So sorry if this email is a little early. But I
woke up at 5 this morning to do laundry on my Preparation day because
our scheduled time is a zoo and it ends up taking 3 times as longer
during that time so yeah. I'm just waiting for my laundry typing away.
Oh well I'm used to waking up at 4 in the morning. Huh Sam?? haha :)
Well time is sure flying by. In less than two weeks I will be in Mexico
and it just blows my mind. We are getting our travel plans this week
and we should know when we leave and what not. I'm very much planning on
calling home from the airport. We are schedule to leave the MTC on
June 10th but won't know for sure till we get our plans I will let you
all know when we get them. But anyways so guess what I got to do on
Wednesday??? Give up yet?? Okay I'll tell you!! I got the opportunity
to host new missionaries!! I helped them get settled in and stuff. It
was pretty awesome. The guy that told us what we are supposed to do
said that they had over 100 missionaries coming in every 15 minutes!!
Thats insane!! We hosted for about 2 1/2 hours. I was astounded at how
many sister missionaries we got!! I think it was pretty close to the
number of Elders. That is so crazy the sisters have truly been a force
for the church. It's crazy to think how many we will get in the next
few months with graduation and all. I gotta say I was pretty sad when I
heard about Bill and Ranae. Sorry if i spelled her name wrong remember
it's 5 in the morning. I just met a sister in my zone going to there
mission and she had known that Ranae was having medical problems and she
was pretty disappointed as well. But I know that for whatever reason
they got released it was the will of God. Every time I'm on one of my
lows I tend to think why me why me? But then I remember Jesus Christ and
it shoots me right between the eyes that I'm not being thankful for
everything I have. Lets be honest here. I have an amazing life. I
have a wonderful family that loves me and supports me. I have great
friends that are will to take a bullet for me as I would for them, and
to top it off I'm serving a mission!!! Life is pretty good right now.
At times like those I always try to remember the Savior pleading "Let
this cup pass through me, not as my will but as Thy will." What amazing
strength he had, I used to think that i was a pretty tuff kid but not
anymore compared to the Savior. It's kinda like the Mormon Message "By
Thy Will" I think thats what it is called. It's about a gardener that
chops down a bush and it looks like the bush is crying asking why? But
we can learn that God loves us enough to cut us down, to make us
humble, to strength us, to teach us a lesson. I have been truly humbled
here. I truly know that I'm not able to complete this mission without
the Lords help. I've learned that right off the bat. I know that
without God's help I can't learn the language and I won't have the Gift
of Tongues or the Gift of Discernment. I can already tell you that I've
experience both of those Gifts. One lesson my companion was teaching
about prayer I think and he was struggling to find the words in
Spanish. But I jumped in and he told me I said the exact thing he was
trying to say, and remember this is in a language that both of us still
don't know much. I know that a little thing as this is the start of the
Gift of Tongues. I've also experienced the Gift of Discernment. This
week on of the companionships in my district was really struggling. The
adversary was really working on them. So I talked to one of the Elders
and I told him what I was thinking and he told me that was exactly what
he needed so that was a Gift. Um on Tuesday night one of the seventy
spoke to us. His name was Zwick. He gave an amazing talk about how
sometimes missionaries are out on a mission for the wrong reasons.
There is a Elder in my zone that joined the church about a year and a
half ago. He is leaving to Chile next week and he has shared with me
some of his challenges. He is the only member in his family that is
Mormon he pretty much has no support at home but he still chose to serve
the Lord. It made me think that if I had no support at home, would I
be out here? I haven't answered that question for myself yet cause I'm
afraid of the answer. I realized that I've been a kinda selfish about
this whole mission. When I was home all I talked about was how it's
going to benefit me with losing 40 pounds and being able to speak
Spanish for future jobs. I've realized that I needed to repent of my
ways. It's truly not about me and it's not about us as missionaries.
Our purpose is to Invite people to come unto Christ by helping people
receive his Restored Gospel. What we do as missionaries is so small in
helping people come unto Christ. All we do is invite. God does not
need me out here. He has probably about 100000 other missionaries to
choose from. But I need God and Jesus Christ to strengthen me and lift
me up. This whole mission has nothing to do with me. It's not about me
it's about helping people come unto Christ. I want to change the lives
of people in Guadalajara. I want you all to know that I know that
everything happens for a reason. I got called to Mexico Guadalajara for
a reason. The Lord is speeding up his work for a reason. Bill and
Ranae got released for a reason. He has these things happen for a
reason. We may not know why they do right now. But through Faith and
Prayer we can come to know why and how to overcome them. I know this
letter is really nothing about me but oh well thats a good thing,
because like I said before it's not about me or any of the other
missionaries it's about our purpose it's about our investigators, it's
about God and his Son our Loving Redeemer Jesus Christ. Once again I
know that this Church is true, in my heart there isn't a doubt. Know
that you are all in my prayers. I Miss and Love All of You!
