So yes it has been quite a week of change.
Saying goodbye to the city of laredo was a very hard thing. I love those people so much. That monday evening we went by like a million people to say goodbye. I was all stessed out because everyone and there dog wanted to feed me and we only had 3 hours to do it all. It was a crazy day. Tuesday was just as crazy but really involved no missionary work. Sadly. We visited a few people in the morning but most of it was just traveling to the distant land to a city called Raymondville. What a place.
Raymondville: population 9773
This town is tiny. But what's even tinier is the 3 little towns that are also part of our area. Lasara, San Perlita and Sebastian are puny little towns with only a couple of streets. Everybody knows everybody and its crazy. I have never lived in a place this small before. It is very different. But we live in a house. Yes a house. Sister Ruano and I live ALONE in A HOUSE. All to ourselves. It's weird to live alone. I've always been with four sisters, so it is a bit strange to come home and only have us two.
This area is the wierdest part of the mission probably. Not weird bad, but weird different. Why? Well part one is the missionary situation. So let's think. I just came from Laredo where there are about 26 missionaries in the city of Laredo. Before that I was in Mission, which is surrounded by lots of other cities real close and full of missionaries. Like 3 zones that get together on pdays. Now I am in Raymondville. Guess how many missionaries there are....4. Yes us. And our district leader and his companion (who is distantly related to the Prophet). Us four missionaries. That is it. All of the rest of our zone is about a 30-40 minute drive away. We are alone. haha. It is really funny. Yes we do have a car. BUT, the elders do not. So we have to drive them to things. Which is strange because it is strictly against mission rules to do that sort of thing anywhere else. But basically we see these two elders like every single day. THey ride in our car and hang out in our garage on p-day because they can't come in our house. It is strange. But fun.
The other thing that makes this area unique is the Branch. I know that God always has the big picture in mind when he puts us places. I started in Mission where the church is pretty strong and runs for the most part how it should. Then I went to Laredo, where there are 4 branches that make up a district and they were working hard at becoming a stake. And now...I am in Raymondville and the surrounding towns and we have one branch. One branch. And it is chiquito. Small. Very small. Apparently last sunday there were only about 20 people at church on sunday. Yesterday there were more, maybe about 40. No se. But it is cute. Our little branch is fun.
This week was the craziest week. Sister Ruano was shoked by all of the things that have happened right as I get here. This week felt like dumping week. And by that I mean that everyone and their dog THIS week just decided to dump all of their problems on us. It was a nice welcome to Raymondville I guess. There are a lot of things that I can see we need to work on. It can be kind of overwhelming at times when we as two little 22 year olds become the ones that everyone comes to to fix all of their biggest struggles. But that's what we're here for I guess. Us and the 20 year old elders. Oh goodness. THis transfer will be unforgettable for so many reasons. Being a small town everyone knows about everyones business and they get in it too much. THey need to work on that. The members have a lot of faith but it is hard because the church is so little and new. For example, the branch president has been a member for 2 years. The second counselor has been a member for 1 year and was baptized by my former zone leader. There is no first counselor at the moment because he was a 19 year old boy and left on his mission last week. The young womens pres has only come to church once in the past 6 weeks. I don't htink there is a ym's pres. The EQP and the RSP are husband and wife and seem to also be a bit newer to the church. As missionaries we are the ones with the experience. THe four of us together have more experience in the chruch than like the whole branch put together. It is crazy. So we have our work cut out for us. But it is good. The members have a lot of faith.
Let me tell you about my first sunday in Raymondville. Get up at 6:30. Go pick up the elders...weird. And take them to church. Greet everyone and meet them all. Play the piano for sacrament meeting. Pres Ramos speaks literally in Tex-mex in the meeting. Literally. Every other word in a different language. Literally. Welcome Hermanos and Sisters. Hoy vamos a sing hymn cientodos. No lie. He is for real. It's great. Give a talk in sacrament meeting. Round up all the youth...all 4 of them and teach their sunday school class (on the spot with no preparation). Round up all the young women and teach young womens also on the spot. Help a boy who was choking on a a hard candy. Ok then church ends and we take the elders with us, weird again, to a lunch appointment with the Relief Society pres and Elders quorum pres. Good food. Found out the RS pres was thinking of going inactive this past week. Give her a little animo. Teach some lessons. Carry a stick around with us to scare away pit-bulls and chiuauahs. etc etc. Then to finish up the night we are in a lesson with htis awesome investigator who has been one for a year and there is a knock on the door. Who is it? Oh it's the elders. Not like we hadn't already spent all day with them, but here they are. Random. But cool, whatever.
