Still Moving

Hello Everyone,

I promise I'm still alive. Life has been interesting these past couple of weeks. It's been rough but times slowly get better. Line upon line... ;)

I might start working next week. I won't know until about Friday. If I do, it will be at Wells Fargo's Corporate Home Mortgage Dept in Tempe. I'd be a peon, being in charge of filing and finding paperwork, but it's a good job, great start, and my foot in the door for just graduating college.

Perhaps the hardest thing in life right now is accepting this really is my life right now. As hard as it is, I know I'm where the Lord wants me to be, which helps a lot. I still feel in the dark, but I'm moving. I'd like to say I'm moving forward but it's hard to know which direction is which when you feel lost, but I'm still moving so it's going to be OK.

Need to run. Thanks for your prayers. I appreciate them more than I can express. You're all wonderful!

Change of Plans

Well, I'm pretty sure the not-so-secret is fully out, but just in case you didn't know, I'm back. I've been honorably released from my mission due to some medical issues. No, I'm not dying. It's nice how many people care about me, yet are very curious about what happened, but I'm sorry I'm not ready to be so open about something so personal. But here is what I will say...

I loved my limited amount (6 weeks) of full-time missionary service. I did not expect nor wanted this to happen. I can honestly say that I gave it my all and this is God's will for this significant change of plans. I don't know if I'll be going back out nor am I really ready to consider it right now. But I do know that God is loving and though this is a very hard place to be in life, I'm grateful that He loves me and is watching over me.

I'm anxious to learn and see what He has in store for me.

Hola!

Can you believe that another week has come and gone? I can...lol time is slow during the day but the weeks seem to come around a lot quicker... Less than 3 weeks until I'm in New Jersey!!! I've heard hear and there about the hurricane/tropical storm that hit the East Coast...my heart goes out to them. Maybe they'll be more receptive to the message, that is my hope anyway.

I should be getting my flight plans next Thursday (just 9 days away!) That's going to be so weird but awesome. This is all so surreal, but it is exciting at the same time. Another piece of great news is I should get to be a host missionary next Wednesday when the new missionaries come (you usually get to host your last 2 Wednesdays, so I'm optimistic!) What would be even better, is that first Wednesday (Sept. 14) my old roommate enters the MTC and I would LOVE to be her host! Keep your fingers crossed :)

I found Aunt Connie and Uncle Dale yesterday when they came in!!! It was such a happy moment ;) I originally found them while I was in line for food at the cafeteria as they were leaving and I was really bummed. But as I was leaving after lunch I saw them in a conference room with a lot of other senior couples and I just stared at them hoping they'd turn around. Haha it was funny because then an older missionary came by and asked what I was looking for and I told her I saw my aunt and uncle in there. She looked at her watch and said why don't you go in?! The meeting doesn't start for another 10 mins. I looked at my companions and asked if that was allowed, she said why not?! You got my approval! It was great. So I went in and hugged Connie. She met my companions and we arranged to eat dinner together that night. BEST DAY EVER! I haven't seem them today since it's been P-Day, but I still have 5 days to see them ;)

Hmmm...what else to report on? Spanish is ever so slowly coming. There is obviously much room for improvement but whenever I can see that I progressed it just makes me so happy. I've been forewarned though that it's a harsh wake-up call again once you're in the field with re-learning the language too, so I'm trying to keep that in mind too. It makes sense...We only really learn gospel terms and such here, so we can practice teaching. One step at a time...

It has been a good week though overall. We all forget that yesterday was Labor Day because it's not like we got the day off haha but then when we realized that affected mail check it was a little bit of a bummer. Oh well, maybe more will be waiting for us today :)

I really can't think of what else to report on. Watch as soon as I hit send I'll think of something...I'll make a note for next week :)

I've been reading a lot lately in the Pearl of Great Price and it's AWESOME!!! I'm almost embarrassed that I hadn't discovered it before. I love Preach My Gospel. This handbook truly is inspired and a great resource not only for missionaries, but everyone. I have come to appreciate it more now on my mission. What a blessing.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for letters and prayers. It's such a strength and blessing. I really do appreciate it all. May the Lord be with all of you.

Until next week, Have a great one!

Love,

Hermana Peterson

Another Week

Hola family and friends,

Another week almost passed...really? I agree that time is speeding up and it always surprises me when another P-Day arrives but each day can feel so long sometimes...But less than 4 weeks until New Jersey! In about 2ish weeks I should be getting my flight plans and I cannot wait!!

