Happy Halloween or Feliz Dia De Los Muertos

Happy Halloween! Well it’s a little late for that but as well for you Mexicano’s Feliz Dia De Los Muertos! So the last week was full of travel and traditions here in Mexico. So on Wednesday I had to go to Zacatecas to sign documents for my green card. After that we spent the week looking and looking, but we just couldn’t find people. Then Saturday arrived and I was expecting the streets to be filled with children, but instead nothing just a normal day. On Sunday though I was in shock! The kids dress up and leave to the streets, and on Monday they do the same. Its two days of Trick or treating here! The other thing is that the costumes here are very different. The kids here paint their faces and this is there costume or they just put a mask on. The popular costumes here are Katrin or Katrina these are the skeletons that you see as people in Mexican art and after that Chucky. As well the people here make the kids work a little harder to get there candy, the kids have to sing in order to receive their candy. It’s pretty funny to be honest because in Mexico it’s different in every part, but in Jerez they have to sing. As well on Sunday we had an investigator in church! She is very funny and very nice. She’s a little older, but we have a good feeling the lords put us in her path. 

Well the normal tradition for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is to go to the cemetery with your family to visit your dead family members. The family as well place a photo, flowers, and food on the grave of the person. At night they say that the person returns from the dead and eats the food. The following day they return to see the food gone and place more flowers. Why do I tell you the tradition because? As these people remember their dead we do as well, but we know that it’s not the end. The Plan of Salvation clearly teaches us the God created a plan in which we would be tried and tested and in the end we would have to die, but that as well because of Jesus Christ we one day will rise from the dead. The Plan of Salvation gives us the opportunity to not just remember our loved ones, but that through Christ and his Gospel we will return to live with them and our Heavenly Father if we come to know of them.  Know that this Plan is real and that it is perfect. I testify that families can be together forever. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

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

Eating brains-----yuuuuuck

Hello once again family and friends IT’S GREAT to be able to address you once again this week. Well this week was incredible and the coolest part was that I wasn’t even in my area for a few days this week. The week started of pretty good because on Monday we had some good lessons. On Tuesday we had exchanges and I went to the area of the other Elders with Elder Mandujano who is in his training just like my companion. I got to know some of his investigators and members a little bit better. I t was also a pretty cool experience because we found family that they are now teaching which is progressing, well, pretty well. As well in the exchange I was able to learn more about him he is from the state of Mexico. He is older than I am, but a very good Elder. We finished our exchanges, and I learned that one of our investigators finally accepted a baptismal date as well as that we have a lot of new investigators to teach! That was extremely good news for us he baptism is for the following Saturday and we are very excited we just need to finish a few lessons and shell be ready I know it. After that the weekend was pretty slow, but we found people in their homes and those who really do want to learn more, and one day be baptized.

Actually on the weekend I had a noteworthy experience. I ate what are called Cessos or Brains. The brain of the pig can be eaten here. So i decided to try it, and it wasn’t too bad it actually tasted pretty flavorful.

So this week I am very grateful to be able to once again listen to the words of the Prophets and Apostles, especially with the good news that three new servants of the Lord will be called. It’s sad to know that three died, but it’s incredible to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is led by revelation. I know that God Lives and that his son Jesus Christ is at the head of this His church as well as that he leads it through a living prophet and apostles. I know that and invite you all to listen to them this conference with the goal to receive revelation and the truly hear the voice of God through his servants (D&C 1:38). I know these things are true and you will to just as you listen to the words that they will say.

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili

Mexican Indepandance day, me as the pinata

Well brothers and sisters it has been a wonderful week and it really was full of a lot of things both ups and downs, but the downs don't really even get to you when you are serving the lord with all your heart. So this week on Tuesday was the Mexican Independence Day and it's very interesting how they celebrate here. On the 15th they just take things slow for the day, and at about 11 or 12 at night they sound out the "Cry" of Independence with Fireworks and Cannons. As a district we took photos and celebrated with a Piñata (ME). No don't worry they didn't get any Candy. So after Independence Day it was work and it was a week where with a holiday it can be difficult to find people in their homes, but we managed to still find people ,and as well to contact a large number of people so that we could have more people to teach the following week. Really the weeks go by so fast sometimes it hard to remember what happened, but on Sunday we were able to see one of our investigadores who has been coming to church for a month now. She has been bringing her kids with her as well and we are really working hard so that she will be able to baptize before the transfer ends. A Little bit about my companion now though. So he is really, really, really cool and very Smart. He is also very funny because last week while we were watching the cultural event for the temple he was freaking out the entire time because he saw a lot of people he knew. As well when he wears his glasses people say that he looks like a mexican Harry Potter, but without the wand.

So now for my thought this week. Life as a missionary sometimes is difficult with a lot of ups and downs. It's a lot of rejection and as well joyful moments when you feel closer than ever to your savior. As well in our lives here on earth we all face challenges. On earth we will all encounter moments of adversity. Adversity can be two things, a way to grow and progress, or it can be a crippler in our lives. As participants in the plan of our Heavenly Father we choose to come to earth and be tried. Adversity is how we can progress or be crippled. In the Book of Mormon I love a story in which the people of Alma are under captivity to the Lamanites, but rather than just give in they keep pushing and praying, and you know what happens? The Lord answers their prayers and tells them that tomorrow they will be released. In hard time what is our first reaction? to get stressed,frustrated and panicked, or is it to immediately go the Heavenly Father and Jesús Christ and ask them what it is that they want us to learn and how, and what we should do? I know that sometimes I do the first, the second option is the one that I choose to do now and will continue to choose. God and Jesús Christ are here to help us in our experience on earth to progress in times and trial and I know that they always will. Of that I testify.

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again