Elder William Perry's Mission Address

Elder William Neldon Perry
Finland Helsinki Mission

Neitsytpolku 3 A 4 FI
00140 Helsinki
Finland

Send all mail to the mission home above

email:
william.perry@myldsmail.net

Serving from
March 2011 to March 2013



Monday, November 14, 2011

November 14, 2011

Haha well,
This morning has been pretty crazy. I came out of language study to go to the library around 1045am, and we start riding..... Vanhin Rogers bike tire went flat!!! Okay............ improve the shining moments... It's okay we'll just walk. We get to the library.... The computer I chose froze.......... Had to leave and go get groceries in stead haha. But now I'm here, and hopefully I can type out an email on this "computer box thing" before another phone call comes in. Haha now that the spirit is here.
Elder Rogers and I are doing great! We have like the same mind. I don't know how many times we've related Ewoks from starwars to the gospel. Whenever I loose him, we just do the chewbacca noise and find each other... joke..... But seriously.. one word.. Hilarious. He is a great missionary, and I'm grateful to be his companion.

It's getting pretty cold here!! I resorted to my thermals from Cabella's, which are so nice by the way. I didn't want to get to that point yet, but I did it. There are some night we come out of a teach, and the wind is blowing, bitter, bitter cold! I just take a deep breath, here we go.......... but it's pretty fun. The only thing harder than trying to speak finnish like a finn, is trying to do it when your jaw is frozen haha. But it's pretty hilarious. I'M LOVIN IT! Wouldn't be anywhere else, with anyone else. Except maybe...... well Han Solo on the Milenium Falcon, but that's a different story. Or in a P-51! Wow those pictures were great! 5 points to DAd!

We had our Six month language school down in Helsinki last thursday. Elder Larsen and I (he was in the mtc with me) kept making each other laugh all night haha. We kept talking about the MTC days and about how dumb we were! It was so cool to go down south for a day, and see all my buddies from the MTC. Elder Orr.. Uhhh... haha he is so funny. It's so funny because in the MTC I didn't like him at all. But now we're really good friends. He is soaring at the language. I went in for my interview with the language cordinator, and haha he threw a suprise. Teach in finnish! Uh.. well... okay... so at the end of the little test, the first thing he said was, "Elder Perry your such a good missionary... uh... keep going... EPIC FAIL!! So I was pretty frustrated, I left Helsinki and was sitting on the train just blown away, I felt like am I making any progress at all? Then I realized Grandma Huntley sent me a Dear Elder, and I decided to read it then. It meant so much to me that I got it. She saved my day that day. I felt like Heavenly Father was speaking to me through her testimony.

Things have been going very well with T and H. H will still be baptized on the 3rd of December. Maybe we can even get her in the water sooner! She is so prepared. We have really been trying to help them get over the past. It is amazing to see how the Lord works with people to help them to recieve the gospel. I was thinking about how important it is just to believe. Missionary work is so child-like. We just do what Heavenly Father asks, because we love Him, and we know He loves us. Sometimes it's hard to find belief, but if we just try.... we'll find it.

I'm so sorry to here about Grandma Mckinney. One thing I do regret is not taking the time to go see her after I recieved my endowment. I know these things come out when it's too late, but I have felt bad about that. I will make sure and send her an email today.

As far as the family I am working with. I got their pictures and everything. I'll send you those today, and ya.... I think that she would really like that apron.

As far as christmas presents, I would like pictures of you guys, with letters from everyone including extended family. I want it in a box, no email,... in a packetti that comes to my apartment. I want one from dad, and one from mom, with letters from everyone. There will be no sharing christmas haha. I want one phone call from mom, and that side of the family. I want a seperate call from Dad and His side of the family. No sharing. It's a benefit of divorce haha. However the change ends the week before christmas on like the 16th of December.
well,
love you all
will

Monday, November 7, 2011

November 7, 2011

Helloooo Vietnam!!!

So this week has been pretty cool. It has been so hilarious. My new companion................................... Legit! He reminds me a lot of my old friend Jace Larson. He really pushes me to want to be a better just more obediant missionary. I have learned so much from him just in this past week! He speaks amazing finnish, and sometimes I'm the one asking Him for help. I feel like that guy in school who wakes up in the middle of the chemistry lesson gasping for air, wondering where he is, and not knowing why he's there haha. HAHA I was that guy in school!! But all in all, things are pretty sweet.

Yesterday I was sitting in personal study and I wanted to talk to you guys so bad!! Then I realized next month is December!! I can't believe it's almost Christmas! well that's a lie.......... it's freezing over here!! Are we all sure that hell is hot?? haha joke.. hmm.. (girggle in the throat)......... haha that rymned. I don't think I would be very good at writing to the gentiles like Nephi, or John, or any of those prophets. They would say things like Repent!, and They spoke really poetically.... Maybe that's why Heavenly Father saved me for this time, so I wouldn't be put in that situation haha.

So I found out that that name Eddie used to always call me (namely Wilamina) is a name here haha. It is actually a girls name in my ward................. She goes by Villi......... hmm.... maybe we should come up with something different. It was really awkward talking to her about it yesterday, and explaining that my family called me wilamina... this is an awkward change of circumstances. But all in all, things are so hilarious.

We had some really cool experiences. We're rejected like crazy!!! However we have really been trying to follow President Rawlings counsel on using the Book of Mormon in everything we do. I love contacting so much haha It is hilarious. I like to make it not weird though. It is so cool just walking up to someone casual, and teach, bear testimony, and get out. Some of the best contacts, and tracts, have been in less than one minute haha.

Yesterday was kind of a trying day so to speak. We had four appointements lined up, and none of them worked out. Sister T and her children came to the church to be taught, but we couldn't teach them because the member didn't show up. We can't teach single women without another male with us. That rule drove me crazy yesterday, but we had to obey it! I called her that night, and apologized. She wasn't mad at us, and she was so nice about it. I am so grateful for sister T, and her kids. I bore my testimony in church yesterday, and talked about how she helped me so much. The thought came to my mind. Sometimes when life get's hard, Our Heavenly Father sends angels to lift us back up.

She has helped me so much here, in so many countless ways. I don't even know what I can do to repay her. Even if I tried she wouldn't take it. Talk about a saint. She has endured so many things, and yet she is always looking to help others. I think one of the hardest things about being on a mission, is the fact that someday it's going to end. I will probably never see them again.. at least for a long time. It crushes my heart. But on the brightside that's not for awhile!!

As far as baptismal books, tell me what you want to write for each page so I can congegate and write it for you. Google translator won't give you the correct meaning. There are so many different ways to say things, and Finn's speak, and say things different than we do haha. I still don't understand it yet!! However I will get there school pictures, and stuff, and American candy... Idk.... probably like swedish fish, sour patch kids, and yaa... I Got it!

All else is going well. T and H came to church yesterday for the first time. T talked to the bishop, and H, is on tract for baptism the day before your birthday mom. I am so excited! The turuset also may be baptized soon. All is moving forward!!

love you,

will