December 27, 2011

Hello Family! Well this week has been awesome!  Or i guess these last 2 weeks.  Sorry i didn't get a big e-mail out last week.  It was so good to talk to my parents on Christmas.  They sound like they are doing really well and grabbing life by the horns.  I spent pretty much all day Christmas over at the Allen family home.  We were allowed to sleep in until 8 that morning which was sweet.  But since I talked to mom and dad at 8 I only got to sleep in until 7:30 ish.  I got the package from the fam and the parents and grandparents and all the letters and opened them that morning.  Thank you to all!!!  It was certainly a different spirit of Christmas this year, but that is a good thing.  I think i might be going through some corn beef withdrawals though.  Although Christmas was great for me, we have a lot of lonely people in our branch on Christmas.  We do our best to spread holiday cheer and fill their souls with the love of Christ at this time of year and it's amazing how your feelings can change just from reading the book of mormon and praying.  I really think that i am making substantial differences in the lives of the people here in Lenox.

I'm glad that Christmas at the homestead went well.  The weather here has been really nice.  This whole week we are supposed to be in the mid to high 40's.  I love it.  It is currently sunny and there is no snow on the ground.  I'm sure January and February will get worse though so i'm trying not to get too comfortable to the current winter weather.  At least it's warmer than Russia though.

Last week we baptized Maria.  That means we had 2 weeks in a row where we baptized someone which is pretty unheard of for an area for the mission as a whole and especially in the Lenox area.  The spirit was super strong at her baptism.  I guess i gave good talks at both Amos' and Maria's baptisms because i'm speaking in church next week as well.  On righteous resolutions.  Today we have interviews with President Jergensen.  We also have picked up 2 solid new investigators in the last week.  They are both part member families and the two husbands are brothers and their wives are non-members.  They have really changed their lives around and both the wives are really interested in the church.  One of them is Sasha.  I guess Sasha is a really popular name in Russia according to mom and dad. 

Well for the sake of the kids, I'll show you where Santa appears in the bible.  Zechariah 1:8 "I saw by night, ad behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white." 

18 "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns." 

2:6 "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD."

And for the sake of everyone else, I'll bear you my testimony that I know that God and Jesus Christ live.  I know that the atonement is real and that Christ came to this earth for the benefit of every single living person.  I know that it is through Him that we are saved.  And I know that this church is true!

Love, Elder Peterson

December 14, 2011

Dear Family,

 

So do i still send my main e-mail to you (parents) or to brittany?  Dad said something about sending stuff to both you and brittany on the tape.  I got your package!  That was sweet!  Elder Huston's mom also sent a package with stockings for the both of us.  It isn't really looking or feeling too much like Christmas around here.  It's still pretty warm.  I'm fine with just a shirt and suitcoat.  Don't even need a sweater.  It's been pretty rainy lately.  If it were colder we would be getting a lot of snow so i'm greatful for the rain.  We did get some snow one day (tuesday).  But it was pretty much all melted by the next day.  The highway was slick that night though. 

 

I'm glad to hear that you got to Russia safely!  I can skype for Christmas.  I just need to know a time so i can coordinate with a member.  Also, how far ahead or behind is Russia from Central time?  other family can join in as well if they would like.  We aren't really given an exact time limit, but president said to keep it to an hour or two.  I guess some missionaries last year spoke to their family for 7 hours.

 

This week has been a good week for the work.  Amos was baptized this last saturday and confirmed on Sunday.  Also Maria passed her baptismal interview so she is all set for this upcoming saturday.  And i will be here for that.  I am staying in Lenox this transfer and so is elder Huston.  The only person leaving in our district is the district leader and his companion is going to be training.  There has also been some pretty crazy things happening this last week as well.  We had a recent convert storm out of church because she got offended.  She threatened to go to Osceola for church but we got her calmed down and she is on good terms again.  We also had Merl drop us.  That kind of stinks.  But we picked up two more solid investigators.  They are both part member families too.  Well technically one of them isn't married so we still have that hurdle to jump but i have confidence.

 

While I was preparing to talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost at Amos' baptism, I had this thought pop into my head and it's so true.  First, the gift of the Holy Ghost really is just that... a gift.  In the spirit of Christmas, Christ has given us one of our most valuable gifts, the Holy Ghost.  but just like with any gift we receive we need to open it and use it.  Imagine Christ appears at your doorstep and knocks on the door.  You open the door and you are very shocked to see Christ standing there.  He gives you a gift (wrapped in white wrapping paper of course) and you greatfully receive it and then throw it up in the attic without opening it.  That doesn't benefit you at all. In D&C  88:33 it says:

 

"For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?  Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift."

 

We don't benefit from it at all, and we don't rejoice in what we are given or in Christ who is the giver of the gift.  So once we open the gift the benefits that we receive a plethora of blessings.  Just read hymn 143 or Galatians 5:22-23 if you want a short list.  But like it says in hymn 143 we have to LET the holy spirit do those things.  I want to focus on peace right now for a second though.  I was reminded of the story in Helaman chapter 5.  This is when Lehi and Nephi were out doing missionary work and they wind up in prison.  Starting in verse 43 it says:  And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.  And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire. 

 

Sometimes i feel like i am encircled by a pillar of fire.  It can be distracting.  It can be the chaos that comes from the world.  It can feel uncomfortable.  But with all of these things flying around us, we can still feel the peace that the holy ghost brings.  going on in verse 46: And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved.

 

If we just have the faith to open up the gift of the Holy Ghost and tap into the power that it can bring to us we can receive this peace that comes even when we are encircled about by our pillars of fire.  This church is true and i'm so thankful for the Holy Ghost in my life and the direction it brings to me.  I love all of you!

 

Love, Elder Peterson

December 5, 2011

Hello Family,

 

Of course i will still take time to e-mail this week.  It might just not be as long.  Last night was fantastic!!  It was so great to hear all of your voices and also hear the Holy Ghost present during the whole meeting.  The blessings we receive while being set apart are really just what we need to kick off the mission life.  I hadn't cried in a while anyway, so it was good for me.  I can't believe i'll get to do it again in just a couple of weeks for Christmas! President Jergensen asks me all the time how you two are doing.  He is really a great guy and knows every single one of his missionaries very well. it amazes me.  Mom, you will love (if you don't already) being a full time missionary.  The MTC experience is probably fairly different for couple missionaries i would imagine. You probably get softer chairs in the class room.  And better seats at the devotionals.  You'll have to let me know who comes and speaks to you! 

 

Uhmm for Christmas I could use a good lookin dark scarf.  A member made me one, but it's light blue and brown and too bright to wear.  I could also use more long sleeve casual shirts.  Not white shirts, but non proselyting as we would call it.  I'm a L.  Also we as a mission are now only listening to MoTab and I don't have much of any of their music so those CD's would be nice.  Perhaps a Russian hat... but maybe that will have to wait until next year.  A new towel would be nice.  Isn't this an exciting Christmas list?  Any food you care to send would be nice.  Or games to play on P-Day.  But nothing too big... i have to be able to pack it around a lot. 

 

For Christmas in Lenox, if i'm still here, we are doing a potluck dinner type thing after church on the 18th.  Transfers are the 15th so i won't be able to e-mail again until next wednesday because of that fyi.  I'm pretty sure i'll stay though since i've only been here one transfer thus far.  Also in Lenox we have two baptisms lined up so that is exciting.  One on the 10th and one on the 17th.  We also are teaching a sophomore in high school who wants to be baptized as well, we just haven't set a date with her yet... commandment issues.  In our mission we are trying to have a "white Christmas" in the sense of having a lot of baptisms in December.  What better gift to give the Savior than having His children enter into the waters of baptism?  These past few weeks i've really noticed that the Lord really is aware of each one of us.  Not only because I was able to listen in last night (but that's definitely just one more blessing to notice from it), but from a lot of things that have been happening recently.  Being out on a mission has really made me aware that i was foreordained to do this.  Their are people here waiting for me to find them and i know that their are people in Russia waiting for you to find them as well.  Without a doubt we are placed with the correct companions ;)  I know that this church is true.  And i know that through the power of the Holy Ghost who has made it manifest to me over and over again.  I love you all! Stay warm!

