Email sent Monday 14 March 2011
Wow, this week was interesting. So for wednesday, thrusday and friday, sister Ruano (who I live with) got to go to McAllen for a leadership training because she is training right now. I begged president with everything I have that he would let me go to. I really wanted to go back and work in my old area and see all of my people and sister Morrill. But he told me I couldn't because I already had the training and I had to take care of Laredo and our two areas. So for three days that left me with Sister salan and sister Adams. Sister Adams has only been out about 3 weeks now. She's from Riverton, we actually have some mutual friends. It's funny. But she's super green. So the three of us were in a trio, trying to take care of both of our giant areas for three whole days. It was craziness. We hardly had time to find any new people we were just going from appointment to appointment trying to help the people we already had. Teaching in a trio is crazy. No me gusto. I hope president knows to never put me in one. I didn't like it. :0 Being with two greenies was interesting two. They wouldn't talk. ugh. It was a crazy week.
Then to add to the craziness...we moved on Saturday! Ya. The four of us had to move completely, furniture and everything to a new apartment. The zone leaders moved into teh one we were in before. They told us on Friday night that we had to be completely out on Saturday. It was crazy. Our new apartment is like a palace though. It is super nice. I think it is brand new. Never lived in before. So that is super awesome. The elders were amazed as they were moving our stuff into it. We lucked out/have sister trayner who treats us way to well. It's a really nice apartment. The bad part is that we left our beds and desks for the elders and the elders just moved their beds and desks into our new apartment and lets just say that their beds and desks are less than desirable. They kinda stink. Well two of the beds squeak like crazy and two of the desks are just tables that have been carved on by too many elders. But we did get to take the washer and dryer. You should have seen the look on their faces when they found out it was ours and not theirs. They were devastated. It was sad. I don't know why we got such a good deal.
But as for right now, our apartment looks like a tornado. Literally, it is a mess. That is our task today, to put everything away and organize and stuff. If we don't do it today we won't ahve the spirit in our house all week. It is kinda stressful to look at. I'm sore from lifting so many boxes and moving stuff. Moving is a pain. But oh well. We have a super nice apartment now. And hopefully no cockroaches at all. :)
Glad you had a good birthday dad! 58 huh?! Nice. Spence is engaged! Sweet. Why do I have to miss the wedding? Man. Enjoy spring break. :) Hey don't know if you've sent that package yet, but could you include like 5 scripture marking red pencils with erasers? Just one. Thanks!
BYU is ranked 3rd. That's cool!
I love you all, I'll try to write a letter today...but don't know if I will hve time with all the moving to do.
Love,
Sister Petersen
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Changes.../Happy Birthday
Email sent Monday 7 March 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You never told me how old you are turning. This better not be your 60th. Is it? Or are you 59 or 58. I really don't know. Sorry. I hope you do all sorts of fun things, like listen to that cd I gave you for your birthday years ago, and go golfing, and fishing, and skiing, and eat some steak, and popcorn, and icecream and cashews, and lay on the floor and sleep, or lay on the grass and sleep, and write me a letter. Things you should not do: fix lawn mowers, fix trucks, fix any broken thing in the house, clean up random clutter in the house, pick up dog poop. etc. Doing/not doing these things will make your birthday very special. I love you dad!
This week we saw a lot of miracles. I will tell you about one of them. On exchanges on thursday with Sister Ruano, we found someone who was really looking for the gospel. The background on how we found him makes the story all the more amazing. Sister Ruano had forgotten that we had mormon.org time on thursdays at 11 am. (for an hour every thursday president wants us all to just get familiar with the new mormon.org) So she had accidently scheduled an appointment with a lady that they had contacted earlier that week right at 11am. So on wedensday night when we planned, we couldn't decide what we should do. We had no way of contacting this lady to reschedule, so we were torn between mormon.org and the appointment. So as we left the apartment on Thursday at 11 and started driving we continued questioning if we should go to this appointment with this lady who probably forgot or just go to the library. We decided/the spirit said go to the appointment. So we did. She had forgotten and was on her way out because her mother-in-law is dying in Nuevo Laredo. So we talked with her for a moment and then she left. We decided we would knock this one other house on the street. We found a really cool girl there, so that was awesome. But then we were heading back to our car and literally were about to get in, when we saw this guy outside working. He was clearly really busy, but we both said, hey, let's go talk to him. So we did. We said hi, he came over. We told him we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that we had a mesage that God wants him to hear. He was somewhat surprised. He asked us where the church was and we told him. He then said that when he looks at us he sees peace, and wants to feel that for himself. We testified of how at the church he can feel that. We got his phone number and committed him to come to church. And we left. It was a short 5 minute conversation.
...Then comes Sunday. During sacrament meeting, we see him walk in. I went over to him and had him come sit by us. He cried through most of the meeting. After he told me that he feels something different here. He proceeds to tell me that that day while he was working he had been planning on getting his money and going and doing bad stuff after. But then we stopped and talked to him and all of his plans changed. He wants to rearrange his whole work schedule so that he can come to church always every sunday. He stayed for Gospel Principles and part of Priesthood. He felt the spirit the whole time. We then called him at 2 just to invite him to the baptism at 2:30. He dropped everything and drove the LONG distance to the church and missed the actual baptism, but knew that he just needed to come back here. He feels different here.
We then taught him a lesson, the doctrine of christ, claro. I have no doubt that the Lord has been preparing this man, and that he put us in his path at this time of need. Just two weeks ago he was about to commit suicide. He wants to change his life. He wants to be good. He wanted to be baptized next saturday. He now has a bd for March 27. Some elders down south are going to be very lucky to get this prepared investigator.
