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
Sunday, May 23, 2010
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
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
knock knock...who's there?
First off: HAAAPPPPYYY BIIIIRRRRRTHDAAAAAAAAY ALESHA ANNIE!!!!
if you guys havent called her yet, call her and let her know how amazing she is because lets face it she is probably one of the coolest people in our family. if you are offended think for a second and you will probably agree. i love you leeshy!
Second: wanna hear the joke that i kept tellin my companions all week. Well background: we had transfers this tuesday and i thought for sure i would stay, i mean i was in bebedouro for almost six months and this transfer was only 5 weeks in Arapiraca so i kept saying "oh, porath will go to the other area in arapiraca (she already has six months in this part) and i am going to sergipe. And guess what happened. Yep. I am now in the other state, Sergipe in the capital ARACAJU.
So the last two days has been crazy getting ready to pack my suitcases and then a three hour trip across the alagoas-sergipe border. i met my new companion, Sister Zorzo: a brasilian that i am darker than who i am almost positive is a walking angel. I imagine almost like aunt Susan Fuller. She is probably the most loving and humble person ive met. She likes to go on adventures too so i am pretty set. also, she has a really good work ethic. last night i went to bed exhausted. IT WAS AMAZING.
Today we went to the zoo and we rode something like a ski lift and i saw just how beautiful this city is. LOVE IT. when i can i will send photos.
This week was amazing. We baptized my first "power family" or familia de poder: Marta, Rafael, and Rafaela. That baptism was so very spiritual. I felt so much happiness and gratitude toward Heavenly Father for letting me be a part of their lives. Monday night after i packed my suitcases i went to say goodbye. The 9 year old girl Rafaela looked at me and said, why are you leaving? I felt like i wanted to cry. I explained why. She paused for a minute and then said, alright well i will go on a mission to your city someday and see you again. I felt the tears coming. Heavenly Father truly works miracles in our lives. This family was a miracle. True anyone could have baptized them, they were just that ready, BUT i was given this opportunity. They were an answer to my prayers. They are the proof that anything can happen. The evidence that the gospel truly changes people and families for the better.
The last transfer was like a pajama party everynight and i will miss Catacas hilarious attitude and Porath being the amazing lady she is but i am SOOOOOOO STOKED for this transfer and the miracles i know God is preparing here in Aracaju-SERGIPE!
Proud as ever to wear the tag,
Sister J Peterson
if you guys havent called her yet, call her and let her know how amazing she is because lets face it she is probably one of the coolest people in our family. if you are offended think for a second and you will probably agree. i love you leeshy!
Second: wanna hear the joke that i kept tellin my companions all week. Well background: we had transfers this tuesday and i thought for sure i would stay, i mean i was in bebedouro for almost six months and this transfer was only 5 weeks in Arapiraca so i kept saying "oh, porath will go to the other area in arapiraca (she already has six months in this part) and i am going to sergipe. And guess what happened. Yep. I am now in the other state, Sergipe in the capital ARACAJU.
So the last two days has been crazy getting ready to pack my suitcases and then a three hour trip across the alagoas-sergipe border. i met my new companion, Sister Zorzo: a brasilian that i am darker than who i am almost positive is a walking angel. I imagine almost like aunt Susan Fuller. She is probably the most loving and humble person ive met. She likes to go on adventures too so i am pretty set. also, she has a really good work ethic. last night i went to bed exhausted. IT WAS AMAZING.
Today we went to the zoo and we rode something like a ski lift and i saw just how beautiful this city is. LOVE IT. when i can i will send photos.
This week was amazing. We baptized my first "power family" or familia de poder: Marta, Rafael, and Rafaela. That baptism was so very spiritual. I felt so much happiness and gratitude toward Heavenly Father for letting me be a part of their lives. Monday night after i packed my suitcases i went to say goodbye. The 9 year old girl Rafaela looked at me and said, why are you leaving? I felt like i wanted to cry. I explained why. She paused for a minute and then said, alright well i will go on a mission to your city someday and see you again. I felt the tears coming. Heavenly Father truly works miracles in our lives. This family was a miracle. True anyone could have baptized them, they were just that ready, BUT i was given this opportunity. They were an answer to my prayers. They are the proof that anything can happen. The evidence that the gospel truly changes people and families for the better.
The last transfer was like a pajama party everynight and i will miss Catacas hilarious attitude and Porath being the amazing lady she is but i am SOOOOOOO STOKED for this transfer and the miracles i know God is preparing here in Aracaju-SERGIPE!
