Nov 14th 2010 Excerpts

Ma Famille,

Your emails are wonderful, and I love to feel the love in your words. I can't wait for Mondays to roll around ha ha :) In a good way - don't worry! The work is difficult, very difficult. All our appointments fell through, and it rained every day. We walked in the rain a lot this week. Both mine, and Elder Boehme's faith was tested. I feel we could have fared better, but it is all good experience for the future. I have started to see a correlation of faith + works as the weeks have come and passed. Only with both can you have success. I read this interesting little thought from a book of inspirational quotes Elder Boehme let me borrow. On a page on Faith, it talked about a man who entered a boat with a young boy. The man noticed that one oar in the boat had Faith written on it , and the other had works written on it. The man thought this was strange and asked the young boy why. The young boy replied with something like this: You need both oars to row a boat; If you just row with faith, you will going in circles to your left. If you row only with works, then you will go in circles to your right.

When you use faith and works, only then can you row straight ahead."

James 2: 20, 26

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• • •

26 For as the body without the spirit is

dead, so faith without works is dead also.

What a divine principle! There are times we worked hard, then there have been times when I feel like we rowed in circles ha.

We did have a lot of trial this week, and opposition, but the tender mercies of the Lord are ever evident! One day, we worked all day in the rain and had little success. But at the end of the day, we met a young girl going to school in Brive who was very interested in our message! She was English, and spoke english ha ha, good break for me ;) We have many tender mercies like this. Maybe only one person a day, but what blessings can come from only one soul!

I haven't been too discouraged about the Language. At times I am frustrated, but I know its normal. What frustrates me, is that I feel like none of our investigators are feeling the spirit when we teach. That is why I have thoughts of doubt and inadequecy. I ask myself if I really teach with the spirit, and if I don't, then why not? I am very happy however, I love it here, and I love the work. Even in the life of a missionary, I don't feel like I have all the time I need for studying ha ha, but I have learned how to effectivley study too. All our studies are for our investigators too, I learn a lot of things from basic doctrine. It all stems from questions too!

That is how my week has been! I have a few pics for you! Some are just fun and silly ha ha!

This is what you call a kabab. It was amazing!!!!!!!! One minute it is there, the next gone ha ha!

This is the Chateau Turrene. We" had an investigator out this way! super cool! The country side is so beautiful, we did have one good sunny day saturday! It is weird not to have mountains, but rolling hills I dig

There are little figurines inside this cake around the Holdiay Season. If you find it, then you are King for the day! It is a tradition in France! I have won twice now and one was Homer Simpson and the one in the picture is Mr. Burns ha ha

Thank you so much for sending those packages! I'm sorry if they were expensive! I will be anticipating them with excitement!

I'm so happy all is going we'll for you and Mom! I'm so excited and happy for you! I can't believe how strong she is, she is a warrior angel ! You keep hangin in there too, you are my hero! I love when you tell me little things like you dug up some plants, continue that. It warms my heart and I feel like it is a telephone call, and you are just telling me about your day! I am sad about the flag pole, but I am happy you remembered me.... and the Christmas lights!!! My soul is filled with joy! Send me pics when it is lit! The tree too!!! I did get your pictures by the way, I just didn't have time to reply!!!

I got grandmas letter too, she is too sweet!! I loved it!!! I love you both so so much!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you, you are always in my prayers!!!

November 8th 2010

Bonjour!

Cette semaine était très bien! J'ai trouvé beaucoup de bonheur et vu les bénédictions tombé sur moi! Merci pour tous tes prières!

This week went very well! I found a lot of happiness this week, and saw blessings fall upon me! Thank you for all of your prayers!

You all mean so much to me, and I just am so thrilled that you are mine!!! ha ha This last week was great! We had our "Blue" Conference and I got my legal residency taken care of for my Visa. They have to take a chest scan to see if you have Turburculosis. I passed ha ha, then there was a bunch of waiting and stamping of papers then finally my passport! After that I was done! I seen many of my friends from the MTC, including Elder Heywood! You knew he was in my district right? I see Elder Heywood all the time, and I will continue to because after one transfer, I am resting in Brive.... with Elder Boehme!!! Elder Heywood is also resting in Périgueux, except his companion is jetting to Toulouse to be a Zone leader. His new companion is French ha!

