Week 26 -- It is getting warm

Mom and Dad!

Yes I did get my cushions for my shoes! And they are great!  How are you doing? It sounded like you had a good week. So did i! Time just keeps on going by faster and faster. How is Devan doing in track? and Danielle in basketball? I sure do miss ya'll a lot.

Well this week was "crazier than a bed bug" as people here would say. We worked real hard this week and it was great! Made relationships in the ward stronger which is really good. We went out with the stake president and with our ward mission leader. They are great examples to me. We have helped out the Greene's a lot these past few months and they came to church! And Papaw came to church as well! I fasted that they would come to church and Gracie as well. But, Gracie is a whole other story....

The Greene's have been trying to clean up around there house, so they decided to redo their floors and bathroom. It's a hoot. Pretty nuts but definitely a hoot nanny. They thank us so much for helping them.  I think now I am starting to understand why missionaries don't want to stop being a missionary when they go home.

We also helped Brother Bierman out on Tuesday. I don't know if you remember him but Elder Tondevold and I found him through the ward. He was less active for 30 plus years and we started teaching him all the lessons. Now he is very active and hopefully receiving a calling soon! He says that we are his best friends out here. He is kind of lonely which is really sad. He has a BAD back. So we help him move and split wood.  This week we also went down to the Creek and got big ol rocks to put in the bottom of a pond he is building! This is the same thing that Grandpa and I helped Fernie do that last summer! I guess the things I learned back home help out a lot here on my mission.

Last week we went to Ryan's, a restaurant like Golden Corral but way cheaper. We gave a book of mormon to a worker there. He actually came up to us and asked about the book and said" I wish I had one to read" He was so happy to get a book! He said he would call us when he gets back from his vacation to Africa to see his family. I really do hope he will call back so we are able to teach him.

We were volunteering at a nursing home and I saw they had huge pictures of western things like corrals and cowboy stuff. I was just standing in the hall way looking at the picture and a older lady came and asked me how good was the picture.  I told her about the things I did with Grandpa and how I wanted to get more involved in that when I got done with my mission.... and she said mission? Just from looking at a picture of a couple of cowboys led to a discussion in a hallway in a nursing home. Heavenly Father blesses me so much!!!!! It's hard to recognize them all.

Well last night I saw fireflies for the first time!!!! They are so cool! Today we are going fishing with Brother Bierman and then having a BBQ with the Greene's tonight at the lake! Sister Greene said they we are going to get mason jars and catch tons of fire flies. Haha!!!!!!! I will make sure to take lots of pictures. Well I sure love you a ton! And miss you that much as well. I hope you have a great week! Love you much

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 25 -- Warm weather is coming

Mom and Dad!

How are you doing?? I am doing just dandy! My week has flown by! It feels like I was emailing you yesterday. I think that as we work hard, time just goes by so fast. I can see now how a mission goes by fast. Transfers are in two weeks! Some of the members are really sad about that, but until then I will endure and give it my all! The weather here has been actually pretty warm and humid. The thunderstorms last like 10 min which is a bummer... It doesn't rain long at all. But lately its been about in the 80's and it has been awesome. It hasn't been hot yet and I already have started to sweat like a sinner at church.. I can't wait till summer haha!!!!

Mom that is aweome how you are sharing your testimony with your friend!!! That seriously is so amazing! A lot of members sometimes are afraid to talk to other people about the gospel. Keep on telling her! I think the one thing that everyone loves to hear is that they are loved. That brings so much happiness to people.

Well some things this week... We did the normal of chopping trees and splitting wood. Then for Papaw we started digging out trenches so he can lay down cement. He is building a barn/garage shed thing. We helped Troy Greene, a former member, clean around his land. We spent a long time picking up trash and just junk, tearing down fences, and put it all on a trailer and took it to the dump. In his house he needed new flooring, walls and a tub for his bathroom. We stripped everthing and just destroyed the tub. We took a spliiting ball and destroyed his tub. It was really fun and really good that we were there to help him. Sister Greene took pictures so she will send them to me soon so I can send them to yall. Then Papaw, he really enjoys us and really needs our help. He talks to me about his wife's death. He said when the person your sealed to dies, it makes you really wonder and tests your faith. But for some reason, just me talking to him, helps him a lot. A lot of people judge and think badly of the Hillbillies in Kentucky. BUT I think they re amazing people. It is so humbling to be able to serve them and to be there for them. I have learned so much in these last 6 months that I definitely could not have learned back home. I am so thankful for this opportunity to serve.

