Is It Spring Yet?

Familia! How is everyone doing? Whats new? MLK day of service looked like it was so much fun, that's awesome that you are still doing that! It's funny because we helped a family paint their bedroom and bathroom this week. I really like painting, there is something relaxing about it. Is baby Leah walking yet?! What's the word on that?

There were a few exciting things that happened this week! For starters, our car has been in the shop since Wednesday so we have had to bike. Yes, mom you read that correctly, I have been BIKING...IN A SKIRT. Well, the first two times we biked to in our service clothes thank goodness. But yesterday we couldn't avoid that any longer. Let's just say biking in a skirt was interesting... not as difficult as I thought it would be but definitely not the easiest. The wind is not your friend...we'll just leave it at that. But aside from biking struggles and getting rides from the lovely members in our ward whenever we can, this past week was great!

S came to church on Sunday and we actually rode with his fellow-shippers, the Massey's, to and from church so it was cool to talk with him about how he liked church and if he learned anything new. He still is kind of confused about a few things but we are starting up his lessons again this week! We are planning on re-teaching him all of the lessons so that we can start from the very beginning to see where he is at. Last week, when Sister Ercanbrack and I were doing our weekly planning we weren't sure what to do with S so we decided to say a prayer and ask for help. After our prayer I felt impressed that we should sing a hymn to him.. I know right?? We both looked at each other like you sure? But as we talked about it more we both felt like it was the right thing to do. We told the Masseys and they are fully on board and even want to sing with us as well! We are planning on teaching The Restoration and then singing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". Of course we need to practice... a lot but we have faith that it will be an amazing spiritual experience for everyone!

Exciting news! G (the lady who has been less active for over 20 years) called us on Friday and wants us to come over sometime this week to help her organize her apartment! We were sooo excited to listen to that voice-mail and we just know that The Spirit has touched her heart and prompted her to call us. We see great things happening there!

Yesterday we focused on visiting less actives and we had great conversations with two ladies and even gave a Book of Mormon to a part member family. I know that Heavenly Father provides a way His good and faithful servants. I know that as I try my best to be a true disciple of Christ that I will see the fruits of my labor. I know that He leads and guides us to those who are honestly seeking for the truth. He promises that "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee" and I testify that that is true. I have felt His hand guiding me on my mission more then I have ever felt before. Jesus Christ is my Savior and He loves us more then we could ever imagine. He loves YOU and they both want you to return to live with them again. Never loose sight of that eternal perspective.

Well, family its time for me to go now but I love and miss you all soo very much! I am so grateful for your support and encouragement now and throughout my life. I pray that you will have missionary opportunities to share the Gospel with those around you because it will make you happy. Have a great week and stay safe and know that I am thinking of you!!!

xoxo
Sister Peterson

Sister Missionary-No Greater Call

Can you believe that 2014 is already here?! It's crazy to me! So what are some of your New Years resolutions? Congrats Jared on starting your new job today. good luck bro! I must say that I am a tad bit jealous that you two are only 15 minutes away from Disneyland. Also, Leah took a few big girl steps??!? Videos please!!!!

We had a wonderful week! We saw a lot of miracles both big and small! This past week was definitely a testimony builder of my faith. We all need to be striving to have the faith that Heavenly Father knows we can have. We need to trust in Him that He will deliver us out of bondage and that He will be there when we will. We don't always know all the reasons behind why people sometimes reject our message but we can take comfort in the fact that The Lord plants the seeds in their hearts and that He does prepare people for us to find and teach. Now it is just up to us to find those people and I know that they are out there! We should be regularly doing a self evatulation on where our faith is. I know that as we do that, we will be able to see the areas that we do well in and also the areas that we can all improve in. Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect but He does expect us to try our best. I love Him and all that He has done for me by sending His son, our savior, Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. What an amazing example of unconditional love!

