This is from last week 8/24

Hey my beloved brothers and sisters, well where do I begin because this week really was special. So I can’t lie to you all the first few days of the week were rough my head was running all over the place in the misión and other things that stressed me out, but I know that God and Jesús Christ have helped me and they are still helping me. This week was kind of difficult in finding new people to teach. We have been contacting more as well as looking for references, but it seemed like every house we went to we couldn’t find anyone. However we didn’t let this affect us at al because we continued the search to find those who are ready. As one thing I have been focusing on is my study and I cannot go without my study for one day or I just feel different. I believe for sure though that the spirit has been able to be in our lessons because this entire week I felt so powerful and sure of what I was saying and the spirit was testifying. The best part of the week though was to see the investigators in church we had almost all of our investigators there in church on Sunday and some with their family members that we have never taught! That as well was super amazing after working the best that we could we still saw a great result at the end of the week.

Throughout this entire week I was thinking a lot, about a range of subjects, but it was one thing at the end of each day I knew I needed more and more and, I am working harder to do so, is the spirit. As I say the week was difficult in finding people, but at the end of each day I still felt a warmth and a calm spirit telling me that everything was all right. Day after day working and finding minimum results and I was still feeling good, how is that possible? We know that the spirit is the consoler and the person that our heavenly father has given us to lead us and guide us, even more to comfort us. The spirit is who helps us as missionaries and children of God carry out the work of salvation through his whispering and warnings. The spirit is essential in missionary work, but even more so in our lives because without it we don’t have this heaven sent gift, one that is truly divine and the closet gift we can receive as members of the church of Jesús Christ of Latter Day Saints to experiment the eternities. I love the spirit, but even more to making the sacrifices necessary and being diligent even tough to search for his presence. I know that the Holy Ghost will guide us if we listen and especially confirm to us at the end of a long day that it’s alright and tomorrow well try harder

Elder Perfili

Adventures in Rio Grande

Well my beloved brothers and sisters I hope that all is well with you as you are reading this email. The week as usual went by at a lighting speed rate, because once again I’m here writing you all. A quick recap of the week, Tuesday; we had a lesson with the family that came to church last week and it was awesome i am positive that they are going to progress. Wednesday to Thursday: Working and a lot of contacting, Friday a zone conference with Presidente Villarreal and the assistants. Saturday and Sunday slow days, but a lot of good progress with my companion. Right now the weather is pretty hot, but they are days with a light breeze and clouds. The sky here is absolutely beautiful because it is so clear during the day. My companion as I’m sure i have told you speaks English so we have the opportunity sometimes to contact people in English as well as practice because he says i need to. On Friday we spoke with our misión president and he explained a ton of information about our misión and the productivity that we have.

Well I would just like to keep it short with my testimony about the restoration of the góspel of Jesus Christ. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that because he loves us he gives us the góspel of Jesús Christ to bless our families. As well that he loves us so much that he gives us the góspel through Prophets men of God that he has called and that he has given his power and authority to do so. These men preach of Jesús Christ and the importance he has in our lives. As well God loves us that he sent his son to atone for the sins of mankind and show us the way back through the church and ordinances that he established while he was here. I know that as well after the death of Christ and his apostles we lost this church, but that we as well have once again received evidence of a loving Heavenly Father who called Joseph Smith as a prophet and commanded him to write the Book of Mormon so that it could be a witness of the Restoration of the Gospel and the Church of Jesús Christ so that we may have the truthfulness of God and his góspel on the earth again. I know these things and invite every single one of you who doesn’t know or does stop ask God if he has restored all truth to the earth and he will tell you through the Holy Ghost.

I know because I have asked and I cannot deny it for that I share this message and testify that it is true.

I LOVE YOU ALL
Elder Perfili 

 Zone conference 

Importance of listening

¡HOLA A TODOS! Well to begin with the events of this week, I have to tell you once again it has been pretty beautiful to be here in the misión. I love my companion and the work well it’s not easy, but I know that it will continue to grow and get better the harder we work, but the more we involve the Lord as well. This week the weather has been pretty crazy with rain and then a ton of heat. Also the Catholic Church here has an event going on for 9 days that includes a festival and every half hour or hour the shot of a canon. My companion and I have continued to look for families to teach the góspel, and were having progress Little by Little. As well we have begun to involve the members more and we are really working to get them involved. I can promise you when I say this that the members are key in missionary work and without them it really is difficult. Friday we had a Zone Conference and received news that we will be able to watch the rededication of the Temple here in Mexico. I’m pretty excited to be able to see that. As well on Sunday we had one of the families that we are teaching come to church, they arrived a Little late, but they stayed for the entire service as well. Some days in the misión really are good, but others are amazing and I know that they will continue to get a little better every day.