Wednesday was District meeting, in Paris, Tennessee. We went to a members home in Paris and it was nuts... I am pretty sure that it is like an add on from pig pens. It was pretty crazy how people can live like that. There were cockroaches everywhere. I had to flick one off of Elder Clark.. But I guess that's why we go around and spread the gospel to everyone. I love you so much and miss you tons. I am so thankful for all that you do. Have a great week!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 24 -- Looking for the "green" package

MOM!

I am doing great! How are yall? I haven't gotten the package yet.. But i am sure i will get it today or soon. I am excited to see all the green things! haha. Well this week we worked super hard! Lots of tracting and strreet walking! We got to meet a lot of people! The people here are super nice. They invite you in when your walking give you water or some food. Then they thank you for what we do talking about Jesus. But they wont listen to our message cause they are firm in their belief. But you gotta love them. They are so kind. But It is our job to present it in a way where they can recieve our message and they have the agency to accept it.. Sometimes i feel like agency is the best thing and the worst thing haha.

The tornados were all over the mission. Elder Hyde got permission to call me and he said down in Shelbyville, Tennessee he took a picure of 4 funnels forming!!! It was nuts for him! . It has been sunny for most the week till yesterday. That is when it started to rain. It is good that you don't worry because some mothers, bless their hearts, call president and sister Mckee and worry way to much. The Lord will bless us as we are obedient.

The less active work is going pretty good. But............ Gracie commited to be baptized on the 31st! It was an awesome lesson! I called president McKee and he just starting screaming haha. It was hiliarious! She said she wants to be baptized in the lake I know that my work that I do isn't just for nothing. It is good work that we are doing.

I bet you had a good time in Texas. That restruant sounds really good.. The salt lick haha. The BBQ here are amazing too. They make the best food in the south.

I am glad Grandma is doing good! Haha thats funny what she said. I am one of a kind I guess. When it starts to warm up the business will do much better.

We had our zone conference on Thursday and it was great. I got to talk to President McKee and Elder Tondevold! He said he met Taylor Swift and Tim Mcgraw in downtown Nashville. I dont know if he was kidding or not, but that would be really cool if he did. We did some service for Papaw (Brother Beard). He is awesome! He makes furniture and lots of other out of wood! He was recognized by the President of U.S. He told us to try pepsi and peanuts together. I guess its a southern thing and some say its not that bad actually.

I gave my 4th talk yesterday in sacrament meeting. They called me saturday night and i wrote it in the morning. Very stressing haha. But it went well. They saved me for the last 20 minutes of the meeting. It was a long testimony haha. I hope yall are doing great! I sure do miss you a lot! I love you mom with all my heart! Have A great rest of the week!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 22 -- Made it through the crazy weather

Mom and Dad,

I am fine and we have made it through all the crazy weather.  I AM FINE.  NO NEED TO WORRY!!!!!

This week has gone by so fast and so slow.  Weird huh?  We have probably walked the whole city of Murray now. We don't have a big teaching pool so we have been tracting and street contacting lately.. It is going slow. Not to many new investigators but it is going! I am keeping the hope! We probably gave out 10 Book of Mormons and got maybe 8 new investigators... I just know that we are to learn something this transfer. IT has been difficult.  Elder Hyde has said things about my effort not being what he thinks it should be.  Like President Riggs said in my blessings, pray to love all my companions.  I pray for this every night.  I know that Elder Clark and I are companions for a reason and I will learn something.  We have been trying to get referrals from anyone and everyone but its going kind of slow. But we have been having somewhat success in our less active work.

