Day 265

This week was a pretty good week. Last Thursday the Christensens left to go to Provo to see their daughter, who is dating Jordan. I was able to get a blessing from Brother Christensen before he left which provided a lot of insight for me. It was a good call because I got transferred and won't see them before they get back. This week we finished most of the service projects that we were doing, including the Drywall, and more woodsplitting. A good week for meeting new people, not as good of a week for finding new investigators. We had ZTM in the states, I had to buy a new pair of jeans while I was there because I outgrew my other ones by a lot. We did plenty of driving and it was lots of fun.

Lets hear about transfers-any changes?

I am getting transferred.. I'm going to Steinbach, It's a Mennonite community about an hour south of Winnipeg, they attend church in Winnipeg, so I'm excited for that. I'll be serving with a missionary named Elder Coleman. Just finished his training. Looks like a pretty solid guy. It's good that you emailed me last night because we are doing some service this afternoon, and we had to email early. Elder Aultz is replacing me here in Kenora.

So we drive to Winnipeg for transfer meeting on Thursday. Luckily Brother Christensen's Ward is the London ward, the ward in Winnipeg that I'll be attending. That made me pretty happy.

Are Tess and Eric and doing ok?

They seem alright, up and down. I'm sad to leave them.

How about Robby?

He's good, we have an appointment set up with him on tuesday, I'm excited to go over there.

How old is Columbus?   We have a vacancy now  :[

That's sad. :( Everyone must be a little heartbroken. Columbus is probably two or three. I don't know how you'd get him.. Can you mail a cat?

Do you ever see northern lights?  I guess you aren't far north.

I guess I could have seen them the other day around midnight, but I didn't think it was worth it to wake up then to see them.. 

If you could a pick a place to serve (within your mission), where would you choose and why?

I am not really sure, I think it would be fun to serve in the States, but I don't know. I'm pretty excited for steinbeck, I've heard a lot of good things about it recently, and the district that I'm going into is supposedly really excited about the work, so that will be really nice. :)

What song are you singing in your choir?  I would love to see/hear you singing...

We are singing the songs from guys and dolls, they are all romantic, and it's kind of weird to sing them as a missionary. But it's all good. They might not let the next missionaries perform because they haven't put in the time.

Also, if you need to get a hold of me, it is appropriate to send a message on facebook. As a general rule I don't message people from home unless It helps me fulfil my calling as a missionary, but It's probably better than emailing the mission President.

Anyway, I love all of you so much! and I miss you!

Love Elder Peterson

I thought I would send you my spiritual insight from last night

I read a verse last night that stuck out to me last night. It's in Second Nephi Chapter ten, verse thirteen.

It says something like: "If any man fighteth against Zion, He shall surely perish, saith God." I thought to myself, what if that man, isn't necessarily us, or our neighbor, or my friend, but what if that man that shall die, is the Natural Man inside us all?

Think about it.

Day 258

This week has been good. We found one new investigator, his name is Robby, we split a bunch of wood for him and Brother Ladd. We also did some service for a lady named Val who we sing with in the Choir. She's a sweetheart. We'll have to invite her on Wednesday to learn more about what we have to share. You'll be excited to know that everyday I write in my journal, and read my scriptures at night. I find that it helps my spiritual progress to look more linear. I've been working out fairly constistently and I feel better. So all in all I feel pretty good. Tess and Eric are probably going to split up, which will probably be good for Tess. I just feel bad for her kid. It makes me pretty sad to be honest. Hopefully they'll break up, Tess will get baptised and then move to British Columbia where she'll find a nice Mormon guy and get married. It's improbable, but it could happen. Robby is a fourty year old guy who just had a heart attack, It looks like we may have a little Word of Wisdom issues to clean up, but he is married so that would be about the only thing. He wants to meet with us. Elder Poulsen is doing good, his strengths are mostly my weaknesses and vice versa, so most of the time things work out pretty well for us. Overall I've been improving as a missionary and am looking forward to the future! :)

You liked my handicap ramp analogy? I've been working on that for a while. It just stands out to me, that we need to learn line upon line, precept upon precept. We don't need to run faster than we are able. but we do need to be moving in a direction that brings us closer to God. I've been reading Jesus the Christ. Holy cow what a great book, it really helps me step into a little bit what Christ's like could have been like. Talmage has a analytical writing style that is fairly easy to understand most of the time.

Best Moment?

see paragraph above.

Do you have a favorite cat?

