Jan 23, 2012

Family,

What a good week! We found two new investigators!!!! It was such a miracle; we dropped two of our investigators that we didn't want to, and the Lord blessed us with two more! The first is Nicholas, and the second Monique. Monique is pretty much the future relief society president, or as so Elder Willett says ha ha!!! GOLDEN! We had a really smooth Caussé lesson with her too, it was perfect! Was a bit of a shock to our member when we engaged her to baptism... he said, "It's a bit early for that isn't it?"... I'm not going to lie, I wanted to hit him ha ha! The members in France get really nervous when we invite people right off the bat, they think we are moving too fast. It didn't really matter, because she says that she feels that our message is true :) 

None of our investigators are progressing. We have prayed and fasted and feel that it is the best to drop Mme. Foucaud for a while... her husband still doesn't know, and I don't want this to blow up in our face and hers. She is flat out lying to her husband, and we don't want her to ruin her marriage. We have a really positive feeling of letting her go, too. It is a feeling that letting her go will bring forth fruits later :) Guillaume(son to the family Bouchet who are new converts) isn't progressing either, but is close to the tipping point. He wants to be part of the church, and he doesn't at the same time. When we asked him what was holding him back, he said "nothing". However, with some more questions, we got the idea that he thinks that God can't forgive him for the things that he has done. He has dreams now, and it is the same one each time. There is a bridge that leads up into some clouds; when he climbs and arrives at the top, he finds nothing and comes back down. I can't interpret it because I'm not a prophet( ha ha) but I know that Heavenly Father is trying to help him come to baptism! We need to figure out what is holding him back. We are going to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ this week, and focus on repentance. HE'S SO CLOSE!!!

It has been raining again :( We went to Perigueux today though and played soccer with the Elders there ;) That was fun! Transfers aren't until the 11 February I think. I will write a letter about the whole trip at the end of my mission thing! I am out of time! 

I love you all ciao ciao GROS BISOUS!!

For momma and the ward:

Our mission is focusing on finding families right now! Families, Families, Families! We have a goal to have 160 baptisms before the new mission president arrives in June. Want to give him a great welcome ;) That means every companionship in the mission has to have at least one baptism every other month until June! There are over 70 companionship's in the mission, it adds up. We have problems with the police and the local authorites when doing our proselyting activities sometimes. We have what we «call « street boarding kits », which are used plant in public areas and talk to passing people. We have the right to do it under national French law, but because France is so afraid of cults, notely the Jehovah's Witnesses, local authorities try to limit our freedom of proselyting. We have been trained by our Mission President how to deal with the police, and he has even told us that he will bail us out of jail if it come to that. It shouldn't, but you never know. Satan has a great hold on the hearts of the children of men. The work is hard here in France, but very rewarding :) I see tender mercies every day, and the Lord is molding me into a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

I love you all, and I can't wait to see all your warm smiles again! To serve a full-time mission for the Lord is the best decision I have ever made, and you all played a part in helping me get here ;) Thank you for all your big hearts and great patience ;) I would like to mention a special thanks to all of my priesthood leaders from Deacon's Quorum-Priest's Quorum. You made living the Gospel fun for me, Just ask Bishop Mortimer about our memories together ;) We had a TON of fun! However, what was more important is that you showed me the way that leads back to Christ!!! I love you all so much ;)I know that this is the Lord's work in which I have been called to do.Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God, and Joseph Smith was indeed His prophet! The Gospel was restored, and it is rolling until all the ends of the earth until it shall fill every ear! 

If there was one last thing that I would tell you, I would beg of you to work with the missionaries that are near you! They need you, they cannot do this work with out you! I know because I am on of them now ;) Show the Lord that you are worthy of exaltation, put your shoulder to the wheel and help the Lord in his Vineyard! Contact the missionaries and let them know you want to help! For all you young men, prepare to serve a full-time mission. Study Preach my Gospel, and strengthen your testimonies by reading the Book of Mormon each day! Be worthy; if you aren't, talk to your bishop. He can help you get there! For the Lord to call you to missionary service is a great trust. You must be ready and worthy! A great prophet once said "To be trusted young men, means more than to be loved! " It won't be easy, but I can promise you that it will be worth it!

I have the blessing to take part in this work. I am doing the Father's will; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ!

Sincerely ,

Elder  Petersen

Jan 9, 2012

Ma Famille,

  Emails are always every so short!!! I take up quite a bit of time writing to my mission president because I need to report on how our area is doing, as well as the district. I had a great week! I wish I would have remember my planner so I could have told you about some cool stuff that happened, but we are in P-day clothes and I forgot it at the apartment. DOH! That is so good to hear that Cami is having a girl!! Woop Woop!!!
  Mme. Foucaud is doing really well! She is enduring, and her testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is getting stronger! She won't talk to her husband yet though :(
  We had a lot of little miracles this week! Don't worry I will not them all in my journal, and I'll probably even write a little letter and send you it! 
  For example, this morning we met a man on our way to the church to print off emails, and he invited us into his home! We taught him a brief first lesson, and we fixed another visit for Wednesday! This took pass in a half-hour's time! Miracles are great!!
  The weather here isn't too bad; it changes a lot. Rain to gloomy to Sunny ha ha. Today is a sunny day! Sadly we didn't get to go to the catholic church today, still not open.... obviously isn't the true church.... ha ha.
  Here are a few photos,enjoy! Black man is our recent convert, Muamba. I cooked some spicy rice too.. Hmmm good! I had some sea food cuisine too! yum! yum! We eat really good, and never spend much money. I have a good budget going on ha ha.
  Well that's all! Sorry I couldn't write more, Next time ? Love you all!!!! Ciao Ciao GROS BISOUS!!