Proud as ever to wear the tag,
Sister J Peterson
Friday, April 23, 2010
MOTOTAXI!!!
Picture this: watching the sun set from a van window driving in the beautiful brazilian interior. Everything is green and and the sunset reminds me of the beatles song of marmalade skies. The rays reflect off of Sister Moyles blonde head and incredibly white face despite seven months of Brazillian sun and the words come to my mind, "hmm, remember how you live in Brasil."
My day was beautiful if you were wondering. Woke up 430 am and took a lotação (van) to a city 1 hour away Palmeiras dos Indios. We hiked up to a HUGE Christ Statue and ate some breakfast with the Elders there. I went with Sis Porath and Moyle while Cataca and Moyles companion stayed in Arapiraca. It was an adventure. I took lots of pictures. I love my life.
My other adventures over the past two weeks involve riding a MOTOTAXI! it is my new favorite thing. if i was rich i would just ride the mototaxi everywhere. But dont you even worry i am such a lady. Totally ride the taxi side saddle in a skirt. Feeling like you might fall off is just part of the thrill. I know what you are thinking, but seriously it is as dare devilish as a missionary can get.
So I am sorry i didnt write last week. I am going to be honest, the past few weeks have been some of the most frustrating. Guess who likes to kick a missionary when she's down. Give you one guess.
But amid that strife the Lord has opened up my eyes to what it means to have faith. What it means to be humble. How to know that He has got it all under control (see JAcob 4:7) if you would like a little more insight.
We helped a family get married and baptized this past Saturday. Jane and Saulo. The family with the crazy two year old that is just so cute you cant handle it. Yep. Sis. Porath and I did Janes hair, we borrowed a dress and that girl was BEAUTIFUL. She is the simple type, in fact i think this was the first time she ever really got dressed up and pretty. it was amazing to help this family start on the track to eternal happiness.
Probably the sweetest experience happened Sunday. Amidst the constant railings of Satan, i began to think, man i have received so much spiritual growth in the past 7 months, my family has received so many blessings, but what have i even done here? In one of the highest baptizing missions, i havent had a lot of success as far as baptizing and retention. It has been very discouraging. Wanna know how devastating the results of people using their free agency for the worse, be a missionary...or a parent. So feeling low, I prayed a lot. And sunday all day i felt like i was receiving a constant flow of what i like to call personal revelation. (ps i can receive it in two languages) So many impressions and thoughts and feeling during the lessons and throughout the day. I started to write and pretty much filled up that days page in my planner.
During church i wrote: Relaxo, só faz seu melhor. Relax only do your best. The peace and continual flow of ideas that followed as i thought about my work and my life was exactly what i needed. Then a girl came up to my comp and said, hey i need SISTERS to come and teach my sister and her family. they want to be baptized this saturday but only sisters can teach her. (the husband doesnt want elders) So we were like, sweet, we are sisters. Let me just put that we are the only ward in the mission wih both sisters and elders. So we go there and they begin to recount how the Lord has prepared the mother, Marta , for the last 17 years to be baptized this weekend. She was always stubbornly catholic. Her sister always talked to her about the church but never got anywhere. Her son Rafael has wanted to be baptized since he was 5 years old. So much that he would sneak from the catholic church to go to the LDS church across the street. Once he even callled the missionaries to bring a book of Mormon so that they could teach his mom. Never happened. Then one day the sister was studying the BOM with Marta. Marta agreed to pray one last time. She had a very revealing dream and realized that she had known for a long time but never had the desire to change. Finally she listened and her Rafael and her 9 year old daughter will be baptized this Saturday. Interesting, i have been praying for a super strong family and a future missionary to baptize...Rafael is 15 but wants so bad to serve. It was a literal, "have faith and watch what I can and will do." moment. Humbling and amazing.
My faith was strengthened my fear was calmed and I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.
One other thought that i had was about lifestyles and service. So we all knw that fad diets dont work and never will work to lead to a healthy life. If you want lasting health you need to exercise and eat right, you need to make health a lifestyle. The same thing with the Gospel, you cant just live it sometimes and expect the blessings, you need to make it a part of who you are, your lifestyle. The same thing with service. It should never be an obligation, but a lifestyle. Never should a lifestyle be a means to an end because we all know that as for life...there is no end. Service as a lifestyle is just one thing that will help you to continually meet an overall goal, to be better than you were yesterday. To be a little more like the Savior everyday. REad the following from Marion G Romney:
"It has always seemed somewhat puzzling to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 10:39.) We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.
"Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment, because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service."
so that is all the time i have for this week. i love you all and as ALWAYS
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson
My day was beautiful if you were wondering. Woke up 430 am and took a lotação (van) to a city 1 hour away Palmeiras dos Indios. We hiked up to a HUGE Christ Statue and ate some breakfast with the Elders there. I went with Sis Porath and Moyle while Cataca and Moyles companion stayed in Arapiraca. It was an adventure. I took lots of pictures. I love my life.
My other adventures over the past two weeks involve riding a MOTOTAXI! it is my new favorite thing. if i was rich i would just ride the mototaxi everywhere. But dont you even worry i am such a lady. Totally ride the taxi side saddle in a skirt. Feeling like you might fall off is just part of the thrill. I know what you are thinking, but seriously it is as dare devilish as a missionary can get.
So I am sorry i didnt write last week. I am going to be honest, the past few weeks have been some of the most frustrating. Guess who likes to kick a missionary when she's down. Give you one guess.
But amid that strife the Lord has opened up my eyes to what it means to have faith. What it means to be humble. How to know that He has got it all under control (see JAcob 4:7) if you would like a little more insight.
We helped a family get married and baptized this past Saturday. Jane and Saulo. The family with the crazy two year old that is just so cute you cant handle it. Yep. Sis. Porath and I did Janes hair, we borrowed a dress and that girl was BEAUTIFUL. She is the simple type, in fact i think this was the first time she ever really got dressed up and pretty. it was amazing to help this family start on the track to eternal happiness.
Probably the sweetest experience happened Sunday. Amidst the constant railings of Satan, i began to think, man i have received so much spiritual growth in the past 7 months, my family has received so many blessings, but what have i even done here? In one of the highest baptizing missions, i havent had a lot of success as far as baptizing and retention. It has been very discouraging. Wanna know how devastating the results of people using their free agency for the worse, be a missionary...or a parent. So feeling low, I prayed a lot. And sunday all day i felt like i was receiving a constant flow of what i like to call personal revelation. (ps i can receive it in two languages) So many impressions and thoughts and feeling during the lessons and throughout the day. I started to write and pretty much filled up that days page in my planner.
During church i wrote: Relaxo, só faz seu melhor. Relax only do your best. The peace and continual flow of ideas that followed as i thought about my work and my life was exactly what i needed. Then a girl came up to my comp and said, hey i need SISTERS to come and teach my sister and her family. they want to be baptized this saturday but only sisters can teach her. (the husband doesnt want elders) So we were like, sweet, we are sisters. Let me just put that we are the only ward in the mission wih both sisters and elders. So we go there and they begin to recount how the Lord has prepared the mother, Marta , for the last 17 years to be baptized this weekend. She was always stubbornly catholic. Her sister always talked to her about the church but never got anywhere. Her son Rafael has wanted to be baptized since he was 5 years old. So much that he would sneak from the catholic church to go to the LDS church across the street. Once he even callled the missionaries to bring a book of Mormon so that they could teach his mom. Never happened. Then one day the sister was studying the BOM with Marta. Marta agreed to pray one last time. She had a very revealing dream and realized that she had known for a long time but never had the desire to change. Finally she listened and her Rafael and her 9 year old daughter will be baptized this Saturday. Interesting, i have been praying for a super strong family and a future missionary to baptize...Rafael is 15 but wants so bad to serve. It was a literal, "have faith and watch what I can and will do." moment. Humbling and amazing.
My faith was strengthened my fear was calmed and I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.
One other thought that i had was about lifestyles and service. So we all knw that fad diets dont work and never will work to lead to a healthy life. If you want lasting health you need to exercise and eat right, you need to make health a lifestyle. The same thing with the Gospel, you cant just live it sometimes and expect the blessings, you need to make it a part of who you are, your lifestyle. The same thing with service. It should never be an obligation, but a lifestyle. Never should a lifestyle be a means to an end because we all know that as for life...there is no end. Service as a lifestyle is just one thing that will help you to continually meet an overall goal, to be better than you were yesterday. To be a little more like the Savior everyday. REad the following from Marion G Romney:
"It has always seemed somewhat puzzling to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 10:39.) We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.
"Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment, because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service."
so that is all the time i have for this week. i love you all and as ALWAYS
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister Peterson
Monday, April 12, 2010
i love conference!
WHOA!
