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