Day 447

Hello!

Thanks for all the wonderful emails that you sent me this week!

Today I'm doing well... I'm sitting here at the church just emailing.

Maybe I can think of a few things that you probably don't know about me.

1. Part of the cap on my front tooth chipped. It's not terrible, but it is noticable

2. I have a monster Zitt in the middle of my forehead, I think that my skin is trying to sprout a unicorn horn.

3. I weigh about 185 pounds. Just about exactly what my starting weight was

4. I routinely get asked about my magic underwear

5. I can walk on my hands and do one armed pushups

6. I want to do a backflip, but I'm too scared.

7. I really like the new mission president, It wouldn't surprise me if he got called as a general authority.

8. I expect and want to baptize someone, but I'm willing to keep working and be patient.

9. I eat pretty well, even when not at members houses. Elder Bingham and I buy all of our food together and have a variety of meals. We also have food storage, we only bought milk and syrup this week.

10. I love growing spiritually. It may seem like a no brainer, and an obvious statement from a missionary, but I am sometimes surprised how fulfilling it is to grow spiritually. Real changes happen, things that seemed big, now seem small. Lives are changed, simply because someone cares enough to accept the help that Christ gives, and put in their effort. I always thought of that as something that was too hard, it wasn't a desire in my heart, but as I've done so, I've gotten better. It was funny, when I came out, I don't know if I expected it, but I hoped that I would just become a different person. A dedicated servant of The Lord. And then I got out, and I was no different, I wanted to serve, but what I had to serve with was exactly the tools I had before. It's both a positive thing and a negative, because while it would be nice to have been able to zap into mega missionary mode, It would also mean that when I got home, I would be able to Zap out of it. So because the Lord requires us all to work diligently, persistently, and continually, it means that doesn't all just go away. in order to regress, we have to diligently, consistently, and persistently make wrong choices and ignore the feelings that we have to do the right things!

In other words, we can't make a train go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, but neither can we stop it that fast. It is good news!

So that's what I've enjoyed, seeing that everyday is a new conversion, building a new testimony. Learning something about the Gospel everyday. It's a pattern I want to have for the rest of my life.

I feel like that's the message that we proclaim. Forget about your sins and misdeeds, start doing good things things. keep doing good things. Christ says "Give your life to me, and we'll make it great!" Faith comes in, just like that Believing Christ book, do we truly believe that Christ can do what he says he will do?

This week we had Elder Renlund of the Seventy come and speak to us. He had a conference talk "Latter Day Saints keep on trying" He was really good. He had a very practical outlook on how we can live the Gospel, and what it does for us. I have to say though, the way that President Craig teaches, he is a very powerful teacher about the real reason we do the things that we do. He always ties things back to basic principles and the spirit is always so strong. We've been talking about how to work better with members, (truthfully one of the hardest yet most rewarding parts of missionary work) I think the church is really moving forward and is very progressive in this work. It's so amazing to see them get involved and help this great work move forward.

I've rambled a lot. My mind has been really all over the place in the last week. I think maybe my brain is being rewired for something else. I'm not for sure though. almost like I'm getting a software update or something.

We planted a bunch of trees in the community, It's been a lot of fun, it was a really good opportunity to get out there and meet new people in a non confrontational way. All the missionaries paired off with people that weren't missionaries and it was successful. Charee hasn't been doing very well, She's dealing with a lot in her own life and her family so we are trying to be sensitive but still show her how this can help her through it.

Also a really nice experience this week was that I was praying before we went to Winnipeg to see Elder Renlund, we had been asked to fast to be receptive to spiritual truths, I had also prayed the night before that I would have the opportunity to help someone, I'm not sure why I prayed for that but when I got there, there was another missionary who I knew really well. We of course sat together and were talking. I found out that he was going through a hard time. I did some digging and found that he was a lot more emotionally distraught and worn out than he showed on the surface. I don't know if what I said made a big difference, but I do know that I felt a spiritual impression that he was the person I had prayed to be able to help, so I did my best. I thought what a tender mercy that I would be privileged to help someone that I cared about, and had in turn helped me before as well. We are called to invite all to come to Christ, that means non members, members and missionaries alike.

Do you often do service in whites and ties?  Why jeans?

