December 25, 2018 Christmas Skype

December 17, 2018 The Lord is My Light

Good morning my lovely people! 

Another transfer has come and gone! I am staying here in Forest Grove and Sister Alvey will be leaving us to go spend her LAST transfer in the Salem YSA Ward (a subtle introduction back into the world, hehe.) Sister Anderson will be my new companion. 

The transfer ended on a great note! Christina got baptized! It was such a great experience for everyone! It was amazing how peaceful I felt leading up to the baptism, most of the time I am really stressing and anxious but I felt perfectly at peace leading up to and as she entered into the waters of baptism. It was a beautiful experience. Christina's father, who is a member, has also made wonderful changes and was able to baptize her. With tears in his eyes after the baptism he expressed his gratitude for our help and how happy he felt knowing he and his family were back on the right path.

2 Nephi 31:18 says, 

"And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive."

As our prophet, Russell M. Nelson, often reminds us there is nothing so sweet and rewarding as being on the Covenant Path! I would add that helping others onto, or back onto, the path is just as sweet if not sweeter because you are serving as Christ would serve and helping your family home❤️ Being a missionary is by far the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life and I am excited to see what adventures and miracles this coming transfer holds! 

We also had our Christmas talent show this past week and it was full of fun and laughs. It felt like the closest thing we could get to quality family time, and that is so needed durring this holiday season. We did a skit as a District acting out the story of Ammon and King Lamoni it was pretty great. I played the piano and sang a hymn that I arranged, it was super nerve racking but also really fun.

I hope you all have a great week and know that God loves you! 

Love,

Sister Peterson :) 

December 10, 2018 The Spirit of God🔥

Hello everyone! 

This week has been packed full of the spirit! We have been seeing miracles happening left and right, this area has been so blessed and so prepared! Christina is still on track to be baptized this Saturday, there was a little hiccup but with prayer and fasting it will all play out the way that God intends.

We met two prepared and willing people this week, Leon and Adam, who have both committed to be baptized! Marino and Maya his girlfriend continue to progress. They both came to church again this week! After watching the Restoration movie with Marino this week we invited him to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet, we followed up the next day and he said he knew it was true! I know that success isn't determined by numbers or anything but it sure does feel good to be able to see the fruits of ours and so many other missionaries labors coming in for the harvest!

The mission tour with Elder Cook was such an amazingly powerful spiritual experience and one that I will strive to remember and look to throughout my life! I know that Jesus Christ lives and leads His work, I am so grateful that He has once again called a prophet and apostles to bear witness of Him and direct us in gathering Israel! 

We sang The Spirit of God at the conclusion of the Mission Tour. I want to invite you to read through the lyrics, I'll just include the first verse, and think about the blessings that have come into your life because of your knowledge of this restored gosepl...

1.The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!

The latter-day glory begins to come forth;

The visions and blessings of old are returning,

And angels are coming to visit the earth.

We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given,

Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week🙌🙏

Sister Peterson

December 3, 2018: More rain. More Christmas. More awesomeness!

Hello Everyone!! Here is a little update on the week! 

Marino continues to amaze us! We had a lesson this week and we read from Alma 36 with him and Maya and in this appointment Marino set a date for baptism! It isn't till May because of things he needs to overcome but I know this will truly bless his life! Then fast forward to Saturday when we called to make sure he knew it was stake conference. We followed up with his reading and Maya was next to him and talking to us as well about what they had read in the Book of Mormon! Then on Sunday stake conference started at 10 and they were late but we knew they were on their way. We get this text about 10:45 saying that they were there so we went out to grab them. We ended up running around the whole outside of the building and then saw them. During Stake Conference one of the speakers referenced to Alma 36 and the story and they both recognized that we had just read that with them this week! Then the Stake President issued an invitation to all who could hear his voice to invite someone to come to the special sacrament meeting on December 23rd. After we went and introduced them to President Brown since he is in our ward and they told him that they had someone in mind to invite to church on that day!! Wow the people amaze me!!

