Ok! This week has flown by - and just so you know, I was able to read your emails last week! I passed by the mission office and explained what happened and was told that I could check and read my emails if I had been sent any. So dont worry, Mom, you didnt miss a week! thanks so much.
Lets see... what has gone on this week... São João has still been in full swing this past week because the actual festival wasnt until yesterday. There have been a lot of bonfires in the street and a lot of banners, dancing, and really, REALLY loud music and firecrackers, which has made working a little hard, but alls well that ends well, right? And compared to last year, the partying in the street was nothing. It turns out that most people leave Salvador for the festival because its a kind of harvest festival, so they like to go to places like Itabuna where it is a lot closer to the farm land.
This week we had a pretty fabulous lesson - one of our recent converts here is a chef, and we were able to partake of his culinary skills this past week. We taught the Word of Wisdom, and to finish he made a dinner for us and for some of our other recent converts and investigators, and it was sooo good! Its amazing to see what a bit of skill can do, because the food he made was what we eat normally - salad, stroganoff, potatoes and mousse - but it was soooo much better than normal. And the presentation was pretty spectacular, too. He knows how to make a tomatoe look like a rose - pretty neat, eh?
And speaking of the Work of Wisdom, it was really neat because we were talking to Marcos the other day, and he let us know about something that happened to him. He went to breakfast, and all his family had to drink was coffee. So he got some, and he was about to drink when he remembered what we has taught him. So he stopped, thought about it for a minute, and said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father if he could drink coffee, and he got his answer, "Son, you already know - what did the Sisters teach you?" And so he put the coffe away and he drank water. He was so proud of himself, and we were too =)
This week another one of our recent converts had family visit, he he brought a lot of them to church. It was amazing to see. His kids were there, we are teaching his sister and she was there and her kid, some of his cousins that are already memebers... they took up almost two rows in the chaple. That really is what the church is all about, bringing families together and helping to keep them together. Its Heavenly Father's Plan for all of us to be united. And in church one of the speakers talked about family history work, and it was so easy to see how that fits in perfectly to everything else; it really does play such a huge role in missionary work. Redeeming the dead, sanctifying the saints and preaching the gospel really are all the same thing - living the Plan of Salvation. I feel very blessed to have the understanding I do about this wonderful plan and very blessed that my family is protected by this plan.
I guess the other thing that has to be talked about is transfers. Yep, they have come around the corner once again. This transfer will be 7 weeks long and I will be spending it in...... Lauro de Freitas!!!! And I will be spending it with..... Sister Clark!!! Sim, our beloved Sister Nascimento will be departing for the land of Itabuna, where she will give a lot of cards to the people that Sister Petersen worked with there. That seems like such a long time ago. Time really does go by so fast, doesnt it?
And that would appear to be it, because I cant think of anything else to write!
I love you all!!
Sister Petersen
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 2 Chap 4
Hey hey! Looks like I got up before you today =)
This past week we had our final Zone Conference with President Vecchi - it was more a preparation for when President Andrezzo will come, which will be at the end of this month. Its a little weird to think about that... I will definately miss him, but I know that President Andrezzo will be wonderful as well. At the end of the conference President and Sister Vecchi let us ask questions - whatever sort of question that we wanted, anything that we wanted to know about them that we have always wanted to ask and never had the courage to ask... it was interesting what some people decided to ask about. They really are so amazing and I feel so blessed that I got to know them and that they were my leaders. When Elder Clayton of the 70 came to visit he told us that a lot of the time when the apostles are praying about where missionaries should go, they usually ask the question "What mission president can best help this missionary?" and I know that that is part of the reason that I am serving here. I have learned so much from the Vecchis, and I am so greatful for their service and love. We also sang for them "A Child's Prayer" which is one of Presidnt Vecchi's favorite hymns. The day of the conference was a bit of a mess for us - we had to run afterwards to a doctor appointment for Sister Nascimento and riding on the bus and in taxis all day isnt really fun, but we made the most of it!
I think I have already talked a little bit about Marcos, but he continues to amaze me. We went to teach him the other day about service, and when we got there he started talking to us, and he said "I want to help our church. I want to help with the chapel, I want to help with the kids, with the youth, with the adults, I want to share my testimony, I want to help and go on visits with you, I want to visit the members and I want to do everything I can. And you know the boys who give the bread and the water to people? I want to do that, too." It was amazing. He just kept going on and on about how he wanted to help. And we thought we were going to teach him something that day - he always teaches us when we go there. Its his birthday today and he invited the whole ward to come to his party. He is really excited.
