I should talk a little about zone conference, because it was amazing. sister cornwall and i sang, and it was one of the best feelings ever. i love sharing my testimony when i sing. and that about all i have time to share. ask dad for more details.
other than that, this was was chata. Só chata. We planned amazingly well (we had training on how to plan in zone conference) and every single plan fell through. All of them. Except Patrícia and Erlan, our amazing investigators that we are working with right now. I love them.
and sister petersen will be staying here in candeias, but sadly, sister cornwall will be leaving. her spot will be taken by the loverly Sister Andrade! The one and only! Yes, we will be working together yet again, and I am super excited for that.
aaaaaand thats about it.
até mais!
Sister p.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
A Conquista da Conquista: Vol. 2 Chpt. 6: In which the Lord decides to put a roadblock in our paths so that we turn and get on the right track
The title of this email is more true than you probably think. Tuesday and then again on Thursday, Sister Cornwall and I had to completely stop what we were doing so that we could sit down, think, pray, and try to figure out what the Lord wanted us to do. He has a way with people... It is such a testemony to me that this is the Lords work, because without His Spirit, I can teach and I literally can not speak. I get so lost for words, I cant think of words in português that I need (which rarely happens now) and I just feel completely and utterly empty. And sometimes, He takes His Spirit away from us not because we did anything that was wrong, but because He needs to get our attention - He needs us to focus on something else because there is something else more important to Him.
On Tuesday, after sitting down and praying, pulling out the map of our area and looking at it I decided to look up the scripture that was written on the map, which was Moroni 6:4. So I read it, didnt get anything out of it, so I read it to Sister Cornwall and finally I understood that the Lord wanted us to work with less active members of the ward here. So we have been working with them a lot this week. Its really sad at times to see people with complete lack of enthusiasm for anything and know that they have the gift of the Holy Ghost. But we were really blessed, because one family came to church who hasnt been in years! We are excited to work with them - they have a desire to come back, but I think they are a little lost about how to do it and where they fit in now.
The second time the Lord had to turn us around, we had a very, very unproductive day. At the end of the day, we went with a member to teach his friend. This friend of his didnt seem too interested, but we asked him to read a chapter in the Book of Mormon, and he started reading while we were there and just kept going and going until he finished. The Spirit that filled the room while he was reading was incredible; there is no other way to describe it. Here in Brasil, the missionaries have a tendency at times to just keep on going and going and going, and do everything really fast and just keep goin and going and going because there are so many people we can talk to and so many people that will let us in to talk to them. But this needs to be balanced with actually teaching a person, and not just teaching a lesson, and Sister Cornwall and I discovered, after this lesson, that that was something that we had been neglecting to do a bit. So we are now focused (once again!) on teaching people, and not just teaching lessons.
In other news... Zone Conference will be tomorrow and Sister Cornwall and I will sing! Um... today is my 10 month mark (weird) and I finally had the chance to try água de coco and I almost threw it up. Sometimes, the fact that Brazilians are so nice and like to keep giving you things to eat and drink is a little annoying, just because at times I am not hungry at all and sometimes (very rarely) I dont really like what I have been given. But normally its a really good thing - we are taken care of here by everyone!
Amo vocês! Têm uma ólitma se
On Tuesday, after sitting down and praying, pulling out the map of our area and looking at it I decided to look up the scripture that was written on the map, which was Moroni 6:4. So I read it, didnt get anything out of it, so I read it to Sister Cornwall and finally I understood that the Lord wanted us to work with less active members of the ward here. So we have been working with them a lot this week. Its really sad at times to see people with complete lack of enthusiasm for anything and know that they have the gift of the Holy Ghost. But we were really blessed, because one family came to church who hasnt been in years! We are excited to work with them - they have a desire to come back, but I think they are a little lost about how to do it and where they fit in now.
