February 28, 2011

I love my family and this Gospel!! February 28, 2011

Hello my mommy. I love you so much and am excited that you are feeling so great. Well better. Man I am in such a great mood. I love my family. Let’s say it again. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!! I have to scream it from the roof tops. Oh man. Our family is so unique in every way and I realize that more and more that I’m on my mission. I'm so grateful for amazing parents that show me what it means to have Christlike love and great parenting. To have siblings that are like my twins and my cousins like my sisters or brothers. Where else is it like this. You are unlike anyone else I serve with; it's unique. I love it so much. I could talk about my family all day and sometimes do. That is one way that I share the Gospel. By sharing my family and the things that has brought us so knit together. I know it's only through the Gospel that we have become like that. I love it. I don’t have much time today but I'm again staying in this area. This will be my longest area and longest companion. Ok so my companion is my height but you know what I mean.haha! It has been a blast and we will continue to see success. I just know it! I love it here so much. The people are amazing! Well that’s it for today. I know its lame but the president’s letter is better. Our teaching pool has become small but will become big again. I know and have faith in that. It's after obedience and hard work, God makes up the difference and provides. I love you!

President Barry~

This has been a very good week but I think the best was this weekend. Eddie of course was confirmed despite how sick he was. He went home right after sacrament. He will be given the priesthood next week. He really seems to be improving. Even his look is changing. He seems neater and put together. Eddie was in a car accident where the result ended in some brain damage but In his blessing he was blessed to have a good memory and that his mind will develop and he will learn to have a deep understanding of the Gospel and I am seeing it, as he is doing what it right. It's so awesome to be here for those changes. I'm so excited to stay here in this area and be able to see things change even more. I'm striving to be the instrument in the Lords hands by working hard and being obedient. I think the best thing about this week was being able to see Brother Toms bless the sacrament. It was so amazing. I have never experienced one of my recent converts bless the sacrament before. He was nervous but he did such a great job. His wife was beaming. I think sister Hafslund and I couldn't stop smiling. The day before we had a sit down dinner with them and two other families and talked to them about going to the temple with their family names in the middle of March with the branch. They are so excited! I wish I could be there but I understand why I can't and really know doing it without us will insure that they will continue to do it without us being there. They are going to take their parents names to the temple. I'm so happy for them. The lesson on the temple was so heartfelt and the spirit was so strong. I think we all were tearing up at the vision of them going to be sealed in the temple as husband and wife. I told them if they go through the temple in a year I would like to fly out to be with them and he looked at me funny and then corrected me and said, "Sister Pedersen, It's not if, it's when." They are truly amazing. We talked about their conversion and why they joined. He was teary eyed as he talked about knowing there was a God when his wife had cancer and had to remove, I think it was, eighteen inches of her intestine. He explained that he didn’t want to lose her. He said he did a lot of praying and he knows God saved her from death when he knew that he couldn't. Alta said she always knew there was a God but sitting in church she knew something was not there because they taught contrary to what her heart believed. She said she had so many questions that just never seemed to be answered the way her heart knew to be true. She said she never dared to open her mouth and say anything to anyone because her church taught against many other churches and if she were to say anything she too would be persecuted. Alta said when she was out delivering a goat in her farm she looked up to see who her dogs were barking at and saw us. As she walked closer she said it was like she were seeing two angles standing at her gate and she knew she had to listen. She said she knew everything we were saying was true. They both agreed there was something missing in their life but they said they knew now what it was, the Gospel.

It has been a true blessing to watch them grow. I'm so grateful to be able to stay here to help Eddie and many others have some of the same experiences. How Glorious is this Gospel! What a change it makes in the lives of men when we leave our will in his hands. Oh my goodness I just love it with all my heart. There really is nothing better than this. That is why we do it his way because there is no greater joy than this and if we do it any other way it will fail because it will never bring happiness. Happiness comes at the price of sacrificing what we want now for what God knows is the greatest. Isn’t that wonderful?

Till next week,
Lots of Love~

Sister Pedersen

I love you all so much and am thankful for each and every one of you! Stay healthy and strong. I pray for you day and night!