This week I was able to continue to think and learn and grow as well. I studied a lot this week about the importance of listening. As a missionary one of our most important attributes to develop is the ability to listen to others. I think every time about how Christ listened to the questions and doubts of his apostles and his followers and because he had listened he was able to give them the answer and comfort that they stood of need in that moment. As we look at the Master Teachers example we see a clear visión of one of the best ways we can help others, by listening. As we listen to our Friends, family, co-workers, or people in the Street we can be led and guided by the spirit to tell share the góspel with them and to let the spirit touch their hearts. After we can then invite them to learn more and really discover for themselves the Restored Gospel of Jesús Christ. I know just as Elder Holland has promised that if we listen with our hearts we will be given by the spirit what to say and use the góspel to clear their doubts. I also know that if you are looking for someone to listen to that we have a Father in Heaven who will always listen to you and answer your prayers as you continue to speak with him. Of this I know and share with you all.

I LOVE YOU ALL

"We'll Both be Underneath the Same Moon"  

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"

Elder Perfili

the life of a missionary

Well brothers and sisters another month down it crazy that the time goes so fast faster than I thought it would. The week went by super-fast to so there isn’t a ton of news, I know how boring, but I will tell you what happened. So this week we continued to look for new investigators and little by little we have been finding them. It has been absolutely awesome here in Rio Grande with Elder Paniagua as well because he is a lot more prepared than I was when I arrived to the mission. He and I this week have been working a lot on contacting and teaching as many as possible. It’s not always the result we want, but it’s not what we want it’s what the Lord wants and knows is best. This week we also had exchanges, and Elder Lezana and I had another day together to serve. The weather is pretty hot to be honest, and it looks like it’ll continue for a while. 

Well now it’s a part that I long for during the week to give a small message and testimony of the gospel. So this week as I was pondering in the streets with my companion my mind constantly reflected on the Christ like attribute of "Charity and Love". I began to think as well about the Savior and the love that he possess for us. In the 7th Chapter of Moroni in verses 43-48 I love changing the word charity for the word atonement. The scripture takes a whole new meaning when you read it. As I did that this week I thought about how we as children of God really are nothing without charity, because it is necessary to have the atonement of Christ in our lives or we really can do nothing. More than that though I thought of how I can possess this love. I then reflected on the scripture in 2Nefi2:30 when Lehi says that he only desires the eternal welfare of their souls (god’s children). I then realized that as we work in the Lords Vineyard this is the love that we should poses for our brothers and sisters who don’t know yet. I strive to have this love because I know that it is the only way to fully serve our Heavenly Father and show him in return that we really do poses the gift of charity (the atonement) in our lives.

I LOVE YOU ALL

"Well Both Be Underneath the same Moon"

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"

Elder Perfili

Last weeks baptism

First baptism

Well the weeks I swear move at a rate that is unbelievable. To begin my companion and I are doing well and were learning each day from one another. The weather is getting hotter actually and were seeing less people in the streets because the kids are on vacation like in the states. The work is coming along and we are finding more, but we still need to find more if we want to help people come to the waters of baptism. Speaking of baptism my companion and I had one this last week, but more importantly was that Brenda made this covenant with God and is now a member pf the Church of Jesús Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I will send photos next week I promise. The baptism was simple, but the spirit was there. This week my companion and I also had the opportunity to see the importance that the members have in missionary work. Our recent convert was a reference from a member and the member was there to help her along the entire way. This member was key in the conversión of Brenda and I know without her it would have been difficult, but I also know that as much as we have the opportunity to share the góspel as missionaries it’s the members that really to help in the work of salvation. As well I hope you know that if you have questions about Mexico or anything I would be delighted to answer them for you.

Now today I was in my personal study and discovered something that I loved. I know that I have spoken about it before, but today it really was powerful what I learned about repentance. Repentance is the second principle in the Gospel of Jesús Christ, and it is necessary for our salvation. Without repentance we wouldn’t be able to change the things that are necessary to put our lives along with the will of God. As we repent we are doing all that is possible to do what God hopes and wants us to do. When we repent we are actually coming closer to God. Sometimes repentance is a Word that scares people because it means confession or embarrassment, but it means exactly the opposite FREEDOM. Freedom from the temptations of Satan and even more freedom from sin it means to really and truly stop what is wrong and do what is right FOREVER. Repentance is freedom to feel the Spirit of God more abundantly in our lives as well as one of the reasons we are here on earth. We have our entire lives to repent, change, and prepare to meet God, but it can be so much better and so much happier when we are using the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives to do so. I know that the Atonement is real and that it is eternal and will continue to be a part of our lives as well as lifelong repentance.

