Week 63 -- Elder Dickman is the man!

Mom!!

Man we all had one heck of a week! I am sorry to hear that y’all have been sick!! I really don’t like being sick, and knock on wood I haven't gotten sick in a while now. But this week has been pretty crazy too. Ii never thought I would be training, and I am. Elder Ahokava is gone, our car, is in Franklin for about 2 to 3 weeks and I have a new comp.   Elder Dickman is 6’6” and about 300 pounds of pure greenie fire. He is from Topeka, Kansas and has been preparing for his mission longer than I have been a missionary!  He definitely is different than me. But I know we will get along fine. Training is interesting, makes me feel old; which I don’t like. Elder Dickman was the exact opposite of me when I came out. He knows his scriptures pretty well and actually read Preach My Gospel several times before his mission. He has studied it! He just needs the experience now.   I look back to when I was getting trained, all that I have learned so far and use that to teach him. So the training is... going. Our investigators are.... going. And the ward is.... going.

None of our investigators came to church on Sunday.. But a couple less actives did! Jeremy came but not his wife... But we had supper with them at the Bradford’s house again. That went really well. They are feeling more comfortable around us now and we should be teaching them pretty soon!

Jessica and Alex went out of town this weekend but we are going over tonight! Jessica loves to hear the apostles and first presidency speak.   She loves Elder Uchtdorf!  So tonight we are going to watch one of his talks and have a discussion on it. Oscar and Bethany didn't come to the party or to church... But he said he would like to meet with the bishop!  This is a big step for him! He is so sincere with all of us.  I respect him in what he is doing... He wants true forgiveness for things that happened in the war. We share the atonement and bear hard core testimony to him, but there is something else. We haven’t bridged that gap yet and we are hoping his meeting with the bishop will bridge that gap!

We had our Christmas party on Saturday too.  We had a reenactment of the Nativity as well. I don’t know if I have told you yet, but there is a guy in our ward named Brother Penrod and he is from either Show Low or Round Valley.  I know he knows Uncle Matt and Uncle Jake. He graduated with Uncle Matt. They are going back to AZ to have Christmas with his parents and I told him to stop by the DQ and say hey to grandma.   It is pretty cool that in every area I have served there has been a connection with back home.

For Christmas we are going over to the Draper's and I think she sent you an email maybe? But I don’t know when we are going to call. I know that Elder Dickman has to call later in the evening, but I will let you know for sure next Monday.  TELL DEVAN TO EMAIL ME. I sure miss him. I started my letter to him, but the last couple nights I have been on the phone...  I will try and finish it this week. 

Well I love you so much! I am so excited to talk to y’all on Tuesday! It’s hard to think that this is my second Christmas in the mission field! After training I am going to hit my 6 month stretch! AHH! IT IS GOING BY TOO FAST.  I love my mission! I love being a missionary! I love how this gospel changes lives! I love to see the Love of our Savior Jesus Christ bring a change into people’s lives. I know my life has changed so much for it. I know missions can be tough, but we go through hard things to find the good things. No one said it would be easy. But they said it would be worth it. I love y’all with all my heart!

 Love your son Elder Vaughn Perkins

Week 62 -- Training, Transfers and Elder Nelson

Mom,

This has been a crazy week as well down here in good old' Tennessee! First off, it was transfer week.  It  is already in the back of your mind if this will be the last week with your comp or in the area.. But it was a good week. We had a great District Meeting and Meeting with Elder Hymas (70) and Elder Russell M. Nelson!! It was so cool! I was shakin in my boots to shake his hand though!  Elder Freeze, a good friend of mine, as I was waiting in line to shake Elder Nelson's hand, grabs my hand and says "His Hands have touched Christ's... So watch out. Good Luck."  That didn't make it any better.  But it was so neat to see and hear from an Apostle! I noticed that General Authorities are just like us! Except the spirit is crazy strong in them! He taught a lot about opposition and why we go through hard things! The big thing that I got out of all that was said, was that the greatest gift we have is agency. And with our agency we have the choice to CHANGE our attitudes or perspectives and trials in life. Heavenly Father won’t just take them away from us. He will give us strength to CHANGE in order to come out successfully! Pretty sweet.

So this week was awesome because we set a date with Aubrey!! And her husband sat in on the lesson!! We met with Alex and Jessica twice this week! And then Jessica and Alex and their daughter Emma came to church!!! It was amazing! They loved it! They only stayed for sacrament, but she told us "baby steps". So we are so excited for them!!!   I don’t even remember what happened for the rest of the week! I was just so excited that Alex and Jessica came to church this week! They haven’t been in 4 years... So that is a HUGE step for them.

Yesterday we just went around and visited families we were close with. The Bradford’s, Alex and Jessica, The Travis', Morrow's, and some others.. I can’t believe that it is already another transfer... I saw Elder Rothlisberger at the Elder Nelson’s visit! He is at 20 months! He has 3 more transfers left... When I was with him he hit his year mark.. Time is flying!

Well transfer calls were this weekend... And I am super sad to say, Elder Ahokava is leaving me... He is going to Bowling Green!   I was super excited for him! I tell him all my favorite things and people there! And as for me..... I am training!!!   And District Leader in Columbia.   I never thought that I would train.  But I was called to do it and so I will with a smile!  I have no idea who my new comp is or where he is from.  So yeah! Exciting huh! Because I am training, I know I will be here at least another 3 months. And then I will be at 17 months! I can’t believe how fast it is going!  I love this work! I love being a missionary! I am so excited for what is coming up! I love y’all so so so so mucH! I miss y’all as well! Tell everyone I love them! Y’all take care!

Love Elder Vaughn Perkins

Week 61 - Exchanges and Great Blessings

Hey mom!

It definitely is a great morning when I read emails! I am doing just great! Elder Ahokava is a stud and just great! The work is good! The district is wonderful! And exchanges were amazing! First missionary work

So the beginning of last week went pretty well. We met with Aubrey twice and it went great.. The first time we saw her we wanted to set a baptismal date with her that morning. We were going to see her after supper that day, so all day we thought and prepared to teach a awesome spiritual powerhouse lesson with her! We went over and within the first 10 minutes she said that she was ready to be baptized! It was crazy! It was exactly what we had role played that morning in our studies! And after she had said that Elder Ahokava and looked at each other just in shock. We were truly blessed for that experience.

Then the next day we had district meeting here in Columbia. That went well, I always love district meetings. Then we switched and I went to the Linden area for a couple days with Elder Thayne! Elder Thayne was trained by Elder Rothlisberger so we talked about him a lot. But the Linden area is like an hour away from Columbia, so we stopped on the way in a small town called Holenwald.   That is where the Cane Creek Massacre took place. The Cane Creek Massacre is where the mobs killed those two missionaries back in the day. But don’t worry we only got dirty looks and rejections.  It was kind of cool to preach the gospel in a place where there has been some history there.

But after working there we finished our road trip back to there town where they live, Parsons Tennessee. Parsons is way cool! It is super backwoods out in the sticks area.  The elders there actually live in a Trailer! It is pretty cool.  They live out in the woods too. It was like camping almost. But the work there is kind of hard or different since everything is so spread out. And the people there hate Mormons. But it's all good. The good news needs to go everywhere! We met with a Church of Christ preacher who "taught" us about the Melchizedek priesthood and just a bunch of crazy stuff. 

On the exchange I wanted to focus on contacting and it turned out that it was more on effort, obedience, and confidence. The elder is way sincere and is a great kid, just hard on himself. But the exchange had helped both of us out! I learned a lot from him and I am sure he learned a lot from me.