-Love Elder PetersenMexico Guadalajara East
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Well another week has flown by!!! Well I'll admit its a weird day
for me. First time ever having my birthday without my family. We went
to the temple today which is always amazing. Um yesterday all the
Elders in my district and I all went to Las Vegas to the Mexican
Consulate to get our visas and we got them which is really good. It was
really weird listening to normal music again haha I didn't like it. Um
but at the same time it was really great to get out for a day and have a
break. We have kept pretty busy this week we have 3 investigators now
and I'm learning the Spanish pretty well. So I had another amazing
experience this week. Another Elder in my district was having a hard
day and he was just sitting in the corner of a room during study time
and so I went and asked what was wrong. Well we had been talking about
how we all recieve Revelation different ways and he broke down telling
me he wasn't sure if he had recieved Revelation or not and that
he didn't really know why he was out here. So we talked a bit and then I
just bore my testimony to him that he is here for a reason and I told
him how when he bares testimony I can feel the Spirit and I told him
how I can tell when I'm feeling the Spirit because I get butterflies in
my stomach like right before a football game and I get goosebumps. I
told him what happened when Thomas S. Monson changes the mission age
and I went crazy and how I felt after I opened my call! I had know idea
what I was saying!!! It was just straight Spirit coming out of
my mouth!!!! It was pretty amazing! Then I told him that I know when we
baptize our first investigator it will all be worth it and that I have
a testimony of this Gospel and that God and Jesus Christ Love him and
care about our problems and that he maybe needs to pray with sincere
heart and real intent. The Spirit was so strong it was incredible!!! I
loved it!!! So yeah that was my Spiritual High this week and of course
the temple. I want to thank everybody that sent me Birthday wishes
today. It was really great to hear from you and I hope we continue
to stay in touch!! My companion is jealous of all the packages I've
gotten today haha :). Its been a great day tho, the temple was great
and got all my laundry done and got to email!! So yeah I'm still moving
along. The Spanish is coming along pretty good. Um I am truly
experiencing the Gift of Tongues. My companion and I set a goal the
other day to talk only in Spanish the whole day!!! Lets just say I was
quieter then usual that day. But I still did pretty well I probably
talked about 85% in Spanish so its coming along. But then we went to
the Mexican Consulate and I hear these people talking so fast and it
lets me know I still have so much more to learn!!! It was really cool
tho because in Vegas and at the Provo air port there were so many people
that came up to us and asked us where we are going and where we are
from. This one guy we were buying food in the airport and the guy in
the line next to me tells the cashier to put it on his card. I was no
don't but he keep insisting was it was pretty cool. It really reminded
me that we are role models for a lot of people and a lot of people are
watching us. We are representatives of Christ. Not just me we all are
and it made me realize we all have to show the Character of Christ. We
can do that with our actions. I have another assignment for you all I
want you all to watch the Mormon Message called The Will of God. I
think thats what is called. We need to realize that everything happens
for a reason and that God loves us and knows our desires and needs of
our hearts. I want to tesitfy that the Book of Mormon is Book from
God. The Book of Mormon is just a Do and a don't do list. It's a
guideline for us and I know that if we pray with a Sincere Heart we all
will grow to know that through the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ we
can have everlasting happiness. I know this Gospel is true and that
Jesus Christ is truly our Savior and Redeemer. You are all continuly in
my prayers and I LOVE and MISS All of YOU!!
-Love Elder Petersen
Well everything is going fine here. The language is kinda hard for
me but I'm learning things everyday. I'm able to say more and more
things. We have two new investigators this week and yesterday me and my
companion for the first time prepared a lesson but, we werent planning
on using it. We were just going by the Spirit and the Spirit took us
way off the lesson but it was AMAZING!!! One of the best lessons we have
taught. There are so many great experiences!!! Tuesday Night we had
our special devotional and guess who spoke to us?!?! It was Russell M.
Nelson!!! It was so incredible the Spirit in the room and when 5000
missionaries sing Called to Serve it gives you goosebumps. I have an
assignment for all of you! You all need to get on LDS.org and go to
mormon messages and watch Sanctify Yourselves! Its such a great clip!!
Well its quiet a change to go to were every minute of everyday is
planned out but its kinda fun so ya I'm doing fine and I love you all.
Love Elder Petersen
Hola Familia!!!!
Well today is my Preparation day!! to
answer your questions yes ive been to the temple twice already and yes
they are feeding me plenty. How are things home?? Well the MTC is
kinda crazy, there are a lot of ups and downs one day you hit rock
bottom and the next your on cloud nine. We already got finished with
teaching our first investigator Gloria we got her to commit to a date to
be baptized!!! there was a crazy experience before one our lessons.
One Elder broke down saying he didnt know why he was here and we just
all testified how hard it is going to be and how great it is going to be
when we get to have some be baptized!! I had goosebumps cause i felt
the spirit so strong!! then we went into our lesson and rocked it!! I'm
doing good i think i struggle with the spanish alot tho. I can already
understand what people are saying most of the time but i have a hard
time putting sentences together. But hopefully Lord will continue to
help me with it. Well my companion is Elder Summer he is from Murray
Utah. He's about 2 inches taller than me and weighs like 190 haha. He
was a bball player in high school so we can relate through sports which
is good! How are things back at Home? How are you doing health wise
dad? So Sam and Emily are moving out? Sounds like a blast!! Um Ive
gotten a little homesick ive missed you guys alot the second day was so
hard. I was just thinking what did i get my self into when my teacher
comes into class and only says 3 words in english for about 3 hours.
It's like baptism of fire haha but yeah im trying my best to study and
learn and follow the spirit. And sorry about the letters being so short
im not much of a writer which you already know haha ;) Well Sunday is
mothers day and mom i just want you to know how much i love you!! I
realize that i was pretty spoiled growing up. i know that now. I dont
know where I'd be without you defeniately not here. I'm so grateful
for the example you are to me. Im so proud of you for finishing your
schooling!! I know it was hard just like what im doing right now is
hard. Im crying a little right now haha.But im super proud of you and i
want you to know that I love you with all my Heart!!! and Dad same to
you i dont know what i would do without you. I miss our talks we used
to have its crazy to think your only two hours away and i cant see you.I
love you Dad, your are one of the greatest persons i know!! i'm truly
blest to have you as my parents. i really like getting dear elder
letters so you should tell people to write me through dear elder on
facebook please. and could you send me my sunglasses and a care package
please?? haha I love you all and miss you!!!!
Love Elder Petey
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