June 18, 2013

Hey, I don't have a lot of time right now, but things are going awesome out here.  We went tracting this last week and found a couple people to teach potentially, so that was awesome, but they still haven't split my area.  We don't have enough time in the day to do everything and keep a balanced area.  They definitely need to split it.  We will be all over the place and back and forth who knows how many times this month/transfer.

Hey good news though,  I am still in the OPM (Oregon Portland Mission).  But both my other companions have gone out to other missions.  Elder Jorgensen ( my trainer) is a district leader in Salem, and my MTC companion is in Salem as well, so I won't be able to see them any more.

Love 

Elder Peterson

Romans 8:16-18

Our Divine potential is outstanding.  Stand worthy to receive the blessings that come with it.

June 11, 2013

This past week started out a little rough but it definitely more than made up for it at the end of the week. By Tuesday, we had already had 5 cancelled lessons.  It is so frustrating to see people forget or just decide to cancel appointments because they don't realize the blessings that come with the Gospel.  But throughout the week, we had plenty little miracles that made up for all of the set backs.  We were able to contact a few people that have resulted from the ward mission process.  We have been trying to get a hold of the L's for almost 4 months now, and on Tuesday, Elder Barlow and I were able to find them at home and set up a time to be able to meet with Brother L and his wife for today.  We then went over and were able to contact another person to visit for this Thursday.  N has been less active for a long time because of a terminal illness.  She gets upset when people try to tell her how to deal with her illness, and a lot of that was happening at church.  So she slowly stopped going to church with the hopes that people would slowly forget about her illness.  As a result she hasn't been to church for many years.  She still has a super strong testimony of the gospel, and she is willing to meet with us.  She said that she loves 20 questions, so if you guys know some cool questions to ask, please let me know because I have never been good at coming up with those kinds of things.  

On Wednesday, we were able to meet with A, and she is doing really well.  She started coming back to church when her best friend died, and she had a lot of questions about the plan of salvation and what happens after we die.  We have been meeting with her for about 4 months now, and she went in for her interview with the Bishop to get a temple recommend!!!  It was super exciting!!!  Then on Saturday, we were able to share a spiritual thought with a less active member out in Beavercreek named E.  She left the church because she found out something that made her think that the church wasn't for her.  She hasn't told us what it is yet, but we were finally able to make contact after 2 months of trying.  

Sunday was an amazing day.  While we were in Gospel Doctrine, we were told by Brother M that his son W had decided that he wanted to get baptized on the 22 of June!!!!!  Bro M's family has been going to church for about 3 years now and W has been attending seminary, but hadn't none of them had decided that they wanted to get baptized.  Then when we went over to visit them after church, and we found out that his daughter M wants to get baptized as well on the 12 of July!!!!  Now we are just waiting for the mom to want to get baptized with the rest of her family.  

This past week was great.  Then on p-day, there was an elder who tried to headbutt me, and that was strange.

Love you all

Elder Peterson

As we listen to the Holy Ghost, it will come line upon line, precept upon precept.  That connection will grow stronger.  Then one day, we will be called upon to stand as witnesses of Christ, and we will stand as Abinadi before King Noah, testifying of truths that we cannot and will not ever deny

June 3, 2013

I had my interview with Pres. Morby this week.  It was really cool to be able to sit down with him and be able to just talk about what I am feeling instead of trying to put those feelings down in writing and send them off to him.  He was definitely hinting towards splitting the area that I am serving in which is super exciting.  You have no idea how much I miss being able to dance with someone just for fun, and not worry about making a fool out of myself. Things are getting even better with my new companion.

This past week we had exchanges, and it was super nice to have someone who is willing to teach with me instead of me just rambling on and on all by my lonesome.  Elder L is a really fun person to be around.  Just being around him helped me to be a better missionary that day.

So I was able to start studying with those materials that were sent out, and they have totally changed my studies, and I feel like I am definitely getting more out of them.

This past week in church, we had two investigators come to church.  C, N's daughter, and M, N's mother.  They are both awesome people.  But all awesome people have their struggles.  Hopefully this week we will be able to set up a baptismal date with C and things will continue to progress with that family.  R, C's son, sat in while we were reading in the Book of Mormon for the first time and that was awesome.  We were also able to pick up a new investigator for each ward.  C, and a woman name P.  We had been working with P for a while now, fellow shipping her and slipping in little spiritual thoughts, here and there, and this last time, we pretty much taught her parts of all of the different lessons because of all of the different questions that she had, so things are definitely starting to pick up.  But on the flip side with how many lessons we had, our finding time has gone down a lot.  We were only able to get in about 2-3 hours of finding time this past week.  We are relying heavily on the ward mission process to keep things going in our area.  If that goes down, then all of the work that will be happening goes down with it.

Love 

Elder Peterson

"Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words."

People watch what we do all the time.  Even when we are not out with black  name badges on, people notice everything that we do.  We need to allow our actions to reflect positively on our religion.  

"I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?"

The worth of a soul is precious in the sight of the Lord.  D&C say that our joy will be great if we bring one soul unto him.  The opposite is also true.  If our actions lead to the destruction of souls, we will suffer even as Alma did, except it will not be for just 3 days and nights, it will be for eternity.