First Email!

Hola Familia (y amigos),

You probably think I can speak Spanish now like crazy huh? Psych! This language is so difficult for me to grasp, but as I said at my farewell. Like my math classes, the Lord will help me :)

Well I don't have a lot of time (the countdown timer in the upper right hand corner says I have 20 mins left), so I'll do my best. I'm not going to lie, saying good bye to people and having been dropped off was very challenging. I had to hold back the water works (and was mostly successful). My original assigned companion never showed up so I'm in a trio with 2 other companions. Hermana (Jeanine) Wagner is from South Carolina and is a southern bell. I love her. She is kind and outgoing yet incredibly in tune with the Spirit. Hermana (Karen) Henderson is from upstate New York, near Palmyra. She is also great, very on key and focused and not afraid to work or laugh. I have been truly blessed with such great companions. Both of them will be serving in the New Mexico Alberquerque Mission so I will miss them, but it's nice to be with them now.

There were originally supposed to be 10 missionaries in my district, but my companion never came so now there is 10. 2 of the Elders, Wall and Timothy, will be serving in the Dominican Republic and leave in 2 weeks for the DR MTC. 2 other Elders, Flint and Johnson, will also be serving in NM with my companions. They are by far the hardest working elders in the district. They know what they want, why they're here, and not afraid to work. Lastly, the 2 other sets of Elders, Hanks and Winslow, will be going with me to NJ (!!!!!!!!!!!). However, Elder Hanks has been feeling very discouraged and is being transferred to an English-speaking district. So we're down to 8 in the district and in 2 weeks we'll have 6, so we'll be getting to know them even more. The elders...oh the elders. They're so....little. Haha but the maturation process has to start somewhere ;) but then again, I know I have more growing up to do too.

You're probably wondering about the Spanish. It's HARD. Whoever thought going on a mission was a break from school was sorely mistaken. As Elder Flint said, this is an INTENSE school. I feel like I haven't really been taught much Spanish, my teacher speaks, I look super confused, and then he repeats in English. I'm told eventually I'll get it. I have faith :) As you can guess, Tuesdays are my P-Days. We get to go to the temple in an hour and I'm SUPER excited! I know it's only been a week, but man that was a long week.

It's crazy to think I've only been here for 6 days. Those first 4 or so days were the longest ever! I felt like a year and a half would never come. Not that I'm eager for the end of my mission, but I want to enjoy it and not just drag my feet all day. It is getting better though, I'm feeling more confident, getting more comfortable, and getting into the routine. 9 mins left...ahh! I wanted to attach a photo but can seem to figure out how...If I can't get it next week, I'll send some out.

We taught our first "investigator", Ismael, this week and it was great! Well there was some significant language barriers but sharing the gospel is wonderful. Role playing is not as bad as I anticipated and I'm eager for the field even more. OH! I absolutely LOVE wearing the black nametag, to literally take upon myself Christ's name. Such a blessing.

I only have a few mins left (man does time fly) but I wanted to thank everyone for their letters, emails, notecards (that I keep finding amidst all my stuff!), prayers, encouragement, support, love, etc. It means the world. I can feel you and it's fantastic. Don't forget to write or be shy about it. I'll write back. Snail mail and DearElder.com (it's free for the MTC!) are wonder :)

My address is:

Sister DaNae Peterson

MTC mailbox # 261

NJ - Mor 0926

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604

Though it's hard, I won't give up. I've been called to serve a mission and in the Spanish language. I've been called to do it because He knows I can do it, what more can I need? It's overwhelming, frustrating, and even discouraging at times, but the Spirit is strong and I will not give up. Even if I know 2 words, I will still go to New Jersey with the Spirit as my translator and interpreter, but I'll keep working giving it it my all.

I need to get going, but thanks again. I love you all and will email and write next week. Those who wrote me, expect letters :)

OK I'm going for real now, 40 seconds!

Love,

Hermana Peterson

Saying Goodbye to DaNae!

We dropped DaNae off at the MTC yesterday, Wednesday and it was a little bit emotional. Mom and DaNae flew into Salt Lake as a set apart missionary on Tuesday and we were able to hang out and get some things done. We got to go to the temple on Tuesday night and followed it up with dinner. It was an interesting night with a little white girl being our Japanese cook. She was very funny! and even had DaNae come up to help throw the shrimp into people's mouths. DaNae said it is a lot harder than it looks and finally on the third try DaNae was able to get the shrimp into Scott's mouth. One Wednesday we rang some errands in the morning. We met up with Scott for lunch at Malawi's Pizza...yum! After lunch we got a quick picture before Scott headed back to work and the rest of us got ready to head off to the MTC. We were a little early so we stopped at a store for a bit before getting to the MTC. They directed us to the curb and we helped DaNae get her luggage out. We gave her one last hug and watched her depart with some Elders that were hosts to help her get to the right place. She is now officially a missionary and we are waiting to hear from her.

Write to DaNae!

DaNae goes into the MTC on Wednesday and I'm sure that she would love letters! Everyone should write to her and here is the address:

Sister DaNae Peterson
MTC Mailbox #261
NJ-MOR 0926
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

That address will work until the end of September and then I will post the mission office address.

Farewell

Well tomorrow night, at 7pm, I will be set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If you want to be added to my email list, leave a message. Addresses are posted on Facebook or if you don't have an account leave a message and someone will get it to you.

My sister-in-law, Becky, will be helping me out by taking over my Facebook account, forwarding my weekly emails, and posting them on this blog.

Please pray for me. I'm scared but I can do this with the help of my Savior. I'll see you in 18 months. Be good, be kind to the missionaries, and take care.

PS I would LOVE letters! :)

Open House

I'm in Arizona for only 2.5 days but my sister (with the help of my mom) threw me an open house to say bye to people. I put all the pictures on Facebook but here is one of my favorites...

I can't believe it's happening but it is...Ready or not, here I come!

Graduation!

Guess what?! I'm a COLLEGE GRAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it's happened already but I did it! Now on to the next thing, MISSION! :)

My Faces of Support

I remember this quote from conference awhile back and recently came across it again... Jeffrey R. Holland said, "...Picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down." -- Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul, April 2010 General Conference

These are the faces I picture (especially with my mission)...

My FAMILY. I'm glad we're a forever family. I hope I can help other families become the same: Scott, Becky, Lanae, Andrew, Kevin, Mom, Brian, Adam, Roman, Meija, and Amelia


My very good friend, HANNAH. I swear we knew each other in the Pre-Existence


These great people I met while at DISNEY -- Kimberly, Paul, Jon, and Katie

My roommate, RACHEL. We have lived together my first and last semester at BYUI. She helped me get excited for a mission and now helping me leave on one... She's my perfect book ends to to BYUI ;)


I love these girls. It was so hard to leave them. Winter 2011 roommates -- Sasha, Arisa, Laurie, and Nikki

The great people I met at BYU my freshman year. I don't see them very often, but they were the best I could ask for especially my first time away from home: Katie, Christine, Rebecca, Alexa, Neil, Becca, and Clarissa


And ABOVE ALL...

My Savior, JESUS CHRIST. He has helped me get here and will help me out there and will help me when I'm back. He is my number one face of support. I CANNOT wait to wear the black name tag bearing His name :)

This isn't everyone, but a fraction. Thank you to everyone who composes my support circle. I could not do any of this without you!