OI!
this week flew! and after 11 weeks of working in Bebedouro we have our first baptisms!!!
Two of them are brothers of a lessactive member. Heavenly Father lead us to their door, we knocked and found adorable Danilo and Jonatan. Every time we aske them what is on Jan. 31st they reply: BATISMO!
The other one is Jeni, a 74 year old woman who is very intelligent and coherrent. I think i wrote about her before. We worked iwth her for a month and it was always i know the BOM is the word of God and I know the church is true but i was already baptised. No matter how we explained it she was still pretty stuck. So sis. Murbaki asked me what we should do. We decided to visit her one more time with a member and then after that move on. So we brought a recent convert of 2 years with us. We talked to her about the church and she replied as she always does that she knows it is true. Then Rafaela shared her experience with baptism. I felt the need to recommit her to baptism so i said, Jeni you know that these things are true and that baptism is a commandment of God. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised the 31st of January. She stood up looked at the calendar and said YES! We visited her again and taught the 2nd lesson. SHE UNDERSTOOD ALL OF IT. no one really understands the plan of salvation when they hear it at first. She understood it and it answered her questions. When we got ready to leave she said that she knew god sent us there to teach her and that only we could have helped change her heart. I cannot begin to relate to the joy i felt in being able to be an instrument even with my many inadequacies. When we left she said she was so excited to be clean of sin and to be able to live with God again. So amazing. Really all in all what i am doing here is giving people opportunities and it involves a lot of rejection but it is so worth it.
We returned to the Mango man and he loaded us up with delicious mangos. He had his 25year old grandsons got us some mangos and he said to sit on a chair and talk with him. He said, I like you ladies, you can come here anytime and talk to me and i will give you mangos. We marked a time to come and teach his family this week. Im excited. He is such a hilarious old man. When we left he laid a big wet one on our hands, usually this gesture creeps me out, but with him it was adorable.
His grandsons have studied a little english. they were so excited to practice with me. One of them is going to start coming to my english class that i teach on Saturdays. I realized though, that i would almost rather speak in Portuguese than in English. Today i went to the beach with some other missionaries and Speaking in Portuguese wasnt so difficult. It is so interesting how it seems in a few days i went from not wanting to speak to just doing it. I still dont know everything but i am certaintly realizing the blessings HF is pouring down for me. 4 months and i can speak...ish.
funny things: Apparently i look like a character from a novella or brasillian soap opera here. I dont really know because when ever i see parts of this show the girl is always in some passionate kissing scene. I think soap operas everywhere are ridiculous. Sometimes people like to yell stuff at us when we are walking on the street and generally we dont understand them but we heard one man on a motorcycle: SISTERS! JESUS IS RETURNING AND HE WANTS TO TAKE YOU WITH HIM. i almost fell down i was laughing so hard.
We had interviews with President yesterday. I love the Beynons. Sometimes i get down on myself, i am so far from perfect and it is stressful. I asked president what i can do to be better. His answer was simple but totally what i needed. He said, if you want to be better, look at your intentions. If you have a pure intent their isnt much more you can do. And if you have apure intent you are doing all you can, that means the Lord will guide you and blessyou. Joseph Smith was just a boy with a pure intent. He prayed, and the world from that moment was not the same. Billions of lives have been changed because one young man had a pure intent. You might not be able to change everything about yourself, but you can change your intent. you can change your desires and you can control your thoughts. Sometimes it is hard but we need to pray for help with changing our intents and desires and thoughts and to pray for faith. I know the Presidente is an inspired man and i am so blessed to serve in this mission with him and his wife.
well i love you all, so much.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister JP Peterson
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
My life: imagine nacho libre but in Brasil
I always have experiences each week that are hilarious but slowly they are becoming less and less shocking, almost as if i am accustomed to it but here are a list of funny images that i remember from this week:
-little chunky brasilliero probably 6 years old in only red underwear (think chancho from nacho libre) running around carrying a stick above his head, yelling, and chasing a chicken.
-A really really short and really really skinny and really really old brasilleiro playing a red accordian, plugged into some amps, turned up really really loud in the middle of the day.
