Monday, October 27, 2014

Sisterssssss...We FLY!

y'all better get that reference)

Hey everyone, 

I had a great week. Just livin up the mish life! Happy Halloween on Friday, what's everyone doing? Send me pictures!! 

Tuesdays we had interviews with President Rehm and one of the first things he said to me was "If I remember correctly you go home in Febrary. So that's three transfers so that's 18 weeks." I was like "UHM...WHAT?" He then proceeded to tell me that when people ask me about going home that it should push me to feel a sense of urgency to be the best that I can be. And honestly, that's all I want. I want to be the best missionary for my Father in Heaven. He deserves me to work my hardest for His children. So, at first what seemed like a weird comment from my mission president turned into some wise council from him ha. 

I went on exchanges with Sister Durtschi, a sister training leader. She is so awesome! We came out together so we've known each other awhile. Matt, she knows your family because she is from Ridgecrest. Small world! 

This area has a lot of service going on which is awesome! I have totally learned to love serving people on the mission. I wasn't the best at it before because I was a ridiculous girl but now I know the importance of serving those around us. That is when I can truly love someone when I see them through God's eyes. 

Saturday, was the Trunk or Treat! It was a ton of fun and a lot of non-members came. Our ward is on fire with inviting people to church and activities. It's refreshing. K, our investigator was there with her husband who isn't as interested as her so that was neat. J, the less active that we are working with came but it was just for the free food..... but it was the first time that she stepped inside a church building in six-eight months. So, that's progress! We helped her clean her house on Friday and asked her if we could re-teach her the lessons and she was up for it but then last minute she cancelled on us and didn't come to church :( What a let down!! But that's the way the mission goes, just have to allow yourself to be sad for them for a minute and then pick yourself back up and go help someone else in need. 

This is really random but there's a sister in the ward that trained Sister Saldavar from the District 2. Haha so that's my claim to fame! 

Lately, I have been focusing on chapter six in Preach my Gospel. It's the Christlike Attribute chapter. Sister Durtschi and I taught it in our pmg class on Thursday. I have been studying the attribute of charity and love. I know that everything we do stems out of our love for that person or thing. Christ loved everyone perfectly and although we can't do that because it's really hard and none of us are perfect, He will help us if we let Him. I have been praying to have more charity and love for my fellowmen and I know that Heavenly Father has blessed me with more patience or seeing someone's point of view. Just little things like that but to me they make a huge difference. I want to challenge you to do the Christlike Attribute activity and let know how it goes! I know that it will bless your life as you try to be more like Christ. Plus you will become happier and who doesn't want that? :)

SHOUT-OUTS!

Hailey, Happy sixteenth birthday today!! Stop growing up so fast, it's just weird!! Enjoy your day and have fun with mom! Don't forget to beat those boys off with a stick ;) (Dad, this comment is for you.) How's driving going? 

Sister Knight, happy birthday to you last week!! (I dunno about you but I'm feelin twenty-twooooo) You are a rockstar and are doing fabulous things for the people in Utah!! I hope you had a great birthday. Love you!! 

Hermana Infanzon, can't believe that you will be home in blessed PA on Thursday! You served an AMAZING mission. I am so proud of you and I know that your Heavenly Father is pleased with the work that you have done. You have blessed so many lives in El Salvador and the people will never forget you. I can't wait to go back and visit the mish with you, boo! Te amo mucho!!! :) Have a safe flight and write me ASAP. 

Love you! Miss you!! Make me proud by sharing the gospel with someone this week! Dad told me a cool story in his email about sharing his testimony. Now, everyone please do the same! 

xoxo
Sister Peterson 

Monday, October 20, 2014

My Companions a Cripple

Sooo I know you're all just dying to know how my new area and companion are! And to answer both of those things, they are awesome! This area has a lot going on. We have activities going on every night basically so that's been really nice to be busy. We go to mutual on Tuesdays, pmg planning with the district on Wednesdays, Thursdays is a preach my gospel class with the youth in the 3 wards and we play sports after and Saturday is sports night with the youth. So we work with the youth a lot and its really fun!! They are on fire with sharing the gospel with their friends! 

And my companion, Sister Stock is 19, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, went to BYU-I for a year before the mission and has been out for six months and has one arm. ...Seriously. Nah, just kidding. She broke her wrist the week before I got here playing an intense came called church dodge ball. Crazy right? So I have been taking care of her basically earning my mom points as we like to call it haha. She is really awesome though. She is a hard worker and is very bold, so we throw down on everyone and work well together. So, it's been really great so far! We have a few potentials that we are trying to work with and then an investigator named Kristie who is close to a baptism date but doesn't want to be rushed. She asked the sisters before I got here if we could do a last minute baptism if she randomly called her one day? UHM HECK YES. We're also working closely with a less active lady named Jody who said that she would come to church on Sunday and apparently she never said that before so that's winning! 

We had stake conference this weekend. Always makes me think of dad. Yesterday, it was broadcast from Salt Lake and Elder Bednar and Elder Scott both spoke. They were both really great talks about prayer and revelation. It was like a little dose of General Conference! 

