An Apostle and a Pentecostal 1.20.15

BEST DAY EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! This week we met Elder Neil L. Andersen,
precious apostle of the Lord. The conference was in Lake City so we
had a little road trip. It was so nice to be back in the woods of the
Lake City zone. Driving past all of those prisons made me feel quite
at home! We got there and the only seats really available were either
in the very front or the very back. Of course we picked very front,
best decision ever!! We were feet away from him the whole time and he
would stare us in the eyes periodically, right when we needed it. I
went with a few questions and all of them were answered! How amazing
is that. He also looked me in the eyes at the end and said "You're
sick of me, and I'm sick of you". Referring to the whole group of
course, but to have an apostle tell you he's sick of you is pretty
humbling.
He also make some great funnies. He said, "I can't just quit! How
would I quit? There's only one way for me to quit."
It was a great testimony builder. He talked a lot about faith and
miracles and Joseph Smith. He encouraged all of us to gain a personal
testimony of the Prophet Joseph and we could do that by recording
ourselves reading Joseph Smith History. He also told us to study the
New Testament more, which I think is exactly what our mission needs,
especially being in the south. His wife addressed us too! She is from
Florida and has such a great love for the south. We really are so
lucky to be in a place that believes in Jesus so much.

This week we also were blessed with a stark contrast to Elder
Andersen. We were out knocking and met a craaazzzy lady who thought we
were Jehovah's Witnesses. She went on about all of this stuff we were
wrong about until we figured out that she as quite confused. Sister
Yeakley told her we were Mormons and then she told us we were still
wrong, but that we were a little more right. She had some pretty great
stories! She told us about the time that she smuggled bibles into
China and these 30 foot Angels were protecting her and her friends.
Then she, in a very lengthy manner, told us about how we needed to be
saved and properly born again. She was so very sweet to share her
thoughts, ideas, and convictions with us. She's very passionate! Then
out of the kindness of her heart she decided to pray on us. Yes, ON
us. We got the royal laying-on-of-hands treatment. She also insisted
on calling us by our first names.
She kept saying Laura, and I no clue who she was talking about...She
made us put our hands up and surrender, and then she said a very nice
prayer on Ssister Yeakley and then on me. She was so nice. So nice, in
fact, that she offered to speak in her new language! Then she did. How
thoughtful! There was some pretty interesting stuff going on.

On Saturday we helped some other sister missionaries with this house
they are cleaning up. The missionaries have been visiting this old man
for years, but he had no interest in joining. He just needed someone
to talk to him. Well now this old man is in a home with this house
just sitting there, so he just gave it to the church! Lock, stock, and
barrel so that some missionaries could live in it. That's what he
wanted. So the missionaries have been slowly cleaning it up with the
help of a member who lives across the street. They want to have
someone move in by February. We did a lot of dishes today and found
the most interesting things. We found this teeny tiny little knife
that is like a little cleaver for cheese. We also found a "food
glamorizer" still in the box and everything. I read the instructions
and it really does make your food glamorous! I also came out of there
with this big giant bowl shaped like a leaf and some little bowls that
are too. The big one is broken, but I'll fix it. It's too good to get
rid of. They just don't make stuff like that anymore! I'm going to put
my thinker to thinking and figure out how to fix it.

This week we did some more trash pick up. People make me so sad
sometimes with their poor decisions of throwing all their junk out of
the window. Shame, shame, shame. DONT LITTER. I picked up 5, yes FIVE
Carl's jr. cups, along with some other very unappealing objects.
Littering is bad, y'all. Don't do it.

Oh, yes. Tomorrow is transfers. Sister Yeakley is headed to Georgia
and I am training a new missionary. This was our branch mission
leaders response, and I quote, "Uhohuhoh! Wazzup Sister Perkes is
havin a daughter!" Oh, YSA. This little missionary doesn't know what's
coming.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Sister Perkes

I made a piñata. It had candy and band aids in it. We had to get creative.

Sometimes Florida can be pretty, too. Did I mention it was perfect
weather all week long?  This is why people live here.

This came out of the food catcher in the sink at the church. It looks
so tasty, yeah? I even put a little leftover lettuce garnish on it. I
also convinced someone to eat it, but I stopped them before they got
too far.