I'm not sure why you said "Why Jeans?"

But most of the time if it is a planned service activity, we were jeans and t-shirts, depending on what it is and so on. Like if we are helping people move or going to get very dirty, we'll wear service clothes, if we are just volunteering at a food bank or something than we wear our regular missionary clothes.

Did you like the sushi?  Have you had it before?

I like sushi quite a bit, I had it once in Moose Jaw, it was pretty fun.

Where is Sister Wray going?

She's going to Winnipeg, so not too far. Our new Sister is really good, she works hard and is really enthusiastic.

It feels like its going faster, for you too?

Yeah. It's going faster. I remember how long it felt like it took to get through my own training, and this is taking almost no time at all.. we only have four more weeks of it and It's only felt like it's been a few weeks. :/

Love you all, Have a great week, The Church is True!

Love Elder Peterson

Day 440

I don't like this email, I thought he'd be later (like usual) ....so wrong!  but he was so sweet to me.

Oh snap! I was too early for you!!!

This week was a great week! Elder Bingham was able to set a baptismal date with one of our investigators named Charee! He glowed when she said yes! That's probably the highlight of my week. We've been meeting with her quite frequently and she has really been reading The Book of Mormon Consistently. It's really exciting to see that! because it reminds me of when I had started doing that! I was glad too that Elder Bingham was able to commit her! I think if we get her really involved with the ward, she'll stay consistent and stay strong. We'll probably meet with her again on friday!

We helped a lady move! We helped another guy move, we rode the bus a lot! We mowed a lawn in Jeans and White shirts and ties. We had a lot of people committed to come to church this week... and no one came :( Although these people that we committed haven't been willing to commit in the past, so the fact that they agreed to come is really impressive. Still sad that they didn't come.

I can't think of anything else we did.. We actually went to A sushi buffet because Sister Wray got transferred. It was really expensive, but the best part was I was dared to eat a small plate of Wasabi for fifteen dollars. So it only cost me three dollars and an upset stomach to eat there. And then! The Lady that we helped move took us to a chinese buffet, (a different one) and paid for that. So I had a week full of great chinese and japanese cuisine.

Love you so much!!

Elder Peterson

Ps. Remember to always believe in others because God always believes in you!

Day 433

This week has been a good week. We went on exchanges, We talked to some new people, we have more people next week that we will be able to teach as well. That's pretty exciting. Elder Bingham and I had a pull up contest, We started doing them with a tire between our legs. He won. Skinny little man. that's the only reason. We helped a lady move all of her things up two stories in her house. Pretty Crazy. I would send a picture, but I don't have my camera right now. A first nations lady almost tried to push me this week because she was drunk, but her boyfriend stopped her. Tender mercies (tell Kate) We had a good week, lots of service but we were able to teach as well. Those are always the best weeks.

How often do you meet with your bishops?

We should be at least once a month, but that is not happening right now.

We just got new sisters, and we are having them for dinner this week, it will be nice to have sisters again. (not that we didn't like our elders)

How come they change the missionaries there so much? how many missionaries are in your stake?

Do you have a calling in your ward?  (I cant remember if you said, or not)

No callings for me, we teach gospel principles each week and help with the sacrament.

Are transfers coming up?  Time is flying..

Transfers came, everyone is staying the same in our district, except Sister Wray is leaving, We're getting a Sister Stevenette, she looks exactly like brave. It's been a good district, but I'm excited for next transfer.

Are you gearing up for another winter?

Not too much yet, it's not been bad at all. I keep looking for days where I could wear a jacket.

Is it cooling down?

Kind of...

What was the hottest it got over the summer?

it was 38 a few weeks ago, and it's been around thirty since then. It's still pretty warm. My face sweats a lot.  (that's 100.4 degrees F)

What was the best thing that happened this week?

The best thing that happened this week was one of the Sister's investigators called me and was asking me a few things, and Elder Bingham contacted a lady on the sidewalk, we set up an appointment, when we got to the appointment, she invited her friend to come and listen, then yesterday when we went over, her friend brought one of her roomates! So that was pretty exciting. The original contact is pretty solid I think. She wants to know if it's true.

If you get transferred are you still a DL?

It really just depends. No one ever gets a calling for the rest of their mission, I'm still the District leader, but I could easily be junior companion next transfer somewhere else.