 

Love, Elder Brent Peterson

 

I guess i'll have to clarify which Elder Peterson it is from now on!

November 28, 2011

Hello Family

 

Well now now, their are still a few days left in Thanksgiving.  Unless Iowa is a few days behind Utah.  but it is crazy that you guys are leaving so soon.  My Thanksgiving was splendid.  We went over to the Wangbergs (member) for pretty much the whole day.  We had breakfast burritos in the morning and then helped them cook dinner, well let them borrow our oven, and then had supper.  They had a nonmember family over too so we were able to teach them a little bit.  We also played croquet... i won.  Black Friday isn't as big out here, or at least i don't hear too much about it.  Their was one lady who got hit with the pepper spray though which i find amusing.

 

Amos is doing well and is still on track for the 10th.  Also we set a date with a lady named Maria for the 17th.  She speaks English really good, but her mom doesn't speak a lick of English.  I've talked with her in Spanish a little bit.  She is from Mexico and moved here about 17 years ago and is a catholic.  I have lost a lot of vocab since high school.  She has also cooked some authentic Mexican food for us a few times too so that is quite the treat.  I think all of the missions have visiting general authorities.  I know that we do every year at least.  They come out and tour the mission and speak to all the missionaries to make sure things are going well.

 

We have had a few leaf-raking opportunities.  It is getting really cold here.  Yesterday was especially cold and the humid wind really gets to you.  We also had a member make us scarves though so that was nice of her and they are quite warm.  For service otherwise we drop into the library every week and help with odds and ends jobs.  We also went and volunteered at an old train depot where they have a Christmas tree set up and give out popcorn and things so we met some of the community that way as well.  I know that with Christmas season coming up that we will find a lot of more service to do which i look forward to.  Because when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.

 

Well we were at a teaching appointment this morning, which is why this is coming in the afternoon, and so i don't have a lot of time today to spend on the computer.  It's great to hear that everyone is doing well and the preparations for Russia are going along smoothly.  The gospel is true, and i know that by the power of the Holy Ghost with every fiber of my being.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 21, 2011

Dear Family,

 

Unfortunately i do not have any stories to top the "Murl Story" this week.  I wish i did.  This week has actually been quite crazy here as well.  We went to Des Moines (which is about 2 hours away) 3 times in the last 3 days.  Early early friday morning we went for our zone conference/mission tour.  Elder Bowen from the 70 was touring our mission and giving conferences to the missionaries.  He remembers wade very well and said to tell you hello.  He also gave me a hug because i'm your little bro... the only missionary to get a hug there.  His wife also says hello.  They are great people.  They taught us about the oath and covenant of the priesthood, the abrahamic covenant, and the house of israel.  They were also pushing forward for a more exactly obedient mission.  We all felt pretty rebuked at the end, but in a very loving way.   This last week we were also asked by Pres Jergensen to only listen to MoTab from now on in the mission.  And also conference talks.  The rest of the day on Friday we went on exchanges with my district leader in Osceola.  Then Saturday morning we drove back to Lenox and were picked up a couple of hours later to go back to Des Moines.  It was also Stake Conference for us and the adult session was saturday night.  We were allowed to go if we brought an investigator and drove up with members and we were able to do that so we were able to go.  Elder Bowen and Elder Milchen from the 70 were speaking at that session of conference as well.  They gave a quick intro and then just opened it up to a question and answer type scenario where people from the audience could just raise their hand and ask a question and they would answer it.  I learned a lot and it was a really good session.  After that we went to a restaurant called the Machine Shed which was super delicious.  then we drove back to Lenox, and didn't get back until midnight unfortunately.  We got back only to find that we were locked out of our house.  so we were trying to card our way into our house and were doing that for a little while with no success.  Then i asked elder Huston to try one more time as i was saying a silent prayer and before i was even done praying the door popped open.  Prayers really are super effective to help ourselves, and also our investigators here in the mission.  On sunday morning we then woke up extra early again and went back to Des Moines (this time with a different member) for the general session.  Elder Bowen was once again their because the stake presidency was getting reorganized.  so i got to hear him speak 3 days in a row which was way cool.  a lot of driving though.  Then we drove back to Lenox that afternoon and witnessed this miracle.  We were visiting with an investigator, Amos.  He said that he smoked his last cigarette yesterday and was very ready to be baptized.  We set a date with him for December 10th because he has to be smoke free for 2 weeks before he can be baptized.  Awesome things are happening in the Lenox branch.  also on a quick side note... in Lenox we meet in a house like i've said before and whenever someone gets up to the pulpit and says good morning, the congregation always says good morning back to them.  It caught me off guard the first time, but now i'm used to it.  so used to it that i almost said good morning at stake conference when Elder Bowen got up to speak.

 

It sounds like you have seen a lot of family and friends in the last couple of days/weeks.  Tell them all hello back for me if you see them again.  It's good to hear that everyone is doing well.  I still get an e-mail from Everett every couple of weeks and it's pretty much the same story with me.  I'm sure you did amazing in your "farewell" talks.  It sounds like it would have been a superb and emotional sacrament meeting.

 

For Thanksgiving we are going over to a member's house.  And they are having a bunch of people over including family and friends (some of which are non-members) so we will be able to do some teaching as well when we are over there.  We have received about 4 invitations to other peoples houses as well so we are being taken care of very well.  This last wednesday we had a pre thanksgiving dinner as well.  the YM/YW invited us to the thanksgiving dinner they were having for mutual and it was a legit dinner.

 

That's interesting that they are doing all of those renovations to the MTC.  Moving the bookstore sounds like quite a big task to do.  They have a lot of service volunteers around though haha.  I'm glad that you are starting to get the real experience of being there and partaking of the wonderful spirit that is always their... even in the cafeteria.  We have 19 missionaries from the des moines stake serving missions.  One of them is from our branch.  It was a real eye opener.  I was trying to think, do we have around 10 serving from our ward alone?  It's good to see that the work is moving forward though wherever you are in the world.

 

I actually haven't worn my big coat around yet.  I think i'm just hoping that it will stay not warm, but at least not freezing cold for a little while longer.  We've only had the one snow storm so far.  I've been fine with just a sweater and my suit coat, and sometimes a hat.  We had a nice recent convert in our branch just make us scarves as well.  She crocheted them for us.  That's probably not how you spell that.  Thank you so much for all of the support for me and my parents (whoever else reads this).  We really do feel your prayers.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 14, 2011

Dear Family,

 

Lenox, IA is treating me fairly indeed.  I've already met all of the members and they are really nice.  We average about 55 at church every week.  Last week we had over 75 though so that was fantastic.  Their were 12 non-members that came. We meet for church in a house.  They just tore down a bunch of walls so that it is more open and put a pulpit in so that is pretty sweet.  Elder Huston has been here in Lenox for 3 months.  We had a snow storm mid week and it dumped on us.  It was really wet and a lot of tree branches fell down.  But now the snow is all gone and it's pretty warm again.  It's supposed to be getting colder again by tomorrow though.  That is fantastic to hear that USU beat BYU.  It's been a long time coming.  Is BYU still pretty good without Jimmer?  I didn't know that Kallie and Casey were speaking in sacrament meeting, but that is great that they did a good job.  That is crazy that you are speaking in church next week already.  good luck!  those are great topics to be speaking on.  But then i think that you need to get out their so you can be back home before i get home. 