Alors, "Blues" Conference is just what I needed. A answer to my prayers! I was blessed to be able to hear Elder Miller bear his testimony.. and I will tell you, he is an amazing missionary. I remembered his same mentality with football, he stated that he only had one problem while being on his mission, and that was missionaries who didn't care about it as much as he did. I was touched, and I look up to him so much. I hope I can become the missionary he is. It is sad he leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) Morning. I made sure to ask him a few questions about his mission, and even took a few pictures. I found out a lot of things that conference, and one of them was happiness doesn't just come, it is worked for. It also can come and go if you aren't always giving it your best effort. That is in terms of missionary work, living the Gospel, or anything else for that matter. I made a lot of goals that day.

Then the next day, I did an exchange with Elder Heywood! Thats right, two blues in Perigueux! Even better, two blues who were MTC companions! Ha ha, his companion Elder Wimmer, was our district leader and had to get an exchange in with Elder Boehme before the transfer. I was scared at first, but I then I remember something I heard at general conference. We are the only ones who can decide if we are going to fail or succeed. I took my spiritual creation very seriously that morning, and created my whole day before it even happened, and the same theme appeared; happiness and success. I now have a very strong testimony of this practice and know why we do it in this mission. It was not only a great day, but I found the family I created that morning. It wasn't till the end of the night, but surely the Lord placed them in our path. Of course me and Elder Heywood struggled, thats a given. Sometimes we had no idea what someone else was saying, but we just bore our testimonies and asked for their contact! You wouldn't believe the blessings! I actually found that I speak and comprehend French a lot better when it is all on me and I don't have Elder Boehme to bail me out!

I have been making phone calls too ha ha..... I'm surprised with how patient people are. Elder Boehme sat laughing the other night as I made a phone call and botched a lot of things up.. but hey I get the appointment!!!!

The last thing I wanted to share was my spiritual creation yesterday. I thought of a middle aged women with dark hair, that would want to talk to us. The day passed and night came. We had just finished a lesson with a less active, and we were on a long walk home..; hence the tree pictures ha ha. We chose a certain path here, talked to certain people here, knocked on a door, etc... and then we visited a members house because he had been sick, I forget to tell you I gave my first blessing in French! It was tough! Anyways he was asleep and we woke him up. We told him we would come by another day. It was then we were randomly walking when a women from across the street waved us down. She acted like we were old friends, it was kind of wierd; Elder Boehme told me to go to her quick even though we were taken back. I don't have much more time to type, but I know the Lord prepares his elect, and he places them in our path when truly seek them! We not only got her contact, but set up a rendez-vous. I love the Lord, and I know that he influences every thing we do in life, and if we study, listen, and expirament, we will find treasures beyond anything we imagined!!! I love you, and pray for you always!

Fear is tempory, Regret is forever... act now!

Love your son, Elder Petersen!

Nov 2nd Excerpt

Family.... I miss you.

When I read all your loving words, I just can't help but cry. I can't believe how much the Lord is molding all of you, Im proud of all of you, and I love your guts!!!! I'm will not lie to you and make things sound all peachy, I am discouraged a lot lately. I don't show it, but I feel it. I continue to pray for strength, and count my blessings, and have faith this discouragement will pass.

We have two investigators right now, and are crossing our fingers for another! We meet with her today, her name is Celine. One of the two, Anne just became an ami, and she came to church Sunday!! She hit it off with the members and she is going to come again! We are truly blessed, we were hitting a dead zone for a while. We were recieving a lot of contacts but they weren't solid, or the adversary got to them first.

Dad I love your testimony of music, I feel the same. Elder Boehme has General Conference addresses on his ipod, and it is a joy to listen to the prophets words. You all look so well!! I loved the pictures and can't wait for you to send more!

