August 26, 2013

Hello!

I don't know why my letters aren't sending. Sorry- I hope you were able to retrieve my last email...

Sounds like you had a real nice time on your trip mom! Mom, I've decided I want to marry someone from the east coast because I really want to go on vacation and see more over there. :) Great idea right?

Well we had Stake Conference yesterday. This is the Abilene Stake, and since that is like 2 hours away they did a morning session there, and an afternoon session here. They were exactly the same, but the speakers all drove so the members wouldn't have to. It was very nice. The temple president and his wife spoke, as well as President and Sister Augustin and the stake leaders. Sister Augustin shared the story of Elder Christensen and his lost luggage (which they found) and the miracle of prayers that brought that to pass.

We have bike days on Thursdays- always an adventure especially when the wind is blowing- but we quite enjoy them actually. One of our investigators, C, was really upset when we showed up to her appointment on our bikes. The member who was coming to her lesson told us we should have called her and she would have come and got us. But really we don't mind. :) Yes it is super hot, and yes we wish we weren't in skirts, but it is an adventure. I told C exactly that and said "where is your sense of adventure?!" and she said, "not in a skirt!!" She told us we look tacky. haha I think we look awesome!

oh bytheway! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope it's a happy one!!

Tomorrow is our fun day- we are driving up to Abilene to play some baseball. I am excited. Sister R will be there. They are the only other set of sisters in our zone, but since we will be combined with the Abilene zone there is another set there! I don't know any of those sisters because we have had such an influx I have no idea who half of them are. When I came on my mission there were about 18 sisters.Now there are about 35!! Twice as many!!  Like Sister L and I were the only ones who came in on our transfer, and now there are like ten coming in at a time. And after this next transfer, when Sister C goes home- Sister L and I will be the oldest sisters in the mission- because after Sister C came in, there where like 2 transfers where no sisters came to this mission! Things are a changing!! It is very exciting and I guess back home they say it is the "thing" now to do to serve a mission. (which in some cases is scary if you ask me- if they have no conviction to be here it will just make the hard times even harder!)

We didn't go skirt shopping last week, so we are going to try to go today. :) :) :)

That's about all I've got!

Love you all lots! xoxo Sister Peterson

August 19, 2014

Hello!!

 

I got your package with all the fun (zucchini bread) and not so fun (the dead bug) surprises!! It was a great way to start off the week! I also just looked through the enormous amount of photo's you sent.

 

We had a very great week with lots of great stuff accomplished- which is amazing because Thursday night I felt so sick we had to come in early and then I went to be around 10 and didn't wake up until 3:00 in the afternoon!! My body had said I'm done, that's it! And I had an upset stomach all day that day too, but by Sunday I was feeling much better! Knowing that the clock is ticking with my time left as a missionary I am pushing full steam ahead every day, and I think getting sick is God's way of telling me to slow down. And I think my companions like the break too. But after just one day of being sick- I am completely tired of it! It is no fun to be sick- but it is especially no fun to be sick as a missionary. I called Sister Augustin when I was felling really bad and said, "I just wish I could call my mom, but I can't so I'm calling you." When I told her how I had slept for like a half day she told me she was proud of me because she knows I am not the type to just do that.  There is not a lot you can really do around the apartment when you are sick so I was so glad when I was feeling better so we could get back out there.

 

Before I was sick we had the Sisters from Midland come. Sister Tu from Elk Ridge (I believe) is our Sister trainer leader, and she brought her two companions who she is training. Sister B from Hooper, UT, and Sister To from like Sandy. Sister Tu has been out now about a year and has been a trainer the WHOLE TIME! I told her I feel so bad for her, but she says she doesn't know anything different, so this is just life. She is awesome and it was nice to be able to work with them, and learn with them and encourage and support them too.