We were given a list of people that are on the ward roster but don't know who they are. We drove out to the county going towards Tennessee one night... We were driving by these huge fields and saw 3 to 4 houses while driving.. It was pitch black out and we could not see any house numbers.. We drove by this house and got a feeling that this was the house we are looking for.. We got out holding our Book of Mormons and walked up to the porch... praying that a farmer doesn't come out with his shotgun.  

Instead of a big ol farmer with a 12 gage, Out comes an older lady who invites us in. so we go in wondering if this is even the right house and turns out it is! They are a really sweet family! They haven't had members to come see them in years! So they were telling us stories how they used to give missionaries rides and all, so it turns out that they invited us back. I have started to now see that less active work is as important as finding new people..

Oh yeah, Sister Layton, JD's mom, would like you to email her all the emails so she can put my emails in the "dear elder letters she sends out.

That is way cool about Scott and his mission call! I sooooooooo wish I could have been there.  His family has been everywhere on missions! Jamaica is definitely a lot different than Kentucky i bet. 

I know that the ward splitting up is going to be hard but it is for the best. It can be exciting to if you let it be. Grandpa emailed me this week. I was really excited to hear from him. He is getting ready to plant in the green house. Brandon is lucky to be able to help him out. Also Uncle tom emailed me too! His email is exactly what I needed to hear. He talked about getting along with companions and how his mission has helped him out so much. 

I am thankful that I get this chance to serve with my companion even though it is a trial I have to face.   "Head first fearless" right?

Ahaha!!!!!!!!

But on a serious note Ii have learned a lot and when I humble myself I learn lots. But I know for right now that I am in the place where Ii am supposed to be... Murray Kentucky. AND I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! We are going out to the Greenes again today to do ceramics, cut wood and burn scrap. I picked out this western cowboy statue thing to make. It is pretty neat. I find that splitting wood relieves a lot of stress for me. Going out to those houses in the woods out by the lake humbles me so much. It make me realize and love the work I do. It brings peace to me when we go to the Greene's and have FHE with them. They sure do appreciate it and I will never forget the memories there.

I left my camera at the Greene's so today I am going to get and take pictures with them so you can see them and there place. Well I got to go. I love you with all my heart. I love this quote by Elder Wirthlin "come what may and love it"

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 21 -- Working with Elder Clark

Mom and Dad,

I am doing pretty good today. My new companion is Elder Clark. And he is from Utah, what a surprise.  I think it is called Herramin. He has been out 3 months and was just in downtown Nashville. What do we have in common?...we are on our missions.. Hah!!!!. It is pretty crazy to think that at the end of this transfer a quarter of my mission is done. Members are shocked when they ask me about it. And you definitely are right about how there are days where it goes by so slow, but for some reason this week went by fast.This week we have been tracting and walking /talking to people. We gave out 5 Book of Mormons and got 2 new investigators. I had a man the other day tell me that the chances of me converting anyone here is the same chance of him converting me to his 1st baptist church. What I have learned from Elder Tondevold has helped me so much with rejection. He used to say when your're feeling down just laugh. I actually picture the times where I laughed the most. I pictures my friends laughing, which makes me laugh haha. You definitely hear some weird things out on your mission. No one said that it was going to be easy. But it is definitely worth it.

That is great that Danielle is playing basketball! I bet she will be good at it. I remember snowboarding with the priest quorum! That was so fun! I didn't really fall all that much though... haha. I think I didn't because I used to skateboard all the time. It's good to hear that grandpa and grandma are doing well. I hope Brandon enjoys being there.  I haven't gotten a letter back from them yet. I really loved the time I spent there and cant wait to help grandpa out again in the future.

I now know why you always told me not to say people are weird, just different. I think that as a missionary your going to have companions that are "different". I just need to keep on doing my best. And I know Heavenly Father will bless me.

This week we went with some Ladies from Relief Society to go see a less active lady in the ward. She lives out in the country, and her house reminds me of grandpa's. They are farmers and show horses. They grow tobacco. It is funny how people say tobacco here. They say "tabaccer" haha. But anyways her boyfriend isn't a member and said that we can come  back anytime! Hopefully we get to go back sometime and teach them! This week were have planned to do service for some members and non members. I love splitting wood and cutting logs up! I'm putting calaces back on my hands haha. But I like service because it is a way to earn the trust of people and to get to know them better and receive referrals.

