P-Day #47 - Opening My Mouth, Lots of Investigators and Going on Another Hike....

Elder Perry Hiking on P-Day

This week has been an eventful week.

Remember the French Investigator from Quebec I mentioned last week?  He is doing good. We had a good lesson with him and after I had said the ending prayer he wanted to pray also! So, he wanted to say a prayer and he prayed for us. He said that he has met with the missionaries before and wasn't ready to be baptized but feels like now is the time. For all who read this, keep praying for him and his desire to be baptized.

We had a lesson with a man who speaks fluent French and a little English. He wants us to teach him in English, but be there in case there is a word that he can't really understand in English.

Make It Rain!

We also had the opportunity to speak to two interesting guys who wanted to see our opinions on the Bible. Just taught the doctrine and explained the scriptures that they brought up. They seemed grateful that we were able to talk with them and we set a return appointment.

Elder Perry Flashing Mormon Gang Sign!

We had an interesting experience this week. We talked to two men who wanted to Bible bash with us and we confounded them in their words. Heavenly Father really helped us on that one. They started bring up church history and allegations that people had said about the church, but when I asked for the source, they said they heard it from a friend of a friend and then they had to go. 

Zone Conference was a really good experience and I learned a lot about opening your mouth to talk to others. We have been working on finding new people this week and we have been blessed in abundance. We have talked to a lot of people and our schedule has been filled by non-members and members who are ready to help us in the work in any way they possibly can.

Elder Kaku and Elder Perry

We have been working with a recent convert family through some tough trials and we have been able to lift their spirits and change a tire in the process. We will continue to work with them and strengthen them.

For P-Day we went on another hike. It really is pretty here in Hamilton. As far as living in “The Bat Cave” with my companion and our compadre’s, it’s fun! We laugh with each other a lot and just do crazy things. You have to have your Nerf gun ready just in case you get ambushed walking up the stairs…Thanks Uncle Troy for my weaponry!

Elder Perry...Yes, the Church is True... Like a Rock ...Immovable!

Grandma & Grandpa Gibson, I did get your letter. Thanks so much for sending me things, I really appreciate it!

Mom, here’s a bonus. We will not be having P-Day on Monday July 3^rd because it’s an official holiday here. So, our P-Day will be on July 4^th….Your Special Day! Can’t wait.

I'm Having a Good Time on My Mission!

Love You!! Pray for you every night and day!

Elder Perry

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada Toronto Mission

P-Day #46 - Climbing Dundas Peak, Using my French(Gift of Tongues) and Praying for Investigators...

Elder Perry on P-Day
Dundas Peak, Hamilton, Ontario

This week has been a good week for us.

We have been focusing on finding new investigators and helping them progress in the Gospel. Before we left the apartment, we prayed that we would find a new investigator, and that if we didn't, it would not be because we didn't open our mouths and try.

Elder Perry and Elder Kaku in back
Zone Leaders and Chinese Speaking Elders in front

As we were walking down the street, we had a car pull over to the side and ask if we were missionaries. We explained that we were and as he spoke we couldn't understand the accent very well. I asked him in French if he spoke French and he said that he did. He explained that he was from Quebec and that he had met with the missionaries before. He was being prepared for baptism but because of some things in his life he was not able to do so at that time and the language barrier was also a challenge in learning. I explained that we could give him a French copy of the Book of Mormon and also teach him in French, if he liked. He agreed and we now have an appointment with him to teach him the missionary lessons in French. The Gift of tongues is real because there is no other way that I could have had that conversation, with him, without it.

P-Days are AWESOME!

We also earlier in the week found a family that spoke very little English, but spoke a lot of French and we will continue to try and meet with them. We also got a chance to talk to a man sitting on a park bench and as we talked he said that he would like to learn more so will set up a time to meet and will be meeting with him this week. We have been working on finding people and we found this family that spoke French, so we have been working on trying to meet with them.

We also got to talk to a guy who believed in the Law of Moses and how the Law of Moses was not fulfilled and kept quoting the Old Testament. He said “I bet you hope you never met me”! He was funny, we wished him well and pressed on…  

How Do I Look Mom?

We took a hike to Dundas Peak. We didn't have a whole lot of time to hike it, so we had to run it. 1.5 k of running and walking. I'm getting in pretty good shape, ea'?(I've got that Canadian ea' thing down!)

Myself and My Companion Elder Kaku 
from Camp Coast, Ghana, Africa

We helped a family move from the ward and they had lot of heavy things. We have a girl we meet with that is graduating and has anxiety about doing well on test. I was able to give her techniques that would help her and I think I have gotten her hooked on Paul Cardell, the Pianist.

Pretty Huh?

Otherwise we are doing well. We have been working hard putting out fires and trying to do some missionary work along the way and comfort those who stand in need.

It’s a little hard on p-days because they don't even give us a full day to get everything done because they cut our p-day off at 6:00PM.

I Love You and Pray for you Every Night and Day.

Elder Perry

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada Toronto Mission 

P-Day #45 - The Bat Cave, Speaking in Rusty French and Being a Witness for A Family Sealed in the Temple...