The next big thing that happened this week was we met with another part member family, who we had role played for in companion study, and the same thing that had happened.  It was waaaay sweet! We talked about freedom of religion and how we need to take advantage and have more gratitude for the things we have. He served in Vietnam and has a lot of bad memories there... He feels like he can’t be forgiven for things he has done. He is hard on himself and doesn’t want other people to go through what he has gone through.. But it was definitely one of those times where the spirit just carries you to bear hardcore testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It touched his heart.  He is a nice guy, because he is always encouraging us about this work and always thanking us for what we do. Hopefully he will come to church this next week.

We drove down to Mt. Pleasant to see the Morrows! They are awesome family. Sister Morrow has got to be like in her 80's and her husband is home bound. So we try to visit them and the family each weekend and tell them how the work goes and stuff. I love the old country people and their stories. Then yesterday for dinner (lunch) we went to the Nobles and had some interesting Mexican food.  it was way good but I have no idea what was in it. Then after that we went to the Bradford's, an active family in the ward, and we went with the Van hooks there. The Van hooks are Sister Bradford’s parents. We had a party for Sister Van hooks birthday and two of her kids, who are less active, came. They just wanted us to be there with the family. They are a nice family. After supper we watched the Christmas Devotional. It definitely is always a blessing to hear the first presidency speak! I love how president Monson said "true love is a reflection of Christ"! This week was great! And we got to go to the Farmer's market this week for supper!

 Tell Devan to email me when he has the time please!  I am glad you like the pictures. I am trying to take pictures more often. The picture next to the car was our car by the way. We got in an accident last week, but as you can see we are fine.  I sure love y’all so much! I can’t believe how fast time is flying! Rhett goes home this month... That is weird. But I guess that just means I got to use my time wisely and kill it this week! I love being a missionary with all my heart! I love everything about it!  I am so glad I gone through the trials I have, because that is what has made me stronger. I love my mission! I love you mom and Dad! Hope you have a wonderful week! Stay safe! Love Ya!

 Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 60 -- Elder Ahokava's first Thanksgiving

 

Mom and Dad,

Oh man this week has gone by fast! The exchange with Elder Lofthouse went pretty well! Learned a lot from that Elder. Thanksgiving was great! It was Elder Ahokava's first Thanksgiving so it was pretty fun. We didn't get to play football though.. But its alright its freezing now!!! It was like 35 degrees the other morning. Super chilly, but it will build character. So for thanksgiving we went to the Draper's, He is our ward mission leader, and that was good. Then we went to a part member family, The Jordan family. They are really nice people. They don't have much, but they fed us a lot. And gave us a lot to take home. I am glad thanksgiving went well. Thanksgiving at grandpa's sounds so fun. It will be great.

The championship game sounded intense. What a way to end the game.  I still don't remember much of when our team played state... I wish i did but that's okay. I can't believe it is almost Christmas. Elder Ahokava says this is his first cold Christmas. In New Zealand they have Christmas during summer, so his family goes to the beach on Christmas. 

 

Time is picking up. It is pretty wild. I still have the tree y'all sent last year and then I got the package this week and have the new tree. It definitely makes the apartment have the Christmas spirit. Thank you for the letters as well. They were awesome. 

So the work is starting to pick up. Yesterday at church, I felt so happy to be a missionary at this time. We had 3 in active families come to church! Then one part member family came as well! It was so great to see the hard work come to play on Sunday. Just to see that those people felt the spirit and they were smiling throughout all church made this whole transfer. It was amazing.

 

We went by two older couples home this weekend. The Travis's and the Morrow's. The Travis' live way out in the sticks. I love it. Their home reminds me of grandma and grandpa's a lot. Just the feel of it reminded me of them. He was telling me all about his farming days and hunting days. It was great. We got to share a spiritual thought with them about doing the "small and simple things" that which makes us happy. They really liked it. Then the Morrow's are awesome as well. We try to see them one night a week. They love having the missionaries over. Well i hope y'all have a great week! I sure love y'all! This week will be a great week! I love my mission so much! Y'all be safe!

Love Elder Vaughn Perkins

P.S. Hey could Y'all pray for sister McKee, she is pretty sick but nothing to worry about. That would be great.

Week 59 -- Elder Perkins of the Seventy and answers to Prayer

Dad and Mom,

This week was pretty good. It was pretty busy with finding people, teaching, and the elder Perkins visit.

First off the visit from Elder Perkins was awesome. It is so neat to see General Authorities crack jokes and be themselves, when sometimes I think that they have to be all stern and hard core. When really they are not fake, they all are themselves. They are humble and definitely more than willing to do the Lord's work.

He said that his ancestors settled parts of the Arizona in the mountains. I thought that was pretty neat. His message was clear, and an answer to prayer… a good attitude and having faith that leads to action. I have learned so much these last 6 or more months on having a good attitude and being excited for the work. He talked on how we can gain faith that people will actually listen and accept our message. And when we gain that faith that we need to act on that. It was cool because that is exactly what I needed.   One of my favorite talks ever that I have found on my mission is by Elder Wirthlin "come what may and love it". It is amazing. It is how I look at my mission and definitely how I will look on life after.

Aubrey is doing well. We went over with Brother Dale, the Elder's Quorum President, and dropped of "our heritage" and the doctrine and covenants dvd with the church history stuff.  She came to church again without her husband, but only stayed for sacrament; which is better than not coming at all. But we are going to try to go see her sometime this week.

Jessica is doing alright. We went over last Monday night and taught a pretty legit lesson. It was very bold but loving.  She had a lot of her questions answered which is really good. But she didn’t come to church... again... But it's her husband Alex. Which I feel bad for him since his ex wife goes there, but its all good. The Lord will provide a way.

The weather has been crazy here. It will be colder than anything  and then be in the high 60's the next day. Today it’s about 55 and feels great. This week I am doing exchanges with the Lawrenceburg elders until Wednesday. They are below us down by the border of Alabama kind of. Actually there is a town call Pulaski and that is where the KKK originated.  Not a word I would use haha.

We have three families that invited us for Thanksgiving.  And they all have people who are not members of the church. SO it should be a great day, and its Elder Ahokava's first thanksgiving. It is going to be great.

It was so goood to see those pictures! It was good to see Skylar and all them. And Scott and Carlos with Devan. Carlos looks huge! Maybe i won’t tease him anymore when I get home. I am glad that Dad had a good birthday! I sent him a card last week; he should be getting it soon.

It is crazy to hear that there are ten wards in our stake. McMinnville was one ward with a 2 hour radius all around.  The south is just different than back west.  IT is its own country to be honest.  But I love Tennessee. I love to have this opportunity to be a missionary in Tennessee! I love my mission so much! Love you a lot. I miss you tons and am so thankful that I am your son. Know that you are a huge support to me in all I do. Have a great week and y’all be safe.

