April 25, 2011

Happy Easter April 25, 2011

Wow, I have a lot to say and not a lot of time to say it. I wrote a huge letter to dad so I guess I can add that on here as well. You’re seeing wicked!!!! What! I'm so jealous! But I know my day will come. Hopefully they will still be playing it by then. Oh well.

So I still love my companion and she is so amazing and no I’m not training. I can't believe I'm coming home soon. SO weird! I also get to talk to you all and I feel like I just did that. Time flies. I saw pictures from home and really they almost made me sick. I can't believe it but I was talking to my mission president about going home and he said just as the day you go out is inspired so is the day you come home. I know that I need to be home in July. I have prayed over and over and Home is where I need to be, well at least for a month or two. We'll see. Can't stay home for long and be lazy. Must get to work and work I must. lol
I can't believe Cooper is engaged and that Ryan is married. What the heck! That is so weird! I'm glad there was a lot of dancing and fun for their reception. Hope you took notes. That is how a reception should always be. Fun.
I'm so happy for Kenny! He is such a stud muffin! I'm so proud of him. He finally get's it! I think God knew How hard the teenage years would be so that's why He made sure at least one person would be on a mission while that happens, in order for blessings to flow and examples to shine. I'll always be praying for the family. It's true. We cannot put down the armor of God for a second. We must keep all of it on at all times.

So Dad wrote me about proving to God that we can follow him without a strong spiritual pull. I forgot to address it in the letter so I’ll address it now. Ok so my motto for the past couple of transfers has been, "prove me." There is a song that I love that I listen to all the time that is entitled "prove me." Well my search all started when I was reading Moroni's promise and it says "to ask if these things are not true." I always hated that. It never made sense to me why it would say that and yet I know it was important or else it would not have been said like that. I would never ask if it is not true, I would ask if it is. But through a roll play one day a sister explained it. It means to prove me. Test me and try it. I love that. Ever since I've been in Gainesville I have done that and I have learned so much. I once heard Glen beck say it this way. "To question with boldness!" I have realized more and more how God wants us to step forward in faith and try his word. Because when we do that, there is where we receive the witness and testimony of our faith. So I love that so much. Prove me~

So let me tell you a funny story to go along with these videos that I will be sending you. So one day we get a random call from Jacksonville from a doctor that says he has a patient that could use the gospel in her life right now but that she will not be back home for a few days. So he asks if we can do her a favor by feeding her cats with her permission in order to soften her heart to accept the gospel. So we think about it and feel good about doing it. We get the directions and we find out where the cat food is and we go. When we get there we find a surprise. There are two cats, and five goats all over the yard. So I think, it's no big deal, goats our nice. Nope. Not these ones. They also have not been fed in a couple days and they are mean. So I try to get into the house but so does the goats. I won’t let them in and I block them with my back but the goat decides to push me inside with her head and when that doesn't work she bit my butt. So naturally I jump inside and slam the door leaving my comp. outside with the mean goats. While my comp. is screaming we are trying to find a way to get her in and not the goats. Well the goats start running after something my comp. throws and she books it inside a second before they do. Man they run fast. So now we are stuck inside while the goats are ramming into the door to get inside. Meanwhile I'm laughing so hard I almost pee my pants. So my comp. has the idea to climb through the window and get the food dishes for the cats and fill them up. Finally are deed is done. We then distract the goats and run to our car  fast and furious and we are out of there. Well we come back the next day to find no goats, yes! But we turn the corner and where we thought we had blocked them from the house they have found a way in. They now know how to unlock the gates and are on top of the hot tub eating the cat food and drinking there water. It was crazy. Then a goat rams into a fence when she sees us and breaks it down. We were screaming like crazy. My comp decided to jump on top of the car while I use the door for protection. The goat then starts to ram into the car while my comp. is screaming. So I take a stick and hit it in the butt to go away. Well that wasn’t good. We ended up locking ourselves in there stalls to get away from them. By now I'm sure God is even laughing. Well an hour later we get them all in their stalls and feed them and give them water. It was done! I felt so accomplished but I smelt like a goat and my shoes were covered in poop with hay all over them. I was so sweaty, hot and disgusting. But we did it and I got it all on tape. It was weird! But we have the neighbor doing it now. So no need to worry. We now spend our time chasing people, not goats. But sometimes they are one in the same. I love my mission!

I had a sweet Sunday too. I wish I could have been there to hear dad sing. But I'll be there soon enough. Here is my letter to dad.

