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

travel

Well brothers and sisters it has been a wonderful week here in the best mission in the world! So my companion and I Elder Arnold were a little busy this week, but we learned and felt the spirit. So this week we also had been visiting a lot of the recent converts in the area because they truly are a sacred trust. After that on Thursday we left to go and visit another part of the mission called Matehuala that’s in the state of San Luis Potosi. We met with the missionaries there and had a small conference on different mission aspects. Right after we then immediately got on a bus and were headed right back for San Luis Potosi to have the same conference with the zones in the morning. They were very edifying and uplifting. After all the traveling my companion and I kept working hard in the area we are very close to baptism with a few investigators right now and we keep finding great investigators as well. The ward here to be super active so I am loving it here in Aguascalientes. 

Well this week my companion and i were speaking a lot about different gospel topics, but there is one that I want to share right now. So our mission president was teaching my companion and me about faith vs. the agency of the investigators that we are teaching.  He explained that our faith and there agency sometimes are like two fist that just pound each other all day long, because the investigator doesn’t complete with the invitation. Over time the two fists get tired, and neither is winning. As I thought of the relation I have come to see that we too as children of God are subject to this. When we use our agency to go against the commandments of God all we are doing is breaking ourselves over the other fist we try so hard to see that if it’s just one time that it’s okay, but all we do is break ourselves. The goal of the commandments of God are not o fight, but rather tie our hands together or hold them together in union, allowing us to stay safe from danger, and fell the love of our heavenly father, but it’s our choice to fight it or to allow it to change our lives. I know that as we oppose God we truly do hurt, break, and damage ourselves, but as we hold hands we will be protected, strengthened, and blessed. 

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili 

Leadership conference

Well the week went by very fast, but I learned a lot this week. So brothers and sisters being that its summer here in Aguascalientes it is getting very hot. It is very fun being here again with my companions. This week we had a leadership conference and during it we learned a lot about the role that the Holy Ghost has in our lives that he really is the teacher and converter. This week one of our companions had to go and help other missionaries so he isn’t with us anymore just Elder Arnold and I are here in Aguascalientes, but we doing well. The week I loved though because I just feel the spirit it’s a hard feeling to describe, but it’s something that happens when we live the gospel. 

So this week I have seen that sicknesses have been plaguing our mission as well as me. Don’t worry though I’m fine. During this time of sickness though I have truly saw the power of God manifest through the priesthood. I received a blessing in the coming days and I gave a blessing. The part I want to share though was when I gave a blessing. Now being that the priesthood is directly linked with the powers of heaven I cannot share everything, but I know that when we truly as priesthood holders exercise our priesthood worthily all our blessed. The blessing I gave was to a sister missionary and after the blessing we parted ways and began walking silently my companion and I to our class. No sooner had we gotten to the door of the class did he tell me Elder that was powerful! Reflecting on his words I know that it was, but is was Gods power that was manifest, not mine. I know that all who want can experiment it as well.

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili

Transfer back to first area

Well new news I had transfers to Aguascalientes. I am now in Colinas. It’s a very nice area actually I had served in this area in the beginning of my mission, but just on exchanges. I have returned to my first district as well. I was very happy as well because I was able to see familiar faces or members of the first ward that I was in. They too were happy to see me. 

So this weekend we heard from prophets and apostles. I was amazed at the power of the spirit that was present, but my favorite talk was by Presidente Russel M Nelson. He spoke in the priesthood session. It was an answer to my prayers. I love and am grateful that God has given me the opportunity to hold and use his priesthood, but I am even more grateful that I can use it to bless others. I know that the power of the priesthood has been restored, and that we as men must be worthy priesthood holders. For the powers of heaven can be called down by us, but we are also have to follow what the lord has told us today. (D&C 121:34-46) I love god and I love my calling.

I LOVE YOU ALL

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Elder Perfili