Bonjour ma famille!

It was great to read your emails, and I love every one of you for making time to write me! There is so much that I have missed over the past couple months, I see that now. Dad your beard looks great, I'm jealous! You look just like the Simon I would picture ha ha!!!!!! Alli is getting so big, but apparently not big enough because she fits in the dog kennel ha ha...... about that... I am not going to lie, I was completely floored when I read about Maggie. I literally cried in front of the computer. However it was good that you held off to tell me, because I had enough problems on my mind at the time. I feel like I have been away for an eternity now that I put it into perspective. I mean you bought a house dog for crying out loud! I thought that hell would freeze over before you would allow that mother! It is great news, and you don't know how happy that makes me. You don't know this, but I have always wanted a miniature schnauzer ;) I just told Elder Bowen that yesterday actually! Good call! It is ironic however because a heard of barking miniature schnauzers scared the poop out of me as we passed a house!

Elder Bowen and I are having a wonderful time! We laugh a lot and missionary work is fun! We have had some interesting experiences this week; one being the appearance of a lizard in our bath tub/shower thing. I took some photos for your pleasure :) We also watch movies like Legacy, Mountain of the Lord, clips form the Doctrine and Covenants and more good church made films ha ha. We just ate ice cream and watched Legacy last night after planning in our spare time! The best two years is approved... and so is The other side of Heaven... just sayin if you want to send a missionary a movie or two. ha ha

Conchita disappeared for the week but she showed up again Saturday. We were so worried that the JW's kidnapped her or something! Happily that wasn't the case, but she is very depressed right now, and feels she is going to pass away soon. Keep her in your prayers! That is all I have this week, but I just want you to read one scripture for me and remember what it means for me. I'm sure mom and dad will remember ;)

Alma 48:17 I'm going to "SHAKE HELL!!!"

March 21 2011

Chére Ma Famille!

I love my new colleage! His name is Elder Bowen and he hails from Draper Utah. I probably already told you but who is counting! ha ha. So I thought I would send you a few pictures and a few small videos. I will be for sure shipping off the memory stick this week ha ha. You will be able to look up all the videos and pictures you want! I will be sure to organize the files so it's easier :) Put them on my portable hardrive too if you will. I would like them there for the future!
Carcassonne is holding up, I haven't torn it apart yet ;) Conchita wasn't baptized, the water was still too cold. We are holding out for this Saturday! It is funny, we are cooking food for her now, and doing grocery shopping. She is just so old and lonely, we feel sympathetic for her. Still can't understand her ha ha, she speaks spanish and French at the same time!

Vanessa is doing great! She already sees the difference in her work! She feels more calm and patient with the children she tends! Benoit needs work, but Vanessa told us he felt something after praying one night! He doesn't recognize completely that is the spirit, but he said that he could see himself being baptized, just not now. We are excited to hear that the Lord is touching his heart! Only time will tell!

Elder Bowen is great! I didn't really know how much I missed speaking english until I had an American colleage again ha ha! We get a long really well, and we laugh a lot. We are going to do some great things here in Brive together!

Saturday was "Super Saturday" for the young men and young women of the Stake. They did a service project for the victims in Japan selling cookies to people on the street; they sold over 1,000 euros! Can you believe that!? Afterwards, they watched the Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration video. You know the film they show at the Joseph Smith memorial building. That is out on video in the states now I believe, you should buy it... and send it to me ha ha, we can watch any church made movie and we have a tv in our apartment:) I absolutley love that film. We watched several times in the MTC and each time touched me in a way I cannot explain. This time I watched it in French, and I felt like it was english. I understood it all, and the story of Joseph Smith always hits me right in the tear maker. I can't believe how much he went through, but I know because he did we have the restored Gospel on the Earth today. I know why I am out here, and it is to carry that message to every one of God's children that will hear it. Joseph Smith gave everything he had, even sealed his work with his blood, shall we not also go forth in so great a cause?- Doctrine and Covenants 128

The work continues here in the South of France, and we are seeing the rate of baptisms growing each week. It is exciting to hear about all the baptisms and statistics each week, the work of the Lord has commenced and no unhallowed hand can stop it!

I wish I could write more, but the time is spent! I found a scripture this week that I really enjoyed and has brought me much joy. It was 2 Nephi 22:2 and I loved the cross reference in Isaiah as well!!! The Lord is my strength!

OH BY THE WAY, I would like it if you could send me some stuff ha ha... 1-a shout pen or something to use on my white shirts for stains.

Also tell Mariah that I am so happy that CAC is doing so well, and I can't wait to hear about how the Relay turnes out! Club of the Year!? That is LEGIT!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy that she has continued to build up CAC and make it what it is today!!!! Congratulations Mariah and all of CAC members!

I love you all and can't wait to hear from you!!!