The second time the Lord had to turn us around, we had a very, very unproductive day. At the end of the day, we went with a member to teach his friend. This friend of his didnt seem too interested, but we asked him to read a chapter in the Book of Mormon, and he started reading while we were there and just kept going and going until he finished. The Spirit that filled the room while he was reading was incredible; there is no other way to describe it. Here in Brasil, the missionaries have a tendency at times to just keep on going and going and going, and do everything really fast and just keep goin and going and going because there are so many people we can talk to and so many people that will let us in to talk to them. But this needs to be balanced with actually teaching a person, and not just teaching a lesson, and Sister Cornwall and I discovered, after this lesson, that that was something that we had been neglecting to do a bit. So we are now focused (once again!) on teaching people, and not just teaching lessons.
In other news... Zone Conference will be tomorrow and Sister Cornwall and I will sing! Um... today is my 10 month mark (weird) and I finally had the chance to try água de coco and I almost threw it up. Sometimes, the fact that Brazilians are so nice and like to keep giving you things to eat and drink is a little annoying, just because at times I am not hungry at all and sometimes (very rarely) I dont really like what I have been given. But normally its a really good thing - we are taken care of here by everyone!
Amo vocês! Têm uma ólitma se
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Conquista da Conquista: Vol. 2 Chpt. 5: In which we teach a pastor, a profetess, have a wedding and a baptism.
Greetings to one and all!
Just to start off, I would like to say that a mission is hard. It is really hard to talk to people who dont want anything to do with what you have to say, but will still let you in to talk to them. All day long. Its very frustrating. But, that doesnt mean that I didnt do meaningful work.
A lady let us into her house and she said her husband was a pastor. Not two minutes after she finishes saying that, said pastor enters the room. We state who we are, why we are there (to invite people to come unto Christ through faith, repentence, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) and that we have a message. The man starts talking about something, and I say ´something´ because I do not remember what it was and it did not make a whole lot of sense to me. Sister Cornwall said a prayer, and after she finished the pastor asked if he could say a prayer. Sister Cornwall said that we had a message that was really important that I would tell them and that they should pay attention because I dont talk very loud. So, I started. I bore my testemony of the truth of our Father in Heaven, that he always has and always will call prophets, of the reality of the life of Christ, and of the reality of the apostacy, and then I explained about Joseph Smith, how he was called of God to restore all things for us. I did this all in under 5 minutes, and there was complete and utter silence. The Spirit was so strong, and I invited them to pray and ask God if what we said was true. And I openned a can of worms with that invite. He started talking about some verse in the Bible, she told us that we should go talk to the Catholics (because apparently they arent Christians or something like that) and then I had to refuse to let him annoint my hand with oil and say a prayer. It was a little crazy, and we just wanted to get out of that house. Which we did rather rapidly.
Fast foward two days and we talk to two younger women outside their house and ask if we can share a message with them quickly because they had to go some where. We gave a very brief lessons of the restoration and then one of the girls started asking question after question after question about what we believe about revelation and the purpose of the prophet and how God speaks to us. Turns out, she is a profetess in her church, which means that God speaks to her, and in turn she tells people what the will of God is for their life. It is really hard to teach this idea of prophets and personal revelation. So many times we talk to people and they believe that God will answer their prayers, but that He will probably answer through their pastor. Which... has some obvious problems.
All this in preparation for the wedding and the baptism of Suelen. Sister Cornwall has been teaching her pretty much since she arrived four months ago, and I have basically just been involved in the wedding and baptism plans, but it was a really neat experience to her how strong her testimony is, to see the love that she has for her family and her desires to share the gospel with them. She has a three year old, Luna Rosa, and we are hopefull that her husband, Dhefeson, will be baptised soon (say a little prayer for him).
And that would be the week of Sister Petersen in a nutshell. Her companion might have fallen yesterday and cut her foot open, too, and she may or may not have been exposed to a few anitmormon things, but all in a day´s work!
We just keep working, and laughing, and loving and testifying.
Life is great.
Com amor e até mais -
Sister Petersen
Just to start off, I would like to say that a mission is hard. It is really hard to talk to people who dont want anything to do with what you have to say, but will still let you in to talk to them. All day long. Its very frustrating. But, that doesnt mean that I didnt do meaningful work.