That's all for me this week!

Love You all so much! 

Love Elder Peterson

Day 426

Pretty average week, It went well for us. It was fun. I wrote to Dad more about it.

Hows Elder Bingham?   Did he do sports, is he a cowboy, what are his interests- I just like him already because his mama probably feels the same as I do, oldest boy, first missionary..

He's kind of a cowboy hick, the good kind! We have quite a bit in common, we both grew up in a similar atmosphere, with cows and stuff, Although he has spent a lot more time around them than me. 

Is school starting up there too?  

I don't even know, it must be soon, but I kind of lose touch with it when I'm not in it.. :P

Are the socks the same as your other ones?  Are all the other missionaries envious of your fabulous socks?

Everyone wishes they had my socks... They're so nice!

How are investigators B&C, Fred, and L&G?

L&G are doing well, we were finally able to meet with them, and they want the bishop to marry them. I was like "Pick me! Pick me!" But I figure it would be better if the bishop were to do it because that might be a bond that they could have. 

B&C have still been in a rocky patch, so we'll see what happens

Would you consider yourself converted?

I think the thing about conversion, is that it's a daily effort. A man on the street explained the Lord's prayer to me, the part where it says, "Give us this day our daily bread" How Christ isn't really referring solely to physical bread, we should seek to have spiritual manna every day. Because we shouldn't be relying on yesterday's manna, we've got to do our part everyday. I think that was the hardest part for me about the gospel is the everyday consistency it requires, because anything less will result in failure. And it's so much more than just making sure I'm reading everyday, I have to notice the days that I have a harder time reading and studying, where I feel like I'm forcing myself. I ask "Why am I having a hard time doing this" because It won't be very long that I force myself and then I won't want to do it anymore. It's important to do the dance steps, but we have to hear the music. I think Conversion is a daily experience.

Do you miss music?  Of course, I know you listen to hymns and stuff, but you know what I mean.

Yes and no, I miss it quite a bit, but I also value not listening to it. Everything I hear on the radio is just about bad things and drugs and stuff and it's nice to get away from that.

What advice would you give to Kate at the brink of her senior year?

Enjoy it while it lasts. You're going to look back and miss the simplicity and fun that you had there. :)

Other than that, This church is true, the people that we work with are good, the ward is good, and we are going to see some good things happen here, I don't have very many complaints so.. I'll keep them to myself. It's going by so fast. Tomorrow I'll have been out here for 14 months.. Sad huh? Good Talk Mom, You make me so proud :) I'm glad for the people that we have the opportunities to touch. It's a good feeling, knowing that you made a difference. That's all we can hope to do is make a difference. Also, What's your opinion on Donald Trump? I hear a little about him every once in a while and it seems like he's just offending everyone!

Love Elder Peterson

Day 419

This week was really good. I think I told you about B and C in the last email, We've been working with them and they've recently had a little falling out with each other. I think it's hurting her views on the church. They weren't at church on Sunday, and I was sad. We were able to meet with a few people this week, a former investigator named Dee Dee, I know if she'll take the time to move forward she will find that it is the truth. I never know what to tell you people about my week, I enjoy the work that I'm doing, and I know that I'm doing what I can to help the people that I'm working with, but oftentimes there is just no progress to report. That's one challenge of this mission, It goes right along with some advice I got from Stan. He said that the secret to starting a successful business is having a perfect faith that you're business will succeed, but also knowing when to walk away. This seems like a conflict, but it's true of many things in life. One of the most challenging things about missionary work is that you're trying so hard to believe in these people and believe that they can change, but you have to know when to walk away and find other people to teach. So I apologize if you feel like you don't get to hear enough about the actual missionary work that we are doing. We are meeting with a few people that are showing promise and they are as follows:

B and C

B is Less active member, C is investigating the church. They are going through a rocky time in their relationship and are struggling with Consistency. (Don't we all?) If they could get their relationship in order, I think they would progress and C would be baptized. We're trying to help them in their relationship by helping them establish consistent prayer and reading.