-Sister Murbaki dropped our keys to our lock on our gate in our apartment so she stayed by the gate door and i went up the stairs to our deck and for fifteen or more minutes we were yelling at people on the street to come help us open our door.
Yeah i know there is more but i forgot them. I have finished my eighth week here in Bebedouro and still no baptisms. One lady that we have been teaching, Geni, is pretty hilarious. She knows that the church is true, knows that the Book of Mormon is true, but was already baptised in another church and doesnt want to do it again. We explain pretty clearly about the importance of baptism...nothing. we are gonna keep working with her.
Heavenly Father led us to another family needing the gospel. It is so interesting, it happens like this: you get a feeling to do something you think man we dont have time or we never knock on doors we talk to people in the street then you think alright i will do it and boom you realize it wasnt you, it was the spirit. This happened with Jhonatan and Danilo. We had just got done teaching a lesson and i thought lets knock on the doors in this trevas. And we found Rayane, she was baptized three years ago but moved and never hasnt been. She has two younger brothers Jhonatan and Danilo and they are super excited for baptism at the end of Janeiro! They are so adorable. Therer mom works like 20 hours every day and it seems like things are hard for them. Jhonatan really liked church on sunday and i am glad we can help this family.
We have been teaching a ton, but it seems like whereever we go, Satan is not far behind. I have learned that he will attack people in any way that he possibly can, usually some cheap shots, and unfortunately he manages to disturb the peace that these people have felt. This is just another testimony to me that this work is the work of the Lord. It is a true threat to the adversary, it is what will heal the world, it is the thing that can heal families and individuals, and he doesnt want that.
It is frustrating how we teach so much but very few actually hear the words that we are saying. It is kind of like Aaron and his brothers in Alma when they are teaching and teaching and everyone that will listen is converted, but a majority of people dont. It is so interesting and easy to see the difference between those who are sitting there or perhaps trying to rebuke and those who are really listening to what the spirit can tell them. we visited the walking bible again this week. He asked questions i responded (this time i could! whoo!)with the bible and he totally didnt listen. I was timid because i do not know the bible through and through, and to answer him with it in another language was scary, but i did it. Interesting though, he wasnt looking for answers or responses, he was ,literally trying to trip us up. And i realized that knowledge is useless if you dont have love. 1 cor 8:1-3. Williams (walking bible) knows doctrine very well he is incredibly intelligent when it comes to religion, but is very very hard hearted and not to us but to others very unkind. I think once he learns love he will be able to accept this message.
well i love love love you all. thank you for the emails and letters.
proud to wear the tag.
sister peterson
-little chunky brasilliero probably 6 years old in only red underwear (think chancho from nacho libre) running around carrying a stick above his head, yelling, and chasing a chicken.
-A really really short and really really skinny and really really old brasilleiro playing a red accordian, plugged into some amps, turned up really really loud in the middle of the day.
-Sister Murbaki dropped our keys to our lock on our gate in our apartment so she stayed by the gate door and i went up the stairs to our deck and for fifteen or more minutes we were yelling at people on the street to come help us open our door.
Yeah i know there is more but i forgot them. I have finished my eighth week here in Bebedouro and still no baptisms. One lady that we have been teaching, Geni, is pretty hilarious. She knows that the church is true, knows that the Book of Mormon is true, but was already baptised in another church and doesnt want to do it again. We explain pretty clearly about the importance of baptism...nothing. we are gonna keep working with her.
Heavenly Father led us to another family needing the gospel. It is so interesting, it happens like this: you get a feeling to do something you think man we dont have time or we never knock on doors we talk to people in the street then you think alright i will do it and boom you realize it wasnt you, it was the spirit. This happened with Jhonatan and Danilo. We had just got done teaching a lesson and i thought lets knock on the doors in this trevas. And we found Rayane, she was baptized three years ago but moved and never hasnt been. She has two younger brothers Jhonatan and Danilo and they are super excited for baptism at the end of Janeiro! They are so adorable. Therer mom works like 20 hours every day and it seems like things are hard for them. Jhonatan really liked church on sunday and i am glad we can help this family.