A lady let us into her house and she said her husband was a pastor. Not two minutes after she finishes saying that, said pastor enters the room. We state who we are, why we are there (to invite people to come unto Christ through faith, repentence, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) and that we have a message. The man starts talking about something, and I say ´something´ because I do not remember what it was and it did not make a whole lot of sense to me. Sister Cornwall said a prayer, and after she finished the pastor asked if he could say a prayer. Sister Cornwall said that we had a message that was really important that I would tell them and that they should pay attention because I dont talk very loud. So, I started. I bore my testemony of the truth of our Father in Heaven, that he always has and always will call prophets, of the reality of the life of Christ, and of the reality of the apostacy, and then I explained about Joseph Smith, how he was called of God to restore all things for us. I did this all in under 5 minutes, and there was complete and utter silence. The Spirit was so strong, and I invited them to pray and ask God if what we said was true. And I openned a can of worms with that invite. He started talking about some verse in the Bible, she told us that we should go talk to the Catholics (because apparently they arent Christians or something like that) and then I had to refuse to let him annoint my hand with oil and say a prayer. It was a little crazy, and we just wanted to get out of that house. Which we did rather rapidly.
Fast foward two days and we talk to two younger women outside their house and ask if we can share a message with them quickly because they had to go some where. We gave a very brief lessons of the restoration and then one of the girls started asking question after question after question about what we believe about revelation and the purpose of the prophet and how God speaks to us. Turns out, she is a profetess in her church, which means that God speaks to her, and in turn she tells people what the will of God is for their life. It is really hard to teach this idea of prophets and personal revelation. So many times we talk to people and they believe that God will answer their prayers, but that He will probably answer through their pastor. Which... has some obvious problems.
All this in preparation for the wedding and the baptism of Suelen. Sister Cornwall has been teaching her pretty much since she arrived four months ago, and I have basically just been involved in the wedding and baptism plans, but it was a really neat experience to her how strong her testimony is, to see the love that she has for her family and her desires to share the gospel with them. She has a three year old, Luna Rosa, and we are hopefull that her husband, Dhefeson, will be baptised soon (say a little prayer for him).
And that would be the week of Sister Petersen in a nutshell. Her companion might have fallen yesterday and cut her foot open, too, and she may or may not have been exposed to a few anitmormon things, but all in a day´s work!
We just keep working, and laughing, and loving and testifying.
Life is great.
Com amor e até mais -
Sister Petersen
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Conquista da Conquista: Vol. 2 Chpt. 4: In which there is another birthday, a new year, and a lot of working done
Oi!
I figured you have been lacking on pictures a bit lately, so I thought I would share a few with you. Some of the many things that I have done here in Candeias in the last two weeks.
Ok, we have been using a new process for studying the scriptures, and it has really been helping me to learn a whole lot better and to receive personal revelation, so I thought I would share with you. So, the process goes like this:
1. Have a question before you start studying.
2. Pray. Tell Heavenly Father your question, that you would like an answer and that you are going to study to find it.
3. Read with your question in mind.
4. Write down the impressions you get.
5. Pray about the answer you got and tell the Lord that you are thankfull for the knowledge He gave you and that you would still like to learn more. Tell him that you will read the same passages again looking for a deeper meaning.
6. Read again.
7. Write again.
8. Thank the Lord for the responses he gave you and ask him for a confirmation that what you received is really the answer to your question.
It looks really repetative, I know, but I can bear testimony that this process works, and it works so well. When we are willing to give of our time (to answer our own questions) the Lord looks at that sacrifice and will give you more than you can believe. It is an incredible process, and it works not just with questions about doctrine or things related to church - it is applicable to any question we have. The Lord knows all and he wants to guide us. But we have to give him the chance and we have to put in a bit of effort.
I hope that this process of receiving revelation can help you all as you begin the New Year.
Amo vocês!
Até mais -
Sister Petersen
This says volumes about my mission
We spent a lot of time looking at my tonsils
Christmas morning! we made hot chocolate
Christmas day
This is my view many days, because recently we have spent a LOT of time on the bus.
Waiting in the rain
New Years Day
Another picture from Christmas Day - that rose is enormous!