Thank you Daddy for your letter. It always inspires me to do better and to be better. You and mom have done a fantastic job of always sharing some gospel insight and I love it. I hope that doesn't stop when I get home.
It sounds like you have had a crazy week. What a fun trip though. Plus you got to see the temple. Was it just you or did you get to take someone with you? Easter looked so fun with the family. Thank you for all the pictures and of the video of all of you memorizing it together. I was saying it along with you. I still don’t have it down pat like I want but I'm going to keep doing it until I do have it down pat. I can't tell you how many times I’ve used it in my teaching and have been able to quote scripture from it. There are very key scriptures in there that have really helped me in lessons and help others understand that a restoration needed to come forth. It was amazing! Definitely inspired. I actually read a talk in the ensign about doing this memorization and I think it's the same one Mom read but it helped me to keep going and understand its importance. I have also found it easier to focus on the Savior from day to day because I have taken time to memorize it.

This Easter has been so great. We worked so hard this week and although we haven't seen the fruits of our labor yet I know I have done my best and I know the Lord with make up the difference in where I do lack. I'm so grateful for the atonement. Everything I give to the Lord he has already given me. I owe everything to him. I'm constantly in debt to my Heavenly Father and Without Jesus Christ I would have never been able to make up the difference.

I was able to read the story of the resurrection in the bible and then hear it again from my mission President and his wife who spoke at our small branch and then read it again from “Jesus the Christ”. It would have been so amazing to be there at that time. To see and be a part of that great miracle. How amazing is that! My companion and I were talking about Mary coming to see the tomb where Jesus lay and she was too sad to see that he was gone, that no angel could console her. She had seen two angels that told her almost the same thing and yet all she could hear is that he was gone, but would not hear that he is risen! Until she saw him for herself and heard his voice. She was the first to see the risen lord. But she was not the only woman to see him. Other women saw him as well and were permitted to touch his feet; Where Mary was not yet aloud to touch him. We talked about that for a while and through reading in “Jesus the Christ” We talked about how Mary was always there with him and saw him as her lord, her Savior, and her best friend. But when Jesus came to her he told her, "Touch me not," But in Joseph smith translation, it says "Hold me not." I thought, what would make the difference? Why did the other women get to touch his feet and not her? But I realized that she loved him with a closeness that could not be the same. That although he is back to testify of the physical and spiritual bands of death that he broke, it could not be the same because he is now and forever changed into something much more than he was. I was talking with my companion about that and we talked about how that is with all of us. Jesus Christ went through something none of us could have gone through and because he went through it, it saved and changed the world. It no longer could go back or be the same. So it is with us when we go through spiritual experiences, although nothing will compare to Jesus Christ, We come out changed and the things that we have learned cannot be taken from us, and we can never go back to who we were. In fact it is through the atonement that that happens. The atonement permits a circle of never ending change. It is much like my mission. The things I have learned here have changed me, inside and out. It was only through the atonement that it happened and I cannot go back. I can choose to be apostate and not become my true potential but It cannot be taken from me the things that I have learned, therefore I am forever changed and for me there is nothing to do but continue in the path that my Savior has made for me and gain my ultimate potential through my savior Jesus Christ. Honestly I'm afraid of the change that will happen when I get home but yet every move that I make and decision, I change. I cannot be afraid of change for that is what the atonement has offered me. The ability to change. Home will just be a new adventure to use the changed me and the things I have learned into a better ever changing me. There is so much strength in the atonement.

Wow I hope that makes sense. Anyways I have had a fantastic Easter and have learned so much! I love my mission. It just doesn’t feel like this anywhere else, except maybe the Temple and even that is different. Dad thank you for writing me and Opening your mouth to share the Gospel. God really tests us to become, and now he knows you’re ready.


President Barry~

We have done a lot better in accomplishing our goals this week. We made sure that we were focused and that we were reminding ourselves everyday of the goals that we set and then by doing so, we have gone out with the fire to find.

This week we have been inspired with some really good ideas to help us to find more people.

We live in a small town and all of our surrounding areas that we cover are small too. So we have decided to play off of that small town feel and get to know everyone. When we meet them we will ask for their stories and their names so that when we see them, we say hello and go and talk to them using their names and by doing so we will build trust. We want to become a part of the town in the process and get into their doors and show them who Latter-day saints really are.

We also had the inspiration to putting up flyers on the bulletin boards of all the small local businesses and put on them a catch phrase like, "Mormons love Shelly’s pizza too." with a picture of us holding a mormon.org sign, or something like that. We haven't worked it all out yet, but I’m excited to see where it will go.

