Christmas and ano novo!‏

My amazing family,
Wow! what a week. Christmas was great. Talking to you all was AMAZING. I am just seeing how much the Lord is blessing me. How much he is blessing our family and how blessed i am to have such wonderful friends and family.
For Christmas a we and a few other missionaries sang christmas songs and brought toys for little kids at the hospital. I felt the pure love of Christ in every word I sang. I saw it enter into hearts of these families and men and women that are truly experiencing hard times. This was the best Christmas of my life I understand what Christmas means now. I think for the first time in my life. I served. I was more concerned about others than myself and what I was needing or what I was getting. I taught about what it means and I felt the Spirit testify that the small child who was born in a manger, the man that taught on the mount, and that same man who died on the cross truly is the Savior of the world. I felt it in every Christmas song I sang, in every prayer I offered, and in every testimony that I bore. Jesus truly is the Christ, Savior and Redeemer of the world.
I know that he lived a perfect life to show me the way. I know that through that example and his sacrifice I can be saved from all of the stupid little things (and big things) that keep me from becoming like my Father. I know that this is His work. I know that I have a perfect example of how to do this work through the scriptures. I know that the scriptures and words of living prophets are here to guide us in every situation. I love this work.
Sorry this is so short but i am happy and i love you all.
Happy new year this week!!
Proud to wear His name next to mine,
Sister Peterson

Paciencia‏

Dear Family.
I have even less time this week. but i just want to send my love to everyone.
This week monique and Maiara were baptized. Monique, after many years of waiting was finally baptized. her mother and children that are already members were so happy. Another family a little more complete.
Maiara is a young woman that we worked with since I got here. she is a very special young lady and teaching her was a blast.
This week was tough. Lots of walking and appointments falling through. But the Lord knows best and what we need. When i started to get a little down one of the most inspired men i know, Bispo Messias(Bishop) called us and said, "Thank you so much for what you are doing here in this ward. I visited Flavia and Cristiane (two of my recent converts) and my testimony has been strengthened." He excitingly told us of their progress and how our work is really making a difference. I want to be just like Bispo Messias when I grow up. Truly it was a wonderful encouragement not only from him but from the Lord. I know he is happy with our work. I am learning patience and faith. Reacting without complaining or questioning why. its hard sometimes. The sun is so hot and my legs hurt but the reward is so worth it. I really love working. I have never really appreciated the benefits of hard work but i am learning here.
This week we are working with flavias three kids. Paula (9), Fabiula (11) and Felipe (13). These kids are so special. I am so excited to teach them even more. Especially when they share their simple testimonies with me.
Yesterday i felt like a mom. Flavia brought all her kids and a neighbor kid and her nephew. 6 in all. so i sat on a pew with three rowdy boys 8 and under. Man i loved it. Her nephew Darlan has been coming to church every week for the past month. He wants so bad to be baptized....we will see. We have tried to get his mom to church but she always has something come up. But that little boy has a testimony like a rock. I heard him explaining to a five year old about the sacrament, "and right now we need to eat this bread and think about Jesus. Its Jesus Bread." Then the rowdy fiveyear old replied in a loud voice, "I want somemore Jesus Bread." haha. we are working hard to get his parents to go too!
welli loveyou all,
proud to wear thge tag,
Sister Peterson

Coca Cola

i have even less time this week to write...ugh.
Transfers: i am staying Nigrissima is going...next week I will tell you about my new companheira when we find out.
Lately Thayrone has been studying the Word of wisdom and about coca cola...Quote from Thayrone: "You need to stop drinking coke. You need your bodies healthy to serve Jesus." I have such a huge amount of love for that kid and that family. I told him that if he doesnt serve a mission i might cry.
We have been teaching a very humble woman. The first time we taught I doubted her. I doubted that she would go to church and even more that she would be willing to change. This was her second sunday at church with her children. She recognizes the blessings that she is receiving and is a lot happier. Just a little reminder that I am not here to judge or doubt. As Sister Oaks cited, "If you judge people you dont have time to love them." This is the gospel of Christ and We must be a means for people to feel His love.
This week we had conference. The assistents gave an awesome training on dreams. How we can achieve them and the importance of goal setting. I have made a goal, I have four months left...I want four families. I have made goals and i will follow through. This is my dream. I want to give this fruit to at least four families. Please help me with this goal. Please pray for me to be atent and to find these four families.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson

happy birthday late Jerry! Also happy birthday this week for Kalena and Braxton! i love you all!

CASAMENTO‏

DEAR FAMILY,
Another week ran away from me. We worked a lot and had a ton of lessons this week. The Elders were in Sergipe all week so we followed up with all of the investigators. whoa. All in all I am happy. I am still seeing miracles everyday here and just so you know i love being a missionary.
This week we contacted a young man, Junior, who has a lot of faith in the Lord. He is a member of an evangelical church. During the lesson and our discussions I felt that he is a very special son of God. I went home and prayed so hard for him. A very sincere desire that he would receive a response that the church is true. This whole week i have prayed for him. When we followed up with him, he said these words, "I prayed. I know that your church is true." The but. "but I like where I am." We taught about authority and the difference. Sister Nigri asked him to pray before we left but to once again ask to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. He kneeled down and he prayed. Silence. He said once again, "I received a response again. your church is true." He says he will visit the church. unfortunately he doesnt want to leave his comfort zone. I reflected on my prayers. The Lord answers my prayers. Junior received an answer...he just chose not to follow it. Man that hurts. But my faith in prayer has grown and next time I will try to be more specific i guess.
Amidst a ton of lessons and missionary life we also planned a wedding for this last weekend and baptized Katia and Cristiane! The wedding was stressful but simple and beautiful. Katia was so happy. A few of the irmãs in the ward approached me saying, it wont be long till that will be you. i laughed. everyone wants to make me trunky.
Katia has been waiting a long time to be baptized. Beto, her husband will be baptized this week. We have been working with this family since i arrived. They have overcome a lot of challenges and I have seen hearts changed because of the gospel. It has been a rollercoaster but amazing to see this family take one step closer to being eternal.
It was also a miracle to see cristiane enter the waters of baptism. Truly a strong and amazing woman. I have so much love for that family it is ridiculous.
This week we are preparing Beto and a young woman, Fernanda for baptism. This coming week is also transfers. My heartaches to think that I might leave aeroclube...but the Lord knows what is best and I am grateful for this amount of time to work in such a wonderful and organized ward and to see the example of inspired leaders.
The church is true. It just is. I love it and I am so grateful that the Lord led me to make this decision. it truly is the best thing i could have done. I feel and understand a little better how crucial the gospel is. how it is apart of everything. The simple laws and ordinances make so much sense. it is perfect. i love it. i love teaching it.
Proud to wear the tag,

Sister Peterson

Wow. what another great week. We had 9 people at church. NINE! Sorry this letter will be super short because i dont have a lot of time today.
Cristiane will be baptized this week. man i love her. Such a humble and wonderful person. In Sacrament her son, Gabriel was running all over the place. I think before my mission I would have been irritated but I am learning so much here. I have really recognized the fact that I am learning a lot more about patience here. I have so much love for her son its ridiculouse.
I am still having a lot of amazing experiences here. One that I would like to share is that someone prayed us to there house. Solange joined the church a few years ago in the interior of Alagoas. Due to many difficulties and situations she left. She always thought about the church but started going to another. She moved to the capital recently. One night she prayed to know if the church was true and asked God to send missionaries to her house if it was. A little bit later an americana and Paulista showed up on her door step. She is excited to return to church with her husband and her two young children.
Today I am in Bebedouro for PDAY. I visited Bishop Elias and His family. His four year old son Thomas is my best friend since i arrived here in the Northeast. I had so many memories of S. Murbaki. I am so excited to visit a few more families after.
I know Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Through His infinite Atonement we can be made whole. We can be cured and then perfected. This is His church. His university of eternal progression. I know through obedience and diligence and selfless sacrifice we can become more and more like Him. The gospel truly is perfect. I get so excited to think of eternity and the possibilities that are made through His plan. I have always been a fairly stressed person, especially about the future, but as for now, I only have hope and faith. I know that we are here and we have the power to change the world.
Happy Birthday this past week mama. you are the best ever.
Proud to wear the tag,