 

We have an exciting day today: we are going SKIRT SHOPPING! There is this amazing woman in our ward, Sister Z: her daughter is in the Twin Falls mission right now. But she has been working with like 5 of her friends and we have a lesson in her home at least once a week, so we have gotten to know her really well. Anyhow- we were asking her where her daughter got skirts for her mission because last week we went to the mall, but had zero luck. Nothing is mission appropriate. Or if it is it is really pricey. So she said today she would take us to some secondhand stores and show us around the shopping in town! I have been dying for something new to wear so I am so very excited!!

 

Oh another quick update! President had a conf call this past week and next Tuesday, because we have all being working so hard, we are having a fun day! A day full of outside activities to relax a bit and fellowship one another! We are playing baseball up in Abilene with the missionaries in that zone. Each zone has a different day of the week (since our mission is too huge). But we are all very excited and this is unheard of! yay yay!!

 

I love you all!!

 

we had zone training and the sisters from brownwood came out! :)

This is R, we were teaching her but she was moving so she wanted to give us a gift! It is a solar system spray painting! Who knew- it's just like the big city life! haha so talented so cool!

August 12, 2013

Um let's see what is going on in my life?  We are having a lot of success here in our area. We have a few baptismal dates set, but the most exciting thing for me currently is our work with the less actives here. They are our most progressing people. We had 3 at church on Sunday- with one of them having that be the first time in over 10 years!! She is amazing and it was a miracle the way that Heavenly Father lead us to her. She was one of our miracles last week, and she is still going strong. Everyday I am amazed how much God loves each one of us- in the way that He has lead us to be exactly in the right place at the right time! Last night I called one of our investigators to check up on her commitment to pray, and when I called she had been crying and I was able to testify of how much love Heavenly Father has for her that I would be prompted to call her right then. Sometimes I realize how close I am to coming home and it breaks my heart. I love these people and these opportunities to do good, so much.

 

I honestly don't know what else to update you on. I will take better notes for next week. I miss and love you all! xoxo

the sunsets are from heaven here!

And my only boyfriend! Woof Woof

August 5, 2013

Hello hello!

Hope you are all having fun in Island Park, I CANNOT wait to go next year! There is a lake here I would say comparable to Utah Lake, it is just as brown. It is called lake Nasworthy but most people here call it lake Nasty Water. People drive through town towing their boats and it gets me an itching to go! It is a bummer I come home in the winter because I sure do miss the water! 

We had a nice week here- and quite a few miracles! On Thursday we were able to contact 4 people throughout the day that we have been trying to get in contact with (some of them for months) all of them were not on our plans to see, but we were lead there by the Spirit at the exact time that they were home. It was amazing and though we haven't seen the fruits of it (yet) it was a sign to me that I am doing what Heavenly Father wants us to. I had been praying that I would be more focused on what God want's me focused on, and not get caught up in the work or checklist part of it all. And it was a huge answer to prayer that He is the one leading us here.

Also remember T our recent convert- well we have been still trying to teach his wife L and stepdaughter R. Well, R is kinda at a standstill, but L, who was our tough cookie, has opened up and changed!! Sister C asked her if she can see the change that has happened in her faith and her response was, "Duh! Can't you?!" hahaha We fasted yesterday that she will be able to come to church, since she works on Sundays, but right now we are so excited for her! She is reading and asking questions and changing!! It is so amazing to be a part of and I am so lucky!

Yes a couple of us had email troubles last week so i am so glad you could come in and get my email last week! too crazy!

Oh dad we do go to ward council, but we have the ward mission leader talk, but it helps to have us there so they can get to know us. It is a really good idea, I really like it!

Things are going well with the companions here too. Sometimes having to work with each other 24/7 is tough but I know that this is making me a better person and helping them too. I also know that this mission is going to be so valuable as a future mama!

I miss you all lots! Have so much fun and I can't wait till we are all together soon! xoxo

 

pic of me as a missionary- aren't I cute! haha

Yes we are THOSE sisters! Welcome to the two new elders in our ward! Fresh from the MTC! 

this is me today!! haha