Elder Dusty Pete

 

Jan 9 , 2012

Jan 2 , 2012 Bergerac

Family

Well, it was a great year! Happy New Years!!! When I read the weekly mission newsletter letter this morning, I was sad a bit, because President Murdock told us that he will only be our Mission President for 6 more months... It then hit me that I will be going home not long after him! I won't be a missionary at the end of the year! 

So that I can become the missionary the Lord would have me be before I go home, I have made some goals for this transfer but also the year! I find it important to have year goals too, because I need to keep that missionary spirit with me long after I am no longer a full-time missionary! 

My goals are these:
1- 100 percent OBEDIENCE!
2- I want to have a good morning every morning!
3- I want to prioritize my time appropriately. 
4- I am not going to COMPLAIN, just work.
5- Be positive
6- I'm not going to worry about dumb stuff that has nothing to do with our investigators salvation and mine own. 
7- Pray for patience and continue to use experiences of difficulty to gain it! 
8- I also want to become PMG/PME missionary! I'm going to study from it every day! 
9- I also want to read the "Livre de Mormon" from cover to cover again before I go home. I also want to read all of the standard works before my mission is up. (D&A, Perle de Grand Prix)
10- Speak the language of my mission at every opportunity!

Goals for this transfer in Bergerac:
1- Gain Members confidence
2- Activate Johan Banthoud
3- Strengthen the youth of the Branch
4- Plan efficiently in 30 minutes each night
5- Become best friends with Elder Willett!
6- Do something fun on Jour de Preparation :) Don't be boring ha ha
7- Keep our rendez-vous to 30-45 minutes and Invite our investigators to keep commitments, and end our rendez-vous when the spirit would have us do it! 
8- We are going to spiritual create each morning!

This week, we didn't get to see much of our investigators :( We did see Mme. Foucaud with Elder and Sr. Johnston! It was a great lesson on the Law of Chastity. She has no problem with keeping it :) and she says her husband will be 100 percent in arrogance, but she still is hesitant to talk to him about it. She told us he MIGHT  feel threatened the church will replace him as her support... Mme. Foucaud has no self confidence at all, he is always strong for her. But the thing is, she hasn't really openly talked with him about it, so we can't really know for sure. She just doesn't want to lose her husband. We invited her to make a plan to strengthen her marriage so that her husband will see that the church is only going to bring good things into their lives!

Muamba came home from Paris today, but he is still in Bordeaux. He will be home tonight, and we will see him tomorrow. We visited with Sr. Francoise Cattheuw, and Sr. Drouit this week.  We also seen Sr. Drouit's daughter Christine. Sr. Cattheuw is just tired of all the injustice, and wants to give up on life... we invited her to find her faith again in the Book of Mormon, and she accepted. Christine said she would try to read the Book of Mormon again(she is a less active too). She just feels that the members aren't nice and welcoming enough. It all comes right back down to the keystone of our religion, the Book of Mormon! If it is true, we should have no doubt in what to do :)

We passed our miracle family on Monday and gave them cookies :) We fixed a rdv for Friday, but they cancelled at the last moment :( There is always hope!) We have had a lot of success with porte à porte lately too! I love it!

I did an exchange with Elder Cushing as well; he is a great missionary! I'm happy to have him in my district! I interviewed one of their baptismal candidates as well. Sadly, he wasn't ready for baptism on Saturday, but in a couple weeks he may be ready! We have a lot of hope! It rained a lot during our exchange, but we talked with a lot of cool people! Lots of miracles :) 

It has been raining a lot this last week! It even hailed today! We tried to go see the catholic cathedral today to take some photos, but there was a funeral going on.... not a good day to visit. I bought a cool little black coin purse today. Every french person has one ha ha, might as well get one too! We visited a cool farm for Christmas lights too this last week! I'll send you a picture! It was intense, the kiddos would have loved it!

I love Elder Willett! I'm so happy that we are together for another transfer! oh yeah transfers have come and gone and I am staying with Elder Willett in Bergerac as District leader. Woop Woop! It is true that we have some differences, and sometimes bug each other, but we have always talked openly and come up with solutions to have unity! I find it ironic actually, we are a lot a like as well. I feel so blessed to have him as my companion. He wants a lot more confidence this transfer, and I'm sure that means I'm going to have to tone it down on talking in contacts and lessons ha ha. 

Elder Prunin and Elder Caldwell are still in Brive!! Elder Caldwells 5th transfer! And There is an Elder coming in to replace Elder Williams at Perigueux!... Oh and I got the package slip today, I'll pick up the package tomorrow! Well gotta go for now!