This really is a special place. Very unique. I can not convey to you all of the quirks of raymondville. It's awesome/I have my work cut out for me.
Sister Ruano is great. Oh and yes today we fixed my bike because we are going to run out of miles on our car and we still have like 7 days of the month left, so we will be biking a lot. It was super hot yesterday. It is hotter in Laredo, way hotter, but it is humid here so that is lame. But there is nice breeze. It is always windy here.
Well mom, that's a cool new calling. It has a SUPER long name. but you will do awesome at that.
Well thanks for writing, glad you liked the package. I need to send you memory cards soon.
Love,
Sister Petersen
P.S. I saw four haveleenas (i don't know if that is how you spell it, but they are these wild pig things that are scarry. Kinda like pumba on lion king, but wierder)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Changes...baptisms and...
Drum Roll Please!!!!!!!>.............................................
Sister Petersen, after nearly 6 months of time and sweat spent in Laredo, Texas has been transfered...to Raymondville!
Where is that you ask? Please look at a map. Pretty sure it is a very small town in the middle of somewhere. I think there are only 4 missionaries in the town and only one branch that is both english and spanish. I will be companions with one of the most awesome sisters ever...Sister Ruano!!! I have lived with her for 4 transfers already. She was with me two in McAllen and two here in Laredo, so we keep following each other. But now we will actually be companions! Yay!
Leaving Laredo is crazy. I can't believe it's real. I don't want to, but change will be good.
This weekend was bittersweet. As a companionship we had 2 baptisms planned for Sunday. Do you want the good or the bad news first? Let's go with the bad news. Only one of them went through. C..., the mom of the two recent converts, did not show up. We actually pretty much lost her since Wednesday. She is facing a lot of opposition and that just shows how much Satan really doesn't want these people to change their lives for the better. But I have full confidence that Sister Ramirez and her new companion will be able to overcome her doubts and help her take this step this Saturday. The good news, the other baptism of F..., went through and was the most special one i have been priviledged to participate in. It was so amazing! She is so awesome and I am going to miss her a lot. The actually ordinace of her baptism was so awesome. When she came out of the water she just stood there and cried. And then she came up the stairs and hugged us and cried. Yes we got a little wet. But it was so amazing.
Sorry I don't have a lot of time right now, but tomorrow I will be leaving to Raymondville. I'll write more next week.
Love,
Sister Petersen
Sister Petersen, after nearly 6 months of time and sweat spent in Laredo, Texas has been transfered...to Raymondville!
Where is that you ask? Please look at a map. Pretty sure it is a very small town in the middle of somewhere. I think there are only 4 missionaries in the town and only one branch that is both english and spanish. I will be companions with one of the most awesome sisters ever...Sister Ruano!!! I have lived with her for 4 transfers already. She was with me two in McAllen and two here in Laredo, so we keep following each other. But now we will actually be companions! Yay!
Leaving Laredo is crazy. I can't believe it's real. I don't want to, but change will be good.
This weekend was bittersweet. As a companionship we had 2 baptisms planned for Sunday. Do you want the good or the bad news first? Let's go with the bad news. Only one of them went through. C..., the mom of the two recent converts, did not show up. We actually pretty much lost her since Wednesday. She is facing a lot of opposition and that just shows how much Satan really doesn't want these people to change their lives for the better. But I have full confidence that Sister Ramirez and her new companion will be able to overcome her doubts and help her take this step this Saturday. The good news, the other baptism of F..., went through and was the most special one i have been priviledged to participate in. It was so amazing! She is so awesome and I am going to miss her a lot. The actually ordinace of her baptism was so awesome. When she came out of the water she just stood there and cried. And then she came up the stairs and hugged us and cried. Yes we got a little wet. But it was so amazing.
Sorry I don't have a lot of time right now, but tomorrow I will be leaving to Raymondville. I'll write more next week.
Love,
Sister Petersen
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Miracle May...we are praying for it
Email sent Monday 9 May 2011
Happy Mother's Day again!!!
Sorry I didn't get a card out earlier. Hopefully I'll get this package sent off soon. We just don't have time for anything for some reason.
Wow. What a week. This transfer has gone by so fast. I can't believe it. It feels like it just started. This month is going to be an incredible month. We (our district) are deciding to call it "Miracle May." Right now that is because for everything to go as planned we need tons of miracles. But they are miracles that these people will be blessed with because of their faith and strong desires to follow the Savior. This is going to be a power week. As a district we have 5 baptisms scheduled for Sunday! The most I have seen in our district in the whole 5 and 1/2 months I have been here in Laredo is 2 in one month. And we are supposed to be having 5 in one day. Yes 5. Two of those baptisms will be ours and they are huge conversions from family members of recent converts. C... and F..., the two we have been teaching, have been through a lot to bring them to this point and it will continue to take miracles to help them actually enter the waters of baptism. Miracle May. This month is going to help make the Laredo 1st branch explode. We are going to be able to show the branch that we, as missionaries, mean business, and our work is baptism. We have been working hard, always have been, but it is going to show for real this month and we are going to continue to have months like this from here on out.
