Week 42: Transfers, "I see Ikea and American Restaurants" ( Feb. 2, 2015 Ashlyn's Birthday )

Hola todos!!

This week has honestly been the wildest week of the mission!!! So Tuesday was transfer day.  I'm headed from San Cristobal to my new area near the Capital (exactly where...I don´t know).  The house I live in now a lot different than the one I've been in.  It is tiny in comparison.  Us 4 hermanas share one big bedroom and it has a really high ceiling so it feels like an orphanage.  What´s a bummer is that I am now back to bucket showers... yay!!  But what kind of makes up for it is that when we do have running water, we have a hot water heater so that is cool.

On Wednesday morning, the Elders came and helped us paint the house, that meant that basically everything that I had unpacked and organized we had to take out to paint :P  On Friday, the bishop who always takes care of the problems in the hermanas´ house decided that the house needed to be painted again, so after organizing everything for a second time, they came and made a mess of our house again.

The area is completely different.  I feel like I've changed missions all together.  The other day we had a stake activity to find less actives and I went with an Hermana in the other ward and as we drove on the highway I felt like I was in the states.  We passed Ikea and a bunch of American restaurants and it was freaking me out a little.  There are some giant houses here too.  My are is full of apartment buildings.  They are quite nice as well.  It´s not as crazy as I thought it´d be.  It actually seems calmer than San Cristobal because there are not so many colmados and drunk people and the streets are not so tight.  I actually kind of like it.  But what´s weird is that there are basically always a billion people out on the streets doing who knows what, but the streets are always full.  They are a lot more intense here too.  Contacting is weird because some people won´t even open the door, just ask who it is and have us pass the contacting card under the door.  We contacted this one dude who was really intense.  We started to explain how our message helps people find more happiness in this life and the next and he started going off about how there i so much bad in the world and throwing stuff about Satan at us.  At first he wouldn´t let us in, but after the started arguing with us and wanted to prove us wrong, he let us in haha.  We actually got a return cita so we will see how things go with him.

My companion is awesome!! She is from the Capital in the East.  I am her Step-Mom (her second companion, right after training).  She is an amazing missionary and cooks sooooo well.  She is teaching me how to cook and dance bachata :) and I am teaching her English and the Napolian Dynamite dance ;)  her cute laugh reminds me of my lovely aunt Lisa Titensor ;)

Spiritual thought for the week:  We had a special Stake Conference (for the whole Caribbean actually) where Elder Packer, Elder Holland, and other general authorities spoke and it was awesome.  It was especially awesome because it seriously was just for us!  The stake President also talked and one thing he said that was awesome was how we can have a true conversion.  We must Know (or come to know), Feel, and Act.  That hit me pretty hard and helped me really thing through my own conversion and the conversion of my investigators.  We decided that we are going to use this in our teaching to help our investigators understand the process of the their conversion.  Something another speaker said (I think Elder Wilford Anderson--he as just released from being Area President of the Caribbean):  Faith does not mean perfections.  It means Endurance.  It was over all a wonderful conference and I think it really helped our members here.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes!!! It has been an amazing day!!

Love you all!! The church is true!!

Love, Hermana Perry!! 

(La Yuca my ward, I live in San Geronimo)


Hermana Perrry loved all of the notes from family and friends for her Birthday, she said it was amazing seeing them all as she opened her email yesterday. She loves all of you!!!

In San Geronimo, Hermana Ashlyn Perry, Hermana F, from Ashlyn's first area, Hermana V, (Ashlyn's comp), Herman Apelu, (trainee from Hawaii)

Mom is going to be sending a new camera, as you can see her's is dying.

Note to Mom ( Marsha )

I have to go, but one thing I want to tell you.  Something that Elder Holland said in his talk was ¨By way of the spirit we are in the same room¨  the conference was a broadcast, so he said it referring to that, but I thought of you when he said it.  I love you so much!! Despite the fact that we are thousands of miles away means nothing because the spirit keeps us together.  Love you soooo much!!

love your missionary

Week 41: Headed to La Yuca (Jan. 26,2015)

Whey KLK?

