Ok Ok enough of that~ This week has not been super exciting. We have been working with members and doing a lot of less-active work. I'm still trying to figure out how to do that because our mission used to be anti-member work because the members thought we were going to fast so we left them out all together unless they were willing to go the speed that we were going. Now that we have a new President we are working ourselves back into the wards. This is going to be amazing and we will baptise a lot this way but I feel awkward. I have never once used members in our missionary work before where I have served, but we are starting now and this is the perfect ward to do it in. This ward is amazing and we have strong members, not a lot seeing as how over half the ward is less active but the ones that have stayed are tuff as nails and they will be a great asset to this work. I'm excited for the challege and look forward to the time where it will be a natural flow to work with the members. I got a call from the assistants this morning and usually when they call you it is not a good thing or they want to go on a trade or see what is wrong with you, so I kind of freaked out, but on the other end was Elder Maxwell congratulating me and my comp. on baptizing. Orange Park has not seen baptisms since I think January or February. I was so shocked. Sister Waddups who has become one of my favorites and I sat on the bed with the silliest smiles on our faces. He asked me how I did it and honestly I don’t know because I didn’t do anything. I got up on time, we get out and stay out and work till it's time to come home. Elder Maxwell seemed shocked. I think he was expecting a better answer or a method that I used. I told him "prayer, faith and work." lol he said, “huh, well congrats keep doing good things.” lol. Oh man I love the Lord with all my heart and truly I had nothing to do with it, it was all in the lords timing, I just had a new outlook because I have never been here plus with faith in the Lord, anything and everything is possible. I love this work with all my heart and I'm sorry this is short but this week is the last week before we get transfer calls so we will see if I’m safe or not. We might have a baptism this weekend so pray for Marc so he'll get baptized; he needs it so badly. So next week’s letter will either be really exciting or really depressing lol. Either way it will be good. Love this work!!!!!
Love you so much!!!!!!
Love your sister missionary
July 26, 2010
July 19, 2010
Success!!! July 19, 2010
Alice Cried through her entire baptism and she loved it. I love her so much. She said that she was so happy that she did it. They were both small baptisms but the spirit filled every empty seat. They were beautiful. I'm so blessed to be a missionary.
Kenny I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought about you a lot today; this morning actually. I can't wait till I come home and have time to spend with just you and me and teach you everything I have learned before you go out on your mission. You have no idea how proud I am of you. I love you more than life itself. You have been preparing for EFF and I know you will find amazing experiences there.
I had a horrible dream that my mission had ended and that the entire family came to pick me up here and we went out to eat at a restaurant. The waitress asked me what the special occasion was and i said, "well I'm a missionary from the...." and as I went to point at my name tag (like I usually do to explain the church, my name tag was not there.) Then I explained to her, "well I used to be a missionary." The worst feeling sunk into my soul and for a moment I felt what it will be like not to be a missionary anymore. In the dream I started to cry and Dad held me and you leaned on me and told the waitress to bring some waters. I did not like that dream at all!!!!! I love being a missionary and I cannot waste a moment of it! I don't ever want to stop being a missionary and I'm so glad that I have a year left but at the same time so few moments. I love it here! Tell everyone and there dog that I love them and hug and kiss the kids and Dad for me.
~love your sister missionary~
July 12, 2010
Dear Dad July 12, 2010
Dad,
So mom didn't write this week but I'm thinking it's because she had a really hard time with Christopher being gone. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud in the library about you crying in toy story 3. I'm still laughing but that's probably because i know how much the family is going to miss him and how hard it will be without him, but I also know that he didn't die... lol. He will be the best missionary that I can think of. He is already ten thousand steps further than any of the other guys. He is so mature for his age and he truly wants to be there and serve God. I know that he is having a hard time and is staying positive and with that attitude he will accomplish so many things, and God will bless him for that. I love him so much. He will be just Fine and I'll be home in a year and before you know it Christopher will be home and Kenny will be off and the cycle continues. lol. It's a Good cycle. Now we just need to prepare Kenny.
So my comps name is Maren Waddoups and she is from Washington. She is opening up a lot. I found that the reason why she was super quiet at first is because she had a lot of comps that kind of pushed her over and never let her talk or be herself and they yelled at her! They were stupid. So we are getting a long great. She is so stinkin cute. We are working a lot on her talking louder so that people can hear her but as far as everything else.. She is an amazing teacher and knows what to say and how to teach. She just needs to have more confidence in that.
So usually when I don't write home about the people I'm teaching it's because were not teaching anyone. :(. But I'm happy to say that I do have people to talk about!! First of all his name is Vincent Dorcent and he is 58 and he is from Haiti and speaks Haitian, So we met him once and taught him a bit and then decided not to go back because he didn't seem interested but then when we were tracting an apt. complex when we ran into some young boys who said they wanted to change and be baptized but they didn't live there so we went to teach them at the address they gave us and what do you know, It was Vincent's home. The boys were his nephews but the man that answered their door was there grandpa who only speaks Haitian so he went and got the boy's father that lived there and we taught him but he wasn't interested so we told him that we would come later to talk to the boys. When we came back we met the oldest brother who then got Vincent for us to talk to. Oh man and then when we were talking to Vincent and another boy came out I hadn't met. It was like a zoo! I asked Vincent (who was the only one interested in the gospel at that point) who else lived there and he said that his dad, brother and his four nephews lived there. So it's just a house of men. So we teach Vincent outside...
Vincent has had all the lessons already and is getting baptized next Sunday on the 18! We wanted to drop him but God had other plans. Oh and the only reason why we talked to Vincent in the first place was because we were doing less active work and a LA lived next door but it looked like they had moved so we went next door to ask if the neighbors knew anything about it, and the neighbor happened to be Vincent. He came to church yesterday and he said over and over, "I feel good, this feels like home." It was so amazing! He is so cute. Oh and I forgot to tell you the best part. He speaks French really well and my comp knows pretty good French so he speaks in broken English with French mixed and he reads the book of Mormon in French while I follow along in English and my comp follows along in French. It is so sweet!!! I like him so much and he loves the gospel. He always says "I feel good." "I want to go straight, straight to Jesus." In his broken English.
We also have a woman in her late 60's early 70's that we are teaching named Alice Kort. Her husband died about a year and a half ago and her son is a member and lives with her. He's in his 30's and his name is Chris. They had been teaching her before I got here but the first time I met her I told her she needed to be baptized because she knew it was true, but they had already asked her before and she got scared because that meant she had to give up her church where she and her husband went and that was really hard for her. She prayed about it and she said that God told her that she needed to stay at her church. I explained to her that she needed to keep praying because God wouldn't give her such a good feeling when coming to church with us (she has come to church 4-5 times and loves it.) and feel like she needed to be baptized and then have God tell her that she needed to stay with her church. So she says she would pray but didn't want lessons anymore.