Sister Peterson

I still love aeroclube‏

DEAREST FAMILY!
This week we baptized an amazing family. A family I have known for two weeks but the love that I feel for them is so strong that I feel as if they are my family. Their oldest son, Thayrone (20 years old), is amazing. He was baptized one week before we came here. He is a young man with so many natural gifts. Everybody falls in love with him, he literally puts God first in every aspect. He prepared his family to be baptized, we had the priviledge of formally teaching them the lessons, but in reality he already taught everything. This week as we were teaching His family-Francisco (dad), Joelma(mom), oscar and Tainá-and preparing them for baptism the Joelma had a question. She asked about tithing envelopes because they had been saving their tithing money for the past few months since they stopped going to their other church. They have been so willing and ready to give up coffee and complete every commandment that we teach. I love it.
Thayrone is also giving us a ton of references. I asked, do they seem interested in the church and he looked at me and said, "Do you think I´d give you rough land to till? The land is well prepared." I laughed so hard. As we visited these references he bore testimony and we really saw how much he loves the Savior and how much he is ready to give all his heart to the gospel. He has three weeks in the church and is a better missionary than I am!!! My only comment, I wanted to baptize Thayrone! =).
This week we have been working with a widow, Neide. Her husband died 3 months ago. She has been in deep depression during this time, she wasnt eating right, leaving the house or anything. When we arrived there she was so distraught that almost everything we said didnt even enter into her understanding. We told her of the Atonement of Christ and of the Plan of Salvation, that she can be with her husband again. She told us that this thought brought a little bit of relief to her. We taught her how to pray and I felt the Spirit very strong as I witnessed the first prayer this 50 year old woman had ever made in her life. I saw the pain that she felt as she cried and pleaded for Heavenly Father to help her to overcome this sadness. We returned the next day. We started teaching about the first principles of the gospel, after faith and repentance I understood that still she was having difficulties paying attention or at least retaining the information. We focused on faith and how she could grow her faith and how through faith she could overcome anything. We also had a member who also passed through this same situation and she bore powerful testimony to neide. The next time we visited, she changed dramatically. She was smiling, she had energy because she started eating again, making visits, and as we taught she explained the blessings that she is witnessing in her life because of faith in Jesus Christ. She knows as we know that Christ is capable of curing us not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. She will be baptized in november!
Last night we taught a young woman. Her husband served a mission a few years ago. I tried SO HARD to discover her needs. She was a little more closed than I am used to, but I did my best. I sincerely felt like my best wasn't enough. Her husband bore testimony for her and told of the desire he has for her to be baptized so that one day they can be sealed for all eternity. He cried, she cried, I and Nigri almost cried. Her problem is that her family is very catholic and very much against the church. If she would choose to be baptized her family is very against it. She wouldnt even pray to know if Joseph Smith really was a true prophet. I left the house a little discouraged. I did all that I could to reason, to ask inspired and thought provoking questions, I tried all that I could, but she wouldnt pray. My companion, as we were walking away said, wow sister, that was amazing what you said. I thought she was just trying to make me feel better. When I told her how I felt about it she told me I was crazy. I really am my own biggest critic. I realized that I did do my best and i wasnt perfect but the problem was that this woman just needs a little more time. I know she will be baptized and that their family will be eternal...it just will take some time.
Speaking of eternal familiies...yesterday before lunch we visited a family where the son is serving a mission. Needless to say this family has many problems. They are very disunited and there is a spirit of contention due to hypocrisy and selfishness. The adversary loves this situation. We left, very sad, thinking of how the adversary works so hard to bring misery to God's children. We entered into the members house for lunch-an atmosphere completely opposite. There on the wall hung a cross stitched pattern: Nenhum sucesso no mundo compensa o fracasso no lar. No type of success in the world compensates for weakness at home. The Spirit entered into my heart and testified that that home was a reflection of that homemade cross stich pattern. There was a huge difference in the feeling of that home and the home before. I know very well how the adversary works, in secret and 24/7 he doesnt eat or sleep, but I know that we have power to overcome him and it is through living obedience to the gospel principles. My mission is so preparing me to be a good mom and wife. whoot whoot.
BY THE WAY. Presidente Beynon is the best mission presidente in the world. Fim. This week we had interviews and he gave me amazing counsel without even knowing what my current difficulties have been. I have been feeling tired, and then I feel guilty for feeling tired. I have been praying a lot to overcome this phyical and sometimes mental exhaustion. It is 18 months, that is it. Why am I so tired, I wondered.His counsel, D&C 64:33-34. Never weary of well doing. My call is something so sacred to me, and this scripture and the counsel Presidente gave me has helped me a lot. We are literally building Zion here in Northeast Brasil, the church is so very new here and yes it requires ALL of my heart might mind and STRENGTH. All of it. I have made goals and plans to be better, stronger, and to not be tired. I think at this point it is literally a choice of mine and I am learning to choose the better part. I am so grateful that I have a Presidente who is so atuned to the Spirit to be able to give me the exact counsel that I need.
Also Aeroclube is the best place ever. Before it was the area of the Assistentes to the President but unfortunately they get to work very little here because of there duties as assistentes. Actually it is still the area of the assistentes but now we are here to help them. we are here working together with them to improve the work because it has been the AP area for so long, they baptize a lot, but it is because the members now how to followup and help in the work. Literally the field is white ready to harvest. It is great I am learning a ton of things from the assistentes, my amazing companion, and the leadership of this ward. I love building up Zion! whoo!

This week Elder Oaks, ya know an Apostle of God, is coming to our conference! I am sooo excited. Two apostolós that I will get to shake hands with. I am more than a little bit excited. Whoa!!! I will fill you all in on how amazing it is next week!
I love you family. Never forget how grateful I am for everysingle one of you. For many of the sacrifices that you are making so that I can be here and for the support from each one you.
PROUD TO WEAR THE TAG,

Sister Peterson

aeroclube=paradise‏

Dear family,



I have a new area a new companion and I haven't been so excited since i arrived on the mission. Wow the ward is Aeroclube.


My companion is Sister Nigri from São Paulo. She is amazing, I always love learning new things, new styles of teaching, and having new opportunities to serve when companions change. The Lord has truly blessed me to have amazing companions.

WOW. AEROCLUBE=PARADISE. I love this ward. They truly understand that you dont need a missionary tag to share the gospel. I feel how excited the leaders and members are for the work and it compels me to be better to strive to always be worthy and give my best. Not that I wouldn't before but it is a very conscious thing for me. Many of the leaders here are the type of member I want to be in a few months when I no longer have this sacred call to serve full time. The Bishop the first day we ate lunch with us he was telling us everything about the area the leadership and his attitudes toward this work. WOW. I almost cried. The way he talks to and about the people in this ward is inspiring. He makes every single person he talks to feel like they are someone crucially important and of great worth. I want to be like this because the truth is, every single person is crucially important and of great worth.

This ward is a miracle.

Last night we visited a less active couple. They have been less active for a long time, but when they frequented church they were very very involved. The husband told us of his call as president of the young mens program, how he gave everything he could to rescue those young men from the world, drugs, problems of life in general. He told us that in the many years he served a few of them passed away and I felt the sadness in his voice. His wife also was very active as presidente of the RS she loved to serve. As often occurs, they were offended by a few things that happened 10 years ago and never let it go. As I and my companion talked to them and shared a message and our testimonies with them I saw the same light in there eyes that they has as they talked about there old calls when they were active. I shared Helaman a5:12 and they cited the scripture. We challenged them to go to church next Sunday, the husband accepted and also accepted the challenge to prepare a family for us to teach. Wow. I really felt the spirit testifying that the time had come, in fact the husband said that we came at just the right time...I know how difficult it is sometimes when the vision and trust people have in leaders is broken. It is very hard to accept the faults of others sometimes, but I know that it is possible to forgive and move on and this is a goal that we have to help this family back to the path.

God hears and answers our prayers. He knows each one of His children personally and He has provided an amazing plan of happiness for us to progress through the example and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that it is in and through His atonement that we can be made whole that we can be cured from our sins, our weaknesses, our sorrows, and our enfirmidades. I know the Savior loves us and I am incredibly indebt because of the love that He has shown for me and because of the love He has enabled me to feel for people that in any other situation I never would have had the opportunity to meet. What a blessing it is to know the truths of the gospel and to be a means of which many can receive this message.

sorry so short, i dont have much time today but i will attend to the rest of the emails i received next week!

Proud to wear the tag,


Sister Peterson

OLÁ FAMÍLIA!

