2-23-15

Dear Family,

That sounds like SOOO much fun :) Mom we will definitely have to go again the next time!! I'm glad to hear that things are going well back home! 

It is definitely cold! But thankfully we have a good heater in the car, and I've been staying warm :) Cyriacus came to church!! That was SO wonderful to see! I was so happy to see him there. He missed the Sacrament, but made it to the rest of the talks. We also had a lesson with him last week. Haha, when we tried to put him on date, he was like "Yes! Yes I want to follow the example of my Savior!" And we didn't even get to the part of baptism. But then Sister Roundy brought up baptism again and he said that he would have an answer after he went to our church. So we're going to meet with him again this week as soon as possible to find out what he thought. 

Well, I've got some interesting news for ya'll. I'm being Emergency transfered to Suwanee. I head out this Wednesday to be with Sister Davenport. I haven't heard anything about her, so I don't really know what to expect :P Her companion is having to go home due to some kind of disease with her heart (I didn't quite grab all of the details on that). But yeah... :) I'm a little bummed about it, but President came over to our apartment himself and told me that I was being sent over there. We're the only trio in the mission so it makes sense that one of us would have to go. However, I'm moving forward towards another adventure!! I'm excited to see what Suwanee is like. I know that it's further north, but other than that I have no idea. It's not as far as Dahlonega was, but it's in the same zone.

So off topic :P, in our study room, we're right next to a window. Since Spring is coming closer the birds are singing again outside. It's weird to think that it's been a year since I first came out. It just made me reflect a little bit. Everything in Georgia is the same. It's the same mission. The outside is the same. The seasons are still the same and the trees are the same. I'm still on the same mission, doing the exact same thing. But I'm not the same :P It's just kind of funny the difference of feelings that I have now. My worries and concerns are different than what they were before. I just feel a lot calmer inside and more at peace. I am sad to be leaving after such a short time, but I'm satisfied with how I've worked in this area. I've done a lot of clean up here (the area book was a mess, we had two of them and most of the records weren't in our area anymore). And I just feel so blessed by the Lord. I feel like each circumstance I'm going through is preparing me for the future. Having companions that were Emergency Transferred here, has prepared me a little for this transfer. What kind of an attitude that I want to have, and how I want to deal with this trial. It's going to be hard, but God is near and I am so grateful for that :) 

I hope that ya'll are having a good one! Have a blessed day :) I love you and I am so grateful for all that you do! Thanks for the letters. Thanks for the emails. Thanks for the stories and the pictures :) I appreciate them all so much! I miss ya'll! Take care :)

Just Believe,

Sister Petersen

2-18-15

Hello hello Fam!

Boy! It sounds like things are really crazy back home! I'm glad that things have been so good as well! Please send me a picture of that hummingbird and let me know how ANWA goes! I've always wanted to go to one of those! (And if you can get me an autograph of someone I would love it :P ) And you've been called as President! (I'm not surprised :) ) That's awesome! And that's so great that Renea has been able to help you get another name Dad!! Man! I seriously want to learn how to do that!

Alright! This week, it's been crazy, but it's been a good week :) Yeah I'm still in a threesome, transfers aren't until the beginning of March. When that hits one of my companions (Sister Roundy) will be going home. After that point I'll probably just stay with Sister Osburn. Let's see, we've got an investigator that we're working with which I'm Super stoked about! His name is Cyriacus and he's from Nigeria. He's super sincere, black, and awesome! I love his accent :) He's got a family still in Nigeria that he's working to get into the states (he has a five year old that he hasn't even met yet!) We're planning on teaching him tomorrow and putting him on date! Wish us luck! 

We've also had a lot of success getting in with more Less Actives in the area who are receptive to us, so that's been Really needed. We've got some return appointments and hopefully we'll be able to help them come back to church.

Also, our ward did this Crazy missionary blitz thing where there was just Sacrament meeting and then every family had two to three names of less actives or people on the ward list that we didn't know who they were and they were asked to go and find them for an hour and a half and see if they were still home. It seemed like a lot of people had a really good experience with that, which was so good to see! 

Haha, we still have an ant problem (Raid is our best friend :P ) I've had to sleep on the couch because they've been on the wall next to my bed. I'm planning on moving my bed over today and getting my sheets washed so I don't have to worry about it. Oh! And we ended up having to switch our car. The car we were driving had this crazy oil leak that was dripping out of the engine and we ended up losing all of our transmission fluid. Our car was smoking super badly, we had to go to the Pep Boys place and then call Elder Residori. But super miracle, because he couldn't get a tow truck there, we had to keep driving it to the mission office. We weren't sure if we were going to make it, but we kept praying and it ended up making it to the office. (It was crazy too because this silly train blocked our path so we ended up having to go the LONG way around in order to get to the office.)