My New District

Lots of changes happened since last week. 

As I told you last week, I knew I was getting transferred to downtown Hamilton. I arrived Monday night and met my new companion. His name is Elder Kaku and he is from Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa. He is our District Leader(DL) and has been out 7 months, but 2 of that he had to stay in Ghana waiting on his Visa. He is a really great companion. We get along very well and we’ve stayed very busy.

This week has been a really good week for us.

Back Row Sister and President Shields, Elder Perry(Me) and Elder Kaku, Front Rows are the Family that was Sealed in the Toronto, Ontario LDS Temple

Obedience does bring blessings and we have seen them this week. We have been working hard this entire week to help a family attend the temple for the first time. It was a really a good experience and it was very special being able to witness for the family. We also had 2 other baptisms. It was actually my first time ever being on a temple team to help out.

We Went Out to Eat after Attending the Temple!

We were able to get 4 new investigators this week. I was able to get two of them using my rusty, but still usable French. Miracles come in unexpected ways and this one is no different. We heard a lady yelling and we thought we were being followed. So, we turned down this street to see but couldn’t find her. However, as we started walking, we ran into two ladies who were speaking a different language. I asked them if it was French and it wasn't. But, one on the ladies did speak French and it was her primary language. We started talking and her son wanted one of the “Prince of Peace” pass-along cards that had a picture of Jesus on it. We gave him one and he cherished that picture and could not stop looking and smiling at it. My French was a little rusty and the ladies giggled when I messed up a word or pronunciation. Perhaps humor is a way of keeping investigators talking and interested. We set up an appointment to meet with her at church this week. We got her phone number to confirm with her on Saturday the day before church.

Toronto Canada LDS Temple

We also have been working on a “dot map” of the area which will allow us to walk around to more people and not use so many kilometers on the car. It took a lot of time but it will allow us to be more effective in the future.

My View From "The Bat Cave"

I’m staying in a place we call “The Bat Cave”. Not sure why, but it’s pretty nice and I can see much of downtown from our apartment. It’s pretty nice almost like downtown Portland, but I think the view is much nicer. Our apartment also has a punching bag so I’ve been working out on that as much as I can. We also live with another companionship who are our Zone Leaders. We have a great time. At Christmas, My Uncle Troy send me a set of Nerf Guns. We have a blast having Nerf Wars in our down time! (Thanks Troy!)

I’ve met quite a few of our ward members and they are AWESOME! Great people and they feed us a ton! Who could ask for more?

This week went VERY well and I feel Great!

I Love You and Pray for You every night and Day!

Elder Perry

Downtown Hamilton, Ontario

Canada Toronto Mission

P-Day #44 - Teaching The Little Ones, Transferred to Downtown Hamilton, Ontario and going on a Safari...

Missionaries will teach ANYONE!!!

This week has been a week of trying to work with the Ward Council and less actives. In Ward Council, when asked, we had a report out about everyone we met, talked to, visited and especially our investigators!!!

Our English Class Regulars!

We have been doing a lot of “drop by's” and have been able to see an inactive member who just moved into the area a while ago.  We started to talk with him and as we did, his seven-year-old daughter came and started to look through my marked scriptures and asked questions about why I had marked them. I told her that they were to help me learn from them and to apply what they were teaching. As the lesson went on, she started to look for the scripture that we were going to share. We read it, and with a great curiosity, asked if she could try and read it as if looking at a new language. She did pretty well and after the lesson, she looked at the book as if she wanted to read more. We gave her a copy and went on to the front porch with her. She was still flipping through the pages of the Book of Mormon. The Missionaries will continue to visit the family and help them feel the Spirit in their lives. 

What is it about swords that light up and Missionaries???

We also had the opportunity to teach the first lesson to a referral we had received. From the moment we walked in the door, she had a list of questions for us. We were able to teach her the message of the restoration and as she wanted to know more. We taught her “The Plan of Salvation” and the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”. She committed to read The Book of Mormon. The Missionaries will continue to meet with her and teach her.

The All Important Elder Perry Selfie!!!

The reason I said “The Missionaries” and not “I” or “We” is because transfers are tomorrow and I am being transferred to downtown Hamilton, Ontario. I am going to be a companion of a “DL”, his name is Elder Kaku and he is from Africa. I am going to miss Elder Baker, he is a very fine man and I hope to work with him again! Apparently, they filmed Batman – The Dark Knight in Hamilton, so that will be fun to see where they filmed it. “Who’s afraid of the Big Black Bat???”

Hey Preacher Boy, Got a Book of Mormon for me???

So, on our last P-Day, we went to a Safari. It was a hoot! We saw every kind of animal I knew and some I didn’t know.  I did have a particular laugh at the baboons. They climbed on our car and everything. It was fun!

Yes Mom, I'm Alive, Healthy, Eating Well
and Enjoying My Mission!!!

I love you Mom and Dad and Pray for your every Night and Day!

Elder Perry

Soon to be from Downtown Hamilton, Ontario

Canada Toronto Mission