 

So i had a really interesting experience happen this week.  We were teaching this guy, Murl.  He is a pretty solid, but crazy, investigator.  He was with his girlfriend, Peggy.  Haha gotta love Iowa names.  but anyway, Murl got a tatoo of Peggy's name on his chest on the right pectoral muscle.  We were talking to him about tatoo's because he had a question about it so we told him that the prophet strongly recommends that we don't get them and our bodies are temples and such.  Later that day after we left we got a call from him and he said he needed us to drive him to the emergency room at the hospital.  so we went and picked him up and it turns out that he had taken a fillet knife and filleted his chest and cut his tatoo off.  At least he was a hunter so he knew how to fillet so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  But we took him to the hospital and he refused to have the doctors put that same piece of skin back onto his chest so they just had to pull the skin that was already there and attach it.  so now his nipples are uneven and it just looks funny.  but then later he got back together with Peggy so he took the skin with the tatoo on it and tanned it and turned it into leather pretty much and put it on a key chain for her.  People in Iowa are freakin crazy.  I can't help but just laugh at stuff like that though.  I love this small town kind of stuff!

 

I thank you and appreciate that you would share that story dad.  Our purpose really is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement... But we always learn things we can do better on.  I've really noticed myself already that when we don't bring up Christ at all when we are talking to people and trying to get them interested that it just doesn't work. 

 

So we have been talking with people lately about receiving answers to their prayers.  They think that they are praying wrong because they don't receive answers the first time they pray.  In my personal study i was reading in 1 Nephi chapter 7 and came across these versus:

 

16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me.  And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

 

17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

 

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

 

Nephi prayed for a specific answer to his prayers.  He prayed to break through the bands.  But what happened?  The bands were loosed from around his hands and feet.  He didn't get the specific answer he was looking for, but he still got an answer.  And he recognized it as an answer.  He also said he prayed according to his faith will thou give me strength to break through.  Nephi had an extremely strong faith in Jesus Christ, but that doesn't mean that he always receives answers to his prayers exactly how he wants to.  The church is true and prayer works.  Just keep looking for those answers in many ways, shapes, and forms.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 7, 2011

Hello Fam,

 

Tell Rachael and the crew hello for me. I am sending this from Lenox, IA.  Never heard of it?  Neither had i.  It's even smaller than Story City.  It's in the very southwest corner of the mission.  It's pretty close to the border of Missouri.  We also cover two kind of bigger cities called Corning and Creston.  My companion is Elder Huston.  He is from Boise, ID.   We have fun together.  I can tell this is going to be a good transfer.  We meet for church in a house.  It was converted into a church building which is pretty cool.  I've already met most of the branch members that come regularly.  I feel like it's easier to get to know people when you are no longer a "greenie".  They are all pretty Iowan.  I've seen a lot of overalls and cowboy boots at church haha.  The people that we are teaching are pretty close to baptism so i should be having some of those coming along pretty quick.  Probably in this month even.  Mostly older people.  Yesterday, and every sunday, we go around with the ward mission leader and teach people.  The members are really into missionary work here which is fantastic.  One of the ward missionaries names is Clark and he just got back from his mission to Honduras in August so he comes with us to teach people on sundays, or sometimes his dad.  We had dinner with Peggy and Amos Barnhouse yesterday.  Amos is close to baptism... just has to kick smoking.  We also ate with Murl Jackson and his wife.  He is a character.  I just thought the name represented the midwest really well.  The apartment we live in is actually a small one floor house.  It's smaller than my last apartment but we don't have to worry about neighbors getting mad at us for being too loud which is nice.  We also still have a car and we have it full time now because we are pretty secluded from the rest of the missionaries in our district/zone. 

 

That is good that Braden is doing well.  Has he thought more about serving a mission?  It's fantastic!  I love my mission more and more every day.  The drive from Iowa City (where transfer meetings was) to Lenox was over 4 hours.  The Branch President drove us so i already know him pretty well and i was able to catch up on some z's.  the extra hour of sleep was nice too.  but now it's dark by 5:30!  the sunsets are beautiful as usual.  There isn't a whole lot you can do after dark if you don't have teaching appointment so we might have to get creative to keep oursevles busy.  The weather has been great too!  I wore a short sleeve shirt yesterday and it was just fine.  today is also proving to be a good day weather wise.  If only it could stay like this through winter too.

 

In 3rd Nephi 27 i believe it says that as Christ was lifted up on the cross by man so shall man be lifted up by the father to be judged according to Jesus Christ.  I have thought about what it means to really be lifted up by the Father.  In one sense it just means that every single person will be resurrected and judged.   But it can also mean that as we are IN our sins we are lifted up out of our sins when we repent to be judged.  We aren't going to be saved in our sins, but from them.  In order to get out of our sins we have to be lifted up out of them and brought to a higher plane of spirituality.  So in the end, just keep doing all of the primary answers.  The basics are what we first must master.  I love you all and hope you have a great week!

 

Love, Elder Peterson

November 2, 2011

Hello Family,

Put another transfer in the books.  Story City has been great, but i'm being transferred!  I don't know where to yet, they don't tell us until we are at the meeting tomorrow.  So today for P-Day i'll be packing up my stuff.  We need to leave by 5:30 in the morning to get to Iowa City by 9 for the meeting.  I'll be sure to let you know where i'm going to when i know myself.  For Halloween in the mission the rule is that you have to be in your apartment by 6 and stay there for the rest of the night.  Unless a member accompanies you somewhere and drives you as well.  Which means no trick or treating for me.  But we did have a member pick us up and we went over to their house and had dinner.  Then i helped them change the brake pads on their car.  Never thought i would do that in a suit.  I got your package in the mail a couple of days before Halloween even and it was great.  Members gave us a lot of candy too so their was no shortage of goods.  The weather has been fantastic here.  Yesterday it got up to about 63 and even felt a little hot at times while we were walking around.  Today it is cold and rainy though.  what did Blake and Bridger and everyone else dress up as for Halloween?  In Iowa they have a night called "Beggars Night" which is the night assigned for kids to go trick or treating.  Usually it is on a day separate from Halloween so that the adults can have their parties on the 31st.  But in story city it was on the same night.  In the little outlying towns though some were on as early as Thursday through Monday.  If you went to a different town every night you could get a lot a lot of candy.  And i'm sure some kids do.  I'm glad that the ward missed my annual visits.  Although i don't think i went last year either... oh well.

That is neat that you are able to talk with a few people who have recently been to Russia and have experienced the church over there.  I still get excited when i tell people that my parents are going on a mission when they ask me about my family.  Tell Rachael and the family hello for me.  And enjoy the sunny warmth.  I'm assuming the weather is still fairly nice over there.  I am excited to get an extra hour of sleep this weekend, especially because i'll be losing some tonight.  I sent off a package today that has a tape in it that i've been making for a long while now and also a suit coat that i can't where because it's too light.  I figured it might fit wade so he can hang on to it for me until i'm back.  Also i ordered an extra name tag that i'll probably send home in case you want it for display or to put on and go do some missionary work out in Orem.  In our district we have 3 Elders leaving.  In my predictions i didn't think there would be any change so i was really surprised when i found out the results.  One of the families in our ward has a boy in high school who is a senior this year.  He is planning on going to Utah State so i've been able to talk to him about where to live, and meal plans, and all that good stuff.  that's been pretty fun.  That is also the same family that i borrowed my bike from.  I did have to go buy a helmet though.  and we only used the bike twice i think.  One short ride out to the church and then Elder Nielsens bike broke on our longer ride so we haven't been able to use them since.  It seems like just as soon as i have every bodies names down i'm being transferred.  It will be weird going and jumping into the middle of a whole new batch of peoples lives.  We are seeing pretty good success in Story City.  We picked up  our first new investigator this week.  (from tracting)  and we have had multiple of our current investigators accept baptismal invites as well.