Fred

Fred is a wonderful Guy and I really enjoy meeting with him, most everytime we go to his house and have a lesson, the spirit is very strong. He doesn't believe that there is a true church on the earth today, and if we try to discuss it we end up bible bashing. Sometimes I get a little forward with him when he states opinions like that and say "That's the thing about doctrine, we choose what we believe, but we can't choose what's true"

L and G

They were one of our top progressing investigators, they had baptismal dates and everything, They sobered up, got their kids back and moved and I haven't heard from them since.

Elder Bingham

Elder Bingham is one of our top progressing investigators, he works hard, wants to be obedient, and is very easy to get along with. I learn new things from him daily. He discusses any problems that he or we have with me, Communication is definitely one of our strong points, which is why I haven't yet had a companion that I really didn't get along with.

Elder Peterson

That's the question I ask myself a lot: "am I a progressing investigator?"

That's about it for the missionary work here in Brandon, we are moving forward, the area is developing more, I'm growing still, and I had a really good birthday. I got the package and letters that were sent, they were very heart warming. I felt like a million dollars on my birthday. And I feel like a million dollars today wearing my new socks!

Did you get a cake?  How many?

I think I ended up with four cakes and a pan of Brownies. People were very nice. :)

Is your greenie the oldest in his family? Have there been other missionaries?

Elder Bingham is the Oldest in his family. 

Are all the other trainers doing well?  Do you all commiserate with each other when you get together, telling greenie stories?

All the other trainers in our district are doing well, I don't really know much about the other Trainers in the mission, we kind of live in a bubble of our Zone because we are so spread out. 

Did you get sung to?

A lot of people sung to me, It was really nice, it made me feel very loved.

Have you been able to meet with your president yet? 

Yes I did, It was a really neat story because on friday all the missionaries from the surrounding areas came here for specialized training, so all the missionaries were here for my birthday. I was able to interview with the mission president, It was different than interviewing with President Thomas. President Craig really exudes a caring attitude that makes you feel warm and loved. I really felt a strong connection with him. Not that He is better than President Thomas, he is just different.

What changes has he made?

He hasn't made a ton of changes, but I've noticed a change in myself as I've seen how he views his calling and missionary work. I'm not sure what it is but I'll get back to you for sure. :)

What advice would you give Landon?  He leaves in ten days..

Luke 16:10. 

The little things really do matter, they matter a lot.

Love You!

Elder Peterson

Day 412

Hello! Sorry I'm late getting to you today, We had a little rebellion a while ago and the sisters started emailing first in the morning, but that doesn't mean you can wait to send me emails!

I didn't realize that Mrs. Silkwood was going to pass away, it's a little different being so distanced from it.  [Mrs Silkwood was a favorite English teacher who just passed away from cancer]

Some people's kids, those builders are just rude and hurtful. [Talking about mom's mean builders]

I'm glad that everyone had fun on the trip, and yeah right kate will be as good as me! I've still got it!

[Kate wakeboarded on Lake Coure D'Alene and I teased him about her being better when he gets home]

Everyone else has awkward mission bod and I'm just like.. why don't you do any pushups? I think when I get home everyone will say "Wow, you look pretty ripped..." and I'll cross my arms and say "Yeah? you should see my testimony."

I miss mary weekes! She's so nice and genuine!  [Girl his age home from mission]

So what has been the funnest or neatest thing you did for service?  What has been the worst, or most unappealing thing you've done (service)?

Best thing I did for service was drive one of those man lifts around a building and scrape paint off of it... The worst thing...? I'm not sure, One time we cut a bunch of branches and wood and it was like -40 outside with the wind! The Wind was so cold it felt like it was biting me and I thought I was going to get frostbite!

Are you pretty tough on your comp, make him do the talking?, etc

I don't feel like I'm tough on him, we just work together and have an atmosphere of learning, that's the important part, There's not a trainer and a trainee, there's just our companionship and we are both very open to correction and learning.

Since you are training you will probably stay in Brandon a while, huh?

I don't know what's going to happen, usually trainers and trainees stick together for 3 months, but it's been known to not last that long, I would say that I'm likely to be in Brandon for this transfer and next transfer, then I'll probably go somewhere else.

So is it likely that you will train for a while now (like several greenies)?  how many greenies do people train?  Or does it depend on how well they do the first time?