Well we had promised her a long time ago that we would do service for her and you know me, I'm not going to break my promise so we showed up at her door and told her "we are here for service, where do you want us?" her face was priceless, but she started to laugh and put us to work. She has a lot of health problems as well as her son so they need a lot of help. So we helped out and then they made us dinner. It was awesome. While I was helping her make dinner she looks at me and says, "you know what I've been thinking...., I've been thinking about being baptized." It was so sweet. God directs us all the time in everything we do. God does work mighty miracles. We gave her a large print Book of Mormon and she can't put it down and she set her own baptismal date and she will be getting baptized on the 18th too, well probably on Saturday the 17th because of building problems but it is amazing!
So many miracles! God truly does prepare people and if you just believe and do the work, God will guide you in everything that you should do, God is amazing and I can feel his love for his children every time that I or my comp teaches. I love the plan of salvation because that is the purpose to life and gives the Atonement so much meaning and understanding because without the atonement, nothing happens. I love this Gospel so much with my whole heart and I don't want to do anything else! I love it! Any place, comp, ward, bishop, anywhere works. It's not anything else but you and if you figure that out and put God first and just stop worrying, God will show you the way. God always comes first and everything else falls into place. It was hard for me to believe that for awhile without anything happening but once I stopped trying to fix things and just went and trusted, everything clicked into place.
The Berry's are here and they are amazing! President Berry is like bishop Shumway in Ashland, but a little less funny and crazy but just really fun and loving. Sister Berry said she has only seen him get mad once in all the time that they have been married. That is good because we can be really irritating sometimes. She is amazing! She taught us half the time and then president Berry taught us the other half. They are both such good teachers and so humble. I love them a lot. They just fit this mission. Love them!
So the bishopric in my ward is amazing and totally crazy! They are all loud and kinda out there. It would be like having you, Shumway, Bennion and Dunn. So much fun and they let us baptize and do waterside confirmations which are a huge blessing for missionaries. My ward is sweet! We have about 5 handicap children in our ward so everyone is so humble and nice and just loving. They are patient and giving. I just love them. Their hearts are soft and willing to serve. I kind of had a bad attitude when I first came out here and I take it all back. I love it here. I now see why God wanted me here and what he needs me to learn from these people and their amazing families!
Ok sorry for the book but a lot needed to be said and you and Mom needed a pick me up so there it is. I'm doing fantastic and love mission life! So amazing!
I love you both so much! I'll be praying for you.. lol ;)
Love, your sister Pedersen
So mom didn't write this week but I'm thinking it's because she had a really hard time with Christopher being gone. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud in the library about you crying in toy story 3. I'm still laughing but that's probably because i know how much the family is going to miss him and how hard it will be without him, but I also know that he didn't die... lol. He will be the best missionary that I can think of. He is already ten thousand steps further than any of the other guys. He is so mature for his age and he truly wants to be there and serve God. I know that he is having a hard time and is staying positive and with that attitude he will accomplish so many things, and God will bless him for that. I love him so much. He will be just Fine and I'll be home in a year and before you know it Christopher will be home and Kenny will be off and the cycle continues. lol. It's a Good cycle. Now we just need to prepare Kenny.
So my comps name is Maren Waddoups and she is from Washington. She is opening up a lot. I found that the reason why she was super quiet at first is because she had a lot of comps that kind of pushed her over and never let her talk or be herself and they yelled at her! They were stupid. So we are getting a long great. She is so stinkin cute. We are working a lot on her talking louder so that people can hear her but as far as everything else.. She is an amazing teacher and knows what to say and how to teach. She just needs to have more confidence in that.
So usually when I don't write home about the people I'm teaching it's because were not teaching anyone. :(. But I'm happy to say that I do have people to talk about!! First of all his name is Vincent Dorcent and he is 58 and he is from Haiti and speaks Haitian, So we met him once and taught him a bit and then decided not to go back because he didn't seem interested but then when we were tracting an apt. complex when we ran into some young boys who said they wanted to change and be baptized but they didn't live there so we went to teach them at the address they gave us and what do you know, It was Vincent's home. The boys were his nephews but the man that answered their door was there grandpa who only speaks Haitian so he went and got the boy's father that lived there and we taught him but he wasn't interested so we told him that we would come later to talk to the boys. When we came back we met the oldest brother who then got Vincent for us to talk to. Oh man and then when we were talking to Vincent and another boy came out I hadn't met. It was like a zoo! I asked Vincent (who was the only one interested in the gospel at that point) who else lived there and he said that his dad, brother and his four nephews lived there. So it's just a house of men. So we teach Vincent outside...
Vincent has had all the lessons already and is getting baptized next Sunday on the 18! We wanted to drop him but God had other plans. Oh and the only reason why we talked to Vincent in the first place was because we were doing less active work and a LA lived next door but it looked like they had moved so we went next door to ask if the neighbors knew anything about it, and the neighbor happened to be Vincent. He came to church yesterday and he said over and over, "I feel good, this feels like home." It was so amazing! He is so cute. Oh and I forgot to tell you the best part. He speaks French really well and my comp knows pretty good French so he speaks in broken English with French mixed and he reads the book of Mormon in French while I follow along in English and my comp follows along in French. It is so sweet!!! I like him so much and he loves the gospel. He always says "I feel good." "I want to go straight, straight to Jesus." In his broken English.
We also have a woman in her late 60's early 70's that we are teaching named Alice Kort. Her husband died about a year and a half ago and her son is a member and lives with her. He's in his 30's and his name is Chris. They had been teaching her before I got here but the first time I met her I told her she needed to be baptized because she knew it was true, but they had already asked her before and she got scared because that meant she had to give up her church where she and her husband went and that was really hard for her. She prayed about it and she said that God told her that she needed to stay at her church. I explained to her that she needed to keep praying because God wouldn't give her such a good feeling when coming to church with us (she has come to church 4-5 times and loves it.) and feel like she needed to be baptized and then have God tell her that she needed to stay with her church. So she says she would pray but didn't want lessons anymore.
Well we had promised her a long time ago that we would do service for her and you know me, I'm not going to break my promise so we showed up at her door and told her "we are here for service, where do you want us?" her face was priceless, but she started to laugh and put us to work. She has a lot of health problems as well as her son so they need a lot of help. So we helped out and then they made us dinner. It was awesome. While I was helping her make dinner she looks at me and says, "you know what I've been thinking...., I've been thinking about being baptized." It was so sweet. God directs us all the time in everything we do. God does work mighty miracles. We gave her a large print Book of Mormon and she can't put it down and she set her own baptismal date and she will be getting baptized on the 18th too, well probably on Saturday the 17th because of building problems but it is amazing!
So many miracles! God truly does prepare people and if you just believe and do the work, God will guide you in everything that you should do, God is amazing and I can feel his love for his children every time that I or my comp teaches. I love the plan of salvation because that is the purpose to life and gives the Atonement so much meaning and understanding because without the atonement, nothing happens. I love this Gospel so much with my whole heart and I don't want to do anything else! I love it! Any place, comp, ward, bishop, anywhere works. It's not anything else but you and if you figure that out and put God first and just stop worrying, God will show you the way. God always comes first and everything else falls into place. It was hard for me to believe that for awhile without anything happening but once I stopped trying to fix things and just went and trusted, everything clicked into place.