Love your son

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 58 -- the Ward is working hard

 

Mom,

 

I am doing great!! I finally am over my sickness!! I feel so so so much better! Last week was a interesting week! I was pretty dang sick wednesday.. Just crazy beans. But after wednesday it was pretty good! We are teaching lots of Part member families and less actives. It is pretty sweet how much work there is to do here. There are two ladies that are getting closer to baptism. Aubrey Clarke and Jessica Avalos. Aubrey had her birthday on Sunday, so we were wondering if she was going to come to church or not.... And she did! For the full 3 hours!! And the best part is that she made best friends with the relief society president and a few other ladies! The Relief Society president kind of just took her away from us after sacrament haha. Which is fine by us! Jessica hasn't come to church... Mainly because her husband is in active... But he wants to make changes inhis life too! So last night we went over after having an awesome pday in Franklin, and we had supper at their house and after had a super sweeet spirit lead lesson! So at first we ask if she had any questions about her reading in the book of mormon since last time.. she says no.. But as soon as i start to go over what we were going to talk about, she comes out with some great questions! Which lead to the Plan of Salvation! It was awesome! She said that she hadnt had a lesson like that where she felt the spirit and understood it in over 2 years.. So right there it showed us that she is starting to progress.. She is awesome.... Olin Riley, who has a baptismal date for the 24th didnt come tochurch onsunday. Sad day, but we went over before church and got a commitment out of olin and his roomate to come to church! So this week a big focus for him will be to come to church and the book of mormon. We had a good meeting with the elders quorom president and is going to get the members of the church to help out with the work more. We go out with him like once a week. We have a huge list of people to see and find on the ward roster. It will be pretty fun.

 

I am glad that grandpa is doing better! I sure hope he keeps on recovering! Is brandon still living in eagar? I hope that uncle matt does super well onhis test this week! I know he is a super smart guy. He can do it. I am so excited for devan! Desert Edge is a good team. They have always been pretty good. But i know that WF can win. That would be so cool if WF went to state again.. and won. It sounds like that devan is doing pretty good as well. I am so happy for him. Football is something i sure miss a lot. Make sure he takes pictures with his friends after his games. I sure wish i had done that more often. Pictures make memories! So far for thanksgiving we have two meals to go to! But no turkey bowl... again... So my cleats wont be useed on that day ha. But it should be fun! This week Elder Perkins a 70 is coming to visit the mission. its a huge meeting from 9 to 5. I am excited and nervous haha. I hope that Dad has a great Birthday!!!! I sent his email this morning as well! I bet he wants to go out for chinese that night haha. I would too! I sure miss yall so much! I love you mom! I hope that this week will be great for you! I sure miss you so much! But i am loving my mission! I am learning so much as each week goes by! Sure love yall! Take care!

 

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 57 -- Columbia, District Leader and Elder Ahovkava

Mom,

This week has been great! I still have this nasty cold, but it is getting better.. So Columbia! It is a small town, but actually one of the bigger towns I have served in, and it is pretty sweet. There is a university here and not to many farms. In fact, in the town of Columbia i haven't seen one yet. But the surrounding area is pretty much pastures and fields. Columbia is a poor area.  Definitely one of the poorest places I have been in Tennessee. It's got some rich place and definitely poor places. The weather is more cold then McMinnville, but in McMinnville we definitely were out in the open A LOT more than here in Columbia. We are always in the town. Downtown Columbia is where they filmed part of the "Hannah Montana" movie. The farmers market scene where Miley goes with her grandma to sell food.. Just ask Danielle and she will know!!!!  Haha!!!!

Elder Ahovkava is the man!!! He is from New Zealand and is Tongan. He is so humble and dedicated to the work. His family is Methodist except his immediate family. His family got baptized when he was 9.  He plays rugby and gave up a scholarship to come out on a mission!! He has been out 6 months and is going to be a great missionary! Being a district leader is fun! You get to do trainings each week and watch over the Elders in your district. You get to go on exchanges with each of the other areas and provide help for them. Then you work with the zone leaders. I am still learning, but I learn best by experience and just doing what I need to do. It is like when I told grandpa I didn't know how to drive stick, then he put me on the tractor to go plow the fields.  He is crazy! 

The work here is going really well. The member help is awesome! They feed us all the time! Good food too!!! We eat so much, and you will be surprised but we started to go running in the morning.  I can't go very far without stopping to take a breathe because of being sick, but it's getting better. There are about 3 to 4 part member families that we are teaching and one lady has a baptismal date! And we set a soft date with a man named Olin.... But I was afraid that he may have been drunk. But we came back a couple days later and he remembered it all. So we are working with him too!

That's pretty crazy about Tenley serving a mission. She will be a good missionary.  Halloween sounded like a good time for yall! We sat in the apartment and wrote out some goals That's sweet about Devan and his football game! I hope they win this week! I got your packages and they are great.

Well this weeek will be great! And i hope that yall have a great week! I sure miss yall lots and am again grateful for this chance to serve the Lord! Love yall much!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 56 -- Transfers -- Columbia Tennessee

Hey Dad and Mom,

 

Transfers were this weekend!! Usually they come out Saturday.. but we didn't get them until we were walking out the door to go to church. Sooooooo! I am getting transferred out... I am sort of sad about it because I wanted to stay in McMinnville a long time! We just set two baptismal dates on Saturday night;  Trenady and Caleb for the 10th of November. But it's the Lord's work and I will go where he wants me to go. So.... I am going to Columbia, Tennessee! I am pretty excited because it's still in Tennessee and Elder Rothlisberger served there for a while and it sounds like a pretty sweet place to serve. I have heard Columbia is the Mule capital and it's where they filmed the Hannah Montana movie! So I'm stoked! My new companion, Elder Ahocava, is from New Zeeland and he has been out for about 6 months now. I also got called to be District Leader.

 

I am grateful for the time I had to serve in McMinnville. It was amazing! I learned a whole lot too! I am really sad to leave all these awesome members, people we are teaching, and everything about McMinnville. Especially the Blair's.  We saw them last night and we are going out there again today. I can still teach them over Facebook starting Friday. I took a two week break, but I am starting on Facebook again.   Mcminnville will be a great place to come back and visit. We have to see the Blairs. You would love where they live. It is so cool. They are great Christlike people.

 

The weather has changed overnight here! It is 43 degrees this morning. I got a bad cold or something this week. I haven't slept for three night now, but today I am feeling a little better.  I have been using medicine. Mrs. Blair is checking up on me too!!!!
 

Elder Christofferson is coming this weekend to create a Murfreesboro Stake. And Elder Nelson is coming in December! I am so excited! 

 

Time is just picking up! OH! We set a baptismal date with Trenady and Caleb for the 10th of November! Pres McKee gave me permission to go back for Trenady and Caleb's baptism. That was pretty cool. For some reason the computer is being dumb and I can't upload pictures... So i will next week for sure.

 

Mom and Dad, I am so thankful for you and our whole family! I love y'all so much! I saw a LDS face book picture about missionaries the other week. It says the definition for missionary is "one who leaves their family for two years to help other families be together forever." And it is so true. I have never had this feeling before. I never had a testimony like I do now. For anyone who is thinking about a mission. Just go. I never thought I could do the things that I have done on my mission. AND I have only been out a little while.  I still have learned so much. I LOVE MY MISSION!

 

Have a great week! MIss you tons!

 

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 55 -- Fall has come to Tennessee

Mom and Dad,

This week was pretty good. We did a lot of service! And the week blew by!

We went to the jail and met with Ryan. He is doing pretty well. He got a Book of Mormon in the jail finally.  He is reading it and trying to make changes in his life. He is a cool dude. He got thumped pretty good though. It made the news I guess. They are trying to get permission for me to go see him in person and give him a blessing. But I don’t think the warden guy likes Ryan all that much. I met with him and he seemed like a grumpy dude. I don’t know I guess you have to be somewhat mean or aggressive to work in jail.

