Isaiah 41:13 ❤️

Hello everyone! 🤗

This email is going to be a little sporadic so pardon my randomness...

Can you believe it's already been six weeks?!? Well another transfer has come and gone and my time in Vernonia is coming to a close. I am being transfered to West Salem! I'm going to be in a trio with Sister Voorhies and Sister Johnson (from the MTC!) 

I am excited for this new experience, it's going to be an adventure! It's definitely time for change. I had just started catching myself at meals and during morning exercise saying "...didn't this just happen? didn't I just do this?" It's time for a change of routine. 

Even though a new adventure is much needed the thought of leaving little Vernonia makes my heart ache! I am going to miss Vernonia so much! This branch is just so full of love and I feel that I have gotten so close to each member in such a short amount of time that the thought of leaving feels like leaving family all over again! 

I just keep clinging to the saying "There is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone." There is no doubt this change is going to be hard, but there is also no doubt it is going to be worth it! 

Over the last couple weeks we have had a handful of different people recommend we try the local gas station chickenstrips dipped in nacho cheese. We decided we might as well give it a try... it was nasty! but now we can say we have had the famous Vernonia chicken strips and nacho cheese! 

It was raining super hard one morning and neither of us felt up to going running in the rain so we stayed in, pumped up the music, and had a 30 minute dance party! It was fun, though not so much fun on our calfs the next day. I guess we just party too hard. 

Let me just take a moment to introduce you, or reintroduce you to an inspiring, spiritual, stress releasing, funny, tear of both laughter and spirit inducing, also some of the only entertainment we get as missionaries, person that is Hank Smith! 

I have heard a couple of his speaches/firesides/talks before but thanks to an awesome member who let us borrow her CD collection we got to listen to so many more! We have a 45 minute drive to and from district meeting every Friday so we got to listen to these talks a lot! I highly recommend you all go listen to his talks as well! 

So we got a little distracted during companion study one day and it turned into snail Lehi, Sariah, and Jacob traveling in the wilderness... we were going to make a stop motion scripture story with snails but we ran out of time... 

There is an amazing, thrifty, spunky, old couple in our branch and we often have rather interesting food when we go to their home. This week we had stinging nettle bites. They were a mixture of steamed stinging nettle, cheese, egg, and flour baked into a little pattie. They weren't bad, once you got over the texture. 

Ross came to church again this week! He commented after sacrament meeting how nice everyone at this church was, and how they really seem to be focused on helping the one. Sometimes I take for granted the spirit that is present in our meetings. Sometimes we disregard the spiritual experiences we can be having because we are so used to it, or we are looking for something bigger or more grand. But to have Ross recognize immediately the difference between this church and the others he has been trying is a testimony to me in and of itself. 

Jared is still stuck in the deep doctrine. We have been trying to get to the root of what is holding him back, and we have discovered, or rather rediscovered that he simply doesn't understand Jesus Christ. We have been focusing too hard on hammering in the WHAT he should do that and we have been forgetting to teach him the WHY he should do it. That is because of a genuine love of Jesus Christ. 

I think it is too easy to slip from the WHY of the gospel. We are blessed with so much avaliable knowledge in this restored gospel that although it is all good and true sometimes we forget to strengthen our testimony where it is most important, in our faith in Jesus Christ. I think that is one reason why we take the sacrament every week, because we promise to always remember him and we as fallen humans need that opportunity to recommit to it every week. 

I am so grateful for this restored gospel! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, because through it I am learning more about my savior Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for this mission I have the privilege of serving, I have seen the blessings pouring out upon me and my family as I have made the decision to dedicate these 18 months to the Lord.

The best way to describe my feeling would have to be from the words of King Benjamin and Ammon from the Book of Mormon...

"And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?"

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

   Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

I encourage you to take some time to read Mosiah 2:16-25, and Alma 26. I know the power that comes from reading the scriptures is real. Change is never easy and I am of course a little nervous about it but I know in the end it will be for my good and my growth. Most importantly I know that as I stay close to the Lord I can do all things!

I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!! 

-Sister Peterson 

*Editor’s note: Here is the scripture she referenced in her title: Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”