Christmas night all the Sisters stayed in the same house and we roasted marhmallows on the stove and exchanged presents.
I figured you have been lacking on pictures a bit lately, so I thought I would share a few with you. Some of the many things that I have done here in Candeias in the last two weeks.
Ok, we have been using a new process for studying the scriptures, and it has really been helping me to learn a whole lot better and to receive personal revelation, so I thought I would share with you. So, the process goes like this:
1. Have a question before you start studying.
2. Pray. Tell Heavenly Father your question, that you would like an answer and that you are going to study to find it.
3. Read with your question in mind.
4. Write down the impressions you get.
5. Pray about the answer you got and tell the Lord that you are thankfull for the knowledge He gave you and that you would still like to learn more. Tell him that you will read the same passages again looking for a deeper meaning.
6. Read again.
7. Write again.
8. Thank the Lord for the responses he gave you and ask him for a confirmation that what you received is really the answer to your question.
It looks really repetative, I know, but I can bear testimony that this process works, and it works so well. When we are willing to give of our time (to answer our own questions) the Lord looks at that sacrifice and will give you more than you can believe. It is an incredible process, and it works not just with questions about doctrine or things related to church - it is applicable to any question we have. The Lord knows all and he wants to guide us. But we have to give him the chance and we have to put in a bit of effort.
I hope that this process of receiving revelation can help you all as you begin the New Year.
Amo vocês!
Até mais -
Sister Petersen
Monday, December 26, 2011
A Conquista da Conquista: Vol. 2 Chp. 3 - In which there are birthdays of two very important people and Sister Petersen goes to the hospital again.
Merry Christmas! And happy birthday to me! Yes, to celebrate I went to the hospital yet again (thankfully it didnt last that long this time) to find that I had a virus. We then spent the next day looking for my medication (that was an adventure) and then the mission doctor told me (after I had taken it) that i should not take it because it could have potentially leathal side effects, but it turns out he was thinking of a different medicine. So I am on the road to health and happiness again!
Our Christmas miracle was that we had a family of 5 come to church this Sunday! It really was quite incredible.
I want to hear your goals for the new year!
Love you,
Sister Petersen
Our Christmas miracle was that we had a family of 5 come to church this Sunday! It really was quite incredible.
I want to hear your goals for the new year!
Love you,
Sister Petersen
Monday, December 19, 2011
Conquista da Conquista: Vol. 2 Chp. 2: In which Sister Petersen is emergency transfered and gets to start all over in a new area. Again.
First of all, MUITO OBRIGADA por todas que lembrarem meu aniversário! It has been... a little interesting. I woke up to sticky notes all over the house with notes on them for me that my beloved companion wrote for me in the middle of the night. There was also a trail of paper snowflakes that led to peanut m&ms and birthday pancakes. I have to admit, Sister Cornwall did a pretty amazing job! We also went to a daycare and delivered presents for all of the kids there (it was a ward service project) and other than that... we havent done much because we have been feeling a bit exhausted. But its been a good day.
Second of all, I am sure you are wondering about this transfer. I am a little confused myself, but I know that it was the hand of the Lord, and everyone involved is safe and healthy, so no need to worry. I am still here in Conquista, just in a different area, the ward Candeias and I am here with Sister Cornwall!!! How neat is that? We are pretty excited, to say the least. I got here Wendesday night and we have already had some pretty great times, and it is so interesting to talk about the different experiences we have had and the things we have learned since the MTC. I have also already given a talk, sung in church and led the music during sacrament meeting. The ward is the smallest I have been a part of (about 60 people) and so it looks like I will be pretty involved with teaching/music/qualquer outra coisa while I am here. I am also trying to get used to a new area. It always takes forever for me to figure out my surroundings, and I felt like I was just figuring everything out in Sumaré when I was transfered. Oh well. Obviously the Lord feels like I am capable of learning quickly... I hope he´s right =]
We have also been busy with Christmas things. We had a ward part and the next day we had the stake christmas party that we went to, and we have been singing a lot of christmas songs in our lessons and in our contacting, and it has been great. I love sining, and I really love singing with Sister Cornwall. Christmas makes me feel so wonderful.... not to mention that Sister Cornwall has Manheim Steemrollers Christmas music... we have been enjoying that in the mornings.
