Nov 22-2010

Ma Famille,

Another week has come and gone, and I feel like I just wrote you yesterday!!! Time is really beginning to fly here it france! It continues to rain, but people are beginning to light up their houses with christmas lights, and there is a square that they have a ton of overhead lights on as well!! I hope I get to stay here for Christmas! Mother I did get your packages! I can't tell you how full my heart truly was when I saw two huge packages from home, then the camera card and plug in the mailbox! The day before I think I got your letter from the 4th too! I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you send me packages and letters…. I cry every time I get one, I am just so full of love and appreciation. You know me well mom and dad.

Thank you for the tree :) I don't honestly know how the chips are, but the oreos weren't smashed so I'm hopeful :) This part of the letter is going to be a little sentimental.. I want you to know how much I love you, and how every day I thank my Heavenly Father for you. You are even in my dreams everynight, I haven't had one yet without you in them! I am just getting over my new missionary blues and putting my shoulder to the wheel. I love the Lord, and I realize this work is all about LOVE!

We had a zone conference last Thursday and Elder Texiera, a member of the

inter-region (Seventy) spoke to us. It was one of the best meetings I have ever been to in my life! The spirit was so strong, and I was overcome with the love that is in this work. I have no doubt this is the Saviors work, and His hand is ever shaping it. Elder Texiera was carried away in the spirit, he spoke for almost and hour and a half! He shared things with our zone that he didn't with the other zones, he said that there is something special about our zone! He gave us a lot of counsel, and I see there are many places where I need to improve. There is always a reason we aren't either happy, or having the success we want. Usually it is because there is something we know we need to do, BUT AREN'T DOING THEM!! It all comes down to dilligence, hardwork; and love!! I also evaluated myself in the Christ-like chapter of Preach My Gospel, chapter 6 pg 126 I believe. I realize I have work to do, and right now I need to work on patience, Faith, and Hope. Preach My Gospel is such a beautiful tool the Prophets have given us, and it is defintley a treasure in terms of the 'perfecting of the saints'! I challenge you both right now to start using Preach My Gospel in your studies!! I use mine everyday, and so should EVERY MEMBER!! I like how Elder L Tom Perry counseled that it is every members responsibility to 'find people for the missionaries to teach'; How do you think members learn how to do this??? PREACH MY GOSPEL!!!! I can't wait to hear how this goes for you!

In the conference Elder Texiera also told us that the time for planting seeds is over. "We are sick of just planting seeds, we have been planting seeds for many years now. We aren't here to plant seeds Elders and Sisters, we are here to baptize. It is time for the harvest!!!" He is right! We are disciples of Jesus Christ, and we have been set a part and given the keys to baptize. Do some research, there are very few who have the keys of baptism. I am not going spend my time here thinking planting seeds is good enough, because it isn't. I wasn't called to 'plant seeds', I was called to invite others to come unto Christ by bringing them down into the waters of baptism. I see there are many things that we have yet not tried, and I know that the Lord will bless us as we expirement and have faith in His every guiding hand.

A family the other night came out of their house to talk with us after knocking on their door. They were once religious, but now athiest because of all the bad that happens in the world. The women explained her reason for turning her back on God, and that is because I little child in her School (she was a teacher) died of a tumor. I testified of the power to overcome death one day, and that this life is but a moment in time. I recounted your experience with grandma mom. I testified that although she didn't follow Christ throughout her life, on her death bed, she requested to say a prayer with her daughter for the first time and for the last. That is faith. I wasn't there, but I know that she could see the truth. Mom, I know that we will see Grandma again, without a doubt. I know that satan can take away everything we love, everything we hold dear, and thanks to the grand plan devised in the beginning we can still rejoice; even then! It is hard to except when babies suffer, and nations starve, and the homeless wonder without purpose, but there is message that can bring light and joy to everything. The Gospel of Jesus Christ! Christ is my strength, I am nothing of myself.

We had another great experience with a new member in the ward too. He got in touch with us first, and then we were able to have a rendez-vous with him to welcome him to Brive. He immediatley opened up to us, and shared the struggles in his life right now, and the scars sin has left on his soul. Without doubt, I have never seen a more humble man. He began to cry, and bore witness of the truth of this Gospel. He knows that without a doubt it is the light and the way. His love for the Savior is more than words, and his desire to change is described as nothing more than PURE LOVE! We watched 'the touch of the Master' with him, and it was perfect. Though life rages, and we are banges up, and scarred by the pains of our mistakes, with the touch of the masters hand, we can be restored. I have seen the pain and sorrows of sin in my own life , but I have felt the touch of the masters hand in my life, and

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of arighteousness for his bname’s sake

Ps 23:3

I know this is where I need to be. I love the Lord, and I thank him everyday for keeping you safe from the days journeys; I pray for you all continually and can't wait to here from you and your Spirituel Experiences !!!

Love your son, brother, Uncle,

Elder Dustin Shane Petersen