I told President in my email this week, basically, that I don't want to leave Laredo yet. I mean part of me does because it is so STINKING HOT! I hate the heat. I want to see some rain so bad. Send me to Corpus or something. BUt the weather really isn't that important. I told him I want to stay. Cuz I do. If i leave it will be sad. I think that all six of us in this district agree that we need to stay together for another transfer. We are on a roll, well God has helped us get on a roll. We need to stay together again to keep it going. I don't think Laredo is done with me yet. And I don't think I'm done with it. It probably still has more to teach me. And there are still more people I need to baptize. But Heavenly Father might have different plans, but...I hope I stay. that's all I will say en cuanto a eso.
I'm glad you are all de-junking the house. And yes I do think that declutter is a word. Just don't get rid of anything cool. And don't touch my stuff. :) After you declutter you could start finishing the basement....just a thought. Or go up to hobblecreek and get another dog. :)
I love you all. I just talked to you yesterday. haha. That's weird. The next time I'll talk to you it will be in the Salt Lake Airport two or three days after I turn 23. Weird. Time flies too fast. I love you!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Petersen
Happy Mother's Day again!!!
Sorry I didn't get a card out earlier. Hopefully I'll get this package sent off soon. We just don't have time for anything for some reason.
Wow. What a week. This transfer has gone by so fast. I can't believe it. It feels like it just started. This month is going to be an incredible month. We (our district) are deciding to call it "Miracle May." Right now that is because for everything to go as planned we need tons of miracles. But they are miracles that these people will be blessed with because of their faith and strong desires to follow the Savior. This is going to be a power week. As a district we have 5 baptisms scheduled for Sunday! The most I have seen in our district in the whole 5 and 1/2 months I have been here in Laredo is 2 in one month. And we are supposed to be having 5 in one day. Yes 5. Two of those baptisms will be ours and they are huge conversions from family members of recent converts. C... and F..., the two we have been teaching, have been through a lot to bring them to this point and it will continue to take miracles to help them actually enter the waters of baptism. Miracle May. This month is going to help make the Laredo 1st branch explode. We are going to be able to show the branch that we, as missionaries, mean business, and our work is baptism. We have been working hard, always have been, but it is going to show for real this month and we are going to continue to have months like this from here on out.
I told President in my email this week, basically, that I don't want to leave Laredo yet. I mean part of me does because it is so STINKING HOT! I hate the heat. I want to see some rain so bad. Send me to Corpus or something. BUt the weather really isn't that important. I told him I want to stay. Cuz I do. If i leave it will be sad. I think that all six of us in this district agree that we need to stay together for another transfer. We are on a roll, well God has helped us get on a roll. We need to stay together again to keep it going. I don't think Laredo is done with me yet. And I don't think I'm done with it. It probably still has more to teach me. And there are still more people I need to baptize. But Heavenly Father might have different plans, but...I hope I stay. that's all I will say en cuanto a eso.
I'm glad you are all de-junking the house. And yes I do think that declutter is a word. Just don't get rid of anything cool. And don't touch my stuff. :) After you declutter you could start finishing the basement....just a thought. Or go up to hobblecreek and get another dog. :)
I love you all. I just talked to you yesterday. haha. That's weird. The next time I'll talk to you it will be in the Salt Lake Airport two or three days after I turn 23. Weird. Time flies too fast. I love you!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Petersen
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Mother's Day is coming!
Email sent Monday 2 May 2011
Familia,
Hi everybody. I don't really know what to say today. It was an interesting week. It was so hot. Apparently Laredo is leading the nation in scwarching temperatures. Not exactly my favorite thing to be known for. We are kinda dying of heat, but that's what makes it fun I guess. But luckily today there is a cold front and it actually rained!!! It was amazing. It is pretty cool outside right now, but as for the rest of the week we were looking at 108s. It's hot. Welcome to Texas I guess. Love it.
J... was confirmed this Sunday! She is so awesome. She is so willing and excited to do everything that the Lord wants us to do. She has a huge desire to learn always. She has been reading on her own all sorts of stuff out of the Gospel Principles book. She is so cute. V... was able to go on the temple trip this weekend. Her first time seeing and entering a temple. We are so excited for her!