I feel like there is a big change coming to laredo soon. Randomly, today, two new sisters just got to the mission. So they need to open 2 new areas asap, like tomorrow. And I think one of them is going to be in Laredo. The zone leaders have been asking us weird questions about our apartment, so I think that there might now be 6 of us living here. I don't know if he is going to do some transfers or something, but somebody has to train these new people and it's weird because the transfer just started, and so there are already like 5 people training. And on friday President took part of my area and gave it to the elders. :( All of our awesome people were in that tiny area that he took. It was sad. But ya. Who knows. I think we'll find out today what is going on. Hopefully. Or maybe nothing is really going on. I don't know.
It wasn't that hot this week. Just a little. It's pretty cool today though. I'm glad you are all into basketball adn stuff. Sorry it's over for brandy. Good job at cleaning the church. My headaches weren't bad this week, just had a little one yesterday. Wearing my contacts is annoying because I don't blink enough. It dries out way bad. But I will be better about wearing them.
Well I love you all, have another great week!
Love,
Hermana Petersen
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You never told me how old you are turning. This better not be your 60th. Is it? Or are you 59 or 58. I really don't know. Sorry. I hope you do all sorts of fun things, like listen to that cd I gave you for your birthday years ago, and go golfing, and fishing, and skiing, and eat some steak, and popcorn, and icecream and cashews, and lay on the floor and sleep, or lay on the grass and sleep, and write me a letter. Things you should not do: fix lawn mowers, fix trucks, fix any broken thing in the house, clean up random clutter in the house, pick up dog poop. etc. Doing/not doing these things will make your birthday very special. I love you dad!
This week we saw a lot of miracles. I will tell you about one of them. On exchanges on thursday with Sister Ruano, we found someone who was really looking for the gospel. The background on how we found him makes the story all the more amazing. Sister Ruano had forgotten that we had mormon.org time on thursdays at 11 am. (for an hour every thursday president wants us all to just get familiar with the new mormon.org) So she had accidently scheduled an appointment with a lady that they had contacted earlier that week right at 11am. So on wedensday night when we planned, we couldn't decide what we should do. We had no way of contacting this lady to reschedule, so we were torn between mormon.org and the appointment. So as we left the apartment on Thursday at 11 and started driving we continued questioning if we should go to this appointment with this lady who probably forgot or just go to the library. We decided/the spirit said go to the appointment. So we did. She had forgotten and was on her way out because her mother-in-law is dying in Nuevo Laredo. So we talked with her for a moment and then she left. We decided we would knock this one other house on the street. We found a really cool girl there, so that was awesome. But then we were heading back to our car and literally were about to get in, when we saw this guy outside working. He was clearly really busy, but we both said, hey, let's go talk to him. So we did. We said hi, he came over. We told him we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that we had a mesage that God wants him to hear. He was somewhat surprised. He asked us where the church was and we told him. He then said that when he looks at us he sees peace, and wants to feel that for himself. We testified of how at the church he can feel that. We got his phone number and committed him to come to church. And we left. It was a short 5 minute conversation.
...Then comes Sunday. During sacrament meeting, we see him walk in. I went over to him and had him come sit by us. He cried through most of the meeting. After he told me that he feels something different here. He proceeds to tell me that that day while he was working he had been planning on getting his money and going and doing bad stuff after. But then we stopped and talked to him and all of his plans changed. He wants to rearrange his whole work schedule so that he can come to church always every sunday. He stayed for Gospel Principles and part of Priesthood. He felt the spirit the whole time. We then called him at 2 just to invite him to the baptism at 2:30. He dropped everything and drove the LONG distance to the church and missed the actual baptism, but knew that he just needed to come back here. He feels different here.
We then taught him a lesson, the doctrine of christ, claro. I have no doubt that the Lord has been preparing this man, and that he put us in his path at this time of need. Just two weeks ago he was about to commit suicide. He wants to change his life. He wants to be good. He wanted to be baptized next saturday. He now has a bd for March 27. Some elders down south are going to be very lucky to get this prepared investigator.
I feel like there is a big change coming to laredo soon. Randomly, today, two new sisters just got to the mission. So they need to open 2 new areas asap, like tomorrow. And I think one of them is going to be in Laredo. The zone leaders have been asking us weird questions about our apartment, so I think that there might now be 6 of us living here. I don't know if he is going to do some transfers or something, but somebody has to train these new people and it's weird because the transfer just started, and so there are already like 5 people training. And on friday President took part of my area and gave it to the elders. :( All of our awesome people were in that tiny area that he took. It was sad. But ya. Who knows. I think we'll find out today what is going on. Hopefully. Or maybe nothing is really going on. I don't know.
It wasn't that hot this week. Just a little. It's pretty cool today though. I'm glad you are all into basketball adn stuff. Sorry it's over for brandy. Good job at cleaning the church. My headaches weren't bad this week, just had a little one yesterday. Wearing my contacts is annoying because I don't blink enough. It dries out way bad. But I will be better about wearing them.
Well I love you all, have another great week!
Love,
Hermana Petersen
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The heat returns: 102 degrees yesterday
Email sent Monday 28 February 2011
And you thought Utah weather was bi-polar. It was snowing a few weeks ago, and now it is 102 degrees. It was super hot yesterday. But I was trying to guess what it was and I was thinking it was high 80's. But apparently it was 102. I think that I was wrong because the 100's I was used to in McAllen were also super humid. But it's not humid here in Laredo. But there should be a cool front coming soon. "Cool front"
So Quinton has time to come home for the weekend but not write me? Silly boy.