That is all i have to say about this last conference. alright not all because im going to talk about it a lot today, but seriously AMAZING!
Literally God spoke through these amazingly inspired people and unless you didnt catch it, the message is: Families! Plain and simple the importance of families and the HUGE responsibility of parents. A TON of these messages were directed towards mothers. Literally explaining that Moms are the first line of defense in the world today. Because, lets face it, society loves to put the wrong ideas in our heads about what is important and more importantly WHO is important, the decay of society is a direct result of this. Parents play the star role in helping their kids understand WHO THEY ARE, WHY THEY ARE HERE, AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING. Now imagine if you are never taught these things, HOW LOST WOULD YOU BE? Robert D Hales talked about the importance of parents to not only talk to and love their children, but to literally strive to understand the hearts of their children.
Some ideas and quotes that i loved were these: "women should be women and not babies who need petting and correction all the time."-Julie B Beck. "A mind, if not exercised, will become weak." "Your actions speak so loud that i cannot hear what you are saying"-Ralph Waldo Emerson. "The idea of true love must include the idea of permanence." "opposition and joy are not contradictory but complimentary."-donald l hallstrom (d&C 122:7-9).
My favorite quote that truly touched my soul was by Bradley D Foster when he said. "If you stay on the road of truth, the end will be better than the beginning." i can personally testify with everything i have in me that this statement is profoundly true.
I loved Deiter F Uchtdorfs talk on compassion. I love all of his talks! He started out saying that it is not good to make people feel deficient. Love them, lift them. I started thinking, how many people have i made feel deficient, was it my intention? what can i do to be better? He explained the worth of people as in D&C 18:10. He said, "you cannot measure the worth of a person like you cannot measure the span of the universe." he then continued sayind that NO ONE DESERVES TO SUFFER. often we think, oh he or she deserves what they get, but suffering, although necessary for our eternal progression, is not something that we have the right to judge. And then he talked of Christ, that Christ did not only speak of love or teach about love, but showed it. And that is what we need to do.
Yesterday i didnt write this email because we had zone conference. Have i ever told you all how much i love the Beynons. Because i do. The thing that stood out most was, take the desire of your hearts and put them into your minds. Look at what things are limiting you: Doubts, fears, laziness, disbelief. REcognize the limits and then make goals. goals to exercise your faith and take action. And then most importantly, goals that require the help from the powers of Heaven. Exactly what i needed to hear. Sis Beynon gave an amazing talk. That lady is such an example to me in almost everything. She has never had formal training in Portuguese but ALWAYS does her best to speak with the Brasilieros and her talks are always so perfect even in Portuguese. one part of her talk was, You might feel inadequate, because really you are inadequate for this work if you were to do it on your own. BUT we have the power of God with us. He will take what we do and magnify it. Make it great. Again what i needed to hear.
So the past few days=spiritual high. love it.
Funny stuff: We only have water four days during the week. I lost my breath as i poured water from a bucket to shower. Oh but here we have a nice shower head so that when we actually HAVE water i can take a warm shower. Really this house is so nice and i am very thankful for it. This week we went to a ladies house and she asked if i wanted juice. i said no thankyou. Then she said the juice was teh same color as my green shirt. I asked what kind of juice is it. She suckered us into drinking some. It was horrible! it was some sort of ginger root and weird brasilian leaf with sugar. After i drank it all i said thankyou what is in it. She told me and poured another glass. me and my companions almost died a little bit. that is all. So i love my companions they crack me up. The only part that is difficult is that i have a constant reminder of home in Sister Porath. In Bebedouro i rarely spoke english or even thought much about home outside of PDAY. So needless to say i have been a little trunky, or missing everyone A TON this last week. BUT i got peanut butter in my package and reeces so i think i will be good for awhile. Aunt Jeane being the faithful lady she is sent me a recipe but seriously I NEED MORE OF YOU TO SEND RECIPES!!!!
other than that i am good. i love you all.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister J Peterson
That is all i have to say about this last conference. alright not all because im going to talk about it a lot today, but seriously AMAZING!
Literally God spoke through these amazingly inspired people and unless you didnt catch it, the message is: Families! Plain and simple the importance of families and the HUGE responsibility of parents. A TON of these messages were directed towards mothers. Literally explaining that Moms are the first line of defense in the world today. Because, lets face it, society loves to put the wrong ideas in our heads about what is important and more importantly WHO is important, the decay of society is a direct result of this. Parents play the star role in helping their kids understand WHO THEY ARE, WHY THEY ARE HERE, AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING. Now imagine if you are never taught these things, HOW LOST WOULD YOU BE? Robert D Hales talked about the importance of parents to not only talk to and love their children, but to literally strive to understand the hearts of their children.
