Have you seen the new Easter video (Because of Him)? No?
THEN STOP RIGHT NOW AND GO WATCH IT. I have conveniently posted the link right here.
But that video. It is so great and I could watch it all day! That is actually what I did on Saturday. I watched it ALL. DAY. We showed it to 10 different people. We also had a day of just findingm which means that we went tracting for about 7 hours. We tend to do a lot of that in YSA since we don't really have a lot of appointments. Right now it is finals, so everyone has crawled into their little hole and is studying their little brains out. No one wants to talk to us, but that's okay. We will get them next week!! Mwahahaha.
But this week has been the best week EVER. It was full of some really strange finding activities!
On Tuesday we went down to Ocala (45 minute drive) to the college where our ward mission leader goes. They were having a "Faith-a-palooza" and invited us to attend. There were a bunch of booths set up around a courtyard with a different religion at each one. We were right next to the Satanism booth. It was quite fun! There was this one guy named Tom who found out that we were from the West coast and brought about 5 different friends over to meet us. I won't complain about the free publicity!! Then we went to Five Guys, which just made the day even better.
The next day we went to the free speech square on campus, called Turlington, and passed out some cards. We also acquired a wooden cutout of Jesus and invited people to take their picture with it. People LOVED it. It was a really good activity and just an all around great day to be a Turlington. The farmers were handing out free chocolate milk and ASOS had a booth there giving away free stuff. Needless to say I left Turlington with some of that. It was GREAT.
This week we also we
went to our branch President's house and decorated 75 cupcakes with his wife.
You can probably guess how long it took just by the sheer amount, but it was so
much fun! We helped make ALLLLL of them! Here is one that I made!
Easter was also this week and it was AMAZING!!!!! Sacrament meeting was really great and the speakers did a fantastic job. I was surprised by how many people were still in our branch, even though a lot of them went home for the weekend.
We also had the chance to sing at an assisted living facility called Tocachale, which made this the best Easter I've ever had. Even though I am about a billion miles away from home I have never been so happy. This year I really felt what Easter is about. Every person that watched our little devotional was severely handicapped, both mentally and physically. The Spirit was so strong there. There was one point where a resident got up out of his chair and started singing along. It was so sweet! Lately with the Because of Him video (which has changed my life by the way, but really who hasn't been extremely touched by that inspired masterpiece) we have been focusing on the empowering side of the resurrection. But being at Tocachale helped me remember the restoring side of the resurrection and that everything that is unfair in life is made right through the Atonement. It wasn't fair that these sweet spirits are placed in these imperfect bodies, but that will all be made right through the Atonement. It was such a sweet experience that I will never forget.
Don't worry. I got fed! We had dinner at Elder and Sister Juett's house (the senior couple) and it was SO MUCH FUN. It was like one big family and the food was so yummy. She made this rainbow layered JELLO and it was like being at home. The love there is just overwhelming.
We also had a branch activity called Shaka Pau. It was pretty much a luau with a talent show and dance. We were not allowed to go to the dance.... BUT we did sing in the talent show as sister missionaries! We sang a song called "I Am A Missionary" that Sister Dodd wrote. It was such a great song. So adorable and so true! She played the uke for it.
This week the Sister Training Leader's car was in the shop so we have spent a lot of time together. It was so fun and I have really loved getting to spend more time with them. Oh, the adventures we have had!
Since today was P-day we went to Lake Alice with the rest of our zone. Lake Alice has alligators!!!!!!!! Don't worry. I took some pictures with them. :)
More alligators. They got awful close.
I love you and I hope you enjoy this week. I really love being a missionary and I can't believe that I have less that a year left. I'm grateful to be here in Jacksonville and meeting the great people of Gainesville.
love you all!!
Sister Perkes
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