Then when it comes to members getting involved we want to use preach my gospel as a main tool in their home. We will start by asking all members to purchase a Preach my Gospel for their home if not for every member. Our members here love missionary work and they love giving us referrals and having us come to teach them lessons or come out with us on tradeoffs but they won’t do it on their own. The small towns in which we live in and the ones surrounding seem to have a lot of hard feelings agents the church and members have a hard time telling their friends about it. The different churches around here take one Sunday a month to preach against the church and members find it hard to compete with that, but we are showing them that we are not competing but that we are showing and teaching by example and word. But first it's up to us to invite. When we go into member’s home and do a short Member lesson, we want to make sure that we are teaching from the lessons in Preach my gospel and that every member has a PMG to follow along. Then we will give out reading assignments from PMG in order to fit with whatever the member needs. We hope that this will bring the fire that they need to teach and help them to know how to use PMG, because PMG is for all of the members, not just missionaries.

We are really excited about these ideas. It's amazing what the Lord can do with an open mind for change in finding. I know the Lord answers my prayers and that he wants to help, but that I need to show him that I am working and asking for them in a specific way. I'm really excited about this transfer and all the miracles that I know will come from it as Sister Surtees and I continue to qualify ourselves for these amazing blessings.

Till next week.
Lots of love~

~Sister Pedersen

Hope that is enough reading for you! I love you all so much!
Love Sister Pedersen~

April 18, 2011

Time is going by WAY to FAST!! April 18, 2011

Ok holy snot time is going by way too fast and I hate it! I can't believe its coming. Maybe if I sink into a dark hole when my two transfers are up they will forget I was here and then I can continue to be a missionary. I can't believe it. I felt like I just talked to you guys at Christmas and it seems as if two weeks have gone by and now we will talk again. Weird! I will only have two months left when I talk to you on the phone. Ok Ok this is enough freaking out for now. I'm excited to talk to the family though. McKenna is so stinkin cute! Because I'll still be in this area, I can still Skype you again. Would you want to do that?
I'm so excited for Christopher. It's hard to go from really poor neighborhoods to rich ones but I think it will be so good. He seems like he likes his comp. a lot and they will do well together. I can't believe Christopher said he is a talker. He has completely come out of his shell. I know he wasn't super quiet around the family but he would not be the first person to ask a stranger where the bathroom is either. I hope he sees how much he has changed. He is so amazing! I brag about him all the time to my comp. But he is a stud! Oh my gosh, I'm so excited that he gets to serve with sisters!!! He will love it. lol Sisters aren't always the best but most of the time they are. lol. jk sometimes we can be drama but I've talked to a lot of Elders and they said they like to have the mix of sisters and Elders together. It is so much fun! Plus sisters have a different way of looking at things than elders do and visa versa (ok I didn't spell that right but you know that I mean) Oh my gosh I LOVE my mission!

I can't believe Shanna and Adam are home! For some reason I feel like I should be home with them. Probably because they weren't going to get home till after me but because Adam is a stud they got it all done early. So where are they staying? That is so funny that Adam got a black eye. All he needs is some tattoos and he'd look like a scrapper. Perfect for the job. loll. I'm so excited to see them! BreAnne was telling me that they would be home for the break. I bet They loved it. Bronson is a little quiet but he is so funny once you get to know him and he is more of a water sport guy which is still perfect for BreAnne because she loves them too. I Think he can play sports, I just don’t think he thinks he's too good at them. But he played sports with us at school. I'm glad I know him. It would be weird if I didn't. I'm so excited to be there for her wedding! It's still weird’s me out. But I’m so excited for her! Wait so when is the family reunion? Is that in August too? oh my gosh I’m going to be 23! I'm so old. One of the elders here just turned 21 and I was making fun of him about his old age, and then he asked how old I will be this year and I about freaked. I realized I will be a part of the old crowd when I go to school. That is so weird. Most of my dance partners will be preemies.

Ok so mom when you were explaining the R.S. luncheon I almost about died laughing. You said that it was a pioneer theme. That is totally what we eat here for every meal and definitely for special occasions. lol so speaking of special food. We are going to have what we call a low country boil. You can look it up on line but let me tell you it's amazing! I have been waiting for one my whole mission and never got one. I would always be taken out of an area before they would have one. So I decided that I would just plan one so that I would have one for sure. We are inviting the whole ward and all who wants to come. It is going to be missionary based. We are going to give a 15-30 min. lesson and then we will eat and play games. It's going to be so fun. This branch hasn't had an activity in forever so we are doing one because it really brings a branch together plus it's more likely that Less actives will come to a party instead of church, which is sad but it's a start to fellowshipping in the right direction. Oh ok so the food it shrimp, crab, meats, and corn and potatoes all put in a pot with a special seasoning and they are put on a "low boil" all day until they are perfect. I'm so excited! I may be too hyper for this and it could be really bad but it's the south... how bad could it be.