This week honestly has been a bit of a struggle for me. You know how you have those days when it just seems nothing is working. Well, we actually had a pretty successful week, we are hitting a lot of our goals, and while we can't control people's agency, we are doing all we can to help the work progress. But I don't know, this week was just kinda blah. And that is not ok. So I know I need to work on fixing that. We are preparing two people this week to get their baptismal interviews next sunday so we need to do a lot of work. This is when Satan works the hardest on people. When their baptisms come closer. He turns up his attacks. But God is always stronger.
I get to talk to y'all on Sunday! In don't know when, I guess I will call on friday morning. I don't know when you want me to call on Friday morning. How about around 7? Hope that's not too early. And then on Sunday I don't know when but we'll talk on Friday.
I'll talk to you soon.
Love,
Sister Petersen
Familia,
Hi everybody. I don't really know what to say today. It was an interesting week. It was so hot. Apparently Laredo is leading the nation in scwarching temperatures. Not exactly my favorite thing to be known for. We are kinda dying of heat, but that's what makes it fun I guess. But luckily today there is a cold front and it actually rained!!! It was amazing. It is pretty cool outside right now, but as for the rest of the week we were looking at 108s. It's hot. Welcome to Texas I guess. Love it.
J... was confirmed this Sunday! She is so awesome. She is so willing and excited to do everything that the Lord wants us to do. She has a huge desire to learn always. She has been reading on her own all sorts of stuff out of the Gospel Principles book. She is so cute. V... was able to go on the temple trip this weekend. Her first time seeing and entering a temple. We are so excited for her!
This week honestly has been a bit of a struggle for me. You know how you have those days when it just seems nothing is working. Well, we actually had a pretty successful week, we are hitting a lot of our goals, and while we can't control people's agency, we are doing all we can to help the work progress. But I don't know, this week was just kinda blah. And that is not ok. So I know I need to work on fixing that. We are preparing two people this week to get their baptismal interviews next sunday so we need to do a lot of work. This is when Satan works the hardest on people. When their baptisms come closer. He turns up his attacks. But God is always stronger.
I get to talk to y'all on Sunday! In don't know when, I guess I will call on friday morning. I don't know when you want me to call on Friday morning. How about around 7? Hope that's not too early. And then on Sunday I don't know when but we'll talk on Friday.
I'll talk to you soon.
Love,
Sister Petersen
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Happy Easter!/Happy Baptism!
Email sent Monday 25 April 2011
Dear Family,
I can't believe yesterday was easter. I mean I knew it was easter all along, but half way through the day it hit me that it was easter where you all are too and that you would all be getting together at Grandma's and you would search for chocolates in our living room and all that jazz. It kinda made me sad that I wasn't there to be with all of you guys. But easter is for celebrating the life and resurection of our Savior Jesus Christ and so I did that over here too. I actually do that every single day of my mission since our purpose is do "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." All of these things are made posible becuase Jesus Christ came to the earth and fulfilled the purposes of His father by paying for our sins and dying for us so that in him we might all live again. That is what Easter is about.
Yesterday we had the awesome opportunity to watch the play The Savior of the World, except it was put on in Spanish, so it was literally "El Salvador del Mundo." Brandy, remember when you and I went to that about a year or year and a half ago at the conference center? Well it was the same play, but they just remade it in Spanish and they broadcasted it to the church yesterday. It was cool. We had two of the people we are teaching come and see it with us.
Also yesterday J... was baptized! She is the sweetest woman. This week she fed us every time we went over. She was so excited for her baptism. Her family multiple times invited her various places that would have made her miss her baptism, but she just told them no. There was not a doubt in her mind that God wanted her to be baptized THAT DAY and that she could not put it off at all for any reason. She is amazing. Most people would say, I need to be with my family, can we do it next week. But she saw the importance of "not procrastinating the day of her repentance" she was so happy after she came out of the water. She is awesome! Us four sisters also sang a musical number at her baptism, she cried. We felt the spirit very strongly yesterday.
Also this week they randomly asked all of us missionaries to sing a musical number in Sacrament meeting as part of the Easter program. It was a song I had never heard before, and on Friday they decided that I was the one that had to play the accompaniment. I learned it, with the help of God, in one hour just trying to site-read it while they sang. It was crazy. But it ended up being really good. I am SO grateful for Leslie and that she always made us practice all the hymns and that I can for the most part play any hymn in the book on the spot. That has been a big blessing here on the mission, especially here in laredo.