Church ball is brutal. I hope that person is ok. Last week on p-day we played basketball, and it was the first time I had played in over 12 weeks. I played for at least 2 hours straight. The next day...I was so sore. SO sore. Every part of my body was sore, but I loved it. I think that's why I didn't have any headaches this week. Real exercize relieves stress. Basketball is awesome.
Brooke Larsen is 21? Wow, that's so weird. Tell her congrats from me on her mission call. That's super awesome. We will have another sister from our ward! Yay!
D-will and Booz are gone. What are the Jazz going to do. My team is going to be unrecognizable when I get home. Even the coach is different.
Go BYU. I hope they don't choke in the tournament like they seem to do sometimes.
!!!I got your package!!! Thanks so much! It was full of all sorts of goodies! I love those cookies. They were so good. But they are gone. :( You wrapped the package very well. Everything was intact. Even the fake potatoes. I'll try them, and see if miraculously they are good. But I know the cookie dough will be good.
I OFFICIALLY HIT 9 MONTHS ON SATURDAY! Wow. I can't believe it is half over. Well not quite, because I still have about 9 months and 2 weeks left to serve. So in about one week, I will really be 1/2 way. I burned a shirt on saturday night to celebrate. But it was kinda a lame celebration because we were all super tired. Saturdays are tiring days.
Laredo had a miracle this month of February. We baptized 15 people in the month of February. Laredo has not had that many in a month in over a year and a half. I wish I could say I was part of that, but we didn;t baptize anyone in February. :( It was a really hard month for us, but we were able to help our zone and our prayers were answered as yesterday 9 people were baptized. Everyday for the past week, all of the missionaries here in Laredo were praying for a list of 16 people by name so that they could get baptized yesterday. 9 of those people were baptized and some of those were miracle baptisms. One of our investigators, V....., was able to come and witness the baptism of five of them yesterday and she was so excited that we were able to mover her BD up from April 3, to March 13!!! She is awesome.
Oh, I got a letter from Tyler Walker the other week. It is a miracle it got to me because the envelope was ripped almost in half and whatever cool thing he had sent me from Chiapas was gone, but somehow the actual letter was still inside. The mail in mexico is super sketch.
Well until another week, I love you all. Dad how old are you turning? I can never remember.
Love,
Melinda
And you thought Utah weather was bi-polar. It was snowing a few weeks ago, and now it is 102 degrees. It was super hot yesterday. But I was trying to guess what it was and I was thinking it was high 80's. But apparently it was 102. I think that I was wrong because the 100's I was used to in McAllen were also super humid. But it's not humid here in Laredo. But there should be a cool front coming soon. "Cool front"
So Quinton has time to come home for the weekend but not write me? Silly boy.
Church ball is brutal. I hope that person is ok. Last week on p-day we played basketball, and it was the first time I had played in over 12 weeks. I played for at least 2 hours straight. The next day...I was so sore. SO sore. Every part of my body was sore, but I loved it. I think that's why I didn't have any headaches this week. Real exercize relieves stress. Basketball is awesome.
Brooke Larsen is 21? Wow, that's so weird. Tell her congrats from me on her mission call. That's super awesome. We will have another sister from our ward! Yay!
D-will and Booz are gone. What are the Jazz going to do. My team is going to be unrecognizable when I get home. Even the coach is different.
Go BYU. I hope they don't choke in the tournament like they seem to do sometimes.
!!!I got your package!!! Thanks so much! It was full of all sorts of goodies! I love those cookies. They were so good. But they are gone. :( You wrapped the package very well. Everything was intact. Even the fake potatoes. I'll try them, and see if miraculously they are good. But I know the cookie dough will be good.
I OFFICIALLY HIT 9 MONTHS ON SATURDAY! Wow. I can't believe it is half over. Well not quite, because I still have about 9 months and 2 weeks left to serve. So in about one week, I will really be 1/2 way. I burned a shirt on saturday night to celebrate. But it was kinda a lame celebration because we were all super tired. Saturdays are tiring days.
Laredo had a miracle this month of February. We baptized 15 people in the month of February. Laredo has not had that many in a month in over a year and a half. I wish I could say I was part of that, but we didn;t baptize anyone in February. :( It was a really hard month for us, but we were able to help our zone and our prayers were answered as yesterday 9 people were baptized. Everyday for the past week, all of the missionaries here in Laredo were praying for a list of 16 people by name so that they could get baptized yesterday. 9 of those people were baptized and some of those were miracle baptisms. One of our investigators, V....., was able to come and witness the baptism of five of them yesterday and she was so excited that we were able to mover her BD up from April 3, to March 13!!! She is awesome.
Oh, I got a letter from Tyler Walker the other week. It is a miracle it got to me because the envelope was ripped almost in half and whatever cool thing he had sent me from Chiapas was gone, but somehow the actual letter was still inside. The mail in mexico is super sketch.
Well until another week, I love you all. Dad how old are you turning? I can never remember.
Love,
Melinda
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hello!
Email sent Tuesday 22 February 2011
Hi everyone.
I know that I don't have enough time to describe everything that happened this week and so that is sad, but I will try to get as much in as possible.
On Tuesday the four of us sisters had the amazing opportunity to serve a less active family in the branch. Sister Salan and I have been working with them and they've been coming back to church, but the wife, (who is my age) is pregnant and is due in like 2 weeks and is not supposed to do any work really. They have 2 18 month old twins, and the husband works and goes to school. They have been struggling getting the apartment ready for the baby and everything. So we had told the relief society president about hte situation and she got a sister who set up this service project. They set aside one day wehre the family would leave the house, and 8 or 9 of us would come in and deep clean everything and reorganize all of their stuff. So the four of us said we would love to help. We showed up Tuesday morning and only the Sister who organized it was there. She was on the verge of tears, and had already been cleaning by herself for an hour. She immediately thanked us for being there and went to her knees so that we could pray for help and give thanks for the opportunity we ahd to serve even though there were so few of us to take on the huge task. Two other members showed up later, but the 7 of us cleaned and transformed their entire apartment. us sisters worked in the kitchen, we cleaned and reorganized everything, dishes, food, everhting. It was fun. I love organizing.
