and there was stake conference this weekend. This weekend as well the area seventy that came spoke about the prophetic priorities that the church is placing. These will be given to the bishops and stake presidentes and then the church as a whole. As missionaries though our mission president has asked that we study them as well to be able to help the members put it in practise. Also here in Mexico there is a new ley about same sex marriage. The country hasn't approved it and as members of he church here they are talking about sharing what we know to be true. It reminded me of Prop 8 when I lived in California. I know that the lord will be watching over us and will protect his children though. 

As for a spiritual thought, this week we have been doing a lot of conferences and this next week all the liders of the mission will be coming to recieve instruccion as well. So this week as I have been learning from the diffrent missionaries in confrences I learned the importance of the spirit. There is a time in a missionaries mission that they learn that they are not the teachers, but the spirit is. Now we teach the lessons, but we are not those that are really teaching. The spirit is the only true teacher. He as Christ taught would be left to counsel and testify of the truth to all who search. As missionaries, parents, and members of the church when we teach our gaol should only be to guide those whom we are teaching and that we assist the spirit. As we do so the spirit teaches them. When we teach our gaol is to use the scriprues,  questions, and invitaction that are appropiate to help them excersise faith in Jesus Christ and recieve a testimony by the holy ghost. Its not easy to teach in this manner, but I know that as we do so the spirit will be the true teacher and all we learn and be edified. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

The work of the Lord

My beloved brothers and sisters, it is a pleasure to be able to address myself to you all this week. The weather here right now is fairly hot, but nothing that is unbearable. This past week we again had a few meetings with the mission president and the leaders of the mission. Before that though we had exchanges with Elders form Fresnillo Zacatecas. It’s a very nice experience being able to go work with other missionaries, especially when they arrived to the mission at the same time that you did. The area is coming along, with all sincerity sometimes we don’t always have the time to be there, but the work that we have is coming along. I am confident that we will be baptizing next transfer. The ward here is also incredible and they have divided the stake so some members from my first ward in Americas are actually here in my ward now. My companions and I are very united in our work and relationship. Everyone brings something to the table.

So this week for as much as tried, prayed, frustrated, and worked we just had some difficult days. I arrived home one night and began to express how I felt to my companions. I began to think that I have worked hard, why then is it so difficult. My companion then told me something, it’s difficult because it was difficult for him as well. After all the frustration I began to think about what he said and was reminded of the talk by Elder Holland. As I pondered more I came to realize something profoundly. I saw myself as I imagine what the savior’s mission may have been. Every day with victories, and many defeats. The love he felt for us being here, and the disappointment that he had seeing us continue in our problems. The obedience that he showed forth and the desire to only do what the Father asked of him. I have now truly come to understand something. Our earthly life is full of challenges and trials as well as triumphs and moments of courage. I now see that it is all so that we may progress in this life and come closer to our Father in Heaven, but more importantly my mission shouldn’t be easy, because his mission wasn’t easy either. I shouldn’t nor should we think that it’s too much when in reality it is sufficient to mold us into more Christ like children of God and begin our preparation for future events and moments of our lives. I know that because Jesus Christ died for my sins and because he lived a perfect life I to can do as he says Follow Him. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I know understand why and that all is for my benefit just as it is for you. Of this I bare testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again  

Zone Conferences

Well there is a lot that has happened in these last few days. For example we traveled a lot the mission visiting the different zones in San Luis Potosi. I was able to actually visit a few old areas also. For example I went back a ward that I served in called Joyas. I was able to teach with the missionaries from there and also see the people that I had taught and see the converts that I was helping progress in there conversions. After having visited San Luis we then traveled to Matehuala which are two branches that belong to the mission. It’s a really nice little town it kind of reminded me of the smaller cities in the United States. Really beautiful place and time to have been there. After visiting Matehuala we then returned back to Aguascalientes and there was stake conference this weekend. This weekend as well the area seventy that came spoke about the prophetic priorities that the church is placing. These will be given to the bishops and stake presidents and then the church as a whole. As missionaries though our mission president has asked that we study them as well to be able to help the members put it in practice. Also here in Mexico there is a new ley about same sex marriage. The country hasn’t approved it and as members of the church here they are talking about sharing what we know to be true. It reminded me of Prop 8 when I lived in California. I know that the lord will be watching over us and will protect his children though. 

As for a spiritual thought, this week we have been doing a lot of conferences and this next week as the leaders of the mission will be coming to receive instruction as well. So this week as I have been learning from the different missionaries in conferences I learned the importance of the spirit. There is a time in a missionary’s mission that they learn that they are not the teachers, but the spirit is. Now we teach the lessons, but we are not those that are really teaching. The spirit is the only true teacher. He as Christ taught would be left to counsel and testify of the truth to all who search. As missionaries, parents, and members of the church when we teach our goal should only be to guide those whom we are teaching and that we assist the spirit. As we do so the spirit teaches them. When we teach our goal is to use the scriptures, questions, and invitation that are appropriate to help them exercise faith in Jesus Christ and receive a testimony by the Holy Ghost. It’s not easy to teach in this manner, but I know that as we do so the spirit will be the true teacher and all we learn and be edified. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again