Au Revoir Beago- Week 18

Bonjour chère frères et soeurs

This week has been super fun and crazy so let's dive in!

Well first off, we got our calls for transfers Saturday night and I was transferred to the sector Selmer in the Yopougon Attié Zone! I'm super excited for a change of scene but it was also pretty sad saying goodbye to all of my amis and the members that I have gotten to know so well. It was my first sector so they all remember when I was absolutely terrible at french and now I'm only slightly terrible at french haha.

 In addition to my transfer, in the words of Elder Van Pelt from the movie Best Two Years..."This is it elder...junior companion... to District Leader!" I am also the Chef de District! I am super excited to be able to advance this work and help others in my district as well! I think I'm most excited to conduct baptismal interviews because I can see and hear the testimonies of all of the baptismal candidates in my district and it is such an honor! With this calling comes power. And as we all know, with great power, comes great responsibility!

Another fun time was that we went to clean the ward building again with our zone leaders and also the young men of their ward. It was super fun because we deep cleaned it and also cut the grass around the baptismal font out back. They were using machetes and rakes so it was maybe a little dangerous but it was fun. There are pictures below.

Ah I forgot to talk about my new companion! He's Elder Adams and he's from Utah like me so it's going to be a party but we're still going to work hard obviously. He came a transfer after me so we're basically on the same level and I know that we both will great things together! 

It's kind of been a long and tiring day making my over here too haha. by the time I got to the general area of the apartment, my comp was actually at a different apartment because he couldn't be alone either but I didn't know that. The taxi dropped me off with all of my suitcases and I didn't know where to go. Luckily a kind old lady offered to watch my bags while I looked for the apartment. Now you may think that's unwise but that's what's great about africa is that people are actually super nice and trustworthy. I found the apartment but simply asking "Do you know where the whites live?" and I found it in probably 5 minutes haha. Like I said they weren't there so I went back to my bags which were still there of course and just sat in the shade for a bit until they came. It was a little stressful but it actually gave me a lot of confidence in the language so I see it as a blessing.

As always, I love my mission and my sacred calling as a servant of my Heavenly Father! Let this next transfer be amazing! Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

Elder Perkins

PHOTOS

1. A very common sign on many walls in Cote d'Ivoire. I would explain it but it's a little inappropriate haha. Basically in Cote d'ivoire, if you gotta go, you go. Use google translate to help you out haha

2. "Mowing" the weeds near the baptismal font.

3. Hard at work as always!

4. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED haha. They found a rat while mowing and the one with the machete was very quick to kill it. Maybe just don't zoom in haha

5. Dope pic with the boys haha

6. One of my favorite kids in Beago. Her name is Oskan and she's super hyper so it's hard to get a good pic but I tried.

I Miss The Mountains- Week 23

Bonjour! Tout le monde va bien?

A dawns another week of being an instrument in the hands of God. Let's just hope that I'm in tune...

So as I read Saints 2 of the course of the week, reading the many descriptions of the Salt Lake Valley and other cities in Utah, I just couldn't help picturing those beautiful mountains that I was so used to when I was back at home. Then the cherry on top was when I saw a picture in this month's Ensign magazine of downtown Salt Lake along with those towering mountains and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little trunky haha

I love seeing the fruits of my labors! Frère Olivier's baptism this last Saturday was awesome! His spirit and testimony are so strong and I can't wait for his future as a disciple of Christ!

We had the amazing opportunity of trying the drink Yamakou, an african delicacy. First off , no it's not alcoholic so don't worry, but boy oh boy is that drink one of the most horrid things my taste buds have come in contact with? Yes. It completely burns your mouth and throat and you just want to die. Like yeah I was expecting to come in contact with weird food and drinks on my mission, but wow that was something else. I'm sacrificing more than my time, efforts, on my mission. Also my taste buds and digestive system.

That's really it for this week! I love y'all so much I really do and I hope everybody is doing alright!