We have seen many different kinds of people from day to day. Most in a hurry, the expression is "je suis pressé" ha ha and my favorite expression that I say is "Que Dieu Vous Bénisse" which means God Bless you! Sister Carter likes us to say that. Tomorrow we have a blue's conference, its like a training for newbies. By they way they call us Blues here, not greenies ha ha.

There are 80 missionaries in the mission, 20 in my zone, and 6 in my district!

I love you all, I don't have much time today! Didn't write yesterday because it is all saints day here in France and everything was closed! We have to run to an appointment!! I love you all, baby Mason is so cute!!

Chow!!!

Love,

Elder Petersen

Oct 27, 2010 - Excerpts

Mom and Dad,

Bonjour! It is just morning for you, but it is all ready the afternoon here!! Sorry about Monday, we had a surprise zone meeting, and we had to take our Prep Day today! Dad it was very lovely to recieve your letter. It was just what I needed at the time! It is refreshing to hear your testimony, and your loving words. Each day is a new challenge for me. We deal with a lot of rejection, but the Lord blesses in our rejection. At the end of the day it isn't "Today we had no success" but "That was amazing how many people we shared the Gospel with!!!" We probably talk to well over 100 people a day. Yesterday was especially hard, because all of our appointments fell through, and our referals didn't exist or turned us down; yet we seen the blessings of the Lord follow. Just after we had been told by Renée, an older women, she didn't want to see us anymore, we met a man on the street who I believe was sent by God. It was an interesting contact on account that he was behind us, and you don't just turn around and walk back towards someone. I felt like we should talk to him, and whispered to Elder Boehme to slow down... but it wasn't enough... so I dropped my pen :) ha ha, as I picked it up he was right there!! He walked with a cane, and seemed very distressed. We flat out taught him the Apostasy and Restoration. It was a great discussion, and he then told us that he was a victim of malpractice and his leg is permantley shorter than the other. This message is what he feels he needs right now.!! Amazing or what!!?? We got his information and will be calling him today.

Earlier that day we contacted a young girl who said she has been looking for a church to go to, and would love to learn more!! That was a miracle and a blessing as well.

About the trip here, not much to tell hahaha. After I talked to you on the phone in Seattle, I sat next to a German man on the flight to Amsterdam. We talked a little, but not much. It was a very long flight, and my leg hurt a lot haha. But it is completely healed now ;) Anyways security was crazy in Amsterdam, I had to get my bag checked by the personalle, not sure why... crazy dutch haha, they kept asking me what my lint roller was for! But I made it through. My flight was delayed a bit, and I did try to call you but yeah didn't work.

I miss you all, and each day I think of you and what you mean to me. I loved your letter dad, I'll tell you again, it choked me up because I could feel your spirit. I still am being trained by the spirit, but I feel my saviors love and know I must walk by faith. My Faith is not unshakeable yet, but I know this life is a progression. Read a great passage from Jesus the Christ talking about the temptations of Christ. It put things into perspective for me. We don't know when He was tempted during his 40 days of fasting, or if it was all at once. It doesn't really matter. The important thing is that those weren't the only times He was tempted. If you recall, the Roman soldiers shouted "If thou be the son of God, save thyself." Even the other on the cross next to him said, "If thou be the son of God, save us all" Jesus Christ had that power, but would have never done that, or couldn't have. The lesson we learn is that Satan will not tempt or try to torment us only once in our lives and then all will be well and dandy. He will never stop, and niether can we stop fighting.

Mom I love you, your spirit is sweet and your words fill my spirit with joy. After talking with both of you, I was very choked up. I'm pleased to hear your health is prevailing, and praise the Lord for His blessings. You are the beneficiary of the love of Christ, and He will continue to carry your burdens in your Faithul service. I'm so happy to hear you are both studying more, and feasting on the words of Christ. Truly they are the words of life, and the only source of true happiness on Earth.

Thank Mariah for her efforts, and send her my best wishes. Tell her that I take no credit, for it wasn't MY cause alone. The chapter is where it is now because of the love it members poured into it. It is now her responsiblity to continue finding others who want to share their passion, and give them that chance to pour their hearts into something they love and care about! It is all about LOVE!