Love your Forever Sister Pedersen~

February 25, 2011

I know my Redeemer lives! February 21, 2011

Mommy you should not be checking this, you're sick, go lay back down and sleep. I sent it to dad so that he can read it to you. I love you so much and you are in my prayers. Oh did you get my last letter and the one I re-sent you? Oh and are you going to send me a package so that I can memorize the Jesus the Christ with you? When you feel better of course.
I love you!!! Feel better
your forever daughter and Sister Missionary~

My poor sick little mommy and McKenna! How sad. I felt so bad for them. People have been sick like crazy here too. There is a woman in our branch name sister Chapman; she is in her 70's? She is so much like mom, going going and never giving up until God makes her sick so that she can rest and slow down. Well she is sick this week too with the flu (actually bronchitis and a sinus infection) like mom. It's funny because she got sick the same day as Mom. I don't know why they push themselves till they brake but I guess it's because mom is a strong woman and knows how much she thinks her body can handle. I'll be praying for both McKenna and mom. Oh I sent McKenna a letter. I hope you get it. That might make her feel better. Oh Dad that picture was so perfect. Sad but perfect. This week was so good! We had an atonement reading last week and then had a conference about the atonement on Tuesday. It was so amazing. Sister Hafslund and I sang "I know that my redeemer lives." we sang it without music. It was good but I was nervous because our ride was 45min. late so we missed the beginning and I got car sick and then had to get up to sing but it went great. My voice was still a little shaky but oh well. I'm trying to sing as much as possible, even though singing in a church setting always makes me nervous. I'm making my weak things strong in Christ. lol

The meeting was just so perfect. I really can't explain it all, but I'll send my presidents letter to kind of explain what I learned.
I'm glad mom did so well on her singing. It seems to me that she is always sick right before she is about to perform. It happens almost every time. I think Satan knows how important music is and how many people mom can touch by sharing her testimony though her voice. I want to see that play so bad. I've never seen it. I was always at school. I love what you said about the 5 wise. It's true you cannot give your testimony away. I hope that I'm gaining all the oil I can out of this experience. I want to be so much more than I am and the only way that will happen is through the atonement. That I know to be true. I can do nothing of myself. The toms are doing so good! They have bought quads and palm stuff or are they called e-readers. Anyways, they are so converted. I love them so much! We talk to them about the temple on Friday. I'm so excited. I want to come back when they go through the temple. That are awesome! Eddie got baptized this weekend. He was a little nervous before so we held off till this Sunday. It went really well. He was in a car accident when he was young and suffered some brain damage, so he's a little slower but he has a growing testimony. He just needs more fellowship. He will be just fine.
Oh my gosh, I hit my year mark in the mission on Friday. Crazy huh! I didn't do anything fun for it but my trainer sister Johnson who goes home in 7 days!!!! Called me to reminisce about old days and the first time she saw me and my first door and all of that. It has been one crazy ride! I loved every minute of it and have so many more experiences to go. I love my mission! Man I encourage everyone to come. There is nothing like this. The world cannot duplicate an experience like this, which is why I'm giving it my all because I only have a bit left. Before I blink I'll be home, so I think I'll just close my eyes. Ha-ha.
I love you family so much! And thanks Dad for writing and giving me all the info. Tell Mom that it's ok that she didn't write because I know how sick she is. She needs her rest. I would say kiss and hug them for me but I think it may be best to stay away; they need at least one parent. I love you!
Until next week!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Oh my goodness! I did write you! How sad! I wrote you a lot too. Well I explained everything in my letters and answered all your questions. And yes the Toms are the cute old couple in the picture and yes they did get baptized. Lol man I'm sad you didn't get my letter, but I sent it to you again so you now have two to make up the difference.