We took two different members out with us on two different days and saw miracles! A few people said that we could come back so we are going to this week. We totally saw how helpful it was to have members with you because their perspective is always needed. We had a Young Woman come out with us and she took us around her neighborhood and introduced us to her neighborbors as her "missionary friends" it was a really awesome expereince. And if you haven't gone out teaching with the missionaries yet, you should go! It will be an amazing experience for everyone involved :)

My ward is now from 2-5pm so that was a little rough yesterday especially with it being fast Sunday. We taught the ctr 5 class and they were so cute! Thankfully nap time didn't cut into primary time or we would've had some issues...

I love and miss you all sooo much! I know I say it every week but I really mean it. You all mean the world to me and I am so grateful to have you in my life! I have never been happier in my life and I know that my happiness stems from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Birthday shout-outs to Jennie Duncan and Bonnie Hilton. You both are amazing woman and I admire and love you!!! 

xoxo
Sister Peterson

Happy New Year from Co. Springs

Oh my! Oh my! It was SOOOO good to see all of your faces on Christmas day. It made my life! (I won't say my year because well, as you know, that's almost over) but it meant so much to me that we were able to Skype and see each other!! It was the best Christmas present that I could ever ask for! You all mean the world to me and I love you all so much! Baby Leah is getting so big, I can't even deal with that haha.

After we skyped, we watched Elf and laughed so hard because it is hilarious. And then we basically got to relax and eat lots of food (...ooops). We went to the Ricks house (member's in our ward) because they wanted us to drop by to give us a present. (more baby lips makes Sister Peterson a happy missionary haha) Everyone here is so great and spoils us so much. We also watched The Lizzie McGuire movie and sang along to the whole movie. #childhoodmemories. Christmas was an amazing day and I felt so much love that our Savior and our Father in Heaven has for the people around us.

My week has been pretty awesome. On, Saturday, we went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders and we focused solely on finding using the area book. We divided up all the names we could find between the two championships and went to see those people! We ended up handing out six copies of the Book of Mormon and talking with a lot of people. So we have a few potential investigators now. There was an older couple that we went caroling to last week that we stopped by and taught The message of the Restoration and gave them a Book of Mormon and she said "I have never actually sat down and read the BofM but this looks really interesting!" We left her with our number and she said she would call us. She also works with a member so she said that they have talked about the church before. There were three other people that said we could come back as well and talk with them more. So that is looking hopeful! We all maily focused on our faith because if we have that faith just that small particle of faith that Heavenly Father will put those people in our path that are prepared to hear our message, that we will find them. And I believe that to be true!

The craziest thing happened yesterday at church! I stood up after Sacrament meeting and turned around to this girl with her hand out saying "Hi I'm Kallie Stolk" (she was my roommate at BYU-I this past winter and she is from Colorado Springs! Her family lives in the High Forest ward in the Stake where I am currently serving) I basically freaked out and ran around the pew and we gave each other a huge bear hug!! It made my day!! Thanks for stalking me, Kal! I love you! This is my shout-out to you, girl ;)

I can't believe that 2014 is almost here... for New Years Eve we have to be in at 6pm. Party in the USA... haha we will probably just ring in the New Year, East Coast style so at 10 our time and then go to bed at 10:30. We are pretty wild as missionaries, I know hahaha. As we think about the New Year, what are some things that are most important to you in life? What are some of your goals? I know most people set goals to work out more/lose weight but as we reflect on 2013 we can think what we want to do better this New Year and what we want to work on. So, with the New Year approaching its really important to remember whats important in life. Like family, your testimony, temples, sharing the gospel with others and developing Christlike attributes just to name a few. I know that being on the Lord's errand for the past almost five months has really put into perspective what is truly important in life. So I would just invite you to think about what is important to you and if there is anything that you could do without, do without it! Start a new fresh year and know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is REAL and that it is for you and me. You are all so important to me and I couldn't have asked for a better family! I love you and miss you all soooo much. Have a safe and happy new year!!

xoxo

Sister Peterson