Alright, I’m all over the place but I guess I’m just super excited for this transfer. My new companion is amazing! I love her so much already. She is a strong teacher and a talker like me. She is always smiling and when she's excited she screams. It is so stinkin cute. She is also very loud but in a fun way, not obnoxious. She is just so awesome! We get along every well and have the same idea about things. We agree that having open communication and zero drama by letting the little things go, are the way to a happy, fun, transfer. Oh her name is Sister Amy Surtees. She is from Indiana. Now that one I’ve never heard before. She said that this town is exactly like home and that it really freaks her out. She just came from serving in Gainesville and then came to Hicksville. Which is exactly what I did. It's a very hard adjustment but she is doing so well. I'm learning a lot from her and our studies together are great. I hope that I get to keep her for my last transfer. She would really help me not to get trunky I think. Not like I'm trunky to go home but it helps to have a really hard worker alongside you to do the work. This transfer is going to be sweet!

Thank you for the package ahead of time. I'll probably get it on Thursday. This work is so great! I have been praying a lot to know what I should be doing with this knowledge that the lord has given me, after my mission. and really just because the name tag comes off, doesn’t mean that the spiritual one comes off too. I may not be a messenger but I’m still a disciple that represents him because I still hold his name on my chest, close to my heart that will never leave. I love this work and it will always continue on.

Love you all so much! xoxoxoxox
Love your Sister Missionary~

April 12, 2011

Choose what you love; Love what you choose. April 11, 2011





OK family, firsts things first, I didn't get transferred but my companion did! I am going to miss Sister Hafslund so much!!!!! She was so much fun! and a spiritual Giant! I'm so sad to see her leave and so are the members of this branch. She has been here six months and this was her first area so she has never moved. She is freaking out a bit and is way nervous but she will be perfectly fine. She is a good teacher and loves everyone she talks to. She has such a light about her and she really shows the joy of the gospel. I'm going to miss her loud singing, and laughing for no reason. Or when I ask her something and she forgets the moment that she remembers. We have so many good memories. She has become like my sister. We have had a blast and worked hard together and improved together. I really will miss her but she needs a new area and a change so she can grow even more. I would be lying to say I'm not nervous for a new companion. There really is no reason to be but the ward is so attached to sister Hafslund that they don't want anyone else. We have a LA family that said if they don't like the new girl than we can't come over as much. I would say that I was kidding about that but he was serious. I trust in the Lord. He knows what the people here need and I love all the sisters here so I'm not worried about me, Poor thing; I hope she knows when she comes that the people will give her a hard time for a bit just to test her and then they'll quit. I'm already praying for her, who ever she is.

Oh and Dad the talk on Marriage could still apply to me, I may not be married to my comps but I still have to live with them and still do a great work. We may not be bringing up children, but we certainly are bringing in children. Sister Hafslund was asking me about my areas and companions and which was my favorite or worst and I really couldn't pick. I have loved them all and if it was hard or if there were things I didn't like in a comp they were things I loved and missed about them when I was no longer with them or in the area. It so true, I do choose the things that I love and when it gets hard I need to continue to love what I have chosen. I chose to come on a mission because I loved God enough to give my will and obey him. Now that I'm here I need to love what I have chosen. If I don't I'm not really showing that I love my Father in Heaven. I know that's a funny way to think of it, but still true.

I applied everything to myself at conference. I'm sorry that this upcoming week will be so crazy but it looks like you have already had one. I'm sorry you all got so sick. That is so funny that you all had to take turns being sick in the bathroom. It reminds me of a story from my mission ;) (Yep, starting already) I probably already told you this story but oh well.

