Hello my wonderful parents. I have cut myself short on time today so I am writing you both together. Sorry, I DO love you independent and individually of each other, but I also adore you collectively ;)
This mother's day was so amazing! I loved seeing everyone and Adam was so funny. He was playing with the hoop and the dog and bouncing around. I don't think you noticed that but it made me feel even more how much Adam is truly just a part of the family. They are so cute together. Shanna looked good. So did everyone else. Kenny was more involved this time. It was so nice to see him. I hardly got to see Daniel and Kellin but there at that age I guess. I love him so much and I'm so excited to see everyone in person. And to see all of your faces in detail. I liked talking and seeing Christopher!!!!!! It was the highlight! Don't get me wrong I loved seeing everyone else too but I hadn't seen or heard from Christopher in almost a year and a half. I was crying or else I would have screamed just as much. Lol It was so nice to see him. You have no idea the relief that you feel when you know one of your siblings is out with you on a mission. It makes it that much more perfect, If that even makes sense. Oh I loved it. It was like for 30 min. I had all of my family back together. It was perfect. My companion was sitting next to me on the bed and she was looking at Skype and she said. "That is all your family right there, you could hold them in your hands." I thought about how crazy that is! That family is in Oregon, I'm in Hicksville Florida and Christopher is speaking Spanish with people that don't know English in Chile! How amazing is technology! Mom you are so smart to have done the group Skype. Just perfect. Oh my gosh I love my family!
That talk on Sunday seemed amazing! I've never thought about that before. I could have totally used that in my talked. I also talked about the unseen mothers of the world. The second mom's of the world. I have had many of those in my mission and how grateful I am for those for they have given me comfort and hugs when I needed my mommy. There is no way to take her place but it filled the void as much as it could. I have many second mothers in this branch, well more like second grandmothers. They are almost all over 60. But I love them so much!
So I have been praying and praying to know whether to go to school or not. I have been praying about it for about 2-3 weeks and I have really felt good about it. I felt like I've needed to go and that God would provide the way. After talking with you yesterday it made me question it again. I thought how I could go. I will have no money, no car, and no money for my next two semesters if I go for the fall and my classes are not even in that semester. I would not be home with Kenny to help him and who knows what I'm suppose to do there, this is going to take a miracle for this to even work. It seemed like everything is against me to go. But yet I felt like it was right. Recently we have centered on using the Book of Mormon to answer questions of the soul. So I decided to pick up a book of Mormon and start reading in the first place I come to. I opened up to Mormon 9: 17-21 it reads...
17Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his aword the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was bcreated of the cdust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?
18And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty amiracles? And there were many bmighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
19And if there were amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
20And the reason why he ceaseth to do amiracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should btrust.
21Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, awhatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this bpromise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
I felt like I have been really doubting the answer that God had given me. I know it's seems impossible and I have no idea why I need to go, I'm going to go to school. If you could maybe tell me what I need to do to get back into school and when I need to sign up for classes and all the info. I need. That would be sweet. Ok and also I think I might have an Idea in paying for school without hopefully taking out a loan. When do they offer up pale grants? Do you have to be 23 or 25? If it's 23 then I could have that money before school. If not there has to be some sort of scholarship for return missionaries. If you could maybe research that out and get back to me, which would be awesome. Sorry to make you do this all, but I can't and I'm really going to need your help if I'm going. Thank you!!!! Let me know.
I love you soo much!
Till next week~ Love your forever sister Missionary~
President Barry~
This week’s numbers seem pathetic but through all the meetings this week we have learned how we can improve. It was so nice to have a companion that took notes through her meeting so that we could go over them together and then set goals and make plans. I’m so excited for the challenge to more frequently testify, teach from and read the Book of Mormon. My testimony has grown as I’ve searched the scriptures with my question of the soul and have done so for my investigators. It is so true; The Book of Mormon can answer any questions that we have. I love reading from it. We have strived to use the Book of Mormon in every single lesson and make it the central focus of that lesson and then if they have a concern use the Book of Mormon to answers it right then for them and then assign then to read that chapter again. It has been awesome to see their view of the Book of Mormon change. I love it!
Another thing that we really have strived to keep in line is our obedience to the white hand book and mission rules. We are making sure that we are doing everything by the book and by the spirit. I also was reading in Alma 36 this week and it really hit me how disobedience even if not thought of that way at first really can lead us and others to destruction. My Mother would always say to me “be the best you.” It was so nice being able to talk to my family. They are such a strength to me in everything I do. They support and uplift me. They are always asking me what I want them to do to improve and ask me what I have learned. I bore my testimony to them about what the power of Christ like love has done for me since I’ve been on my mission. I never really understood what Christ like love meant but since I’ve been out here I think I understand a bit more about how God feels about all his children and the love Christ had to sacrifice for each and every one of us. It’s because of love that we have this great plan of happiness, why we have our families, and all the “real” precious things that God gives us, like the gospel. I was so grateful to my Heavenly Father for that great love that he has for me and for my family and that he has taught me that love as I have served and taught here on my mission. My heart may have gone through stretching and tearing and braking at times, but because of that my heart has a greater capacity to love. It’s almost like the Grinch stole Christmas when the Grinch’s heart grew two sizes. There is just so much love for this great gospel and everything that is made possible through it.
I’m excited for this week and the things that will come from our new outlook on teaching.
Till next week,
~lots of love, Sister Pedersen~
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