I learned more about the relief society and how it is truely inspired of God in those four hours we spent cleaning than I have learned the whole 5 years I have been a member of it. This sister showed genuine love for her fellow sister and was willing to do whatever the Lord led her to do to help her even if others would not support her.
Another amazing thing that happened this week was during sacrament meeting on Sunday. President Castillo (the branch president) had asked R... (my recent convert - 17 years old) to bear his testimony, but R... didn't show up, and so president asked another 17 year old, F..., who was baptized with his brother J... a year ago, to bear his testimony instead. F... is quite a character, he is kind of a terror to the teachers who have to teach him in sunday school and priesthood because he doesn't show respect and is always irreverent. But he is a good kid. Sometimes when we teach him we don't know if it does any good or if he is really even listening, but we do it anyway becasue we love him. So He got up to the pulpit and did not know what to say at all. the Young Men's president came up from the congregation and put his arm around him and said, "F... has never been up here before, so I am going to just ask him questions and this can be like an interview" He proceeded to ask him things like, how did you find out about the church, what have you learned, why do you like coming, why is it important to you. F... began to open up. He began to bear testimony about what had touched him. The president sat down on the stand as F... began to tear up and give thanks to the members & President Hartley, in particular, who had welcomed him and made him feel needed, loved, wanted, and cared for. In the church, he expressed, he had found friends, a father figure in President Hartley, and while by the way he acts normally you wouldn't know he is grateful for it, he expressed in tears and broken sentences that this is where he knows he is supposed to be. It was the most powerful testimony I have heard in a long time. Even if sometimes the work we do seems to not help, we never really know the extent of the service we are offering.
On Saturday, I started to get the worst headache. I knew it was going to be a bad one. It kept getting worse and worse. Then we were in a lesson and all I could think about was how I needed to get out of there because I was going to throw up. Gross I know, but true. Finally around 9 we got out. and I had to drive us home. I knew it was coming. My head was pounding so hard and it was bad. We made it home and a few minutes later I did. But that didn't help it feel better. It just got worse. It was the worst one I have ever had. Sensitive to light and smell and sound and everything. It was super bad. Sister Salan said we had to call the elders so they could come give me a blessing. They got permission from president and at 10:15 four of them came over to our apartment to give me a blessing. It was a blessing I will never forget. During the blessing the pounding in my head went away, my sensitivity to light lessened, and the spirit of the Lord filled the room. The comfort that I needed was present and I know that the power of God is on the earth. I know that worthy men in the Chrch of Jesus Christ hold that power and authority to act for God. What a great blessing it is that we have.
The next day at church I asked Bro Gibson to adjust me. My neck and my back, everything was super out of place. I don't know why I keep getting these headaches, but I want them to go away.
Anyways, so that was this week, among other things. I love you all but I have to go! I will go pick up your package today. :) thanks!
Love,
Sister Petersen
ps I played basketball yesterday for the first time in 14 weeks and I am sore in every part of my body today. I love it.
Hi everyone.
I know that I don't have enough time to describe everything that happened this week and so that is sad, but I will try to get as much in as possible.
On Tuesday the four of us sisters had the amazing opportunity to serve a less active family in the branch. Sister Salan and I have been working with them and they've been coming back to church, but the wife, (who is my age) is pregnant and is due in like 2 weeks and is not supposed to do any work really. They have 2 18 month old twins, and the husband works and goes to school. They have been struggling getting the apartment ready for the baby and everything. So we had told the relief society president about hte situation and she got a sister who set up this service project. They set aside one day wehre the family would leave the house, and 8 or 9 of us would come in and deep clean everything and reorganize all of their stuff. So the four of us said we would love to help. We showed up Tuesday morning and only the Sister who organized it was there. She was on the verge of tears, and had already been cleaning by herself for an hour. She immediately thanked us for being there and went to her knees so that we could pray for help and give thanks for the opportunity we ahd to serve even though there were so few of us to take on the huge task. Two other members showed up later, but the 7 of us cleaned and transformed their entire apartment. us sisters worked in the kitchen, we cleaned and reorganized everything, dishes, food, everhting. It was fun. I love organizing.
I learned more about the relief society and how it is truely inspired of God in those four hours we spent cleaning than I have learned the whole 5 years I have been a member of it. This sister showed genuine love for her fellow sister and was willing to do whatever the Lord led her to do to help her even if others would not support her.
Another amazing thing that happened this week was during sacrament meeting on Sunday. President Castillo (the branch president) had asked R... (my recent convert - 17 years old) to bear his testimony, but R... didn't show up, and so president asked another 17 year old, F..., who was baptized with his brother J... a year ago, to bear his testimony instead. F... is quite a character, he is kind of a terror to the teachers who have to teach him in sunday school and priesthood because he doesn't show respect and is always irreverent. But he is a good kid. Sometimes when we teach him we don't know if it does any good or if he is really even listening, but we do it anyway becasue we love him. So He got up to the pulpit and did not know what to say at all. the Young Men's president came up from the congregation and put his arm around him and said, "F... has never been up here before, so I am going to just ask him questions and this can be like an interview" He proceeded to ask him things like, how did you find out about the church, what have you learned, why do you like coming, why is it important to you. F... began to open up. He began to bear testimony about what had touched him. The president sat down on the stand as F... began to tear up and give thanks to the members & President Hartley, in particular, who had welcomed him and made him feel needed, loved, wanted, and cared for. In the church, he expressed, he had found friends, a father figure in President Hartley, and while by the way he acts normally you wouldn't know he is grateful for it, he expressed in tears and broken sentences that this is where he knows he is supposed to be. It was the most powerful testimony I have heard in a long time. Even if sometimes the work we do seems to not help, we never really know the extent of the service we are offering.