Elder Perkins

PHOTOS

1. The Boba Boys. Basically everyone wears these things here so we decided to join the club!

2. Olivier's Baptism! 

3. We also decided to immerse ourselves a little more in the culture when we needed to get more gas. Whenever someone needs to cary something heavy for a while. They just throw it on their head so it was super funny when people were looking at two white guys doing it too!

Elder Adam's email... we talked too long, so Elder Adam's gave more details!

Well I have a great surprise and a couple of miracles for you guys today so here we go!!

        This week was full of walking; talking and my favorite teaching! We found a new amis this week (Soeur Clarisse) and taught her twice this week. Funny Story; so she has her own little restaurant and sells all African food of course and was super nice to feed us one day before our rendez-vous. The main meal was super good; but then came the dessert that about killed us! it was like green goop with little like seeds in it hahah its so hard to describe. but we had to eat it all of course! so we were just praying we didn't throw up while we were just throwing it down our throat.   So then we thought we were done and told her we were done but then she wanted us to try this other drink called Yamakoo and my goodness I would never want any of you to try it hahaha!! it burns your throat when you drink it and it's like gritty and i don't know how to describe it but wow-- it was exciting and we got through it!! But... after that we had a wonderful lesson with Soeur Clarisse (with yamakoo in our bellies) about le Livre de Mormon and are excited about her progress!!

            I think i've talked about Frere Olivia a couple times in my last emails but if not ill recap who he is!! He was a contact given to us from a member just before Perkins came to Selmer. Olivia was the first Amis that Perkins and I taught together, the left side of his body is not super functional due to an accident that happened about 2 years ago, which means he walks with a cane and his speech is very slurred as well. But this never stopped him from walking about a mile n a half to church every sunday!! Such an animal

        Anyways we've been teaching him for about a month and a half now and truly with the gift of tongues! The first time we taught him we understood about 5 percent (due to slurred speech,but then add on French haha) but now a days we are understanding around 80%!! and here comes the surprise....... We had a Baptismal service for him last Saturday!!!!! and got confirmed yesterday at church ;) we are stoked over here! it was a little difficult with his disability but the lord helped us out and it went perfectly!!

     hope you are all doing well. let me know what's going on in your guys life i wanna hear!!! 

Love you all the church is true and don't forget to "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith"-Utchdorf

       

Days Never To be Forgotten

Well this is it. My last email that I will be sending out to you guys. I'll be honest this past week has been the most bittersweet experience I've ever had. Two years have passed, but it feels like 2 months. I spent 6 months in Cote d'Ivoire, 4 at home, then 7 in Arizona, and then the last 5 back in Cote d'Ivoire. No one could have guessed it. I think my mission has had more plot twists than the Twilight Zone. However, as much uncertainty, limbo periods, or unexpected changes happened, I always felt uplifted and strengthened by Savior through the thick and thin.

It all started with my training, I had no idea what I was doing. I was confused, scared, and my head was spinning. Even through all that, the Lord presented me scriptures and experiences to assure me that this is His work and that He will help me get through the hard times. He just expected me to continue. I felt the same as Paul when he said to the Corinthians:

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

~ 1 Cor 2: 1-5

Even if I didn't know how to speak the language, and I was scared and tired, I could still lean on the Savior to strengthen me and empower me to bear testimony of His sacrifice for me. Even today I'm not perfect in teaching nor the language, but I know that the Gospel comes from God and I dont have to be afraid to share it!

As Oliver Cowdery was translating for Joseph Smith, he described the experience as... "These were days never to be forgotten." And I have the same sentiment as I look back at my mission. Never to be forgotten. If someone were to ask me, "Would you change it if you could? Get rid of COVID? Stay in your mission for the two full years?" As much as that would've been a pleasure to alleviate the pain and heartache of myself and so many other for the past two years. I think the Lord had other plans for me and for everyone. I would tell them no. My mission was crazy yes and it was definitely full of anxiety and disappointment, but I can definitely answer that question with a fervent NO. The time I spent at Arizona and even at home were such amazing experiences of growth, maturity, and perspective for me that I honestly wouldn't have gotten in my time here. 