The Berry's are here and they are amazing! President Berry is like bishop Shumway in Ashland, but a little less funny and crazy but just really fun and loving. Sister Berry said she has only seen him get mad once in all the time that they have been married. That is good because we can be really irritating sometimes. She is amazing! She taught us half the time and then president Berry taught us the other half. They are both such good teachers and so humble. I love them a lot. They just fit this mission. Love them!
So the bishopric in my ward is amazing and totally crazy! They are all loud and kinda out there. It would be like having you, Shumway, Bennion and Dunn. So much fun and they let us baptize and do waterside confirmations which are a huge blessing for missionaries. My ward is sweet! We have about 5 handicap children in our ward so everyone is so humble and nice and just loving. They are patient and giving. I just love them. Their hearts are soft and willing to serve. I kind of had a bad attitude when I first came out here and I take it all back. I love it here. I now see why God wanted me here and what he needs me to learn from these people and their amazing families!
Ok sorry for the book but a lot needed to be said and you and Mom needed a pick me up so there it is. I'm doing fantastic and love mission life! So amazing!
I love you both so much! I'll be praying for you.. lol ;)
Love, your sister Pedersen
July 7, 2010
Letter to Christopher July 7, 2010
Christopher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love and adore you!!!
Number 1 advice Stop worrying! Worry is fear; fear is not of God and will get you nowhere. When you worry you allow Satan to come into your decisions. Don't let him. Talk yourself out of it. Tell yourself your fine and you will be. You've been on a plane before, compare it to that instead of leaving your family behind. Think you're on vacation. The MTC is just EFY on drugs. It's so amazing! You will love it. Don't worry about the mission field. You'll figure it out when you get there and every mission field is different so you can never prepare for it. Just experience the MTC. Mission life is amazing and you will love every minute of it, even the hard parts because you look back and you can see the change that has happened because of that hard time. Change is good and it's about time.
Say your goodbyes ahead of time so you get like 5 in before you leave and the finale goodbye is not so bad. You will get home sick a bit. I really have not been home sick since I have left but that because you still get to e-mail and you're with people all the time. You're never alone. You don't have to do this by yourself. Talk to your comp. He feels the same way. Be a leader with a humble heart willing to learn from the most humble of missionaries. I'm learning that the quiet ones are the most God like. Learn to love your comp. You're with this one for a very long time so deal with him. Even if he is not your favorite and he's kind of a slacker or goober, learn to like him and learn from him. Never put yourself above your comp. That is when you lose all that God has in store for you to learn. There is no music in the MTC so listen to church music a lot before you leave, if not you will have to delete your songs in your head as soon as they come and then you have nothing, but if you have church music you can listen to it inside your head and even sing it and not feel bad. You'll understand when you get there. Ummm~ Take notes and look at them daily. Notes taken, re-read and applied is a lesson learned from your Father in heaven directly for you.
I love you so much! I can't tell you how happy I am for you. If you have time to stop and think of home enough to get home sick, you're not using your time wisely. Dive into the language. Stand out and volunteer first. I know that's normally not like you but that is what God expects of you. You will learn faster that way. God knows your heart and all of your worries. If you look for his little mercies, you will find them. I don't have enough time to write you AHHHHH! But I love you so much. I'll be right next to you all along the way. You're not alone. I'll write you all the time! I love you! I can't wait to hear from you. This is not Goodbye but until next week. Love you!
~Your sister missionary~
You're so amazing! Don't fear but have faith! Ether 12
Number 1 advice Stop worrying! Worry is fear; fear is not of God and will get you nowhere. When you worry you allow Satan to come into your decisions. Don't let him. Talk yourself out of it. Tell yourself your fine and you will be. You've been on a plane before, compare it to that instead of leaving your family behind. Think you're on vacation. The MTC is just EFY on drugs. It's so amazing! You will love it. Don't worry about the mission field. You'll figure it out when you get there and every mission field is different so you can never prepare for it. Just experience the MTC. Mission life is amazing and you will love every minute of it, even the hard parts because you look back and you can see the change that has happened because of that hard time. Change is good and it's about time.
Say your goodbyes ahead of time so you get like 5 in before you leave and the finale goodbye is not so bad. You will get home sick a bit. I really have not been home sick since I have left but that because you still get to e-mail and you're with people all the time. You're never alone. You don't have to do this by yourself. Talk to your comp. He feels the same way. Be a leader with a humble heart willing to learn from the most humble of missionaries. I'm learning that the quiet ones are the most God like. Learn to love your comp. You're with this one for a very long time so deal with him. Even if he is not your favorite and he's kind of a slacker or goober, learn to like him and learn from him. Never put yourself above your comp. That is when you lose all that God has in store for you to learn. There is no music in the MTC so listen to church music a lot before you leave, if not you will have to delete your songs in your head as soon as they come and then you have nothing, but if you have church music you can listen to it inside your head and even sing it and not feel bad. You'll understand when you get there. Ummm~ Take notes and look at them daily. Notes taken, re-read and applied is a lesson learned from your Father in heaven directly for you.
I love you so much! I can't tell you how happy I am for you. If you have time to stop and think of home enough to get home sick, you're not using your time wisely. Dive into the language. Stand out and volunteer first. I know that's normally not like you but that is what God expects of you. You will learn faster that way. God knows your heart and all of your worries. If you look for his little mercies, you will find them. I don't have enough time to write you AHHHHH! But I love you so much. I'll be right next to you all along the way. You're not alone. I'll write you all the time! I love you! I can't wait to hear from you. This is not Goodbye but until next week. Love you!
~Your sister missionary~
You're so amazing! Don't fear but have faith! Ether 12
June 28, 2010
Re: I love you!! June 27, 2010
Mom,
I'm so sorry for the short e-mails but I'm now at a library where I am timed so I have to get off quicker than I would like. I miss Sister Mitchell so much!!! We got along so well. She has been one of my favorites! I love her so much! She lives in Utah so I'll get to see her soon in fact if she doesn't get married to quick I'll go and live with her a bit before school starts. Oh man I love her.
Well I'm now in Orange park and there is nothing but rich white people here. It's definitely different and I'm kind of having a hard time. My new comp is sister Waddoups and she is very... meek.... ok ok she really quiet and I don't know what to do with a quiet person! I'm not quiet at all and it's like pulling teeth to get her to talk and when she does she is so quiet that I keep having to say.. what? It's really a change from all the rest of my companions but I think it will be a good one. I think I'll grow the most in this transfer than any of my others; that's for sure, I feel like I'm training. She has been out a transfer longer than me but she has had lazy or dominate comps that I think kind of shut her down, so it is my goal to open her up and make her solid and confident and get her to talk out loud and proud. That is my task as well as to baptize like crazy! They haven't had a baptism here in awhile but that is all going to change.
Oh man. I miss jax second soooooo much!!!! It was like I had a moment of greatness and for a moment I thought I would stay there but I think God was teasing me and showing me what I could have if I work hard and become that missionary he needs me to be.
I'm glad you liked my videos. I still have so much more. Oh and I need a print of everyone's birthday please! I hate missing birthdays! Lame! I may be a missionary but I like to at least send a card.