I guess i'll base my thought this week off of a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland.  He says "In the end Christ surely won't be looking for full hands, just clean ones."  I don't think that is exactly it but it gets the same point across.  In Iowa we have been teaching and working with a lot of people who have recently lost jobs or who have been looking for work for a while now.  It is always humbling to see them come to church and still keep the faith.  I feel like I have never felt hard pressed for money at any time in my life... probably just because my parents are so good to me.  But in the end, it doesn't matter what we have in our hands, more than what our hands themselves are like.  In order to wash your hands in a sink you have to set down what you are holding and take that time to rub them together and get them clean.  When we are trying to make ourselves clean, we have to set aside whatever may be holding us back and wash ourselves clean.  And once we clean ourselves, we don't want to pick up that dirty object anymore because we enjoy the clean feeling.  I can never remember who gave this talk in general conference but the story has always stuck with me.  it's about a missionary in Hawaii who had a dream.  He was on a road and was in a hurry to get to a council meeting or something.  As he was running down the road he stopped at a bath house and cleaned himself.  when he was done with that and arrived at the meeting it was with Christ and some other prophets i think.  They told him he was late, and he replied yes, but i'm clean.  It is always better to be late and clean.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  It is through his atonement that people are made clean and i have seen that so much already in the lives of the people out here and in my own life as well.  I love you all! 

Elder Peterson

October 24, 2011

Dear Family,

This week has really been the epitome of long days but a short week.  We had 16 appointments set up this week and 13 of them canceled on us, weren't home, or were sick.  But we still had fun and managed to stay happy.  We took a bike trip out to Jewel, which is a city about 12 miles away.  We originally had a ride set up to go out there, but they canceled on us.  We had an appointment set up with some potential investigators after them though so we still decided to go out there.  We didn't have the car this week and we couldn't find a last minute ride so our bikes were our option.  It was a rough ride but we did make it there.  And on time too!  But the potential investigators weren't home.  The most growth and learning comes after the trials.  On our ride back, about half way the petal fell off of Elder Nielsen's bike and the tread was non-existent so we couldn't get it back on.  Then a nice fellow, Denny, pulled over in his truck and drove us the rest of the way back.  I wanted to be like Kim when we were hiking Kings Peak and just throw my arms up in the air and yell "Heavenly Father answers prayers!"  Because he really did that day.  That is my exciting adventure for the week.

It sounds like exciting times at home.  It sounds like Little Mermaid would have been quite the production to see.  It sounds really cool.  The emphasis for our mission is now starting to be studying about the Abrahamic covenant, The oath and covenant of the priesthood, the baptismal covenant, and the House of Israel.  We have a mission tour coming up pretty soon and the person from the seventy has asked us to study those topics in preparation for his arrival.  So if you have any good insights you would like to share in the upcoming weeks about those things, please do.  I got your tape and it was so fun to hear from all of you.  The Russian sounds like it is coming along.  That is crazy that you are going into the MTC in only a transfers time.  A transfer is 6 weeks and pretty much how us missionaries measure time now.  How long do you stay in the MTC once you officially enter?

I don't get too much of an opportunity to play the piano.  The organ/piano we have in the chapel can play itself, and their are also pianists in our branch that play.  I played for a district meeting once though.  Other than that i get the chance to rattle the keys every now and then on a p-day.  That is so awesome that Wade played in church. Way to go!  The weather here has been pretty chilly.  I've been wearing my sweater a lot this past week and at night usually some lighter gloves and a beanie.  Today it is actually supposed to get up into the 70's again though which should be nice. 

Church was good yesterday.  They reviewed the Sunday afternoon and morning sessions of conference in sacrament meeting.  And then we talked about temples in priesthood.  The youth were able to take a temple trip and all of them were able to go to the Nauvoo temple.  They had to leave really early in the morning to get there and do baptisms and make it back in the same day.  One of the things I've been noticing as a missionary is that using videos can really be a great way to invite the spirit when teaching lessons.  With Colin this last week we watched the Prophet of the Restoration.  It certainly strengthened my testimony of Joseph Smith.  I know the Joseph Smith is a prophet.  He translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God.  This church is true and it is great to be able to be a tool in pushing along the Lords work.  I love all of you!

~Elder Peterson

October 17, 2011

Hey hey fam

 

My week has been great.  It is definitely cooling down here.  Plus it's been windy too so it's getting quite chilly.  We came outside today and the sun is nowhere to be found.  Just a gray cloud covering the whole sky... and there is a lot of sky out here.  I got the coat and it fits good.  It should work supremely if it is fit for russian winters.  I think the good weather is coming to a close here.  I'm jealous that Rachael is taking all the good weather.  And can go swimming too when the good weather does come.  That is fun that you got to go hear Caleb speak.  I think i did go out to the State Hospital once if i remember correctly.  Anybody still floating around that we all know in that ward?

 

So what sunday is it exactly that you are speaking in church?  Also, do you want me or do you think that i should change/update the address that the mission home has or just keep it the same since Wade will still be living their?  Maybe i can work something out to have both or something.  I'll be sure to look for Elder Bailey once he gets out here.  We got another Elder Peterson into our zone recently and often Sister Talbert (an office couple lady) calls me to see which Elder Peterson mail is for when their is no first name on the envelope.  We also got another senior missionary couple into our mission as well.  So now we have like 6 couples or something in our mission.

 

Story City is doing good.  No big new updates.  We weren't able to meet with Colin this last week at all and he wasn't at church.  Billy came to church again this week and is still just wanting to keep learning more before he gets baptized.  We meet with him and his family at least once a week consistently.   His wife runs a day care center and so sometimes when we are over, she has another families kids over as well which can make teaching a little hard.  At church this week she was taking care of four other kids when she came to church.  Their names are Keishon, Trayshon, Tayshon, and Jayshon.  And yes, they are black.  So between her kids, billy's kids, and those 4 kids they had 10 children with them at church on Sunday.  It was also the primary program at church yesterday.  It was so good and the spirit was really strong in hearing the testimonies of those little kids through the songs they sing.  And those stories about Blake are funny!  I miss those little boys.

 

So our branch president is President Kjell Aamodt.  Pronounced Kell pretty much.  He is not a convert to the church.  He was raised out in Iowa City.  And he lives in Gilbert right now.  We actually do a lot of work in outlying little towns and cities.  Gilbert (where Billy and President Aamodt live), Roland, Jewell, Ellsworth, Randall, Radcliffe, Mc Callsburg, and Story City is where we spend most of our time.  And then we used to have Iowa Falls, Williams, and Alden which are bigger cities too, but they put another companionship of Elders up there this last transfer.  They still come to our branch though so that is fun.  We do a car share with them as well so on the weeks we don't have the car we spend most of our time in Story City, but the members are pretty good at giving us rides when we need them as well.

 

So there is a story of these people called Smoke Jumpers.  And what they do is they help out with forest fires.  They get helicoptered to the above lying ridge and then help from the top down pretty much.  So they went to help with this fire and the dispatcher told them to check in through their walkie talkies once they found a good path that they could go down and help fight the fire.  So they get dropped off on the top of the ridge and immediately see a couple good paths that they could potentially go down.  They call in to the dispatcher and only get static.  So they wait 10 minutes and call in again, but they only get static.  And then 15 minutes, 30 minutes and only static.  So they decide to take their packs off on the top of the ridge where they are safe from the fire and start having lunch.  7 hours later a tired fire chief comes walking up the mountain and asks them why they weren't/didn't help.  They told them that they never got an answer from the dispatcher.  The fire chief takes the walkie talkie and starts down one of the paths.  About 20 feet down the path the dispatcher comes in nice and clear.  Then he tries down another path and the same thing happens.  The Smoke Jumpers were sitting in a dead zone on top of the ridge.  We need to be careful not to sit in spiritually dead zones.  They may seem safe and away from danger, but we are not receiving revelation or putting ourselves in a position to receive personal revelation for our lives.  Sometimes all we need to do is just start down a path and God will tell us if it is not the right path.  I know that this church is a church where we have to keep moving, enduring, and growing.  We are preparing ourselves now for Eternal Life so we need to watch out for these spiritual dead zones.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

October 10, 2011

Hello Family! 