Yes there is an orange cat named Columbus, we get along well. if he's still in there by the time I get done I'm will take him home. He's a playful dog in a cat's body.

Were there any  ah-hah moments for you or your investigators this week?

Ah hah? I suppose. Just that Christ Literally had to learn and grow up like us, He was tried and tested. In every way shape and form. just like Us. While he was perfect, he still had the capacity to fail. He being perfect and the only begotten descended below all things in an attitude of humility. We being the dust of the earth decend below a few things, and still are prideful. Chew on that.

Can you use your K's on p-day like a day trip somewhere?

Yes I think so, but we don't really. There's nowhere to really go.

Any more fishing?

Nope. Fine by me, Last time it was cold and miserable.

How's the pull-up bar?

Really good. I'm getting stronger. It adds a lot more balance to my work out routine.

Do you ever have to use your scouting abilities?

Not really. I acquired a pretty nice knife and I don't carry it around as a missionary, so it just stays in the apartment. I rarely use it.

We were discussing who we wanted to be left on a deserted island with, someone who won't drive you crazy, but has some good skills....  Who would you pick (if you weren't on your mission)?

Probably Kent... Of course. 

Man, Elder Allred moves pretty fast....

Yeah, that's the Christensen's daughter that everyone in the whole branch set them up with. They are under Oath to wait to get married until I get home. 

Isn't this transfer week?  Do you know if anything's changing?

This Friday or Saturday we will know.

Are things starting to green-up up there, we already have flowers, CRAZY!!

Not really. It's supposed to be fourty degrees on wednesday, CRAZY!!

Anyway. That's about all for this week. It's been good, really good. No complaints! Getting a haircut today whoo hoo!

Love Elder Peterson

Day 251

How was your week?

My week was good, although fairly busy, Except saturday.. Saturday was sooooooper slow. Other than that, it was great!

What did you end up doing with all your extra K's?

We just didn't do anything, Hopefully they won't reduce our K Allotment.

How's Eric the pizza guy?

Eric the Pizza guy is getting closer, but he's got a long way to go. He keeps trying to imagine a situation where he is in charge of his destiny, Kind of thinks that prayer and luck and that stuff exist because people believe it does. Ticks me off ;)

Is Tess interested also?

Yes, she is the driving factor. She would like to be baptised, but the only thing holding her back is that she's still living with Eric, with a kid, Moving out would be difficult and she hasn't shown that she's ready for that.

So are you enjoying this area more than swift or is swift special just because it was you first area?

I do like this area quite a bit, I think I do like it more than swift, but that could be just because I'm here right now. We do however have a meal every day this week, that's really amazing :)

Best Moment?

We ran into one of our investigators who lost someone they loved, at Walmart. She ran up to me and was going to hug me and then stopped, and said "oh I was going to give you a hug but your a missionary" and I said "yeah I know it's lame right?" then she hugged me anyway. I don't know her that well, but it was nice, then she told us about how she'd been struggling. So we listened. We had just prayed before that we could run into someone that needed us, and then we ran into four people that we knew and were able to help in some small way. That's the best moment. 

Did Eric do his reading assignment?

Nope, what a slacker. We are supposed to meet with him this week.

Any new PI's

Not really. :/ a few I guess.

What made you laugh this week?

A lot of things, I'm hilarious. Naww just kidding, but I do make it a point to laugh everyday. You know those laughs that come from your stomach and make your whole body shake. Most of the time When we go to Eric and Tess' house we laugh a lot, Eric is pretty funny. Do you know why the lamanites legs were sore? Because of all the Knee Fights!

Why didn't the nephites have a dinner? because Moroni hid the plates!!!

What did you learn this week?

Faith is Power. Power from on high to do work and improve. Faith is reading your scriptures, staying healthy, Praying, going to church. Faith is a Verb, it's what you do. #Ifaithprettyhard #doyoufaith When we sin it damns or stops our progression, If we are experiencing a time when we are not progressing, it's probably because of something that we are doing that is wrong, or something we are not doing. If we continue to show faith, and learn and grow. we will progress. Also, President Uctdorf said that "If we are going the right direction, it will always be uphill" But I learned that hill isn't so much a mountain, It's probably more of a handicap ramp. We just take slow and simple steps, and we can make it up. The mountain we are called to climb is handicap accessible. We are human, therefore we are handicapped. It's not easy, it's not comfortable, but it will never be too hard or too uncomfortable to bear. Don't focus on all things, focus on the most important. Lastly, It is near impossible to change, unless you change something small that you do everyday.

What do you and elder Peirson Poulson do for fun this week?