Some pretty hilarious things have been happening this past week. Let's see where to start... This past Saturday was my District's halfway mark at the MTC. My mom was so kind to send me a couple of goodies but the last day was the best. She sent a long, triangular shaped FedEx box that was filled with candy, party poppers, blowers, and stickers. I shared them with my district. We decided to throw a "rave" (aka party) with one of our teachers because a previous week he had said he had gone to a rave with his girlfriend and we somehow joked about it...anyways on Saturday, the plan was to surprise him but the keyword was "rave." We finally got him to say it so we popped the poppers and blowed the blowers and one elder flicked the lights on and off really fast, it was awesome! Totally shocked my teacher. He's a good sport about it :)

Another thing that happened with the package was one elder decided that the box was the perfect shape to play baseball with. One of my companions "pitched" him a small bag of peanut M&Ms and he hit it. HARD. We opened the bag after and he actually cracked some of the peanuts! Though that was epic, the best (or worst) part was he hit the bag at just the right time for our strict teacher to walk into the room. She was not happy, to say the least. She took the box away and scolded us and then left. We kinda got right to work...after some more giggles...

The fire alarm went off last night while everyone was preparing for bed. We were told to evacuate to the nearest parking lot (it was only the girl's building) and were there for about 45 mins. I'm so glad I wasn't in the shower!!! That would have been terrible... They still expected us to be in bed by 10:30...yea that didn't happen. We were close, though (10:45) So that's whats been going on this past week that's pretty out of the ordinary.

I'm so excited that Aunt Connie and Uncle Dale are coming into the MTC THIS Monday!!!!!!!!!! I have seen where most of the senior couples sit in the cafeteria and auditorium and I know what building they live in so I think I'll be able to find them...It's going to be GREAT :)

Well sorry this isn't the longest letter but I'm almost out of time. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and letters. I love getting emails (from family), DearElders, and especially handwritten letters. There's just something extra sweet about them...but don't stop! I love ALL forms of mail :) It's been nice, this week especially I've received some mail from people I wasn't expecting and it's always a sweet surprise. Please keep it up.

I'm grateful for your prayers and know they are a huge strength. Thanks to everyone and I selfishly ask for you to please don't stop. Thank you :)

Until next week, have an awesome one!

Love,

Hermana Peterson

Pictures!

DaNae's first full day... still wearing her "greenie" stickerFamous World MapDaNae with her companions Hermana Wagner and Hermana Henderson (both going to New Mexico)DaNae's going to New Jersey!

Another Week Gone By

Hello family and friends,

Crazy to think it's been 4 weeks tomorrow! The "hump" mark at the MTC is this Saturday! Woot woot :)

Let's see where to begin...Life is pretty repetitive. Samet thing everyday without much variation. Wake up, get ready, plan, eat, class, study, eat, language study, gym, teach, and study some more. But it's good. I feel like an old pro here because I've been here longer than English-speaking missionaries are...I leave for New Jersey in less than 5 weeks! I'm excited :)

Well some stories though about the week that you might enjoy....

My companion is very exact in following the guidelines sent to her in the missionary packet (more than me! It's weird...I never thought that was possible...) and she only brought 8 outfits and 1 pair of PJs. Well her PJs is actually a nightgown. An old lady nightgown...embrodiered and all. Well she one day was wearing her nightgown and as a joke was trying to dress it up with a belt and cardigan and it actually looked like an outfit. We dared her to wear it all day long but she resisted at first because she didn't believe that we were being honest. When she realized we weren't lying she took the challenge and wore her nightgown as an outfit. Everytime she was complimented on her outfit we died laughing...oh the joys you have when finding fun ways to "party" within the bounds the Lord has set :)

The other day was just one of those days and I was having a rough time. I didn't feel like myself and couldn't grasp the Spanish and whatnot. You know those types of days...just like nothing is going your way. Well the Elders in my district are a hoot (though it can be annoying when you're trying to focus) and they decided they would sing me a song. They love Disney and teenage girl music then us, the Hermanas. They are more girly than we are, it's like somedays we switch rules. (We have Star Wars stickers and they have Princesses -- seriously!) Anyways, they let me choose the song for them to sing and can you guess what I picked? Hannah Montana's "The Climb"!!! It made my day! :)

It's true what has been said (by Elder Packer?) that the strengthening and forming of a testimony is found in the building of it. We bear testimony all the time (one of the many great perks as being a servant of the Lord) and it is wonderful. I can tell I have grown so much being here in just 4 weeks...I can't imagine what the next 17 months-ish will be like. I'll be a whole new (better) person! Last night we taught one of our "investigators" about the Plan of Salvation. I was responsible for teaching about the Pre-Earth life and the Creation. It was the BEST lesson we've ever had. The Spirit was incredibly strong and I could literally feel the Spirit working through me. It is such a privilege and honor to be a chosen and worthy vessel of the Lord. Everyone else could feel the Spirit present...my companions and I and our teacher (who is our investigator). She told us twice after what a good lesson it was (something she's never done before). I'm not a huge fan of role plays because they feel fake to me and all I think is this person is an endowed member of the church...what can I do? But so much more! Bearing testimony of the gift of our physical bodies is where the Spirit came with full force. So, I've learned at least 2 things from that experience...even in role plays I can be a missionary and the importance of the spirit and of our bodies (I guess that was 3). I hope every lesson from now on can go like that!

