P-Day # 21 - Transferred to Weston North, Wonderful New Companions and SKYPE'ing on Christmas

Hi Mom and Dad…

Elder Jacob "JP" Perry....Looking Good!

WOW, lots of things have happened to me since my last P-Day Letter.

We had Zone Conference and I got transferred this week to Weston North Area. Weston is a suburb of Toronto, ON, so I am down south now. I am now with new elders.

Elder Monson(right) is from Alpine, Utah…and yes, he is the Grand Nephew to President Monson. Elder Strong(left) is our District Leader and from Alberta, Canada.

Snow in Val-d'Or, Quebec....COLD!

The weather is much milder here compared with Val-d’Or, QC. We have a really good view of the Toronto CN Tower and the people here are open to talking about religion…BONUS!

Elder Perry in One of His Selfies!

I am in a bus area and I’m finding out that a lot can happen with bus travels. It’s really fun to contact people on the bus because they can't run away until it stops. We talked to one guy about hockey and just sports in general. We gave him a pass along card.

Elder Perry and His Mom Love Little House on the Prairie!

Last night we had a quick exchange and I went to the south side of Weston. We had a dinner appointment with a lady from Nigeria. She is a recent convert and we taught the commandments. She was very nice.

We found out that even when you sprint to the bus sometimes you are just not fast enough and when the doors shut they don't reopen… even when you are standing just outside the bus looking at the bus driver. That's the city life, I guess. We got a lot of rain here which reminded me of Oregon. We also walked in the rain so we got our clothes pretty wet. You know that your coat is wet when you stand inside the elevator and your pants and coat are dripping water on the floor and the creases of the coat on your arm has little puddles dripping onto the floor every time you move your arm. We did some contacting of less actives and in the course of trying to find one, we talked to a guy named Anthony. He said that he wanted to know more so, we set a return appointment with him.

Super Elder....

We had Christmas and got to Skype our families so that was really fun and it was nice to speak with family face to face. I am realizing why missionaries are known to gain weight on their missions. On Christmas, we got a whole Christmas dinner and ,a huge pizza and we still had dinner appointments. We have had a lot of dinner appointments within the past couple of days with a lot of food at each one. The members here are fantastic here in Weston North and not just because of the appointments. They help us with referrals and help us find people to teach.

I am finding out that Toronto is a very diverse place. We talked to a couple of people from Nigeria and a couple of people from Hungary. English is mostly their second language so, they speak broken to us but they still understand enough to know what we are teaching about.

Grandma, Grandpa and Mom, Thank You for the Christmas Tree in the box that Mom sent. I thought it was fun to put it up and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas was a good day for us because the computers were working great. We had no problem with Skype and I got to talk to Mom, Dad, Megan, Matt and Benson.

Often times, I am riding the bus and remember the conventions Grandpa and I went to at the Car Show’s and with the Toy Trains. Thank you for those memories because they help me just realize why I am here. The gospel has made our family close and it reminds me that I can help other families become close also.

Fire in Rouyn-Noranda before we left for Zone Conference. A restaurant caught fire. We got to see it from beginning to end.

What a GREAT WEEK! I am thankful to be where I am and Thankful I am able to serve a mission here. I am especially grateful for my companions Elder Strong and Elder Monson. They are great guys and I’m learning a lot from them.

I pray for you every night and am thankful for technology this week with SKYPE!

Love,

Elder Perry

Weston North Area

Canada Toronto Mission

P-Day # 20 - Cold, Cold and More Cold + Snow…

Hi Mom & Dad,

Have I mentioned it gets cold up here in the North Country?

You know it’s cold when you step outside and cough because the air is cold and you feel the nose hairs inside your nose move as you breath…Now that cold there, I don’t care who you are…THAT’s COLD!

We have Zone Conference in Brampton this week. So, I’ll be heading out form Val-d’Or on Tuesday, pick up the other elders in Rouyn-Noranda and drive to North Bay. Wednesday, we’ll continue our drive to Brampton.

