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