Oh ma famille!
Another week come and gone! Time flies when you are serving the Lord! This week was rather good! There are a lot of people gone on vacation though, and a lot of Tourists! Especially from Holland.... Don't ask me why! We did some great work this week, and Elder Workman is making lots of progress! He is a hardworker, and is at least trying to contact everyone! He himself told me that he sees himself understanding words here and there when people talk now, that is good!!! I remember when I made that realization as a blue as well! It starts little by little. Before he knows it he will start to recognize phrases, and understand converstations just from context, and BAM he is one year in the mission and can speak french! ha ha.
I will not hide it, this week was rather difficult. Almost everyone we contacted were on vacation, or where going on vacation told us to contact them in September. All of our investigators headed out on vacation as well. However, we did have a great BBQ with the Family Rubino! I included photos. It was great, it started to rain a little bit, but that didn't stop us! Umbrellas are genious! It was a great night, and their son, David( who is a member) was there as well! It was fun, and I know Elder Workman had a great time! I wish we could have more visits with the members here in Gap so that Elder Workman could build a good relationship and well, have fun! I remember in my blue ville I was blessed with dinner visits about 4 times a week! I was spoiled, and the relationship with the members kept me going!
However, the Lord knows each of us and our needs; He knows mine. Elder Workman will know the meaning of hard work, and satisfactory from doing so. He will become very strong after serving in Gap, and the Lord will prepare him for His Eternal designs. Although our relationship with the members is important, the mission isn't only about dinner at the members' homes! Not to mention that I'm a great cook ;) We eat like KINGS at our apartment ha ha!
Some firsts for Elder Workman this week were:
-1st Kabob!
-1st Patisserie!
-1st lesson at a café
-1st AMAZING P-Day ha ha!!!
-1st dinner appointement with a HALF MEMBER FAMILY!
We taught a sweet lady this week! Her name is Corinne! She is Golden, keep her in your prayers! She is about your age mom! We will be seeing her again on Wednesday! I continue to learn more and more about the Gospel as well. Studies are intense now, and I study everything in French now, and I love it! I have been studying faith the last couple of days. I keep asking myself if I have the Faith to preform miracles if the Lord calls upon me to do so. I feel like France needs that right now... a MIRACLE! I feel like something big is coming but I'm not sure what it is. Maybe the temple will mix things up! Not sure, but I know something is coming, WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS!!!!
Well, I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you all again!
Chou Chou, GROS BISOUS!!!!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
Oh ma famille!
How are all of you beautiful people doing? Great I imagine! I'm doing not too shabby myself! This last week was a good week, just not one of the best weeks I have had with the work. I'm working hard, don't worry about that, things just are a little slow right now. Elder Workman is still getting a hold of the wheel for missionary work, and so I'm kind of running the show here ha ha. I'm going to start giving him a lot more responsibilites this week though. I'm not going to lie, I'm not sure what actually happened this week. I know that we had a district meeting ha ha. Our district leader Elder Zobiri (who is originally Algerian- isn't that cool!?) came to Gap and we had a great exchange! Then we got stuck on a bus the next day for 4 hours trying to get back to Aix En Provence to re-exchange. That was a long bus ride.... and paigen music was playing the whole time. I had a massive head ache ha ha. It's like a poison now, it's going to suck when I come home and that is all I hear. ANYWAYS....
Oh I ate at member's home yesterday. That is the second time since I have been in Gap. I was spoiled in my two first areas ha ha. We ate typical smoked salmon that is all frenchinized ha ha, for a appetizer. You will get a kick when you hear what we ate. Then we had shrimp ( the kind with the shells and heads still on ) baked potatoes, and STING RAY!!!! I thought of Steve Erwin immediately when the members told us. We ate at Sr. Rambaud's apartment with Sr. Badjily and her two girls, Cami and Helene.
We visited a chateau with our Recent Convert Jérôme this morning, that was amazing! It is absolutley beautiful here!!!! I felt at times I was in the sacred grove because of the serenity of the forest. I'll send pics, because I can't describe it to you!
Overall, I LOVE MY MISSION. The more I teach my blue the nuts and bolts of missionary work, I begin to realize how much I actually know, and have grown. I remember the things I used to worry about, and now I have hardly any worries other than our investigators, and making sure my blue doesnt get lost ha ha! No but really, right now I am at a point where I can be completely devoted to the Lord and focus on helping Elder Workman without worrying about my own issues! I'm lost in the work! I just takes patience.... sometimes I expect him to know more than he does. Oh and looky there, already I have more growing to do ha ha!!!! I love this work!