Well mom and Dad I hope yall are doing great! I am so thankful for all that you do and have done for me. Love you lots!

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 20 -- Transfers ...Elder Clark

Mom and Dad,

I am glad that yall are doing wonderful back home. It brings peace to me to hear that.

So transfers were on Tuesday last week... and i am called to serve in Murray Kentucky for another transfer! haha. But sadly, Elder Hyde is leaving to Shelbyville, Tennessee. He is lucky because that is country with horses! It is the capital of the walking horse!

I am getting Elder Clark who just finished training, who has been out 2 months. So I will be "Greene Bustin" him. At the end of this transfer I will have been here for 6 months! That is a quarter of mission spent in my 1st area! I am glad that I am staying. I guess that just means there is someone here that I have to find.

I am doing great! I did get a little sick two Sunday's ago, but I think it was my allergies. Elder Hyde was sick for most this week, so things were going slow. But it is all good. The work is going good. We are Continuing our service and helping out families. You are right, going out to some of these homes is very humbling. It makes me so grateful for what I have. It is amazing how strong the spirit can be in that house, even though at times it can be crazy. But its a hoot. I love them all. Somehow every time we are out there they talk about marriage haha. And how that I better come back to visit. Sister Greene asks lots of questions about back home I showed them pictures and a few thought I was adopted haha. But sister greene said she can see how we all look a like.

On Saturday mornings form 11 to 1 we volunteer at angels attic, which is like Goodwill but better.  We are the baggers, we bag what people buy. There was this lady, who looked like Dolly Parton, real southern and she came down my lane. She started talking to me then paused and said "are you a Lee?" It took me a second but I remembered I was so I said yes. And she thinks she knows Grandpa or someone. It was pretty cool. She said that I look like i am a Lee. She said Lee boys are handsome, it was a little weird but funny. 

Yesterday my blessing finally came.. A lady who left the church and now is trying to come back has two sons. And she asked me if i would teach her son the lessons so he can be baptized into the church! I know why I am staying one more transfer in Murray. I am so grateful. Hopefully since we will be teaching her son, she will sit in on the lessons and work her way to baptism. I am very excited!

That is sooo cool that President Riggs in going to Washington DC.  Thanks for pictures of the the temple.  The temple looks really cool! That would be sweet if we all go to go to the dedication of the temple as a family. We are going to the temple next Wednesday as a zone. I am excited because that will be my first time going through the Nashville Temple. Well I sent your letters this morning so hopefully you will get them this week. Thank you so much for everything. I love you so much.

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 19 -- Working Hard

Mom!

How are you doing? This week went by way fast! Time is flying.  Iit is pretty crazy how fast it goes. Transfer calls are this Saturday! This transfer went by to fast. My boots are awesome! I am so grateful for them. We go out to the boonies quite a lot now. So my boots will help me a lot.

This week  we started going over to a young couple named Lowell and Montesa. Lowell is a big guy.  I mean big! Lowell is probably like 6'6 360 pounds. And he is pretty dang good at basketball. They are married and less active. We go over there and have bible/book of Mormon studies with them. This week we made goal posters with them! It was good for them. But overall we are doing lots of finding. AND not having much luck. But we are keeping good attitudes and smiles!

Last Monday we went golfing with Brother Greene! It was way fun! The golf course is right next to Kentucky Lake and it is pretty sweet. I'm not good at golf.  Hah!!!!!. But I was playing golf with just backwoods people so I wasn't so bad compared to them. My favorite family in the ward is the Greene's. They are amazing and so humble. Sister Greene's Dad is named Billy (Papaw) and he says I remind him of himself. He gives me advice on marriage whenever I see him.  He is so funny! His house is way out in the backwoods.  Definitely makes me very thankful for where i live.

Looks like the wedding was fun. When Elder Hyde looked at the pictures he said that Devan was a pretty boy.  Haha. Devan knows he is but he also knows that Dad is always watching. More importantly Heavenly Father is always watching. Was Uncle Matt there? Are they going to have a reception in Eagar? Did you get my package i sent too?