I love you all!!!!!

Avec L'amour toujours,

Elder Petersen

Brive France - Oct 19, 2010 -excerpts

Bonjour ma famille!

I arrived in france safe and I'm in Brive, which is above Toulouse. It is beautiful here and my companion is great! His name is Elder Boehme (Bamee).It is ironic, because he is from Logan!!!!! He also just got out of the hospital from appendicitus, so the timing was great for me to arrive! Ha ha he has been out a year and a half now. It is difficult to write because the keyboards are a little different here. I'll do my best.

When I first arrived France, President Carter was waiting for me, it was great! Then he we went to the mission office in Toulouse, which by the way was so familiar and you know why? because it is the exact picture on Google earth haha: I recognized the street and everything!!! haha, next you won't guess who I saw! Elder Miller!!! He is an assistant to the President, and couldn't wait for me to come!!! After all the logistical stuff, I ate a real french baguette sandwhich!!! Then I contacted with Elder Miller!!!! It was great :) Then I stayed at President house (the Mission home) was fed by Sœur Carter --- AMAZING MEAL!!!! They go all out with 3 courses haha. They sent me off to bed at 7:00 to catch up and get up early to head to Bordeaux in the morning for a Zone conference. By the way, I was the only one who got to stay at Presidents house out of this last group because there were so many!! Priviledged haha and blessed. Then of course that day was all zone conference and traveling to Brive. I got to ride the train, and we take it often to get back and forth from district meetings in Périgueux.

It is about 7:00 AM and your day is just starting, but mine has been going for quite a while already. Monday is P Day, so be watching for my emails. The work is definitely hard, I mean harder than anything I have ever done. I don't understand much of what anyone is saying, and it gets frustrating. We are out all day, finding people to teach. We have been finding 1 or 2 but we have to contact almost 50 or more people to do so. My leg is fine, so don't worry. My companion has takin very good care of me, and he is a great example. Church was cool, didn't understand a word but thats okay. We have a branch of about 50 members. One thing that was familiar was all the babies and obnoxious kids !!! haha reminded me of home. They had me get up and bear my testimony... It was good hahah. All the members are great, and bombarded me with conversation that I had them repeat many times. A few finally talked to me in english. Only a few know english however.

We ate at a members house, you will notice the picture :) It has been frigedly cold the last few days. Others joke with me that I brought the Utah weather with me. We tract all day, visit members, teach one man as of now. He called Elder Boehme back and was mad and wanted to return the Book of Mormon he gave him. Elder Boehme was like, "We will come over and talk about it!" We shared 3 Nephi 11, when the voice is heard; he said he hears voices in his head!! Then he starting freaking out because Jehovas Witness had messed with him a little bit and he thought he was going to get sucked into Mormonisn; he even told us he thought he was going to explode.... but we calmed him down and he was receptive after that... for the most part. We set up a second rendez-vous and got out of there! We have prayed for him ever since, and pray he reads the rest of 3 Nephi 11 by then. I pray he feels the peace that the words from the book of Mormon can give him.

We have a member who lives close to us, and he loves the missionaries. He is pretty much the best! His name is Jeremy Labini, and he is from La Reunion (just off of Madagascar) He has been a member for 8 years I believe. He has to be only in his 30's. We also have a really nice, old lady in our apartment that is our "mami" she brings us baguettes every morning!!! She isn't a member though, but would make a great one! ;)

This truly is the hardest work like I told you before. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The MTC was nothin. Please pray for me to recognize the promptings of the Spirit. It is a skill that I know takes a life-time to master, but I have been called to an amazing work, that requires much!! I know salvation isn't a cheap experience.He never said it would be easy, only worth it. I know my redeemer lives, and loves me. He loves his children, and knows each and everyone. He has prepared his elect, and I know when I am obedient and strive to be all I can be, the Lord will trust me and send them our way! I learned to look at contacts this way. We aren't getting turned down by 50 or 100 peoplet today, but we tried to share the Gospel with 50 or a 100 people today!! How cool is that!!

God bless you all,

Elder Petersen