Another Week

Dear family!


Another week has gone by in this part of the world and have i mentioned that I love this place.

So literally Heavenly Father has been literally giving me blessings on a sliver plater. I feel very unworthy of all this love that I have felt in the last week, but literally He has helped me with everything that i have asked.

So it began last thursday when we decided to fast. The first time i fasted here, I almost passed out. The intense sun mixed with walking long distances without water=the feeling that i might die. Since then i fast but i always drink water. Heavenly Father understands these things. But this week I really needed blessings for me and others and i really wanted to show Heavenly Father how willing i am to sacrifice. So I decided i would try my best to not drink water during the fast. I prayed for Heavenly Father to help me accomplish this. That afternoon was the darkest afternoon I have seen here. It rained a ton. The whole factor of the sun draining me of everything I have was completely eliminated. I fasted without water, I asked, God prepared the way. This is simple and maybe seems like i am making mountains out of molehills, but i sincerely felt Gods love for me almost as if He was saying you know i love you here ya go.

If you havent realized im American and I speak English. This fact is very obvious to everyone here. And to me. My language abilities or lack of abilities are a huge source of insecurity 24/7 because really i speak this language only. This week I have asked so much for the ability to speak and understand, for confidence and a desire to speak more even when i dont want to. Heavenly Father has really blessed me. I have been feeling much more comfortable with the language. A few people have commented that I dont have an accent when i sing hymns and last night when we were visiting people with the 2nd counselor of the Bishopric Valdo, he said, wow you are speaking really well. This sincere comment was what i needed. And i recognized right away that I am the poster of the gift of tongues. There is ABSOLUTELY no way i could be speaking this well or teaching this well without it. Yeah i still butcher the language and trip over my words. BUT the progression i have experienced is not my own. in a little less than 6 months i am almost fluent and that is all thanks to someone who loves me and wants to help me in everything. He understands my heart and my intentions, when these two things are pure, He makes up the rest. AMAZING.

Lately I have had the opportunity to teach a different type of people. The majority of the people in my area are very poor and many are uneducated. It has been a great experience tailoring my methods of teaching to help people understand at a level appropriate. We generally dont have the opportunity to teach people with more of a background of studying. We have been teaching Givace, a college professor of Portuguese this past week. It is amazing having conversations with her, as she asks the questions of the soul and she finds answers that really make sense. This gospel is amazing because i can teach it to the humble and they understand and feel it. I can teach it to the brilliant and once again they UNDERSTAND AND FEEL IT. I love teaching this.

Sorry this isnt all that interesting this week. Just know that I feel Gods love for me EVERYDAY. It is real. I know that He blesses us when we strive to be diligent and obedient. i love this gospel. Straight up, it is true. The gospel of Jesus Christ makes me who i am. It strengthens me and I know it is the only thing that will heal this broken world. i love you all.



proud to wear the tag,

sister Peterson