It's always a lot of fun to go to member appointments. Especially with the Christiansens. Did you know that Brother Christensen is the son of Dr. (Gordon?) Christensen. He's like a world renowned dentist. Any dentist would know who he is.

This week was good. We had quite a bit of service in the last week. Being a missionary is Great!

Love Elder Peterson

Day 244

This week was good, I made Crepes for some of the members, and it was a hit, so that felt pretty good, Eric works at Pizza hut, every once in a while he'll bring us a free pizza they screwed up there, it's pretty nice. I think if we texted him he would bring us one whether we asked him or not.. We did quite a bit this week, I heard from Elder Allred he's been taking out the Christensens daughter, she's in Provo going to BYU. I think he likes her so hopefully he's not married by the time I get home. :/ This week was very productive, we went tracting, it wasn't very productive, and did a lot of other things, we have a bunch of Kilometers (somehow, I have no Idea where they came from, it seems like we are always running in "by the skin of our teeth" So we'll probably try to go somewhere I guess. Maybe out to the reserve for a day trip. (we can't drive at night, I feel like I'm fifteen) 

How was Minnesota? 

Minnesota was great.. we went and came back, nothing too eventful ;)

What do you do at your meeting?  Practice more, or is it for motivation?

I think a little of both. We practice as well as they teach us about something they feel we should work on.. It was alright, I definitely took things away from it.

What was fun?  I haven't been there in 44 years.  Did it just feel good to be in the USA?

It felt really good being there, as I said, I'm pretty sure the spirit is a lot stronger there.

How was ice fishing?  What are you trying to catch?

I don't even know, Walleye I think? We didn't catch anything and I'm pretty sure I almost got frostbite (just kidding.. kinda) It's pretty cold, they other day it was like -30 with a -47 degree windchill.

How are the investigators?  (from contacts on your phone, and others)

They are really good. Yesterday we talked with Tess and Eric, and instead of trying to sneak in a little doctrine, We just flat out said "Eric, we're going to talk to you in the living room, you knew this day would come, and we are going to dunk you." He laughed but has no idea how serious I am. :) We had a good two hour discussion, and He tried to give us every excuse in the book that he had given to missionaries before, although we didn't discuss any of that with him. The only thing we discussed with him is that Happiness is progression, and that what we teach would make him happy. He accepts that he isn't as happy as he'd like to be, and also that he thinks Mormons blow everyone else out of the water as far as happiness goes. Then we challenged him to Listen to us and act on what we ask him to do, he said he would have an answer for us next time we visit (tuesday) and that it would probably not happen, even so, I gave him a reading assignment from the Book of Mormon. (heh heh) he said he  would read it before our next visit.

Other than Elaine, do you still hear from people in Swift?Not really, there was one lady we met with a few times named Nancy, but other than that, Nope.

Best Moment?

I think just being able to testify to Eric the importance of what we teach, and then staring him down for a good eight seconds of silence. I felt like there was power in the room.

When do the other elder's have to go? 

I don't really know who will go, probably not this next transfer is what President told me in my interview..

Will they just hand over all their contacts?

Someone will, whether it's us or them..

Have you ever had sisters in any of your areas?

Nope, although it would be nice, they bring in a special spirit.

At what point would you have to take over for the sisters if they were teaching someone?

I think almost immediately, but the same rule applies to us, if we found a single woman, our whole goal would be to get them to meet with the sisters.

Anyway, that was my week, it was pretty fun and pretty productive. The transfer is already half way over.. Crazy, Every time I close my eyes I realize that I've been out longer and longer. It's flying by. I literally feel like I was in the MTC a couple months ago.. It ticks me off. Oh well. Just know we had a good week and we're excited to move into this week.

Once I wrote in my weekly email to President that "The future is so bright I'm wearing shades" Not sure if he got the reference. Probably didn't think I was funny. 

Day 237

This week was good. We got to drive down to International Falls Minnesota for a ZTM. It was a lot of fun. Although it was nearly seven hours of driving. :P This week we have been trying to contact former investigators with not a ton of success. :/ but there are a few that may be promising, providing they are home when we stop by and let us in their home. We went through our phone and called and sent texts to anyone who we didn't know who they are. We shoveled some snow, it's snowed quite a bit the last few weeks, like six to eight inches. It's a great service activity, although it seems like when it snows we are always trying to go somewhere and do something. Altogether we've had a pretty good week, We are trying hard and are improving as missionaries. we are still getting fed well, and the members are really nice. I like it up here and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else.