March 14th 2011 - Baptism

Chère Famille,

I have one word BAPTISM!!!!!! Saturday was the baptism of Vanessa Juillerac and Conchita Gonzalez. It was such an amazing moment for all of us, and I even had the opportunity to baptize Vanessa! I did it right in one try too ha ha! I was so nervous! The only down side is that the water for some reason became freezing cold and Conchita couldn't be baptized. She tried to, but she panicked and couldn't do it. She is 73 years old. I said the baptismal prayer and then tried to comfort her so she would let me baptize her. She just couldn't do it. We are going to push the baptism to Sunday and hope that we can figure out the situation with the water.

I was completely DESTROYED after the baptism. Everybody was watching and I thought everybody was going to blame us (the missionaries) because the water was cold. I almost didn't leave the bathroom because I was torn and ashamed. As I sat alone in a stall, I prayed to my Heavenly Father and asked forgiveness. I thought about all the things we could have done to make things work out. I thought about all the things we didn't do, and I come to the conclusion that we did everything we could to the best of our knowledge. It was then that I felt my savior's love and I knew that He was pleased with the work that we had done. Sometimes the opposition is just more than we expect, but I know that the Lord will not allow this to stop the baptism of Conchita!!!

I am still in Carcassonne!!! My new colleague is Elder Bowen, he comes from DRAPER, UT. SMALL WORLD! ha ha Well that is all I have time for I love you all!!!!!!

Mar 7 2011

Oh mince!!!! So much to tell in so little time!!!!!!!!

So I had a great week!! Monday after I emailed you we went to the Famille Vanaquer's and shared a message, but it turned out to be a surprise birthday dinner for me! I was so happy!! I ATE STEAK! ha ha. Later on in the week the Kersey Family threw me a little party too! I took a video of that, I'll be sending dad's memory stick home soon with all that fun stuff!! The members are great here and I feel a lot of love!
I'll just share a small experience I had at the Vanaquers while I was there. His baby girl is very sick, and he wanted to give her a blessing. We gathered around the crying baby girl and after the anointing layed our hands lightly on her head. It was that she began to scream and it was disheartening.The father (Laurent) gave the blessing and the only thing that was running through my head was, "please Heavenly Father heal this baby". It wasn't only seconds later that the baby girl stopped crying, and when the the Laurent finished the blessing she just stared at us with big wet eyes. It was in that moment I seen the love that our Heavenly Father has for every one of his Children.

• 3 Nephi 22:13

  And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

That was a neat experience. Also I just want to tell you that yes in fact Nicholas Créquit is going to be baptized this Saturday! Jeremy Labina called me and told me the good news! Iraj Soltani is going to be baptized too!!! Isn't that just wonderful! And speaking of baptisms, we will be having two baptisms this Saturday here in Carcassonne! Vanessa Juillerac, and Conchita Gonzalez. They are both ready and there are just last minute things to take care of! However the opposition has already started to fight back. Vanessa didn't come to church yesterday because Benoit's mother was visiting. We had to do a rendez-vous over the phone because of the importance. Benoit for the instant is not ready for baptism, but continue to keep them in your prayers!
Mince I don't have anymore time! I pray that all is going well for you, and I can't wait to here from you all again! I don't know what this broadcast thing was, but I hope I didn't look like a gomer on the big screen ha ha. If you find the link, send it my way!
I included some photo's I hope you enjoy! The picture with the frame is the Famille Vanaquer. The cake picture is Famille Kersey! You should look up Amy Kersey on Facebook Mom and add her as a friend! She is the mother of the family!
Hmm.... oh could you find me Natalie Buttars address?... oh and as many as my fellow missionary friends email addresses as well! (including ambassadors)....
That's all!! I will let you know what happens after this week, the transfer is Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I love you all, hear from you again soon!!!!
Elder Petersen

Feb 28-2011 Birthday

Oh ma famille!

Thank you for all your wonderful messages! They meant so much to me, and I can't tell you how much I love you all! I loved the birthday cards I recieved from you all, and I love the tie! I took a photo just for you momma! It was a pleasant surprise to hear all those messages from my friends! I was so happy that you got a message from Chantel King and Blake! Mac is a great singer, he should hit the high note during the birthday song ha ha! I love the Munns, it was perfect to hear from them on my birthday!
I had an interesting Birthday ha ha, I included it in my message, but I will tell you again. You all know me, I'm very clumsy... well yesterday morning I stubbed my toe hardcore on a barbel that was on the floor and I may have broken my toe. Poor little guy, you can see a picture I included. I am just a magnet for accidents. Don't worry, I will be fine! But for that reason I will be holding off on buying new shoes. I do need a new umbrella however! Then after that it was actually a pretty tranquil day. We didn't do a whole lot of walking because of my toe, so we did some work in our apartment. We did a little contacting however and it was funny. We were rejected several times and Elder Sautron told me it was because I wasn't limping enough, Sympathy trick, however the limping came natural, my toe was killing me!