We have been teaching a ton, but it seems like whereever we go, Satan is not far behind. I have learned that he will attack people in any way that he possibly can, usually some cheap shots, and unfortunately he manages to disturb the peace that these people have felt. This is just another testimony to me that this work is the work of the Lord. It is a true threat to the adversary, it is what will heal the world, it is the thing that can heal families and individuals, and he doesnt want that.
It is frustrating how we teach so much but very few actually hear the words that we are saying. It is kind of like Aaron and his brothers in Alma when they are teaching and teaching and everyone that will listen is converted, but a majority of people dont. It is so interesting and easy to see the difference between those who are sitting there or perhaps trying to rebuke and those who are really listening to what the spirit can tell them. we visited the walking bible again this week. He asked questions i responded (this time i could! whoo!)with the bible and he totally didnt listen. I was timid because i do not know the bible through and through, and to answer him with it in another language was scary, but i did it. Interesting though, he wasnt looking for answers or responses, he was ,literally trying to trip us up. And i realized that knowledge is useless if you dont have love. 1 cor 8:1-3. Williams (walking bible) knows doctrine very well he is incredibly intelligent when it comes to religion, but is very very hard hearted and not to us but to others very unkind. I think once he learns love he will be able to accept this message.
well i love love love you all. thank you for the emails and letters.
proud to wear the tag.
sister peterson
Monday, January 11, 2010
Alagada-flood
We have all heard the saying, When it rains it pours. Although cliche and usually a metaphor, this is very literally true for Maceió. Coincidentally when it rains and pours here in Bebedouro, it also rains and pours in our apartment. i will try to send photos, it is pretty hilarious. When it rains we have a waterfall coming from our wash area and it flows down into our bedroom. Happy New Year was accompanied with about 2 inches of water spouting from the washroom ceiling and an old light switch. safe, not so sure, but i do know that using rags to soak up water takes about an hour and a half. This flood happened three times in the last week. awesome.
This week a combination of the new year flooded apartment and Sister Murbaki being sick made it really difficult to work. Yesterday, after cleaning up a flood after lunch, I had a really hard time having the desire to work. We were walking down the street and the last thing i wanted to do was work. I was exhausted, but i felt ashamed that i was feeling so lazy that i didnt want to do the work that i came over 5000 miles to do. I said a prayer asking for the drive or something to push me. Heavenly Father didnt hesitate.
We entered a small house of Maria and Luiz. Maria is pregnant and they have 4 other beautiful children. They are probably one of the cutest and most loving couples ive seen. We taught them the first lesson and it was amazing. They were totally receptive. Theyve been looking for a church but havent been satisfied. They accepted the invitation to pray and prepare for baptism after they receive a response. Now i dont know if they are going to accept this message. i dont know what Heavenly Father has planned, but in that moment Heavenly Father reminded me why i am here. He was blunt and I was humbled and the drive was there. I am here to help families become eternal families. I am here to strengthen people, to give them an opportunity to better their lives, their families, themselves. I saw it in the faces of these two parents and it was more than what i felt worthy to ask for.
I know God loves us. He has a plan and I am one of the priviledged few in this world who has the opportunity to have this knowledge and to share it. The more i study the more i thirst to share what i study. It is amazing the capacity our mind has when you factor in faith and the Spirit. I am learning so much about following the Spirit. He is a real driving force and I feel very blessed to be able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life. Amazing.
A few funny things. Here it is perfectly acceptable to call or refer to other people as fat. For example, a lot of Brasilleiros refer to my district leader as the gordão elder (gordo is fat, add ão and you have really fat). It still makes me laugh when people talk about it. Earlier this week when i was joking around with Sister Murbaki, she decided to let slip a few English words she has been holding back for the past 8 weeks. In clear English she said, You er mama. I almost peed my pants it was so funny.
