ATTENTION ALL!

Good AFTERNOON :) 

I wanted to let you all know that because of recent direction from my Mission President I will be limiting my emailing home. I will continue to write a group email, and one to my parents, but I will no longer be emailing Individually. 

I know that obedience brings blessings. Those blessings are not limited strickly to me either. I hope that this change will help you better feel of my love and help make the most out of this short time I have to be completely dedicated to helping my brothers and sisters. Updates from your lives are still more than welcome. I just hope you will understand when I do not reply. 

This week I hit my official year mark in the mission field, and 6 months from now I will be home! I feel so accomplished and yet can take to pride to myself because I know that without my Savior, Jesus Christ, I could have never made it this far. 

This week Sister Runs Through and I have been focusing on finding. After Juan and Isabel's baptism our time has freed up, and we have suddenly become aware that we need more people to teach! So we have done a lot of walking, and visiting people who had interest in the past. We have a couple people on the horizon of being taught! 

You have probably been wondering, and yes, Rajesh's baptism was scheduled for this week. I really should have said something sooner but it was a tender subject and I had literally just dedicated my email to him the week before, but now I can fill you in on the story of Rajesh. About 5 weeks ago Rajesh went back to his home country without any indication of coming back, leaving his wife, Vanya, and their 3 year old son. 

This completely unexpected turn of events is just another evidence that we cannot comprehend God's plan. Because of this change, Saranya has opened her heart to learning the gospel. She is making the nessasary changes to bring her life in harmony with His teachings and she is seeking to know Jesus Christ for herself. I am in awe of her strength and humility. 

In my studies this week I am back in 2 Nephi. I may have shared this last time I read this chapter but it just always sticks out to me so I might as well share it again! 

2 Nephi chapters four and five are some of my favorites. In these chapters Nephi's Father dies, his brothers want to kill him, and he and his family again depart into the wilderness. Nephi's strength in these trials come solely from his reliance on God. In chapter five we see how Nephi rebuilds his life after the "manner of happiness". As I read I examined this chapter for what principles he taught and made it applicable to our time. I compiled it into a list of ten points... 

1. Trust in the Lord

2. Keep the commandments

3. Be self-reliant

4. Keep a journal & learn from the past (especially your own ancestors) 

5. Love your family

6. Be prepared physically and spiritually against those who might harm you. 

7. Learn and apply practical skills, also cultivate hobbies and interests.

8. Go often to the temple

9. Be engaged in hard work

10. Don't seek power or position but seek to do the best with the callings and job you have been given. 

I love the scriptures and the insights into real life that they provide us. The Book of Mormon truly was written for our time and I feel so blessed to have it! 

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

-Sister Peterson 

We found the prefect emojis for this week! 🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏼‍♂️💆🏻‍♂️💆🏻‍♀️

Good morning! "...and what a lovely morning!" (Guess that movie... I'll give you a hint, it has to do with what's been happening here in Oregon... 🌧️☔)

My heart is filled to the brim with love! This week was spent in preparation for Juan and Isabel’s Baptism! We finished up their lessons, had their baptismal interviews, and got all the technical details for the actual baptismal program set. We washed and filled the font on friday afternoon and set up chairs and so forth. We were at the stake center from 3:30 until 8:30! But wow was it a good day! 

The Ward is so good to us and we have felt such love and support from the members. The Relief Society room was packed for their baptism, including Juan and Isabel’s family. Sister Runs Through and I sang our ukulele version of "When I am Baptized". 

It has been amazing to see the change and confidence in Juan and Isabel over these past few months of teaching them. They have been prepared by the Lord to receive this gospel, and it was such an amazing experience to watch them with full purpose of heart 'follow their Lord and Savior down into the water!' (2 Nephi 31:13) 

Our bishop wanted us to speak during the intermission, while they changed out of their wet clothes after the actual baptism. Sister Runs Through and I decided we would both take a turn to share our testimonies. I was pretty nervous about speaking in front of so many people, of specially because I didn't have any notes or script. I had decided before hand that I would talk about the Book of Mormon, but that was the only direction I had going into it. It was an amazing experience though because the spirit was so strong and I felt completely lead in my words to be bold and address the needs of all those sitting in the audience. I feel to blessed to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I feel so lucky to be a missionary! 

Then on Sunday Juan and Isabel had the opportunity to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The blessings they were given perfectly encaptured what our bishop felt inspired to share at the end of their baptism. 

Bishop shared the scripture Abraham 3:22-23, which is one of the only scriptures I had memorized before my mission (thanks Vanguard Youth!) Anyway the scripture reads; 

"22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

   23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born." 

Juan and Isabel truly are choice spirits and I know that they are going to be amazing members who will truly strive to keep their covenants to lift and serve others. I can't wait to come back in a year to witness their temple sealing❤️

I love you all and I truly love this gospel! No matter what you are going through help and healing are found in Jesus Christ. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Sister Peterson :) 

Oh It is Wonderful!

Hello all! 

There is anticipation bubbling in the Chapman Hill Ward! Juan and Isabel are getting baptized this Friday! My heart is full of joy for them, I feel so privileged to have been a part in their story. 

Even just over this past week we have seen so much growth in them both, as they have been humble and learned that God's will is always for our best.

On another exciting note Vanya, Rajesh's wife, wants to be baptized and we were able to set a date with her! She is such an amazing woman, she didn't grow up with a Christian background but she knows Christ offers peace and she has taken up a study all on her own of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and can now firmly say she knows Jesus Christ is her Savior. 

Sister Runs Through and I feel so blessed to be able to be part of such a wonderful ward and work with so many wonderful people❤️

Spiritual Thought: 

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." -Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

My natural inclination whenever I have a project or something I am worried about is to over analyze it and mess with the situation until it's all mangled.

It is important to take time to be still. We won't be able to hear the quiet assurances we are looking for if we are always busseling around. Do what you can and then stop! Trust that God will help things fall into place or fall away. 

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

Sister Peterson

Pics📸

-Hoddie planning 

-Car Selfie

Teach me to Walk in The Light

Hello All!

This week was great! Here are a few highlights in no particular order!

-So as I mentioned before Sister Runs Through is a master potter and today we got to go "throw" pots at a members (who is also a master potter) home/studio. It was super fun, I made a bowl and a mug, with lots of help from the kind member.

-Jolie made it back to church!! After her baptism she had a back injury and had a different surgery on her arm. but she is back in action and we finally have started her new member lessons!

-On exchanges we ran into an inactive family who told us they had just been talking about needing to start going back to church. They have an 11 year old son named Joshua who we are now preparing for baptism!

-This week we had the opportunity to help Vanya, Rajesh's wife, get rid of her couch. Well we helped organize members of the ward to help her (so even better). She came with her son to church this Sunday!! We are so happy for her!

-Sister Runs Through and I and a lot of my other wonderful missionary friends hit our year from entering the Missionary Trainning Center on the 30th!! This has been such a building, stretching, and strengthening experience so far and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

-Isabel and Juan are doing so great! We are so close to their baptism! I really do love them and I am so excited for them!!

All in all everything is going really wonderful! Hope you all have a great week!!

Sister Peterson
Another song: Teach Me To Walk in the Light