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
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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
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
Sunday, May 23, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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
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
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