The ward had their Festa Juninha this weekend, too. I dont know if you remember last year when I wrote about São João, but it has reached that time of year again. Next week I will try to send pictures to you. It was a lot calmer this year. A lot of people go on vacation and leave the capital for this holiday. The festa was a lot of fun, and I love the food that they have. Tapioca cake is probably one of my favorite things... its soooo yummy. And munguzá... é tão bom! And the dancing - I have to come back here when I can dance. They had a live band at the church, and I really like the music. We also got to talk to the mother of one of the members of the band - she came to drop her son off and stayed waiting for him and started reading all the things on the board and asked to talk to us. We talked to her a little bit, she said she had never been in our church before and then she asks "Who is the living prophet?" I love direct questions. And who knew that something as simple as the message board in the church helps to share the gospel?
I am having a hard time not writing in português... alright! I hope you have a great week!
Amo vocês! Até logo -
Sister Petersen
This past week we had our final Zone Conference with President Vecchi - it was more a preparation for when President Andrezzo will come, which will be at the end of this month. Its a little weird to think about that... I will definately miss him, but I know that President Andrezzo will be wonderful as well. At the end of the conference President and Sister Vecchi let us ask questions - whatever sort of question that we wanted, anything that we wanted to know about them that we have always wanted to ask and never had the courage to ask... it was interesting what some people decided to ask about. They really are so amazing and I feel so blessed that I got to know them and that they were my leaders. When Elder Clayton of the 70 came to visit he told us that a lot of the time when the apostles are praying about where missionaries should go, they usually ask the question "What mission president can best help this missionary?" and I know that that is part of the reason that I am serving here. I have learned so much from the Vecchis, and I am so greatful for their service and love. We also sang for them "A Child's Prayer" which is one of Presidnt Vecchi's favorite hymns. The day of the conference was a bit of a mess for us - we had to run afterwards to a doctor appointment for Sister Nascimento and riding on the bus and in taxis all day isnt really fun, but we made the most of it!
I think I have already talked a little bit about Marcos, but he continues to amaze me. We went to teach him the other day about service, and when we got there he started talking to us, and he said "I want to help our church. I want to help with the chapel, I want to help with the kids, with the youth, with the adults, I want to share my testimony, I want to help and go on visits with you, I want to visit the members and I want to do everything I can. And you know the boys who give the bread and the water to people? I want to do that, too." It was amazing. He just kept going on and on about how he wanted to help. And we thought we were going to teach him something that day - he always teaches us when we go there. Its his birthday today and he invited the whole ward to come to his party. He is really excited.
The ward had their Festa Juninha this weekend, too. I dont know if you remember last year when I wrote about São João, but it has reached that time of year again. Next week I will try to send pictures to you. It was a lot calmer this year. A lot of people go on vacation and leave the capital for this holiday. The festa was a lot of fun, and I love the food that they have. Tapioca cake is probably one of my favorite things... its soooo yummy. And munguzá... é tão bom! And the dancing - I have to come back here when I can dance. They had a live band at the church, and I really like the music. We also got to talk to the mother of one of the members of the band - she came to drop her son off and stayed waiting for him and started reading all the things on the board and asked to talk to us. We talked to her a little bit, she said she had never been in our church before and then she asks "Who is the living prophet?" I love direct questions. And who knew that something as simple as the message board in the church helps to share the gospel?
I am having a hard time not writing in português... alright! I hope you have a great week!
Amo vocês! Até logo -
Sister Petersen
Monday, June 11, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 2 Chap 3
This week was great. There have been some amazing things that have happened.
First of all, I forgot to mention about Marcos (and I cant believe I forgot!). I think I talked about him a few weeks ago. Anyways, he was sooo excited about his baptism that he wrote out 53 invites for the members of the ward. This is amazing to me because he doesnt know how to write - he asked one of his sisters to write the invite and he spent who knows how much time copying letter for letter everything that she had written down. And he was baptized Saturday!