I got your package on Saturday!!! They just delivered it to our apartment!. Here at our new apartment the mail comes in the morning and so we are almost always here I think, so packages will be given to us. I was VERY happy to get what was in the package. With the weather how it is already here in Laredo, I am going to need all of those things. We may end up showering and changing mid-day because it gets so gross here.
Our new apartment is nice. Our beds are not so nice. Well mine is fine, but my companions is so annoying. The elders gave us there beds when we did the move and we gave them ours, and well...her bed is so annoying. The box spring stinks so bad. You move one muscle a tiny bit and it squeaks like crazy. We haven't been sleeping very well for awhile because she moves a lot. So I am kinda tired. But we'll figure out how to fix it.
That's sad about the trees (Melinda is referring to a tree that was blown down in our neighborhood with the wind this last week, and then a neighbor cut his down probably so it wouldn't fall on his house in a big wind). Quinton finally wrote me. Hi dad. Thanks for the neclace mom! And the potatoes...I am a little confused about those. I will try them and see if they are good, but I don't know cuz I have not found any fake potatoes that I like as of yet. BUt thanks. :) haha
Well enjoy the nice weather. It has been about 107 every day this week. Minus sunday. But ya. It's hot and I hate it. Good thing I didn't come to texas to enjoy the weather. There are bigger purposes of being here.
I love you all. Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Petersen
Dear Family,
I can't believe yesterday was easter. I mean I knew it was easter all along, but half way through the day it hit me that it was easter where you all are too and that you would all be getting together at Grandma's and you would search for chocolates in our living room and all that jazz. It kinda made me sad that I wasn't there to be with all of you guys. But easter is for celebrating the life and resurection of our Savior Jesus Christ and so I did that over here too. I actually do that every single day of my mission since our purpose is do "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." All of these things are made posible becuase Jesus Christ came to the earth and fulfilled the purposes of His father by paying for our sins and dying for us so that in him we might all live again. That is what Easter is about.
Yesterday we had the awesome opportunity to watch the play The Savior of the World, except it was put on in Spanish, so it was literally "El Salvador del Mundo." Brandy, remember when you and I went to that about a year or year and a half ago at the conference center? Well it was the same play, but they just remade it in Spanish and they broadcasted it to the church yesterday. It was cool. We had two of the people we are teaching come and see it with us.
Also yesterday J... was baptized! She is the sweetest woman. This week she fed us every time we went over. She was so excited for her baptism. Her family multiple times invited her various places that would have made her miss her baptism, but she just told them no. There was not a doubt in her mind that God wanted her to be baptized THAT DAY and that she could not put it off at all for any reason. She is amazing. Most people would say, I need to be with my family, can we do it next week. But she saw the importance of "not procrastinating the day of her repentance" she was so happy after she came out of the water. She is awesome! Us four sisters also sang a musical number at her baptism, she cried. We felt the spirit very strongly yesterday.
Also this week they randomly asked all of us missionaries to sing a musical number in Sacrament meeting as part of the Easter program. It was a song I had never heard before, and on Friday they decided that I was the one that had to play the accompaniment. I learned it, with the help of God, in one hour just trying to site-read it while they sang. It was crazy. But it ended up being really good. I am SO grateful for Leslie and that she always made us practice all the hymns and that I can for the most part play any hymn in the book on the spot. That has been a big blessing here on the mission, especially here in laredo.
I got your package on Saturday!!! They just delivered it to our apartment!. Here at our new apartment the mail comes in the morning and so we are almost always here I think, so packages will be given to us. I was VERY happy to get what was in the package. With the weather how it is already here in Laredo, I am going to need all of those things. We may end up showering and changing mid-day because it gets so gross here.
Our new apartment is nice. Our beds are not so nice. Well mine is fine, but my companions is so annoying. The elders gave us there beds when we did the move and we gave them ours, and well...her bed is so annoying. The box spring stinks so bad. You move one muscle a tiny bit and it squeaks like crazy. We haven't been sleeping very well for awhile because she moves a lot. So I am kinda tired. But we'll figure out how to fix it.
That's sad about the trees (Melinda is referring to a tree that was blown down in our neighborhood with the wind this last week, and then a neighbor cut his down probably so it wouldn't fall on his house in a big wind). Quinton finally wrote me. Hi dad. Thanks for the neclace mom! And the potatoes...I am a little confused about those. I will try them and see if they are good, but I don't know cuz I have not found any fake potatoes that I like as of yet. BUt thanks. :) haha
Well enjoy the nice weather. It has been about 107 every day this week. Minus sunday. But ya. It's hot and I hate it. Good thing I didn't come to texas to enjoy the weather. There are bigger purposes of being here.
