We Slept Outside

Well.... another busy week! Let's see, we slept outside. The house was hot as blazes, so we put a blanket outside and slept in the backyard for a few hours. It wasn't the best nights sleep ever, but the sky was gorgeous. The sky’s are super light out here, it's awesome. We have a new ward mission leader who is such a good person! He's a hard worker and always has a smile. It's fun to be working with him. What else, I wrote three letters on preparation day and my handwriting is getting way better. My hate for letter writing is going down as well.

Hermano H. is a brother in our ward and he is going to the Veteran's Hospital in Portland soon for his surgery. I gave him your address and phone number. They are great people, such loving people. They feed us all the time and come out with us whenever we ask. He took some pictures he's going to try to get developed before he goes over so he can show it to you all. He doesn't have a very good chance of surviving the surgery I guess. He's had a liver transplant awhile ago and now is going to get his right lung removed. They will stay at a lodge over there, but he's said he really wants to do some baptisms for the dead before he has surgery. He also wants to do some genealogy. I don't know if he'll have time, but I'm sure they'd love to go through the temple with you all.

We helped a family move this morning and used up some of our mission car miles. We don't have many miles for the rest of the month, so we will be walking or maybe riding bikes for the next few days. We get 1,100 miles a month we can put on our mission car. We are down to fifty for the next three days.

Ha, okay a word to the wise, Don't Take Hormonal Teenagers To A Missionary Lesson. We did and well...I really wish we hadn't. We were trying to teach a friend of these two teenagers and GAH! They had some of the silliest questions. The girl was texting nearly the whole time. Quite honestly they weren't terrible. I think the only thing that KINDA upset me is when we started talking to their friend about baptism the teenage girl is like... ha-ha-ha-ha, no, no, no, we can just talk about that next time. OH MY WORD...yeah....sure...we'll talk about it next time. Ha! They're great kids. I'm grateful for another excellent answer to a prayer for patience. Mom & Dad, when my kids become teenagers. I'm going to give them to you to finish raising. Have fun!

We have been working a lot with Paul's family and LOVE the visits we have with them. Hermana M. es de Columbia y siempre esta cocinando para nosotros (translation: Hermana M. is from Colombia and is always cooking for us). SUCH GOOOD FOOD!!! They were at church again on Sunday which we were thrilled about. Paul's date is set for July 9th. We are very excited. We also have a "noche de hogar con una" (translation: family home evening with a) family in the ward that is very sharp.

We visited this guy yesterday. His name is Omar and he LOVES Jesus, God, and the word of God (aka the Bible). He's a referral from the zone leaders. He talked so much and was way happy to see us, but definitely isn't super interested in our church. It doesn't help that he has and Anti-Mormon pastor living across the street. He wants to preach to us next time we're there. He told us about how he was in jail because he killed a guy in self defense. He said that they were only allowed to read the word of God in prison and that it took him five years (he was locked up for ten years) to accept Jesus into his heart. Totally sweet guy, LOVES to talk, and LOVES the missionaries. Doesn't think he needs to change though.

We had the privilege of teaching Sister L's father-in-law. She is a member who has gone out with us a few times. She's an awesome missionary and her husband is in another town right now, but after this week she will be leaving to join him. Her husband's family has really been struggling. Her in-laws are getting a divorce and it's been really hard on her father-in-law. We taught him a lesson on the plan of salvation and the spirit was very strong. He will be taught more discussions by the English missionaries. We are praying a lot for their family.

Yay for lightning storms in Missouri!!! I LOVE lightning. Man I wish we had some of those! We need rain really bad. I'm so happy you've all been able to do this. What an incredible opportunity. (Brenden, Krysten, and I flew into St. Louis, Missouri and spent one night there before taking Brenden to EFY Nauvoo. There were tornado warnings in St. Louis that night.)

Adam and Brandon~
Hi! Best of luck entering back into the real world.

Mom~
I hope you're birthday was awesome. How do you feel? What did you do for it? My companion and I are both happy, healthy, and safe. Thank you for your love and prayers. I love you all! ttfn (translation: ta, ta for now)

Love, Hermana Perez
PS KRYS!!!! Bring me home a alligator from Missouri! PLEEEEEEEAAAASSSSEEE!!!!! (OK, she knows that alligators freak me out. I have watched too many man eating nature shows. Now we are definitely NOT going near the river bank.)