Diana is doing pretty good as well. On of the coolest things to see as a missionary is ward members visiting with recent converts on their own.  I think two different ladies in the ward went to go visit her. Then someone in the ward had invited Diana to the Elder's Quorum social on Saturday night and took her there. I am glad she is continually progressing in the gospel. Her husband Dan has skin cancer and it is hard for Diana. But she is a trooper she is hanging in there.

 The Blair's..... I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! They seriously have like adopted us out here. They are so nice! They have been asking lots of questions lately, which is really good. We spent a lot of time with them this week! They are in the presidency for a community center. They had a Halloween hootenanny and they had asked us to help them make a haunted maze in a huge trailer and run the party. It was so fun! They really opened up this week and have learned a lot about the church.  They really had some twisted views about the church that they had heard, but now they know the truth.  Mr. Blair reminds me a lot of dad.  He even buzz's his hair and has a goatee. Mr. Blair treats me like I am his "Mormon" son.  Hahaha!! We went to their church this week and he sat next to me. Last night we went to their evening church and went over to their house for the rest of the evening. They really opened up and want us to stay forever.   They said that they want to call President McKee and ask if we could stay here for the rest of our missions. Honestly I wouldn't mind staying here for a while longer. I really do believe though that if we keep spending time with them and answering their questions, not pushing anything on them, they will join the church one day. It's going to be tough because Mrs. Blair has a HUGE Baptist background.  Four uncles and 1 brother are preachers of their own churches.  They have been going to the same southern country Baptist church for 30 years now.   We have gained a strong relationship with them, and they definitely feel the spirit when we visit them. I will send pictures of the party and you can see them.

 We also helped out a member train his dog, Brother Benitez.  It was pretty sketchy. We wore this huge arm bite proof thing and let the dog chase us and bite it.   It's pretty funny to watch. But that was a random thing we did this week.

 OH! We ate at this lady's trailer this weekend...... It was soooo hard to eat. They are hoarders; have like 50 dogs, chickens, and ducks everywhere.  And... it is infested with roaches... We took the sister missionaries with us cause we didn’t want to go in alone.  The two sister missionaries CRIED during breakfast when we were there!   The lady kept saying that the roaches were harmless and to just ignore them! It was so bad. They were crawling all around my plate and on the wall next to me. I thought I was back in Kentucky for a second... I am so grateful for the place I grew up.   I just feel so sad for those ladies... Bless their hearts.

Tell Brother Simpson I said hi and thank him for all that he taught me. And tell him that I still remember him telling us that the first vision is amazing and how strong it can bring the spirit in. Grandpa emailed me this week. Well he forwarded a bunch of stuff.  I am trying to do better at writing letters back. That's a goal for me this week. Well I love you so much! I hope you have a great week! I miss y’all so much! But I LOVE MY MISSION! Take care.

 Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 54 -- Work and the Cumberland Caverns

Mom and Dad!

Elder Brewer and I are doing great! Super tired all the time but it is a great feeling! The work is going!  I think the only sweet missionary story for this week is that it’s been wicked cold and rainy.  We still have been obedient and have gone out and worked.   One day we did not have anything scheduled so we decided we would go to the projects, because there are always people you can talk to there.   Once we got there, there was NO ONE outside because it was FREEZING COLD!  Haha!!!!!  I mean not a single person in the whole neighborhood.  We decided to go one more block down and there we met a young girl named Angela! She is probably a little older than us and said she hasn’t been to church for years but wants to go back! This week we are going over to go teach her and then commit her to baptism! It is going to be awesome!

We finally got in touch with the Phillips and they said "yeah you guys need to come over so our kids can get baptized!"   We are going over there this week to teach them the rest of the lessons and commit them to baptism.  We met this family, The Blair's, at the fair.  They own a motorsport shop. We started going over to their shop and then to their house and now they are asking us to help them with some booths for a center and around their land! They need help with their horses and bailing hay and stacking it in the barn.  It is my favorite thing to do! I LOVE SERVICE! It is so amazing to see how such small things turn into miracles.  Just by helping them around they gain more trust in us and start to see the happiness in us.   Hopefully they will start to ask more questions about the church and then come to church! They are an awesome family! Mrs. Blair is always checking up on us seeing if we are safe and have food... And she isn't even a member! She said where we lived was sketchy and asked if she could have missionaries stay in her home!  Mrs. Blair is sooooo cool. We also have another lady we are starting to teach.  Brother Creighton found out that she needed wood for the winter so he gave her all the wood he had saved up for two years! It was a lot!   That was just so amazing to me to see how Brother Creighton gave her the wood he had saved up without even a pause. He heard she needed wood for the winter and he automatically was there to help her. I hope to be like brother Creighton automatically willing to help those in need.

Today we are going to the jail to visit this guy I had taught like 4 months ago. His name is Ryan. He was so legit we took him to the stake president’s house and he said that he knew this church was true, but then fell away like a week later.   He got thumped pretty bad in Jail.  He said that God put him in jail to humble him and realize that what we were teaching him is true and that he needs to stay on the straight and narrow! So hopefully our visit today will be good!

Yesterday we went to Cumberland Caverns. It's this big cave and we went with some members on a tour. It was pretty cool, my camera didn't work all that well in there but I took some pictures. Then after that we painted a lady's house out in the country with Brother Creighton. She lives in the prettiest place in McMinnville. And she raises cows. She was surprised that young boys like us were willing to help her. So today we hope to be able to teach her a little bit. OH! And guess what?? Elder Kristofferson is coming here in a couple weeks! And then Elder Perkins, the one who spoke in general conference, the week after!

Week 53 -- Interviews with President McKee

Mom and Dad,

This weekend was pretty good! We got to see all sessions of General Conference at different members homes. Saturday we went to the Deal's home and watched both sessions. In between sessions we mowed his lawn and we went over to see a family just to uplift them. Then Saturday night we went to priesthood session. And then we went to the Hoyle's on Sunday! It was great to spend time with members.  But it was kind of sad because Joel and Anna didn’t watch any sessions.  Michael came to morning session on Sunday and Diana said she watched it on her computer.

Right now we are working with our recent converts because they are struggling pretty badly.  It is really sad to see all of this happening. Especially since I can’t make them do anything.  In spite of all of that, Life is great! I love being a missionary! My favorite talk would have to be President Uchtdorf's talk Saturday morning. I loved how he talked about how WE determine OUR happiness and how happiness comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said to enjoy the moment and not look back and have regrets. It was kind of like how you were talking about how Devan can leave right after he graduates. And how life goes by so fast and Don’t blink. That song is great. One of my favorites. President Uchtdorf said to enjoy the journey. It was just what I needed.

Well this week has been pretty slow as well. We had meetings all day Thursday and we went to the temple on Wednesday! It was awesome! I can’t wait to go whenever I want when I come home.  Jamison is talking about having temple Tuesdays with wings.  It will be fun. Thursday we had zone meeting and interviews here in McMinnville.   Interviews were great. President McKee talked a lot about my last companion.  He said he was surprised on how well I did with him and how I changed him a bit. He said that I will go through more of that to finish off my last year!   

It is good that I go through hard times. It makes me stronger and firmer in my obedience and commitment to my mission. I love it! He also told me that I will probably be here a while longer and that I have done a great job in white washing this area.  

He said "Elder Perkins don’t be afraid to baptize in big numbers.. Miracles are going to happen here soon.  In a couple weeks I will call you and tell you more. But for right now keep being obedient and working hard. You will find families. I know it."

