Ok from the beginning... We got up at 3 at the MTC took the MTC shuttle to the train, from the train to the TRAX and from the TRAX to the airport. There were lots of nice strangers even in the early hours of the morning helping us along the way. One man at the airport even let me borrow his phone to call home because there were so many missionaries in our group that all the pay phones were full. The airplane was actually really fun and exciting. I took a video of coming through the clouds and our decent into Oregon, my first glimpse! (I'll send the video). Once in Oregon it was so weird to see how people actually do stare at your name tag. Its so different from the Salt Lake Airport where everyone immediately knows what it means.
We met President and Sister Tataoka at the airport. They are so sweet. Sister Tataoka is defiantly the one in charge, and President Tataoka loves to laugh at his own jokes, it's great.
Once we got outside I could feel the different in the air immediately, it's just like the air in California I can feel the moisture and breath better and my skin is super soft. I love the air! (except for the weird steamed broccoli smell in the morning that no one can explain.)
I have to just quickly sum up some things because I'm running out of time (its been a long P-day) ok...
The Mission home was FREEZING!! (Sister Tataoka says it keeps her more alert and helps her be more productive, It makes me want to curl up in a blanket and go to sleep, which we got to do. I took a 3 hour nap at the mission home. All the sisters slept downstairs on the floor.)
I met my trainer the next day. Her name is Sister Quinton, she has been out for 9 months, she is from Farmington Utah (so we are neighbors). She is very sweet and we were both thrown into this area together. Its what you call a "pink wash" (white wash for elders pink wash for sisters) when they take out the whole old companionship and start fresh.
So we have been spending the week getting to know the area. Thankfully we have a car! We are actually in a car share with the other sisters (Sister Call and Sister Lindalle) in Albany but they are letting us use it the first couple weeks, which is such a blessing.
We have been spending our time meeting our ward (which is so amazing!) We've met with so many kind and missionary minded members its crazy! I did not think there would be this many people willing and excited to have missionaries in the ward. The ward is Takena ward, just so you know. Everyone around here, and through the whole mission knows that it is the best ward.
The first night we got a call from a family in the ward who said they have a friend who they have been helping learn the gospel and read the book for mormon with but they want the missionaries help. So we have our first investigator!! Her name is Amanda and she is 18 years old. We taught her the restoration on Friday and she came to church on sunday. She is just really amazing and has really taken off. There were so many times in the lessons at church where she commented and Sister Quinton and I would just look at each other and go "She should be teaching us!" But she has lots of mental health problems and we have to be careful with that. She is great though.
We have also street contacted a couple people and I've just been so impressed by how easily Sister Quinton can guide the conversation into talking about the gospel. Its crazy! I hope I'll be able to do it that easily one day.
But it defiantly hasn't been all rainbows and sunshine (though it has been pretty strangely sunny around here...) There have been quite a few moments where I just thought nope, I'm going home, What was I thinking I can't do this! But God has helped me through. I have never prayed so often and so sincerely in my entire life! I have never read so diligently from the scriptures truly searching for answers and guidance. And I have found it. I have found daily peace and patience, and answers to deeper questions that have troubled me. I know that I have so long to go before I'm even remotely going to get the hang of things but I know that I'll never get there alone. Always rely on the Savior! Let him support you and lift you out of yourself and into the service of others, because that is where true relief is found.
I'll quickly tell you about my apartment (because everyone wants to know about that...) Its ok... the elders were the last to live in it so its pretty shabby but we are slowly fixing it up, we bought some cheep decor today so thats good.
My emails will be more detailed next week (hopefully we will have more time) but for now know that I love you and God loves you and that is all that matters!
Oh if you didn't have a chance to listen to the women's broadcast watch it! so great!
Love you all! BYE!
-Sister Peterson
(Not sure what order these are in but they are on the shuttle, plane, with the Tataokas, with sister Quinton, with the other sisters and just some pics of Oregon. don't have any of the apartment though sorry. The video is our my first glimpse of Oregon.)
***Editor's note: from Genevieve - I didn't include the Tateoka's pictures because they are in the previous post. Also, I will "definitely" tell Anna how to spell that word, so she won't write so "defiantly" anymore. 😉
No comments:
Post a Comment