I know I know. Another short letter but I have to go. I take a long time to type but I'm getting better. Everything is fine here. I feel your prayers and I have my Heavenly Father and my Savior for guidance and comfort. They help me so much. So I'll be just fine. I love you all so much!
Next letter will be better I promise~
Love,
Your sister missionary~
I'm so sorry for the short e-mails but I'm now at a library where I am timed so I have to get off quicker than I would like. I miss Sister Mitchell so much!!! We got along so well. She has been one of my favorites! I love her so much! She lives in Utah so I'll get to see her soon in fact if she doesn't get married to quick I'll go and live with her a bit before school starts. Oh man I love her.
Well I'm now in Orange park and there is nothing but rich white people here. It's definitely different and I'm kind of having a hard time. My new comp is sister Waddoups and she is very... meek.... ok ok she really quiet and I don't know what to do with a quiet person! I'm not quiet at all and it's like pulling teeth to get her to talk and when she does she is so quiet that I keep having to say.. what? It's really a change from all the rest of my companions but I think it will be a good one. I think I'll grow the most in this transfer than any of my others; that's for sure, I feel like I'm training. She has been out a transfer longer than me but she has had lazy or dominate comps that I think kind of shut her down, so it is my goal to open her up and make her solid and confident and get her to talk out loud and proud. That is my task as well as to baptize like crazy! They haven't had a baptism here in awhile but that is all going to change.
Oh man. I miss jax second soooooo much!!!! It was like I had a moment of greatness and for a moment I thought I would stay there but I think God was teasing me and showing me what I could have if I work hard and become that missionary he needs me to be.
I'm glad you liked my videos. I still have so much more. Oh and I need a print of everyone's birthday please! I hate missing birthdays! Lame! I may be a missionary but I like to at least send a card.
I know I know. Another short letter but I have to go. I take a long time to type but I'm getting better. Everything is fine here. I feel your prayers and I have my Heavenly Father and my Savior for guidance and comfort. They help me so much. So I'll be just fine. I love you all so much!
Next letter will be better I promise~
Love,
Your sister missionary~
June 22, 2010
Excerpts from Mom & Shanna's letters 6-21-2010
Mom,
I'm Being Transferred Again!!! Oh man. I was a little mad at first; I found out, tossed the phone and took a walk outside. Oh man I was not a happy camper. We have been praying this entire transfer that we would not be split up, but God knows best. I love my companion so much! I have learned so much from her. She has made me really look at myself and ask myself some hard questions about who I was, who I am and who I want to be. This mission does not last forever and I need to decide right now if this is going to stick or is this going to be a great learning experience for 18 months. If I want to be more than I am I cannot come home the way I was when I left and I can never go back. I need to change. Everything I have spend 21 years building up was good but God did not send me here to be and stay that person but he sent me here to be the me that He sees. For our last presidents interviews president didn't interview but gave everyone blessings instead and President Newman said that this is the time that I will draw from for the rest of my life. This is the moment in my life that will determine the rest of my life. It made me realize how much I can't be that same person. I can't be anything less than what the lord expects. I know that sounds a little crazy but if I'm not going to change, than what is the point in the Lord molding me here to go right back when I get home. Things are going to be different, but a good different. I'm excited for the learning that comes with that and the greater understanding of things that my Father in Heaven has in store for me. I have to give it all up to know him and I will.
In my talk I said that if God asked me to give my life for this gospel I would. And I meant it, but then I said thankfully God does not ask us to give our lives for it but asks us to just obey him. I sat down and thought. Yes he does. He doesn't mean our mortal existence but he does mean everything in this mortal existence. I am called and set apart from the world. We are not in the world nor does God intend to save us in our sins but from our sins, the same is that God does not direct us if we are of the world but if we are apart from it. Do you see how much I don't want to be away from my companion. The one that has made me truly take a look at myself and help me change. She is a rock and I love and admire her more than she will ever know and so thankful to her that she was my companion even for the short amount of time that she was. She goes home in 3 transfers. Needleless to say, we balled our eyes when we found out. I love her and will miss her and everyone in my area and district. I love my ward and have gotten so close to them. But I can still be sent back here because so they say " 6 week areas don't count." So maybe I'll die (end) here in the promise land when that time comes. Plus all the elders that I serve here with I go home with so I don't have to worry about that but I love sister, Mitchell! My strawberry and little Honey nut cheerio.
I love you all so much and i'm so excited for Christopher! I can't wait!!!! I want letters back from all the kids that would be nice. Oh man. tell christopher not to be nervous and just testify all the time through the entire talk and the spirit will be there and will guide the talk. He will do fantastic! I love him and all the kids so much!!!!!! Oh man!
I love you all~
Your sister missionary~
Shanna,
I'm so happy that you're doing better. I wasn't really worried about you. You are stronger than you think. I will keep praying for you and Adam and I hope the test results are good. I'm glad they did some test to kind of figure out what is going on so at least you'll know. You are such a rock. I don't know if I would be able to handle it, but thankfully you have. Adam and you have the Savior that loves you and can take away all that pain and stress, plus a Heavenly Father that adores you and family for support. I love you so much and am so thankful for your example. I couldn't have asked for a better sister, in fact I'm pretty sure I picked you out myself in heaven, as well as the rest of my family.
This is happening all for a reason, I know it. God is preparing you for something bigger and he needs you to be ready for it. Read your patriarchal blessing and pray and read what it says about your family and what you are to become as a woman of God and maybe you will find, just maybe, a reason for all of this. I love you so much! I love Adam so much too and I have no doubt that he is taking care of you and I love him so much for that. I can't say it enough!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Nelson when he came to speak to us said something way cool that has changed the way I look at things, he said. "Don't waste ten grams of today's energy on the mistakes of yesterday, for heaven sake, get over it! You can't keep looking in the rear view mirror while you drive; you're going to get into a wreck." I loved it so much! It was so blunt and exactly what I needed. He also said when it gets hard and you keep thinking of what I could have done or what I should have said or shouldn't have said, it's just a waste of time, he goes onto say "take ten steps breathe and leave it behind."
I can't tell you what a whirl wind this week has been. The Farnsworth's from my old ward in Whitehouse came to take me and my comp for lunch but really they came to give Sister Mitchell some bad news. Her Uncle whom she is very close to had a heart attack and died. Her dad was never really a strong father figure in her life so her uncle kind of took over in that area. I can't tell you how amazing my companion is. She is a rock! It took her a full day of crying and a good long prayer to her heavenly father for her to understand what is going on. Then we went back to work. I would be devastated. I don't know but she depends completely on the Savior and he gives her strength. Man I love her so much. We also found out that I'm being transferred again! I was really mad at first but it will be ok. I have trust in the Lord that it will turn out. I'm just really going to miss my companion. She only has three transfers left. Wow. Time flies so fast.
I love you so much and I'm so proud of you. I'm so excited for this next transfer. There is more learning with every transfer and I'm excited for that learning experience.
I love you and Adam so much and your package will be sent this week before I go. I love love love love you!