On Saturday, I started to get the worst headache. I knew it was going to be a bad one. It kept getting worse and worse. Then we were in a lesson and all I could think about was how I needed to get out of there because I was going to throw up. Gross I know, but true. Finally around 9 we got out. and I had to drive us home. I knew it was coming. My head was pounding so hard and it was bad. We made it home and a few minutes later I did. But that didn't help it feel better. It just got worse. It was the worst one I have ever had. Sensitive to light and smell and sound and everything. It was super bad. Sister Salan said we had to call the elders so they could come give me a blessing. They got permission from president and at 10:15 four of them came over to our apartment to give me a blessing. It was a blessing I will never forget. During the blessing the pounding in my head went away, my sensitivity to light lessened, and the spirit of the Lord filled the room. The comfort that I needed was present and I know that the power of God is on the earth. I know that worthy men in the Chrch of Jesus Christ hold that power and authority to act for God. What a great blessing it is that we have.
The next day at church I asked Bro Gibson to adjust me. My neck and my back, everything was super out of place. I don't know why I keep getting these headaches, but I want them to go away.
Anyways, so that was this week, among other things. I love you all but I have to go! I will go pick up your package today. :) thanks!
Love,
Sister Petersen
ps I played basketball yesterday for the first time in 14 weeks and I am sore in every part of my body today. I love it.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Happy Valentines Day! Les quiero mucho!!!
Email sent Monday 14 February 2011
That's a cute thing mom! I liked it. (She said this about a valentine heart picture I put in the email and this saying - Roses are red, violets are blue, missions are great and so are YOU!!!)
Thanks for the package also!! The books are awesome and that will help as I do piano lessons this week. It's going to be bad if I get transfered because no one will be able to continue the teaching when I leave. But we'll see what happens. I don't know if I will be staying or going. In my gut I feel like I am going to be sent to Corpus. But I could also stay here with sister Salan another transfer. Who knows. We'll find out on saturday.
You should send me some of the valentine cookies. Those are my favorites too. Thanks for the tapes too. And I can't remember what else at the moment. It's been a crazy week.
Dad's been sick and yet he's still doing crazy things like skiing, plowing, working and playing basketball with people half his age. Of course you're sick dad. REST! And go to church. That's the cure. :) And add a little chiropractor, that'll help.
My headaches are doing better. He had told me to drink more water and honestly I think that is what is helping. Water. I was super dehydrated.
BYU is 7th!!! That's sweet. How come I miss the sweet year? Jerry Sloan quit!?! NO! I love him as the old school jazz coach. I hope this new guy is good. My buddy d-will better behave.
Ok so recap of the week/transfer. This transfer has been a bit rough in the terms of finding success. We have been realy struggling finding people who are prepared to recieve the gospel. We weren't discouraged, just a little disappointed that our efforts weren't bearing enough fruits. So this last Sunday as part of a mission wide fast of thanks for the success we had in January, Sister Salan and I fasted to be able to find a family who is prepared to teach. We had the faith that the Lord could answer our prayer. Also this week our district leader told us to go back by all of our investigators taht we had dropped who used to have baptismal dates and teach them the doctrine of christ again and see which of them were really prepared. Becasue in the past four weeks we had found 25 new investigators and the standard of excellence was 28 so we had almost gotten it and so as a mission, the Lord has promised us that if we find those 28 we will baptize 2 a month. And so 2 of those people are prepared to be baptized. So, this week started and we immediately found a mother with 3 kids, and we thought they might be our family. Wednesday we found another mother with 2 children and thought that might be our family. And then Thursday...we may have found the most prepared people in the world!
Sister Salan and Sister Platt were on splits and working in our area and went by all of our old BD's and set 2 new BDs with two of them, and then while knocking came upon this door, where this man, G..., invited them right in. He and his wife listened super intensly to the lesson as they taught the doctrine of christ. He is from cuba and his wife S... is from mexico. They are awesome!!! They knew he wanted to be baptized just like Jesus Christ and had to recieve the Holy Ghost as well. They accepted baptismal dates and were so excited to learn more. He read on the back of the pamphlet that we gave him that it is says "Suggested Readings: the book of mormon." He said, "I need to read the Book of Mormon, I don't have that book. Where do I get one?" He is awesome. They both came to church on sunday and loved it! We went over again last night and they fed us cuban food. They are so nice and so prepared! I am so excited for them.
All in all this week we saw our prayers and fast answered with blessings that there really weren't room enough to recieve. I know that God is there adn always watching over us. He is the one who gives us success when we look to him for his guidance. We are just the tools. I love this work!
I hope you all have a great valentines day and enjoy the cold. It is starting to warm up here again.
Love,
Hermana Petersen
P.S. Oh and this week everyone seemed to be obsessed with my eyes. It is kinda rare here I guess to see blonde people or people with blue eyes. But never as much as this week have people commented on it. I would just be in teh middle of a sentence with someone on a contact and they would stop and stare and say, "you have blue eyes" or "I love your eyes." So awkward/hard to bring the spirit back after I felt super subconcious about looking at people. I'll have to start talking with my eyes closed!
That's a cute thing mom! I liked it. (She said this about a valentine heart picture I put in the email and this saying - Roses are red, violets are blue, missions are great and so are YOU!!!)