The other day, Elder Workman asked me, "Is everyday really going to be like this?" I laughed because I remember asking myself the same questions. I began to explain to him how much joy missionary work brings, and that with time he will know what I mean if he WORKS!!! Then I began to explain to him that at the beginning of my mission, I asked myself the same questions. I explained that I got to a point in my mission where I couldn't see an end, and I started to work and was happy. Then I explained to him that now I have the experience, and I can really use my potential to serve the Lord, but I only have one year. I begin to tear up, because I know one day I won't be able to wear this plaque again.... and for right now that is all I know. I know this is the Lord's work, and I'm doing His will!!! I have no other cause to live for then that of the cause of Christ!
I love you family and I pray for you all the time! Caleb I wish you a Happy late birthday and pray for your success! I have included photos of the Geneva trip. Enjoy!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
Ma famille!
Wow, being a dad is tough work! Koodos to you pappa! My blue's name is Elder Workman! He actually speaks more french than I thought, but still not a whole lot... After being with somebody that is just learning, I realize I can speak almost fluently now! ITS CRAZY!!! With my one year mark coming up in a few days, I'm kind of freaked out. I'm a MISSIONARY in France and I SPEAK FRENCH!!!
It's fun being a trainer because I realize that I have made a TON of progress on my mission, but it is hard, and I remember when I was blue..... I asked questions about EVERYTHING!!!! I probably got on Elder Boehme's nerves ha ha! Elder Workman is just like me though. Almost has the same personality, and he is from.......drum roll............. LAYTON! ha ha. It gets even better, we recognize each other from college. He lived in the same apartment complex as me! He was in building G-2 at Old Farm! We remember seeing each other..... WHAT ARE THE ODDS!!!!???? Heavenly Father knows what He is doing!
I don't know if you have received my letter yet, probably today, but I told you in my letter that I actually got the opportunity to go to Geneva Switzerland to pick up my blue!!! The mission home is there, and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I loved the mission home, so much fresh grass!! I got to play catch in the yard too!!!!! Oh what a tender mercy!! I haven't thrown a baseball in more than a year!!! Unfortunetly I missed Le tour de France because I was in Geneva for the two days it is in Gap.... irony gotta hate it he he!!! Nah, it's all good, I'm not sad, I have a sweet t-shirt !
Well I don't have much else to tell you this time!! I love you all and I will be writing you a short letter as well!!!! Sorry it was really short today, I promise more the next time!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
Ma Famille,
As you already have seen, I'm going to be a dad! (mission lingo) that means I'm TRAINING A NEW MISSIONARY!!! I'm going to have my own blue!!!!!!!!! I don't know much yet, but President Murdock did tell me this morning that he comes from...... not hard to guess, UTAH!! I guess it is a city called Zarahemla....cool beans. IM SO EXCITED!!!!
Elder Wilcox will be leaving me for a city called Clement-Ferrand. He is pretty excited as well, but sad to leave our apartment. It is the nicest in the mission! My blue is lucky ha ha!!!
Yes yes yes!! Jérôme was confirmed and all is going splendid! He has such a strong testimony and has made so many giant strides in his conversion. Elder Wilcox talked about his conversion in whole(because he was an investigator well before I was at Gap) and his story is a miracle! It took 5 months, but it was worth it!
Cécile is still M.I.A. We were supposed to have a rendez-vous with her the other day, but she didn't come. It turns out, she has some psychological sickness from trama she has had in her life (maybe with her family) We pray she comes back soon. You spend so much time caring about the people here, and working so hard to help them return back to their Heavenly Father, that you just get a heart ache when they do the unexpected.
About this whole one year business....... It is true, but try not to write about it in every email.... I don't want to be trunky for my blue ha ha. No, but really, I want to use this next year to really engage myself and become lost in the work! Be sensitive with the comments about "time" ha ha. I love you all and can't wait to see you, believe me, but the time period is set, and the time I have to serve the Lord is limited!