Some ideas and quotes that i loved were these: "women should be women and not babies who need petting and correction all the time."-Julie B Beck. "A mind, if not exercised, will become weak." "Your actions speak so loud that i cannot hear what you are saying"-Ralph Waldo Emerson. "The idea of true love must include the idea of permanence." "opposition and joy are not contradictory but complimentary."-donald l hallstrom (d&C 122:7-9).
My favorite quote that truly touched my soul was by Bradley D Foster when he said. "If you stay on the road of truth, the end will be better than the beginning." i can personally testify with everything i have in me that this statement is profoundly true.
I loved Deiter F Uchtdorfs talk on compassion. I love all of his talks! He started out saying that it is not good to make people feel deficient. Love them, lift them. I started thinking, how many people have i made feel deficient, was it my intention? what can i do to be better? He explained the worth of people as in D&C 18:10. He said, "you cannot measure the worth of a person like you cannot measure the span of the universe." he then continued sayind that NO ONE DESERVES TO SUFFER. often we think, oh he or she deserves what they get, but suffering, although necessary for our eternal progression, is not something that we have the right to judge. And then he talked of Christ, that Christ did not only speak of love or teach about love, but showed it. And that is what we need to do.
Yesterday i didnt write this email because we had zone conference. Have i ever told you all how much i love the Beynons. Because i do. The thing that stood out most was, take the desire of your hearts and put them into your minds. Look at what things are limiting you: Doubts, fears, laziness, disbelief. REcognize the limits and then make goals. goals to exercise your faith and take action. And then most importantly, goals that require the help from the powers of Heaven. Exactly what i needed to hear. Sis Beynon gave an amazing talk. That lady is such an example to me in almost everything. She has never had formal training in Portuguese but ALWAYS does her best to speak with the Brasilieros and her talks are always so perfect even in Portuguese. one part of her talk was, You might feel inadequate, because really you are inadequate for this work if you were to do it on your own. BUT we have the power of God with us. He will take what we do and magnify it. Make it great. Again what i needed to hear.
So the past few days=spiritual high. love it.
Funny stuff: We only have water four days during the week. I lost my breath as i poured water from a bucket to shower. Oh but here we have a nice shower head so that when we actually HAVE water i can take a warm shower. Really this house is so nice and i am very thankful for it. This week we went to a ladies house and she asked if i wanted juice. i said no thankyou. Then she said the juice was teh same color as my green shirt. I asked what kind of juice is it. She suckered us into drinking some. It was horrible! it was some sort of ginger root and weird brasilian leaf with sugar. After i drank it all i said thankyou what is in it. She told me and poured another glass. me and my companions almost died a little bit. that is all. So i love my companions they crack me up. The only part that is difficult is that i have a constant reminder of home in Sister Porath. In Bebedouro i rarely spoke english or even thought much about home outside of PDAY. So needless to say i have been a little trunky, or missing everyone A TON this last week. BUT i got peanut butter in my package and reeces so i think i will be good for awhile. Aunt Jeane being the faithful lady she is sent me a recipe but seriously I NEED MORE OF YOU TO SEND RECIPES!!!!
other than that i am good. i love you all.
Proud to wear the tag,
Sister J Peterson
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Arapiraca is hotter here. Sent 3/31/2010
Yo.
My first week in Arapiraca, the first few days were cloudy and rainy and perfect. Friday i experienced the fact that even though i didnt think it was possible, this place is even hotter than maceio. maceio at least has the ocean breeze. here...no. BUT everything is plane. i discovered that i said tchau to the steep mountains of hills in Bebedouro, now im struggleing to remember street names and directions, pray for me this has never been my strength. I am learning that the street plan in utah is BRILLIANT.
So this week we are working with a family Jane and Saulo and their terror of a two year old Pedro. He probably is the cutest little boy in the world...unless you bring him to church. Elders worked with them awhile back. They really like the church but arent married. We have been teaching them and preparing them for baptism. Friday night Saulo said, I want to be baptized but i cant promise i will be at church every sunday. When we asked why he said because he practices Capuera (a form of really rad karate but is dancing too) every sunday. We talked to him about priorities. I asked him a question. After this life we know that we have God for sure, but will you have capuera? He said he would think about it. As always we prayed and the next day we went to their house and he looked at us and said, Sisters i have been thinking. I will not practice capuera sunday only during the week so i can go to church! It was amazing. We never had a lot of success with this in my last area. Generally people dont want to give up what they love to be baptized and receive the blessings of the gospel, but this was amazing. we are helping them prepare for baptism and marriage this transfer! i know from sure experience that when we are obedient Heavenly Father fulfills his part. I know this family will receive these blessings.