I love you all. Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Petersen
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Instead of Graduating I will be baptizing... (not me personally, don't worry)
Email sent Monday 18 April 2011
So I guess this week I would be graduating from BYU if I was home. That is super weird to think about and I am super glad that I am not graduating right now. I am not ready to be done with school. But instead of going to my graduation, you can pretend that you could come to our baptism this Easter Sunday. J... will be getting baptized on Sunday. She is the sweetest woman ever. She is so humble and so excited to be baptized. She knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that only in this church can she be baptized by someone who has the authority of God so that she can be clean of her sins. I have loved teaching her and being able to help her recieve answers to her prayers, We have seen her progress so much. Sister Salan and I found her knocking doors a month or two ago. Originally we had talked to and taught her daughter, but now her daughter wants nothing to do with church, but J... is so awesome. She was looking for a church and God sent us to her through her daughter. J... is willing to do whatever it takes to get to church. She even walks to church with her little grandchildren because she wants them to be able to learn as well. Her baptism will be a very special day.
Updates on a couple of our other recent converts: L... who got baptized back in December is a primary teacher of the 7-8 year olds. She is doing awesome and reading the book of mormon. She is probably in Mosiah or so. R..., after being baptized in January and going kind of inactive for about a month is coming back. He should be going on the youth temple trip next weekend to do baptisms for the dead. He is also now the secretary in the priests quorum here. V... is also doing great! She is so sweet and I know has a very strong testimony. Her goal is a temple marriage one day. She is on the Relief Society Meeting Committee and helps plan those fun RS activities. She also should be going on the temple trip next week.
This week we saw a miracle when we were able to set a baptismal date with F... and J...' mom. F... and j... were baptized and taught last May by Sister Morrill (my old companion). They are 16 and 17 years old. They are two of my favorite people. They will both serve missions in the future. Their mom has been taught off and on for the missionaries for the past year. She knows this church is true. She has known all along that she needs to get baptized. We had a very spiritual lesson with her this week in which the spirit prompted us to invite her to be baptized. She accepted! She said that she knows she needs to take this very important step so that the Lord can bless her. Her sons are going to be SO happy. And more importantly God is going to be so happy.
We had interviews this week with President and he hinted that I may never leave Laredo. I don't know if that means that is for real, or if that is a sign that I will be out of here REALLY soon. President likes to throw people blindsides. I don't want to leave. I have to stay here for C... and L..., and F..., and J...'s baptisms. So I hope he leaves me here for a bit more.
Well mom, I'm glad that taxes and Fafsa's are done. Those are always stressful, well I guess I wouldn't know, since you always do it, but I would imagine that they are stressful. Thanks for being so awesome and doing all of that for all of us. :)
Alex Bingham and Nick are going into the military? Wow. Matt is home? Wow can't believe it. Time flies so fast. Dad, you lost in pingpong to a teenager. What a shame. You better practice up. Brandy, make sure you take and send me pictures of all of your fancy pots in the art show.
I got Sister Green's letter. She's too cute. Tell her thanks. I'll write back soon.
Hope you still do an easter egg hunt for easter. that is a must. But more importantly remember the true meaning of Easter. This week is la semana santa. Podemos recordar la vida de nuestro salvador Jesucristo y la ulitma semana de su vida que termina con la resurecion y la esperanza que nos dio. Let's remember the life of our Savior and the last week of his life that culminates with his resurrection and hope that he gave us to be able to return to live with our heavenly Father again. He is the reason for the season. Don't forget it.
Well thats all for now. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Petersen
random question. Are we going to get another dog someday?
I want to be there if we have a puppy. We can get one in december when I come home. I'll be there for like a month. Sort of. And I will train it all the way, and then you will have company when you are an empty nester. :) I miss Cookie too. I still think that when I come home she will be there.
My (Laurie's) answer: Funny you should ask, but right now, NO. Brandy and we were talking about that yesterday. They are a lot of work and you need to be home for them. It is hard to leave for very long if you have a dog. Not that we go that many places. We do miss Cookie.
So I guess this week I would be graduating from BYU if I was home. That is super weird to think about and I am super glad that I am not graduating right now. I am not ready to be done with school. But instead of going to my graduation, you can pretend that you could come to our baptism this Easter Sunday. J... will be getting baptized on Sunday. She is the sweetest woman ever. She is so humble and so excited to be baptized. She knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that only in this church can she be baptized by someone who has the authority of God so that she can be clean of her sins. I have loved teaching her and being able to help her recieve answers to her prayers, We have seen her progress so much. Sister Salan and I found her knocking doors a month or two ago. Originally we had talked to and taught her daughter, but now her daughter wants nothing to do with church, but J... is so awesome. She was looking for a church and God sent us to her through her daughter. J... is willing to do whatever it takes to get to church. She even walks to church with her little grandchildren because she wants them to be able to learn as well. Her baptism will be a very special day.