How is everyone doing? Congratulations to James and Kristi on the new baby, I LOVE THE NAME! Paizley so cute.
Well my dear family i have news. Incomplete news but news all the same. Transfers. I am going to Maceió. I leave 630 from my new found home, beloved Sergipe. I am ready for this next part of my adventure a new area new companion but man Aracaju has a big part of my heart. The part that is incomplete is I dont know which area or who is my companion. Transfers are a little bit different now. We find out if we are transfered Saturday night and Tuesday morning those who are transfered have a training meeting with papai Beynon and there we learn who our new companions are. Good news is I dont have to travel only with Elders. Because we are the only sisters in Sergipe Campos will go to pick up her new companion there in Macieó. We were expecting the change, but she still cried a lot that I am leaving. I truly have a black sister from Vitoria, Espirito Santo. I would never know so many wonderful people who have changed my life if not for my mission. I am in love with my mission. Fim.
This last week I prayed for Heavenly Father to open my eyes to see miracles each day. My eyes have been opened.
This week we taught a woman who was almost baptized a few years ago. When she started talking to us, she explained a few situations in which when she was offended by others she 1) threatened to beat them up and 2) would hold a grudge against that person for a very very long time. The first thoughts were, this woman is very ignorant and no no, she won't change. I had to chastise myself a little bit. I listened intently and prayed for the Lord to show us what we needed to teach her to help her situation. The thought, the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and love thy neighbor as thyself. I also told a story that was spoken about a few conferences ago, a woman who had suffered greatly in a concentration camp and forgave one of the guards who worked there and had caused a lot of pain for her and her family. The spirit was super strong and I felt Heavenly Father's love for this woman. She said that she would try very hard not to be so nervous with other people and to forgive a member of the church that she said before, "Forgiveness doesn't exist between us." This was a miracle, a woman raised in a certain form with traditions of this type of behavior for over 22 years, at least thinking about changing this type of behavior.
Klisleide, someone that I taught with Zorzo my first transfer here was finally given consent from her parents, or rather support, to be baptized two weeks ago. Yesterday she bore powerful testimony in front of the congregation. A young woman incredibly shy, was not afraid to share what she knows. She also thanked me for teaching her and helping her to get to know the gospel. I'm not one to cry, but tears started falling from my eyes. I am so grateful for the time I have had in this wonderful area and for the opportunity to see the fruits of this work here.
A few other members from the ward came up to me and thanked me or said a few things about me in their testimonies. I bore testimony and told them how the Savior had given me a little bit more of the understanding of the type of love He has for them. That His love is real and can heal us and make us whole. Six months is a long time. This feels like home to me. I don't care if they forget my name, I just hope they remember that galéga who loved them.
Saturday Josués baptism was all planned we just had to confirm a few things with him. The first thing he said was i have good news and bad news. The bad news, Im not getting baptized. My heart stopped and i felt tears filling up the tear ducts in my eyes. Then he said the good news is i am lying. I almost had a heart attack! The baptism was really good. The ward mission leader was a little awkward but other than that the Spírit was there and I was very happy. Sunday I looked around and saw that although a few of the people I had the priviledge of teaching and baptizing have moved or have stopped coming, a majority of them were there. I was so happy to see how giseli Isabel and josue are very involved in Seminary. Klisleide is a rockstar. Edivaldo received the Priesthood this week. And Diana that adorable little girl has as firm a resolve as every to go to church. I love these people.I am leaving and the likelihood that i will see them much after this is slim, but the memories i have will last forever.
So next week i will tell you all about my new comp and area. I love you all be safe and do what is right. Go to the temple if possible. If you cant go prepare to go. MAn i miss the temple.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson

ps. happy birthday Jordan this last week and owen this week!!!

whoa! Graças damos O Deus por um Profeta‏

whoa.


that is all i can say. that and the church is true.



Conference started with Holland and he basically gave thanks to everyone and everything. i sat there thinking, man am i ingrateful or what. I started thinking of all the amazing people in my life that I need to give thanks to. the list is pretty long. Then Presidente Monson came in with his talk on gratitude. hmm ya think maybe Heavenly Father is trying to say something...? Pres. monson talked about the disciples of Christ who when he wanted to feed the people with few loaves and fish, they only saw what was lacking. We too do this. He talked about gratitude as a divine principle and how optimism is an effect of gratitude. he quoted someone i dont remember but said that we as human beings have an imminent capacity to take things for granted. This is one thing that i need to work on. lately i have studied a lot about humility...gratitude is a sign of the truly humble.



a few other highlights,



if you dont teach your children about the world, the world will teach them.

14 fundamentals to follow the prophet (Wow)

"good question lets go to the handbook" importance of studying dilligently the 'words of life'

life offers two gifts. time and the freedom to choose what to do with that time-five elements of a consacrated life. wow.



simplify. when you have a hard time in life, slow down go back to the basics, natures reaction to slow down while ours is to try to speed up.



the moral light of our doctrine can be a beacon unto the world.

when we always remember Him, He can stand with us in all things and in all places.

Temple mirrors look through eternity.

the principles and laws of the gospel cannot and WILL NOT change

the importance of both the priesthood line of revelation and the personal line of revelation, balanced.

The activities in the church are not a bunch of things to do on a lengthy spiritual checklists but are directed to help us better receive the Holy Ghost in our lives.

Responsibility of parents and early intervention (que susto!)

Responsibility of parents to support one another

-let me just say i have seen and helped many families, the world would be a better place if men and women areound the world would literally put their spouses in the first places before other relationships

--Deiter F Uchtdorf showed us. 1st God, 2nd our family, 3rd our fellowmen and 4th our relationship with ourselves.



there are countles other messages but it is sufficient to say that i have been reminded a lot about my purpose and "what i am doing with His name" what a spiritual reload.



Yesterday klisleide was baptized. five months of praying and finally. i was so very incredibly happy.



well i love you all be happy. Please endure to the end. and endure it well.



proud to wear His sacred name next to mine,



Sister Peterson



PS happy birthday this past week drewy! i love you.

im almost trilingual.‏

Hey family,
This week not a lot happened. Just work as usual. I am starting to feel the pull of six months in one area, or maybe it is one year on the mission. But it has been a big blessing with all these amazing experiences i am having here with amazing people. Sergipe will always be a huge part of my heart.
This week we were preparing to baptize Josue. He is the teenager who we have been teaching, he received a very strong and personal testimony when he prayed a few weeks back. His mom tried talking him out of his baptism a lot she thinks it is too soon etc. He said "i thought about desisting a lot, but everytime I thought about not being baptized I felt a horrible feeling." Basically we are watching him as he learns how to identify the spirit. It is simple but amazing.
Also, we baptized a man this week. The thought came "this is Heavenly Father's child" as he was baptized. I feel so blessed to have taught him and to help him through this change in his life. The baptism was great.
I read in Helaman 5 this week. WOW! it is a story that we have hear, Nephi and his bro lehi literally tire of the wickedness of the people so they go out to teach. They are thrown in prison, starve and are mistreated. When the Lamanites go to kill them, Nephi and lehi are encircled by a pillar of fire a thick cloud. I was reading how 1 Heavenly Father loves His children so much that He will give them every chance to have a real converting experience (read about Aminadabe -dont know in english v.35-42-a dissenter of the Nephites who had once belonged to the church. Watch how God uses this man that had rebelled against the truth to have a chance to remember repent and to help others) 2 how a testimony is not a result of miracles. First we learn a concept and we must exercise faith, then after our faith comes the consequences, one of which is the Spirit testifying., miracles are a consequence of faith.
I have seen that in my work here. i have felt Heavenly Father helping me and directing me. encouraging me and reminding me. WHEN i follow what is said I see miracles.
yesterday we ate lunch with a less active family. I started talking to the husband, one of the hardest workers ive met (literally when housebuilders wouldnt allow him to work in construction because he lacked experience, he went everyday to a different site to watch and learn from different companies. and then after he built his own house) I came to understand why he hasnt been going to church. As in most situations, he was offended, but when i asked him if he was preparing to go to the temple he said, bishop is always telling me i need to prepare. The thought entered in mymind and i voiced it, "do you know why you need to go?" he said no, that everyone just said ya have to go and wont tell him anything about it. We taught parts of the plan of salvation. I am convinced that in most situations like this there is a common lack of understanding. The theme of my mission, "true doctrine UNDERSTOOD changes behavior." fim.
Klisleide will be baptized this week.

So i had bishop bring copies of the BOM in Spanish and german. i understand everything in Spanish!!!! WHOO! but almost nothing in German. I love studying languages with the Book of Mormon.
proud to wear the tag,

sister peterson

maré‏

Yesterday was Sunday. We were walking to Soledade, which is about a 30-40 minute walk from our house. In between has a lot of Maré-It is like a lake, or more like a bunch of pools that the ocean deposits into.they are shallow and at some points in the day they are dry others they are full. These marés are where people fish for crabs. Well inbetween these pools are pathways. If we cut through the maré it cuts about 15 minutes out of our walk. So yesterday I decided to walk through the maré. Unfortunately in one part the fishermen had been digging in the mudd and threw all the mud on the pathway and they made a very small pathway of mud that is a little bit closer to the water. I was walking and when i came to this part i decided to go. Unfortunately my shoes, after one year of walking a ton have zero traction. maybe it means that i should buy new ones but i only have 6 months left...anyway because i have no traction when i walk on a muddy pathway i slip. And that is exactly what happened. I slipped and i got mud on my arm but decided to keep on going to our appt. I slipped again, this time my skirt was a little dirty and my entire arm was covered in mud. There was a bunch of people on the hill next to us having a party and they started laughing at me. But i was determined. two more steps and amidst the constant laughing of Campos...I fell completely in the Maré. my skirt and the bag on my back was completely SOAKED and i got scared because crabs live in there. So i was covered in nasty mudwater. We started walking home. One of my recent converts was walking with her friends and stopped to talk to/laugh at me and i invited her friends to church and to hear alesson. Campos, still laughing, then said sister dont make anymore contacts because when you stop mosquitos start to accumulate around your head and body. We walked home, but on the way the wife of the Bishop stopped me and asked what happened. Her reaction was this,"Go Home! Go home and take a shower. Wash with soap three times the maré is full of filthy water and feces." I sware there were more people on the way home than normal, and it was a 20 minute walk. Life is an adventure with Sister Peterson.
Other than that...this week has been a week of miracles.
first Josue,