Today we had a zone activity and one of my elders from the CTM presented me with a peanutbutter filled sweet of some sort. I havent had peanutbutter for almost 3 months, and let me tell you i dont know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Man imiss peanut butter!
well i love you all and i miss you!
proud to wear the tag,
Sister JP Peterson
This week a combination of the new year flooded apartment and Sister Murbaki being sick made it really difficult to work. Yesterday, after cleaning up a flood after lunch, I had a really hard time having the desire to work. We were walking down the street and the last thing i wanted to do was work. I was exhausted, but i felt ashamed that i was feeling so lazy that i didnt want to do the work that i came over 5000 miles to do. I said a prayer asking for the drive or something to push me. Heavenly Father didnt hesitate.
We entered a small house of Maria and Luiz. Maria is pregnant and they have 4 other beautiful children. They are probably one of the cutest and most loving couples ive seen. We taught them the first lesson and it was amazing. They were totally receptive. Theyve been looking for a church but havent been satisfied. They accepted the invitation to pray and prepare for baptism after they receive a response. Now i dont know if they are going to accept this message. i dont know what Heavenly Father has planned, but in that moment Heavenly Father reminded me why i am here. He was blunt and I was humbled and the drive was there. I am here to help families become eternal families. I am here to strengthen people, to give them an opportunity to better their lives, their families, themselves. I saw it in the faces of these two parents and it was more than what i felt worthy to ask for.
I know God loves us. He has a plan and I am one of the priviledged few in this world who has the opportunity to have this knowledge and to share it. The more i study the more i thirst to share what i study. It is amazing the capacity our mind has when you factor in faith and the Spirit. I am learning so much about following the Spirit. He is a real driving force and I feel very blessed to be able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life. Amazing.
A few funny things. Here it is perfectly acceptable to call or refer to other people as fat. For example, a lot of Brasilleiros refer to my district leader as the gordão elder (gordo is fat, add ão and you have really fat). It still makes me laugh when people talk about it. Earlier this week when i was joking around with Sister Murbaki, she decided to let slip a few English words she has been holding back for the past 8 weeks. In clear English she said, You er mama. I almost peed my pants it was so funny.
Today we had a zone activity and one of my elders from the CTM presented me with a peanutbutter filled sweet of some sort. I havent had peanutbutter for almost 3 months, and let me tell you i dont know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Man imiss peanut butter!
well i love you all and i miss you!
proud to wear the tag,
Sister JP Peterson
Saturday, January 2, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
DEAR ALL
I have officially survived my first six weeks of living in real Maceió with a real live Brasilleira speaking broken but real Portuguese. WHOOEY! It was the fastest slow experience ever. And the verdict is in, I am blessed to have 6 more weeks in BEBEDOURO! I am stoked.
Well six weeks here and we still are at zero with baptisms, but we have a big teaching pool and we havent even scratched the surface of the amount of people here. Im stoked and im ready.
Last week Heavenly Father led us directly to a family that i think i mentioned in my last email. The dad, Wagner is a less active member and he has two kids Barbara 11 and Venicious 13 that are not baptized. Weve been teaching them. Last Friday Venicious said he was ready to be baptized he read the BOM prayed and recieved a response that it truly is the word of God. Unfortunately last night we went to visit and teach some more. Barbara said she believes that it is the word of God but doesnt want baptism and one of Venicious´ friends said some stuff about the Book of Mormon and now he is confused about baptism. I thought things would get easier once i started to understand this language, but i found out last night that the heartache just burns a little more. Venicious is one of those sweet spirits that you cant help but love, i could see the sadness in his face when he was telling us about his confusion. Everytime we find someone prepared and ready who has recieved an answer, Satan is not far behind. We left him with our testimony that people can lie to you, people can be misinformed, but the only way you can find truth is through the confirmation from God. He cannot lie. I have hopes that he will read and pray and search and that Heavenly Father will come through and help him, if not now, later in his life.
For this transfer i have set some goals, challenging but possible and I am excited to push myself to accomplish them. A lot of the problem is getting past myself: my insecurties with the language, with teaching, my laziness, its rough sometimes.
A lot of people have asked me about the food here. Let me tell you one thing: you havent lived until you have had juice in Maceió. They have so many fruits so delicious and the juice makes the juice in the states seem like gatorade. I have also encountared Macashera or Mandioca. It is a root that is a lot like a potatoe but (i never thought i could say this) a billion times better. I cant even describe it.