That being said, I have cherished every last moment here in Cote d'Ivoire. Such an amazing culture, people, and country. From a little kid freaking out because he's never seen a white guy before, to always being offered food and water wherever you go, even if you're a complete stranger. I'll miss this place with great and a deep love that I've honestly never felt before. I love these people. And I know that God loves them as well.

And to Arizona the thirsty land. Thank you for teaching me so many lessons such as personal accountability, adequacy for oneself, and consecration. Met so many wonderful missionaries, members, and people that have taught me amazing lessons that I will cherish for decades to come. Thanks to President and Sister Eyre for all of their love and guidance during those crazy months of COVID by keeping it light and fun but still taking the work of the Lord seriously as we should. 

I'll get off my little soapbox here for the last time here in a minute but lastly I'd like to thank my parents, siblings, friends, and priesthood leaders for all supporting me though all of this and constantly letting me know that I was loved by God and by others! Special thanks again to President and Sister Lewis who have been such amazing examples of Christ-like leadership and discipleship. I'm so lucky to have been blessed with two amazing missions with two amazing mission presidents!

Well by the time you get this I'll probably be getting ready at the mission office and having departing interviews and testimonies! Our flight got moved from leaving at 10:30pm to 12:50am, so about 3 hours later. So we'll probably be chilling with the office missionaries until it's time to head out! I'll be going to Paris, then Atlanta, and then SLC at 5:30pm! I can't wait to see you all soon! On s'attrape!

Elder Perkins, signing off from the best two years(so far😉)

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I'm Singing! I'm in Africa and I'm Singing!

Well well well...looks like we have another week here folks. That means another email from Elder Perkins. Man will this guy ever finish his mission????

Yes sadly I will but NOT YET. Don't worry you'll have to deal with my emails for just a couple more weeks then you all will be free! I had a great and busy week! It honestly flew by super fast which makes everything harder and harder as I'm really getting ready to head home! However here's how my week went!

So this week we started doing rehearsals for this special choir that's performing this weekend. This professional choir director from France who's a member came down to do it and she's pretty awesome! Hearing her speak like actual French is a huge win but the downside is that we have rehearsal every day besides Saturdays and Sundays. So that means even my precious pday time is taken away...how dare they! But its super fun. We're singing a variety of songs from primary songs to beautifully arranged choir pieces. I'm just praying all goes well because if you remember my other emails about Africans singing, it doesn't always end well. But Soeur Defranchi is really putting us to work so that we actually sound good! So we had rehearsals all last week every morning and we are doing the same thing this week every morning. It's made days go by super fast since now we only have the afternoon and evening to proselytize. 

However, with all of the choir craziness, we have had some good times out at sector! Went on exchanges with Elder Kaba from the Congo and it was super fun! We also were able to find a bunch of new people this week. One lady named Anna is probably the epitome of Ivorian etiquette as she either buys us soda or makes us food every time we go over there because we are part of her family even though we are basically strangers. I love Ivorians. There's another family that we found and they are also super sweet and polite and pretty cool! They said they spent a couple years in Algeria and then next year they are planning on moving to either Canada or the U.S.! 

Of course I've been thinking a lot about home(shocker) but it seems like it all just melts away as I lose myself in these lessons and with these people still. Especially as I've looked back throughout my mission to see how far I've come and changed. I'm still me but I'm also a lot more now. And I will continue to do that even at home!

Also super fun because this one church was in our sector for a day and they literally gave out a brochure to everyone, including us. Why not? Is it bad to research other religions? Besides once we got home and took a look at it, we couldn't help but laugh and completely destroy all of its teachings because some were pretty out there doctrinally speaking so that was a laugh.

Well probably next week you'll see a basic long email talking about how much I loved the mission and all but this week y'all can chill with this normal email. Always know that GOD LOVES US. That is the first great truth of the gospel. Never forget it.

Till the next time,

Elder Perkins

Photos:

1. The baguette bisap boys. Bisap is a super sweet juice that comes from a hibiscus leaf and then a baguette is bread duh.