I am still shocked.  I don’t know what exactly is going to happen. But he said that he is talking to the leadership in this stake and something big is going to happen in a couple weeks! I am excited!

I can’t believe y’all got a dog!  That's so cool! Thor is a pretty cool name. I remember Dad telling me he was going to name me Thor and I didn't like that.  But now I like the name.  Is he a boxer?  Pretty sweet. That's funny that he was on a farm.

I am so grateful for you and dad and all that y’all do for me. I am so excited about my mission. More than ever. Time is sure picking up and I don’t want to "blink" and have regrets. Thank you again. I sure love you mom. Y’all take care!

Love,  Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 52 -- ONE FULL YEAR

Mom and Dad,

Well I am happy! And Elder Brewer is happy!  Both working hard and loving the work. BUT it’s just coming along slowly.  We have been dead tired all the time, but we have the energy to do everything that the Lord wants us to do. This week wasn't anything special. Just another week as a missionary.

Well we didn’t set dates with Trenady and Caleb. We still need to do a follow up visit with them. It’s just hard because they are foster kids and stuff and I don’t know much about it... It’s just different I reckon.  On Sunday we had to go up to Lebanon, Tennessee. It was Elder Brewer’s old area. That place is pretty cool. It is just a small city in the middle of no where.

It was raining hard core though this weekend. And it has been getting chilly lately. It is so weird to see fall come again.  Its starting to get overcast most of the days and getting darker early.. People keep telling me I am on my downhill from now.. It is kind of sad to hear. I still feel like a greenie that has no idea what they are doing... But it’s all good. I just pray everyday that i can do the Lord's will and that i may be an instrument in his hands.

Sad thing happened this week. Diana picked up smoking again.... Her husband found out that he has skin cancer. She is going through a hard time. But we try to go over everyday and read with her. We are doing a stop smoking workshop with her.  On the positive side, we found an older lady who lives with her brother, they were telling us how they want to quit smoking.... and we were like hey we teach a class about stop smoking! So we are teaching a lady named Yvonne and her brother Steve.. They didn’t make it to church.. But they will this week. This week we are going to the temple!! Actually tomorrow we are! Then we have interviews and zone meeting in the same day! Pretty busy week this week.

We went over to Bro. Smith's house today to do service for him. IT was SOOOOOO fun! We went around checking up on his cattle and goats;  feeding and moving them around. He taught me a lot today.  He is 73 and has over a 100 acres of land with over 100 head of cattle and plus 75 goats. He is boss. His son (who is a non member) raises horses and sells them. Bro Smith took us to his farm and introduced us and showed us around his farm. It was way sweet. He has 45 horses and grows crops. Bro Smith is trying to get him to take the lessons.  We are going to try and go do some SERVICE and get to be his friend and share the gospel that way.

I love service! And I love being a missionary!!! It is the best in the world! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Mom I love you so much. You do so much for me. And I love the rest of y’all. Thank you for your support and your prayers.  But thanks for Conner’s address! I hope that y’all have a great week! Love y’all mucho! Take care and be safe.

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 51 - New Comp...Elder Brewer

Mom and Dad,

It is crazy to think that I left a year ago.. I am getting kind of nervous now.  I know that this last year will be a great one. And it is true that time is starting to fly by! At the end of this transfer I will have been here in McMinnville almost 5 months! Pretty crazy I know... But I sure do love it here. I love my mission! This week has been interesting.. Not to much has happened; but it was just a really good working week! We were pretty tired each night we came in, but it is a good feeling to know that you gave it your all that day. This week we had 23 lessons!  Elder Brewer is here and he is the man. He is from Ogden Utah and is pretty relaxed guy. Loves to work and loves his mission. He has been out about 8 months and this is his 2nd area! He sure does love the people and we are going to tear it up this week!

First, there is a family in the ward, The Phillips, and they came up to us saying that they had a few kids they were taking care of and the mom had given permission for them to be baptized! So we are teaching a girl named Trinady, sounds like Trinity, and her brother Caleb. We went over yesterday and taught them the cups lesson and they loved it! The spirit was strong and we got to share some neat experiences.

Earlier in the week we had went to a supper appointment at the Woodruff's and they have a daughter who is married and they are not members and we got to do family home evening with all of them. It was another good lesson with them and they sure loved it. We were able to help a family in the ward do some fencing for their chickens. And they want us to come back and help them out some more.  We are starting to introduce Family Mission Plans to the families in the ward we go see.  Hopefully Elder Brewer and I can get these members fired up about missionary work! We have been meeting with 2 recent convert (Joel Cain and you know Diana McCray) a lot more. They sure appreciate the time we spend with them.  We are trying to read from the Book of Mormon everyday with them for at least 15 minutes.  Hopefully this week we can set a baptismal date for Trenady and Caleb! That would be pretty cool. They want to be baptized already so I sure hope that we can teach them well.

I am glad that Devan is feeling better! I hope today he doesn’t go to crazy with it. Remember how I said Grandpa and everyone in Round Valley talk in metaphors? Well that is how Tennessee is…How is grandpa doing? I haven’t heard from him in a while...

So crazy thing… there was a girl I was good friends with back in High School named Ty Wells.  She is cousins with Sage Adams and they have lots of family in Tennessee... Well Ty actually is living in Lafayette Tennessee right now! Ty is a super sweet girl but was going through a lot. And so I am teaching her over Facebook! It is pretty cool. I hope that I get to serve in her home ward and get her reactivated and her family! I guess that is another reason why I was sent to Tennessee on my mission. I remember I would try to get her to come to church or to activities.. But now I am a missionary and know some what of what I am doing and hopefully get her to gain a strong testimony! I love my mission so much! I love Tennessee! The weather is cooling down lots now. Right now it feels amazing outside. It is pretty weird to see fall again here in Tennessee, but I guess that just means I got to work twice as hard this year. I love this gospel so much! I love being a missionary! We met this lady who is trying to quit smoking and wants us to come over everyday and read and do the stop smoking workshop with her. I know that obedience brings blessings! And that exact obedience brings miracles! I love y’all so much and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for my family. I hope that everything is good back home and that y’all are happy. Have a great week!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 50 -- What a great week

Mom and Dad!!!

The work has been.... going! This whole week we have been at the fair every night trying to spread the gospel to all of Warren County! It has been pretty fun actually. There were lots of different things going on during that week. We got to contact people at a dairy cattle show, beef cattle show, and a horse show. It was pretty cool to talk to all these ol farmers and share the gospel with them. They even thought it was even cooler when I told them that I want to raise cattle and horses. I think and have learned that contacting is the best way to talk to them.  Talk to them as if you are already friends. Then you are not some repetitive robot that has no feelings. I really do hope that all of our efforts work out for the best. Hopefully we will be able to hear back from all the people we talked too. This transfer will be a really good one! I can just feel it in my bones. The elder's quorum president gave us a list of 63 Elders that are on the records that don’t come to church. So we will be starting that. Also this last week I had the chance to talk to the Relief Society president, High Priest quorum, and the Bishop and his counselors and we are getting referrals and help from all of them! And a really cool thing too is that the stake president lives in our ward and we have been starting to work with him a lot! He actually called today and said that this transfer he wants to work on bringing people into his own home so they can feel the spirit strong and have Book of Mormon studies. So all of my efforts to stay exactly obedient are paying off! I love my mission!