It was on my birthday and one of my comps. was sick and she did not want to tell me because she told me later that she thought it would have ruined my birthday, so instead she pretended everything was normal and ate out with us, and went tracting and did everything, when she should have been home sleeping. Well we ended up at a LA's home who had not been to church for 10 years and this was our first time meeting him. When we arrived my comp asked if she could use his bathroom. I was in a three sum at the time so we stepped outside with him and talked while she used the bathroom. In our lesson with him he began to be emotional and started to cry telling us he knew the church was true, at that same moment she walked out of the house white as a ghost and said we had to leave, so we left him sitting there explaining that we'd come back tomorrow. The moment we got in the car she said that she was sick and needed to go home. She said that she went to find his bathroom and was too sick to figure out where it was and opened every door of his house at an attempt to find it. Well she had held out too long and before she knew it the toilet was occupied and she was throwing up in his bathtub. She said she cleaned up as much as she could but didn't think about shutting the doors when she left. We laughed forever about that. So this poor man who we never had met before walks back inside (after being emotionally drained and realizing he needed to make changed in his life), To find every door open in his house, probably thinking he got robbed by these sisters, and come to find a half cleaned bathtub and a full trash can. Lol We felt so bad. We went back the next day and told him the story and fixed it. He did end up coming back to church, so I guess it was what needed to happen. So that is what I think of when I think of your weekend in Idaho.

I can't believe you all ate out after all that. Crazy. Craigos reminds me of Kurt. The parrashooting dentist. Adam is so funny. Thank you dad for the pic. and the video. I'm so excited for Adam. I bet he was excited to be done with school and back home. So where are they going to stay? Did they find a house yet or an apt? Or are they staying in the spare room? I can't believe Skyler is leaving so soon! I'll be just coming home when he goes into the mission field. I'm so proud of Devin! He is a stud! He will never regret going on a mission. Ever. That is awesome to hear. I'm so glad the Coffmans are doing so well. I like them so much! They write me every so often and tell me of all their blessings. Holy cow; there amazing! Did you know Heathers car got totaled? I pray for them often as I pray for all my family!

I can't wait to see all the new things at BYU-I. That will be fun. I was upset that I would never see it finished before I graduated, but God knew what I didn't. I get to experience the new dance rooms! WooHoo! I would go on the fast track when I get home but my major is only on the winter/summer track. I'll have to pray about it, but Thank you for letting me know. Something to think on.

This week has been really good. Not much has changed but I really have tried to look at everything with a grateful heart and I have found when I do so, I'm not only happier but I see God's hand in my life. I know that when I live righteously and follow God's commandments and repent daily, God will fill me with his love and with that love I can do anything; with that love I see people with my rose colored glasses and can't help but want to share this Gospel with everyone I see.

I love you all so much and I'll talk to you next week!

With so much love coming your way!
Love your Sister Missionary~

April 4, 2011

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! April 4, 2011

O.k. I LOVE my family and I am almost way too excited and hyper to even write. Lol Oh my gosh I feel so blessed! I don't really have words to describe it but this conference has made my week! And will make the rest of my mission and life from the things that I learned from it. I really feel like crying. God has truly been so good to me when I don't deserve it. My mission has prepared me for the rest of my life. I did not see that when I first came out. When I first came out I thought "this is just a moment in time God wants me to serve and when it is done, it will be done and I'll go back." I can't go back! This mission has forever changed who I am as a daughter of God, and of my parents here on earth, as a sister, as friend, and as a future wife and mother and grandmother. I will use my mission the rest of my life because it is so ingrained in me. It is not only what I do but it's who I am. I loved that talk at conference. About do and be and how you need to have both in coming to know God and be a true disciple of Christ.

I loved general Conference. They talked about marriage a lot.... Umm sad to say, I'm so scared to date and get married but this conference has helped me to see that it is of God and when I get home it needs to be my number 1 priority. I know God will help me along the way. Thank heavens I don’t need to deal with it now. I have had my heart locked for so long that they're going to need a pry bar to open it. Lol. It was so amazing and as always I love Elder Holland and President Monson's along with so many others. I'm just so sad that it is all over. We were explaining this conference to an investigator and he started to get excited to come too. I love it! I was so excited to listen to conference that on Friday night I couldn't sleep. It felt like when we were little and we would keep giggling because we were so excited for Christmas we couldn't sleep. That's what I was doing. My companion would have thought I was weird if it weren't for the fact that she was giggling with me. Lol I love her so much! I'm going to miss my comp so much if she leaves me. I've had her for so long that I don't know what to do with myself if she leaves. We get our transfer calls on Saturday and leave by Tuesday so I'll let you know if I get transferred or not.

Speaking of marriage I can't believe BreAnne is getting married! What the heck! She did write and tell me before everyone else told me but how exciting! This was totally an answer to my prayer. Two things I didn't know if I could handle while on my mission; if someone died or if someone got married. I'm so excited to be there for it! God truly does answer my prayers. I know God is mindful of me.