 

Oh dad and his shopping kicks... gotta love 'em.  Well i didn't buy a coat so that's good.  Actually the weather here has been holding up nicely for us.  It's been in the high 70's this last week so i haven't even had to wear my suit coat lately.  Hopefully it stays good for this coming week as well.  The colors are starting to change here and it is really beautiful.  Also pretty much all of the corn and beans are being harvested so it's becoming even more flat now, if you can believe it.  Aside from thermals and a coat i am good for winter. 

 

The work is going good.  There is a plaque in story city that says something to the effect of here in 1950 or something, nothing happened.  And that is still pretty much true.  But this week we have had a lot more finding opportunities.  We now have one progressing investigator as well.  His name is Billy.  He has come to church the last 2 weeks in a row which is excellent.  We have been teaching him about once or twice a week and he always feeds us dinner when we go over so that's good as well.  He says that mainly he just wants to learn more before he gets baptized, so that really isn't a definite yes or no answer but i have good feelings about him.  Another investigator, Collin, is almost to the point of progressing.  He works at McDonalds and so he is usually working on Sundays and can't come to church.  But the last time we sat down with him we taught him about prayer and finally commited him to pray about the book of mormon.  We are meeting with him again tonight so we'll see how it goes.  In Story City, their is a bible camp.  And they have been open this last week.  So some people have been sending their kids there.  At the camp they spend a couple of hours a day specifically role playing and training how to combat mormons.  So there have been quite a few people coming up to bash with us on the streets as we walk around.  It can be annoying but all we do is bear testimony that what we know and teach is true so they can't really combat with that.  I've been getting to know the branch members a lot better.  They continue to feed us really well plus they usually stick around church for a little while after it's over so i get a chance to talk with them their as well.  This last week at church was a full house.  It was awesome to see the building full.  We actually had to set up more chairs in the back.  I don't know what this week offered, but a lot of less actives showed up.

 

Well it sounds like the birthday scene is really coming alive this week.  And i hadn't heard that Cody got his mission call.  I am stoked!  Thank you for telling me.  Serving missions is great.  I've already learned so much.  I can definitely see why it really is the best 2 years for your life.  A member of the branch shared a story of when he was at work he was listening to conference and the choir started singing i am a child of God when a co-worker came in.  It was just that easy to get her looking into the church and asking questions.  We really can learn a lot from the music of the church and it's one of my favorite things about conference.  This week i was looking for a hymn that you could teach one of the lessons as a missionary on.  I found that you can teach the plan of salvation through the hymn Lead Kindly Light.  In the 1st verse it says "the night is dark and i am far from home."  That is like birth. We forget the light and brightness of our heavenly home and come to the dark and dreary world.  Then it says "keep thou my feet; i do not ask to see the distant scence.  One step enough for me."  During our earthly life, we should be content and willing to just take one step at a time.  We don't know everything, and we can't see everything that is going to happen.  The light that is leading doesn't illuminate the whole path, just the next step in that path of life.  And the light does exactly what it says: leads.  It doesn't push, pull, or follow.  We still have the choice of whether or not to follow the light and let it lead.  We shouldn't be afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.  We still need to walk forward and take the next step.  So what exactly is the light that we should be following?  In Psalms 119:105 it says: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."  The word of God will lead us where to go.  And that is where the General Conference tie in comes in to play.  Also the scriptures.  In the song it says: "lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom."  That sounds like it could be quite familiar to Lehi's vision.  And what was it that led the people to the tree of life and through the mist of darkness?  The iron rod... aka the word of God.  The scriptures and prophets are our directions of how to get through life. 

 

But during this life at some point in time we will mess up.  We don't "pray that thou shouldst lead me on."  Or we let "Pride rule our will."  But thanks to repentance we can "remember not past years" and move on and get back on a path that the light can lead us on.  And then in verse 3 it tells us of our triumph in life if we continually follow the light.  "So long thy power hath blest me, sure it will still lead me on o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone.  And with the morn those angel faces smile, which i have loved long since, and lost awhile!"  The light will continue to lead us on until we die, or until the morn comes and the night is over.  Then if we are righteous those angel faces will smile and welcome us with open arms to live for eternity in the presence of God and our families.  And that's how you can teach the plan of salvation through Lead Kindly Light. 

 

Love, Elder Peterson

October 3, 2011

Hello Familia

 

Conference really was great!  especially as a missionary.  It almost seemed more influential and that i was being spoken to more directly more often.  We had one investigator watch most of the sessions but the other ones didn't show up.  We also had a less active come to one of the sessions who hasn't been to church for a long time!  so that was good too.  That is crazy that they are building another temple in Provo.  The audible gasp through the entire audience speaks for the surprise that that is.  If I remember correctly, the Provo tabernacle wasn't that big of a building was it?  It seems like it will be a pretty small temple.  But nonetheless, two temples in one city is definitely proof of the moving forward of this marvelous work.  I was really greatful when Elder Holland was speaking in Priesthood Session to be able to say that my family is a family that serves missions.  There were a lot of powerful talks and a lot of things that i learned.  You had told me already about Brother Richardson speaking so i wasn't surprised.  He really did do an excellent job of speaking.  I guess i didn't realize that he was the second counselor in the sunday school presidency.  Conference does bring back good memories.  I'm not sure how old i was when i sang in the choir, but i was singing the highest part that was available so not too old.

 

I'm glad that you got my letter quickly!  Next transfers are on November 3rd so i'll be at that address at least until then.  Congratulations to Rachael and Dave! That is super exciting. You will definitely have to keep me updated on the progress of how that goes.  That is one thing i miss is being able to play with babies.  It's hard when we go over to families houses and things to not pick them up or anything because it's technically against the rules.  That is also cool that you got to see Dave for a little bit.  How did his ring end up at the bottom of the ocean?  There is one member here, Kaiden Billings, who is going to Utah State after he graduates from high school this year to enter the aerospace engineering program.  He is also captain of the football team right now so he keeps me updated on how Utah State is doing.  They sound like they are at least able to keep up with the better teams and now they just have to beat them. 

 

I am eating well and haven't been feeling sick at all either so that's good.  We get fed by the members at least 5-6-7 nights a week and sometimes lunch appointments too.  I haven't had anything too unusual to eat yet either.  We did have a jerky chilli one night which was pretty interesting.  It wasn't the greatest, but it would have been if you really like beef jerky.  We also had a fresh apple pie with the apples we helped a lady in the ward pick that night too and that was delicious.  The budget is pretty easy to stay in.  I haven't ever been hard pressed for money yet.  My shoes are working out great.  No complaints there.  I've been wearing the Dockers ones and i'm kind of saving my Echos for later in the mission or for dressier occasions when the Dockers start to wear out more.  Today my goal is to find a good winter coat to buy.  The weather is slowly getting cooler and we have extra time today.  This next week it's supposed to get back up to the low 80's though so if that happens that would be really enjoyable.

 

In thinking what kind of spiritual thought to share today, a lot of options come to mind.  We had zone conference this last week and were taught by my mission president and his wife and other leaders around us.  But, with general conference just being broadcasted, i'll quickly share one of my favorite talks.  You'll probably end up going around at an FHE or something and sharing all of yours so i thought i would still add my input.  I think the very first talk on Saturday Morning by Richard G. Scott was one of my favorites.  He told us to make the scriptures our friend.  When i think of a friend i think of someone who helps me uphold my standards, comforts me, i can trust, is always their, we have good times together, etc.  All of these attributes can also be applied to the scriptures.  However the scriptures are never blocked off from us by either geography or calendar is how he said it.  No matter where you go or what time it is, you may not always be able to talk to a friend here on earth, but you can always read from the scriptures.  One of my goals since being out here has been to try and memorize more scriptures.  Elder Scott said that when me memorize scriptures it's like forging a new friendship.  We get to know them better and add new meaning to reading.

