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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