It was just another day, I didn't feel much different than I did any other day. However, I said a prayer yesterday to bless my food, and I couldn't help but express my thanks to Heavenly Father for sending me into the world 20 years ago. More importantly, thanking Him for my Mother who bore me. Mother Thank you so much, you have given me everything I could ask for; the gift of life. I guess I owe thanks to Dad too, after all I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the both of you! Thank you for all the great memories, and all your love. I feel liked all I did was blink and 20 years of my life are passed before me. I didn't really think of the idea that I will not be a teen anymore, wow mom.
Today we bought a patisserie and celebrated a little bit. I put some homemade "candles" in my patisserie and took a video to prove it! There are 20 there, believe me I counted several times! After watching the video, I want excuse myself ... Since I have been here in France I talk different and am a little awkard when I talk in english. Frankly my voice is a little bit higher and I sound a little girly ha ha ha. Don't laugh too hard about that... it's not funny for me... :{ I'm a man I tell you, A MAN!!!!!!!

Anyways, we have some sweet investigators right now; two are engaged for baptism on the 12th! Vanessa Juillerac is a young mother origins from the Réunion. She and her husband Benoit have a little boy named Evine. She and her husband have worked with the missionaries for a long time and it is a blessing that she has hanged on this long! At first we were just preparing for the date, but now she tells us she is ready! Her husband isn't quite ready however. He needs to pray for the truth and received a testimony, but he is just afraid to do it. Please pray for him so that he can join his wife and be baptized together! That is her desire too! And then of course I told you about Conchita, the spanish women who lives below us. She is preparing for the same date, and frankly she is ready! She had some soucies about giving up the Jehova's Witness, but after some work with her she is ready to make the covenant!

We had a district meeting this last week in Perpignan, and it was great! President Carter and Sœur Carter were there, that is why I sent you the email with all the photos. The first photo is of our District.

I have a few other silly photos that I will be including, but I will be sending the memory stick today too! I don't think I have much else to say, other than I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!


Love your son, God be with you until we meet again,

Elder Dustin Petersen

20 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 20th 2011

Chère Famille,

It is weird that it is still snowing there. I haven't seen nothing but sunny days here in Carcassonne, with an exception to a few days of rain. This week we had Interviews with President Carter in Montpellier, and it was really good to see him again! We only have interviews every 1.5 transfers (that is 9 weeks) so it is good to see him again! We receive a weekly newsletter with words of instruction from him and Sr Carter but it isn't the same as the real thing!

I was on an exchange with one of our Zone Leaders Wednesday too. I was on an exchange with him because Elder Sautron is District Leader.

I had a really rough week, I'm happy, but it was rough! Our nightly planning session this last week weren't very efficient, and went a lot longer than they should have. And on top of that Elder Sautron is District Leader so he has his responsibilities to take care of. Sometimes it was just frustrating, but it is gettting better now. Elder Sautron is giving me more and more responsibility each day, and I'm learning a lot! He lets me do a lot of things and helps me understand how I can improve afterwards. Trial and error kind of deal. Frankly It is frustrating, but I know it's a good thing because in three weeks he could be transferred and I could be the head honcho of Carcassonne! If I don't know everything about my area before he leaves, it could be a mess.

Lately he has been calling me senior companion and looking to me for what to do because he wants me to be able to handle things. needless to say, I was served several slices of humble pie. It is hard for me to see that I'm growing when I'm making so many mistakes. After I make a mistake, sometimes I realize that I knew how to the task correctly but just forgot... Am I growing? I have been asking myself that question a lot.

Prayer has meant more for me in my life now, than ever, and it is by that sacred communication with my Heavenly Father that I have been able to persevere through the mist of doubt and fear. It is in when I am on my knees I feel at peace, and I feel that I am no longer bound to the demands of the world... peace floods my heart and I feel nothing but humility, joy, and love. As I have reflected on the the principle of prayer, I have realized how my relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has grown. I may not be growing in ways I can see... but my heart is growing.

I am happy as ever! I felt so happy to talk with President Carter and look him in the eyes and feel nothing but joy for this work! Sure it has been rough, but I know that the Lord is molding me into the missionary I can be and one day I will not recognize myself because of how much I have grown! I especially like the parable that Rebecca sent me a while back, you should ask her to share it with you. It reminds me of what I can become!

I'm so happy all is going well for you all!! I'm so happy you received the package and you are reaping the benefits ha ha! It is good to hear that Ryan is home safe and sound. I sent him an email last monday that simply said Finish Strong! I didn't know his email, but I just guessed. I was very happy so see a reply in my inbox this morning!

I get my hair cut by a professional :) And Dad I would like to tell you that you look really good. You look thinner! Keep up the good work! When I get home I expect to see my twin ;) ha ha

I love you all, can't wait till next week!

Elder Petersen