Meet the Mormons

So tomorrow we have a specialized training in Parker with the Parker South Zone and after the meeting we are watching Meet the Mormons!! I am so excited to watch it because dad said that it was so good so I know he's happy about that haha. He told me that I would cry watching the last story, I'll be packing the Kleenex. I'll let you know how it is!

This is super random but there is an LDS chiropractor in Castle Rock that realigns missionaries' spines for free. So, we were down in Castle Rock for a meeting on Friday so four of us sister missionaries went to get all cracked and I thought I was going to die! Especially when he snapped my neck on both sides!

It was almost like a twilight vampire moment. Let's just say that I'm glad to still be here! 

We met one of our referrals this week. He was referred to us by one of his old co-workers who is a member #membermissionarywork. His name is L and he's married with three boys and a little Asian girl that they just adopted from China. He is super nice and took a copy of the Book of Mormon! He said that he's talked to missionaries before but never in that much depth. He goes to a big Christian church in Highlands Ranch and said that he would come to church if we went to his. So, we'll see how that goes!

The General Women's conference was so good!! Did you just love it or what? I especially liked Neil F. Marriott, the sister with the Southern accent, she was a firecracker so naturally I loved her and could relate to her stories. I loved what the one sister said in the temple video to "never stop your steps to the temple". I thought that was a very good way to put it. I like that she said "steps" and not just way or plans or something  like that. I liked that it was an action word. We all need to move our feet and make goals on how we will get to the temple. We had a really nice chat with a less active lady this week. She hasn't been to the temple in years but she is really into family history work. She finds the names and then has her brother and sister-in-law do the work for her. We asked her why she doesn't want to take the names herself and she had a lot of reasons why not. We invited her to make the temple her goal again and to allow us to come back to help prepare her to get a temple recommend. I know that when we love people and are bold with them, that we will naturally want to help them along their spiritual journey.

I am so stoked for General Conference this weekend! It rejuvenates me and I look forward to it every six months! I'm so grateful that mom always bought us journals for us to take notes in. And that she encouraged us to write down questions that we had and to look for the answers as we watch. Its something I still do to this day so thank you for your great example in teaching us that importance, mom! Have you written down any questions for Conference yet?

For the testimony lessons that we have been doing with the young woman, we have been challenging them to hear them to bear their testimonies in fast and testimony meeting. A bunch of girls got up yesterday to do it and we were so proud!! Sister Harrop and I both went up to share our testimony with the ward. I am so grateful for the testimony that I have and that I am able to strengthen it each day by the small and simple things. 

I love you and miss you all! I pray for you every day. Please share the gospel with those around. You never know who needs to hear your unique testimony! You are all so great and I am lucky to have each of you in my life. You bless me with your support and strength. Have a great and safe week! Happy Fall and October! :)

Love from Lone Tree, 

Sister Peterson 

SHOUT OUTS!

Jennerz, happy twentieth birthday on Friday! You're just growing up waaayy too fast! Don't party too hard, girl! Wait for me for to do that ;) Love and miss you pookie!! Study hard in rexy!

Happy birthday to Adie on Thursday! GIRL you need to write me haha. (make sure she sees this okay?) Love you still! Stay strong and do good things! I'm praying for you! 

 CONGRATS to Thomas on getting engaged!! And also to Matt on being called as the first counselor in the bishopric! 

pic: some of the sisters in the zone at the women's conference! 

You Never Know How Much Good You Do

What a crazy week! It went by super fast! Does anyone else agree with that? It was a good week full of road trips to the springs, exchanges and a wedding in Parker. We have had a few testimony lessons with more of the young women in the ward. We made some cute handouts for it so its been fun to do! I love working with the youth :) They invited us to the laurel's activity on Wednesday for a Q & A and to make nutella recipes. I'M SO THERE ITS INSANE. We finally got a hold of one of the less active laurels! We had lunch with her and her non-member boyfriend who is sort of interested in what we believe in. It was awesome to get to know Bianca, she's a sweet girl!