Two transferencias back I made a contact with a 16 year old boy Josue. I remember the thought in my head in the contact that I was there to baptize him. This doesnt happen a lot so it surprised me. I visited him with S. Souza and through him we found his cousin who was less active but after that day started going back to church. Josue listened to our message but had the way he asked questions it was easy to see that he looked at commandments as something that would hold him back. He was very resistant. Josue never went to church and it seemed like he was always running away from us. I put away the thought in my head that i was there to baptize him thinking it was just in my head. Well this transfer we invited him to an activity. After that activity he had questions. We retaught him the first lesson and he said he would go to church. He didnt go to church that week because his cousin didnt go, but when we visited him he also hadnt prayed because he wanted to go to church before he prayed. We didnt understand his logic but convinced him to pray that night. The next visit we talked to him. He said he had prayed and after he started crying and couldnt stop. He said that he literally felt someone listening to his prayers. He knows the church is true. All the hesitance that he had before is gone. He will be baptized this next week. I know that I was sent here to help him. Before this experience I had never had an experience following up with someone who had a response so clear and so ready. Usually they gain their testimony through a visit to the church or how they feel during the lesson. I prayed a few days before Josue had this experience that I could find someone who truly felt a response to their prayer. Maybe I ask for too much, but Heavenly Father is willing to show me these miracles even when I dont desrve them.
Klisleide, we are still getting ready for her baptism. I was help her too. She is already giving us references. That reminds me. PLEASE give the missionaries references. This work is so hard without references. Im serious. You have friends that arent members, at least invite them to meet with the missionaries!
Edivaldo, a reference from a member, I wasnt feeling that much of a connection with him until this week. Wow. He told us a few situations in his life. I am glad that his friend was looking for missionary opportunities because this information, the church entered into his life at just the right moment. If not, he might not be here today. He has seen and felt the difference the gospel has made in his life. He is a child of God, and HEavenly Father truly prepared a way that Edivaldo could find help. He will be baptized this week.
This week I missed mom. I have never been a person that felt super homesick or anything like that but I was thinking about a lot of the amazing attributes that mom has. One thing I was remembering of how she smiles when someone, a friend, a family member, someone on the television succeeds in something. It is the cutest thing how mom gets so happy and her countenance brightens when other people are happy. This is one thing I hope I can inherit or at least develop from my mama. Thank you mom for being you. You are a miracle in my life.
oh ps family there is a blog for the ward that i am serving in:
alasoledade.blogspot.com
it has a photo of me. haha i guess only jerry will understand what they say. but go and look!
So yeah, I love me job, it is hard, super hard sometimes, but it is the best thing that i could do. i will never regret this choice to serve.

Proud to wear this tag, to represent my Savior and my family,

Sister Peterson

whoot whoot

Dear Family


So Campos and I are staying here in Sergipe. Can you believe it. I will stay here for 6 months. I love Sergipe. Truly I feel like I am Sergipana.

I dont have a ton of time so I will be brief with the news.

1st: KLISLEIDE WILL BE BAPTIZED!!! Finally her parents will let her! I almost cried. Heavenly Father is so good to let me stay one more so I could at least be a part of her baptism. Klisleide truly is a miracle in my missoin and I am so grateful to be a part of her conversion in the church.

We received a few referalls! for every 140 people we contact the likelihood is 1 person will be baptized (stats of our mish) but for every 2 referals that is one baptism. The problem is that its easier said than done... Edivaldo. A 30 year old man who truly needs the gospel. His life is a bit of a sad story but I know we are here to help him change that. He has been to church twice and has a baptismal date.

This week was very difficult for me. Heavenly Father helped me "acordar do sonho da morte." I realized that my prayers were not as sincere as they need to be. That I have not been as sincere as I need to be. I realized that really I could give a whole lot more than I was giving. This fact kills me. My companion shared a message in one of our lessons about the Good samaritan that I hadnt thought about. In our lives we are often the Israelite. Broken and beaten spiritually by the wayside. But Christ, he comes through and has "compassion on us." Through His sacrifce-symbolically the oil to ease the pain and the wine to purify the wonds-He cleans and treats our wounds. Through His blood we are healed. As the samaritan payed for the innkeeper to care for the Israelite, Christ already payed and promises to always pay the rest. Truly the Atonement is the center of our religion. I am realizing how short amount of time I have to be a missionary. I am not perfect but I know I can be perfected through my Savior. Through His sacrifice I am made whole. I know He lives an that He loves me. I know that I love Him too.

Honored to wear the tag,

Sister Peterson


PS Happy Birthday LINDSEY!!! I love you!

Hey family!

Hey family!



So this week I dont have a ton of time so i will just relate a few things with you all.


Last transfer we would always see a girl, Isabel and talk to her. We always invited her to church but she always ran away from us on Sundays. We even taught her the first lesson and she told us that she wouldnt pray. Well we had an activity with less active memebers, recent converts, and investigators. We watched Charly. This movie literally shows a change of heart as one prepares for baptism. Not only in the thought process but the standard of dress, and the way we look at life. It also shows the importance of faith and how families can be together forever. As we were walking to the members house for this activity we saw her and invited her. She went. She watched and after she had a lot of questions. We went to her house and asked her if she had seen a Book of Mormon before, she had already gotten one when she went to church. She said she had prayed and already knew that the church and the Book of Morman are true. We taught the third lesson, the principles of the gospel. She accepted baptism. I know how important it was for us to keep trying with her. Everytime we saw her we invited her. Even after she said no time after time. But when she really had an understanding that our church is different and what we really believe it helped her to have a change of heart. It helped her to prepare. I love Charly.

We had conference this week. Man I love Presidente Beynon. He is one of the most loving and patient people that I know. He has over 130 missionaries to take care of and i dont have doubts that every single one of them could call him there second father. I was sufficiently reminded of the things that I need to improve and also learned a ton of stuff that I am putting in practice in my area.


Last night I ate dinner at a members house, she made dinner for an Elder who is leaving this week. His parents were there. The first Americans that arent missionaries that I have seen in a real real long time. They were really great people but I think I forgot a few things about our culture. It kind of scares me. The Elder, Elder Holmes was my very first district leader when i arrived. He was such a great leader for me. It is crazy to think that he is no longer a missionary here. I felt that sick panicked feeling that I get at every month marker and my brain feels the urgent, your time is running out. é ta pega está acabando!


But we have two baptisms this week, Isabel and Fernanda. It is going to be great. This may be my last week here in Soledade, I hope not but after three transfers it is very possible =(. Sorry My email is not super inspiring or interesting this week.


Just know that God loves us. This is His church. It is perfect. I study for AT LEAST 2 hours everyday, usually 3 and the more i study the more i feel the spirit telling me that THIS IS IT. That God has a plan and that it all has to do with that Perfect man that CHOSE to give it all for us. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know it. I know that through His life and His works we also can be eternally Happy. We can overcome our weaknesses, our pains, and our sorrows. We can become like Him and our Father.

Proud to wear the tag,


Sister Peterson

biblebashing‏

I have already given a few descriptions of the Northeast and I am sure you have all had a picture of amazing people in an amazing place. Here is one more visual.


We were knocking doors last night. A man and his wife invited us in. We start talking to the man, Damion, and we learn that he pretty much has the Bible memorized. He says that he left his church because they dont believe in tithing and he knows it is a commandment. So we start teaching....and teaching turns into a biblebash. A lot of biblebashing. a biblebash that is a little more tranquil than most but yeah it was a biblebash. i know there is absolutely no point to biblebashing but it happened and dont worry, i have already repented. When we finally got through the first lesson his wife started to make dinner and we continued to talk about beliefs. I was born in the church so i really dont know how the minds of "crentes" or evangelicals work. Sister Campos is a convert and i always ask her why they believe this and this and this. Well i listened to Damion explain his interpretation. Man I am so grateful that we have modern revelation. At the end of all this they both insisted on feeding us dinner. Yeah what i am saying is here in the northeast you can biblebash and leave with dinner. I couldnt help but laugh. And i got a little bit better point of view of another religion.



Also we have been teaching Ingrid and Wagner. We went back to see if they prayed and got a response. When we got there Ingrid was a little closed with us and they said they couldnt go to church this sunday because they were going to baptize there 3 year old in the Catholic Church. SILENCE. The first thing that popped in my mind was Moroni 8. But i thought man I dont want to burn them. Sister Campos was trying to think of a scripture and again i couldnt think of anything else. Heavenly Father truly wanted me to use it. So i just went with it. I read what it said about infant baptism and I explained every detail. That literally children are alive in Christ. That His atonement covers them. They are not subject to sin. There countenances changed. Yes i was sitting there, literally calling them to repentance or at least a recognition of the sin in baptizing children, but it also gave us an excellent opportunity to explain HOW we know these things. Because literally we have a connection with God, a prophet, modern revelation. We dont have to rely on our limited visions and ideas of how the world works or should be-WE KNOW HOW IT WORKS AND HOW IT SHOULD BE.



