Oh my family!
Momma I'm so happy that you are doing well, and the Lord is continuing to bless you with wonderful health! That is super cool beans that Uncle Allen and the fam is going to be here in Carcassonne!!! I don't know how it will all work out, but if we run into each other I will most likely pee my pants! Did Traver serve in Carcassonne? Speaking of seeing members in Carcassonne.... I seen my first member/Canadian couple the other day! It made my day! First time to ever happen since I have been here! Elder Bowen says it will begin to happen more with the summer tourists. An American family also visited the ward Sunday from Seattle. The wife served here in Carcassonne 16 years ago! COOL BEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope to see more in the weeks to come!
The weather is amazing here! Sunshine is bliss, however the wind gets on my nerves sometimes. The wind is crazy here! It is off and on with clouds and sun, but I am enjoying the weather here. I got a haircut wednesday by a WOMEN!!!!! AHHHHH:!!!! Ha ha. No but honestly it is such a tender mercy to get your haircut by someone who actually knows how, and for them to be of the opposite sex. They shampoo your head and everything! The best thing about it, is that it is completely LEGIT! No rules broken ha ha. I have taken on a sweet new hair style too! I like it a lot! Perfect cut for summer. Anyways....
So I'll tell you a little about what happened this week. Monday we did a bit more service for Dr. Belbahri, and had a BBQ at his house. We got pick fresh cherries from his trees too. Tuesday nothing special happened. Wednesday got my hair cut, woo woo! We prepared to have our English class too, but nobody showed up. We were a bit discouraged, but knew we had to contact to find new investigators. I'm getting a little sick of contacting here, I won't lie, but I had AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE that changed my perspective, and was truly a answer to my prayers!
We met a man named Peter Brunton, a man from Australia. He was an interesting man, and I wish I could explain in full everything we talked about, but I cant! He is a man on the search. He said he has studied many religions, but is leaning towards budhism. We did a lot of listening in this contact, and were truly guided by the spirit in our words. I simply testified of how Heavenly Father is there and I know he loves us. He asked me how I knew that. He literally was moved that I " talked about God like I knew Him." He even said "You talk as though you represent Him" I testified of how we know that Heavenly Father is an actual being with a body of flesh and bones. It was just amazing, he was just so astounded that we talked so passionatley about it, and as though we knew it was true. He had a hard time accepting it, but he told us he wanted to. He told us he had the Book of Mormon, but didn't really find anything in it of use. We gave him a recap of the book, and when we asked him "if God had a message, He wouldn't share his word with only a few of his children, but all of them right?" He just sat in amazement and said, "Yeah that makes sense, I can believe that." We told him that Christ appeared to the people in the book, and we just stood there and told us, " I guess I need to sit down with this book again."
However he had a really hard time believing what we were saying was true. He told us that honestly there are so many different flows of docterine that he just doesn't know anymore, and he is just tired of life. He is tired of being stressed and without a firm foundation. He told us he wanted to know like we knew. He began to cry. It was a very tender moment, and I began to cry as well. I have no idea why, but I couldn't help but feel the sorrow this man as feeling, and mourn with him. He thanked us for listening and gave us his email address. He will be here in Carcassonne for a month with his son-in-law. I'm going to send him an email today!
I sat in an interview with President Carter the next day, and told him this story. He told me that when we accept the covenants at baptism, we are willing to mourn with those who mourn. And he referred to Mosiah 18:9
Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Oh what a testimony builder that is for me. I can directily apply this scripture to my experience. I also thought of how Alma felt when he told his son about his conversion story. (ALMA 36 21,24)
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
24Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto arepentance; that I might bring them to btaste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be cborn of God, and be dfilled with the Holy Ghost.
I know how Alma felt, and I want others to have that same joy!
I also have some rather sad news. I called Sophie yesterday, (the daughter of Genevieve who is the old women we are teaching) and she told me that she passed away on Saturday morning..... I was shocked. I almost began to cry. I tried to comfort Sophie, and told her that she will be able to see her mother again. I didn't really know what else to say in a situation like that, because... well I'm 20 years old. After I hung up, I told Elder Bowen we should kneel in prayer and pray that she will receive the teachings well in the Spirit World and accept the Gospel. As I said the prayer, I began to cry, and I felt the same desire in my heart for Grandma Andreasen to be taught and receive the Gospel as well. I have been studying the Plan of Salvation quite a bit lately, and my understanding is expanding. After reading D&C 76 I know that Grandma is being taught, and will accept her temple ordinances, because I'm confident she would have in this life if circumstances would have been different. I know that we can be an eternal family, and that it is by our work in these latter days, that we will bring to pass the work that God set forth, " the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39)
Saturday we did service for the Red Cross here in Carcassonne too! We sat with cans and asked for donations ha ha. It was a fun experience and nice break from contacting! I had a great time with our team leader named Christine. She helped me with my French. I'll send pictures!!
Today has been an excellent day. This morning we taught Claudine (sister of Sr Talbic). She could tell us that whole plan of salvation!!!!! I am very excited for her, and me and Elder Bowen think she is ready. We have been skeptical because she has epillepsy and has had some major brain damage causing her to have learning difficulties. We haven't been sure if she really necessarily needs to be baptized, because we haven't been sure if she had the mentality of a 8 year old. However, my mind is made up. Baptism is the only thing she wants. She will be faithful. She will endure in this life. She literally sobbed in church Sunday because she wants to be baptized!!!! Tomorrow our Zone leader Elder Herring is going to exchange with Elder Bowen and see for himself if she is ready. I get to go to Montpellier :) I hope they engage her tomorrow!
Also today has been a most exceptional P day. The district came to Carcassonne! We went to the castle and had a good time. Dad you would have loved it, we sat in this sweet cathedral and just listened to a quintet sing! It was an experience I won't forget! I have a video so I can share the experience later ;) The sisters had to go back to Perpignan, but the Elders from Beziers(Elder Garlock and Elder Smedley) are still here, and they are going to spend the night because we have our district meeting tomorrow. We are going to have a blast!!! After this, we are going to play some basketball, and then watch the Best Two Years (thanks to you momma!!!!) It has been, and will always be a P day to remember!!!!
Well I Love you all, and I pray this email will make it with safety and without haste to your inboxes! SEND ME LETTERS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!! ha ha ha love you!
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
No comments:
Post a Comment