P-Day #4 - Spiritual Concert, New Canada Tee Shirt and Spiritual War Training....

Hey Mom and Dad,

I just got back from the temple doing initiatory's today.

Elder Perry in a Selfie.....on P-Day!

This week has been very busy. We had Nashville tribute band come and do a concert for us. We also got to sing in the choir and sing along with their songs. It was such a spiritual experience. You should look up “The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do". I didn’t realize how true that song was and how much I will miss being a missionary when I get home. Here is the list of songs they sang and you can look them up on YouTube;

1 - Children Go Where I Send Thee

2 - The Rising

3 - Candle

4 - American Dreams

5 - Brother I Will Follow You

6 - Stronger

7 - I was Born, John's Song

8 - When the Son of Man Comes Again

9 - The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do

The Spirit was Strong and I loved it. I even got an autograph and got to shake hands with one of the band members.

We had a Devotional from Juan Auceda of the Seventy, originally from Peru. He gave a great talk on an investigators point of view in conversion to the gospel and his own conversion story. He talked about how to not teach investigators but to act with investigators beyond teaching them. Some elder fell asleep in the stand because we all get up at 6:30 to start our day. haha

Elder Symes leaves on Tuesday for his mission so the only person that I really know from home in the French District will be gone. # sad days.

We have been busy with the language study and I am starting to get better and better at saying things in my discussions. We hosted again this week for new Elders arriving at the MTC and I am always amazed to see what happens with the families after the elder walks away from the car. They all just sit… and stare. Then they have the look on their face of well what do I do now that he is gone? They then get in the car and drive away. I like hosting and I hope we get to do it again but its ok if I don't because the bags are very heavy after you carry them up four flights of stairs.

Elder Perry and Elder Thompson Modeling Their
Canada Toronto Mission Tee Shirts

We taught real members of the church in French and they somewhat understood what we were saying but the catch was is that we taught them five minutes after I had just got done hosting five new missionaries, as I'm covered in sweat I walk through the front door and before I have to teach. I go into the bathroom, wipe off my face and then walk in to teach. The spirit was there and I think up to that point, that was the best amount of teaching we did in French. The gift of tongues is real and Heavenly Father provides the means to accomplish his work.

We were able to see the 2 videos that are shown only at the Priesthood Restoration Site and the Peter Whitmer Farm. The President got special permission to show them because he wanted us to have a strong testimony of what we are teaching about. They are fantastic Videos, so good!

Elder Perry....Check Me Out! What's Not to Love!

I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa over e-mail. I think they sent it, but I'm guessing someone else helped them. Grandpa made sure to tell me about the fish stocking schedule so I could drool at the thought of catching my limit and catching a few trophies. Thanks that's awesome, Grandpa.

We heard the BYU football game going last night and the crowds cheering for BYU. We realized how close we were but how far away we are here. The MTC is this bubble of preparation and barrier for the influence of the outside world.  Our time is going by so fast here and we realize that we leave in about two weeks. I am excited and nervous for the new stage of my mission.

I was talking with the other missionaries on how this is a spiritual war and this is the boot camp where we train to combat the enemy. I like it here! The guys here are nice and we always make sure to have fun with what we are doing.

Let Grandma and Grandpa know that I got their e-mail and will write back as soon as I can.

This is what P-Day is All About......After Chores....

P-Days are very busy and there are a lot of things to be done. My companion and I always seem to be the first ones to teach lessons in our mock investigator lessons. Why I don't know, but one time Elder Thompson raised his eyebrows and that was the deciding factor, so every time they are choosing, I always tell Elder Thompson “Don't raise your eyebrows” but it doesn't work half the time and we teach anyway. I will say Elder Thompson and I get along great, in fact,  I would not want anyone else to be my companion. I know we’ll have to go thru transfers sometime, but everything with us is working out VERY well as companions.

I was able to share my sewing skills because an elder had ripped his shirt and didn't know how to sew very well.  So, I fixed his shirt and had his pocket back on in 5 min flat.

By the way, I am actually getting in shape. I bike seven miles every day according to the distance indicator on the machines. It’s a good feeling after you work out!

That is about all I really have this week. I still study and I still eat at the same time every day.

Know that I Love You and think about you often. I pray for you every night.

with Love, Your Epic Baby Missionary,

Elder Perry

Canada Toronto Mission  

P Day # 3 - Singing in the MTC Choir and Hosting 

I am doing good. Our week has been very busy with language learning, but I think I am getting the hang of it. I was able to teach most of our mock discussions in French it was cool. We have been just studying the language. Our teacher is nice and he always gives us a spiritual lesson. I just got back from the temple and eating in the cafeteria there. They always have good food and working in the laundry isn't a bad gig! 

BTW, thanks for sending the cinnamon roll and treats from www.DearElder.com . It was awesome. I almost regret eating the whole thing!

We saw Bonnie L. Oscarson for our devotional speaker. It wasn’t Jeffery R Holland like we heard it may be, but her talk was very good.