It has been so hot here recently. I am not sure how hot exactly because I have no way to check the tempurature, but its been hot. (I would love to know how hot its been if someone could look that up for me.... =] ) We have been commanded to drink 3-4 liters of water every day. I have been failing with that goal, but I am trying. Do you have any idea how hard it is to drink that much water every day? Its horrible. But I will go, I will do the things that Sister Vecchi comands.
Thanks once again for the birthday wishes!
Oh, e
FELIZ NATAL!!!!!!
Sister Petersen
Second of all, I am sure you are wondering about this transfer. I am a little confused myself, but I know that it was the hand of the Lord, and everyone involved is safe and healthy, so no need to worry. I am still here in Conquista, just in a different area, the ward Candeias and I am here with Sister Cornwall!!! How neat is that? We are pretty excited, to say the least. I got here Wendesday night and we have already had some pretty great times, and it is so interesting to talk about the different experiences we have had and the things we have learned since the MTC. I have also already given a talk, sung in church and led the music during sacrament meeting. The ward is the smallest I have been a part of (about 60 people) and so it looks like I will be pretty involved with teaching/music/qualquer outra coisa while I am here. I am also trying to get used to a new area. It always takes forever for me to figure out my surroundings, and I felt like I was just figuring everything out in Sumaré when I was transfered. Oh well. Obviously the Lord feels like I am capable of learning quickly... I hope he´s right =]
We have also been busy with Christmas things. We had a ward part and the next day we had the stake christmas party that we went to, and we have been singing a lot of christmas songs in our lessons and in our contacting, and it has been great. I love sining, and I really love singing with Sister Cornwall. Christmas makes me feel so wonderful.... not to mention that Sister Cornwall has Manheim Steemrollers Christmas music... we have been enjoying that in the mornings.
It has been so hot here recently. I am not sure how hot exactly because I have no way to check the tempurature, but its been hot. (I would love to know how hot its been if someone could look that up for me.... =] ) We have been commanded to drink 3-4 liters of water every day. I have been failing with that goal, but I am trying. Do you have any idea how hard it is to drink that much water every day? Its horrible. But I will go, I will do the things that Sister Vecchi comands.
Thanks once again for the birthday wishes!
Oh, e
FELIZ NATAL!!!!!!
Sister Petersen
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Conquista da Conquist: Vol. 2 Chp. 1
So - it turns out that there was a bit of a misunderstanding, and yes, my pday was only moved for this past week. It will continue to be on monday from now on for as far into the future as I can see. Which is about next week =]
This past week we had our Christmas Conference, so I got to go back to Itabuna for a day! The van that took us there was supposed to arrive at 2am. We didnt get much sleep that night. The van took forever to show up at the chapel ( it didnt show up until 4) and then, just try to imagine being in a van with 12 missionaries. Or better yet 12 boys ages 19-21. They sang the entire way to Itabuna, which means that I didnt sleep barely at all (not to mention I was a little nervous to sleep because I was sitting next to one of the Elders, and I was a little afraid of falling asleep on him, which Sister Andrade said that I almost did). We got there at 7am, and it was great to be with half the mission and hear from the different areas and have a talent show. And then it was back in the van to go back to Conquista, and we got home around midnight. The rest of the week... we had a fight a bit to keep going. But keep going we did.