Girls camp sounds like it will be fun. I bet you wont sleep at all at Girls camp. This morning I was reading from the General Conference Ensign and I read Elder Alonso's talk about doing the right thing at the right time without delay. That reminded me of when you took aunt Penny and Uncle Mike into your house. And I know that you were blessed for that and that it helped them out a lot. Then Elder Packer's talk to the youth was really good. It was a good feeling, and is important to always remember, when he said that Lucifer would lose. The outcome will never change. I am so grateful for the scriptures and the modern day scriptures we can read everyday. I hope yall are doing great. I took so more pictures. My camera charger works great and my camera works too. Thank you for everything Mom and Dad. I love you so much.

Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Pictures

1. and 2 are of me and Elder Hyde on the side of the road.

3. Papaws house (in the boonies)

Week 18 -- Library closed...Sorry the email is late

Mom and Dad

Sorry the library was closed till today. So we are emailing today. I did get the camera charger and it works! And i got the package like a couple days ago and the sweatshirt is awesome and fits great!

This last week we have done alot of service. We split wood A LOT OF WOOD, volunteer at a senior home, and at angel's attic which is like Goodwill. But we have been working hard on trying to find new investigators. President Mckee said it would be a challenging transfer when Elder Hyde came and... it has been.haha. BUT... the more humble you are the more you learn and you recognize the small blessings that happen in your life. The work is going but slow. I am not worried about the number of baptisms I will get on my mission.  However, I will get the most out of my mission by working hard each day and being exactly obedient. I think that some missionaries go through different or more challenges than others. I heard that Todd Shumway got a baptism already in Salt Lake and said he set like ten more baptismal dates. I am glad he is having that success. But Elder Hyde and I are focusing on giving our all and not putting ourselves down.

That is nice that they are making that scrapbook for President Riggs. I would say to him thank you for all that he does. Thank you for being a friend to me and my friends. He helped me and the friends throughout high school and helped us come out on missions. He was and is a great example to us.

I have been out a little over four months now! It has gone by fast, and it goes by faster and faster.   We have a guy named Clint that lives in Aurora next to Land Between the Lakes. He is starting to come on exchanges with us a lot now. We are working with him to go on a mission. He is changing a lot and is a great kid.

There hasn't been anymore tornado warnings but it's already starting to warm up here. Yesterday it was 70 degrees and today is a great day outside. My green and grey nike running shoes are my work out and service shoes. I don't really want to ruin my shoes anymore. I am going to need to get some boots. I am wanting to buy some cowboy boots but it might use all my home card I don't know. So if you could sell my ipod or something so  can get money to buy some boots that would be great. That is all that I really need. Thank you so much.  I miss you like crazy and love you lots. Here are some pictures of Elder Hyde, my Belt Buckles I am collecting, and my bike. I finally put it together.  I'll take better pictures this week. Love you.

Elder Vaughn D. Perkins

Elder Hyde and Elder Perkins

Week 17 -- My first tornado experience

Mom,

Well it sure does sound like you had a good week! That's good. Mine was good also. I think it will be a constant struggle through my whole mission. I just feel like I am not experienced to be senior companion of two areas. But I have prayed more than ever this last week. As you said in your email, I too want to humble myself better by leaning on the Lord in everything I do and not just my trials. Well a senior couple came in the mission and they took Mayfield, and to be honest I was kinda of relieved.  It is like an hour drive just to get to the city of Mayfield!

This week two or three people dropped us. I think I let that get to me and I was beating myself up for it. But Elder Tondevold called and he talked with me for a while and he helped me out so much. He truly is my mission dad out here.  HaHa. I am still teaching Gracie, Keanna and Kierra Synagogue, Larry and Barbara, and this non denominational family! So my teaching pool is smaller but I still do my best each day. I finished the Book of Mormon this week! I truly do know and love the Book of Mormon with all my heart!

Tell Brandon to Endure to the end and keep on going. It will be tough at times but the greater reward is after the trial of our faith. Johnny's brother says this quote that i love. "Come What May and Love It." There is a conference talk of that. It is so good.