As for me and my companion, we are getting along great, we have little hiccup’s, like sticking together in crowds and stuff, but we worked it out and we are doing great!

You asked about my schedule…. Well I get up and exercise for around an hour or so. BTW, my suit pants are getting bigger (or I’m getting smaller) which is awesome! Then I eat breakfast. The other day we had breakfast burritos, but they weren’t dad’s burritos, but they worked. Then we have class for three hours and try to learn the language. We then have lunch and then it’s back to class for three hours. We then eat dinner and then have personal companion and language study till 9:30. Then we go back to the residence, get ready for bed and get things done for tomorrow. It’s kind of like “Ground Hog Day”, the movie… but it’s a good Ground Hog Day.

My District received some treats from a Mom, Thanks Mom's!

My health is good.  I am over my cold and now get to watch others catch it. It’s been going around. It’s the “Ricky Crud” like Dad explained that went around during boot camp. Everyone brings their germs from everywhere and everyone catches what they haven’t had. It’s kind of an “MTC petri dish”.

I have been able to host at the MTC and been the guy that reassures mothers that their son will be ok and not die. We have been selected to do it again on Wednesday for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, the bags are VERY heavy and it seems that all the people that come in are on the top floor of every building. Murphy’s Law! Some Elders are broken up about leaving home, others are excited and others are cool and collected. Almost all moms are broken up and emotional…. A lot of emotional good byes.

Elder Perry, The Most Handsome Missionary Alive.....

No, I don’t think I need anything. I think my MTC companion Elder Thompson and I will be traveling together as a companionship because, as far as I can tell, we are the only French speakers going to Toronto Canada.

Let Grandma and Grandpa know I got their letter and I will write back. Ask them if they are getting my letters?

Tell Megan, “Happy Birthday and sorry I missed it”. Maybe in two years I will give her a call. haha. I think Megan will be fine in her new house. I hear it’s quite a house…. 4 stories… sorry I wasn’t there to help move. Must have been a big job.

We sing in the choir here and it is the coolest thing watching over a thousand missionaries sing Joesph Smiths First Prayer and Praise to the Man. I have also seen more general authorities here than I have anywhere else.

I will try to get more pictures of me and will upload the ones I have. I am starting to forget how long I have been here. I am doing laundry, yea…. That’s right! I’m glad my mother taught me how to do laundry. Also, my shirts from www.MissionaryMall.org did fit and I will be washing and ironing them later today.

I am loving the spirit here… and yes the girls are cute but I am a missionary and can't think like that. We have this thing were when a missionary seems to like a girl and he is talking to her, we flash the number 3 sign twice with our fingers because in the missionary handbook, that is the section on flirting! Hahaha

I like the work. Teaching investigators is the best thing you can do and watching that light shine in their eyes is an awesome experience.I’m excited about the next phase. I think it will be new and am looking forward to it. If you get a chance look up the video “Willing to Accept Correction from D. Todd Christofferson, it’s really good! Maybe you will find the MTC devotional from Bonney L.  Oscarson.

I don’t really need anything, but you can pray that I can continue learning the language and all will be well.

I have to go now and send an email to our Branch President about my progress.

Know I Love You and pray for your safety every night! 

I will write next Friday and keep the letters coming, I save all of them.

Love you! 😁

Elder Perry

Canada Toronto Mission

P-Day #2 Praying for Rain in French........

Hi Mom & Dad,

I am doing very well. We received a talk by Neal l. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for our devotional on Tuesday. I received your “www.DearElder.com” letters and it’s nice to know that you made it to Megan’s safely. I have been praying for you guys every night. Elder Thompson and I get along great and all is well.

Elder Perry's Companion Elder Thompson, Center

I thought about leaving a one sentence e-mail but I know that mom wouldn't like that very much but I will give you a little taste…. I’m doing good. The End.  HAHAHAHAHA

I have noticed that some elders don't know how to iron their shirts, but I do. I’m really glad that I listened to my mom. Don't expect that sentence every letter though. HAHAHA

We have Jeffery R. Holland coming to give a devotional on Tuesday. That will be cool. We finished teaching our mock investigator yesterday and committed him to baptism. It was cool because I spoke more French from memory in that lesson than I had spoken in all the other lessons combined.

Missionaries get to go to the temple on their preparation day and I got to go today. It was nice just to be relaxing in the temple and to feel the spirit. We get to go on temple walks on Sundays and temple sessions on Fridays. They keep us pretty busy. This is the first time I have been on the computer in a week. Mostly it is studying our language and memorizing key phrases in order to teach the investigators in our mission language.

 It has been very hot here and the other day I finally just stared into the sky and said “please rain” in French. I then went to class and 30 min later a sister missionary from another class stuck her head inside of the door soaking wet. We took a break and sure enough, it was raining. The Lord answers prayers for those who ask and are called to labor with him. I feel good about the language and I feel that I am getting better little by little.