We also did a division this week and I stayed in my area with Sister Cornwall - can I say how much that woman helps me? I think not. She helps me SOOOOO much to understand things that I can do better and what I am doing well and things I can do to be happier. And all she does is talk to me. And be my friend. And its amazing. I love her to death. In result of this division, Sister Nascimento and I have decided to move our area that we are working in. We will now be working in Villas do Atlântico, and we appreciate all the prayers that we can get. Its a really rich area and we are trying to figure out the best way and time to try to talk to people there. I know the Lord has prepared a lot of people - its been a really long time since anyoen has worked there.
We have also been talking a lot with a "family" here in the ward - at the moment, it is comprised of two sisters (Erica and Elida) and their cousins who are also siblings (Henrique and Carla). Erica was baptized about a year ago and is preparing to go on a mission; Henrique was baptized right after I got here. I love them all so much. They took us out to get pizza the other day =) We have also been talking o Carla a bit lately - Henrique gave her a Book of Mormon and she has been reading it. She hasnt been able to come to church because she has been working, and she isnt working at all this month and is SUPER excited to come to church. We went to see them last night, and its the first time that we have actually had a lesson with Carla, and it was soooo good. She has already been able to see how reading the Book of Mormon has changed some things, and she has seen how much Henrique has changed for the better, and she is ready to make changes.
The other miracle of the week is that the temple in Manaus was dedicated!! They broadcast the dedication and we were able to watch it - it was so amazing to be there, to feel the Spirit of the temple... I miss the temple. And I know how much the Saints here work and sacrifice to be able to go to the temple. I am so excited for them.
I know this work is true, and I love seeing the miracles that the Lord works in our lives.
Até o proximo -
Sister P.
First of all, I forgot to mention about Marcos (and I cant believe I forgot!). I think I talked about him a few weeks ago. Anyways, he was sooo excited about his baptism that he wrote out 53 invites for the members of the ward. This is amazing to me because he doesnt know how to write - he asked one of his sisters to write the invite and he spent who knows how much time copying letter for letter everything that she had written down. And he was baptized Saturday!
We also did a division this week and I stayed in my area with Sister Cornwall - can I say how much that woman helps me? I think not. She helps me SOOOOO much to understand things that I can do better and what I am doing well and things I can do to be happier. And all she does is talk to me. And be my friend. And its amazing. I love her to death. In result of this division, Sister Nascimento and I have decided to move our area that we are working in. We will now be working in Villas do Atlântico, and we appreciate all the prayers that we can get. Its a really rich area and we are trying to figure out the best way and time to try to talk to people there. I know the Lord has prepared a lot of people - its been a really long time since anyoen has worked there.
We have also been talking a lot with a "family" here in the ward - at the moment, it is comprised of two sisters (Erica and Elida) and their cousins who are also siblings (Henrique and Carla). Erica was baptized about a year ago and is preparing to go on a mission; Henrique was baptized right after I got here. I love them all so much. They took us out to get pizza the other day =) We have also been talking o Carla a bit lately - Henrique gave her a Book of Mormon and she has been reading it. She hasnt been able to come to church because she has been working, and she isnt working at all this month and is SUPER excited to come to church. We went to see them last night, and its the first time that we have actually had a lesson with Carla, and it was soooo good. She has already been able to see how reading the Book of Mormon has changed some things, and she has seen how much Henrique has changed for the better, and she is ready to make changes.
The other miracle of the week is that the temple in Manaus was dedicated!! They broadcast the dedication and we were able to watch it - it was so amazing to be there, to feel the Spirit of the temple... I miss the temple. And I know how much the Saints here work and sacrifice to be able to go to the temple. I am so excited for them.
I know this work is true, and I love seeing the miracles that the Lord works in our lives.
Até o proximo -
Sister P.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 2 Chap 2
Woohoo for the end of school!
I am feeling better. This week has been a little bit of a relaps, which I am not too happy about. I am having a bit of a hard time remembering everything that happened this week, but I know that the week went well. I think I will have to start making lists again of the things that happen during the week. It helps me remember what I did, too.
I got Nathan's letter today - I read it just before writing to you guys =) He sounds pretty good.
I love hearing from you guys. I love hearing what it is that you are up to, who has been doing what and how thing are going. Its a little weird sometimes to remember that everyone elses life is continuing, too! It really is amazing to hear what everyone is doing, where they are... amazing how we grow =) I am learning to be more and more greatful everyday for the chance that I have to grow and to learn. Our knowledge is the only thing we take with us, so it had better be worth the trip, right?
I am sorry, I am really struggling today... I cant think of anything at all that happened this week. =(
Thanks for your email! Thanks for your prayers!