2. Pic of choir practice!

3. Somebody wuz a wittle tiward

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4-6. Trainer-Trainee meeting with Elder Okojie

Should I Write That Down?...Also 'MURICA

I was so busy with Youth Conference, that I forgot to post Elder Perkins 4th of July email! So these are out of order, sorry!

Yo yo yo how's everyone doing this morning? Time flies when you're having fun so it's crazy to see how much fun we're having but sad to see how fast it's going by as we're going hard in our sector and training! Lot's of stuff is happening as I'm prepping to go home, but at the same time there's a lot of work to do in this area so it's been fun to be busy with that!

What a week! Many many ups and downs this week with working in an area that hasn't been worked in a while. So that means finding all amis ourselves and getting members remotivated a little bit! The neighborhood also isn't used to seeing a white guy every day so that's led to some fun interactions. One lady walked up to us unprovoked, handed me her child saying "take him" and started walking away. I would've really freaked out if she didn't almost immediately turn back around and started laughing but thank goodness she did and we gave her a brochure so win win? Also many weird/drunk old guys stopping us in the street wanting to say how happy they are to see Christian missionaries in their neighborhood. It's actually pretty sweet, no matter how many times they repeat the same sentence.

Ok but honestly there have been moments where I forget how much I really have come in terms of French. No way perfect at all because A. I was gone for a year of the mish and B. African french isn't near perfect either so it's good for me but idk if my proper French speakers out there will enjoy hearing me at home. Nevertheless, as I'm training Elder Okojie and he's learning the language,(yes lots of "what language was she speaking?" but mostly it really is another tribal language🤣) I have memories rush back of when I was the exact same and couldn't spit out one sentence without stumbling. I'm grateful for my Heavenly Father who really did strengthen me through those rough language times and how I have this opportunity to help someone overcome the same trial!

So yes in case you were wondering, we did celebrate the 4th of July as best as we could. Sadly, we aren't allowed to handle fireworks BUT my roommate is a pretty dang good cook so we all helped in making fried chicken that's de-boned(a VERY rare delicacy here), also corn on the cob, and potato salad! It honestly was pretty delicious! Even the Africans liked it!(usually they don't like american food...) We also sported our american flag boubous that are pretty common here actually. In all it was a mighty day to remember our country and to eat a little more like home for a day. Pics of all that below

In all it's been a great week! I hope everyone's 4th was great and we can still have an eye fixed on the Glory of God and of hope for the future! Keep going, keep trying, keep falling, keep picking yourself back up, and most importantly keep becoming!

Elder Perkins 

PHOTOS

1-2. Our sector covers a lot of the lagoon so some cool pics of that. The second is the view from an ami's house so that's sick.

3. I always seem to find another african child who is more sassy than the last! Her names Abo and the first thing she said to me was "I'm not scared of you"

4. Scrumptious 4th of July meal. We also made scones which didn't make the pic. Corn was a little rough though but still decent.

5. Someone didn't get the memo. Elder Gifford(no american pride at all) is going home with me in a couple weeks so we're getting ready.

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Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream Dream

Hey everybody! Here's another email for y'all from Elder Perkins! I'm doing great and I'm having lots of fun! Let's dive into the week.

So if you didn't know, Africans are all about dreams. We know the stories from the bible and from church history of dreams affected people's lives. However, we sont get too much of that anymore in the States nowadays. Africa still has that over here and it's awesome! I've heard so many dreams from very concerned people wanting to know if God was angry at them or not. Now I'm no Joseph of Egypt or anything so I'm not much of an interpreter. However some of their dreams can be pretty wild and it makes me believe that Heavenly Father really does use dreams to nudge people in the right direction sometimes. I heard two stories this week that were super interesting.

First story is from an ami. He basically was traveling the world and had a bunch of stuff because his work was scamming people on the internet. However, he fell sick one day and even fell into a coma. During the coma, he had a dream of a bright man standing in front of him. He couldn't see his face but he asked him a question. "Do you see what you life is like? Do you think I'm happy with this?" And He also asked the question "What do you think I want you to do?" And the ami answered to repent. After that he woke up from his coma and he left all of that worldly stuff and became a Christian, trying to follow biblical principles and to lead a good life. Pretty crazy right? Btw if it sounds familiar, it does. *cough* Alma the Younger *cough* Super Cool!