 

So, update on J the lady that we were helping move for a few months. She has a brain tumor and is going through nasty chemotherapy. Sadly she moved out of the mission so we can't go see her :( The sisters in her new ward are visiting her so that's good. She still wants to get baptized and take the lessons from Sister Harrop and I but she is just so sick that it wouldn't be anytime soon. We know that God knows her heart and her intentions. Its just so sad because they don't know how much time she has left. There is also a lady in our ward, T that is back in the hospital for the millionth time and they don't know what's wrong and how much longer she has either because its just the same problems over and over again. Its a sad time for sure but a comforting one at the same time because we know where they will be going. I am grateful that our loving Father in Heaven has given us His plan for each of us so that we don't need to wonder what will happen after this life. My heart goes out to Aunt Barb and her sister. I know that you will see her again someday and that you won't ever have to leave each other again. I am sooo blessed to know that and to have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for my knowledge that life continues and that death is not the end. It brings me so much comfort and peace.

 

Do you remember that African man, R? The double amputee? He would come to our ward with his girlfriend, R who was returning back to activity. Sister Bjarnason and I would teach him in gospel principles each week. So he actually lives in Aurora which is in another mission but we just found out yesterday that HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!! How awesome is that?! We want to try to get permission to go but we will see what happens. Its just another testimony to me that it doesn't matter where the baptism takes place. The important thing is that they are on the path to return to live with our Father in Heaven again. Its just neat to think that we were able to help him in any way to reach that decision. You really never know who you are helping! Which reminds me! Okay so there's a new Mormon message out as of a few days ago! (Yeah, Sister Harrop and I are kind of obsessed with Mormon messages....don't judge!) But its called "you never know" and its kind of like this mini movie about this woman who has this huge to-do list and how there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. And at the end of the video it shows her sitting on her couch crying because of her stressful day where she thinks she didn't get enough done but then it shows the lives of all the people that she came in contact with that day and how she helped them. At the time, she didn't know how much she helped those people out and she may never know but it was a good message about how we really do never know how much we influence the lives of us around us. It was inspired by a talk given by President Hinckley called "To the Women of the Church" Its an excellent talk that everyone should read! He says “You never know. You never know whether you do any good. You never know how much good you do.” Here's the link so go watch it!! And remember that you do enough and that your best is good enough :) 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3792885561001&cid=HPFR091914425

 

I came across this sweet website on lds.org called "smallandsimpletruths.com". Its a blog run by teenagers in Utah. Maybe it would be a good youth activity to talk about because they write about our standards and why they keep them. I thought it was a cute little site that would be fun for Hays to take a look at. I also found this link about the youth temple challenge. Check it out! Is our ward doing this? https://www.lds.org/topics/family-history/temple-challenge?lang=eng

 

In the ward, we're getting ready to start a 40 day fast soon. Its when each family in the ward picks a day to fast for missionary opportunities and then they have us over for dinner to break their fast. We'll share a message with them and ask them how their fast went. We are really hoping that it will get the ward excited about missionary work and we're hoping to see miracles come from it!

 

Well that's about it from me for this week. I am enjoying myself and the mission! I am just so grateful to be here and to learn and grow as much as I have. I wouldn't be who I am without being here serving the Lord and I know that I have a ton more of learning and growing to do! Still trying to figure out how to be perfect... I'll let you know when I do. I hope that you are all happy and safe! I pray for you every day and hope that you are sharing the gospel with others! Mom and dad were BEASTS this week by going to MONTCO and sharing our beliefs with the people there!!! My parents are amazing and I am soo proud and impressed!! :) Step it up sisters hahaha I love you!!!!!

 

xoxo

Sister Peterson

 

pics: Just on an important call with President Monson. I got called as the new AP. Don't act too surprised ;)

reppin AZ swag for Ami, Matt and Leah! Those license plats are legit everywhere! 

