P-Day #11 - 6 New Investigators, New Furniture & Feeling The Spirit !!!

Great View! Elder Jacob Perry from the balcony of his apartment in 
Val-d'Or, Quebec, Abitibi Branch, Canada Toronto Mission !!! 

Hi Mom and Dad,

This week has been a very successful week.

For most of the week, in the mornings, we have been helping President Och's (pronounced “Ox”) with his house. He is doing some foundation work and needed some help shoveling dirt to build a wall for the drainage pipe that takes water from the foundation away from the house. This was not easy to do, but we were able to get the task accomplished and we also got a good workout which made us feel good also.

We were able to have dinner over at one of our investigators house and I always love going over there just to have nice conversation (the best I can understand) with her. We did that for a couple of days this week because foundation work is generally a multi-day project.

We have done a lot of driving which is the usual schedule for us now, but it should end soon. We got our delivery date for our furniture which made us really happy.

We had some lessons with a recent convert who just got baptized. We taught the plan of salvation and I found that I had the most interesting time trying to say “Kingdoms of Glory”. After about the 5^th attempt, the recent convert helped with pronunciation. The members are very helpful in helping me get the language down.

We have begun playing sports with investigators and less actives almost daily. This doubles in several ways for us because we get our exercise period so we don't have to do it in the morning when we are tired and we also get people involved with gospel discussion and are able to teach lessons to investigators who have questions. I have practiced contacting people on the street multiple times and I feel that I am starting to get the hang of it. It’s easy to say now, but in the moment, I see how far I really need to learn. 

We taught a lesson to a less active family and she had questions about why temptation is in our lives. The Spirit filled the room and I was able to explain that trials are necessary and that its Gods ways of testing us to see how faithful we will be and to show how strong we actually are spiritually. She said that answer really helped her. I walked away with a much greater appreciation for the role of the Holy Ghost / Spirit in our lives. As missionaries, we are able to invite and bring the Holy Ghost to the investigator but it is completely up to the investigator to allow the Holy Ghost to enter in his or her heart. 

Elder Perry in one of many "Selfie's"

We had 6 investigators at church this week, which was amazing. We pretty much filled up our small chapel and had more people in Gospel Principles class than in Sunday School. We had a great time at Church because we had so many investigators at church and the Spirit of the meeting was awesome. We didn't have bread so we started a little late though. I guess small town branch hiccups are the same no matter where you go, but we got bread and all was well. I look forward to the coming week and to the upcoming spiritual experiences when we are permanently in Val-d’Or. 

It’s been a really good week.

Love You and Praying for you every night!

--
Elder Perry
Abitibi Branch, 
Val-d'Or, Quebec
Canada Toronto Mission