This week went soo flippen fast.  But is was awesome.  

I really learned the power of fasting this week.  My comp and I have been having a little trouble with success in the area so we decided to fast on Wednesday.  Not 2 hours after we finished our fast we get a call from the Elders in our district and they tell us they have a reference for us.  But not just any reference.  They were traveling from the capital in a Guagua, coming home from a meeting, and decided to contact this lady sitting next to them.  She explained that she is Adventist but they proceeded to explain anyways.  After talking for a while, they had her read Alma 7.  When she finished, she asked for a Book of Mormon and said she wanted to learn about the church.  We went to visit her the next day and she is awesome!!  During the rest of the week we had a lot of success, especially with references (which is the best finding method).  We ended up getting 6 references from people in the ward and investigators.  That is ridiculous because we have trouble reaching the goal of 2 each week.  But what a blessing!  I really feel like the work is going to take off.  We have quite a few solid investigators who are progressing towards baptism! :)

So this Saturday was the end of the transfer.  Our house felt pretty sure that we were going to stay the same so we were not so worried.  My comp and I were mean and decided to play a trick on the other Hermanas in the house.  While they were gone, the Elders from the office brought us a new washer (ours broke...) and we asked about the transfers.  They unfortunately didn´t tell us, but tricked the Hermanas into thinking that we knew.  We told them that 2 of us were going and they two that were staying were going to train.  We let it sit for a while, then the guilt got to us haha so we told them it was all a lie.  Like an hour or so later while we were making lunch, President Nuckols called.  We all freaked out because he only calls personally if you are going to train or be an Hermana leader.  When he called, he asked for me and my heart began to race.  We talked for a second, then he said, ¨Hermana, we are going to transfer you.¨ My heart sunk.  He then told me that they needed me in another area but wanted to call because I told him in my weekly email that I didn´t want to leave the area.  But I guess he and the Lord have different plans.  San Cristobal is my home.  It was sooooo hard to say goodbye to everyone here.  Harder than in Azua.  I´m now headed to La Yuca in the captial (which is funny because 1) I have always said I don´t want to go to the capital, and 2) because that is where my comp just came from and she joked with me that that would be my next area.  I´m going to have a Dominican Companion which means I´m going to learn to cook like una jefa!! (a boss).  Super pumped for that!! :)  But still really really sad to leave this area and Hermana Paul.  This transfer has been the best transfer with the best Hermanas.  Pe na.  Palante.  Thus goes mission life.

Love you all,

Love, Hermana Perry

This is the lady that reminds Ashlyn of Sister "V" in her home ward, her personality, mannerism, etc. Ashlyn says she is the Dominican Sister "V".

Ashlyn is being transferred to La Yuca, and this is Yuca. This is in a members house. 

Week 40 : I Am Here To Deliver A Message To The People Of D.R. (Jan. 19, 2015)

This week was crazy.  We have this goal that our mission President set called ¨El Pulso¨ (the pulse)  to help us work harder.  It´s a high goal but it really helps us work hard.  Last week we didn´t do so good on numbers, so this week we decided to change that.  At the beginning of the week we had great lessons and almost every one of the citas we set were home.  That almost never happens.  Somewhere in the middle of the week, things went a little south and by the end of the week almost all of our citas were falling through everyday :P  Some of our best progressing investigators are slipping from us :( 

On saturday we realized that we were just a few numbers short of reaching our goal.  That got us really pumped so we set a goal not to come home without having reached our goal.  The day was crazy.  We walked sooo much, taught a lot of new people, got yelled at by a very angry lady, and what not.  We ran around like chickens with their heads cut off, but we met our goal!!! We were walking on clouds.  But the feeling didn´t last long.  By the time we were done with our daily planning, we were both feeling really off but we couldn´t place why.  After a moment we realized that what we had done wrong.  We had focused to much on the numbers.  We had taught people and had a lot of new investigators and lessons, but we taught them just to get a cita to return.  I can´t even tell you what one of their needs are, or even place their name to their face.  I felt like our numbers had slapped us in the face and left us on the floor in shame.  That´s not he kind of missionary the Lord needs.  He doesn´t care about numbers, or short lessons, or even if we shared a really great scripture with each person we met.  He cares about each individual need of His children.  I thought I was working the way the Lord wanted me to, but I was way wrong.  He´s got a whole different plan for this area, this work.  I definitely learned a big lesson this week.