Love you -
Erin
I am feeling better. This week has been a little bit of a relaps, which I am not too happy about. I am having a bit of a hard time remembering everything that happened this week, but I know that the week went well. I think I will have to start making lists again of the things that happen during the week. It helps me remember what I did, too.
I got Nathan's letter today - I read it just before writing to you guys =) He sounds pretty good.
I love hearing from you guys. I love hearing what it is that you are up to, who has been doing what and how thing are going. Its a little weird sometimes to remember that everyone elses life is continuing, too! It really is amazing to hear what everyone is doing, where they are... amazing how we grow =) I am learning to be more and more greatful everyday for the chance that I have to grow and to learn. Our knowledge is the only thing we take with us, so it had better be worth the trip, right?
I am sorry, I am really struggling today... I cant think of anything at all that happened this week. =(
Thanks for your email! Thanks for your prayers!
Love you -
Erin
Monday, May 28, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 2 Chpt 1
Sooo! This week started off with a bithday - Sister Nascimento is officially old now. Well, at least shes as old as I am, I am not sure if that really old or not. But I was a good companion, I talked to memebers and investigators and she had TWO parties and 3 cakes for her birthday. Thats right. She is pretty darn blessed, isnt she? =) it helps that the members here love her so it was pretty easy. We had a lot of cake in our fridge for a while. Actually, we still have a lot of cake in our fridge.
I am trying to think... this week was really long and really short at the same time, so I am having a hard time remembering things. Oh! We lost power in our apartment one night; that was exciting. It was a good thing that Sister Nascimento had her birthday, because that means that we actually had candles to burn so we could see as we were getting ready for bed. The power came back in the middle of the night, so it wasnt too bad.
The week went well - I have been sick with a cold, so there was one day that we ended up staying in the house for most of the day, but it was still a really productive week in comparison to some others we have had recently.
oh! we went to talke to a family this week who is relatives with a member of the church. The mom wanted us to come by and talk to them because she realized how different her sister-in-laws family is, how happy they are, how they dont see to fight, how it always seems calm in their house. She is really active in her church, but she really wants what her sister-in-laws family has. It was so neat to see that others notice that we are different, and when they actually think about it, that they realize that they want what we have. It was such a good lesson, and the next day in church we went and talked to the irmã and she started crying because she has been praying for such a long time that her brothers family will accept the gospel. Its moments like this that I know what I am here for, and its amazing.
I love you all! I hope the pictures make up for the lack of a letter! Have a great week - Amo vocês muitooooooo!!!
Sister Petersen
ps Where is Loren going on his mission?
Lets see if I can tell you about these pictures...
The first one is Sister Nascimento and I in Pelourinho - take a close look at the chairs =)
The next is a photo of the street we had to swim across
My broken umbrella
A pic of us and Jaqualine, one of our wonderful investigators
Look at our lunch! It was soooo yummy!
I am trying to think... this week was really long and really short at the same time, so I am having a hard time remembering things. Oh! We lost power in our apartment one night; that was exciting. It was a good thing that Sister Nascimento had her birthday, because that means that we actually had candles to burn so we could see as we were getting ready for bed. The power came back in the middle of the night, so it wasnt too bad.
The week went well - I have been sick with a cold, so there was one day that we ended up staying in the house for most of the day, but it was still a really productive week in comparison to some others we have had recently.
oh! we went to talke to a family this week who is relatives with a member of the church. The mom wanted us to come by and talk to them because she realized how different her sister-in-laws family is, how happy they are, how they dont see to fight, how it always seems calm in their house. She is really active in her church, but she really wants what her sister-in-laws family has. It was so neat to see that others notice that we are different, and when they actually think about it, that they realize that they want what we have. It was such a good lesson, and the next day in church we went and talked to the irmã and she started crying because she has been praying for such a long time that her brothers family will accept the gospel. Its moments like this that I know what I am here for, and its amazing.
I love you all! I hope the pictures make up for the lack of a letter! Have a great week - Amo vocês muitooooooo!!!
Sister Petersen
ps Where is Loren going on his mission?
Lets see if I can tell you about these pictures...