Updates on a couple of our other recent converts: L... who got baptized back in December is a primary teacher of the 7-8 year olds. She is doing awesome and reading the book of mormon. She is probably in Mosiah or so. R..., after being baptized in January and going kind of inactive for about a month is coming back. He should be going on the youth temple trip next weekend to do baptisms for the dead. He is also now the secretary in the priests quorum here. V... is also doing great! She is so sweet and I know has a very strong testimony. Her goal is a temple marriage one day. She is on the Relief Society Meeting Committee and helps plan those fun RS activities. She also should be going on the temple trip next week.
This week we saw a miracle when we were able to set a baptismal date with F... and J...' mom. F... and j... were baptized and taught last May by Sister Morrill (my old companion). They are 16 and 17 years old. They are two of my favorite people. They will both serve missions in the future. Their mom has been taught off and on for the missionaries for the past year. She knows this church is true. She has known all along that she needs to get baptized. We had a very spiritual lesson with her this week in which the spirit prompted us to invite her to be baptized. She accepted! She said that she knows she needs to take this very important step so that the Lord can bless her. Her sons are going to be SO happy. And more importantly God is going to be so happy.
We had interviews this week with President and he hinted that I may never leave Laredo. I don't know if that means that is for real, or if that is a sign that I will be out of here REALLY soon. President likes to throw people blindsides. I don't want to leave. I have to stay here for C... and L..., and F..., and J...'s baptisms. So I hope he leaves me here for a bit more.
Well mom, I'm glad that taxes and Fafsa's are done. Those are always stressful, well I guess I wouldn't know, since you always do it, but I would imagine that they are stressful. Thanks for being so awesome and doing all of that for all of us. :)
Alex Bingham and Nick are going into the military? Wow. Matt is home? Wow can't believe it. Time flies so fast. Dad, you lost in pingpong to a teenager. What a shame. You better practice up. Brandy, make sure you take and send me pictures of all of your fancy pots in the art show.
I got Sister Green's letter. She's too cute. Tell her thanks. I'll write back soon.
Hope you still do an easter egg hunt for easter. that is a must. But more importantly remember the true meaning of Easter. This week is la semana santa. Podemos recordar la vida de nuestro salvador Jesucristo y la ulitma semana de su vida que termina con la resurecion y la esperanza que nos dio. Let's remember the life of our Savior and the last week of his life that culminates with his resurrection and hope that he gave us to be able to return to live with our heavenly Father again. He is the reason for the season. Don't forget it.
Well thats all for now. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Petersen
random question. Are we going to get another dog someday?
I want to be there if we have a puppy. We can get one in december when I come home. I'll be there for like a month. Sort of. And I will train it all the way, and then you will have company when you are an empty nester. :) I miss Cookie too. I still think that when I come home she will be there.
My (Laurie's) answer: Funny you should ask, but right now, NO. Brandy and we were talking about that yesterday. They are a lot of work and you need to be home for them. It is hard to leave for very long if you have a dog. Not that we go that many places. We do miss Cookie.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Welcome to Laredo, bring on the 100's
Email sent Monday 11 April 2011
That stinks about the meet. Sorry Brandy's sick. That's never fun. I'm sure I'll get the letter from Sister Green soon. that's nice of her. Sister Ramirez's first name is Amanda.
Also I went to that Asmussen Horse place. It was right on the other side of the border of my area. We drove around inside but couldn't see much. There weren't really houses, so we couldn't knock, but it was cool to look at. You should ask him again like if he lives there and if he is a member. We could send the elders back since it is in their area.
So aparently summer starts full force in April here in Laredo. Yesterday at one point it was 108 degrees. Yes. It was super hot. And not to mension, Sister Ramirez were running to an appointment we had last night at like 8:45 in our skirts and everything because we had left our car and walked like 15 minutes with this awesome prepared lady that we found all the way to her house and then we had to run back because we were late for the appointment. We probably looked super weird. Two girls in skirts running down a neighborhood street at 8:45 at night. We probably looked sketchy. Also we were really sweaty. Ew. I hate the heat. I am so not ready for another summer. I pray that God will just forget about summer and just bring fall back because fall and spring are super awesome. But summer...no...ew. But it's ok. I will deal with it. At least it is not humid here in Laredo. So that is a good thing.