We were very blessed this week! We had some really great Rendez-vous, and one in particular was with a man named Daniel. He has a sister in Idaho who is a member, and he is catholic. We met him on the street a couple of weeks ago, and finally caught him! It was such an amazing lesson, and the spirit flooded the chapel. His wife is very sick at this point, he told us worse than cancer, and his questions where very close to the lines of why are these things happening? It was the 1st lesson, but it applied to him in everyway, and the spirit testified to his spirit of the truth. We engaged him to read, and pray about the Book of Mormon. After he accepted, I invited him to baptism! He responded, "Of course, If it's true, I need to really study this and pray to know" ........ THE GOLDEN RESPONSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERY INVESTIGATOR!!!
Another experience we had was with a family, not very far from the chapel. The mother's name is Darba and she comes from Africa. Her husband is french and his name is Angelin. Their 4 year old daughter's name is Camilla. It was again an AMAZING LESSON!!!!! We engaged them to baptism as well and they accepted to be baptised the 14 August. The dad is Catholic, but again said, "Yes, if it is true". Oh what a week it was!
I also had a new experience, we dropped one of our investigators in our rendez-vous. He told us he wouldn't pray about the B of M or any of the teachings we presented, so we told him we couldn't help him if he didn't pray. It was our 3rd visit with him. It was sad, but others need the Gospel, and if he isn't going to put forth the efforts, we really can't do anything for him. Good thing there is always hope he will be interested one day. With God, all things are possible!
Thanks for your letter momma and your card Mindi!!!!! I was very touched and they gave me the warm, fuzzies that I needed! That is too bad to hear about your skeeter syndrome, but I'm happy that you are happy, and that is all that counts. The lord gives us our trials for a reason, and we must learn the lesson that is behind it. THe Ensign for the month of June had a great article on that. "He carried my sorrows" I think it was called. I found a great scripture in Doctrine and Covenants the other day:
D&C 58
4 For after much atribulation come the bblessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be ccrowned with much dglory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.
Oh mom, and you too dad, you both have many tribulations; the Lord knows this. In His mercy, there are always blessings that follow tribulation, if we patiently and faithfully await them. If we endure them well, the blessings of Heaven will be poured out, and we will grow in ways that only the Lord knows. Even better, this tribulations not only bring forth blessings in this mortel existence, but in the life to come, which is the Life Eternal.
I will go looking for a camera today, don't worry at all! I accidentally sat it down when we were working, and someone snatched it, I know my fault!
That is sweet that Shay is going to New York, you will have to get me her mission address before they go to the MTC and let me know the details. Tell Ryan I miss him and love his gutz. I love him so much I'm thinking about letting him shoot me with a bee bee gun again just to re live the good ol' days! (you better tell him that ha ha) That was nice to hear from Kendall's mom too, I didn't know you two were acquainted, when did that happen? You should get me his contact info... You have a lot of work to do for me! I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you again, unfortunetly, I must leave you now!
P.S. BRIGHAM CITY TEMPLE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL! and....... work for the Temple in France is advancing.... I don't know much, but there is terrain available now in favor of the church's purchase ;)
Until the next time my beautiful, beautiful family!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
Oh my famille et des amis!
It has been an AMAZING week! I had tons of great experiences, and have learned a lot! It all started off with Monday... the worst day of the week!
I was very discouraged monday, because contacting was tough that day. Nobody listened, and I was trying new approaches and a style for contacting that my district leader showed me on our exchange. As I became more discouraged, I felt like the people got meaner ha ha. We got called a sect several times, and I almost lost it! Didn't get to see any fireworks, but I thought of all of you!
The next morning, during my studies I studied Lehi's dream, and asked myself what I need to do to help others to taste the fruit of the Restored Gospel. My studies were amazing, and I received the answers to my prayers. I seen Lehi's vision in a perspective that I have never seen before, a missionary perspective. The verses 15, 33, 37, and 38 told me exactly what I needed to do.
15- Beckon others to come unto us, (waive them down), Call to them with a loud voice( confidence), and help them see that it is most desirable than any other fruit!
33 - ignore persecution
37- exhort people with LOVE
38- preach the gospel, invite others to learn and keep the commandments; after that, it is up to them.
This might seem simple, but it was HUGE for me, because it made me realize that I need to be MYSELF! I can improve my contacting, but I cant' change who I am to do it. Acting like something I'm not will not bring others into the church, only being myself will!
After studies Tuesday morning, we hit the streets on fire! We shook hell alright! We talked with EVERYONE and the Lord blessed us. The changed the whole week for me! Sure we still have persecution all the time, "You're a sect!" they say. One man said, "You should be in prison" ha ha, and after we told him "May God bless you", he said, "May God kill you." He was a poor confused man, we just laughed it off, laughter is ESSENTIAL in missionary work!