Thanks for the package also!! The books are awesome and that will help as I do piano lessons this week. It's going to be bad if I get transfered because no one will be able to continue the teaching when I leave. But we'll see what happens. I don't know if I will be staying or going. In my gut I feel like I am going to be sent to Corpus. But I could also stay here with sister Salan another transfer. Who knows. We'll find out on saturday.
You should send me some of the valentine cookies. Those are my favorites too. Thanks for the tapes too. And I can't remember what else at the moment. It's been a crazy week.
Dad's been sick and yet he's still doing crazy things like skiing, plowing, working and playing basketball with people half his age. Of course you're sick dad. REST! And go to church. That's the cure. :) And add a little chiropractor, that'll help.
My headaches are doing better. He had told me to drink more water and honestly I think that is what is helping. Water. I was super dehydrated.
BYU is 7th!!! That's sweet. How come I miss the sweet year? Jerry Sloan quit!?! NO! I love him as the old school jazz coach. I hope this new guy is good. My buddy d-will better behave.
Ok so recap of the week/transfer. This transfer has been a bit rough in the terms of finding success. We have been realy struggling finding people who are prepared to recieve the gospel. We weren't discouraged, just a little disappointed that our efforts weren't bearing enough fruits. So this last Sunday as part of a mission wide fast of thanks for the success we had in January, Sister Salan and I fasted to be able to find a family who is prepared to teach. We had the faith that the Lord could answer our prayer. Also this week our district leader told us to go back by all of our investigators taht we had dropped who used to have baptismal dates and teach them the doctrine of christ again and see which of them were really prepared. Becasue in the past four weeks we had found 25 new investigators and the standard of excellence was 28 so we had almost gotten it and so as a mission, the Lord has promised us that if we find those 28 we will baptize 2 a month. And so 2 of those people are prepared to be baptized. So, this week started and we immediately found a mother with 3 kids, and we thought they might be our family. Wednesday we found another mother with 2 children and thought that might be our family. And then Thursday...we may have found the most prepared people in the world!
Sister Salan and Sister Platt were on splits and working in our area and went by all of our old BD's and set 2 new BDs with two of them, and then while knocking came upon this door, where this man, G..., invited them right in. He and his wife listened super intensly to the lesson as they taught the doctrine of christ. He is from cuba and his wife S... is from mexico. They are awesome!!! They knew he wanted to be baptized just like Jesus Christ and had to recieve the Holy Ghost as well. They accepted baptismal dates and were so excited to learn more. He read on the back of the pamphlet that we gave him that it is says "Suggested Readings: the book of mormon." He said, "I need to read the Book of Mormon, I don't have that book. Where do I get one?" He is awesome. They both came to church on sunday and loved it! We went over again last night and they fed us cuban food. They are so nice and so prepared! I am so excited for them.
All in all this week we saw our prayers and fast answered with blessings that there really weren't room enough to recieve. I know that God is there adn always watching over us. He is the one who gives us success when we look to him for his guidance. We are just the tools. I love this work!
I hope you all have a great valentines day and enjoy the cold. It is starting to warm up here again.
Love,
Hermana Petersen
P.S. Oh and this week everyone seemed to be obsessed with my eyes. It is kinda rare here I guess to see blonde people or people with blue eyes. But never as much as this week have people commented on it. I would just be in teh middle of a sentence with someone on a contact and they would stop and stare and say, "you have blue eyes" or "I love your eyes." So awkward/hard to bring the spirit back after I felt super subconcious about looking at people. I'll have to start talking with my eyes closed!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
SNOW!!!
Email sent 7 February 2011
Guess what happened this week in Laredo Texas?! It snowed! Yes that is right. We had a very cold cold front come through and everyone was going crazy here. Wednesday it got really cold. We were so bundled up. They started canceling everything. Because it was cold they canceled school for Thursday and Friday. They canceled mutual on Wednesday night because of the cold. Nobody wanted to go outside. Granted it was cold, but it was only like 28 degrees or something. Not really super cold. But way colder than Laredo ever gets. So nobody wants to leave their houses.
Ok so on Thursday we bundled up a ton. I was wearing 2 skirts, nylons, basketball shorts, socks, shoes, two shirts, a sweater, jacket, scarf and gloves. The other sisters bundled up even more than us, Sister Platt was wearing like 4 skirts, nylons, big thik socks-2pairs, 2 pairs of pajama pants, jeans, 3 shirts, 4 sweaters, and a jacket and scarf. It was super cold. And we just had to contact and no one would let us in because they wouldn't open their doors because it was cold. It was kinda funny how the whole city shut down just because it was cold. But then finally thursday evening, the snow started to fall. It just snowed tiny little flakes and didn't do enough to coat anything, but it was snowing. And it was awesome. I thought I wouldn't see snow for the whole year and a half of my mission, but guess what, I did! The last time that it snowed here was on Dec. 25, 2004. And before that it hadn't snowed for 30 years. So it is pretty rare and I got to experience it. It was fun. Take that global warming.
Let's see, what else. Sister Salan actually doesn't ahve to use crutches anymore. They told her now that she just can use them if it hurts. Dr. Gibson ( chiropractor in their area) is really helping her knee out a lot. It is getting better really fast.
Thanks for the piano stuff. I don't really know how to conduct group piano lessons. Last week there were only four people there and they were either young women or adults. Some have some experience, some have none. So it is going to be interesting teaching them all. I think the book is a really good thing, even though I would never teach people to play by finger number in real life. But it will help them get started fast. And they can just get stuff off of online, so if they don't have their own they can just look online.