So whats going on today?

Today we are interviewing with President Thomas. Getting haircuts, and going ice fishing, then we sing in Choir later today. (we are singing songs from Guys and Dolls. It's OK) 

Tell me about your new companion?? ( I know I already asked that, but now you know him more)

That's weird that all your companions have been lefties, huh?

My new companion is good, He's excited to do missionary work, and pretty obedient and that's all I can ask for right?? He is great at member appointments and does the dishes after meals at there place and at home, so it encourages me to step it up more. 

Elder Allred seems to be adjusting well, looking at fb, do you still get to be friends with him?

Yes, I still get to be friends with him. I didn't think he would have a very hard time adjusting, He'll do well. Hopefully I'll get to see him when I get home. 

Since you've both been out a while, do you still have a senior companion?

Yes we still have a senior companion. Ideally though it shouldn't seem like there is a senior companion because we should be unified right?? we're decent at motivating each other and our strengths match up pretty well.

What happened with the baptism challenge?

It didn't happen this week. we weren't able to sit down and have a lesson with him. 

How about the natives?

They are doing alright, it's hard to get down there because it's about an hour's drive. A member is supposed to take us down, but it probably won't happen this week.

Any luck with your common-law friends?

Not yet, still trying. I think that it could happen if they both wanted to be mormon.

Have you heard anything about how Elaine is doing?

Yes, we message frequently over facebook. It's a lot of fun. I think she went to church the last few weeks and that is a lot of improvement for her. She fell and had to get stitches but she sounded like she is doing well. She's remarkably healthy for a lady who has smoked nearly her whole life and turning 80.

Do you ever play pranks on each other?

Sometimes, the other day I covered the other Elder's car with a snowblower. Nothing malicious. Sometimes when you're in the shower you'll get cold water dumped on you or something of that nature. I usually don't get pranked. and usually I encourage other missionaries to pull the pranks. 

Is there a bus in Kenora?  Do you ever have to ride it?

I think there is a bus, and I don't really have to ride it. Since we have two sets of Elders, we are able to car pool together to things. We have enough Kilometers until we try to go out of town to reserves and such. Then it starts eating our K's like candy.

Anyway, Thanks for the Email and the questions. I hope that I've answered everything to your liking. Love You!

Elder Peterson

Also, I told everyone about my half birthday, and I got two cakes on valentines day. It was pretty hilarious. I didn't really intend on getting people to give me things. Haha.

Day 230

How's the new comp? (repeat from above)

He's good, he is from Salem Utah. He seems like a pretty good guy. Half east Indian, half Vietnamese. my second Asian companion, and my first companion that isn't left handed! 

How has the "area" changed since there's only two of you now?  Did you already know all the other  missionaries' investigators, or are they new to you?

Actually they decided to keep it to four Elders here in Kenora, probably just one more transfer but who knows. Elder Tomlinson is training a new guy, and Elder Poulsen is serving with me. Elder Poulsen goes home in July, so he has been out for a while. So the other elders have kept their investigators.

Any progress with the PI's?

With transfers and everything there wasn't too much progress with potentials, we we able to stop by a few but seemed to not ever quite catch them.

Best moment?

This week was a good week, I think the best part was to talk to one of our investigators boyfriends about happiness, after we shoveled his walk. That was pretty great. it's slow going because "he doesn't believe in God, he only believes in science" so we are trying to take a roundabout course and teach him about happiness, challenge him, and get him to have a spiritual confirmation on his own. we have made a little progress with him but not much. We'll get there.

Do you have weekly appts for service or are they more variable/spontaneous?  Such as Sally Annes, cat shelter, etc. 

We have a weekly day that we go to the cat shelter, and a weekly day that we go to the soup kitchen, but other than that we usually can go to salvation army anytime and volunteer.

So do you see everyone's posts on your fb wall, or are you limited in what you can see/access?

I have facebook just like anyone else, They ask us to not post anything that hurts our image as missionaries, but other than that there aren't very many limitations. we have to make sure that we can see the other missionary's screen, but that's pretty standard.

So could you see yourself going to Canada to live after your mission?

I don't know if I would move to Canada, I'd have to have some pretty strong persuasion, I do love it up here, and I would come and stay here, but nothing too permanent. Nothing beats the great USA!

Is your branch pretty good at helping you find people? 

Not really, we could be better at asking for referrals, and we have been but nothing has come of it yet. we'll have to get out the stick.