We had a cool experience with kicking off Light the World on Thursday. The missionaries in our building and district were able to invite their wards to come and start thinking of ideas on how to participate in each week of December. We had an Open House at the church building and a room dedicated to each week of the initiative. In each room we had an activity and the video for that week playing on a TV. So now what are each of you going to do to Light the World this Christmas season?

One of the days this week we had a funny experience. We went to Verboort which is a little town that we cover and it is predominatly Catholic. So much so that there is one block in it and it goes all the way around the Catholic School and the Church building. Well as soon as we parked our car and about to get out to walk it started pouring!! I mean the heavens pretty much opened the rain flood. But we still got out and walked and it was really windy as well. It was fun!

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!!

Sister Peterson

(Anna’s eye is a little swollen from a mosquito bite.)

Classic Oregon.

Good afternoon everyone! 

Thanksgiving was so much fun! We got to hang out with the single ladies of the ward and eat food, play games, and laugh! That night we switched gears into Christmas and decorated our apartment! 

Marino came to church!! We are so excited to be teaching him. It always feels so fulfilling to be teaching someone who is ready to change their life around. Sometimes I feel like I take this gospel for granted, but your really feel its importance when you are teaching someone who has lived their life without it. 

We met some fun classic Oregonians the last couple of days. Here is how one of our conversations went (the abridged version). 

after introductions... 

Sister Alvey: What brings you joy? 

Him: weed. 

Me: (Not sure if I heard right) no, joy.

Him: growing weed. I love to smoke it, sell it, grow it, eat it, drink it, weed is my life! 

Me: We know that God has so much more in store for your life.

Him: That's cool! I'm glad God made weed. 

Sister Alvey: do you have faith in Jesus Christ?

Him: I like Muhammad. 

...Then the bus comes.

Its interactions like that that keep me going😂 If you aren't teaching prepared people the next best thing is crazy people! 

Ok abrupt change but it's time for a spiritual thought! This week in my Book of Mormon study I started the war chapters towards the end of the book of Alma. As I have been reading I keep thinking about President Nelsons words in his opening remarks this last conference.

"The Adversary is increasing attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate. to surive spiritually we need counterstrategies and proactive plans." 

The world is becoming increasingly dark and increasingly confusing. I am so grateful to have a knowledge of the truth. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, which was written specifically for us in these confusing days. I am grateful for Russell M. Nelson, I know that he is a prophet of the Lord and I know that if we follow his council we will have no need to fear. 

God is good! Life is good! 

I love you all,

Sister Peterson. 

Pictures:

-taking our car into the shop🚗

-a cute member😊

-our thanksgiving party🦃

-our Christmas tree🎄

-art! 🌻🦋

November 22, 2018: Count Your Many Blessings

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

Thank you for all the support and the help you have each given me! I have been so blessed with so many wonderful people in my life! ❤️🙏

I am so grateful for priesthood blessings! I was strongly reminded this week that I need to take advantage of this restored gift and use it often as a resource for strength and comfort. 

I am so grateful to be a missioanry, and even more so to simply have a knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! We have recently started teaching this guy and his girlfriend. His name is Marino. We found him in the areabook as someone who had given the missionaries his number but they had never been able to get in contact with him. We called him at the beginning of last week and have already had a church tour with him, taught him the restoration, and the plan of salvation! He is searching for answers and wants to turn his life around. I love being able to introduce people to God and help them learn truth. It is the most rewarding work in the world! 

Sister Runs Through and I recorded this song in September but I never sent it out (I'm pretty sure). But it's prefect for this Thanksgiving P-day! So here ya go! Now go stuff your face with stuffing! 😍

Listen Here: Count Your Blessings

November 12, 2018: Happy P-day🙃

Hello Everyone! 

MY BRAIN IS SUPER FRAZZLED TODAY! I'll try to put something informative and inspirational in this email...

Transfer calls came and we are both staying for another transfer in Forest Grove! Here is a good scripture.. Mosiah 5:8

“And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.”

There ya go! 

-Sister Peterson 

Temple P-day :)

Hello everyone! 

Today Sister Alvey and I got to go to the Temple❤️ It is always such a powerfully peaceful experience to be in the house of the Lord. 