Monday, May 21, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 1 Chpt 6
Well... thanks for letting me know Brian is pregnant.... Thats about the only thing I got out of that email, just so you know =)
Let me tell you about this week. It started out with the spider, which you already know about, and the week proceeded in good stride. We bought umbrellas because it has been raining buckets (I would send you pictures but the computer wont let me) and after a week of use our umbrellas broke. It has been reatively cold here this week and we dont have hot water, which means we have been heating up water on the stove to take showers (we will call someone to get that fixed this week). Half of our house doesnt have water, the half with the sink and the washing machine. The streets here have been flooding and so almost every day we have had walk in water up to our ankles at least once during the day. We found that a mouse has been living in our house and the bird that was living in our house has tried to come back and we keep having to kick him out.
In short, our week was rough, and tiring. Sunday rolled around and we went to get an investigator. He is a little special (he actually reminds me alot of Devin) and we have been teaching his family, but he is the one who is always ready for church and always listens to us when we come. We were walking to church with him and he starts talking about how he was reading the Liahona about baptism, how he has always wanted to be baptized but every time he prayed about it in the past (before meeting us) he felt like he shouldnt, that he should wait until he found "the waters of the Lord". And he asked us how he could be baptised, because he feels like he should be baptized in the church. It was amazing. We have never ever spoken about baptism with him at all.
When we got to church two of our other investigators got there at the same time and the came and watching the classes and went to sacrament meeting and as we were waiting for it to start one of the senhoras was talking about how much she liked the church, that its so great, that she feels so good here, and she knows she was already baptized the Catholic church, but she is going to get herself baptized in this church because its so great. Yet another person we have never talked about baptism with.
The Lord is amazing, and we works miracles every day. Every single day. I love being a part of them, I love seeing them, I love feeling the power of them.
Até o próximo!
Sister Petersen
Let me tell you about this week. It started out with the spider, which you already know about, and the week proceeded in good stride. We bought umbrellas because it has been raining buckets (I would send you pictures but the computer wont let me) and after a week of use our umbrellas broke. It has been reatively cold here this week and we dont have hot water, which means we have been heating up water on the stove to take showers (we will call someone to get that fixed this week). Half of our house doesnt have water, the half with the sink and the washing machine. The streets here have been flooding and so almost every day we have had walk in water up to our ankles at least once during the day. We found that a mouse has been living in our house and the bird that was living in our house has tried to come back and we keep having to kick him out.
In short, our week was rough, and tiring. Sunday rolled around and we went to get an investigator. He is a little special (he actually reminds me alot of Devin) and we have been teaching his family, but he is the one who is always ready for church and always listens to us when we come. We were walking to church with him and he starts talking about how he was reading the Liahona about baptism, how he has always wanted to be baptized but every time he prayed about it in the past (before meeting us) he felt like he shouldnt, that he should wait until he found "the waters of the Lord". And he asked us how he could be baptised, because he feels like he should be baptized in the church. It was amazing. We have never ever spoken about baptism with him at all.
When we got to church two of our other investigators got there at the same time and the came and watching the classes and went to sacrament meeting and as we were waiting for it to start one of the senhoras was talking about how much she liked the church, that its so great, that she feels so good here, and she knows she was already baptized the Catholic church, but she is going to get herself baptized in this church because its so great. Yet another person we have never talked about baptism with.
The Lord is amazing, and we works miracles every day. Every single day. I love being a part of them, I love seeing them, I love feeling the power of them.
Até o próximo!
Sister Petersen
Monday, May 14, 2012
Lauro de Freitas: Vol 1 Chpt 5
Let me think of something I can tell you about the week.... oh! When we got home last night there was a spider the size of my hand on the wall. Yup. Unfortunately, Sister Nascimento was really worried about it and she killed it before I could take a picture. So I only got to take a picture of it after it was dead. But I will send the picture to you soon. I feel so fufilled here on the mission - I finally saw a really big spider. And I saw monkeys the other day!!! That was pretty darn exciting, I wont lie. Monkeys... its kind of amazing.
The people we are working with here are so amazing - its really great to be able to see their growth in the gospel and realize how it has helped them change who they are and reazlie their self worth. This gospel really is amazing.
It was sooooo good to see you guys yesterday! Its amazing to see how everyone has grown! I love you all! Hope you have a great week!
Beijios -
Sister Petersen
The people we are working with here are so amazing - its really great to be able to see their growth in the gospel and realize how it has helped them change who they are and reazlie their self worth. This gospel really is amazing.
It was sooooo good to see you guys yesterday! Its amazing to see how everyone has grown! I love you all! Hope you have a great week!
Beijios -
Sister Petersen
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