This weekend we had a district conference. Actually it was a mulit stake/district conference broadcasted from Salt Lake. It was 76 stakes and 3 districts in Texas Oklahoma and New Mexico. President Monson and Elder Nelson spoke and 2 other people. It was super good. President Monson talked about rescuing the less actives and magnifying our callings. They are really pushing to get activity up in this region so that we can get a temple soon. it seems plans are in the works to make Laredo a stake. It holds the record or something for one of the longest places to be a district and not become a stake. Laredo is a very unique place and has unique challenges, but the leaders and working miracles here with the members and soon we will see the blessings.
We have had a bit of a struggle finding new people, awesome people to teach lately. But it's ok. We'll just keep working. There are people who are ready and we are hear to find them. As we exercise our faith we wil be instruments in teh hands of the Lord and bring his children back unto him.
I'm glad basketball is fun mom, wish I could play some with y'all. How is the snow in Utah? How is the home doing without Cookie?
Well Thanks for your email. Hope you have a great week adn enjoy the snow!
Love,
Sister Petersen
also, it was so cold that night that it snowed, the next morning we had to scrape our windshield off with our name tags because we don't have ice scrapers. But my car windshield was covered in a solid sheet of ice like nothing i've ever had before. it was funny
Guess what happened this week in Laredo Texas?! It snowed! Yes that is right. We had a very cold cold front come through and everyone was going crazy here. Wednesday it got really cold. We were so bundled up. They started canceling everything. Because it was cold they canceled school for Thursday and Friday. They canceled mutual on Wednesday night because of the cold. Nobody wanted to go outside. Granted it was cold, but it was only like 28 degrees or something. Not really super cold. But way colder than Laredo ever gets. So nobody wants to leave their houses.
Ok so on Thursday we bundled up a ton. I was wearing 2 skirts, nylons, basketball shorts, socks, shoes, two shirts, a sweater, jacket, scarf and gloves. The other sisters bundled up even more than us, Sister Platt was wearing like 4 skirts, nylons, big thik socks-2pairs, 2 pairs of pajama pants, jeans, 3 shirts, 4 sweaters, and a jacket and scarf. It was super cold. And we just had to contact and no one would let us in because they wouldn't open their doors because it was cold. It was kinda funny how the whole city shut down just because it was cold. But then finally thursday evening, the snow started to fall. It just snowed tiny little flakes and didn't do enough to coat anything, but it was snowing. And it was awesome. I thought I wouldn't see snow for the whole year and a half of my mission, but guess what, I did! The last time that it snowed here was on Dec. 25, 2004. And before that it hadn't snowed for 30 years. So it is pretty rare and I got to experience it. It was fun. Take that global warming.
Let's see, what else. Sister Salan actually doesn't ahve to use crutches anymore. They told her now that she just can use them if it hurts. Dr. Gibson ( chiropractor in their area) is really helping her knee out a lot. It is getting better really fast.
Thanks for the piano stuff. I don't really know how to conduct group piano lessons. Last week there were only four people there and they were either young women or adults. Some have some experience, some have none. So it is going to be interesting teaching them all. I think the book is a really good thing, even though I would never teach people to play by finger number in real life. But it will help them get started fast. And they can just get stuff off of online, so if they don't have their own they can just look online.
This weekend we had a district conference. Actually it was a mulit stake/district conference broadcasted from Salt Lake. It was 76 stakes and 3 districts in Texas Oklahoma and New Mexico. President Monson and Elder Nelson spoke and 2 other people. It was super good. President Monson talked about rescuing the less actives and magnifying our callings. They are really pushing to get activity up in this region so that we can get a temple soon. it seems plans are in the works to make Laredo a stake. It holds the record or something for one of the longest places to be a district and not become a stake. Laredo is a very unique place and has unique challenges, but the leaders and working miracles here with the members and soon we will see the blessings.
We have had a bit of a struggle finding new people, awesome people to teach lately. But it's ok. We'll just keep working. There are people who are ready and we are hear to find them. As we exercise our faith we wil be instruments in teh hands of the Lord and bring his children back unto him.
I'm glad basketball is fun mom, wish I could play some with y'all. How is the snow in Utah? How is the home doing without Cookie?
Well Thanks for your email. Hope you have a great week adn enjoy the snow!
Love,
Sister Petersen
also, it was so cold that night that it snowed, the next morning we had to scrape our windshield off with our name tags because we don't have ice scrapers. But my car windshield was covered in a solid sheet of ice like nothing i've ever had before. it was funny
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Hobbling around!!!
Email sent 31 January 2011
She (the YW President) read my letter in church?! Ah. Oh well. That's good I guess. Hope people learned something. :)
So this week has been a roller coaster. An interesting one. And you know me, I don't really like roller coasters, but I seem to get on them anyway sometimes. So a little background...my companion is very accident prone. In her past she has broken like every bone in her body. About 4 years ago she broke her knee. While she was in the MTC she hurt her same knee again playing volleyball. They took an MRI, and gave her crutches and a brace and painkillers. And she didn't put any weight on it while there. But right before she came out here, they said she was fine to walk. So then she came to me here in Laredo to be a missionary. And what do missionaries do? We walk. A lot. Yes we do have a car. But we drive it and park. And walk and walk and walk. So she came here and we walked, for the past 3 weeks. And the pain got worse and worse in her knee. So anyway they sent us to a doctor. Basically, it was the worst ever, because we were there for FIVE hours. Waiting. and waiting. And then he assessed her completely wrong. Scheduled her to get an MRI of her back and said she can't walk or work for a week and a half and put her on three meds one of which was steroids. So after 5 hours we left. The next day while she was on the meds she couldn't work at all so I did splits with the other sisters adn we were just running here and there back and forth trying to get to all of our appointments in both of our areas while one person stayed home with sister salan. It was a crazy day. I even got to go out with Sister Nelson for a couple hours at night. (the one that you talked to and sent my one package to) It was fun. But then, after further investigation we all realized that there is nothing wrong with Sister Salan's back and that she will not be getting an MRI and the big area medical doctor for the missions took her off two of the crazy medications that the doctor had given her and re-diagnosed her and stuff over the phone. So then we were calling everyone we know so that we could find crutches. Because the doctor said she could work as long as she doesn't put any weight on it. But no one on earth had crutches. So church was crazy yesterday, cuz I went with sister Platt, and then after sacrament we came home and the elders gave sis salan the sacrament and then sister ruano and I went back to church. Where Ralph recieved the priesthood and I had to play the piano again in the other branch, where apparently NO ONE plays and last week they sang the opening hymn accapella and it sounded horrible, so I played for them again and finally we found someone who had crutches.