This week has been a little bit slower but that is ok. We are knocking doors and finding as many people to talk to as we can. We have been doing an atonement reading this week in order to prep. for a Zone conference that we are going to have. Have learned a lot and most the time feel completely unworthy for what Jesus Christ has done for me. Yet I know by not accepting him I cannot enter the kingdom of God and I would be ignoring this beautiful gift he has given me. I have learned that even though I work hard and I set goals and are driven to them, I'm also prideful thinking "I can do it all myself, I'm strong enough for this." then I try to do it by myself and fall flat on my face. I cannot do anything without my Savior by my side. I do nothing in this world save it be because of my savior and for my God and all Glory is to him, not me. I didn't do a thing. One of the things that I hate the most is when people congratulate me on a baptism. I didn't do anything. I just happened to be there. The spirit is the one that gave me the teachings to send to their souls so that we could teach them together. I do nothing without Him. In fact there is a scripture that says "if you have not the spirit, ye shall not teach." so how can it be me? I have really been humbled by the grace Jesus offers me. There is a chapter in mosiah when King Benjamin is talking about service to your fellow men. There a verse that says that it is God that gives to the very breath you breath to be able to do his work, so even if we serve him all our days, it isn't enough because he provided us the way to do the work, so we are still in debt. I love that! It really proved to me that I'm never good. Meaning when we go to knock on someone's door and tell them that we represent Jesus Christ and then share a message and then ask if they want to come closer to him, they say "I'm Christian and have been saved since..... I'm good." It makes me want to grab their shoulders and shake them. We are never good where we are at. We must continue to progress and become better and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ. Oh man, it was just so amazing! I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father so much! I have learned so much this week. So even though our finding pool hasn't grown much, my spirit to find has. This week was amazing. It really goes to show me how important my morning studies are to my weeks. They really can make or break your weeks, months, and mission.

I hope the family is doing well. I pray for the family every night and love and miss them like crazy. I love Christopher so much. I can see how he has grown into a man and it weird's me out sometimes. lol I still want him to be my skinny, raspy voiced little boy that I call kiley. I miss him so much. I see how hard he is working and I see the blessing and growth that come from it. Love him!

I'll talk to you next week. Sorry this is short!

Love your sister Missionary~

February 10, 2011

No letter to Mom... :( February 6, 2011



















To Shanna,

I LOVE >>>>>KENNY. lol I love you too but that was your last post and I had to comment about how much I love him too. I sent him a Florida t-shirt and a letter. I hope he likes it. He is so amazing! Love him. Ok so your eyes are so gorgeous!

I hope the doctors figure something out because it's not normal to be sick all the time. Maybe if they figure what is wrong there, it might give some answers to why you haven't been able to get pregnant yet. I'll pray for you extra strong. I pray for you all the time. I really look up to you. I can't believe that you continue to go to work and push through it no matter what you go through and how sick you feel. You are so strong! I was sick with a head cold and put myself to bed. Sad, Next time I should say to myself.. What would Shanna do? then go to work. lol. I know that would be you. You are so awesome and do so many fun things. you are so creative and put a light into people’s lives. You are so amazing.

The branch here is great. They are loving and they serve everyone. aobut 80% of the ward is over 50. It is awesome. so we are like there grand kids and or older kids so they spoil us like crazy.

When we teach people that we have the truth, they think, well are you saying your better than me? We say no, of course not, what we are saying is that the religion that you are in is great and has taught you great things and has prept you to be where you are right now to except the full truth of the Gospel. We strive to be blunt in our mission but still be loving. If we can't show love, we are showing pride and that is not how Jesus Christ would have taught nor how we should teach.
Thank you so much for your letter. I can really see a change in the family and in our immediate family. If the improvements of our family are from the blessings of a mission, I may not ever come home. lol.

One tip I have learned, get a small portion of food the first time so that when they force seconds you can take it. I made the mistake of taking one portion of food and it was a good size portion and then said no to a second and the lady said, "you all make me feel bad like I didn’t cook it good enough. are you sure you don’t want seconds?" I was like what! I then took a second helping, so full I could have thrown up and then complimented her about it the rest of the night. People are so funny. Note to you: when feeding the missionaries, don't force seconds but take in account that if there are not talking, they like it. lol

I love you lots and miss you like crazy!!!!!!! Think of you and Adam everyday. Stay safe and warm. I love you both!

All my love~
~ Your sister Pedersen
 

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