Anyways, lots of stuff, but it was a good week. I hope that ya'll are having a great week too! I miss ya lots and lots! Have a blessed day :)

Just Believe,

Sister Petersen

2-2-15

Dear Fam,

I'm Sorry I'm Sorry I'm Sorry!! This week and last week have been insane, so I'm sorry that I haven't sent you my address! It's 7103 Dunleaf Arc Way. Norcross, GA 30093. 

Okay, I've got a lot to update you on. So last week on Friday, my companion Sister Summerhays ended up going home early due to her depression that was really affecting how she worked. She was really struggling badly, so she ended up talking to president and got a blessing and she felt like she really needed to go. I had a feeling that it was time for her to go too, she was just so exhausted and ready. It reminded me of when I had to go home for my back. It was just so hard to get out of bed and so exhausting to go to work. So, I'm grateful that she was able to go home and hopefully she's getting some help. She was out for about fifteen months, so she's officially done. Now, that being said, I have two new companions! Sister Roundy and Sister Osburn! And they are the best :D We are laughing every day and we're all super excited to get to work. Since I've only been in the area for about a week, we're whitewashing which is definitely intense and crazy, but it's a really good experience too :) We're kind of starting from ground zero.

Probably one of the biggest miracles right now is being able to have some good companions who want to work and who are obedient. Sister Osburn has been out for about five months now, and Sister Roundy has been out for seventeen months. Both of them like to work hard and with the three of us, so far we've been getting along well :) Haha, and when we have our initials in the right order, it looks like Sisters PRO. It's awesome :P 

It's kind of funny, all three of us have gotten the impression that we really need to work on helping the ward become more unified. Most of the missionaries are making goals for getting more baptisms and finding people to teach. While I was fasting on Sunday, I thought about fasting for that, but it didn't seem like the right thing to fast for, at least, not right now. And then we talked about what we want our goal to be and it really came down to the ward. It just got split in December and so it feels like everyone is still trying to adjust and get used to new callings and so forth. It's a REALLY small congregation, but really gung ho about missionary work. Except it feels like there's kind of a disconnect among the members in wanting to work together. It seems like a lot of the members' friends are in the other ward now, and so nobody really knows each other, and possibly don't know quite how to bridge the gap. So! We're planning on meeting with the Relief Society president on Tuesday and hopefully suggest some ideas on how we can help. At the moment, we've only got one progressing investigator who's part of a part member family. We're meeting with him tonight actually, I've never met him before, but his name is Scott and he seems like he's really interested in learning more. So we're going to be showing him the Restoration video and just find out where he's at with everything. 

We just figure, if the ward isn't unified, it's going to be impossible to retain new investigators. The Elders in our ward, are doing an awesome job at bringing more investigators and people into the ward, but I'm wondering how the fellowshipping is going among the members. I love it here though. There's a lot of great people in the ward, and there's a lot of potential! It'll probably take a while for things to get settled down and for people to make new connections, but we'll see how it goes. There's also a Relief Society get together this Thursday called Speed Friendshipping, so Hopefully that'll help with everything. 

Anyways, things over all are going really well. I'm loving the work, and I'm learning lots. It was hard to say goodbye to Sister Summerhays, but I love my new companions :) And I know she needed to go home too. The Gospel is true and the book is blue!! I'm glad that things are going well! I hope Andrew and Amy can get to feeling better! (I'd really like some pictures of those puppies by the way :P ) haha, I'm glad you've got chickens and that you're loving primary too!! Fog is awesome :D I love it, and of course I remember the fog in the pines!! How could I forget? That was so epic! 

Anyways, I love ya'll and I'm praying for you! I hope ya'll have a blessed week! Love you!

Just Believe,

Sister Petersen

1-20-15

Hey Fam!

Yes, I did get the citrus and it made the bestest best lemonade ever! I was so pleased :P I'm DEFINITELY going to be taking that box with me to my new area!!

AND.... my new area is... (drum roll please :) ) The Lilburn First Ward! So I'm heading back to the big 'ole city! My new companion is Sister Summerhayes (I have no idea how to spell her name :P ) And in a word, I am Really excited :) I'm sad  that I'm leaving Dahlonega so soon, but I'm excited to go to Lilburn! And Sister Grayson is headed over to Kennesaw with actually a sister who she got trained with. Which is really cool. And Crazy news, tomorrow both Sister DeBry and Sister Hooker are going home! Crazy right? It's so weird how time flies. Then in the next transfer, Sister Madsen will be heading out! All of my companions are dropping off like flies! But it's so exciting too.