I realized earlier this week that I dont eat a lot of green vegetables here. They dont serve them with our lunches at members houses much. I usually always have rice beans spaghetti noodles that are usually orange from some sort of spice and chicken or beef. And we always have suco (juice) or soda. The only soda i have had here is fanta, guarana and coca cola. I never really drank soda before this but i really love guarana. It is hard because i feel like i eat a lot and im not hungry and then the people tell me to eat more and are offended if i dont. A lot of the time we will go to someones house and they will just bring us food and we have to eat it or they are offended. It is a good thing i walk so much. Last week i asked the bishops daughter if she wanted to be a missionary (she is 7) she replied with, I did but then i realized that you guys walk a lot. Haha.
Christmas was good with the bishops family Christmas Eve. The Sisters nearby stayed at our house. Christmas Eve, apparently people party all night which was apparent at 3 in the morning when i woke up to music blasting from all directions. They love to party here.
It was great to talk to you on Christmas. I felt like 45 minutes definitely wasnt enough but i love you all and thank you for your love and support.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson
I have officially survived my first six weeks of living in real Maceió with a real live Brasilleira speaking broken but real Portuguese. WHOOEY! It was the fastest slow experience ever. And the verdict is in, I am blessed to have 6 more weeks in BEBEDOURO! I am stoked.
Well six weeks here and we still are at zero with baptisms, but we have a big teaching pool and we havent even scratched the surface of the amount of people here. Im stoked and im ready.
Last week Heavenly Father led us directly to a family that i think i mentioned in my last email. The dad, Wagner is a less active member and he has two kids Barbara 11 and Venicious 13 that are not baptized. Weve been teaching them. Last Friday Venicious said he was ready to be baptized he read the BOM prayed and recieved a response that it truly is the word of God. Unfortunately last night we went to visit and teach some more. Barbara said she believes that it is the word of God but doesnt want baptism and one of Venicious´ friends said some stuff about the Book of Mormon and now he is confused about baptism. I thought things would get easier once i started to understand this language, but i found out last night that the heartache just burns a little more. Venicious is one of those sweet spirits that you cant help but love, i could see the sadness in his face when he was telling us about his confusion. Everytime we find someone prepared and ready who has recieved an answer, Satan is not far behind. We left him with our testimony that people can lie to you, people can be misinformed, but the only way you can find truth is through the confirmation from God. He cannot lie. I have hopes that he will read and pray and search and that Heavenly Father will come through and help him, if not now, later in his life.
For this transfer i have set some goals, challenging but possible and I am excited to push myself to accomplish them. A lot of the problem is getting past myself: my insecurties with the language, with teaching, my laziness, its rough sometimes.
A lot of people have asked me about the food here. Let me tell you one thing: you havent lived until you have had juice in Maceió. They have so many fruits so delicious and the juice makes the juice in the states seem like gatorade. I have also encountared Macashera or Mandioca. It is a root that is a lot like a potatoe but (i never thought i could say this) a billion times better. I cant even describe it.
I realized earlier this week that I dont eat a lot of green vegetables here. They dont serve them with our lunches at members houses much. I usually always have rice beans spaghetti noodles that are usually orange from some sort of spice and chicken or beef. And we always have suco (juice) or soda. The only soda i have had here is fanta, guarana and coca cola. I never really drank soda before this but i really love guarana. It is hard because i feel like i eat a lot and im not hungry and then the people tell me to eat more and are offended if i dont. A lot of the time we will go to someones house and they will just bring us food and we have to eat it or they are offended. It is a good thing i walk so much. Last week i asked the bishops daughter if she wanted to be a missionary (she is 7) she replied with, I did but then i realized that you guys walk a lot. Haha.
Christmas was good with the bishops family Christmas Eve. The Sisters nearby stayed at our house. Christmas Eve, apparently people party all night which was apparent at 3 in the morning when i woke up to music blasting from all directions. They love to party here.
It was great to talk to you on Christmas. I felt like 45 minutes definitely wasnt enough but i love you all and thank you for your love and support.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson
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