This week we had Zone Conference which was focused on the Book of Mormon. We also had exchanges with the Amity Sisters right after. I love being able to be a leader because it gives me the opportunity to stretch myself and also to learn from all the excellent missionaries whom with I have the pleasure of interacting. 

Christina and her family continue to progress! They are an example of difficult circumstances turning you to the Lord. I love them and know that God loves them and is guiding their family to where true happiness can be found.

Sadly a different family whom we have been teaching decided they didn't want to be taught anymore. I know God loves them just as much. Sometimes it is frustrating when people choose to go in a direction that you know is not the best. But then I'm reminded of the gift of agency and the fact that we all fought for this right. 

I recently reread a talk from this last conference on the subject of Agency and absolutely love it! I highly recommend reading or listening to it. https://www.lds.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/choose-you-this-day

Here is an quote that stood out to me... 

"Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him." -Dale G. Renlund

Agency is such an essential part of God's plan, and a lot of people do not understand it. Without this key knowledge they wonder why bad things happen, or what's the purpose of life. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have, of Agency being a part of God's plan, because of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

Sister Peterson

Pictures:

-Zone Conference 

-Exchanges with Sister Bloxham

-HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

-x2

-x3

-Temple

-Also temple 

TRUST FALL! 🙌

Good afternoon everyone! 

Highlights of the week! 

The rain hit and I was completely unprepared! It was clear and warm in the morning and then all of a sudden it started pouring! My shoes were completely soaked through.

Sister Alvey and I were the Judges for the ward's Chili Cook off. I'm not the biggest fan of beans so I don't know if I was really the most qualified judge but they wanted and unbiased opinion so... 

We went on Exchanges with the Cornelius Hermanas. It was a blast! Hermana Kilpack and I have so much random stuff in common we were laughing and reminiscening the whole time! 

CHRISTINA AND HER WHOLE FAMILY CAME TO CHURCH! It has been amazing to see the progress of this family, her dad, Aaron, in particular. He is fully engaged in coming back to full activity and hopefully he will be able to baptize Christina when the time comes! 

Sister Alvey continues to be sick🤒 Along with most all other people who we are teaching. They have all been either sick, busy, or unable to contact this week. But we keep pressing forward and are learning patience! 

Spiritual Thought! 

"Faith is confidence in something or someone. As most often used in the scriptures, faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey Him. Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation." -True to the Faith   

  

Recently I've been thinking of faith as a trust fall, and Jesus is the one who will catch you. You can have the confidence to take the action knowing that he will catch you. The more we understand his perfect character the more we can trust him. The more we study the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, the more we learn of him. That is a reason why reading the scripture develops our faith. 

Pictures! 

-The rain☔

-Exchanges with the Hermanas

-end of a long day

-this was last P-day

Love you all so much! Remember Heavenly Father doesn't expect perfection in this lifetime, just that you keep trying❤️

Sister Peterson :) 

Enjoy the ride🎢

Hello All! 

This week has been full of ups and downs, but that's just life. One of the biggest themes that I got out of General Conference was that mortality was not meant to be easy or comfortable. Instead we are here to learn and to grow, and that can sometimes hurt! I love conference and I have loved relistening to the talks with Sister Alvey. We downloaded them onto a flashdrive and have been listening to snippts of them whenever we are driving.

This week we went on exchanges with the McMinnville Hermanas. It was really fun to see Sister White again. We were in Albany together at the begining of our missions. It was a little rough being behind the wheel again but we managed. 

Alot of the people we have been teaching have been out of commission this past week so not much progress there. We did have a great lesson with a young girl we are teaching. Her father is a member and she wants to be baptized. We are aiming for December 15th! It was awesome to teach her the plan of salvation, or God's plan of happiness yesterday. It's so comforting to know that God does have a plan and it all revolves around our happiness. It was neat to see the light come on and things connect as we were able to teach and testify of God's love. 

I love being a missionary! It's a rollercoaster, but I'm enjoying the ride :) 

Love you all! 