What were you asking me about lds.org and conference? I just want the English ensign. I'm going to get someone to put the cd's you sent me on my ipod so that I can listen to them for spanish study. But I don't need any more if that is what you are asking. I won't have room for them.
Matt is getting home?! Wow, that's fast. I can't believe he is done already. Tell him to write me. If he wants I guess.
Ok so this week as you know was full of change, sort of. Just a new companion. She is awesome. Sister Ramirez is a convert. I have always wanted a convert companion. It is cool. She is from Puerto Rico and has pretty much perfect English. And is helping me with my spanish. She is really awesome at following the spirit and we have been able to find some cool people. She loves to cook, and feed me what she cooks, so I may gain so weight this transfer. I will have to be careful. Her food is really good though. I think it is going to be a really good transfer. I'm grateful I get to spend more time here in Laredo and help this great city at this very important time as we try to become a stake. I have learned SO much here about how the church is supposed to work, and can see that when people magnify their callings which just means "performing the service that pertains to it" (as was stated by Pres Monson I think) the whole ward will function. If everyone just lifts where they stand. I encourage all of you who read this, whoever you are, whatever your calling, magnify it. Do everything that you are expected to do and do it with a smile and willing heart. You will see miracles. Even if it is just faithful visiting or home teaching. You have no idea the miracles that can work in the lives of people. Just do it. Don't procrastinate. The callings and assignments we have in the church are responsiblities the Lord has trusted to us specifically. He has confidence in us and our ability to do the part of His work that he has so graciously allowed us to participate in. Try it out and see how the blessings come to you.
I love you. Hope you enjoy the weird Utah weather. I'll try to mail you a few degrees that we don't want here. haha
Love,
Sister Melinda Petersen
That stinks about the meet. Sorry Brandy's sick. That's never fun. I'm sure I'll get the letter from Sister Green soon. that's nice of her. Sister Ramirez's first name is Amanda.
Also I went to that Asmussen Horse place. It was right on the other side of the border of my area. We drove around inside but couldn't see much. There weren't really houses, so we couldn't knock, but it was cool to look at. You should ask him again like if he lives there and if he is a member. We could send the elders back since it is in their area.
So aparently summer starts full force in April here in Laredo. Yesterday at one point it was 108 degrees. Yes. It was super hot. And not to mension, Sister Ramirez were running to an appointment we had last night at like 8:45 in our skirts and everything because we had left our car and walked like 15 minutes with this awesome prepared lady that we found all the way to her house and then we had to run back because we were late for the appointment. We probably looked super weird. Two girls in skirts running down a neighborhood street at 8:45 at night. We probably looked sketchy. Also we were really sweaty. Ew. I hate the heat. I am so not ready for another summer. I pray that God will just forget about summer and just bring fall back because fall and spring are super awesome. But summer...no...ew. But it's ok. I will deal with it. At least it is not humid here in Laredo. So that is a good thing.
What were you asking me about lds.org and conference? I just want the English ensign. I'm going to get someone to put the cd's you sent me on my ipod so that I can listen to them for spanish study. But I don't need any more if that is what you are asking. I won't have room for them.
Matt is getting home?! Wow, that's fast. I can't believe he is done already. Tell him to write me. If he wants I guess.
Ok so this week as you know was full of change, sort of. Just a new companion. She is awesome. Sister Ramirez is a convert. I have always wanted a convert companion. It is cool. She is from Puerto Rico and has pretty much perfect English. And is helping me with my spanish. She is really awesome at following the spirit and we have been able to find some cool people. She loves to cook, and feed me what she cooks, so I may gain so weight this transfer. I will have to be careful. Her food is really good though. I think it is going to be a really good transfer. I'm grateful I get to spend more time here in Laredo and help this great city at this very important time as we try to become a stake. I have learned SO much here about how the church is supposed to work, and can see that when people magnify their callings which just means "performing the service that pertains to it" (as was stated by Pres Monson I think) the whole ward will function. If everyone just lifts where they stand. I encourage all of you who read this, whoever you are, whatever your calling, magnify it. Do everything that you are expected to do and do it with a smile and willing heart. You will see miracles. Even if it is just faithful visiting or home teaching. You have no idea the miracles that can work in the lives of people. Just do it. Don't procrastinate. The callings and assignments we have in the church are responsiblities the Lord has trusted to us specifically. He has confidence in us and our ability to do the part of His work that he has so graciously allowed us to participate in. Try it out and see how the blessings come to you.
I love you. Hope you enjoy the weird Utah weather. I'll try to mail you a few degrees that we don't want here. haha
Love,
Sister Melinda Petersen
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