Half Marathon to the Temple?! Beast Mode!

What a glorious crazy week it has been! Let me just start this email off with saying that I am so sore and I am so sick. Fabulous, right? Can't really breathe, nbd. Also, sorry this email is a bit later then usual. The interent at the library that we usually go to was down so we found a ride down to Castle Rock's library so here I am now! Oh the joys of relying on the internet haha.

 

As most of you know, four of us sister missionaries went on a temple walk with the Castle Rock ward young women on Saturday. It was intense! We walked from Castle Rock to the Denver Temple which is thirteen miles so that explainsm why I am sore. Ouch! We started out a little after 630 am and we gave a devotional about how we all need to keep the temple in our sights. There were also some more devotionals and stops along the way to the temple. Had to stock up on snacks! Apparenty they do this every year. I think thats a great idea! Could you imagine if we did this growing up? Walking to Manhattan or DC? We would be DEAD. Haha there is no way! Talk about enduring to the end! The leaders wanted to show the girls that trials and hardships will come their way but if they will keep the temples in their sights that they will reach their goal! And it felt so good to finally arrive at the temple. I can't even beign to describe how we all felt when we first saw the temple spires. We were shouting for joy!! Basically fell to the ground with joy. The aftermath was not so pretty though, Sister Harrop and I have been walking around like the Quazi the hunchback haha. Our relief society president called us last night to make sure that we were okay because she said that we didn't seem like our normal selves at church haha so sad!! And the Killpacks have been taking care of us. So, no worries mom we are being watched over!

 

Our district leader asked us to plan the activity for district meeting on Friday so of course we did a legit one! We did a Harry Potter themed activity. It was the tri missionary tournament so we did a different game for each prinicple in the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. We had them start out by picking out a name from the Goblet of Fire. We did a faith walk where we blindfolded them and had them walk (or run into things if you're the elders haha) around an obstacle course while we talked to them like the Holy Ghost whispers to us. We did a sports challenge, made them chug a water bottle and then we hid a sticky note around the building that they had to find. That last one was kind of like the merpeople in the hp, clever right? We had a lot of fun planning it so we're going to ask our dl if he will let us do the activites every week!

 

The ward missionaries have been making apointments with the young women for us to go over and talk about testimonies with them. Its been awesome to work with the girls more because I feel like I was just in the young women's program. Good times!

 

I am doing great and loving the mission! This is where I need to be in my life right now. I know that this gospel is true and is for our happiness. It is here so that we can all progress and return to live with our Father in Heaven someday. You are all so great and I am so thankful for you. I love you and miss you!! Thanks for sending a package, mom. You are the best!

 

xoxo

Sister Peterson

Happiness Can Last for Eternity

So transfers are tomorrow and Sister Harrop and I are staying together again in Lone Tree! This transfer is only five weeks and the next one is seven weeks because of the mission tour. Its when an apostle or area seventy come to visit the mission in November each year so President Rehm just switched those weeks around. 

Okay so this is probably one of the weirdest stories ever so just go with it haha. On Wednesday night, K said that we could come over and talk about the chapters he read in the Book of Mormon. He started off the conversation by saying "I had a vision about you. In it I saw that your head was on the chopping block like you were going to get beheaded. But that you were okay with it because you were doing it for your faith because you are so convicted of what you believe in. It reminded me of Paul in the bible." and I was like "Oh, both of us?" and he said "No, just you." and pointed at me. Not going to lie, I was a little freaked out at first because no one has ever told me that they've had a vision about me let alone of me getting killed!!!! But then I was sort of flattered in a twisted way because he compared me to the rock star apostle Paul and told me that I am so convicted if what I believe that I would be willing to lay down my life for my faith. 

G, the eight year old that we had been teaching the lessons to got baptized on Saturday!! It was such a sweet baptism and the Spirit was very strong there. It was neat to be a part of that experience :)

Still regularly teaching B who is less active. Its going to be a long road for him but we know that he will make the turn around that he needs! Its so important that we know and understand that our Father in Heaven LOVES us and wants whats best for us. 