Anyways, what were some miracles that happened this week... hmmm.... Sister Grayson and I both survived, definitely a miracle :) We had our baptism on Saturday and confirmation as well which was SO wonderful :D A lot of people that we've been working with showed up at church on Sunday. And life is good. That is the biggest miracle of all. Life feels good :)

There were a couple of things that have really stuck out to me a lot from this transfer with Sister Grayson. One of them is the importance of humility. If I hadn't had been proud during all of this transfer, I believe things would have gone so much smoother. I had to be broken down a lot by the Lord and realize that I needed to make a lot of changes if I was going to make it this transfer. But that's okay, because it taught me SO much. God has never been so close before.

(Oh gosh, I could really list so many things that I learned from this transfer) One of the biggest things that I've been trying to learn about is charity. It's amazing to me what charity truly is and how HARD it is to have. Especially when you really don't want to have charity :P I wonder how difficult it must have been for the Savior to have loved everyone including those who rejected and crucified him. It amazes me that in the bible Jesus would call Judas Iscariot "Friend" even though he know that Judas would soon betray him. It always amazes me that no matter what, no matter how stressed we are, no matter how angry we get, no matter how afraid, no matter how much we abuse or ignore the Savior, He is always there. He's always right outside the door waiting for us to let Him in. That no matter what we do, He will always love us. He will always welcome us back. And that just Blows me away just how much He really does love us. That His love truly is pure and untainted. It's not motivated by selfishness. He's not expecting a reward. He usually doesn't get a reward. Most of the time He's just brushed aside. And yet, He's still there serving and giving even when we don't recognize it. All that He truly wants is for us to be happy. That's it. And He knows how to help us be happy which is why He asks us to do things for Him. Which is why He asks us to give Him our whole heart because that will make us happy. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are just so wonderful!!

I am really grateful for what this transfer has taught me. I really needed it. And I'm really grateful that Sister Grayson was my companion because I never would have learned these lessons with anyone else. I would never have gone through the refiner's fire if not for her. And I'm really grateful for that and for her :)

I hope that ya'll are having a wonderful week! I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well especially Andrew!! Let me know if there's anything that I can do for ya'll! I will get that address sent to you as soon as I get it :) Love you!

Just Believe,

Sister Petersen

1-5-14

Hello hello!! I hope that all is going well!

Thank you so much for the birthday package!! I love it oh so very much :) I'm excited to read that story today (I've been saving it for when I actually have a few minutes to just not worry about anything). And I'm really really really excited to get more. Also, a fun little surprise, Sister Grayson ended up decorating the apartment for my birthday. She made this Huge sign of Happy Birthday Sister Petersen and then decorated around my desk too. And I'm pretty sure that she told the members that we were eating dinner with that night that it was my birthday too, so we ended up eating cake, and I got a vase of flowers and a blue forget me not book. It was so sweet of them!!

I would love to watch that movie as soon as I get home! I actually think that I've seen part of it, and what I remember of it, it was really cute. AWE I'm SO jealous that you're going to the zoo!! Take lots of pictures please :D And that's so exciting that Andy got put on date dad!! Isn't the Spirit so wonderful?? I love it so much :)

Hahaha, I'm glad that you guys finally got the lights taken down. (Even though I actually liked turning them on every so often to give our house a little flare ;P) For New Years, we actually got to go on exchanges, so I went over to the Coal Mountain ward with Sister Childs which was so fun :) We got Wendy's to celebrate and then set our alarm to go off at midnight so we could welcome the New Year. And funnest of all, there were fireworks that went off right by our window which was Super fun!! When the alarm went off, I just said Happy New Year and then went right to bed :P I was way too tired.

Fun news! We have a girl on date for baptism on January 17th!! Which is so awesome! She's twelve years old and I guess the sisters have been working for her for awhile, but we've finally got her on date again and her family is okay for her to get baptized. It was so awesome! Also, another family that we've been working with actually came to church on Sunday!! It was SO great to see them :D The dad had been baptized a little while ago, but he had been so ill for the past few months that he hasn't been able to make it to church, but we've been visiting them just about every week. The rest of his family aren't members, but his two boys did end up showing up at church which was also a miracle! His wife was planning on coming, but ended up not being able to (if she had made it that would have been the biggest miracle of all) The missionaries have been working with this family for Years and years. So who knows what's going to happen in the next while :P

Anyways, things are going good. They're not perfect, but they're better than they have been :) I'll send you another letter in the mail that's more specific, but I am surviving and it truly is all thanks to the Lord. He has been blessing me so much with so many little miracles and I am so grateful for Him. I hope that ya'll have a fantastic week! I love you!