Your sister missionary~
I'm Being Transferred Again!!! Oh man. I was a little mad at first; I found out, tossed the phone and took a walk outside. Oh man I was not a happy camper. We have been praying this entire transfer that we would not be split up, but God knows best. I love my companion so much! I have learned so much from her. She has made me really look at myself and ask myself some hard questions about who I was, who I am and who I want to be. This mission does not last forever and I need to decide right now if this is going to stick or is this going to be a great learning experience for 18 months. If I want to be more than I am I cannot come home the way I was when I left and I can never go back. I need to change. Everything I have spend 21 years building up was good but God did not send me here to be and stay that person but he sent me here to be the me that He sees. For our last presidents interviews president didn't interview but gave everyone blessings instead and President Newman said that this is the time that I will draw from for the rest of my life. This is the moment in my life that will determine the rest of my life. It made me realize how much I can't be that same person. I can't be anything less than what the lord expects. I know that sounds a little crazy but if I'm not going to change, than what is the point in the Lord molding me here to go right back when I get home. Things are going to be different, but a good different. I'm excited for the learning that comes with that and the greater understanding of things that my Father in Heaven has in store for me. I have to give it all up to know him and I will.
In my talk I said that if God asked me to give my life for this gospel I would. And I meant it, but then I said thankfully God does not ask us to give our lives for it but asks us to just obey him. I sat down and thought. Yes he does. He doesn't mean our mortal existence but he does mean everything in this mortal existence. I am called and set apart from the world. We are not in the world nor does God intend to save us in our sins but from our sins, the same is that God does not direct us if we are of the world but if we are apart from it. Do you see how much I don't want to be away from my companion. The one that has made me truly take a look at myself and help me change. She is a rock and I love and admire her more than she will ever know and so thankful to her that she was my companion even for the short amount of time that she was. She goes home in 3 transfers. Needleless to say, we balled our eyes when we found out. I love her and will miss her and everyone in my area and district. I love my ward and have gotten so close to them. But I can still be sent back here because so they say " 6 week areas don't count." So maybe I'll die (end) here in the promise land when that time comes. Plus all the elders that I serve here with I go home with so I don't have to worry about that but I love sister, Mitchell! My strawberry and little Honey nut cheerio.
I love you all so much and i'm so excited for Christopher! I can't wait!!!! I want letters back from all the kids that would be nice. Oh man. tell christopher not to be nervous and just testify all the time through the entire talk and the spirit will be there and will guide the talk. He will do fantastic! I love him and all the kids so much!!!!!! Oh man!
I love you all~
Your sister missionary~
Shanna,
I'm so happy that you're doing better. I wasn't really worried about you. You are stronger than you think. I will keep praying for you and Adam and I hope the test results are good. I'm glad they did some test to kind of figure out what is going on so at least you'll know. You are such a rock. I don't know if I would be able to handle it, but thankfully you have. Adam and you have the Savior that loves you and can take away all that pain and stress, plus a Heavenly Father that adores you and family for support. I love you so much and am so thankful for your example. I couldn't have asked for a better sister, in fact I'm pretty sure I picked you out myself in heaven, as well as the rest of my family.
This is happening all for a reason, I know it. God is preparing you for something bigger and he needs you to be ready for it. Read your patriarchal blessing and pray and read what it says about your family and what you are to become as a woman of God and maybe you will find, just maybe, a reason for all of this. I love you so much! I love Adam so much too and I have no doubt that he is taking care of you and I love him so much for that. I can't say it enough!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Nelson when he came to speak to us said something way cool that has changed the way I look at things, he said. "Don't waste ten grams of today's energy on the mistakes of yesterday, for heaven sake, get over it! You can't keep looking in the rear view mirror while you drive; you're going to get into a wreck." I loved it so much! It was so blunt and exactly what I needed. He also said when it gets hard and you keep thinking of what I could have done or what I should have said or shouldn't have said, it's just a waste of time, he goes onto say "take ten steps breathe and leave it behind."
I can't tell you what a whirl wind this week has been. The Farnsworth's from my old ward in Whitehouse came to take me and my comp for lunch but really they came to give Sister Mitchell some bad news. Her Uncle whom she is very close to had a heart attack and died. Her dad was never really a strong father figure in her life so her uncle kind of took over in that area. I can't tell you how amazing my companion is. She is a rock! It took her a full day of crying and a good long prayer to her heavenly father for her to understand what is going on. Then we went back to work. I would be devastated. I don't know but she depends completely on the Savior and he gives her strength. Man I love her so much. We also found out that I'm being transferred again! I was really mad at first but it will be ok. I have trust in the Lord that it will turn out. I'm just really going to miss my companion. She only has three transfers left. Wow. Time flies so fast.
I love you so much and I'm so proud of you. I'm so excited for this next transfer. There is more learning with every transfer and I'm excited for that learning experience.
I love you and Adam so much and your package will be sent this week before I go. I love love love love you!
Your sister missionary~
June 21, 2010
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! June 21, 2010
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh Dad you are so awesome!!! I hope that my husband is as crafty as you. That is so amazing! Mom must have freaked! You would have thought that it was mother's day or something. I'm so happy that you had a good father's day and I hope you thought the card was funny. It reminded me of you. I loved it and laughed for weeks about it. I hope everyone liked the stuff I sent and that those letters got to the Grandmas and Coffman's. I thought it would have been easy that way.
Dad I love you so much!!!! My talk went really well. I talked a lot about the relationship with my father in heaven and my father on earth. I talked about our letters home in relation to our prayers home. I talked about eternal families and our purpose here and understanding the priesthood and who we are; the understanding that we are children of God.
You wrote something to me in my first area; you said,
"I love you, please write, I want to hear from you if not as much or more than your mommy. I love you, please write, I've been feeling a little neglected, If you could just mention or acknowledge that you got my letters or that I exist. I want to hear from you. I love you, please write."
I used this quote as a basis for my talk about a father's love and the importance of talking to our fathers and especially our Father in heaven. He just wants to talk to us.
"I love you please talk to me, I want to remind you of who are. I love you, please talk to me, I'm feeling a little neglected, just acknowledge or mention that you've received my blessings or that I exist. I want to hear from you. I love you, please talk to me."
I love my heavenly father so much and I know that it is because you love him too more than anything else in the world that you have become the father that you are. I went on and on about you and my thankfulness that my father understands me so much that he knew I would need my savior in order for me to come back to him and help me through this life. When I sat down the next speaker said something like, how great it would be if we all could be loved as fathers as sister Pedersen knows and loves her father.
I hope you know how much I love you! I truly want to marry someone like you. I tell mom that all the time. You and Christopher are the key to what I want in a husband and I say Christopher because he is just the new and younger version of you. lol
I love you so much and I hope you had a fantastic father's day!
Your sister missionary~
Oh my gosh Dad you are so awesome!!! I hope that my husband is as crafty as you. That is so amazing! Mom must have freaked! You would have thought that it was mother's day or something. I'm so happy that you had a good father's day and I hope you thought the card was funny. It reminded me of you. I loved it and laughed for weeks about it. I hope everyone liked the stuff I sent and that those letters got to the Grandmas and Coffman's. I thought it would have been easy that way.
Dad I love you so much!!!! My talk went really well. I talked a lot about the relationship with my father in heaven and my father on earth. I talked about our letters home in relation to our prayers home. I talked about eternal families and our purpose here and understanding the priesthood and who we are; the understanding that we are children of God.
