September 2, 2013

Hello!

 

Just so you know transfer calls are this Saturday and I have no idea what is going to happen!!

 

Sorry I am not good at writing emails. My bad. So to answer mama's questions:

 

What was a funny thing that happened this week?

We had that fun day in Abilene on Tuesday and on our drive back I'm just driving and my comps are just chilling and I start screaming at the top of my lungs! They both think we are about to die- but as quick as I started I stopped screaming because the terror had passed! Right in front of us I almost hit none other than a ROAD RUNNER! Like the real thing (and they are not as big or as fast as in the bugs bunny cartoon!) Sure enough it was right there and I was so worried we were going to hit it, but luckily we didn't (no thanks to my screaming) but it did make me feel better (even if it scared the daylights out of my comps) haha

What was a spiritual thing that happened this week?

We are teaching this guy named T. He works with computers and is super literal and very cut and dry. So he believes the Bible's teachings are true, but not that the stories are true. Anyhow- we had a lesson with him last night about the Plan of Salvation- and we know that all of his questions about Jesus being the Son of God- and all of his pieces of truth: will be solved as he comes to know the Book of Mormon is true. And as we were testifying we could see it sinking in and it was so amazing to be a part of! The Church is true!

 

Tell us about 2 new people that you met this week, whether they were interested in the gospel or not.

We were referred by some members to this 12 boy. He is best friends with their son and has been coming to church with them off and on. He is super smart and was correcting one of their sons about the brass plates one time. Then he asked the parents if he could be baptized so they told us to come over when he is there sometime. We did on Sunday after church and had a great first lesson with him. We got his mom's number and she was out of town but hopefully will be able to help the whole family!

Tell us what the weather is like currently.

Currently it is super hot outside. Like I can't stand having my hair down because I am dying hot. haha

What is your Sunday routine?

Well we get up like usual and get ready. Then studies like usual- unless it is our week for ward council then we go early. Church is at 10:20 because we share the building with a Spanish Branch so we have Sacrament last so that primary can be combined. Then we come home have lunch and a second hour of comp study since I am training. Then normal missionary stuff. Lessons, trying people the works. Sundays are nothing different really for missionaries at least. :) But always awesome.

 

We had a really nice week and I love both of my companions so I am anxious to see what happens this weekend! Also here are some pictures!! -they have a ton of sheep statues here because they used to have a lot of sheep... but we went shopping last monday and I had to get a picture of this little guy!!

 

Love you lots!

windmills-- a million of them on our way to Abilene!!

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

July 29, 2013

Well transfer calls came at the early morning time of 12:30 am! We waited up all that time to just find out that we are all staying! Which I think is really good. We all have a lot to learn from each other still, so I am good with it!

 

So since the boys get to have all this fun up in Alaska, does that mean when I get home all of us girls get to go play too?! Dad says that Mitch is quite the person up in Alaska! Woot woot! Mitch thanks for all the pictures it was fun to see everything! I miss ya'll!

 

Um I am not sure what else to write! There are lots of mosquitoes here, and our legs most of the time look like we have the chicken pox. We have bug spray but the mosquitoes get us in the most unexpected times! It doesn't matter where we are or how long we are out they always find us! And I have only ever been bitten on my arm and then today my neck once, but other than that it is always our legs!!!

 

Ummm... the work is still progressing we have lots of appointments almost everyday, but this past week we didn't have any investigators at church. We did have quite a few less actives that we are working with. 3 in fact! I love working with less actives. Number one they are nicer, number two they usually know that this is true, and number three they usually want to come back but just want help. And that is what we are here for!! It has also been great to see the way the ward members are wanting to help us, sometimes they just need to be taught how to help, how to do missionary work, and then they are off like a jet! It is really awesome and now that our ward mission leader is back (he was gone for all of July) we can really make a difference! It is great and I am very excited for this transfer! Can you believe it is already August!!

 

I love you all!!

 

Love your missionary!

July 22, 2013

Hello!

This week has been a rainy one which is a nice change from the blazing heat! But holy cow! It's almost AUGUST!! We get transfer calls this Saturday night and we will have to just see what happens. I have really enjoyed my companions, and I will be sad to have some change, but we all know that this gospel is not a gospel of comfort, we all have to change to grow. I'm excited for all that the mission has to hold for these two amazing girls!

We have had quite the eventful week. On Tuesday the sisters from Monahans came for exchanges. Sister D, S, and Sc. (Sister D comes home this week to American Fork Utah!! I'll give her your info so you can go to her homecoming if you'd like).  I have seen such a great change in Sister S and it is so exciting. So it was fun to have her around for the day. And Sister Sc came out with Sister P, and is from Australia (sadly no accent). It is always so nice to get together with other missionaries, and so helpful to have that encouragement and see the way that we can work better.

Then we have been having members really step up and start pushing the work forward. We had a part member family at church that a member asked us to go see, and now they are involved in Scouts and Mutual and now church!! And then a member led us to her next door neighbor and she is pumped and ready to join! And then we went with a member to visit their neighbor in the hospital and had a wonderful lesson there. We also had 3 members yesterday refer us to the same less active family (we get the hint!!) and after weekly planning on Friday and prayerfully choosing a name of a member from the ward to go visit, a different member called us last night and referred us to THAT exact name! Miracles are happening!

I love you all! xoxox Sister Peterson

companion unity! matchie matchie and we didn't even plan it!!