Despite all of the persecution, the work is moving along here in Gap! You have inquired much about Jérôme, and it is my pleasure to tell you that I had the priviledge of baptising Jérôme yesterday! He has made leaps and bounds in his preparation for the baptism, and oh what joy we had in finally helping him contract this wonderful alliance with Heavenly Father! ! Of course, that means he went without coffee for a whole week! After 5 months of work, he finally did it! And I know his conversion is beginning to become a true conversion. His efforts to better his life and please Heavenly Father is remarkable. For example, he is excersizing now, and prays NORMAL! His prayers are so sincere too; I see his heart has began to change COMPLETELY, and when he has the Gift of the Holy Ghost this next week, he will be IMMOVABLE in an ANCHORED in the faith! He is very excited to receive the Holy Ghost next Sunday, he just needs to endure this week! Keep him in your prayers!
Also keep Cécile in your prayers, she is having some difficulties right now, and we aren't sure what it is...
Found a less active this week too! The story is cool! We were on our way to pass Alexis when I contacted somebody just as they were crossing the street, and of course they ignored me and kept walking, and normally we would have kept to the side of the road we were on, but I was prompted to cross the street after the man. So, I did. We crossed to the other side, and walked straight ahead until the round about. Elder Wilcox said, " to the left, to the left" which lead to our path we normally take to get to Alexis. , but I told him today we were going to go straight . It was then we contacted a women, and she called us by "Elder" which nobody does, and then she told us she was a member! We talked for a while and took her information to set up a RDV later!...... MIRACLE!!! The Lord works in mysterious ways, we just need to follow the spirit to achieve his eternal designs!
This week we met an American women from New Jersey, that was cool. We also had an amazing FHE this week. Watched The Testaments, and the members and our Investigators loved it! Speaking of one of our investigators, Alexis ( Ethiopian man) told us that Snoop dog died of a heart attack! Wow, that was wierd to hear. It is sad, but proved our point when we said he needed to quit smoking weed.
Had some members from Brive accidentally call our phone this week too, ha ha, I got to talk to Francois Villan! It made my day!!!!!!
I didn't know whether to tell you this or not, but I just will. This morning, my bag got stolen. Don't worry, my wallet wasn't in there. However, my scriptures (french B of M and bible) and camera were :( Luckily, I have a colleage who has taken many pictures too, so I will just copy his :) I only lost pictures form this transfer. Should I buy another, or what? Let me know, sorry that this happened. I have really payed close attention till now, I promise, life just happens sometimes! The mission will reimburse my scriptures I 'm pretty sure. You never know, maybe my bag will turn up too, and this will all be a big joke ha ha. I love you and really am sorry.
I did get the movie, and memory card! THANKS! Oh and please tell Bishop I loved his Email! He is such a great man! I love you all, and i can't wait to hear from you all! The transfer is actually the 21st. sorry. HMMMM I think that's all!!! I love yOU!!!!!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
Oh ma famille!!!
This last week was a lot better than the previous week. We taught Cécile again, and she endured till Sunday for her confirmation! Elder Wilcox confirmed her yesterday! We were so happy! Now there are 16 members ha ha!!! Jerome is really close, he just needs to quit café (coffee)!!! This week he is going cold turkey! I included that in my voice message! We had a great experience teaching him this last week. He has a few problems with prayer, so we worked with him to resolve the problems. As we studied for prayer, and taught it, I have reflected upon my own prayers. I have seen how much I need to improve the quality of my own personal prayers. Sometimes it is really difficult to say my prayers, but from teaching Jerome, I have been reminded of the things I have already learned about prayer, and how the Holy Ghost can lead us in what we need to say in our prayers! (Romans 8:25-26)
Cécile has also taught me a lot of things! She is so close to the spirit! The other day she asked us what Genesis 3:15 meant. This is a significant scripture, if you know what I mean. I thought I knew what it meant, but when I started to think about it, I was stumped. We took it upon ourselves to study a bit and get back to her! In the french bible, there isn't footnotes(sad ) but in english you can find that it is speaking about Jesus Christ. In the french addition it isn't clear with the subject "it" is talking about...
