Dec 12th 2010

Family!!!

I don't have much time this week!!! Sorry I was late, we had our Christmas Zone Conference yesterday, it was so much fun!!! We got a tie for Christmas ha ha, I included a few pics too. Yes President Carter and His wife sing together! And the black family is Famille Hubert! The mutation will be ending Monday, and we will get word of our leaving or staying on Friday. I'm sure I'm staying, but I think Elder Boehme will be going. He has been in Brive for 4 mutations. I will miss him, but change is good, and the Lord knows best where to place his servants!

It is really disheartening to hear about Uncle Curt... I loved him very much, I felt like I had three grandpas. I did send him a letter, and simply shared my testimony of the great plan our Heavenly Father has for us. I didn't know how it would be recieved, but now I know it calmed his soul. In the great mercy of our Savior, I have no doubt he will find peace. It means a lot to me that he read, and studied my letter, I poured my heart into it. Tell Rita I love her, and apologize for not writing her, I think I will. I was sad that he didn't come to my farewell, but knowing that my letter touched him is even better. He knows I have a testimony of my Savior and Redeemer!

I'm so happy that you were able to go out and have fun for Mom's birthday! That's too bad Cami had to leave, but we still love her! ha ha ha I hope you had a great Birthday mother! You deserve it!!! The card was the least I could do, I mean after all you gave birth to me ha ha! I really wanted to show my love, and make something from the heart, but of course you will be receiving a package in the mail in a couple of weeks! There are some fun stuff in it!

I loved the Christmas presents, you are way too good to me! I feel really spoiled mom and dad, please know that I am grateful, especially for the gloves and scarf! Much needed ha ha!! I love the picture frame too, I can always see someone or something I love when I am at my desk!!!! You two are way too good to me!! I am saving the tape recorder for later, it is nestled under the tree :)

I have been sending Elder Lewis some emails, he has already had two baptisms! That is great! Just like every mission, it is tought though! He had to drop some investigators this last week too! I love seeing little message from him in my inbox, I just grin from ear to ear! Speaking of which, that picture of Emma is adorable!! I don't know how she managed that, but she is definitley a prodigy of her mother ha ha!!!! I can't believe how much she looks like Cami! And Alli she is just growing up so fast, she is a little lady! baby Mason is going to be a Captain Moroini, I know it!

This last week was CRAZY!!! We found a man named Iraj Soltani, he is Iranian. I speaks Persian nativley, but knows english, and very little french. It's ironic, his wife speaks a little english, but is French... who would have thunk!? He is a very humble man, and now I now why. His wife and son are both very low in health right now. The son is 17 and has epilepsy. Iraj is depressed because of their state of health, and is a stay at home dad to take care of them. He just wants to help his famiy. Our first rendez-vous we taught how the Gospel brings healing, and engaged him and his entire family to baptism. They all accepted! Iraj has accepted the 26th of this month! He told us that he read the Book of Mormon and prayed. He said when he reads, he feels happy, and peace; he feels like a burden is being lifted; he told us he knows it is true! He even told us he knows Joseph Smith was a Prophet! It is truly a miracle, and blessing from the Lord! He came to church Sunday, and Family Home Evening with a ward member yesterday! We even moved his baptism up the the 26th!

The Lord has his elect, and I can testify that this is His work! I feel very unworthy of this great and wonderful blessing, I don't feel I have worked hard enough to receive such a blessing, but yet here it is! We are meeting with him again today and many more times to come before the 26th.

This Saturday there is a baptismal service in Perigueux for two young boys in our ward, and he is going to come with us to watch! It is all so wonderful, and I just marvel at the blessings that are being poured down from heaven! I truly stand all amazed!

I just want you all to know, I love this work! It is hard, very hard, but I wouldn't be anywhere else! This truly is the only time in my life I will ever get to be a missionary, to have the authority and power to promise God's children blessings in his name! Is there a greater work than this? Than to bring souls unto Life eternal? No there is not!

I love you all, and pray for you all continually. Never forget the Lord in everything you do! Pray always, that you may be lay up store and act in faith that you may prepare a place for your kingdom on high!

Love à jamais!

Elder Petersen