Is your branch presidency accommodating to having activities to encourage missionary work? 

we have a family home evening dinner twice a month, not a ton of people come to it but we do get a little turn out. 

I know this is where I need to be and I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can truly change and become better. I've seen it in myself and I've seen it in others. I will let you know that I am doing well here and I am being taken care of. Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Elder Peterson

Day 223

This week we got transfer calls, Elder Allred goes home, and Elder Scott goes to Meadow lake, one of the most northern parts of the mission, it's a shame, he was probably in my top three favorite companions. he seems excited to go, and I would be too. I think the missionaries up there live in a big house with members, they even have a basketball court. I'm getting a new missionary, Elder Poulsen, he's a little brown guy I think half east indian and half Philippine. I've heard lots about him and I think it will be a great transfer. This week was good, we taught some, are working on getting some more referrals, and much more. This week Sister Christiansen told us that if we asked her after our mission she would give us an acre of her land. haha, first time I've ever been offered land. she also said that if our family ever wanted to go to nauvoo, we just have to plan it out a month or two in advance, and they have access to a house that we could stay in (I think for free) and her and her husband would drive down no problem from Kenora to go tour nauvoo with us. they have been a lot of times and love it a lot. They were shocked and appalled that we'd never been. and they meant what they said. If you wanted to go sometime soon without me, kind of like disneyland ;) I could definitely get you their contact information.

That's sad that you were sick, are you over it now?

Yeah, I was only bad for a few days, I figure that I had the flu, now I just have a cough.

What happens if a missionary need to see a dr, is it more complicated than here, with their health system (stupid question, duh, we also have a health system)

It can be kind of expensive since we're from the states I hear that they like to ding us, but I don't intend on seeing a doctor ever unless it's serious. I think the mission will reimburse us for medical though.

Any progress with your investigators, nice jail lady, reserve people, etc?

Some progress, we got in touch with a few former investigators this week, all natives, so they all count as new investigators, whoo hoo, they seem excited to have us over again and we are excited to teach them. Up here you can live together for six months and then file for commonlaw marriage, which pretty much you get the tax benefits of being married. The church doesn't accept it as marriage because of how you get it, and it makes sense. But so many people live together, the girl in the photo with the baby is living commonlaw with her boyfriend and also another lady that we met and are teaching this week. It's so hard to get people married! A lot of these people are living all of the commandment but they won't move out or get married and it can be a little frustrating at times. So I guess I'll have to smack some people around and just start marrying people left and right. sounds good to me. nice jail lady has been sick I guess she will get in contact with us when she is better.

Service?

Mostly just service to members this week, we sorted cans at the sally anne's this last week (want any beans?) that wasn't too bad. we moved a ton of apple juice for them and stacked it on shelves, probably 200-300 liters of apple juice. 

Did you have transfers or is that next week?, probably next week since Allred is leaving on the 6th

This week is transfers. Elder Allred is going to winnipeg on wednesday along with Elder Scott.

Best moment?

This last week we had a lesson with a Less Active member named Katie, and by some coincidence we also taught the plan of salvation! (new member lesson) It was a really good lesson, she understands it pretty well, we just need to get her to church! It's always awkward to start teaching but the rewards of it are so great, we all left feeling the uplifted and well.

You will have to teach me some of those great recipes that you are making, what is the best thing that your companion makes?

The members cook for us so much here, it is the greatest thing ever! we probably get fed four times a week, which makes a huge difference. It's surprising to get fed so much in a branch with this few members. The missionaries are really treated like a part of the branch. Often we just eat leftovers that the members give us. when we do cook, it's usually, burritos, oatmeal, rice and vegetables, or other things. It's not too shabby.

I'm trying to get Korinne more motivated in the kitchen, she's kind of like you, and waits for someone to make something, and then asks for one too.  She's funny!  It's just not her thang, and that's ok.  Kamas likes to help in the kitchen, though. 

Isn't she really short? she probably can't even see into the mixing bowl.

Is it more hick farm community or cityish in Kenora?  

Very tourist. people come from all over to Kenora, not so much during the winter time, but during the summer it's supposed to be very nice here. Definitely a place I would come back to. I've been offered to go fishing here in the lake when I get back, as well as hunting.

Do any of the sisters ever have to ride bikes?  Our sisters do in the city sometimes, not enough cars...

We have no bike areas here. there are a few walking but most people have cars, we are quite spoiled in that aspect.

Do you ever have "dog" incidents?

Not really, I'm pretty confident about dogs, I just stare them down and not show fear. if they run at me, I just charge at them and then they run away.