This week we had an activity/family home evening with recent converts and less active youth. We watched charly. Man i love that movie. As you watch the changes in that Girls life you see that living the gospel and keeping the commandments really is what leads us to happiness. Then you see the importance of living that way to lead you to the temple. That families CAN BE eternal. Death means nothing when you have made sacred covenants with God. A covenant is a promise we make with God. We promise to keep the commandments and do what he asks. He promises us an eternity of happiness. AMAZING.



This week all of these experiences have lead me to realize how INCREDIBLY gratefull I am for the plan of Salvation. For the gospel in my life. We also taught Fernanda, a 21 year old woman whowill be baptized this week, the plan of Salvation. The day before a good friend died. I saw how this knowledge opened her mind and consoled her heart. I was thinking, one day i will be a mãe. I cant imagine not being able to respond to my children when they ask: where do we come from? Or why are we here. or what happens after death. It kills me to think that so many people are looking for these answers but are lost because they dont know where to go to find the truth. I think a lot about one day i will be a mom. Really i will be so responsible to teach my kids about these things. I read in Alma 37 this week. That chapter is like my patriarchal blessing. I will use that so much as a standard of what and how i will teach my kids. Alma is myhero. He burns people with love and with urgency. what a gift.



Damion-the man we biblebashed with-tried to discredit my beliefs, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. I told him that he could never say that they werent true because I had prayed and I received an answer. Who am I to lie against what God has given me? As Joseph Smith said, "who am I that I can withstand God... I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not edeny it." He then said, "I cannot say anything to that, if you received a response that you think is from God, I cant say anything else." The strongest weapon we have is our testimony. Beautiful and perfect.



Basically this week was great. I love sergipe i love my life. I love brasil and I cant believe that it is going by so fast. This is the only time in my life that i can do this amazing work and have this amazing authority. The gospel is true.



proud to wear the tag,

Sister Peterson

another week....

First:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LINDSEY PAULINE and MEGAN CHRISTINE. two people that I dont remember life without. Man i love you girls, happy birthday!

also happy birhtday to one of the coolest kids i know, Zachary!

This week we worked a ton a ton a ton and... a lot of appointments fell through and fell through and fell through. I guess that is the work. sometimes its feast and other times it is famine. However, I have been partying with my brasy black sister and it has been an adventure let me tell you. I love sister Campos she reminds me so much of Lindsey all the time super pretty and stylish and hilarious. Also she is a rad missionary that i hope to be more like.

This week I got pretty tired pretty fast of all of our appointments falling through. I decided that maybe we need to change up our contacts. I met a crazy old man (crazy in a sense that he is really happy funny and talks a lot) Bonafacio. He told me that he already knew me, kind of, because he lives in the apartments in front of our house. He asked me where Souza went and for a second I was a little creeped out but I told him straight up that I was sent here to baptize him. He said absolutely and we marked an appointment. We went to his house last night and taught him his wife and his kids. He already has studied a lot about the bible and other religions but he said he learned a lot and that he really liked the lesson and that he would pray. Also when he receives an answer he will be baptized. His family is really amazing, receptive, and they were all very interested. They talked about how they always saw us from the window every day for the past 8 months or so and that we conduct ourselves in a good manner. I always knew people look at us different, authorized representatives of Christ, but in this case I am so grateful that we and the sisters before us left a good impression so this family can see who we really are.

We taught a bunch of power lessons this week. Yeah ten months of teaching the same thing very well COULD get old and repetative...but I have made it my goal to not let it. To let the Spirit speak through us and to listen with every thing i can so that i can adapt each lesson to each person. Plus i love my comp and we are a good team-the spirit flourishes in this type of environment.

So I taught my first every agnostic person. Here is like Utah and being a member of the church. Everyone believes in Christ. Yes they have a TON of messed up doctrine and lack of understanding but if these people know one thing, they know that Christ lives. Well this man, Wellington, was raised catholic but feels that God is some force that doesnt have any hand in our lives. I made the contact with him and we taught the plan of salvation. He said it makes sense to him but it is hard for him to really believe it all. So i told him to do an expirament. To pray. I said that he had absolutely nothing to lose and that I had certeza that he would feel something, the love God has for His son. He accepted this expirament. we meet with him tonight to see how it goes. I kept thinking of Alma 32 comparing FAith to a seed

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a bseed may be planted in your cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to eenlighten my funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

that is all he needs to do. if he is ready and prepared he will now the truth. I know God's love for His children. I have felt it...i want so bad for everyone else to feel it too. He has an open mind and a good heart i know that it will work out. It always does.

So this week we had planned to baptize Marcio but some unexpected financial situations came up. Man i was so stressed out...but then he called and explained everything. I could literally feel the sincerity and sadness in his voice for not being able to be baptized. BUT this week we are there. Pray that nothing comes up and pray for Wellington and the family of Bonafacio!

well i love you all!

proud to wear the tag,

Siser peterson

my comp=awesome‏

hello family!
I love Sister Campos. I have found my Brasilian sister. I am almost positive that we were bestfriends in the pre mortal life. She is the best ever. This week has been a festa and we worked a ton! She is teaching me a bunch of idiomatic phrases and we are always dancing and singing. I have never been so joyful and me on the mission as i am now. Coolest brazy ever.

On pday we can watch disney cartoons. We sat there comparing the events in the movie to the gospel. One thing that i like to do is look at the simples things in life and then realize how EVERYTHING is a symbol. Literally to the degeneration of cells to a disney movie. Harry Potter and the book the little Prince. LOOK AT THE HUMAN BODY. how is everything so perfect and such a reminder of our purpose. Where we come from why we are here where are we going and how do we get there. The Atonement is in everything. I love the gospel it is my passion.
This week the man de poder that I have been talking about the last few weeks, Marcio, will be baptized this saturday! We vistited him saturday night and I asked him if we could do anything to help him out. He said that we had already done so much and then told us the story. For the past year or so His life has been very difficult. Before he had a family, a good job, a house and a car. Now he is living alone and just found work a few months ago. He said that the night before I made the contact with him he was praying to Heavnely Father to help him change his life. The next day he explained for S. Campos that he was sitting there drinking beer when imade the contact. He explained again how it wasnt by accident and that his life has already changed so much. I know God lead me to him, literally put Marcio in my path. He needed us. I love this work.
We taught him the plan of salvation. I love when people hear it and it clicks. oh yeah that makes sense. IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOO PERFECT.
This week i was knocking doors and we starting talking to a man. I dont remember exactly what we talked about but somehow we marked a date to teach him and ended up with a cd she forro-a popular dance and music of the northeast. People love to give stuff. what a great culture.
sorrrry i dont have alot to tell this week but know that i love you all and i am happy as can be. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to elisa uncle brent and aunt jeane and everyone that i have forgot!

proud to wear the tag

Sister Peterson

Gata garota‏

É ta pega minhas queridas.
Oh man i love you all. This week was great.

Transfers and Sister Souza was transferred back to Maceio and her daughter (the missionary she trained) came here with me. Let me tell you how crazy awesome this sister campos is. I absolutely adore that girl. I was a little stressed but that stress pretty much disappeared when she started talking. She is hilarious, crazy, and a spiritual energizer bunny. She likes to try and speak English. When she was in the CTM she was learning to pray in English it was like this: i tank tee for my family. i tank tee for my mission and i... and i... tank tee for lady gaga. HILARIOUS. she loves american music and is a super extrovert. we have so much in common it is crazy.


when i arrived i think i lost a little bit of myself as in i stopped being extroverted. the language learning process and the constant trying to be a perfectionist led me to be a lot more quiet than when i left the states. slowly i have been remembering jp but i know that sister campos will help me to remember more of myself and to apply it in my work. Ive got a feeling (wooooo oooo) that this transfer is going to be a good transfer. haha.

So Marcio continues to rock the world. Going to church. Stopeed smoking and drinking COMPLETELY and he loves us. he is always thanking us for helping him. he called us to ask if we liked chocolate so that he could buy some for us. one culture thing here that is still hard for me to adapt to is how people here show that they like you. through presents. People just give me stuff ALL THE TIME. i said that i liked a song on the street. Our LO gave me a DVD of the band. Someone offered me a lemon filled cookie oreo thing and i said i loved it. Everytime he makes visits with us he brings me those cookies. Enter a members house and boom food and juice. It is not just with me but with everybody. missionary or not. this is such a thoughtful culture... but it is still awkward for me to accept things but you cant say no or it offends people. I feel loved all the time. i think going home will be a culture shock.
 We found caro. she is rad de mais. her husband is a little less commitment oriented but she always says things like,i dont know what he will do but I WILL... she went to church sunday and LOVED IT

One problem or blessing that I have is that when people tell me their problems I tend to personalize them. I feel a small part of the pain that they are feeling and my heart breaks almost every day here on the mission. Elder Eyring said to treat everyone as if they are in serious trouble and most of the time you will be right. I have learned the truthfulness of that statement. During sacrament i was reading in Mosiah 15 and it talked about Christ and how He was full of mercy and about His Atoning sacrifice. As I read and the idea came to my mind, He knew very well the pains of His people even before Getsemani. He did this same work for three years and I know He experienced there pains. The motive, love. He knows how to succor the weak and console the poor in spirit. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually He knows how to cure us. I gained a tiny bit more of an understanding of the why in His acts. I feel so much for these people and sadness for the problems that are a result of poverty, lack of education, and the selfishness that exists in the world. but more than that i feel joy in the fact that the greatest superhero of all time already saved them. He truly is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.