You wrote something to me in my first area; you said,
"I love you, please write, I want to hear from you if not as much or more than your mommy. I love you, please write, I've been feeling a little neglected, If you could just mention or acknowledge that you got my letters or that I exist. I want to hear from you. I love you, please write."
I used this quote as a basis for my talk about a father's love and the importance of talking to our fathers and especially our Father in heaven. He just wants to talk to us.
"I love you please talk to me, I want to remind you of who are. I love you, please talk to me, I'm feeling a little neglected, just acknowledge or mention that you've received my blessings or that I exist. I want to hear from you. I love you, please talk to me."
I love my heavenly father so much and I know that it is because you love him too more than anything else in the world that you have become the father that you are. I went on and on about you and my thankfulness that my father understands me so much that he knew I would need my savior in order for me to come back to him and help me through this life. When I sat down the next speaker said something like, how great it would be if we all could be loved as fathers as sister Pedersen knows and loves her father.
I hope you know how much I love you! I truly want to marry someone like you. I tell mom that all the time. You and Christopher are the key to what I want in a husband and I say Christopher because he is just the new and younger version of you. lol
I love you so much and I hope you had a fantastic father's day!
Your sister missionary~
June 14, 2010
Re: Summer is here!!
Thank you mommy~ I love you so much! Thank you for all of the support you give me. I'm sorry this letter is going to be very short because I took most of all my time writing to Shanna so I hope that the package makes up for the lack of a letter. I am doing a lot better this week. We finally have people to teach! I'm so excited! Prayers are being answered and I’m learning to trust and push forward the best I can. I love you Mom so much! Thank you for everything that you do for me!
I love you!
I love you!
I love you daddy! I am giving a talk about you on Father’s day in my ward. I'm so excited! I love my daddy! I think I’m going to cry through the entire thing but it's going to be great! I was nervous when they asked me to give a talk but then they said it would be on father’s day and I was like sweet! I can talk about my dad all day! I love my dad! I also can talk about My Heavenly Father all day long too. In fact I do! It will be good.
I'm so excited! We have our last president’s interviews with President Newman on Tuesday before he leaves at the end of this transfer. I'm going to miss him but I guess he is also going to give us all blessings before he leaves which is so sweet! He never does that! This will be like a Fathers blessing for me because that is how he gives us those blessings. So it will be on Tuesday so pray and tell Heavenly Father all the things you want to tell me and God will make sure I hear them as well as all the things that God wants me to know. I wish you could give me a blessing but that’s ok. I will picture you in my head. lol I love you so much!
I'm sorry that you are so sore but there is a scripture that goes along with that soreness. Helaman 3:35 it talks about becoming firmer and firmer in the faith. We use that for our work-outs. We become firmer and firmer inside and out. lol it's fun!
I love you so much and I feel your prayers. Love you
I love you so much and I feel your prayers. Love you
Your sister missionary~
June 7, 2010
Love You!! June 6, 2010
Thank you Mom so much! I love you so much! You always give the best advice and give me the most confidence in myself after hearing from you.
This week was still pretty much the same as last week but this week we have one date! Honestly I hope he sticks with it and doesn't drop us. So far he is the only person that we are teaching and we just met him on Friday, so our teaching pool is suffering, which is where the lack of confidence comes from but I know that the Lord is preparing me for so much more and is just molding me into the person that he needs me to be to push forward and stand out. Everything will be ok and in the Lords timing.
I love my ward and they are very strong but we have about 500 less active members and a lot of them have been baptized in the last year or they are from a different country who use to meet as a branch but then were combined with our ward so they don't come anymore, so me and my comp are working on a lot of less actives to build up the ward even more and help the new members receive fellowship. One of the ways can be dinners but a non-member has to be present when we are over, we are also doing a lot of trade offs and trying to work more with the members than ever before. In the last 2 years the mission has kind of been anti ward and pro baptisms through the missionaries, and it worked for awhile and we gained lots of baptisms because missionaries were focused but now we have new members that aren't staying active because they have no attachment to the ward, just to their missionaries and so when the missionaries leave, there goes the new member. It's sad. So now we are working on that.
I think my testimony is stronger more than ever but I still can work on it and improve it. I love the gospel with my whole heart and I really have learned who I do and don't want to be when I get home. My Savior has shown me the way and I am giving up everything to follow Him. I love it here!!
Mom I love you so much and I hope you know how much you mean to me. I love you!
~Your sister missionary~
This week was still pretty much the same as last week but this week we have one date! Honestly I hope he sticks with it and doesn't drop us. So far he is the only person that we are teaching and we just met him on Friday, so our teaching pool is suffering, which is where the lack of confidence comes from but I know that the Lord is preparing me for so much more and is just molding me into the person that he needs me to be to push forward and stand out. Everything will be ok and in the Lords timing.
I love my ward and they are very strong but we have about 500 less active members and a lot of them have been baptized in the last year or they are from a different country who use to meet as a branch but then were combined with our ward so they don't come anymore, so me and my comp are working on a lot of less actives to build up the ward even more and help the new members receive fellowship. One of the ways can be dinners but a non-member has to be present when we are over, we are also doing a lot of trade offs and trying to work more with the members than ever before. In the last 2 years the mission has kind of been anti ward and pro baptisms through the missionaries, and it worked for awhile and we gained lots of baptisms because missionaries were focused but now we have new members that aren't staying active because they have no attachment to the ward, just to their missionaries and so when the missionaries leave, there goes the new member. It's sad. So now we are working on that.
I think my testimony is stronger more than ever but I still can work on it and improve it. I love the gospel with my whole heart and I really have learned who I do and don't want to be when I get home. My Savior has shown me the way and I am giving up everything to follow Him. I love it here!!
Mom I love you so much and I hope you know how much you mean to me. I love you!
~Your sister missionary~
May 31, 2010
Letter to Shanna 5/31/2010
This week has been kind of a hard one. We have worked and tracted all week without any success. It has been very discouraging but I know that we are doing our best in everything we do, so I know it will get better. Me and my comp have decided to just put on a smile and go out and do the work. This is a joyful message that we share and if we are not happy no one will be drawn to us to see what it is that we are so happy about. The doors where I cannot stop laughing is where we are most successful is usually the door that lets us in or that will listen to us. I love being a missionary! So laughing and smiling is a must! In my first area with Sister Johnson we got laughing about something she didn't mean to say so hard that we couldn't even say hi when the door was opened. I was about to pee my pants and then the man starts to laugh and ask why we are laughing and we try to explain but it makes us laugh harder and we just told him to forget it. But it opened up a conversation and he let us in and we taught him about 3-4 times before he dropped us. But it goes to show you that a happy face shows the light you hold more than a frown. (although laughing is not always approprate)
So that has been my week. I struggle but that's ok. It's part of learning. Plus I got a package from Mom with clothes and a family tape and CD's. There are so many stories that are funny that I want to tell you but I think i'll just send a tape becuase i stink at typing and they're better over (I was about to say over the phone, ahhh, I forget sometimes) the tape. You two are so fun together. You are going to be the best parents someday! I tell everyone how much I want a marriage like you two and Mom and Dad. It's just so cute and fun and two just work together so well through it all no matter how hard it gets. Communication, hard work and love and play is the key, especially putting God first before it all. that is the real key. Thats what I have learned more than anything in my mission so far. God makes everything better. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!