I don't really know what happens, I'm sure that if you're a terrible trainer they won't keep you training, but if you stop training that's not always the reason. One missionary was halfway through training last transfer, and then they split he and his greenie up and then had the trainer train a new missionary. and if you do really well, maybe you'll get another one, and maybe you won't. It just depends on what revelation the mission president gets. 

Did you get any letters or packages?

I have not gotten any letters or packages. On friday the mission president is coming in to town, so he should bring mail with him!

It's crazy being the big double two.. I don't really know what to think about it. next year I'll be half as old as you!

I really do love what I'm doing out here. It's worth my time. It's some of the most rewarding work that I've ever done, and It's the best. On Sunday one of our investigators came to church, and I was so excited! I was a little bit sad that they weren't coming and then when I saw them walk In I just felt so good! I've never found anything that makes me as happy as the gospel, so if the gospel promises happiness and then it actually makes you happy... It means that it actually works!

Love Elder Peterson

Day 405

This week was pretty fun, the higlights are that we ran several blocks in our shirts and ties to get to a member's house who had tacos and then we ate and ran back to be at our english class on time. No one showed up so that was kind of a bummer. It's kind of funny, sometimes I try to speak spanish on the street or on the bus with people, and they give me this look like "What are doing trying to speak spanish you white boy?" I got my hair cut, and then I tried to fix it, so now it's super short. It looks ok though, if you like people that are trying to look like they were in the military. We got to visit a guy named don in the hospital, swears like a sailor, but he's nice enough. I can't ever remember everything we did, we rode the bus a lot. people are fairly nice here though. 

Love You!

Did you get your five investigators this week? (or 10)

Haha while we were trying to get five new investigators, our goal was to talk to five new people each day, we hit it a couple days, but we averaged about three.

How is your newbie?  Your pictures were cute.  I gather his name is Brett Bingham...?

Yep that's his name! and he seems to be doing well!

What is the neatest thing that you have planned as a DL, tell me about it?

Last district meeting was kind of an odd one. We read in second nephi, chapter four, I think, about Nephi saying he knew in whom he trusted, and then I told that children's story "Just the Way you are" and then I tried to read that story from the friend "Billy" and I couldn't even make it through the first day and I started crying, so I handed it to one of the sisters who thought they could do it without crying, and then all the sisters started crying, the Elders were just fine but I was just crying my face off even more than the sisters. Just me and the sisters just crying away. I think Wednesday was the first day on my mission that I actually cried, which is surprising. But the whole point of the district meeting is that we are enough, we are created the way that we are supposed to be, along with the challenges that we are supposed to have. That Heavenly Father understands our weakness's, and it's ok to have those. All Christ asks us to do is try.  The thing we need to understand is the Atonement, because preach my gospel says  the more we understand the atonement, the more our desire to share the gospel will increase, so I was hoping that we could all understand a little better what the Atonement really is about, that we may have a little more of a desire to serve and do our best. I try to make all of our district meetings applicable, and I study for them, and then when I get there, the spirit takes care of the rest. I'm so grateful to be able to rely on the spirit to tell me what to say when I need to know what to say. I try to pray that when I speak, I could speak the same words that The Savior would say had he been there. I find when I do my part and make it known that I want that, Heavenly Father Blesses me with knowledge on what to say. 

Do you feel like you waste time on the buses?

sometimes yes, sometimes we are able to talk to people, and that's really good.

Did you figure out the bus policy on proselyting?

No we just usually make casual conversation with people until they ask about us, then we share a little message and a card.

Have you ever preformed a marriage?  You can do that, right?

I think that I can, but I've never done it... I will let you know though if I do.

Do you get to give blessings very often?

I get to give blessings pretty often, It's pretty nice to feel like a mouthpiece, I always pray for that before I give a blessing as well.

Do people give you their excess produce from their gardens?

No. We've been in a famine for the last few weeks. This week it looks like it will be broken. we have some meals planned. Elder Bingham though is a pleasure to cook with. We cook all of our meals together. (though he often does the hard part.) But as far as the food we cook, this is probably the best i've ever eaten in our apartment.

That's all for me, Just know that I know that what I'm doing out here is right, and I'm doing it for the right people. We had a pretty deep conversation with a man that says that the second coming is really soon, so make sure you're ready, for no man is certain when the bridegroom cometh.

love You!

Elder Peterson