Not going to lie but that green smoothie sounds so gross haha. My zone leader Elder Dallof said he had a dinner with a family and they had Bologna and relish blended up. That's pretty gross, but that's what some people only can afford here. It makes me realize more and more how important college is! And you do sound like Grandpa reading crazy things and following them haha. I haven't heard from him in a while. How is he? I hope he is doing great.

So yesterday morning... We went to church it was real foggy out and cold. Then after church it wasn't foggy anymore and it was a little warmer probably in the 40's. Then after 4pm the temperature went way up! like to 60 or 65 degrees! And coming from Arizona, I had no idea what was going on. Then it started getting misty outside and stuff. We were at a less active kids house talking and I get this call from Elder Tondevold.  He told me Calloway County, Murray, is under a tornado watch. Then we went outside and it was getting a little windy.. Then SHane, the kid we were teaching, looked up on the Internet the weather reports. So he started telling all his tornado stories and stuff and it made me a little nervous but not much.

We went home right after that cause the wind was starting to pick up. Then inside the apartment we gathered candles, food, water, our letters, and stuff and put them in the bathroom haha. So we waited out laid in bed and watched some church videos. Then around 11 it started to get really windy and hail! Then the tornado sirens went off! We rushed in the bathroom got in the tub! Then i forgot to bring the mattress so Elder Hyde ran got my mattress and put it over us, while laying in the tub  HahaAAAA!!!!!!

20 minutes go by and we get a few calls. But we weren't taking the chance haha. So like around 1230am or 1am we got out and tried to sleep. So i guess it was really bad 5 miles away from, but Mom I am fine and perfect so don't freak out.

Today I am hoping to finally send out my packages and then going out to the Greene's to go fish with Elder Hyde! I am going to have a better week this week and try my hardest in all I do! I love you with all my heart and thank you for all you do. I hope you have a great week and have lots of fun!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins

Week 16 -- Big changes

Good Morning!

I didnt email yesterday because the library was closed. But this last week has been crazy.   Tuesday was transfers and I got Elder Horner. I was with him for 4 days then there was an ET, emergency transfer, in the mission. For some reason President McKee felt like he should send the ET missionary to me.  So on Saturday the assistants drove up took Elder Horner and dropped of Elder Hyde who I am serving with now! But he is so cool! We get along really well. He said he knows that he messed up but is changing his mission around now. So President Mckee has put me with him to help him out with that.

We get along well because as you know, I love rodeos, cowboys and farming country. So does he! He is from Idaho way up north in the corner, and lives on a ranch. His parents moved while he was out and now they own 1600 acres! They run there land as a ranch and for tourists stuff. He has pictures and it is way cool. He is teaching me how to rope and gave me his lassoe! Then yesterday for pday we went to some flea markets and looked for some cool stuff and found old belt buckles! I found a couple but I only bought one. I have to wait and save up some more money till I get more.

Since Elder Tondevold left I needed to get a GPS to find my way through the country and the styx. So I bought one with my home card.... it was expensive. But I am glad I bought it. When we come back I have all the members addreses saved in my gps so we can visit them.  

The work is going alright. I think I am rushing myself and being to hard on myself. But covering two areas is spreading my schedule out. But I know I need to lean on my faith and in the Lord during the hard times. I also get kind of upset at myself because I haven't had any baptisms and the dates we have had all fallen through. But I know my success is not based off baptisms but on my commitment, my obdience and my hard work. I just got to keep on enduring to the end!

On Saturday night, Elder Hyde's first hour in Murray, during a lesson with a part member family, I had to stopped a FIGHT!! We were there for two hours! It was nuts! The dad is from las vegas and the kid he got in a fight with is from las vegas too. I was not expecting to break up fights on my mission but there is a first for everything.

You taught me and continue to teach me so much. Thank you and I love you. So keep on praying for me! I love you with all my heart! I will write more next week and hopefully have more stories. Thank you for the camera charger I am taking more pictures now! So I will try to send some in the next email! Love you!

Love Elder Vaughn Dee Perkins