I am so glad that Devan is beginning to feel better! I have been praying lots for him. I hope he gets back to his best health when he plays nasty Higley! It is hard to sit out but health comes first. I bet that was neat to see all them at the game! I didn't know that Nick got home already. I knew it was soon. That is exciting. Nick was and is a great example to me. The weather is changing, just more cloudy and pretty days. Sunday was beautiful. It was perfect Tennessee weather. All the farmers and true Tennesseans were saying now this is Tennessee weather. Today we went to the Pennington Family for lunch out in Rock Island, Tennessee and he drove to Rock Island state park and we got to take some pictures. He said this transfer that we would go hiking through the park one P day. I am pretty excited about that. 

I have learned soooo much out here in Tennessee and Kentucky. That is pretty funny that Jill keeps getting out. I remember when Grandpa had that bull and those horses and they would get out a lot. I am seriously stoked about this. Thank you for finding those cleats. The members keep telling me to ask you to get my cleats so we can play football, so thank you I will tell them that. Thank you for the money as well! It's good to have back up emergency. Thank you for all that you do mom. It seriously helps me out so much. I feel your prayers and I know that that helps out me a lot to get through my days. I have learned so much this past year and so excited for this next year. I LOVE MY MISSION! I love how I choose to have good attitudes and to be happy! Y’all take care and be safe! Love ya!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 49 -- Curse of the Junior Year

Mom,

Well i guess that's me huh? haha. The work in Mactown..... It's got its up and downs.. And lately it feels like we are at the bottom of the hill. Nothing is really going.

 

This week probably has been one of the roughest weeks of my mission. I just knew I was going to go through a trial soon haha. But it has taught me a lot. It has taught me how important work, discipline, motivation, goals, family, and the gospel are in my life. My attitude reflects on everything i do. If i have a bad attitude when I wake up and stay feeling sorry for myself, Ii will have that kind of day. But if I automatically change my attitude and be up beat and energetic lovin my mission, my day will be up beat and I will be happy. I try to teach that to all my companions.  It's just one of those times in life where you have to humble yourself and take a look at where you are at and see where you can work on things. Realize that you can't do the Lord's work without him. It just doesn't make sense to do his work without Him.

 

I think a huge blessing this last week and this week is the county fair.... That might sound silly but it really is. The church has a booth at the county fair and it started last Friday and ends this Saturday. The fair is free to everyone and there are TONS of people that come to this fair. I get to practice "talking to everyone" skills and hopefully get a lot of people interested in what we have to share. Kind of funny thing though...our booth is like next to the church of christ booth and baptists booths.

 

I like the fair because I get go out of my comfort zone and push myself to talk to people. It is kind of hard to start but once I start talking, I get in the groove and talk to lots of people. I can tell them the truth of how we are not "nun's" or "cow worshippers" and what not. I can tell them the truth and be myself and make friends with the people.

 

This Saturday is transfers I am pretty sure I am staying because Elder Whitney is going home. OH!! Yeah a member is going to take us to this cattle auction this week to talk to some of his friends! I am so excited. When I tell all these farmers that I want to raise cattle when I go home there eyes get all BIG. Haha its pretty funny.  Then I get on a friend level where its easier to talk to them about why I am on my mission and what I share with the people. I know that this gospel is so true!

 

I am so grateful that I am a missionary right now in my life. I have grown SOOO much! And I know for a fact that I could not have learned these things back home. I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I love it! I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and that the priesthood was restored to the earth! I know that my savior lives! I know He is with me every step of the way! I am so grateful for his sacrifice for me! I know Heavenly Father is real! He hears and answers my prayers! I love yall and am so grateful for all that you do for me! 

I hope that Devan gets better! I definitely remember how it feels to stand on the sideline.. It was not fun at all. Tell Danielle I love her! Thank you mom! I love you too! Take care!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 48 -- Summer still hanging on

Mom and Dad

 

I am doing pretty well. To be honest this week was a challenge.  Not every week on your mission is great. I think I made it through the week because I have learned to have a good attitude towards ALL things. Prayer is a big help as well. We did a whole lot of just contacting. Trying to find less actives.  It is all good. We really did not teach all that much. 

 

On Saturday we went walking around town square and we passed this little white non denominational church, and said to ourselves that maybe we should start church hopping. We walk one more block down and guess who we run into.... The preacher and his family!! We had a good discussion on the street. And really interesting too.  He said he had a Book of Mormon and that he would like to meet with us and ask us a few questions. Well those questions were brought up right then and there.  To make the story short, he was trying to convert us to his church!!! And that is a summary of my mission so far. 

 

I have been struggling with feeling like I am not smart enough. It is sad to say but a lot of the preachers here know more about the Book of Mormon than I do. They know doctrine and covenants like nobody's business. And here I am, this punk kid who did nothing to prepare for his mission. (well not quit nothing) getting bashed the crap out of by these church of christ baptist preachers.. All those preachers read the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants with a hardened heart, and so they didn't let the spirit testify to them of the truthfulness of the gospel. What I have come to know is that my greatest desire is to be a simple man with a strong testimony. And that's what I have. A simple strong testimony. I may not be a scriptorian or a historian about the church or religion over all. But I know that this gospel is true. That the Book of Mormon is indeed the word of God. That Jesus is the Christ and that He lives. I know Heavenly Father lives and He hears and answers my prayers. All in all I know I was sent here for a reason and in some ways I have learned why I am here, but I still have like a year left. So lots to learn..

 

It has been sooooo humid. On Saturday it was so humid it seriously was sprinkling.

 

I am so excited about Devan playing football. I love football. I sure do miss it a lot. That is pretty cool about going to the gym now. I am going to start running in the morning. I need to get into shape haha. I miss Carlos so much. I love him so much. He is truly one of my best friends. Can you send me Conner's address so I can write him please? I sure miss him too. I love getting the Dear Elder's from JD's mom. Also if you could send a package and put a pair of my cleats in the box. The members are wanting to play football Saturday morning's so I told them I would ask to get my cleats. Plus the turkey bowl is in a few months haha!!!

 

Facebook is so weird! I see all these things from home!  I am definitely blessed because I get to read a bunch of talks and learn more of what modern day apostles and prophets are teaching. Plus, I am learning how to work a computer haha. Well yall take care. I sure do appreciate all that yall do. Yall are the best. I hope you have a great week mom. Miss you tons. Love you much.

 

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 47 -- News from Elder Tondevold

Mom and Dad!!!

How are you doing?? This week has been great! I had my birthday and Michael got baptized! It was a awesome week. Well to start off, I went on exchanges with the District Leader from Murfreesboro.  We taught a flippin sweet lesson to a family! Their name is the Norris family. The Norris' family lives next door to the Deals, who are members in our ward. They are awesome. We taught them about the Book of Mormon. Mr. Norris sure liked it.  I think Mrs. Norris did, but we have a set appointment with them this Thursday!

 

Then their is a recent convert family named the Taylors. I might have told you about them but they are way sweet. Their year mark is coming up and they are so excited to go through the temple to get sealed for time and all eternity! Brother Taylor hasn't received the Melchizedek priesthood yet and he had asked me to give his 3 children  blessings before they started school. My mission has taught me so much on how important and sacred the priesthood is in our lives. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity and trust to have the priesthood and use it everyday to help people. I also had the chance to confirm Michael a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a great experience. 

We did some biking, lots of walking, and  had a couple of exchanges which was really nice. We visited some less actives and some that haven't been to church since before I was born!! We helped a lady move in our ward and we went with Bro Smith who raises cattle and goats. He drove my dream truck...a stick diesel older dodge and he was pulling a cattle trailer.  We filled that whole trailer with furniture and more furniture. It was a move. But really fun to ride in a pick up. Kind of reminded me of riding with grandpa.   