I LOVE YOU ALL

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"

"Well Both Be Underneath the Same Moon"

Elder Perfili

July 13th

Well Hello to everyone and I hope that you are all doing very well. The weeks are moving by so fast, because we are were in the last week of the transfer, but that isn’t stopping us from working hard and working diligently. These weeks have been full of conversations on the street and lessons with a variety of religious beliefs. This week we spoke with Catholics, which is normal, but then theologizes and as well 7th day Adventist. One side note I have also spoken with the Amish, because they live here in this part of Mexico. They always stare at me which is normal, but sometimes more than the Mexican people. Right now its summer so all the kids are leaving school as well as all the people who are from the Mexico, but live in the United States come to visit. Right now the work load just continues to increase from finding one person to finding two. We have two investigators who have begun to progress a lot which are so close to baptism. It’s hard to think of lots of stories, but have one that passed today. So in the back of the house of prayer (Chapel) there is a very large area that was full of weeds that the Branch President asked if we and the members could help to clear it out. So while we were pulling weeds and cleaning it up out of nowhere a hen jumped out of the weeds and began to run away. Some of the members began to chase after it and try to catch it, but it jumped over the fence, and we found that it had laid eggs. It was funny though because it honestly appeared from nowhere and then just began to run.

Okay brothers and sisters were going to talk very seriously now. So I received the General Conference Talks from the Conference in April and there was a theme that was so visible and important. THE FAMLIY. Now I know that not everyone is married, but I know that you all have families, and as important as they are for you all they are even more important for God. God has established families for the sole purpose to come into this world and to learn in a place that is centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. More importantly though is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way, manner, and gift from God that makes a family successful. Without the gospel it’s difficult, but with it the home really is heaven on earth. I testify that the gospel blesses families and changes lives, because it’s the way God has established that each of his children can truly, TRULY be happy here in mortality and in the life after.

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Well both Be Underneath the Same Moon

letter from July 5th

Brothers and Sisters how pleased I am to write you today and to inform you all of the wonderful life of one of the many servants of the Lord. This last week was full of good moments and ones that hit hard as well like any other, but at the same time I have really seen very many blessing of the Lord in my life. Right now we have continued to invite and invite and invite those in the Street to hear the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our goal this week is to talk with more so that more will have the opportunity to really be untied once again with God. We have been teaching a few investigators and some are really progressing as well as changing their lives. We are extremely close to being able to help someone enter into a covenant with God through Baptism, but that’s for later. It didn’t rain too much here, but there are a lot of rain clouds in the sky. On Friday we had a zone conference which was very uplifting as well as delightful to have received a package and letters from the activity day’s girls and my family. The days go by extremely fast so sometimes it’s difficult to remember what to write as well as the fact that you just love everyday being out here in the field. It was a good week, but there is a lot more to be done in the coming weeks. Oh and don’t worry I didn’t forget to celebrate the glorious holiday of Independence Day. Today we threw our twist of a backyard barbeque, but with Carne Asada. Oh it was delicious!!

Well today I would like to speak about the first commandment that we have received. Obedience, but I would like to do it with the example of a Book of Mormon prophet whose name is Nephi o Nehi en español. Today I was Reading about the great example that he puts for all those who struggle with the courage to obey. He describes how obedience to God is out of love and out of a willingness to serve God, but it wasn’t just that he spoke of obeying the commandments of God, it was also that he obeyed them when it seemed absolutely difficult. He had been almost killed by an evil King, his brothers, and still he pushed forward knowing that if he was obedient to the commandment that God had given him that God would provide a way as well as bless him for his obedience. It caused me to think of how obedient I am to the Lord and the importance to cut out big things, but also the smallest things that keep the blessings of the Lord away. I know that as we take courage and are obedient to the Lord that we truly can be more in tune with the Spirit, and we truly can receive the blessing of God in our lives. I know because I am doing my absolute best because I know that all that he has given me the way and the reward, but when I have done my part. 

Elder Perfili

I LOVE YOU ALL

"We'll Be Underneath the Same Moon"

"God Be With You Till We Meet Again"