Proud to wear His name next to mine,

Sister Peterson

Untitled

Hey family. Yesterday a man went to hug me and kiss me on the cheek (its a normal cultural thing) before i could stop him. I turned bright red and my whole body froze. If i wasnt already, i am totally a missionary. It was so awkard but the guy felt super awkward when he went to do it to my comp and she gave him the handshake and toldhim missionaries cant do that. bahahaha.


They had a festa Juninha or Julinha because it was in July to celebrate all those crazy holidays i already spoke about. Lots of corn products and people in ugly dresses of plaid that dont match and dancing. Brasil is Beautiful that way.
So this last week wasfull of awesome moments that i know i didnt deserve. For some reason we were in a strange funk and the work just wasnt coming. A week to look at and realize man i need to improve.
We are working with a woman that is so incredibly in tune with everything we are teaching, Clilda. We were talking about the chapel and my companion mentioned the temple. Right away Clilda said, I am going to go there. I will prepare and I am going. We then explained more about it how you have to have a recommendation etc. She got really excited and said that at one year of a member she is going to go. Then out of nowhere she asked, Do they do baptisms there? awesome.
Her daughter Luciene or Wyky was baptized Saturday. She is so rad. She is a little rocker with a powerhouse testimony and good brains. We taught a lesson with her, when she bore testimony wow all i can say is i am a little bit proud to say that she is one of my recent converts.
Marcio is rocking it. That man is so humble and so ready. He walked into church the first time and the first thing he said was WOW but in portuguese. One of my favorite parts of being a misisonary is when you see people feeling and seeing for the first time. Especially with Marcio, he has never felt anything like the gospel before. He loves us. He is always thanking us. We taught him sunday after church. He said that he hadnt prayed about the BOM so we recommitted him to read it. That night he called us at 930, he was so excited. He prayed. He received a response. He was so excited he had to tell us. His lifes story is sad, someone who had it all and then one day lost it all, but he says that it wasnt an accident that we talked to him on that park bench that day.
i feel very attached to this area, Soledade. next week we have transfers, I will go where the Lord wants me to but man i want to stay a little longer. So i have been reading D&C with the mission for the past few weeks. POWER. wanna know what personal revelation is in print. i love D&C i always had a hard time connecting with it like i do The Book of Mormon and the New Testament but man i love it. The next thing i will tackle- Theold testament....opah.
Yeah so life is good. I am happy. We had interviews with President. He told me of the confidence he has in me and what I am doing, i realize very much that i need to be better and work harder to be worthy of that trust that he and Heavenly Father have in me.
love you alllllllll.
proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson


PS Happy birthday to everyone that i missed your birthday! AKA all of Karas kids.

I am a missionary‏

Wow what a week.


Probably one of the weeks with the most moments of stress and depression, but also some of the most blessings and moments that I could feel my Savior carrying me. I remember my first few weeks in the field, that were so HARD. I wrote that in those moments Christ was carrying me. In reality He never put me down. Just know God is blessing this missionary and making up for my weakness.

I was reading a few things that i kept in a binder, spiritual things really. I found a letter from all my young women leaders from 2004. Man i love and admire those women. Their simple testimonies are still strengthening mine. If they get a chance to read this letter, thank you for being the women you are and for your testimonies.

The week was hard for many reasons but amidst this we found some miracles. Pearls. Those people God has prepared for us.

One of them is Diana. Her baptism was Friday. She is one of those chosen spirits, incredibly sensitive to the Spirit. She knows so much better than other nine year olds what is right and wrong. The importance of God. What a privledge to teach such a chosen little girl.

Last week I made a contact with Marcio. I only remember that he seemed genuinely interested in going to church and our message. I didnt remember that he was smoking and drinking when i made the contact with him so when S Souza said we need to teach the word of wisdom so he could stop smoking soon i didnt understand how she knew that he smoked. It is strange because i almost always remember these things. Anyways, we taught him. It went well. When we returned he explained that he would go to other churches every so often but that from what he felt and understood, the doctrines of our church went a little deeper. He said that that it wasnt an accident that he met us at the praça that day. That we were different. He said the words "there was a brightness in your eyes and i could tell that you wanted to help me." He said that he had tried to change before but this time he feels like he really can. I have always heard those stories about how memebers of the church have a brightness in their eyes. i guess i always thought it was kind of a cliche thing but truly there is a difference.

One of our other investigators, Clilda, said that she had been stopped by so many different religions but never payed attention until she met us on the street. She said we were different. She will be baptized the 17th along with her daughter Luciene or Wyky. She prayed and received a response. Today she went to the boardwalk with us. She loves us. We are working a lot these days with youth, reactivating and teaching them. I have always related better with the youth. i love it.

Souza and I decided to have a scripture of the week, last week was Alma 5:14. Do you have His image in your countenance? I am trying to be like my Savior and I know that it is helping other people. I love being a missionary.

We are reading D&C as a mission. I have never really studied it like i should but let me tell you, i love it. I am receiving personal revelation everyday. Promptings during my study that are made manifest in my work. I love this time in my life. oh aunt Susan or Jeanne or someone who does geneology, the Fuller mentioned in D&C 55 or 56 is he related to us?

Man the family reunion seems so amazing! I wish i could have been there to see you all SEND ME PICTURES or at least post them to the family website. I havent received pictures from anyoen in a real long time. or Letter mail. i feel left out at zone meetings and interviews when i dont receive letters. SEND THEM! haha.

I know that i am forgetting something but i dont remember...

Oh the church is true. it just is. SO INCREDIBLY TRUE. and as S. Souza says: Ela é PERFEITA! There was a huge flood in Alagoas that destroyed a few cities, the elders serving there were fine. All the missionaries in Alagoas went to help. Yeah thats like 80+ missionaries. I love how much the church is always there to help. a mark of true discipleship. I was bummed i am here in Sergipe so i didnt get to go but still. amazing.

well i love you all.

proud to wear the tag.

Sister Peterson

São Pedro‏

so apparently there are three holidays that have the campfires: São João, São Pedro, and Santo Antonio. And also Brazil continues to win so those things=staying at home and my hair STILL smells like smoke.


So i emailed a few days ago but my life is like a rollercoaster/energizer bunny keeps going and is crazy.

Sunday I was feeling a little down. I felt like I had been working a ton the last week but Sunday morning our family (Marta and Ailton) didnt go to church. My heart was broken. We didnt have any progressing investigators. Well Bishop found a less active member who had moved and she said, "Oh Bispo my daughter needs to be baptized." We went there and found Diana. A 9 year old girl. Truly a choice spirit of our Heavenly Father. When we were teaching she told us that her greatest wish was to go to church but her mom wouldnt take her. She loves learning about God and is so excited to be baptized. When we do our part God does the rest. I love this work.

Before we found out about Diana we were walking around forever trying to find houses and it just wasnt happening. I hate days like that when it is walk walk walk and not teaching. I was getting so frustrated. I didnt want to do anything let alone contact people on the street but i got to the point that i realized i needed to force myself to make contacts. I found Cleilde. She is so rad. She really wants to go to church and LOVES us. Her daughter that is 15 was already some sort of nun for the catholic church, speaks english, and now plays guitar in a band. How rad, an ex-nun rocker. We are in the process of teaching them.

We also contacted Santana. He is a middleaged man who is so willing to learn. He says the word PUXA a lot and it makes me laugh. The first night we planned to visit him it was raining like crazy so we couldnt get out there. He waited all night for us. They have a telephone booth thing in front of his neighbors house and we said we would call. He was sleeping when we called but when he found out, he stayed by the phone booth for a long time. He has a baptismal date.

I have always loved working with youth. Right now we are reactivating a lot of families, they all start with youth. I dont know what it is about my personality that makes it so youth like me but it is pretty great to be able to use this gift God has given me.

Last night as we were walking home, i just felt happy. That inner sense of peace that people spend a lot of money on books and programs to find. I cant tell you that the mission is easy. In fact it is still very challenging, but i know that i am progressing. I look at the little girl i was 9 months ago, so insecure about the smallest things. Well like everyone else in the world i still have insecurities but it is easier to face them. Forcing myself to push past it all. I have learned so much about human nature. I can almost tell right away when someone is lying to me based on their body language. or when someone isnt interested. I have never been lied to so much in my life. One quote that i love says that everyone has three things: A greatest fear, a greatest insecurity, and someone that loves them. I see that a lot. A quote from Henry B Eyring is: When you meet someone regard them as someone who is in big trouble. Most of the time you will be right." i see that a lot too.