 

In my normal studies this past week i have been reading now in Helaman.  In chapter 3:29-30 it reads

 

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked --

 

"And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of god in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."

 

The scriptures truly are important.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord always knows what we need to hear and connects our studies or ideas with it seems everything around us.  I know that if we lay hold upon the word of God and do the things that it tells us to do we will be much happier in our lives.  We can either live the gospel hard and our lives easy or live the gospel easy and our lives hard.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today and that if we continually read the scriptures and make them our friend they will never let us down in times of need.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

September 26, 2011

Good Afternoon family!  It has been a "short week!"  I'm writing a little later today because we got stopped while walking to the library and helped a recent convert move.  But that's good because we don't have a lot of things to do today without a car so we can't go grocery shopping or anything.  that is cool that you got to go to a football game with wade and steven.  I hope steven is doing good and the results are good from his latest tests as well.  whatever "good" may be.  I heard that utah state almost beat Auburn this last week.  That would've been a fun game to watch.  The weather is still fairly cold here.  It's been pretty windy lately.  I still haven't had a good storm yet though.  People keep telling me that the thunder here just goes on forever and shakes your whole house.  I want to experience that.

 

That is sweet that tanner and joey had their missionary reports in church this last week.  What a blessing it is to see missionaries coming out into the field!  I think the boots i have are gortex but i can't remember 100%.  We got 10 new missionaries this last week and 6 went home.  I am not the youngest missionary in our district anymore either.  Elder Virgen is being trained up in iowa falls.  I received a phone call from Sis Jergensen the other day and she wanted me to thank you for the letter you sent her in the mail i guess?  She said it really meant a lot to her and made her day to know that you were thinking of her.  She is doing good and is back in the mission field again.  And Caleb Sandford is coming home?  It has been a long time since i've heard that name.  You will have to tell whoever is left in the 202 that i know hi for me.

 

Well all of the corn fields are being harvested so i guess you can coun't that as a change of colors for the fall.  They are all turning white.  So now is the perfect time for missionary work.  "The field is white already to harvest."  I now know what that literally looks like now.  I also went and picked some apples this week.  Probably the only time i'll do that in a suit.  I started making a tape the other week, but i'm not sure when i'll be done.  You and dad should make me one with you speaking russian or something so i can hear your great progress and so you can practice.

 

This past week we have been teaching a lot about prophets and general conference.  We get a live broadcast at our church building and we have commited quite a few investigators to come check it out.  But one interesting thought that i had during my studies this past week that i would like to share with you is not about prophets.  It is about home.  In Matthew 6:19-21 is reads "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where theives break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also... that phrase made me think of "home is where the heart is."  We each have multiple homes.  We have our heavenly home where we should be laying up treasures, but we also each have our homes here on earth with our families as well.  There are a number of different things we can do to put treasures in our heavenly home, but how do we make our house here on earth a home?  The new perspective that i got while thinking about his is in the way the english language works.  The phrase "I'm going home" is an acceptable and often said phrase.  But if you say "i'm going house" that is not gramatically correct.  So why is home correct when house is not?  Well let's look at this example.  Let's compare "i'm going shopping" to "i'm going store."  The difference is that shopping is an action while store is just a place.  so home is an action.  Just like how it's the things we do inside the store that make it so we are shopping, it's the things that we do inside the house that make it a home.  In D&C 88:119 it tells us how to create an environment of what are house should be in order for the "home" actions to take place.  "establish a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."   And most importantly we need love.  In Preach My Gospel it tells us the home should be the best place to teach, learn, and apply principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A home established on gospel principles will be a place of refuge and safety.  It will be a place where the Spirit of the Lord can abide, blessing family members with peace, joy, and happiness.

 

How thankful i am to have been raised in a home that is founded upon those principles.  It really does feel like a place of refuge and safety for me.  Please don't think that i am thinking about home all the time or getting home sick though, because i love being out here in Iowa!!  I love you all and wish you the best in all of your weekly endeavors.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

September 21, 2011

Hello Family!  I have been in my area for one transfer already.  Time is going by pretty fast!  I'm assuming that by Iowa City you are meaning Iowa Falls?  Things are going great there and thanks to the work we started, that area is now getting full time missionaries as of tomorrow so we will have two sets in our branch.  And I am staying in Story City for this next transfer with Elder Nielsen so i can finish being trained.  I'm not entirely sure how long i will be here though.  Iowa is indeed moving into the fall weather.  It's been pretty windy and suit jacket weather pretty much this whole last week.  Speaking of suit coats, I found a sweet lighter blue suede suit jacket for only 5 dollars in a second hand store so i bought it and i'll probably send a pic of it.  The colors aren't starting to change really here yet, other than the corn getting all brown because it's been a dry season here.  A lot of the fields are already harvested though which just makes it look even flatter out here.  Well the big Iowa State and University of Iowa football game was last week and Iowa State won in triple overtime which was a big shocker.  That night we were told just to stay inside because we live in Iowa State territory so the whole town was pretty much just getting drunk to party.  I bet Pres McGinn was sad to hear that as well since his favorite time is U of I. 

 

We did hear that Sister Jergensen's mom died.  And yes she did go out to the funeral in Utah and is expected to be back sometime this week.  That is cool that you are still going around and teaching about senior missionary work.  I don't really know the senior missionaries here that well, but we aren't stationed close to them either.  Most of them are in the office, but they do have some proselyting couples.  The newest ones were put in Manchester and i don't know where the other ones are.  I'm sure that the missionaries that are actually in their areas know them a lot better though. Or the AP's probably know the office ones really well.  That is super crazy that Tanner is leaving already, and that Chandler is coming home.  Time is really flying and due dates and other things are closer than they appear.  You will have to let me know how those talks go (or at least Chandlers).

 

I'm glad that Russian is coming along well for both of you.  That would be very difficult to learn.  This week i've weirdly enough been learning about Rocket Science.  The elder's quorom president is an aeronautic engineer or something to that effect and got offered a position at the company that is buying out NASA pretty much and we had dinner with him the other night.  I've also learned that their are 7 times more pigs than people in the state of Iowa.  Needless to say, we eat a lot of bacon.

This past week we have been doing a lot of tracting since we were pretty much opening a new area.  My people skills have been improving a lot and i've been able to give out some books of mormon.  The people are nice, but pretty devoted to their own religions.  Usually just because that's what they grew up with, not because they actually know what they believe in.  Family is a big deal to the people out here.  We have been trying to teach them to start praying with their families.  Christ teaches us this as well in 3 Nephi 18:21 "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed."  I have definitely been blessed from the prayers that I am receiving and thank you very much for praying for me.  I have been developing as a person and missionary much faster than would be able to without the help of your prayers.  

 

Also with some people they try and "bash" with us to disuade us from doing the work.  But i just think back to how even though these people obviously don't have a love for me and i never leave with a feeling of love, nothing can seperate me from God's love.  In Romans 8:35-39 It says

 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate uf from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 

My advice and testimony to you today would to just do everything we can in order to keep growing closer to our Savior.  He really does love us and if we don't feel of that love, it is because we are turning away from Him, not the other way around.  I love this gospel and i am seeing first hand that happiness it brings to other people and the holes it fills for them.  I love you all!