Our district is the little rebel district. I’m not, but some people are. We are the “Black Sheep” of the Zone. baa baa baa. Someone came up with the idea for “Two Tie Tuesday” and others don't shave that much, but its OK because we have fun and we work hard and are studying hard. Remember, when you do these things…. you enjoy what you do! I’m in the Spiritual “Kingsmen” Training Center (Movie Reference).

I hope you didn’t work too hard Dad. Sorry I could not be there to help with the move. If I could have, I would have.

I can only email on p-day but I upload pictures when I can. I have to e-mail my mission president and my branch president today so, I have to go.

I love you and I will keep on singing “We are poor little lambs, who have lost our way…baa baa baa”. (Another Movie Reference)

Tell Grandma and Grandpa I received their letter and I will write them when I can.

I Love You…. You’re the best I could hope for!

Elder Perry

Canada Toronto Mission

Bonus - Parents Story of the Week

We were contacted by Kim’s Brother and Sister-in-Law from Vancouver, WA. They have some friends that are going on a mission to Jamaica and are currently in the Provo MTC. They used Facebook and messaged that this couple had dinner with Elder Perry and company, and he said the blessing….IN FRENCH! They relayed the message that his blessing was fantastic and he is doing great at learning the language. They said he is also doing great, and he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. 

Steve & Kim Perry

P-Day #1 Letter - My E-mail is jperry@myldsmail.net

Hey Mom &Dad, 

I got to meet my french teacher today. Hey spoke in french the entire time. Boy am I in trouble with trying to learn this language. I finally found out when my P-Day is. It is Friday. We got to go into these meetings were we got to talk to actual investigators. That was such a spiritual meeting. My companion Elder Thompson is a really good guy.

I am doing well, we met our branch president last night and got to see how church works. 

There is a rumor that Elder Holland is coming to a devotional on Sunday.

Elder Thompson, my Companion, is sitting at the table.

Also for Grandma, I did run into Elder Symes and he is doing great with the language. We had dinner at grandma's house before we reported to the MTC.

I also ran into Tieg Hennessey, Sister Grosnicks Grandson and he is doing awesome. 

The language is tough but it is getting a little better. Sleeping arrangements are good and we don't even hear each other snoring. Its nice to be here and I know that I am doing something very important. Today, this morning, we got to go to the Provo Temple and go through a session. I got to see the new movie and I thought it was better than the other we saw at the Portland Temple. We then got to do some service in the temple laundry and eat in the cafeteria at the temple. It was really good.
 

I am so grateful I payed attention to Mom about ironing clothes because, when I got to the MTC, I thought there was going to be hangers to hang our clothes up, per the website...WRONG.They should really change that. So my white shirts had to be put it a drawer where the were left to get all wrinkled. I then had to iron one white shirt to go to the temple today.  I finally got some hangers at the MTC store and am going to stop by and pick some more up for my white shirts that will be coming in. 
 

Mom will be happy to hear that I also know how to fold my own clothes, do my own laundry and will be getting that done today as well. If dad were here, I would tell him that missionaries are not aloud to take showers and that we swing from trees...then tell him the truth. We do take showers everyday when we wake up and put on our "Super Suits" and brush our teeth just like I would do at home. 

Our schedule is pretty busy and very intense, but we are getting the hang of it. We will now start to be on a regular schedule  and as dad said "it will start to normalize"'

It's very hot here...everyday, I thank heavenly father for sending me to a cold mission. Most of my time is spent reading the language or trying to pronounce something only to mess up and have to try again. French is hard to learn. Elder Thompson is nice and he is very patient with me learning the language and waiting for me to finish getting dressed for the day. We have ID cards that we use to get into buildings here so that missionaries only go into buildings that they are supposed to go in. 

We will be teaching a mock investigator tomorrow in french and I am not sure how that is going to happen. I really hope I get the language down a little. I found out just as I was writing this that I could get the wireless here for my camera to download pictures. I thought that their was some password you had to have to get on the wireless.

Mom will be happy to hear that I am wearing my blue Mickey Mouse shirt today, so think of Mickey😁!!!!!! (see above)

The food here is really good and I am not going hungry.

I will email when I can but I am generally going to write home on Fridays and will probably not respond til' then but keep sending emails when you can and I will keep responding as much as I can.

Thanks for the note that came with the shirt today, that really brightened my day. Let Megan know that I received her note, also and I will be emailing her later.

Love,

Elder Perry

Canada Toronto Mission 

He made it! Elder Perry is now within the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT!

Today 819 Missionaries were taken into the Provo MTC! 4 times the usual amount, we were told!

There he goes, surrounded by angels to uplift and teach him. He is off to do Great Things!

Elder Jacob Perry left for the MTC this morning. He's so excited to serve. His sister Megan is picking him up at the Salt Lake City Airport, having lunch and some quick errands then she's taking him to the MTC. God be with you til' we meet again!

Just Set Apart as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Leaving for the MTC in a few hours.....

Elder Perry...Where will you be serving?

The Canada Toronto Mission

Elder Perry and President Brad C. Richardson, Forest Grove Oregon Stake President pointing to their missions

Kimberly Perry(Mom), Elder Jacob Perry, Steven Perry(Dad)