I have a new love for  Ammon.  He is awesome.  (Alma 17:36-37; 18:17, 24-35).  Our District Scripture of the week--Ether 12:27.  I thought it was very fitting.

One last thing that I learned:  I wasn´t sent here to convince people or the change their minds about ¨Los Mormones¨.  I´m here to deliver a message and let the Spirit change their hearts.  It took awhile, but that finally hit me.

The church is true.  I love being a missionary.  love you all

Love, Hermana Perry

I think I might fly down to give Ashlyn a new camera, she is afraid hers is dying. (truth about the camera, but not about me flying down there)

 El Distrito,  Hna S, Hna P (my comp), me, Hna M, Elder O, Elder Ci

They call this their "TOY" washer

Week 39 : Hermana Perry is 9 months old!!! (Jan.12, 2015)

Hello everyone!

First off, I turned 9 months this week... :I  I don´t know how I feel about it.  I has caused me to do a lot of thinking about what I want these next 9 months hold.  Crazy crazy...

This week was kind of a down week.  We didn´t reach many of the goals we set which is bummer, but these weeks happen.  

We did, however, have Zone Meeting this week. I really love Zone Meetings.  I always come out of them with so much learned.  In this one I was in charge of giving the message about how to have effective member lessons.  What´s funny is that is what we struggled most with this week.  I think the Lord was trying to teach me something.  I learned a lot from that.  Something funny that happened: Only in the DR would you have a chicken join your Zone Meeting haha.  In the middle of my message a chicken walked in the door and started making its way to the front of the chapel.  It was quite a show to see the Elders chase it around trying to catch it ha!  They also really focused on working with members and the ward in the work.  They challenged us to think of creative ways to have members come out with us.  We (us 4 hermanas) thought of some fun ideas:  Give the members a ¨member missionary¨plack, and have ¨member missionary of the month¨ on the ward bulletin.  They also really emphasized the power of prayer and fasting.  Something that one of the Zone Leaders said was ¨There is a difference between prayer and prayer.¨ It doesn´t seem to make sense, but it´s true.  We can pray to just pray, or we can pray with real intent of heart with a firm desire to receive and answer and help our investigators.  Fervent prayer.

So now I want to ask you all the same question the Zone leaders asked us.  What is the difference between us and other missionaries (or members)?  They can use these same techniques and teach similar doctrine and convince people, but what makes us so special?  We have a gift.  A gift that none of the other religions have.  D&C 50:13-14

Love, Hermana Perry

9 month Birthday

 All Hermana's in Ashlyn's appartment

Frisbee on Pday with Hermana Paul

They call these the Q-tip flower

Week 37 : Christmas Dominican Style (Dec.29,2014)

Whey!! KLK?

This week has been crazy!  It feels like its been an eternity long :P  But all is well.  Christmas was just awesome :)  It didn´t quite feel like Christmas, but it was a cool experience to be here amoung missionaries and members who are my Dominican Family.  I´m so grateful to be here right now and to feel the Christmas spirit Dominican style.  It was really different because they celebrate bigger on the 24th with a big dinner and family.  The 25th they just eat left overs and don´t really give gifts.  But they sure know how to party.. with beer and loud LOUD music.  What´s cool is that they still consider it Christmas until the 6th of Jan. when the 3 kings come.  That is when they give gifts.  Kind of cool :)

This week we worked on rethinking our pool of investigators.  We have a lot that aren´t progressing and it´s kind of just a waste of our time.  So we dropped a lot of people this week and are working on finding new investigators who will progress.  We have one that we found contacting.  Her name is Theanny.  She is awesome!! She came to church 3 days after we met her!  That doesn´t happen!!  Then we went to teach her about plan of Salvation because her husband died and she was so receptive.  What is unfortunate is that she lives right next to two giant colmado that always have loud music battles so we basically have to yell the whole lesson.  It kind of distracts from the spirit :P But the other day we invited her to be baptized and she told us that she has a smoking problem and has been smoking since she was 8 years old!!!  But she wants to quit.  We went back the other day and she told us how she was at her mom´s house for Christmas and resisted smoking for two whole days!!! And not just that, she didn´t drink coffee either,even before we told her it was bad!!! She is golden.  She came to church again and even brought her 10 year old grandson who is really rebellious. They both loved it and what to keep learning.  I´m beyond excited to keep teaching her.