 

Oh and I got Elder Tondevold's wedding invitation! He is getting married way fast! haha

Thank you so much for the birthday package!! It was great! I still have tons of junk food left over to eat.  I LOVE the shirt grandpa and grandma gave me. Thank you for the ties and white shirts. I really needed them.  The birthday card was awesome! I totally loved it.  I started laughing so hard when I opened it up. Elder Whitney said that the card fit me perfectly.  Their is a less active family that we go visit and they had a birthday party for Brother Cain on the 30th so they invited us since it was my birthday.  It great to be with members on my bday. There are sister missionaries in McMinnville too and they made me a poster, cookies, bought me a batman ball and some other things. That was pretty nice of them to do that for me. We also had a ward activity Saturday night and Elder Whitney had told someone that it was my bday so they sang happy birthday to me. It was really funny. 

This week hopefully will be great! I am glad to hear that Devan did a good job Friday night! I thought about him Friday night.  It is weird to think that a year ago I was getting ready to leave for the MTC... Time is going by faster now. But I have a long time to learn a lot more and do a lot more for these amazing people in Tennessee! I hope that everything is going great back home. I sure love yall so much and miss you tons. I am so thankful for all that you do for me. I really do feel your prayers during hard times and that is a big motivation and helper to me on my mission. Sure love yall. Take care!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 46 - Birthday Day week!

Mom,

How are y’all doing?? Golly I am turning 20 this week... It is to crazy. I am nervous about it I don’t know why. But it is all good. I love Sunday’s as well! Well especially when I was at Grandma and Grandpa's because it was just a relax day, and y’all know I love Round Valley. I can seriously live there forever. But anyways, my Sunday was great as well. Church went really well… Michael and Amanda came to church. Michael is getting baptized on Thursday!! I am so excited! I have no idea why all of the sudden these baptisms pop up but I am more than grateful for the opportunity to teach these wonderful Tennesseans. So Michael is having his baptism on Thursday because his schedule on Saturday doesn't work out. And you will think this is funny... Friday won’t work because everyone is going to the football game haha! I thought it was kind of funny, but I am crazy too. But so that is why he is getting baptized on Thursday. RIGHTEOUS!

Yesterday we went down yonder to Smyrna, Tennessee to switch for exchanges. So right now I am with elder Moser, who is from Sacramento, California. But we will switch back on Wednesday.

This past week was a good work week. Did some more tracting and contacting. Mowed some lawns and found some Less Actives and will start visiting them!  An older lady in our ward came up to us and asked if we could   teach her friend.  She also said that her husband is in active and would like us to talk with him. I am glad that the ward is working with us more and more. If every area was like that missionary work would be way easier haha...

We had an amazing lesson with Amanda! It was pretty awesome. I had given her my conference Ensign from last October, and she loves it. She is starting to post things on facebook from the Ensign! I was so shocked when I saw it haha. But she is progressing and is praying for a baptismal date! So she is moving along.

Michael was having some hard times last week. More girl drama than anything.  And you know dad and those sorts of things. And I think I am becoming like him more and more haha.  I had a very good talk with him about how all this drama stuff is not from Heavenly Father.  Heavenly Father has given us this gospel to fight the forces of evil. And then I had a brain blast and just had a sweet visual lesson with him on the chalk board. He really understood it and thanked us so much. I am just so honored and grateful that I am here In McMinnville Tennessee at this time in my life helping those come unto Christ. It is an amazing blessing in my life and a privilege. Honestly a mission does more for you than you do for the Lord. It seems like you try to give it you’re all each day and in the end you get so blessed.

I love all the pictures! Oh man do I miss camping on the beaches, and the white mountains. Elder Whitney is doing pretty good. He is getting pretty trunky though haha. But he is respecting me and is doing the best he can. He really got into the work last week. He really does care for the people we are teaching. I am hoping that it sticks with him. He is a great elder. Another interesting companion but I know I am to learn a lot of lessons from these 6 weeks. Ii am sooo excited! I am almost to the top of the mountain and I will work even harder this next year! I am so thankful for you mom. You are just straight up amazing. You do so much for me and I am grateful for that. And I love all y’all! Thanks for all the support and love and prayers! I miss y’all so much and love y’all with all my heart! Have a great week!

Love your son

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 45 -- My 2nd Baptism

Howdy Y’all,

Well I am doing pretty well. This week was pretty rough but well worth it! I am trying not going to focus on the bad things, but at the beginning of the week it was pretty humid and the sisters needed the car so we let them have the car most the week. We did A LOT of just contacting and talking with people.. I may not be the best at contacting but I think there are better ways to get to teach people. But it's all good.

 We had a zone meeting this week and it was really good. I got to see Elder Hyde again and that was fun. The zone has set a goal to get 22 baptisms this month..... And we had our first one Saturday!!! Yeehhaww! It was great! Well... it was kind of scary at first because Diana totally missed her interview, but we were able to get her interviewed on Friday. Saturday I think I was a little stressed out because I wanted her baptism to be an amazing experience. And it was. It was a very spiritual experience. I was able to confirm her on Sunday. It was my first! I thought it went well.

I love a missionary's life is. It’s always on the go always changing. I think I have found my calling as a missionary. To get struggling missionaries to cheer up, man up, and work hard. Sometimes it’s hard for me but choose to be happy and lift my companion up.  It’s what the Lord wants me to do.

I am excited for this week.  One, we get the car, and two, its just going to be a great week. Michael is still on the go for getting baptized on the 25th. Last week I showed you some of the things he has been saying, and it has blown me away. This Gospel is truly changing this 21 year old boy’s life around. And I am so grateful for this opportunity to be on the Lord's errand to help his children come closer to Him. Michael is going through some tough times but I know through Jesus Christ and his atonement he can get through it all. And he knows that as well.

Well Elder Whitney, my new comp, is from California! He tells people he is from Modesto.  I know you and Dad lived around there so y’all might know where that is. He has red hair. He is hilarious. He is super old as a missionary. But I am going to make his last transfer a good hard working transfer. He already loves McMinnville and is way excited to serve here. I got him worked in when we went to visit Bro Smith. And he is a hoot. He raises goats and cows. He knows I want to raise cattle when I go home, so he gave us a tour on his 150 acre land. He has two dog herders and they are the coolest things ever! Bro Smith is amazing. He is too funny he said to come back because he needs some help on the farm. We might get Michael to come with us. That would be good for him.

So funny story I think I am one of like 5 missionaries who says yes sir no sir yes mam no mam. Or have manners at all. And these past couple weeks I have been getting lots of compliments about it. And I say that's the way I was raised. so thank you for that. Thank you for all your prayers. I honestly feel them each day. I am so thankful for my family. I have met sooooo many missionaries who complain about their family.  I got to get going but I love you so much. And miss you and the family so much! I am so grateful for all that you do for me. I hope y’all have a great week!

Love your son

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

P.S. The pictures shows that I am rubbing off on Elder Zinkand, he wants to be me ha!!

Week 44 -- Transfers - Staying in McMinnville but with new Comp

6 month mission marker by burning a tie...did not get it done until 10 months out

Looking out over the front porch at the Hoyles house in McMinnville

Service Work...on Bro Deals golf cart behind the farmer's nursery

Hey mom,

I am doing great! Can't believe that this transfer is already over! We got calls on Saturday and I am staying and Elder Zinkand is going to Nashville. I am getting Elder Whitney, and this will be his last transfer. So in missionary lingo I am killing him off Haha!!!!

