April 16, 2011

Gooood Morning Vietnam!!

First things first. I am staying in Kouvola!!! Elder Larsen is going
down to Helsinki

:( Voi harmi..... However i'm still pretty excited! My new companion's name is... New missionary! I get to train my first missionary this change! Sooooooo cool! I'm super excited. Right when President gave me my call, I was like hahah Sooo cool!!! And he was like, it is super cool. I also thought of all the things I need to change haha. I am going down to Helsinki tomorrow, and wednesday I meet him. Poor guy, I'm picking him up then we're driving back in our car. It's like an 1 hour 1/2 drive. However I am arranging for some teaches in a far away area, which is along the way. Save gas, and kilometers........ I remember how tired I was my second day. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve.

I can't believe I'm going into my ninth change! It is going by so fast! I really do love the work, and I love the Lord. We have really trying to work hard, and miracles are happening. Katsotaan what happens!

I am so sorry that my emails have been so lame this last little while. I have been so busy. Especially on P-day. Last pday I didn't have very much time to do anything at all. We moved apartments, and so my new address is Torikatu 4 as 40 Kouvola 45100. We had some nice little miracles that happened as well. We got another baptismal date! It was so cool. We have been teaching this investigator. We have
taught Him parts of the Restoration, plan of salvation, and the gospel... didn't seem to interested. We prayed, and the inspiration came! W.O.W = Word of Wisdom! He loved it! We taught it, and things went very well. We were able to give Him a blessing afterwards. He said things (smoking addiciton) is slowing down, and
becoming easier! I was so grateful for the help from Taivalliseltä Isältä.

We also had a very special experience. I was on splits with another missionary in our district. We had some appointments in Loviisa which is about an hours drive from Kouvola. The first appointment was with an investigator and we recieved another investigator during the teach! Sweet!! Following, we had a teach with a potential investigator. As we showed up, she wasn't home, and on the phone she said she forgot
and would be about 10 minutes late. There is a less active member who lives in the building next to her's. We felt like we should go say hi.

We went to the door, and she took forever to come out. Finally she came out, and we went and shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon (Helaman 5:12). She helped us with some language questions, and as we were getting up to leave she said, "Ya know, I am so grateful that you guy's showed up. I had the hardest day at work. A ninth grade student (she is a teacher) used a mock gun in his hoodie, and told me he was going to shoot me. He was laughing, and I thought it was for real. I was very scared."

My heart stopped. I felt so much compassion for her. We asked her if she would like a blessing. She said, "That would be great." She asked if I would be the voice. As I placed my hands on her head, and started speaking, I felt a very sacred feeling. I felt Heavenly Fathers love for her, and How important this sister is to Him. I learned another aspect of the atonement. How Christ's healing hands are there for each of us. As we go through trials, and overcome our weaknesses, He is there.

I think about those hands often in my life. How they have raised me up, to become more than what I thought I could be. I am very grateful for our Savior, and His help.

Things are going very well. I am very happy here. I love the work! It's true, I know it is.

Jumalan siunauksiaan teille!

Elder Perry