I love you and Adam so much!
Love your favortie sister missionary~
So that has been my week. I struggle but that's ok. It's part of learning. Plus I got a package from Mom with clothes and a family tape and CD's. There are so many stories that are funny that I want to tell you but I think i'll just send a tape becuase i stink at typing and they're better over (I was about to say over the phone, ahhh, I forget sometimes) the tape. You two are so fun together. You are going to be the best parents someday! I tell everyone how much I want a marriage like you two and Mom and Dad. It's just so cute and fun and two just work together so well through it all no matter how hard it gets. Communication, hard work and love and play is the key, especially putting God first before it all. that is the real key. Thats what I have learned more than anything in my mission so far. God makes everything better. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!
I love you and Adam so much!
Love your favortie sister missionary~
Happy Birthday & Memorial Day! May 31, 2010
Mommy and sweet Daddy~
I got the package and I loved it! Some of the clothes don't fit, but thank you so much for them. I was telling Shanna that I don't have restrictions on what I wear so I can wear anything. The skirts are too long for summer but I'll try to make them work. Here you sweat everywhere; in places I didn't know you could sweat. But you get use to being wet all the time, so the thinner and shorter the skirt the better. I wear skirts just past my knees and it's appropriate because when I sit my knees don't show.
I'm so happy that you and Dad had so much fun and I'm sorry but happy late birthday!!! I still need a list of birthdays. I'm missing them. Sorry. I loved the tape soooooooooooo much!!!!!!!! It was totally perfect! This week has not been going so good so the tape cheered me up so much! I love it! My package I know is super late but it's hard trying to put a package together when you're a missionary. You'll see why when you get it. I don't have as much free time as it seems. P-days are still as full as any other day. But I promised myself that this week it will be out. Hope there is not anything you want me to send you. This package is for the family but mainly for Christopher and his Christmas, birthday, mission, just because I'm excited for him to go. I love my family soooo much.
I'm sorry that this letter is going to be so short but nothing has really happened this week at all. We run tract everywhere! We have taught 194 lessons this week and nothing! But I have decided to be happy! I love you!!!!!!!
Thank you for everything!!!!!!!
Love your sister missionary~
I got the package and I loved it! Some of the clothes don't fit, but thank you so much for them. I was telling Shanna that I don't have restrictions on what I wear so I can wear anything. The skirts are too long for summer but I'll try to make them work. Here you sweat everywhere; in places I didn't know you could sweat. But you get use to being wet all the time, so the thinner and shorter the skirt the better. I wear skirts just past my knees and it's appropriate because when I sit my knees don't show.
I'm so happy that you and Dad had so much fun and I'm sorry but happy late birthday!!! I still need a list of birthdays. I'm missing them. Sorry. I loved the tape soooooooooooo much!!!!!!!! It was totally perfect! This week has not been going so good so the tape cheered me up so much! I love it! My package I know is super late but it's hard trying to put a package together when you're a missionary. You'll see why when you get it. I don't have as much free time as it seems. P-days are still as full as any other day. But I promised myself that this week it will be out. Hope there is not anything you want me to send you. This package is for the family but mainly for Christopher and his Christmas, birthday, mission, just because I'm excited for him to go. I love my family soooo much.
I'm sorry that this letter is going to be so short but nothing has really happened this week at all. We run tract everywhere! We have taught 194 lessons this week and nothing! But I have decided to be happy! I love you!!!!!!!
Thank you for everything!!!!!!!
Love your sister missionary~
May 24, 2010
Aloha!! Thank you.. May 24, 2010
I love you both so much! Thank you for everything and I’m so thankful to have you in my life. I loved your letter Mom and I’m sure that Dad would just say dido to most all of it. I love you both sooooo much; you both know me inside and out and I’m so thankful for that because you show me what I seem to miss a lot. I realize that I’m hard on myself but it's only because I know that i can be better and I want to do so much more.
We had the best opportunity to hear from three quorum of the 70’s~ Elder Anderson, Elder Lawrence, Elder Rasband (president of the Quorum of 70) and then of course Elder Russell M. Nelson who is one of the twelve Apostles! He really is! He is an apostle of God and i love him so much. He is so funny and so sweet but blunt. Out of all of the missions in Florida he came to see us and we have been preparing since I first got here for him to come and speak to us. (I shook his hand! and he said my name and smiled) I wander if he could see into my soul... It made me nervous but at the same time I knew he could talk to all of us and meet all of our needs. It was so amazing! I don’t have my notebook with me but they talked about a lot of things. Our mission president talked to us and his wife bore here testimony and said she is asking for an extension no matter what here husband wants and then Elder Nelson said "well I don’t see that happening since I just signed and sent off a letter releasing you and congratulating you for the wonderful work you have done, you'll receive it in two days." lol he was so funny. President Newman said this to us "Don’t just write these words down to hide away or to be stored up like some fantastic artifact but use these words to light a fire to move your feet and work your hands." I loved that!!! And I will continue to try and use those words.
We had the best opportunity to hear from three quorum of the 70’s~ Elder Anderson, Elder Lawrence, Elder Rasband (president of the Quorum of 70) and then of course Elder Russell M. Nelson who is one of the twelve Apostles! He really is! He is an apostle of God and i love him so much. He is so funny and so sweet but blunt. Out of all of the missions in Florida he came to see us and we have been preparing since I first got here for him to come and speak to us. (I shook his hand! and he said my name and smiled) I wander if he could see into my soul... It made me nervous but at the same time I knew he could talk to all of us and meet all of our needs. It was so amazing! I don’t have my notebook with me but they talked about a lot of things. Our mission president talked to us and his wife bore here testimony and said she is asking for an extension no matter what here husband wants and then Elder Nelson said "well I don’t see that happening since I just signed and sent off a letter releasing you and congratulating you for the wonderful work you have done, you'll receive it in two days." lol he was so funny. President Newman said this to us "Don’t just write these words down to hide away or to be stored up like some fantastic artifact but use these words to light a fire to move your feet and work your hands." I loved that!!! And I will continue to try and use those words.
It was just a friendly and family felt meeting. Like parents really just counseling with there children. Elder Nelson while he was talking said "Your not suppose to think about after your mission and the wife or husband you will marry but think about it... You are preparing here for that moment you will be married and have a family and share these experiences. The missionary you are on your mission will be the person you will be after your mission." then he went on to say, "wouldn't you love to have a husband or wife like President and Sister Newman? They love each other and hold hands and continue to do so because they love God more than there spouse so that they have a greater capacity to love each other more. When you put God first and in front of everything you receive ten fold." I have found that on my mission that when I put God first and love him more than anything else I have a greater capacity to love every person I meet teach and serve with.