Sadly we had to drop Angie, who was one of the best progressing investigators a few weeks back.  We think she is hiding from us.  In these 3 weeks that Hermana Paul has been here, we've gone probably 6 times and she has only let us in once and the rest of the time, her son has a different reason why we can´t come in.  So sad, but at least we planted the seed.

It´s going to be another crazy week with new years, but all is well.  We are going keep working hard!!

Love you all :)

Love, Hermana Perry

Excitement of visiting with families

None of the family have had their meds yet!!!

Beautiful Skies of San Cristobal on Christmas Day

Week 38: HAPPY 2015 Y´ALL!! (Jan. 5, 2015)

Hola :)

This past week was kind of crazy.  It was the last of crazy weeks of Christmas which is good.  I´m ready to be back to the normal mission schedule.  Monday was not a pday but Thursday was so it threw us all off again.

HAPPY 2015 Y´ALL!! The city was crazy here!! No one wanted to let us in to teach so we did a lot of contacting.  Everyone and their dog was out on the streets drinking and playing dominoes.  It really was the weirdest day because everyone was drunk and kind of funny.  We contacted this lady and she is not the average Domincan.  Sadly she couldn´t understand my comp and stopped her in the middle of the sentence to ask if she was hungry because she yawned.  She would then say something and then trun to Hermana Paul and ask if she understood and then procceed to explain it and then wink at me.  What´s really funny is that she really didn´t ever smile, haha.  It was probably the weirdest cita of my life.  It made the day a lot more interesting.

We started working we a lady and her kids a few weeks ago and they are just the cutest little famliy.  The kids get so excited to see us and we always feel the spirit so strong in lessons with them.  They have so much potencia and we´ve only taught them 3 times.  I´m so excited to teach them more! :)

So these past couple of weeks I´ve really been thinking about my mission thus far and what I want to do with the rest of my time here.  Really this time is ridiculouly short.  I bet you all think it´s forever long, but I seriously feel like I just got here.  I´m still a 2 week old missionary.  This is the time to crack down.  I´ve really learned what missionary work is all about and now is the time to apply it more than ever.  With this new year and I decided to be a new missionary.  Drop everything that is holding me back and move forward with faith.  I´m really excited for this new year and everything it brings.

Love you lots!!

Love, Hermana Perry

Week 36 : FELIZ NAVIDAD!!! ( Dec. 22,2014)

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!

Hola todos. So transfers were this week and I received a new companion.  Her name is Hermana Paul and she is from Pennsylvania.  She is awesome!!  I´m soooo excited for this transfer.  This week was just awesome.  She brought some great ideas for the area and I can just feel that things are going to take off.

We had an awesome lesson with a family that we´ve been teaching for about 2 transfers.  We taught them about Jose Smith and the Book of Mormon finally (they are kind of hard to find).  But they were so receptive to the spirit and the 3 family members that were present accepted a baptismal date.  I´m excited to see them progress.  Unfortunately, they have not come to church yet, but I have faith.  I know there is a reason the Lord doesn´t want us to drop them.  

My house is completely different than it used to be.  There are now two Americans woohoo!! An Hermana from Aruba (who was here last transfer too) and an Hermana from Spain who is super sweet and says her Z´s like TH¨s haha its kind of cool.

Sorry this is really short.  I didn´t plan on writing today (today isn´t pday. they changed it to Thursday and last minute told us we could still email today.)

Love you all!

Love, Hermana Perry

Scripture of the week: I´ve read it a billion times, but it really hit me hard this week: John 6:35, 48, 51

 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

48 I am that bread of life

 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world