Just Believe,
Sister Petersen

12-22-14

Hello Hello!! MERRY CHRISTMAS :DDD I hope that everything is going well for you guys! I'm so glad that you guys are going to be kazooing tonight and watching the Christmas carol! Take lots of pictures for me please :D

On Christmas day we're going to be going over to a member's house around three o'clock so we probably won't email until around 3:15/ 3:30 ish? I can't remember what time that is in Arizona. I think we're two hours ahead? Anyways, that'll probably be the time that we can skype. I don't know if you have skype on your computer or not. If not, I'm sure that we'll be able to face time or do something else.

Anyways, things are going a lot better this week. I've got another letter coming in the mail that details things out a little bit better. I don't know when you'll get it due to the holidays, but it explains more. Things are getting much easier. The ward is becoming more familiar to me and I'm getting better at remembering people's names. We have a lot of work going on in this area as well which is also really helpful. Every day brings its unique challenges and mountains to climb, but I'm taking it slow and learning as I go. I know that God is making everything possible and I just have to keep letting it go and putting everything in His hands and I know that He will provide. Haha, "Let it Go!"

I'm excited to hear about Christmas from all ya'll!! I'm glad that the temple lights turned out to be great and that Lisa was able to go! I'm sorry to hear that Herb and Carol were sick, I hope that they can get to feeling better soon. And I hope that Renee can get to feeling better!! That's not good at all! I'll keep her in my prayers!

The Christmas party last week was SO fabulous!! I got to see so many of my old friends and be able to catch up with them. It was so good to see Sister DeBry, Sister Madsen, Sister Hooker, and my Sister District again :) We also of course performed in the choir and we got to go to the temple which was sooo wonderful!

It's been difficult, but God has been close by. He's been listening and He's answered many of my prayers. The biggest thing is that I just need to not be so hard on myself and just love my companion and this ward with everything that I've got. I'm here for a reason and I know that God is aware of my needs.

I love this gospel and I love that I'm back out into the field. I know that things will be a challenge, but it will be worth it in the end. The mission wouldn't be so wonderful if it wasn't so difficult :P The church is true and the book is blue. I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for this time of the year. Everything is possible thanks to Him and I am so grateful that we can rely on Him and be truly changed because of Him. I know that everything will work out for the best and I'm hopeful for the future.

I hope that ya'll have a Merry Christmas!! I'll see you soon :D

Just Believe,
Sister Petersen

10-13-14

Hello everyone!

 

Wasn't General conference incredible? Oh! It was such a blessing! And let me tell you, Sister Madsen and I have been making a lot of changes in order to be more obedient and follow the Lord. Haha, and let me tell you, it has not been easy! We've definitely faced some dragons the past couple of days but it has been so worth it. And the Lord has been blessing us immensely. Just the other day we got a referral about a girl who has been taught the first three lessons, is on date, and lives in our apartment complex. What a blessing! Also we went to a restaurant the other day and we ended up getting our waiter's information and said that we would get in contact with him shortly. (He also paid for our dessert which was so sweet of him!)

 

My back is just about the same, but I've been going to see the chiropractor every week and that's been helping a little bit. Haha, she's been having me fix my posture and change the way that I walk so that (hopefully) I won't be getting so many sprained ankles and so that my knees and my back will be able to feel better. She's also been giving me some stretches and exercises to help me improve. Also, I talked to President Bennion about it as well. He wanted me to go and see a doctor so I'll be seeing one on Wednesday and we'll be able to figure out what he has to say. But President said that if this keeps getting worse and that they can't get things figure out, they might have to send me home to take a break for a month and a half and then see how I feel afterwards. I hope that it doesn't come to that, but I don't really know. Hopefully, we'll be able to find a way for this to improve. But whether I stay out in the field or end up going home, I'm at peace with either decision. I know that whatever happens, it will be the will of the Lord and all that I can do is the best that I can. And it's okay :)

 

Let me tell you, this week has definitely been one that's been a trial of my faith and courage. But it has been so incredible. I have seen so many blessings from our efforts and I'm excited and hopeful for what the future will bring. Also, I am soooooooo grateful for the Atonement. I am so grateful for its healing, strengthening and lifting power. How grateful I am for my Savior Jesus Christ, who loves me no matter what I do. And I love that as long as we lean on His arm, keep the commandments, and have faith in Him, we are able to do all things. Life truly is wonderful and I am so grateful to be serving the Lord at this time. I love ya'll! Have a great day!

 

Just Believe,

Sister Petersen