Week 26 in the Field: Happy Thanksgiving!!

Week 26 in the Field:  Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Rock Castle. Not really sure what it is but it's from the 1800's

and was around there in the civil war.  

Their website says, “Welcome to the world of the 18th century viewed through the life of General Daniel Smith, surveyor, Revolutionary War hero, U.S. Senator, Indian Negotiator and original owner and builder of his family home: 

Historic Rock Castle!

Located on scenic Old Hickory Lake this 18 acre historic property offers much to explore. Join us for a tour of the Smith family home, experience the aromas of the herb garden, wander through the wooded nature trail, browse the Gift Shop and Visitor’s Center or enjoy a lakeside stroll.”

 Hello!

So this week was lots of fun!

It was off to a challenging start when we got the car back on Wednesday due to the fact that we had to drive some elders who were in our district 40 minutes in the opposite direction since they couldn't get a ride in time. While that killed a good chunk of our day, we still managed to teach a few people including a part member family we are now working with. I promised them that I would make them cookies on our next visit.

On Thursday we played in a turkey bowl with a different set of elders which was a lot of fun. I played QB and WR and had a lot of fun throwing touchdowns as well as making good plays. We were very exhausted when we got a call from our thanksgiving dinner appointment who was asking if we could go join them in playing football with their family. There were a lot of people at their game. Since the member we had dinner with was the sister of Dan Truman (Nashville Tribute and Diamond Rio rock star) he was there as was his sons. Two of which are also in the Nashville Tribute Band. Dan played QB and Elder Hansen had fun intercepting several passes which were to me but just a little short.

2. Thanksgiving set up. Dan Truman is in the khakis and blue shirt on the right.

The dinner was really awesome. Dan told us really amazing stories about his ancestry including a story about how one of his ancestors, who while bearing his testimony on the prophet Joseph Smith, felt prompted to state that "As I speak, the great man whom we have been talking about, is being killed by his enemies." This event occurred in the early evening on June 27, 1844 which was the day and time Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred. This is an insanely amazing story cause back then of course they had no means of getting information rapidly save by train and horse.

The dinner itself was great until I almost choked on an asparagus. Luckily everyone was watching the football game so I wasn't too noticeable.  Haha.

The rest of the week was about the same as usual and we ended up finishing out the week with 20 lessons which met the Facebook requirement goal. Our zone leaders called us to say congratulations followed by laying more stipulations on us which makes things take longer so we were very disappointed by that. But we are trying to face it like any other challenge.

In other news on November 30th I completed my cover to cover challenge of the Bible. It was very rough but it was a great feeling to know I was able to complete the whole thing in about 3 and a half months. I recommend it to anyone wanting to truly understand the bible. There's a lot of stuff in there that really specifies what we are supposed to do. The Book of Mormon is also a good help in clarifying the bible, too, I found out. When used together, both scriptures are great tools that help set the standards that we are supposed to live by.

Everything else is going great. No real complaints. Thank you for all the letters and pictures! I received one from the Herndon ward and was very happy to see everyone who signed the card. I miss you all and will be happy to communicate with all who write to me.

Elder Peery

3. Dale Earnhardt’s car in Hendersonville

Week 25 in the Field: Senior Companion, 21 Lessons, and the Book of Revelation

1. Elder and Sister Bird's wonderful Thanksgiving meal for the missionaries.  (Elder and Sister Bird are a senior couple who work in the Church Employment Center at the Madison Stake Center).

Hello!

So Elder Moeller is now enjoying the comforts of home, and my new companion is Elder Hansen. He has been out one transfer less then I have (so 4.5 months) so that makes me the senior companion at 6 months. It's been really fun to get to know Elder Hansen. He is from Nyssa, Oregon which is basically an hour west of Boise, Idaho. He's a singer, too, so we may play some musical numbers in the near future.

Before Elder Moeller returned home he shared some parting advice to the entire mission.  It was sad to see all the departing missionaries go.

2. The departing missionaries. Elder Moeller is the tall Elder on the far

left next to Sister Andersen.

 3. Elder Moeller's parting advice

4. Elder Golightly (Elder Leavitt’s other trainee) and me

5. Elder Alarcon's parting advice

Pretty much out of the starting gate, Elder Hansen and I tore it up in Hendersonville. By the end of the week we had seen and taught 21 people which is a new record for the area in about 4 months. We were so happy because all we need is another week like this and then we can become Facebook missionaries. That will not only improve the area, but will also allow us to teach our non-member (and in some cases) member friends.

So on Wednesday I learned the difference between being bold and being overbearing. There is certainly a fine line, but I think I may have grasped it for the most part. We have an investigator who has his own theories of the scriptures. He gets into books such as the Book of Judas and the Book of Thomas (both of which are not in our scriptural canon) and LOVES the book of Daniel. I felt so much love for this guy and I knew that getting carried away and sidetracked would not lead him to the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ….so I was bold and up front with him. The spirit was very strong. I laid out everything he needed to do to truly be converted. He must've felt something cause he bought us lunch a few days later.

On Thursday we were tracting, and came across these teenagers had set up this tight rope course. It was very complex and legit so Elder Hansen gave it a go. He tried the one that was about two stories up and had he not been wearing a harness, he would've died. The teenagers were having a blast saying, "The Lord saved you man!" "JW's on the top line!" And more. We ended up teaching one of them and he actually was interested so that's awesome.  By the end of the week we were exhausted but it's all worth it.