So now, we have crutches and it is hard to get around, so I don't know how we are going to contact this week, but we'll figure it out. I just hope it gets better.
So other than that, let's see, this week we found a bunch of new people to teach. That's really what we need right now. Tell Jimmer good job for me :) and keep cheering on my cougars.
Oh I am starting to teach group piano lessons here so that this branch can have their own people play the hymns, so mom I really really need you to send me something ASAP. You know all of the scales with the finger numbers that Leslie would always right in our notebooks. Can you make a page with all of them, and what key they are and the fingers and send it to me in the mail. Also maybe send me the lists of books people could use to start learning. I don't really know how I am going to do this because I can only spend like an hour or hour an a half a week doing it, so if you have any ideas that would be great. There are I think four pianos in the church I am thinking about having people in different rooms and rotating doing different things or me rotating teaching them, or I don't know. Basically I just want them to be able to play the hymns. So I'll see tomorrow how many people will show up and I'll figure out how I'm going to do this. But if you could send me those scales and reminders of how else you help people start learnign to read music and stuff that would be great.
Well I hope you're all doing great. Have fun cleaning mom. Tell dad not to do too much manual labor. He's kinda getting old. :) How old are you going to turn next month dad? If quinton still exists, tell him hi too.
Love,
Sister Petersen
She (the YW President) read my letter in church?! Ah. Oh well. That's good I guess. Hope people learned something. :)
So this week has been a roller coaster. An interesting one. And you know me, I don't really like roller coasters, but I seem to get on them anyway sometimes. So a little background...my companion is very accident prone. In her past she has broken like every bone in her body. About 4 years ago she broke her knee. While she was in the MTC she hurt her same knee again playing volleyball. They took an MRI, and gave her crutches and a brace and painkillers. And she didn't put any weight on it while there. But right before she came out here, they said she was fine to walk. So then she came to me here in Laredo to be a missionary. And what do missionaries do? We walk. A lot. Yes we do have a car. But we drive it and park. And walk and walk and walk. So she came here and we walked, for the past 3 weeks. And the pain got worse and worse in her knee. So anyway they sent us to a doctor. Basically, it was the worst ever, because we were there for FIVE hours. Waiting. and waiting. And then he assessed her completely wrong. Scheduled her to get an MRI of her back and said she can't walk or work for a week and a half and put her on three meds one of which was steroids. So after 5 hours we left. The next day while she was on the meds she couldn't work at all so I did splits with the other sisters adn we were just running here and there back and forth trying to get to all of our appointments in both of our areas while one person stayed home with sister salan. It was a crazy day. I even got to go out with Sister Nelson for a couple hours at night. (the one that you talked to and sent my one package to) It was fun. But then, after further investigation we all realized that there is nothing wrong with Sister Salan's back and that she will not be getting an MRI and the big area medical doctor for the missions took her off two of the crazy medications that the doctor had given her and re-diagnosed her and stuff over the phone. So then we were calling everyone we know so that we could find crutches. Because the doctor said she could work as long as she doesn't put any weight on it. But no one on earth had crutches. So church was crazy yesterday, cuz I went with sister Platt, and then after sacrament we came home and the elders gave sis salan the sacrament and then sister ruano and I went back to church. Where Ralph recieved the priesthood and I had to play the piano again in the other branch, where apparently NO ONE plays and last week they sang the opening hymn accapella and it sounded horrible, so I played for them again and finally we found someone who had crutches.
So now, we have crutches and it is hard to get around, so I don't know how we are going to contact this week, but we'll figure it out. I just hope it gets better.
So other than that, let's see, this week we found a bunch of new people to teach. That's really what we need right now. Tell Jimmer good job for me :) and keep cheering on my cougars.
Oh I am starting to teach group piano lessons here so that this branch can have their own people play the hymns, so mom I really really need you to send me something ASAP. You know all of the scales with the finger numbers that Leslie would always right in our notebooks. Can you make a page with all of them, and what key they are and the fingers and send it to me in the mail. Also maybe send me the lists of books people could use to start learning. I don't really know how I am going to do this because I can only spend like an hour or hour an a half a week doing it, so if you have any ideas that would be great. There are I think four pianos in the church I am thinking about having people in different rooms and rotating doing different things or me rotating teaching them, or I don't know. Basically I just want them to be able to play the hymns. So I'll see tomorrow how many people will show up and I'll figure out how I'm going to do this. But if you could send me those scales and reminders of how else you help people start learnign to read music and stuff that would be great.
Well I hope you're all doing great. Have fun cleaning mom. Tell dad not to do too much manual labor. He's kinda getting old. :) How old are you going to turn next month dad? If quinton still exists, tell him hi too.
Love,
Sister Petersen
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