-Sister Peterson

1. Beautiful fall🍁

2. inspirational fortune cookie

3. Exchanges with Hermana White

4. Sunday picnic in the park (soaking in the sun while we can!)

5. My favorite book😍

6. Train track selfie because why not. 

October 15, 2018: 🙌🌱😃 (My Favorite Emojis)

Good afternoon everyone! 

This week I got thrown into the STL fire! We had MLC (Mission leadership council) at the mission home on Wednesday. That was the first time I have been back there since I arrived in the mission field. It brought back weird memories! It was a great meeting though. I love learning from President and Sister Tateoka! 

I also got to go on exchanges with the Vernonia Sisters! It was such a great experience! I absolutely loved revisiting old friends and getting to know Sister Bonzo, the sister who took my place. 

On Sunday morning before church we had a lesson with a less-active, part member family. We are teaching his 13 year old daughter Christina and she is now on date to be baptized on December 15th. We brought an older single woman from the ward. Going into the lesson she asked us, why would you pick me? There are plenty of other people who would match better with her, young women, young women leaders, so forth.. 

But as the lesson went on it was evident that she needed to be there. She was able to really connect with Christina and be bold with her father. Her father wasn't able to go to church this week but this member offered to pick Christina up and she had a great experience. 

God knows best, and as we try our best to listen to and follow him, he will cause miracles to happen! 

A phrase that really stood out to me at conference was "See his Influence, Hear his Voice." Looking back at the talk now this phrase wasn't said exactly like this but by the spirit it has stuck with me. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/gather-together-in-one-all-things-in-christ?lang=eng

This phrase reminds me that I need to be grateful because God's hand truly is in the details of my life, and I need to acknowledge him. It also helps me remember that as I do I will be more receptive to his guidance when it comes. 

I am so grateful for the course my life is on. I am grateful to have a knowledge of this restored gosepl and for the opportunity to share it with others. I know I am being set up for success, because God does nothing save it be for the benefit of His children. 

Mosiah 2:41 reminds us of our responsibility in receiving the help that God so desperately wants to give us. 

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." 

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and never forget that you are a precious son or daughter of God❤️

Love,

Sister Peterson :) 

October 8, 2018: Another Day, Another Destiny!!

Hello everyone! 

Well the rain finally hit! 

It's been a long week with so many changes yet I feel like I don't have very much to report! My brain is just a little fried from trying to take in everything. 

Council Creek ward has been so blessed! The seeds have been sown and cultivated and now is the time for the harvest! I am excited to be reaping in an area that has been so well loved and prepared. People's hearts are soft here. 

But of course there will always be opposition. Sister Alvey and I have been working hard to do our best despite all the people we are teaching being sick or busy. 

We went out to dinner with a member and while there Sister Alvey and I both felt like we recognized a guy who was sitting next to us. We introduced ourselves to him and he also thought we were familiar. Well we gave him a pamphlet with our number but in the rush forgot to get his number. but not 10 minutes after parting he actually called us!! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! Ya we think we probably promised to find him in the pre-existance.

As we were out walking one day we started a conversation with this guy and as we talked found out he was a member, as we talked more we found out that he actually grew up in my grandparents ward in California! He and his brother remember them with fondness and appreciated all that they did for them in their youth. The world is so small and I am so grateful for the example of my grandparents in influencing these boys for good! 

We had the opportunity on Sunday night to teach the Stake President and his family, they live in our ward. It was really cool to see the trust build throughout the lesson as we taught plan and precious truths. At the end of the lesson they opened up to us about a family who they know who would be potentially interested in meeting with us. 

The biggest highlight of the week would have to be General Conference. I have been so pumped for conference! It has become one of my favorite weekends of the year! It is such a wonderful opportunity to experience the exhilaration of the spirit as we listen to our Prophet and apostles. It is a witness to me every time I hear them speak of the living reality of this this church, as it breaths with revelation, and most importantly the living reality of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To echo the counsel of our Prophet yesterday, I know that Jesus Christ leads his church. I know that it is only in and through his infinite Atonement that we can be saved. Everything should be centered on him, and that is why I am excited for the united effort to correct the error that has crept into the church in the nickname "mormon." I am proud to say that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Have a wonderful week!! Love you all! 

-Sister Peterson