Well i love my life. i love my comp. I love God. He loves us. I cant imagine life without that knowledge that surety that God lives and He loves us.

Proud to wear the tag,
 
Sister Peterson

today is hump day apparently.‏

hump day is the missionary linguagem for exactly half way through your mission. the peak the top. Today is that day. How did that happen? I am thinking of a song by Jack Johnson where he talks about life as a train. He says "The people on the steet that I'll never get to meet if these tracks dont bend somehow... i need this old train to breakdown." That is my feeling exactly.
I remember in the MTC one elder gave a talk about when missionaries approach the "hump" they have two options: to jump or to slump. I have served with dead missionaries. My fear is to become one. My will is to jump. This work is just too important.
This week we worked with Marta and Ailton a lot. Guess what they are golden. They are both PUMPED to be baptized...the only problem is that they need to get married. I will never understand why it takes a million years to get divorced here...but that isnt going to get us down. They both have felt the Spirit confirm that the gospel is true, Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. When we teach I know that they probably dont understand EVERYTHING but I know that they FEEL it is true. We are working on marrying them and baptizing them this transfer!
We also met Sonia. A cute little old lady with a haircut just like moms. She is hilarious. She always tells us that her dream is too "evangelize" like we do. She has felt the truth of the first vision and is reading the Book of Mormon. Sunday she is going to church with us. i am excited.
Oh we got a new Missionary Leader in the ward and HE IS AWESOME. He is always making visits with us and is so excited to get the members mroe involved.
Guess what l of these things that i am talking about are 1. A result of the goodness nd love of God and 2. a lot of prayer and fasting. I dont think i really understood the principle of fasting until my mission. in fact i dont think i truly understood anything before my mission. I am recognizing these days how vital the Spirit is. I feel His guidance at all times. I recognize exactly the moment when He leaves and how horrible i feel without Him. I feel the Spirit guiding this work. I am constantly reminded how this is not my work, but the Lord's and that this time is sacred. SO INCREDIBLY sacred.
I love my companion. Siser Souza will be leaving with Murbaki and Cataca in August. I am so grateful for my companions for the things that i have learned. Sister Souza has taught me so many things in the one week we have been together. One thing specifically is the importance of contacts. I got into the lazy habit of inviting people to church and asking if we could share a message. It was the same thing everytime. She has taught me the difference between that and giving someone every opportunity to feel the Spirit that is with us and to think about WHY some foreign girl with green eyes and light brown hair is asking them to church. To make contacts with meaning. To let them know that YES there exists one true church on the earth that has ALLLL the truth not just some of it. That uided by a prophet and that has the AUTHORITY to baptize people not just someone saying oh yeah i studied the bible i know what i am doing. God's work is not a mess but is orderly and perfect. So i am relearning how to do contacts and we are finding.
So the lanuage, still butcher it. This week i almost cried. I went to make a contact and i tried explaining as clearly as i could to a man about the gospel. He said he didnt understand i walked away in tears almost. We went and taught Marta and Ailton, people that dont have a lot of educational experience. They listen to me. They try to understand. Like Klisleide they think about the words i am saying and not how i say it. They feel what they dont understand. Maybe I will never speak perfectly, or i will always have this accent, but maybe this is just another tool to weed out the people who arent ready and to find those who are truly searching.
As presidente says we are "buscadores de perolas" Searchers of pearls. Not every oyster has developed a pearl yet, we need to find those who already have one. Some people arent quite ready yet, but it is a process really to make that pearl, to be ready for a change in your life so big and so wonderful... i know God has a lot prepared for this galega to find. I have nine months, thats it. I will find them.
Proud to wear the tag,

Sister J Peterson

Crazy by night‏

So one of my favorite things in the world is when brasillieros try to speak english or say things in english. all transfer S. Zorzo would say, Yeah baby yeah. yes...no...maybe., and YOU ARE CRAZY. well my new companion arrived yesterday, Sister Souza and she likes to say CRAZY BY NIGHT. I dont get it but it cracks me up anyways.


So this week was great and heartbreaking. Great because two people we worked with a TON this transfer were baptized Saturday, Gisele a 15 year old that is very mature for her age and Macssuel, in short i would say he is a brasilleiro version of Huckleberry Finn. I love baptisms, the spirit is always very strong and it is always a great feeling to see people take that first step towards eternal happiness.

Heartbreaking because, as we expected, Klisleides mom showed up on our doorstep again about 2 hours before her baptism was scheduled. She wanted us to make up an excuse to tell klisleide for why she couldnt be baptized. Well there is absolutely no reason this girl should NOT be baptized. Probably one of the most solid and excited people ihave taught in my whole mission. We explained that we respect her wishes, but that she needs to talk to her daughter if she is against the baptism that our role is not to lie or invent excuses. She called off the baptism. Klisleide came to talk to us, her heartbroken. She said that one day she will be baptized for sure just not now. This is on the list of things not to do to your kids. I was feeling so sad for her. But she will continue to go to church and learning, she just has to wait until her parents consent or until july when she will be old enough.

Sunday when Giseli was confirmed, i could tell what klisleide was feeling because the look on her face. I wanted to bad to help her to make her feel better but words cant really cut it. Then the picture of my little sister lindsey popped into my head. For the first time i realized that their stories are very similiar. Two rockstars that could be baptized at any moment if their parents agreed with it. I showed her picture to klisleide and explained how Lindsey also has been waiting to be baptized for awhile also. Klisleide smiled and was excited to see the pictures i have of my family. I wish i had more...hint hint...but i know that my little sisters example did and will continue to help klisleide.

So i carry around the pictures of my family to show everyone because everyone thinks americans are so beautiful and always ask about my family. When i show them it is always the same. oh! tão linda sua familia! oh how beautiful your family is. and then olha, eles são gordos! look how fat they are. Ha ha. i love how people just call other people fat. it is a normal thing here. i cant count how often i am called fortinha or gordinha. they think people gordinha are beautiful. so we are beautiful and fat. hahaha.

oh and grandma, everyone thinks you are so beautiful. You are. Every time they see my photos they always look at yours a little longer and tell me how beautiful and adorable you are.

Friday i went to lunch and the irmão there said Hi sister zorzo and...i guess it is Irmã Peterson today... I looked down. I had forgotten my missionary tag. I know it is psychological but i felt so strange after that we didnt have time to go back home and get it so all day i just felt this weird feeling. the one thing that distinguishes me from being a tourist. the one thing that literally states that I am an authorized representative of Cristo. I think this week i realized how much my missionary tag means to me.

Proud to wear this tag,

sister J Peterson

Oh family. I love you. that is all.




This week has been a rollercoaster ride. Moments so happy, devastating, spiritual, basically all adjectives that describe a mission.



1. I called Sister Murbaki my "mom" or my trainer that I was with for almost five months. Her fiance (not uncommon in Brasil to serve a mission and be engaged) died the day before her birthday. He had been diagnosed with Lukemia while she was on the mission but was receiving treatment and they did some sort of transplant. Everything went well but then he had some sort of problem with his lungs and he passed away. My heart literally broke as she was telling me about this. He had sent me a letter to encourage me at the beginning of my mission and from everything she told me about him, he was an amazing person. She is such an example to me in everything. She is still working hard. From the beginning she always showed her faith and trust saying "The Lord knows best" and it is still her attitude. When you know that death is not the end and that life has a purpose it is a little easier to accept these things but i know that it is very hard still. Please pray for her.



2. There is a feeling that I dont know how many people have felt but it is associated with homesickness. When you think of home and everyone and you think man if i could just hug so and so id be good for awhile. Every missionary feels this now and again. This week one of our investigators started talking about how im almost halfway down and me going home and leaving the nordeste. I felt a huge wave of homesickness that distracted me for few minutes, but not a homesickness for home but for here. I cant imagine life anywhere else rightnow. i am where i belong. How can i feel homesick for a place that i am in?



3. Klisleide: one seventeen year old girl that we have been teaching for awhile is named Klisleide. She is the shyest person i have ever met and her mom wont let her be baptized until she has been to church a lot. She is incredibly intelligent and always asks very profound questions. Everytime we go there the spirit is so strong. We thought that she was trying to avoid baptism for awhile but really she has been trying to convince her mom for the past few weeks. Studying everything even to the point of bearing her testimony to her mom. She has amazing and spiritual dreams. She told us about these experiences this week and once again i felt the spirit so strong saying that this is one of God's elect daughters. She was searching and ready, He answered. I have never been one to cry because of spiritual experiences but i felt very much in thatlesson God speaking through me and my companion. She was one person that needed US not someone else to teach her. We look forward to her baptism this weekend if her mom lets her!!!