Miracles happen! Sister Harrop and I biked to service on Thursday. It was down all these dirt roads with twists and turns so we were sore!! Are you proud that I'm putting the bike to use? Well...every now and then. Probably never again haha knock on wood!! 

I have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A lot of people ask us what we love most about our missions. There's a ton of things that I love about the mission!! But if I had to pick just one reason right now, I guess it would be how happy I have been! I was happy before the mission but there's something about sharing the gospel with others that brings me true happiness. Its not worldly, its not temporary but its true happiness! Its happiness that will last me a lot longer then eating ice cream every day. And ice cream really does make me happy! But can you imagine enjoying that happiness forever? Just think of one thing that brings you joy and multiply by infinity. That is what the Gospel does for us. It makes us that happy. Now don't you just want to share it with everyone around you? They want that happiness as well, some of them just don't know it yet or they don't know where to find it. So, its our responsibility to make that way possible for them and to help them along their journey. I am so grateful and blessed to have the restored gospel in my life. I'm thankful for my wonderful parents who raised me in the truth and who taught me the lessons of faith, love and obedience to my Father in Heaven. The lessons that I have learned growing up with them have blessed me so much on the mission and have helped me to in turn help others. 

I love you all soo much and miss you!!! Remember who you are and act accordingly! :)

Stay classy!

Sister Peterson 

My new address: 

7062 Serena Drive

Castle Pines, CO 80108

Happy September

Hey family! How is everyone doing? Hay hays how was your first day of high school? Man, that really makes me feel old! haha

 

We had a great week! I have a really cool story that happened to us on Friday. It was after our dinner appointment and we felt like we needed to go see this referral named K. We had stopped by once before but he wasn't home at the time. We figured we'd give it a shot and went to knock on his door. Luckily, he answered the door and let us in and we ended up talking to him for over an hour. He even had guests over that night and still let us in! Crazy right? One of the coolest things was when a lady came over to where we were talking and asked us if we were the LDS missionaries. We told her that we were and she went on to tell us that she was a member randomly visiting from the Philipeans. And he even said that it was sign!! The good kind though! He told us that he's looked into a lot of other churches but that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints always kept coming back to him. He's never let missionaries in before or had went into that much depth with him before. We gave him a Book of Mormon and bore powerful testimony that if he read it with a sincere and open heart that God would answer him. We left and he told us to give him a few weeks to read. He texted us Sunday afternoon saying that he was fourteen chapters into first Nephi and that it was time for a revisit. That was probably one of the neatest experiences ever! I have a testimony that when we follow the inspiratons that we receive from the Holy Ghost that God will always lead us to where we need to be.

 

That lady, J that we have been helping lately moved out of the mission boundaries!! But we are going to start teaching her in the Evanson's home and she wants to be baptized!! Not sure how it will all work out now that she's moved but I just know that everything will work out and that she was prepared for the gospel to come into her life at this exact moment.

 

We've been teaching a less active named B ever since I got here and he is progressing really well! He's come to sacrament meeting twice in the past few months which is a huge stepping stone for him. We've been teaching him a member's home and its so great to get the members involved. They always have really great insights so share.

 

Soooo we helped Sister Evanson teach early morning seminary on Thursday and we received permission from President Rehm to go across the street to the other mission. Talk about crazy right?! So we were in the Denver South Mission for like an hour. When we drove across the street, Sister Harrop and I looked at each other like we did something wrong haha it was too funny.

 

Okay, so we are moving on Saturday. So many moves on the mission!! haha. We are moving in with the Killpacks, they are an older couple in the mission. They are so sweet! Transfes are next Tuesday so I will let you know what happens to see if I need to give you their address or not.

 

I love and miss you all so much! You all have impacted my life in one way or another and I just want to thank you for that. Until next week!

 

Love,

Sister Peterson