 

Love, Elder Peterson

September 12, 2011

Hello family.  It sounds as if you have had quite the adventures this week.  More than me even.  That is crazy that all of those things happened and i wish i could have seen grandma joan being pushed in a wheelchair while racing to get to the flight!  It makes me laugh just thinking about it.  But the vacation overall sounded like a blast.  I'm sorry that grandpa bob wasn't feeling better though. that's a bummer.  My week has been going good.  Right now i am in Iowa Falls which is about 45 miles from Story City, but still in our area.  We have been up here since saturday night.  A member family has an apartment above their law firm and are letting us stay in their.  So we are now spending half the week here and half of the week in Story City.  The president said that he might be assigning missionaries to be in Iowa Falls though and that would be awesome.  We will find out this week when transfer calls come.  Its crazy to think that i have been here for almost 6 weeks already.  Yesterday we visited a less active and committed her to come to church and handed out a couple of books of mormon so their is definitely lots of potential up here.  I have not yet gotten your letter yet.  i will be super excited when i do though.  The last letter i got was from grandma and grandpa bob (i was supposed to tell them last week that i got it but i forgot.)  And that was almost 2 weeks ago.  I probably average like one letter every other week.  The weather in Iowa this last week was very good.  Some days were pretty hot, but nothing too too bad.  I don't remember having any exciting adventures that stand out from this last week.  We have been teaching a lot of lessons lately about the Doctrine of Christ which is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End.  Hyrum Smith stated that the more often we teach it the greater understanding we will have of it, the easier it will become to teach, and our desire to teach it will increase.  I have found all of those things to be true.  it's always the seemingly simple principles of the church that we continue to find new things to learn about.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

September 6, 2011

Hello Family!  Well i didn't know you were having the carnival in the ward, but i guess elder nielsen and i had our own little carnival... that's what the picture is.   They have a carousel in Story City and one night a couple of the member families in the branch were running it so they let us go for free and we got free popcorn.  We didn't get a slide show of pictures though, that would have been fun to see.  Did Blake at least ride his bike in the parade?  It's been getting to be fall like weather here as well.  It has even been a little chilly in the mornings when we were walking to help this nice old lady do some yard work yesterday.  And on that note, as you might have guessed, the library was closed yesterday which is why i'm e-mailing you today instead.  I think i'll have to start learning Russian or something so that you can't talk behind my back when i get home or in secret or anything.  Then i could talk to Zach in Russian too.  but that's a task for in a couple of years.  That is cool though that dad can pray in Russian and that you keep improving by meeting with the tutor.  Do you find the time to study it for those couple of hours every day?  The football hype is starting up out here as well.  I am only about 15 minutes away from Ames, which is where Iowa State is and they are big rivals with the University of Iowa and so i hear about it occassionally.  Also high school football started which is kind of a big deal out here as well.  But speaking of BYU football, i heard an interesting thing about Max Hall recently.  So i didn't know this, but the Iowa Des Moines mission is where he served his mission.  And while he was serving in Story City, he got sent home for getting into some trouble with some girls out here and inviting members daughters to bonfires and such.  Some of the members still remember him being here and the lady who we did the yard work for actually has a book of mormon with his signature in it. 

 

Well this week has seemed a lot more fun to me.  I'm not so worried about actually knowing what i need to say from the scriptures anymore as much as i am just trying to listen to the person who i am teaching and trying to tell them what would best help them.  I am gaining, and have gained, a lot of confidence in my teaching.  And so because of that the stress level has gone down and the mission is much more enjoyable.  It was enjoyable in the beginning too, but now i am just more in the swing of things i suppose.  We had an investigator at church this last week which is a big deal since the work is moving pretty slow.  Elder Nielsen and I also had the most lessons taught this last week with a total of 11 in Story City.  We actually taught more, but they can only count so many less-actives or something so i'm not exactly sure how the total number gets determined.  So the work is steadily moving upwards and onwards.  This last sunday was really empty because of the holiday and so there were probably only like 20 people at church. 

 

One of the lessons that we had with a member after dinner once this week really stood out to me and i want to share it with you. Even though i came up with the lesson and the basic outline, i still learned something that i didn't see coming.  The lesson was based around patience.  So we read Alma 34:41 which says something to the effect of: But that ye have patience and bear with those afflictions with a firm hope that ye shall one day have rest from all of your afflictions. (Each day or every two days i'm also trying to memorize a scripture, and that was one that i did.)  So we talked about what the real meaning of patience is.  When we are little and bugging our moms to leave church or the dentists office or something, we think that when they tell us to be patient that we just need to stop what we are doing and wait it out.  But in this scripture, it couples patience with a firm hope.  And hope is really the first step to having faith, which is an action word.  So if we are truly being patient that we don't just stop what we are doing.  We bear with our afflictions and keep doing good faithful actions until that day of when we rest from all afflictions.  President Uchtdorf says this about patience: "patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"  This is exactly why Jesus Christ is our best example of patience.  He does all He can to get us to be able to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again one day.  He sticks with us and works, hopes, and exercises faith for us and bears our hardships with fortitude.  I know that as we continue to develop Christlike attributes that we can accomplish so much more than we can ever imagine.  I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

 

P.S.  Folfing or Frolfing is frisbee golf.

August 29, 2011

Hello Family!

 

I'm doing great.  No earthquakes of hurricanes here.  Or tornadoes.  There was a fire though.  It was just big enough for us to roast mallows around it and have some s'mores and teach a lesson to a member family.  They had us over for dinner and they were in a little trailer camp park thing near here so we had to have some s'mores.  It was a good time.  i've been waiting for a lightning storm out here in Iowa!  I hear they are amazing and the thunder shakes your whole house.  The only bit of weather we have gotten is some light rain.  The skies sure are pretty though.  Mom would definitely love the sunsets here!  the clouds always make it look different and beautiful every night.

 

I had a great Sunday.  we went to a city called Iowa Falls which is about 45 miles away from Story City.  It is the biggest city in our area but it is so far away it's hard for us to get up there because we are only allowed so many miles a month and a lot of the people we visit are in little outlying towns.  But after church we rode with a member up there and spent the day up there.  It was also my first time biking on the mish since we didn't have our car.  It wasn't too bad but my biking muscles have not been used in a long time.  We had a meeting with all the members who live up there that night and tried to get the member missionary efforts going with full steam ahead and asked for ideas on how we could help more.  We are trying to start maybe a week on week off thing between there and Story City.  We will see what president has to say today about it.  I'm definitely starting to connect more with the members in the branch.  A lot of them are converts but there are some life long members as well.

 

This morning we went frolfing for our "work out."  They have a course really close to our apartment so we usually play on P-Days because there isn't a whole lot else to do.  We are also going to play basketball with some members later this afternoon.  Usually we would go to Ames and hang out with the other elders in our district but we don't have enough miles to drive down there today.

 

That is so cool that you got to go through the temple with Kallie and Casey!  And also that Rachael flew out for that.  I can't wait until i'm closer to Nauvoo so i can go through that temple.  Then i can say i've been able to do baptisms for the dead there and also a session.  That is one thing we are working torward with a lot of the less active members is to try and get them ready to go through the temple again.  It can be hard because it's far away.  We really are blessed in utah to have the temples so close to us.

 

So they have us on this new program that is supposed to train the new elders so they could potentially be trainers after 12 weeks if needed.  it certainly helps me dive more fully into the work.  I've lead a couple of discussions already while teaching and it is such a wonderful feeling when you can tell that the spirit is touching the hearts of those you are teaching.  I've spent a lot of my studies in Alma recently in chapters 16-26 ish.  It talks a lot about Ammon and Aaron and their brethren and the great missionary work they are doing.  It also contains the scripture that is on my missionary plaque thingy.  But it has answered a lot of questions and silenced fears about missionary work and has taught me a lot about how to be a better missionary.  One thing specifically i have learned from the sons of Mosiah is that if we want the spirit of prophecy and revelation and be able to teach with the spirit it requires much prayer and fasting.  They studied the scriptures diligently to know the word of God.  Even though they had seen an angel of heaven they still did all they could to learn more about the scriptures and become the best missionaries they could be.  God really does like to stand behind us when we make promises in His name.  I've seen that already in the work here.