4. Sandro: I was thinking all week how everytime I have put my all into the week, Sunday I usually see the blessings. Sunday not many people were in church with us. one man, Sandro, we were counting on but something came up. After church we called him and he said he would go to the afternoon ward with us. we were excited. When we went to get him, he had left to help his sister in law. We were so sad. We went to a few other people who said they would go to the afternoon ward with us. no one went. we sat on the sidewalk to call a member to make visits, almost defeated. As i was talking to the member, Sandro rode up on his bike. smiling ear to ear as he always does, and completely ready for church. He felt good at church and it was a great experience. Miracles always happen when we are obedient and put forth our best.



5. The BOOK OF MORMON: Um outro testamento de Jesus Cristo.



That book is power and i feel very priviledged to be one of the few chosen people to share it with everyone. We are reading as a mission (i am a little behind because i read portuguese slower) and I read about Alma the younger. Even though his father was the prophet of this time, alma started out rebelling and leading people away. Here in mosiah 27 the angel is talking to Alma. Pay attetion



14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath aheard the prayers of his people, and also the bprayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has cprayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the dknowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to econvince thee of the power and authority of God, that the fprayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.

15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also abehold me before you? And I am sent from God.



Because of prayers of the members of the church AND his father, he had this experience that changed his life. Notice what it says about their faith. This response was ACCORDING TO THERE FAITH. Truly God hears our prayers. They are not words that are uttered into space that will never echo back, but truly conversations with someone who loves us more deeply than we can imagine. Have faith. Pray. Keep the commandments. Watch the miracles.



6. I dont know why but my dreams here are a lot easier to remember. I had a dream monday night where i talked with a lot of friends, family, and acquaintances. I learned a lot. Yeah i know weird. I learned from a dream something so incredibly important for me to apply in my life. Each section with a different person was very detailed and I woke up with these words: What am i willing to change to make others happier, to help others be better? I wrote this down almost immediately. It was so clear. We all have defects. Most of us have the instinct to think of ourselves first or not think of others in our actions. But truly if we wrote a name down of a loved one that we wanted to help and then wrote down the things about ourselves that would impede them THEN CHANGED THOSE THINGS whoa guess what we would actually help. I know in the past i havent been the best companion, friend, daughter, sister, neice, etc, maybe i havent been as patient loving or kind. I am ready to change. I need to change it is crucial for this work.



7.I miss the temple. i cant visit the temple because we dont have one in our mission. so that is where you come in. If you are able, GO. i have never been so thristy for something. GO. It is truly the house of the Lord. Go with a heart willing to receive the guidance of the Lord. Also I am a missionary. People take care of me here. Take care of the missionaries. Feed them. But if you really want to help them schedule an hour where you can make visits with them. LOOK this week for someone they could teach.



So that is my week. please pray, please have faith, please know that this is the most important thing, That God loves us, He speaks. He hears.



Proud to wear the tag,



sister Peterson

Eu sei que Vive meu Senhor‏

Sunday was a super spiritual day. I dont know why. I woke up feeling great. I felt a HUGE presence of the Spirit in my day. Especially during Sacrament. I never payed too much attention to the little deacons passing the sacrament but as i watched them i began to reflect on how much of a symbol the sacrament really is. One thing that really caught my eye was when I realized that the person who passes the sacrament gives it to everyone else first. Even the first to the person who blesses and then at last partakes. What a symbol of Christ, His love and His service and His PURPOSE. This and a lot of other moments really tugged at my heart and opened my eyes. Remember how the gospel is TRUE?
At conference at conference this week one thing that was mentioned, not really even talked about was PURPOSE. Everything we do here and in our lives has a PURPOSE. In the mission field we need to constantly evaluate our activities and the manner we carry them out to see if they are truly fulfilling the purpose intended. Why am i getting up at 630 everyday? why do i study? why do i stop people on the street to talk to them? why? as I have looked at my work the past few days, constantly asking: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE, I have learned a lot of ways to improve. The past few days i feel like we have been on FIRE. Goals that we have had difficulties reaching in the past few weeks we have almost reached in only two days. I am focusing on giving my maximum in everything, and I see the difference. The Lord blesses us when we do our best and we are obedient. I cant stress it enough. Neither can the BOM when it constantly mentions the promise given to the Nephites. If you keep the commandments you will prosper. If you dont... BOA SORTE. So look at your life your daily activities and ask WHAT IS THE PURPOSE. WHAT IS MY PURPOSE. and give your maximum. It is simple but once you have a perspective things change. We arent just here to work sleep eat. We are here to progress to be better today than yesterday. We are here too learn to be like God. To be like our Savior. To reach our potential and inevitably to be happy.
I am also reading in the new testament these days. Just so you know, Paul is amazing. I look at his faith and dilligence, the type of missionary he was. That is the example for me. i love the new testament.

We are working with a girl, Jéssica. She is so good. She loves to read the BOM she loves our lessons. She UNDERSTANDS what she reads and she APPLIES it into her life. she is 17 years old and as soon as she feels more prepared she could be baptized anytime. We shared with her Alma 7:14 about baptism. We asked her what the scripture means and she explained all the promises that come with baptism exactly and how they applied in her life. I am just saying that if you want to learn, teach. that is all.
This week in our contacts we found a ton of new people. In one of our lessons we found Sandro. He is amazing. He has such a happy countenance and is one of those people who are truly SEARCHING. he is praying he is learning and if you could see his face when we teach well that would be enough to say that he is excited about this new idea. An idea of a God who is real and is concerned about his children enough that he calls profets today too. i am excited to see how he progresses.
Oh today we went fishing for crabs. I caught a HUGE one. i am pretty sure i am allergic so i watched as everybody ate them but it was fun. i really need to send pictures i will when i can.

Did i ever tell you how much i love brasil. The nordeste (northeast) in particular. This is where the best people live. People with hearts of gold. The example of love i want to show is found in these dark skinned beautiful people. People always ask about the US and one day i was saying how people dont kiss eachother on the cheeks hardly ever and dont really hug eachother unless they know eachother. the response was: how horrible! yep i live with amazing people who make you feel their love in EVERYTHING they do. I am grateful everyday for God and His love that He sent me here in this beautiful place with the best calling ever. I am so grateful and proud for the opportunity to say countless times everyday: Eu sou uma missionária da Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ultimos Dias. I am so proud for the two names on the right side of my chest that represent the people that I love the most. I am a missionary, how great is my calling?
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister JP Peterson

Mother's Day

Mother's day was amazing. I can't begin to relate how happy I was to talk to all of you. As i said to a few of you, i had been feeling pretty homesick since having an american companion, but to talk to you all was just what i needed! It was a great day. Grandma, I am so sorry that I didnt get to talk to you. I waited as long as i could, but the bishops son who is on a mission in Sao Paulo called and so after that I couldnt really wait any longer. I am so sorry but i wanted so bad to talk to you! happy mothers day grandma, i love you and i am so grateful for such an amazing example like you in my life!


So Saturday we baptized an AMAZING young man, Carlos. He lost his parents not too long ago and he lives completely alone. Like a majority of the young people in these neighborhoods, he was using drugs and had other problems.He has many difficult situations in his life but he did everything he could to prepare to be baptized. the night before his baptism we taught a lesson and at the end he prayed. His prayer was one of the most sincere and beautiful prayers i have heard in my life. I looked at that young man and thought, this is Heavenly FAthers son, he wants him healed. I can see that the gospel has already offered him so much and has helped him so much. Just another testimony that this is the work of the Lord. I literally felt the love that Heavenly Father has for him and if i wasnt a missionary i totally would have given him a huge hug. and if i cried more easily i probably would have cried. He showed up Sunday to be confirmed AND he brought a friend. Literally everytime we teach him, he has a friend at his house for us to teach too. GOLDEN.

We are teaching a girl Jéssica and she is amazing too. she reads everything we give her. she says when she is stressed out she likes to read the pamphlets we give her or the BOM. She doesnt feel so prepared for baptism but we are helping her and i can see her being baptized soon. She knows that baptism is a serious thing and she wants to be totally ready.

Sunday night i was feeling a little bit sick so i stayed at the chapel to talk to you all. Monday like 4 am i woke up with quasimodo eyes. they were so swollen! i felt sick and weak and tired but we still taught quite a bit. i think one of our investigators was laughing at me when i was teaching she kept looking at my face and covering her mouth. yeah i was that hideous. yesterday it got worse my lips swelled up and i have something that looks like chicken pox on my body. i am taking medicine right now but my face is real fat and i am a pretty scary thing to look at. but it is kind of funny also. just so you know i am not a fan of Brasillian healthcare. I am a little bummed, this week i wanted to work a lot but its just not happening. it will get better though.

I just want to leave my testimony with you all: Joseph Smith truly saw our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. One simple prayer from a very humble boy changed the world almost a century ago. It changed my life and I am seeing it change lives daily. That amazing boy is a great example to me and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father calls prophets in our days. I know Christ lives and that He loves us. He is a living God, not some dead figure that we follow, but a true example to all and i know the world will be better by following Him.

EU AMO VOCÉS!

Proud to wear the tag,

Sister JP Peterson