We have the ward trunk or treat on Saturday which is going to be really fun even though we can't dress up... black and orange will have to do, right?

Random: But the family that we live with are the Parcells and they have two cats! This is the first time on my mission that I have lived with cats! Miracles! THeir names are Lexi and George and they are so precious. Makes me a happy sister missionary! hahaha Sister Stock and I both have crazy cat lady syndrome. Sorry bout it. 

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change lives. I have seen it and my life has changed because of it. God is good!! Thank Him each day for the many blessings that you have because of Him. I've been reading in Mosiah when Abinadi is speaking to wicked King Noah and I love what Abinadi says  And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
Christ is our light and because of Him, we can all live again and live with those that we love!! So let's all be a little more happier and enthusiastic about sharing the good news of what Christ has done for us with those around you. 
That's about it for me. I hope that y'all have a blessed week! Love you! Miss you! 
xoxo
Sister Peterson 



pics: we did service on a farm on Saturday and bottle fed these cute baby goats!
Saying goodbye to Sister Harrop :(


Monday, October 13, 2014

Next Stop CO Springs

Hey everyone!

This just in: I am getting transferred to the Colorado Springs East Zone. I will be in the Meridian ward with Sister Stock. I am excited and ready for this change! It possibly could be my last area...freaking out only slightly. But it will be good and now the only challenge is packing (that worst thing ever!) I don't know how I have collected so much stuff over the past fourteen months but I have so mom, look out for a truck load of stuff coming home. Haha only kidding.. more like ten boxes.

My last week (who knew!) in Lone Tree was pretty great! 

Sister Harrop and I met the funniest guy at the library last week. He was a Southern black so of course he was automatically cool haha. His name was C but everyone calls him cornbread (that's normal, right?) We talked to him about Jesus Christ and gave him "The Lamb of God" and "Finding Faith in Christ" DVDS. He lives in the Springs and travels a lot for his salesperson job so sadly he doesn't live around here but maybe I will run into him again since I'm going to the Springs! He was really hilarious though and called us Harrop and Peterson and kept saying that we were models and referred to himself in the third person. 
You meet the most interesting people on the mission! 

Yesterday, I said goodbye to a ton of people which is always sad! Its a great ward and the people are awesome. I promised a few people that I would come back and visit someday. I will miss Sister Harrop! We have become so close over the past two transfers and she is a great missionary. But we are excited to be reunited when we both go home together. Change is always nice so I am just off to another great adventure on the mission. 

That's about it for me. I love and miss everyone!!! Have a happy week! Pray to be an answer to someone's prayers.
As I have been doing that, Heavenly Father has led me to those that need His message. Try it out!

XOXO
Sister Peterson 

pics: you know I had to hahaha #fierce 



Monday, October 6, 2014

General Conference was Monumental!

HEY FAMILY!!

I have a few highlights for the week... 

Tuesday, we got to watch Meet the Mormons and it was an A+! It was so touching and really well done. Dad, you were right, I totally cried at the last story of the "missionary mom". I just loved hearing her share her story about how hard her life was before she found the truth. It was neat to see how happy she became and how the gospel saved her life. Shout out to sister missionaries who taught her! It was cool to see the ripple effect of her decision to join the church lead to her son serving a mission to bless others lives. I love when she said "to give the missionaries a chance and to listen to them like I hope they will listen to my son." If people just gave us a chance, they would be able to feel of the Spirit and they could know the truth of what we teach. 

And of course. General Conference was a huge highlight for me!! I went into conference with a ton of questions and most of them were answered in one way or another. I have a strong testimony that when we ask, we WILL receive. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of me and what I need. We were at member's homes for all five sessions. I even watched Priesthood session #winning. Mom, you would be happy to know that I took notes like nobodies business. Twenty-nine pages to be exact. My notebook pages are small but still. It was so good that I was soaking it up! I love how they talked about decisions and choices. Its really up to us how we want to progress in the gospel. Love what James J. Hamula of the Seventy said "Although all of us will return to God, not all of us will remain with Him." SO TRUE. That was a very thought provoking comment. True, we all will return to God after we pass on from this life but all of us will not remain with Him in the Celestial Kingdom. I know where I want to be. Do you? 

Other then those highlights, my week was pretty normal. We were walking around last night and noticed a less active that we have been trying to meet was outside. Talk about timing right? So, we went over to introduce ourselves and basically met his entire family including his active mother and step father. His mother pulled us aside and told us a bit about him and got a little bit emotional because she blames herself for him not being active. She asked for our number so that she could call us to chat more about how we can help her sons. Its a part member situation and the wife was so sweet. They asked when Trunk or Treat was because they are planning on taking their one year old son to it! Oh the power of church activities! Invite all your friends to trunk or treat this year! Starting last week, every Tuesday we are going to walk a less active ladies dog. Wish it was a cat but ndb. 

Transfers are next Tuesday so I will find out if I am staying or going on Saturday night if I get a phone call. I'll keep you posted about it next week! I hope that you had a great week and that you enjoyed conference! Love you! Miss you!! 

Until next week!

Sister Peterson