 

I know that this is the true church and that it was restored through Joseph Smith.  If we are diligent in seeking for truth and understanding we can have all things made known unto us that is expedient for us to know.  Personal revelation is a powerful thing and we should seek for it in everything we do whether it be while reading the scriptures, praying, attending church, or even just spending time with our families.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

Combine, front view

Combine, side view

Corn

Endless corn fields

Lots of soybeans

Typical roadway

August 22, 2011

Dear Family,

 

Howdy!  You may not be able to type in Russian, but I can type in Iowan haha.  I'm getting down the Iowa lingo pretty well.  It isn't a whole lot different but it can be funny at times.  A lot of people whistle while they talk because a lot of them are missing teeth but they are the kindest people.  I'm doing good and the work couldn't be better.  I gave out my first book of mormon yesterday to a fellow named Rodney.  He is a truck driver and he will only be in Iowa for two weeks before he goes to north dakota, but it was fun talking to him.  We are going by his house again tonight.  I hope he read some of it!  I've been studying mostly on the first lesson in PMG during personal study time and me and my companion have practiced teaching it together and it seems to go smoothly in practice.  We don't spend a whole lot of time tracting.  I've been for maybe like an hour and a half total.  Yesterday we were in Gilbert, a city pertinear to Story City, for a dinner appointment.  After dinner we contacted the house of the pasture for the Gilbert Lutheran Church and offered to teach in his sunday school class to answer questions and such, but he declined the offer.  

 

The less actives are really good.  Most of them are coming to church pretty consistently now.  It's fun teaching them, because the lessons we plan aren't usually out of preach my gospel, because they know the basics of the doctrines.  One of the people we are teaching is having a tough time.  Her son was married to a girl and they had a child, but they took a DNA test and it isn't his son.  So it's been interesting to teach her, but she is coming to church and hopefully finding peace in the gospel.  I can tell a difference in her already from just the two weeks i have been here.  There are some pretty crazy stories with the people out here though.  One of our recent converts had a child at the age of 13... and it was planned.  So she is 23 and her oldest son is 10 but she is the sweetest person and a very good church member.  The heat actually hasn't been that bad.  The first week i was here the humidity was low but now it is slowly climbing back up.  Nothing too too hot yet though.  Knock on wood.

 

That is SO awesome that Kallie and Casey are getting sealed this week.  I am so happy for them.  I wish that I had gone to the Logan temple before i left.  I hear it is really beautiful though.  I get to attend the Nauvoo temple at least 4 times on my mission, and the pagaent once.  On P-Days if you live close enough to the temple you can go and also if you are in the Nauvoo area itself, you can help clean the temple as well.  We only have a certain number of miles to drive though so i don't know how often we will actually go.  Where I am right now is definitely out of the question.  We don't even have enough miles to go to all the cities in our area consistently.  Iowa Falls is in our area but it's 90 miles round trip.  I haven't actually been up there yet but we are planning on going this sunday and meeting with the more active families to set up some member missionary work.  That is one reason why there aren't many people from up there that come to church because they can't afford the gas money to come here every week.

 

That stinks that you have 2 houses flooding.  Satan really does love to create opposition right when good things are about to happen.  We actually taught a lesson on just that to a less active.  We used the story of Joseph Smith and of Moses.  We all know the story of Joseph Smith, but I find it interesting that Satan didn't try to stop him with a whole lot of opposition until he actually started praying in the grove.  If good things are meant to happen, they will.  It is during this time of most opposition that we need to exert ALL our powers to call upon God to deliver us from the enemies which hold us bound.  With the case of Moses, Satan was wanting Moses to worship him.  Satan even lied to the point where he called himself the only begotten son.  But Moses received first a little strength to stand against Satan.  Then Satan came back harder and put fear into Moses.  However it was at this time that he received all the strength he needed in order to get rid of Satan and the fear.  I know that this gospel is true and we can draw on the strength of our Heavenly Father whenever we need to.

 

Love, Elder Peterson

August 15, 2011

Hello Family!!  I probably really was doing all of those things at the time you said i was doing them.  I actually don't have a set time to e-mail now that i am out of the MTC but we still keep it to about an hour and then e-mail the mission president our weekly letter.  So my first area is a little town called Story City, Iowa.  It is just about in the center of Iowa.  The people here are really nice and we are working mostly with less actives.  The area is pretty big and the branch is fairly small but we had over 100 people at church today which is great success! A lot of less actives were there.  Plus i haven't had to ride bikes at all which i am thankful for.  We have a 2011 Chevy Malibu that we get to drive around.  We are allowed 1000 miles a month so in order to go to the farther places of our area, the members sometimes give us rides.  This first week has been quite luxurious actually, but i know that it will probably not stay this way.  We had a baptism on saturday, so even before I got to go to church I was already meeting a lot of members who came for that.  The weather has been perfect.  I just missed the heat wave that was here a couple weeks ago.  Another one might still come in, but i'm hoping that it doesn't.

My trainer companion is Elder Nielsen.  He is from West Haven, Utah.  He goes home in december and is one smart cookie.  It has been pretty interesting to just dive into the lives of these investigators and less actives without knowing any background about them but still be able to teach them concepts and principles that still help them.  Elder Nielsen also went to Utah State and is majoring in Biological Engineering.  I have only had corn twice since i've been here, but the corn fields are EVERYWHERE haha.  I took a picture (and i'll try to post it here) of our church with the cornfields in the same field as the church.  Most of the corn they grow here is actually for cattle feed, but the sweet corn they do grow is delicious.  They also grow a lot of soy beans.  You can see so much sky here it is ridiculous.  I'm sure i'll get used to it though.  It certainly does make for beautiful sunsets though.  I'll have to send you pictures mom so you can be jealous.

Recipes would be greatly appreciated when you get the chance.  We have an hour for lunch and dinner so they would have to be pretty quick and easy though.  So far i've been living off of sandwiches and cereal, but that's just fine with me.  I'll actually have a chance to go grocery shopping this week and get some more food instead of just what was left for me by the missionary who was here before i was.  I hope you do well in the learning of the language!  I have seen the Russian alphabet while Zach (my roommate) was trying to learn it at the MTC and it is very different and confusing.  You will get the cool nametags that are in Russian though so that'll be cool.  I know that if you just keep practicing it will come to you and you'll do fine talking to people.

I sent a letter to Kallie to our home address because she said she was moving. I didn't know her home address so i guess you can just give that to her when she is home for the weekend.  I also already sent Clayton a letter too.  That's crazy that school is starting up already.  I'm not sure how or if that will affect the mission out here at all.  They are big into schooling here though, even in this small little town.  Going to church on Sunday was fun.  They had all the youth talk for a couple of minutes about something that they experienced over the summer. Most of them talked about either youth conference or girl/scout camp.  At the end they had me get up and bear my testimony.  They have a lot of strong members here and i've been over to some of their houses for dinner already and they sure do know how to cook!  The first night i was here Elder Nielsen took me over to a family, the Elmer's, and told me they were investigators and had me teach a lesson even though they were really members.  It was easy to pick up on it because the first thing you see when walking in is a mirror that says eternal families on it and a picture of Jesus.  Then when we sat down they had their book of mormon videos on the shelf, but i still played along and it was good to get some experience in teaching the lesson of the Restoration.

I've been working on memorizing scriptures lately in personal study.  Today i was memorizing Mosiah 3:19.  It talks about putting of the Natural Man and becoming a saint through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Then for personal reading i was reading in Alma chapters 10 and 11.  In these chapters, Zeezrom tries to pay Amulek and bribe him to deny Christ.  It's just a good reminder to remember that all of our natural wants and tendencies may not be on the straight and narrow path.  Although it's a good thing to want money to provide for our families we should never follow Satan in order to achieve that.  If we yield to the enticings of the Holy Ghost and stay true to the path and keep a firm grip on the Iron Rod, we will be taken care of.  One thing i've noticed on my mission is that my natural man wants more sleep, but by doing different things and praying for help i'm able to stay awake through my studies and that is really helpful for when we go out teaching that day.  I love you all and know that this gospel is true.

Love, Elder Peterson

Oh, P.S.  Just send all mail to the mission home address that you have and they forward it to us that same day.  That way you don't have to worry about all of the different addresses and such.  Also send all packages through the post office because they can't forward UPS or FedEx.  Thank you!