I don’t think I have ever told you this, but we have our 3-hour block meetings on Sunday one week in Rouyn-Noranda and the next in Val-d’Or. It’s about an hour and 45-minute drive between the two. This way the members who can’t travel can attend at least twice a month. This is why we’re also with our other elders so much in each town.

My Companion Elder Taturu from Tahiti and I are in Val-d’Or. Elder Feth and Elder Hunter are in Rouyn-Noranda. I really like hanging with Elder Hunter. He’s from the UK. We play chess when it’s too cold to go out or Elder Feth and Elder Taturu are on splits. Elder Hunter and I are going out to see some sites today since it’s P-Day. Elder Hunter and I are still getting the hang of the French Language.

I want to thank those who have sent me cards, letters and packages. Also, a special thanks to my former YM President Dan Jordan for helping my parents get a huge box full of goodies shipped up here. I really appreciate ALL of you. Those little touches of home keep me going!

I get to SKYPE my parents next week…. Awesome!

Merry Christmas to ALL! Praying for you Every Night!

Love,

Elder Perry
Abitibi Branch, Val-d’Or, QC
Canada Toronto Mission

P- Day # 19 - Branch Christmas Dinner, Being a Senior Missionary and Sleeping at the Church....

Our Tree in the Mission Apartment

Hi Mom and Dad,

This week was an OK week. We didn't get very much done in the way of missionary work because it’s really cold and when we contact people, they don't say hi back to start a conversation. We did go to a college club fair and supported one of our investigators and looked at the different clubs. That was pretty fun and reminded me of my senior project board that I did.

Elder Tuahivaatetonohiti or Elder “T” for short is going home this week so Elder Feth took him down to North Bay. We had transfers and I am now back in Rouyn-Noranda for the next 7 weeks with Elder Tatauru. He is from Tahiti and speaks French. He is cool and I like him and am looking forward to getting to know him better. I am now the Senior Elder in my area. Elder Feth is picking up a “Greenie” and they will be in Val-d’Or for the next 7 weeks until Elder Feth goes home. I don't know what President Shields is going to do when Elder Feth leaves. If we are in a tri-companionship, then probably one of the areas will be closed and it would probably be Rouyn and we would all stay in Val-d’Or. Maybe President Shields can find another French speaking Elder.

Today and tomorrow we will pack up our things and go back to Rouyn. We have an appointment on Wednesday and then on Thursday we will have to get winter tires for the New Toyota Rav-4. Another round of dealing with tires.  I just did this two weeks ago.  Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

On Christmas Day, I will use SKYPE to Video-Chat with you. We have a computer here that will have SKYPE on it. I will e-mail you on Christmas when we are ready. We got a new camera and I will have to install it on the computer. 

I got Sister Westerns Christmas card today. That was so nice of her and Brother Western to think of me!

Goodie Table at our Branch Christmas Dinner

We had a Branch Christmas dinner and we had a lot of food. I could actually have conversations with people and talk about random things. Heavenly father blessed me with the Gift of Tongues, so I had a lot of fun!

Cleaning Up after the Branch Christmas Dinner

We have been trying to look for people to shovel the snow but the problem is they all have little snow blowers and beat us to it. I’m kind of sorry they beat us to the punch, but not really sad. Next time, I’m going to learn how to use the snow blower. I can tell it’s going to be tough for winter because people don't like to talk to the missionaries in general let alone in -20c.

The past couple of days, the other elders were doing last minute things with Elder T, so I slept in the church building on chairs that I made into a bed I have been running on 4 hours’ worth of sleep and it has caught up to me. I have a feeling this winter we will be inside for a long time because of the cold. People say it looks like it will be a bad winter.

Elder Jacob "JP" Perry on P-Day #19 12/12/2016

Not much else is going on here. We just keep on, keeping on. People, I think, have a misconception of missionary work. They believe that it will be hard… yes! But for the most part sunshine and rainbows. This is very wrong. Missionary work is like crab fishing in the Bearing Sea on a long grind. Every now and then you find a good spot for crab (or investigators). You just have to be willing to go through the grind to find them.