They touched on a lot of things. But mainly this is what I felt. I have a tough time figuring out what I’m doing wrong and why I didn't have success in the past and what's going to happen at the end of this transfer when our new mission president takes over, and how I can testify more boldly and with such power that they cant turn away, and how I can keep the one's I have from leaving? I had a lot of other concerns but they were all answered through all the talks given. My answer was given perfectly by Elder Nelson when he said, “Stop worrying about it. Don’t look back and continue the work that you are doing with prayer, reading and obedience and everything will come. So I guess I’m freaking out too much and I need to just chill out. I need to still work my tail off and continue to do better but stressing and wishing and hoping will get me nowhere. I just need to work my feet move my hands and concentrate my mind to the desires of my heart. Then hit the pavement running, literally. I love run tracting. Sometimes it's hard when it is so hot outside but I love it. I really feel like I’m working and giving it my all. Then when i get home I want to pass out and do a lot of the time. You know you pray a lot when the most comfortable position to sleep is on your knees, that or you have fallen asleep a lot on your knees. In that case they are both true statements.
I love you both sooooooooo much and am thankful for parents that taught me hard work, and that scripture study and prayer are key and how I should follow the spirit so that i’m not wasting anytime figuring out the basics and i can just work. Don’t get me wrong those basics become a lot more intense on your mission so it's like you have to relearn them all over again in addition to all the new things but I’m loving it!
I just found my cord so here is a picture of my super hot comp. to go along with your super hot weather in Hawaii!!
I love you and Hope this letter sounds more positive. I'm sorry, the mission makes me crazy with emotions because i love the people so much here and want the best for them and then they run from me, some times literally and I think I’m doing something wrong which sometimes is the case so i constantly check myself and make it better because that is what I want. A better everything! I love love love you both and you show me everyday what a marriage is suppose to be like. Love it!!!
Ok i got to go.
With love from your sister missionary~
P.S. lol, Wow sorry about the dislexicness (oh wow if you didn't know before that i couldn't spell you know now. and i can't even spell what i have. Who ever thought of that word was not dyslexic.)
[I edit her spelling so you don't get to see it, but this was funny so I kept it in! Isn't she great? She cracks me up.]
May 17, 2010
The Promised Land!!! May 17, 2010
My new companion's name is Sister Mitchell and everyone loves her! I love her too. You know that fiery red head that elder Bruton told me to watch out for when I got on my mission, the one that dated his brother? Well that's my new companion and she is so cute! I love her to death. She is all her own and a major power house! We have clicked right away and we have so much fun. We are still figuring out how each other teaches but we are both at that point where we want to be better than we are and become more than we are. She is 21 and she is from a small town in Utah and her family owns a farm and she is beautiful! She has bright blue eyes with her red hair that is so long that it hit's her bum and it is so cute, it just fits her.
My ward here is amazing! They are all supportive of the work and our ward mission leader although a little funny, is very much into baptizing the whole world, as he should be. My bishop here reminds me of the bishop in Whitehouse and seems pretty cool even though I only spoke with him for a little bit. The ward is much bigger than my other wards and there is a lot of older people verses younger but that is only because a singles ward is close by and there is a Spanish branch that attends in the same building with us but at 9 so we have church at 1. It's really different having church so late because I'm use to having it at 9 but it gives time for us to check on our investigators and see who is really coming to church and find other people to bring. It will be fun trying to adjust. I think I might like it better this way because it takes away most of the stress.
Honestly I don't know why I am here. Most missionaries get sent here at the end of their missions because it's close to the mission presidents home and the AP's are in our ward too so I will be serving with them all the time. I will be teaching in front of them and learning with them and from them at least twice a week instead of once a transfer. It will be a huge learning experience but I am worried I won't have as much to contribute here with all the best! I know this is meant to be a huge learning experience for me because I have so many people to learn from. I want to be so much more than I am, so much more, I want to burn with fire, with the light of Christ so that people are compelled to change. I want to teach like the AP's. I just want more and I will get more I just need to figure out how to get there. Scripture study is the key but not just scripture study but a true change in my heart, empowered to change me and power to change others. You know what I mean? Just so much more.
I'm so excited to become what the Lord wants me to be. So the new sister Pedersen is on her way. It will take time and maybe my whole mission but it needs to happen so that I can do God's work. This is His work not mine and I need to mold into whatever God needs me to be. Sorry this is not that exciting of a letter this week but the letter next week will be so much more. I promise. I love you all so very much and I'm so thankful for your support.
Love you all,
Your sister Missionary!
May 10, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!! May 10, 2010
I love you so much but I wished I would have stopped talking for awhile enough to really hear all of your voices and memorize them. I forget what people sound like and then it takes a bit to recognize who I was talking to but then it sounded familiar and it felt like home, I loved it!!! I was thinking about that and I think that is what it will be like when we hear the Savior's voice. We won't recognize it at first then it will sound familiar and then we will know and it will feel like home. I have been thinking about the second coming a lot because when we talk to people here that's all they want to talk about, I think they watch too much TV instead of reading there scriptures, but I'm excited! I'm so excited for the second coming. The more I read the more I want to be here when it happens. I love the scriptures so much! There is so much information in there and it only makes me more excited to learn more and understand more. I know this wanting to learn comes from my Father in heaven and in wanting to do what it right but also from parents that have shown me the way to better studies. I'm doing better at my studies but I could do so much better so if you have any tips for me, let me know. I love you so much and I loved hearing your voice and I hope you keep my message I left on your phone. Oh P.S. I sang your mission song to my comp and she loved it but I want to hear it again from you because its better when you do it with the piano so maybe you can put that on the tape? That with Kenny's piano. I love you so much!
~Your sister missionary~
~Your sister missionary~
Pictures of the Work!!
These are some pictures of Chanelle in her last area in Georgia, and her new area in Whitehouse Florida. She says about this little boy, "DeShawn, The cutest little boy I have ever seen. He loves me and I love him. We are going to get married when he grows up!"
Top left her companion in Georgia, Sister Johnson who she loved working with and the rest of the pictures are with her present companion, Sister Joslin who she absolutely adores in Whitehouse Florida. She grabbed the phone while we were talking with Chanelle yesterday to say that Chanelle is the "bomb" and the most amazing missionary! She said she is so bold and not afraid to say it like it is. haha.
Chanelle is being transferred again! She and her companion are being whitewashed from the area once again. She has had great success in this area and is sad to leave, but excited to find out where the Lord wants her to serve next.
It was so fun to be able to hear her voice yesterday!! She sounds so happy, she is just giddy (as only Chanelle can be) and loves the work. She expressed great sadness that it is going by so fast.
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Top left her companion in Georgia, Sister Johnson who she loved working with and the rest of the pictures are with her present companion, Sister Joslin who she absolutely adores in Whitehouse Florida. She grabbed the phone while we were talking with Chanelle yesterday to say that Chanelle is the "bomb" and the most amazing missionary! She said she is so bold and not afraid to say it like it is. haha.
Chanelle is being transferred again! She and her companion are being whitewashed from the area once again. She has had great success in this area and is sad to leave, but excited to find out where the Lord wants her to serve next.
It was so fun to be able to hear her voice yesterday!! She sounds so happy, she is just giddy (as only Chanelle can be) and loves the work. She expressed great sadness that it is going by so fast.
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