I can't believe you already got my papers!!! What!!! That means I'm going to get mine soon. Oh that is way too weird. I'm just going to ignore that you said that. Lol man I have so many mixed emotions about coming home. I don't want to come home and yet I miss my family. If I could only come home for a month and then go back I would be ok with that. I feel like elder Holland does about his mission although I think he would beg to differ, but I love my mission so much. It means everything to me. I am not the same. Satan has tried to play a nasty trick on me the last couple of months in trying to make me feel like I'm the same person I was before my mission, but I realize in my heart and as an answer through conference, I have changed. I don't want the same things. I use to want what I wanted but I don't want that anymore. I want what God wants.

I'm working very hard on memorizing Jesus the Christ and I love it. This will be so amazing to be able to say and I have used it in my teaching a lot because your memorize scriptures with it too. It truly was inspired, so thank you for sending it. The pictures have helped a lot!

One thought from what Christopher wrote about thinking that people don't need to come to church. That is so true here too. They think they have a relationship with God but they don't or else God would have told them to come to church. I have met so many people that may not be happy with their church but they continue to go because God commanded it. Those are the people I would like to find. But it's all in the desire of their hearts. I liked when they said in conference People think of God as a butler to answer all their demands or as a counselor to listen to all their whining and in return they feel that it is his job to make them feel good about their sorry sinful self.

It made me laugh because I found out a long time ago that if you're going to complain, God will give you something to complain about. He is there to council with and help us repent when needed. (Which is everyday?) I need to go to him more and ask him how I can improve. I know it's one of my weaknesses but it's how I will improve my life and make it a life he is proud of and be the person he wants on his team and can use.

I love my Heavenly Father so much! Oh my goodness I have so much to say about conference but you know. You were there and felt it. I miss you all like crazy but am sending my love to you.

Oh soon I'll be sending stuff home in packages, DO NOT OPEN THEM! They may be presents or things I want to show you later.

I love you all!!! xoxoxoxoxo
Love your forever Sister Missionary

Dear President Barry

This week has gone well. I absolutely loved conference. It was the one of the highlights of my week. I learned so much about what I personally need to do to become a more consecrated disciple of Jesus Christ and how I am to help others around me come unto Christ.

We have been struggling a lot with our recent convert who seems to forget why he was baptized. He has encountered a lot of challenges in the last couple of weeks but through constant prayer he has made an effort to come back. We saw this dedication when he attended all sessions of general conference. It was amazing! He felt the spirit and it reconfirmed to him why he became a member of the church. He struggles a lot with a multi personality disorder but is finding strength in the Lord and is overcoming a lot of different obstacles that come with that. I have seen a change in him that only the gospel can bring to those that want to change. It is truly amazing to see.

Alex continues to progress as we try to see him every day and teach him. I know that he can become a strong member and he is looking forward to being baptized. He was so excited when he found out that he had the possibility to be baptized before his probation. We had an amazing lesson the other day as we talked about the desires of our heart and what that meant. He came up with questions for conference and really thought about what he wants in his life. He became very emotional as he talked about his desire to have a family that is righteous and on the right path. He said he knows he did it all the wrong way and that his life was not in order with God but that he is really trying to change that. We sang "love is spoken here" at the end of the lesson and it was so powerful and the spirit was there. It was amazing to be able to testify of that spirit while it was present and help him to know that that is what it feels like for him. I pray for him every night that he will endure this waiting period and look at it as Gods time line of preparation and learning. He is amazing.

David is doing very well too. Although he will have to wait a year to be baptized, he lives with a member so it helps him to stay on track. He and his less-active wife and baby girl went to all sessions of general conference and David even went to the priesthood session. I was not sure what his true desire was until General Conference. I really see that he is trying to do what is right and follow the savior. He is also trying to quit smoking which seems to be a very hard thing for him. He has just come off from being a drug addict so the smoking is his substitute. But after a lesson on the word of wisdom he understood that they are all connected and that he needs to put a stop to all. It was a great lesson and spirit felt. Since then I have seen a great effort to try and quit even though his wife smokes and refuses to quit with him. I know that as he continues in faith that he will be blessed.

We don’t have as many investigators as I would like but I’m thankful for the ones that I get to work with now and hope that they let the spirit work with them and change them. Through conference I have received answers to my prayers and know that if I follow that spirit we will receive the direction we need to find many more of Gods children. I love this Gospel with all my heart and I'm thankful for this great opportunity to serve.

Till next week~
Sending lots of love,

Sister Pedersen~

 

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