Dear Family,
It has been a week of ups and downs this week. The mission has
taught me well just to focus on the ups though and looking back that's
really all i can remember from the past year and a half. Most of our
investigators were dogging us this week. Sunday morning we went and
personally visited all of them before church to tell them they needed to
come and hold the ones who said they would come accountable.
Unfortunately, none came. We also had to drop Kirk this week. He just
isn't progressing and he says the church just isn't for him right now.
On the bright side though, we definitely influenced him and he
acknowledges that. He prays now and he never used to. He believes in
Christianity once again. As our purpose of "inviting others to come
unto Christ" we have succeeded with him. Just no baptism. I'm sure
eventually in the future he will be baptized though. We are still good
friends and see him pretty often since he just lives down the hall from
us.
The best up of this week is that we had a baptism this Saturday of
Hope. That is Amber's (recent convert) daughter. Elder Dyer baptized
her and I confirmed her. There was a sweet spirit at her baptism. A
lot of ward members showed up to support her which is great. My
favorite thing she said was the person who was talking to her about
baptism and the holy ghost asked her what would happen to her after she
was baptized and Hope said "I'll be wet." Haha he was looking for
confirmed. The other picture is that we also had a pretty good sized
snow storm this week. It was really cold walking around (had to walk
because cars were grounded). With the wind chill it got down to -20...
enough to make your face go numb after just a minute or two. The good
thing about it is that people were more willing to let us in... when
they opened the door. Some would just look outside and tell us it was
too cold.
This week we got our transfer calls. Elder Dyer and I are actually
going to be staying together for another transfer! We were really
suprised when we got the call. We are also getting a third missionary.
A visa waiter who is going to go to Brazil once he gets his visa. He
will probably be with us for the whole transfer though. This next
transfer is only 5 weeks instead of 6. I am technically called to be
his trainer, but it is a joint effort by both Elder Dyer and myself to
train him until he gets to Brazil. No one in our district is getting
transfered, but another 2 companionships are getting visa waiters. That
will put our district at 13 missionaries. It is going to be fun. One
of the missionary companionships who is getting a visa waiter is our car
share, so now when we pick each other up to go to district meetings and
such we will be squishing 6 missionaries into the car. President just
told us to be careful and not to kill ourselves.
Another investigator we had, Dylan, we had to drop. We had high
hopes for him. He definitely had a LOT to overcome, but we thought we
could help him out. He also attended a baptism that some missionaries
had. But he stole some stuff again and got in trouble with the law and
skipped town so we aren't meeting with him anymore. My ankle is doing
good and i'm doing my stretches and exercises every day to get it
stronger and looser again.
My scripture highlights of the week come from:
Psalms 118: 24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
and
and
Alma 26: 35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began;
yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he
has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all
things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who
will repent and believe on his name.
bolded for emphasis. But it is true that we have great reason to
rejoice and be happy every day. We determine ourselves whether we will
be happy or not, not our external circumstances. I can honestly say
that I am happy every single day. I know that this gospel is truth. It
is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings lasting happiness that can
linger and grow for eternity. I love you all!
Love, Elder Peterson
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