But McMinnville is great! I love it and I am so glad I get to stay her for a few more months. Our investigators are doing great! Yesterday it was announced that Diana will be baptized on Saturday and I am so excited for her. It feels like I have done nothing and she is progressing so far. She reads and loves church. She fits right in with the ward which is really good. The Hoyle family, one of my favorites, pick her up for church and drop her off after. And Sister Hoyle is going to be picking her up on Saturday to help her get ready for her baptism! The Hoyle's are amazing.

They have my dream house.. It is so awesome. Brother Hoyle is a cowboy and we talk about his bull riding days and they are awesome. He has a horse named Cricket and on Saturday they invited us out to eat supper with them and do some service. Well my service was to brush Cricket and rub him down with fly stuff. It was so good to be close to a horse again. I definitely know what I want in life... But anyways! I have an amazing story.. I am still in shock that this happened and is continuing to happen..

Thursday morning we go walking with a recent convert.  We get back to our apartment and we start getting ready for the day. As we are getting ready for the day we both miss the phone go off, and so I check it later on and see that there are two voice mails. I listen to the first one and it is a guy my aged named Michael and he was wanting to meet with us. He said he was a member of the Church of Christ all his life but he has seen how the Church of Christ has started falling away and that the LDS Church has always stayed strong! He said he just had a bad break up with his girlfriend who was LDS and wanted to learn more. After listening to that I get all pumped and call him right back!... I was on the phone for an hour and a half listening to his story of what had happened.. Little did I know that that phone call had helped him out so much!

The next day we meet him at the Three Star Mall in McMinnville. We talk for a while and he is gaining a testimony dad gum fast. There was this old man, like in his 70's, who saw that we were talking to him.. He came up to us twice and told Michael to read the bible, then another time to read the King James version and not the Mormon version.. But what blew my mind was that Michael said I don't understand how people can be so judgemental of Mormons when they don't even know what they are talking about. If they would read the Book of Mormon they would understand! I guess I just lack faith but that built my testimony up! He asked if we could meet him later on that day at his house.

We bring the sister missionaries with us because they know how to describe feelings about relationships and what not better than I can.  They do a really good job.  Anyways, the lesson at his house was so spiritual.. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had these past 10 months.  I felt so prompted to tell him about my senior year and all that I went through.  How my dream as a young boy was to play under the lights Friday nights and make it to state.  I told him how after all my concussions I wasn't able to play, but that after Christmas I started to realize how the gospel can change my life. I asked him to commit to be baptized on the 25th! He said to me.."wow the 25th... I know that with Jesus Christ I WILL be baptized on the 25th. I will take state with you brother. You and I will defeat Satan and take state." Coming into his life and helping him progress in the gospel has been one of the biggest blessings of my mission.

So to those back home who are deciding on serving a mission? Go. I would never want anything more than this right now. A mission blesses you more than you could ever imagine. It's not easy, but it is well worth it.

On facebook I have been teaching Michael and he has put up some status that has touched me..

Just got home from Church and Church...was..AMAZING! I have been touched by everyone's testimonies.I have met great people along with making new friends.But what really happened today...was I fallen more in love with the book of Mormon.I am finally happy that I have not just found myself but something that I am only doing for me and for no one else but Jesus Christ.And I am proud to announce,that on Saturday,August 25th,I will be baptized into Jesus Christ and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.Last week has now past,and my negative ways and negative world and attitude is now gone.God has told me to let that go,and I am glad I did and won't regret it.Thank you Missionaries and Sisters for making this happen.Thank you so much.I can't wait for 3 weeks from now.I will be there every Sunday,I promise.Now to rest and look forward to this week and seeing how everything goes. Thank you Vaughn Perkins! I promise that I will not back out of this decision I have made no matter what happens.On August 25th,We're winning State! 

Mom and Dad,

This last week has just been a spiritual powerhouse. It has been awesome. I know I am being overly blessed for my obedience and commitment to serve the Lord. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of my favorite quotes is "The gospel of Jesus Christ changes bad men to good men. from good men to great men."

I know that He lives today. That he runs this church and that there is a prophet on earth today! The Book of Mormon is true! A man can get closer to God by reading that book than any other book! I love my family so much! I love y'all so much! I love Tennessee! I am so grateful to be able to be a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so grateful that I have been called to represent my Savior Jesus Christ to help people come closer to him. Time is going by to fast and I give it my all every day.

Well I love you so much mom! And I love the rest of the family as well! Thank you for all the support! It truly does help me out so much! I miss y'all tons an love y'all tons!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 43 --- Bike crashes and HUMIDITY

Hey Mom and Dad!

I am doing pretty good! McMinnville is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO humid now! But still is great. Yesterday we got to teach Elders Quorum and that went pretty well. I think this week was a lesson learner for me. I am just doing my best each day and giving it my all to the Lord.

Amanda Perry is still doing okay. She is just trying to adjust to a "Mormon life". But slowly and surely she will accept the gospel. We weren't able to have a meeting with her this week because her ex husband and stuff is just causing chaos. But the gospel is true....

A week or so ago we were walking back to our apartment complex, and this lady was sitting on the stairs and she said I need to meet with y'all. We started talking and set up an appointment for this week. We went over there and had a pretty interesting but awesome experience! We set a baptismal date for August 4th! She is so excited to be baptized too. Her name is Diana Mccray. Elder Tondevold taught her but she said she just fell away for a bit but now she is back. She came to church yesterday and she loved it! The ward members treated her and her kids so well, the primary president placed her kids into the right classes. It was pretty legit.

We started our "Less Active" Exodus and it is slow going ha. We are also visiting recent converts and talking with their friends so hopefully we will be able to start teaching them.

Funny story....One day we had been biking ALL day and it was way humid, and we were on our way back home for supper and my companion ate the pavement hard! He was riding behind me and he tried to go in between a trash can and pole and his tire hit the grass. So then it slipped and he smacked the pavement! I felt bad but now it is pretty funny, and he really didn't hurt himself. He got pretty lucky.

We had interviews this week and it was great to talk with President and Sister McKee one on one. They both said that I am doing great and have changed alot since I came out ALMOST a year ago! Its crazy! But anyways I talked to him about how I have been happy, and how I understand why I am put with certain companions. And President McKee told me he puts me with companions that are difficult on purpose.  I know it teaches me a lot. We also talked about how I have only had the opportunity to teach and baptize one lady in 10 months. He said that success isn't based on how many baptisms I have. Its my commitment.. but I already knew that. It just gets on my minds sometimes.  It is good to hear it from the President.  I am grateful for all my many blessings and for what I have been able to do as a missionary.

Devan will have a good experience at football camp. Probably one of the hardest things I have done but it taught me a lot. That is way cool about your missionary experience! I know sometimes people say that want to do things but certain things hold them back. That's when we tell them the blessings that come from obedience. But I know you are doing great. 

I know! I will turn 20 in almost a month! It is crazy! it seriously feels like I just turned 19.. and then a month after that I will have been out a year.. Too crazy. I will just have to work harder this next year! I know I can and I have learned so much in so little time. Well I hope y'all have a great time in California. Make sure to take pictures! And I will do my best to keep on taking pictures! I love you so much and miss you tons. Have a great week!

Love you so much!

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

A Tennessee hot and humid summer day as a missionary... haha i know i look ridiculous