I will try to buy some Thermal Underwear this week. President said that probably at -30c we could call it and stay inside so we will use caution.

Have a Great Week and Know that I pray for you Every Night...Love You!

Elder Perry

Abitibi Branch

Canada Toronto Mission

Parents Bonus Note... 

On Thursday Jacob will be 19 Years Old 12/15/2016. How time flies... We want to wish our missionary a Happy Birthday. He has been such a blessing to our lives and we hope Canada loves him as much as we do. Happy Birthday Elder Perry

Elder Perry - Same Place - Primary and Just Before He left on a Mission

Jacob and His Dad Steve in New Suits - 2005

Jacob at 8 Years Old....Happy Boy in the Snow...

Jacob On his Suzuki 90 - 2003

P-Day # 18 - Downtown Toronto, Exchanges and Traveling Like a Seventy

Elder Jacob "JP" Perry at the CN Tower Downtown Toronto Canada

Hi Mom and Dad,

On my last P-Day in Brampton, we went into downtown Toronto. We went into a couple of shops and we went to a bakery. They had some really good rolls and then we went to the base of the CN Tower but we did not go up because we didn't have time. And no, I didn't eat Ducks Feet in Chinatown.

This week has been interesting. I got off my exchanges with the AP’s and left Brampton, Ontario.  Then  joined a new exchange with the Elders in Timiskaming and worked with a new Elder that had only been out 3 weeks. This was kind of weird because I was a “Greenie” and the Senior Missionary. This only lasted a few days, then I was assigned to work in Rouyn-Noranda for the next week with Elder “T” since I am a designated driver. He goes home at the end of the week, so for the moment, I don’t have an official “Home Base”. This reminds me of how it was when I arrived. President Shields said for me to leave my stuff in Val-d’Or, Quebec and we’ll figure it out next week after transfers. So, for now, I go to Rouyn-Noranda for a couple of days, then back to Val-d’Or for a few days. President Shields made the joke I was like a “Seventy” with all the traveling I’m doing. I thought…Yep, he’s right!

Downtown Toronto Canada

Elder Feth has a new companion Elder Tatauru from Tahiti. Elder Tatauru has been in the mission field for a little bit learning English and I actually met him in the MTC. I like him, he is really chill. The native language in Tahiti is French, so there’s a bonus!

We have another greenie coming up next transfer and then after Elder Feth leaves at the beginning of February. Then we will have only three French Elders for two areas. I don't know what’s going to happen. Maybe, with only three elders in February, this means we would have a tri-companionship and the possibility of an area being closed because there are not enough elders to fill the area. 

The work is going slowly here because people don't want to stand in the cold talking to missionaries. I got my first taste of bible bashing. I’ve learned to rely on the spirit. If the spirit is not present when we’re teaching and things feel like they’re going south, we wrap up and just leave with a good word and a prayer.

Downtown by the Rail Yard

It’s been snowing for the last week here and its -5c. I finally got some boots and they are rated at -60c. They are keeping my feet dry and toasty. There is a layer of ice under all this snow, so we have to be careful not to slip and fall. 

Well, that’s pretty much it for the week.

I'd like to take a quick minute and thank a few people for e-mailing me while on my mission. I don't have much time to get back to everyone, but please know I appreicate everyone's kind words of encouragement and please keep the letters and e-mails coming....

Thanks to;

• Mil & Linda Gibson - Grandma and Grandpa
• Lucie Richardson - Former Citizen of Val-d'Or
• Bro. Dan Jordan - Former YM President
• Troy & Heather Gibson - Uncle and Auntie
• Johnathan Levenseller - Life Long Friend
• Jared Cook - Friend/Soon to Be New Elder in Detroit
• Drew Cheney - Friend/Current Elder in Thailand 

Love You and Pray for You Every Day & Night!

Elder Perry

Abitibi Branch, Val-d’Or, Quebec

Canada Toronto Mission