And our dear friend Nathalia was baptized! Have I ever mentioned how stressful it is to get someone baptised? Its ridiculous. She was supposed to be interviewed and baptised Saturday. So Sister Andrade and I went to the church to fill up the font and there was no water. None whatsoever. We were able to talk to a member and he said he would take came of it. We came back a few hours later and the font was still completely empty. We talked to another member who said he would take care of it. On top of that, we couldnt get a hold of Nathalia all day long until 8pm (turns out we had the wrong cell phone number for her). When I finally did get to talk to her, she asked if we were going to the church that night, and I said no. Her response? ´Well then how am I supposed to get baptized?!` Best thing in the world to hear. We were able to get her to the church to get interviewed, but the baptism had to wait until the next day (which was stake conference). 9pm: the baptismal font is still completely empty. In the morning we call for the member who said he would get it filled and he was very surprised that nothing had been done, but assured us that it would get filled. We showed up at the church 9:30am to see two young men filling the font with buckets. We were finally able to get a hose so that the font could fill during the conference. And who knows why, but the church had a lack of water, and the font was only filled about two feet and the church completely ran out of water. But they said that 2 feet of water was enough. And then we found out that we didnt had a jumpsuit for the baptizer to use... so that took another half hour to figure out. Ridiculous. But Nathalia was baptized, and thats what is most important! They had to try three times, and the final time she had to completely lay down and hook her toes under the bottom step of the font so that her legs would stay submerged =] It is an amazing feeling to watch someone be baptized. Incrível.
And I will be straying here in Conquísta with Sister Andrade this transfer, too! I am excited for that. I will get things figured out for Christmas this next week and give you details next monday. And I have left all my presents wrapped except for the mashmellows that I used last week and the Shout (I was hoping to find chocolate one day, so I opened one package. It turned out to be shout and I desití.)
Love you! Talk to you soon (literally!)
Sister Petersen
This past week we had our Christmas Conference, so I got to go back to Itabuna for a day! The van that took us there was supposed to arrive at 2am. We didnt get much sleep that night. The van took forever to show up at the chapel ( it didnt show up until 4) and then, just try to imagine being in a van with 12 missionaries. Or better yet 12 boys ages 19-21. They sang the entire way to Itabuna, which means that I didnt sleep barely at all (not to mention I was a little nervous to sleep because I was sitting next to one of the Elders, and I was a little afraid of falling asleep on him, which Sister Andrade said that I almost did). We got there at 7am, and it was great to be with half the mission and hear from the different areas and have a talent show. And then it was back in the van to go back to Conquista, and we got home around midnight. The rest of the week... we had a fight a bit to keep going. But keep going we did.
And our dear friend Nathalia was baptized! Have I ever mentioned how stressful it is to get someone baptised? Its ridiculous. She was supposed to be interviewed and baptised Saturday. So Sister Andrade and I went to the church to fill up the font and there was no water. None whatsoever. We were able to talk to a member and he said he would take came of it. We came back a few hours later and the font was still completely empty. We talked to another member who said he would take care of it. On top of that, we couldnt get a hold of Nathalia all day long until 8pm (turns out we had the wrong cell phone number for her). When I finally did get to talk to her, she asked if we were going to the church that night, and I said no. Her response? ´Well then how am I supposed to get baptized?!` Best thing in the world to hear. We were able to get her to the church to get interviewed, but the baptism had to wait until the next day (which was stake conference). 9pm: the baptismal font is still completely empty. In the morning we call for the member who said he would get it filled and he was very surprised that nothing had been done, but assured us that it would get filled. We showed up at the church 9:30am to see two young men filling the font with buckets. We were finally able to get a hose so that the font could fill during the conference. And who knows why, but the church had a lack of water, and the font was only filled about two feet and the church completely ran out of water. But they said that 2 feet of water was enough. And then we found out that we didnt had a jumpsuit for the baptizer to use... so that took another half hour to figure out. Ridiculous. But Nathalia was baptized, and thats what is most important! They had to try three times, and the final time she had to completely lay down and hook her toes under the bottom step of the font so that her legs would stay submerged =] It is an amazing feeling to watch someone be baptized. Incrível.
And I will be straying here in Conquísta with Sister Andrade this transfer, too! I am excited for that. I will get things figured out for Christmas this next week and give you details next monday. And I have left all my presents wrapped except for the mashmellows that I used last week and the Shout (I was hoping to find chocolate one day, so I opened one package. It turned out to be shout and I desití.)
Love you! Talk to you soon (literally!)
Sister Petersen
 |
My District Thanksgiving Dinner  Sister Andrade´s 11 month mark  Me with all of my companions from the field  Nathália´s baptism |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)