Oh one more thing...another Elder from our district went home last weekend. It was very hard on everyone because he was making such progress in his Spanish and teaching but he didn't see it in himself so he went home. I was incredibly disappointed to say the least. I have a little better understanding of how our Heavenly Father feels when we're doing great but we lack enough faith to keep going forward. But one thing is for sure, He still loves us and there is no point in life where we can't return to Him nor does He wish otherwise. The Atonement is wonderful. I can feel of it's power so strongly in my life. It's incredibly difficult being here. Waking up at 6:30 can be the worst thing ever, let alone getting out of bed, but Christ is there. Sometimes I think He is pulling my blanket off of me and tugging at my arm to get up. I know that everything wrong in life can be made right in Jesus Christ. I'm reminded of this truth everyday and I'm so grateful that I can be one of the special messengers of God to invite others to come unto Christ.

Well that's it for this week. The days are slow but the weeks are flying. I can't wait for NJ, though it is scary, but go forward with faith and all will be well :)

Love you all,

Hermana Peterson

PS If you see any missionaries out there, say hi and be kind to them...maybe even listen to their message (whether you're a member or not!) ;)

Another Letter from Our Favorite Missionary

Hello family and friends,

Well the rumors are true that times does go A LOT faster after the first 4 days. 3 weeks tomorrow! Well a lot has happened this past week...I'll try to get it all done before time runs out (that timer is so distracting!)

One of my companions, Hma Henderson, pulled her right quad muscle Thursday so that was rough for her. It was getting lots better but then she pulled it again in the same spot this morning. Poor girl. Please keep her in your prayers. My other companion, Hma Wagner, has been having chest pain and difficulty breathing so on Saturday we went to the front desk to ask the on-call doctor and he ordered us to go to InstaCare and have them check it out. So, we got to go into the real world! A shuttle driver drove us there, picked us up and then took us to the pharmacy, and then picked us up to take us back to the MTC. It was great. EVERYONE was looking at us and most everyone smiled and waved and said hello (I guess because we're in Provo...) but it was weird to actually stand out. At the MTC everyone has a nametag so I tend to forget it won't always be like this.

On Sunday, I gave the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting. Everyone in the branch/my zone is going on a Spanish-speaking mission so Sacrament Meeting is all done in Spanish except when a member of the branch presidency speaks. I was so scared and even had written out a prayer to take up there and read but the whole meeting was about faith so I figured that was a sign to me to exercise some more of it so I didn't take my "script" with me and it was a SUCCESS!!! It was a very simple prayer but I'm so happy :) Baby steps, but I'm getting there :)

So some people have been asking what my days are like at the MTC, especially Sundays. Well, if you're doing everything to the T you're never to have a down minute. If you finish something early, you are to study or fill it in somehow. We wake up at 6:30 and go to bed at 10:30 and those 16-hour days are full with class time (learning how to teach), teaching fake investigators, language study, personal study, companionship study, gym time, and eating. My day revolves around when is the next meal and when can I go to bed. Then we look forward to Sundays because there's no class and Tuesday's because it's P-Day and Wednesdays because new people come and we realize we made it another week and we're not the newbies any more!

The MTC can be rough too. With nearly 2,700 missionaries they have to be very strict. We're not allowed to listen to music at all (major bummer) unless a teacher does during class (which has yet to happen), you can't dance, sing, or clap (in the cafeteria). It feels like the movie "Footloose" sometimes! I'm sure you've heard the analogy that it's a "Spirit Prison" here, but I don't like that term. The spirit is strong and I'm happy to be here but I'll be even happier when this is all for real and not just training (I know, I know, I maybe thinking differently when that time comes). The Elders in my district came up with the new nickname of "God's Boot Camp" for the MTC. That's a little more fitting. Especially since we are joining God's army ;)

This past Sunday we had an amazing fireside by one of the MTC administrators. He talked about the definition of Success and determining if you have it on your mission. It was really good and I'm pretty sure it will have a lasting impact on my way of thinking throughout my mission. Basically, he said we need to have a "perhaps" mentality as it's mentioned a lot in the Book of Mormon, especially Ether 12 and Alma. We work hard and do all that we can that PERHAPS someone will be receptive to the gospel. Contrary to popular belief, Baptism is not the guarantee that Heavenly Father gives to faithful missionaries, but JOY is. Wow! Soooo good :) We're told that an apostle is coming tonight for the MTC Devotional but they won't say who exactly. I'm excited!

Well, I think that's about everything. 2 of the Elders, Wall and Timothy, are leaving Thursday morning for the Dominican Republic MTC and we'll be left with just 6 people in our district (which is very unusual especially to have half of them girls) but I'm excited for more one-on-one time with my teachers but they will definitely be missed. I need to get going. Time is almost out.

I love you all and don't think you'll fully realize what great strength your prayers provide for me. Thank you. I hope to hear from you soon. Until next week, take it easy.

Love,

Hermana Peterson