6. My new companion Elder Hansen taking literal leaps of faith walking a tightrope!

 I wanted to give you an update on my in-depth study of the New Testament.  I am reading the Book of Revelation. It's a very rough process, but I am currently working on chapter 15. I should finish by the end of the week. I outline it, and then list the symbolism and possible explanations combined with what the church has stated. I know that scholars probably have a lot better idea on this stuff than I do, but through the spirit I understand a lot of it now, which is awesome.

7. Here are my notes on the Book of Revelation

Finally, I would like to share with you one of my new favorite scriptures that is also a favorite of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. (He is one of the apostles in our church). It's from Hebrews 10:35-39.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

I love these scriptures because they teach me the importance of maintaining my personal faith and confidence in the Lord especially when a trial or some doubting person wants me to adjust what I believe. It is challenging for all of us to maintain a testimony and a desire when there are so many things that fight against us. 

I'm very grateful for this gospel and I'm also very grateful for people like you all who read this stuff and write to me.

Thank you very much for reading my email and have a happy thanksgiving.

Elder Peery

Week 24 in the Field: Bishop's Storehouse, Inspiration, and Great Lessons

1. Bishop's Storehouse volunteers photo: (Missionaries in the front row left to right: Sisters West, Tagilala, Squire, Cruz, Williams, Brown, Dansie, and Penrod. Second row missionaries from left to right: Elders Owens,Peery, Nimmer, Moeller, Hohneke, and Rivera. Third row missionaries from left to right: Elders Black, Colver, Alarcon, and Womack.)

Hello!

Things have been super busy here today with a lot of interesting things happening this week in general.

So on Tuesday we had a full day at the Bishop's storehouse. The storehouse is where people who are in need of food may come to receive it free of charge.  It is staffed by volunteers from our church, including missionaries.  

We had to fill about 42 orders plus at least 30 walk-ins. The amount of orders for people we needed to fill nearly made us run out of supplies, but it was awesome to see all the volunteers working together cheerfully to help those not as fortunate. It was also the last day of working in the storehouse for Elder Moeller, Elder Alarcon, and Hermana Cruz who are all going home this transfer.

It was a great day until Bro. Wolfertz who is one of the workers at the storehouse came in and said "Who rode the black bike?" I raised my hand. "Your back tire ISN'T flat!" Then everyone laughed as Elder Moeller loaded his bike onto the zone leaders bike rack.

2. District Funeral for Elder Moeller--this is because Elder Moeller is about ready to go home. Out here in the mission field, we say that he is being "killed off." Of course, it is all in good fun! Missionaries left to right: Elder Womack, Sister Squire, Sister Tagilala, Elder Owens (above being the speaker at the funeral), Elder Peery (the murderer--because I am Elder Moeller's companion), Elder Colver, and Elder Nimmer.

On Thursday we got to see our investigator who wanted to do an entire lesson on the Book of Daniel. If you have read ALL of Daniel, not just the stories, but his prophesies, too, then you'll understand why we were kind of cringing. But we are told to read the scriptures with the Spirit so we gave that a go. It was awesome. Elder Moeller and I felt totally guided by the spirit, coming up with all these great insights into the book and our investigator was agreeing with all of it 'cause it all made sense!

Afterwards we started talking about how these prophesies show that we need to be prepared when Christ comes and that's when he started talking about how he feels he needs to be baptized properly as the Bible dictates. We were more than happy to talk with him about that and will be hopefully doing so this week with my new companion, which I will get to later on.

3. Elder Moeller signing my laundry bag--a mission tradition--to have 

all your mission companions autograph it.

On Friday Elder Moeller practically finished packing and felt exhausted. But I felt prompted we needed to try this one family one more time. This family is a part member family with the husband and mother being members and the kids nonmembers but they want to be baptized. We have tried them many times but each time they were not available. As we were walking up to the door we saw the zone leaders trying to find one of their members whom I had actually happened to meet many weeks ago and remembered where they had moved. Their family happened to live right across from ours and in a miraculous event, both doors opened to two sets of elders at the same time.

Our family had loads of pets including a snake, at least one chihuahua, two big dogs, 7 fish, two birds, and a bearded dragon. It was a mini zoo! We had a great lesson and they said they'd be at church. Even though they didn't show up on Sunday, we still have a good time for when to try again.

4. Me holding a snake that likes to constrict.

Everything else is going really well. On Sunday I received word that my next companion was going to be Elder Hansen (Hanson? Hansan? No idea yet how his name is spelled) and I have no idea who he is. All I know is that I will be the senior companion in this companionship which is an awesome new thing, since my only other companions I've "killed off" (which means I was their last companion before their mission ended and they went home). Having someone younger than me in missionary age is a good and needed change. I will get to meet him tomorrow.

I hope you all are doing well. In my Bible Challenge I have reached the Book of Revelation which is way ahead of schedule--about a month ahead to be exact, so I will be doing a relatively in-depth study of it, and will still probably finish by the end of the month. Then my goal is to read the Doctrine and Covenants (a volume of revelation given to Joseph Smith by the power of God from 1820's to 1844 including other revelations to some other modern day prophets as well) before the end of the year, which is pretty doable.

6 months down!  It’s going by fast—only 18 months to go!

Elder Peery

5. Getting stuck behind a tractor!

6. It snowed about half an inch this morning--just enough to make people annoyed, 

because it still meant they had to go to work.