Last night we had family home evening in a members house and an Elder gave the lesson on the tender mercies of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 1: 20). Tender mercies are little reminders from Heavenly Father of His love and of His plan. Assurances or the gospels truthfullness and the fact that if we do our part He does His. Like wehn i arrived, didnt understand hardly anything, couldnt teach, couldnt talk, and was literally paralyzed by fear, I experienced Tender Mercies through the smiles of beautfiul brasilliero babies. When i feel tired and lack motivation, i see a family or make a contact that rejuvinates me. Its that extra charge Heavenly Father gives us when we are running empty. When we are scared when we have doubts, when we lack confidence, when we are experiencing these human emotions that often overcome the average soul, He is ready and willing to help us. But we have to look for them. I am so grateful for the Tender Mercies I experience so very often in this world thousands of miles away from everything I have known and understood. Look for them in your life. Maybe for some you need a reminder that God is there and listening. I know He is there. I know He is literally "waiting by the phone" to pick up listen and give you counsel. Be humble enough to call.
I cant explain the love that i feel for you all. I cant see it. But i have it and I hope and pray that you have all experienced it. I cant begin to describe the love God has for us, but i think my mind is starting to understand a little more each day about it. He loves you and Knows you.
As always, Proud to wear this tag,
Sister J Peterson
My first week in Arapiraca, the first few days were cloudy and rainy and perfect. Friday i experienced the fact that even though i didnt think it was possible, this place is even hotter than maceio. maceio at least has the ocean breeze. here...no. BUT everything is plane. i discovered that i said tchau to the steep mountains of hills in Bebedouro, now im struggleing to remember street names and directions, pray for me this has never been my strength. I am learning that the street plan in utah is BRILLIANT.
So this week we are working with a family Jane and Saulo and their terror of a two year old Pedro. He probably is the cutest little boy in the world...unless you bring him to church. Elders worked with them awhile back. They really like the church but arent married. We have been teaching them and preparing them for baptism. Friday night Saulo said, I want to be baptized but i cant promise i will be at church every sunday. When we asked why he said because he practices Capuera (a form of really rad karate but is dancing too) every sunday. We talked to him about priorities. I asked him a question. After this life we know that we have God for sure, but will you have capuera? He said he would think about it. As always we prayed and the next day we went to their house and he looked at us and said, Sisters i have been thinking. I will not practice capuera sunday only during the week so i can go to church! It was amazing. We never had a lot of success with this in my last area. Generally people dont want to give up what they love to be baptized and receive the blessings of the gospel, but this was amazing. we are helping them prepare for baptism and marriage this transfer! i know from sure experience that when we are obedient Heavenly Father fulfills his part. I know this family will receive these blessings.
Last night we had family home evening in a members house and an Elder gave the lesson on the tender mercies of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 1: 20). Tender mercies are little reminders from Heavenly Father of His love and of His plan. Assurances or the gospels truthfullness and the fact that if we do our part He does His. Like wehn i arrived, didnt understand hardly anything, couldnt teach, couldnt talk, and was literally paralyzed by fear, I experienced Tender Mercies through the smiles of beautfiul brasilliero babies. When i feel tired and lack motivation, i see a family or make a contact that rejuvinates me. Its that extra charge Heavenly Father gives us when we are running empty. When we are scared when we have doubts, when we lack confidence, when we are experiencing these human emotions that often overcome the average soul, He is ready and willing to help us. But we have to look for them. I am so grateful for the Tender Mercies I experience so very often in this world thousands of miles away from everything I have known and understood. Look for them in your life. Maybe for some you need a reminder that God is there and listening. I know He is there. I know He is literally "waiting by the phone" to pick up listen and give you counsel. Be humble enough to call.
I cant explain the love that i feel for you all. I cant see it. But i have it and I hope and pray that you have all experienced it. I cant begin to describe the love God has for us, but i think my mind is starting to understand a little more each day about it. He loves you and Knows you.
As always, Proud to wear this tag,
Sister J Peterson
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