Second story comes from the bishop in our ward. He was super against joining the church for a while as his family was trying to convert him. He met with missionaries a lot but he just wouldn't listen. He then dreamt that one day it was raining super hard and the missionaries took shelter in his living room, while they were their he asked three questions. That was it. But when he woke up, he remembered that his dream said that would happen a year from that day. Lo and behold a year later, he found himself in his living room with the missionaries, it pouring rain outside, and he asked them his three questions. He didn't realize it until afterwards and he took it as a sign from God. Now he's a bishop. Crazy story!

Besides the dreams, we had a great week! Lots of getting to know the sector and the members! Finding lots of new people as well! There's this one little girl named Lafélicité who is probably one of the smartest and most polite girls I have met here! Another is a true African Mama who called to us on the street by "Les Elders!" So we went by and she said the missionaries taught her a while ago but they stopped coming. Probably covid caused that. Anyway her name's Mama Djoma and she's super nice and very passionate about God so that's going to be fun as well!

3 weeks to go! I'm working and training my comp as much as I can before I head back to the States. Still got the last leg of the race to go, but the end is definitely in sight! Have a great week everyone and I wish you all the best!

Elder Perkins

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Alma 26 just all of it

Bonjour à tous! This week has been pretty fun with it being transfers and getting my trainee. I hope everyone is doing great and has had a great start to their summer! I hear it's pretty hot over their which is funny because the rains have cooled it off over hear so we're fine over here now!

So here's my week! Since I didn't get my trainee until Thursday night,  I was put together with the district leader in my old zone, who is training as well. Elder Doudou, an Ivorian, will go down in my mission history as my 3-day companion lol. I was in his area so it was fun to get to know some new people! 

Okay so Thursday night was when I finally got my trainee! His name is Elder Okojie and he's from Nigeria! I've only been with him a couple days but its already been fun! Being from Nigeria, he speaks English and is learning French, which makes it fun for me because I have to basically carry everything for a little bit while he gets adjusted. Awesome! But he's super humble, honest, and sweet and I'm so grateful for the short time I'll be spending with him!

My new area of Kouté is pretty cool! It literally borders my training area so I know it pretty well. Back in my training, we didn't have phones with the area maps so we would just work wherever the people lived who came to our church building. Meaning we would teach people that actually lived in the Kouté area instead of Beago. It's just funny to think that while I was working in my training, I was also working in my last area, unbeknownst to me!

Honestly, it's been a little hard coming into an area where work hasn't been done in a while. There wasn't much to go off of so we were just trying to call everyone on the short list of amis and potentials we have  and also the ward leaders. It was funny since I was using some Stateside mission tactics in getting into contact with people so that took me back! Probably the first time since I've been here that there's been more calls than lessons in the schedule haha. This week is going to explode with new amis and much potential as we are seeing amis, members, and finding people along the way! I love this work!

So I have some roommates now! Elder Angerbauer(we have the same birthday) and Elder Kaba(a super chill Congolese) are gonna make my last transfer super fun! The apartment is way nice, mostly due to the washing machine so my hand washing days are behind me at last! 

Anyway, as I'm looking at a little over a month to go, I've been pondering and thinking a lot of what my mission means to me. And it's been really hard. I have so many thoughts, experiences, stories, etc. that I have seen shape and refine me, but it's so difficult to really express everything my actual thoughts on all this. I'm going to spend most nights in my journal to really spend time trying to get my thoughts down on what this all means to me now and in the years to come! All I can say right now is that I LOVE my mission. No regrets. No second thoughts. Only joy and glory that comes from the Almighty!

Keep it real my friends. Don't forget who you are and what you stand for. Choose the right. Put your shoulder to the wheel. Push along. Push along.

Elder Perkins

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