15And I will put aenmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; bit shall cbruise thy head, and thou shalt dbruise his heel.
so I went to the Pear of Great Price in French to see what the Prophet Joseph Smith translated.... BAM it is very clear with the subject in saying:
21And I will put aenmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bbruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Oh you gotta love modern day revelation! Even helps in foreign languages without the footnotes!
I can't neccassirly think of anything else to tell you actually..... yeah the mission is changing, I'll forward you the news letter that will be the last from the Carters! There are some good photos at the end you need to look at. You will see Elder Park too :)
It rained a lot this last week, and thundered too!!! OOOOhh I love that!!!!!! It reminds me of home! Speaking of which I am so jealous you were at the cabin! It has been a year ago that we were there all together! And maggie was there :( but it is good to see that you are carrying on her legacy with Dash! I can't wait to tackle that little pup! Talk about Emma and how flippin cute she is!!!!! I want to just squeeze her cheeks!!!!!!!!! I really do appreciate your photos, they make me smile :D It will be nice to be with you all again! July 2012!!!! Can you believe I almost one year old! I'm just growing up too darn fast!
Elder Wilcox and I are getting along great! We are still getting the whole teaching the Gospel part down, but it will come. It's ironic, I have almost been one year out, and I still can't teach the Gospel well ha ha! I guess it takes a lifetime ;) I'm down for the journey! I actually got an email from Elder Shaffer!! Woop Woop!! He is doing well, actually just got a pick up truck in his area, so he is happy! I am really happy to hear from him! Also heard from Laurent Vanaquer and Frère Vital this week!!! Elder Bowen is doing well, his blue is super blue though! Cant speak a lick of french... Oh I remember those days... Dark times they were ha ha.
I hmmm.... I think that is all I got. I love you all, and I think about you all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love,
GROS BISOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Ma Famille!!
Everything is going super duper well!!! This week was a great week, and I got to meet President Murdock! He is very nice, a little bit older than President Carter, and American. He hails from Salt Lake City actually! His american accent is sweet on my ears ha ha. Our mission is now officially La Mission Francaise de Lyon, and has doubled! This last month with the combination of both missions we had 148 baptisms!!!!!! Speaking of baptisms, I recieved an emails from the Créquit Family, and Marie-Oceane(the daughter) got baptised yesterday!!!!!! I am more than happy, words cannot express how happy I am!!! I can't wait to hear about the temple in a year!!!!
President Murdock told us that he will be integrating the two missions quite a bit this next transfer. Most likely I will get a colleage I don't know! For now, american missionaries will not be able to serve in Suisse this year, only if they are newly arriving into the mission field. The government is kind of messed up right now, and there is an backlog for visas in Suisse. Too bad, maybe next year!
Hmmm... well this week was great! Some highlights, some crazy, hippy, french man on his way to suisse to fight nuclear power plants stopped and yelled at us... But it is the first time somebody has yelled at us because they love us! He told us he loves the Mormons(but will never join) for three reasons: FHE, We don't use curse words, and we(missionaries) are in the street sharing our message! That was funny! I also had an exchange with my district leader, Elder Birk. He was an assistant with Elder Miller when I got into France, I contacted with him the first day! He is an amazing missionary and rocked my world on our exchange! Unfortunetly his time is up, and will be going home in a couple of weeks!
This Sunday was great too!! The Lord blessed us immensley! Of course it was Fast Sunday, and so like we do, we fasted. We fasted for the work to advance here in Gap and well, the Lord answers prayers! We had 4 investigators at church ( more than Gap has ever had!) Jerome and Cécile both bore their testimonies, and we had one of the Best first lessons I have had on my mission with a random man we contacted in the street ! BLESSINGS BLESSINGS BLESSINGS!!!!!
The photos I included:
1- Elder Peart on our exchange ( comes from Logan!!!!)
2- my wonderful gravy and Elder Wilcoxs potatoes. We eat good!
3- a kabab I couldn't finish but was amazing
4- a FHE with the branch!
5-making reeses cake
6- me
7- day of the baptism of Cécile!
8- merci pour la cravate!
I got your package and I loved the tie! However, don't spend anymore money on ties!!! I have so many and I don't want you to use all your money on ties!!! I am well taken care of!!! Thank you so much for the oreos!
I love you all and I will let you know how Jerome goes! His baptism is next week! Woop Wooop!!! You all look great and I love the photos, keep on sending them! You all are BEAUTIFUL!!!
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EBRANLEZ L'ENFER
Alma 48:17
-Elder Dusty Petersen
