(I really need to stop doing subject lines that only a handful of people will understand..)
We are already two weeks into this transfer! Wow time flies!! Oh happy Saint Patricks Day, and happy birthday to my little sister Mimi!!🍀🎉🎉
Funny thing about a week flying by is you don't really remember a lot of it! Not much really notable happened this week, just good hard work, lots of walking and talking to people.
In our wanderings however we did meet Julia. We work with her at the foodbank and the past missionaries have worked with her but I didn't really know her story or where she was at until now! We ran into her a couple times this week, gotta love little towns, and each time she let us know a little more. She told us that she has been reading the Book of Mormon, and she has been reading it to her daughter! She told us she is looking for a church and wants to come to ours! It's amazing to see how people can change, how maybe all they need is a little time and love.
Another story, I may have told part of it last week but the story continues! So last week we stopped outside the chainlink fence of one of the local bars and taught someone about repentance and the Book of Mormon, we then handed a Book of Mormon across the fence into the hands of a drunk man. I honestly didn't expect anything to come of it but it was just one of those surreal moments that you would never have imagined if not for being on a mission. Well this week we texted him and he answered that yes he lost the book but yes he would like another copy! So we made arrangements for as soon as possible (aka 20 minutes later) to get him another!
We also had the opportunity to go to the Saint Patties day parade here in town. Wow there were a lot of people. We both went with the intent of it being a super great finding time but turns out neither Sister Cornell nor I like or are used to seeing so many people! We did talk to some but it was super overwhelming!!
Jared let us do service for him! We have asked so many times in the past but he had always said he's good, or maybe, but then does it all before we get there, well this time he was in desperate need of help. He has been super overwhelmed and needed help organizing his work shop. Oh man, I wanted to purge that garage, but I am learning restraint! One thing I have learned on my mission is that you need to help someone on the level they want to be helped. Forcing someone to declutter doesn't help anyone. You can't change a lifestyle like that, but just help them with what they need.
🤹♀️My spiritual thought for the week is from Moroni 10:32-33. I've been studying for and pondering about some investigators questions this week, specifically what repentance and forgiveness are, and why we need it.
In Moroni 10:32-33 it says;
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."
What is forgiveness? Why do we need repentance? I like to think about it like this...
When we sin we dirty ourselves, we collect junk, throughout our lives we pile ourselves so high with sin, sadness, grudges, pain, pride, doubt or any other damaging thing that our arms are full and we have no room for all the good things of life. Why not just put it down? You may ask, but some might feel comfortable with the things they have and would feel vulnerable having to put down all they know to be theirs, others are struggling under the weight but just can't find anywhere to dump the junk.
Jesus Christ has extended his arms to us all. He offers "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
If we are willing to lay it down, to give it to Christ then he will free our arms, and we will be open to receive the wonderful blessings that God wants to give us. As we give Christ our sins, our sorrows, grudges, pains, sicknesses, pride, doubt, and disbelief He will pour out His blessings! We will not be left empty or wanting we will be filled with peace, hope, joy, energy, love, understanding, knowledge, direction, purpose, prosperity, healthy relationships, patience, freedom, and happiness!
Only when we are willing to let go of the bad and repent will we be able to experience the blessings of forgiveness. Only when we are willing to deny ourselves of all ungodliness will He fill us with light!
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission and to be in the service of my Lord! Keep Swimming, good times are ahead!
❤️Love, Sister Anna Peterson :)
Pictures!!
-more pictures with Jesus! I don't think I made one normal face this week... Oops.
-A puzzle we bought at Goodwill and enthusiasticly started... Then realized we were missing over half the peices... Ya.
-It's a parade! Yay!
-There was a beautiful sunset behind us but sadly it could not be captured :(
(I really should not write my group email last, so I apologize for anything that is misspelled or just doesn't make sense.)
Editor’s note: I fixed a lot of misspelled words - I’ve got your back, Anna!
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