Love,
 Elder Petersen

Dec 19, 2011 - Bergerac

A little word ;)

This week went by TOO FAST! Elder Willett was sick, we traveled to Bordeaux for Zone Conference, Perigueux for District meeting, and I did a last minute exchange at Brive to interview their engage! It was CRAZY!!!

 My exchange was great with Elder Caldwell at Brive; he is a GREAT missionary! A photo is included! So happy, and so ready to serve everyone around him! He is just full of LOVE! I absolutely loved working with him! I interviewed Evyline, their Engagé, who is golden! She is elect all right, and I'm so happy for Brive; their success brings the whole district joy! It is truly the start of a white Christmas! On the exchange, it began to pour down rain. I'm not a fan of the rain, especially due the fact that we were on bikes.(Brive fixed up their bikes) However, there was a moment during our trek in the rain that I just laughed, and felt such an extreme joy! Everybody dreams to have a missionary moment like that! Drenched from head to toe, but lovin' life!!!! I have never been so happy!

We had so many small miracles this week; I have really seen how writing down at least one miracle each day brings so much Joy! I realize it is a form of gratitude. When we recognize the Lord's hands in our work, He can bless us so much more! For example, we were able to teach Bernard, his son, and his nephew the Plan of Salvation on Monday! Sr. Bouchet happened to call us as we were headed out the door to do some errands, and told us that we needed to visit him! She didn't say why, only that he had to tell us something! We didn't hesitate and headed there! He told us he wants to be baptized, and he is going to quite smoking and drinking! His son and nephew committed to read the B of M and pray too. However, we haven't been able to follow up because he wouldn't give us his number.... however we called Bernar everyday this last week, and he has made big improvement! Woop Woop. His only hold back is his boyfriend..... not only because of chastity, but because his boyfriend doesn't like us I guess. 

Elder Willett was sick this week, and we stayed in Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. I called people and made calendars for our investigators while he slept :) I gave him a blessing on Friday, and now he feels great :) 

We have had a difficult time finding new people, but we have made some great goals for this next week! One, is to contact people based on some observation we have made. We feel there is something more the spirit can tell us to warm up people's hearts to our message. We also are going to sing Christmas hymns to people while tracting this week. We already tried it, it may have taken 15 doors, but one lady let us sing! She was christian, and fixed a return rendez-vous for this Wednesday!! Another miracle ;)

Well there is a little word ;) Listen to the message and you'll find it is better! Oh I will probably make the Skype call at 10:00 in your time. Yes, we can use skype :) Woop Woop!! Well I'll hear from you Sunday!!!!! 

Ciao Ciao GROS BISOUS!!

Dec 12,2011 Bergerac

President,

Wow what a week! It has been a little difficult finding people this week, but the Lord has been blessing us with tender mercies here and there :) Especially today! We were able to teach Bernard's son, and nephew. They both want to read the Book of Mormon and Pray. They even said they would be baptized when they knew it was true!

We met with a woman named Phyllis on Tuesday. She is American, and she is so GOLDEN! She wants to do what God has planned for her, but she just doesn't want to be deceived. She almost was baptised into a cult.... She has a daughter that is preparing to be baptized into the Catholic church, so we need to act fast! ha ha Phyllis accepted to read the Book of Mormon and pray. When we talked about baptism, She told us that she will do anything God tells her to do too. :) 

We taught a Muslim family on Monday, they were open to hear our message, but they didn't go much further than that. I invited them to read and pray; they said they would read... and I invited them to baptism, but they shot that down. They were nice, and I have hope for them in the future.

We dropped Hugette as an investigator; she needs some time. Mme. Foucaud didn't come to church, but was very receptive to our lesson on following the prophet. She told us today that she talked to her husband about quiting smoking together. They are going to try! Woop Woop! BLESSINGS!

People are very hard to contact here, they are very closed off. When I finally get down to the nitty gritty with someone, I find out they are mad at God. I feel like everyone is angry at God, and it is because they don't understand the Plan of Salvation. I feel sad for these people, I make sure to let them know that God loves them, and created a plan to help them be happy. They usually just laugh.... or simply aren't ready to accept our message. Despite the opposition, I know what is true, and I have never been happier in my life because of it! 

I went home this week! I made an exchange with Brive, that is; it went very well! Elder Prunin is a great Elder and I'm so proud to have him and Elder Caldwell in Brive, they are such great missionaries! It was such a wonderful opportunity to see some members and my converts again as well. I was so excited to see the family Créquit!!! I got to see Iraj Soltani too. I saw Fr. Selli, and Jeremy too! I felt so loved, they all remembered me, and were so happy to see me! I'm so lucky, it isn't every day that you get to go back to your blue ville. I never thought I would go back. One year ago I was working in Brive! That is so weird!!! I love that I can speak and understand french now:) ha ha.   Jeremy fed us my favorite meal too, roggaie saucisse! 


I don't have much time to write much more, but I will send you a lot of photos to make up for it ha ha:) I love you and all that you do for me! Happy birthday momma, and have a great Christmas y'all! I'm sorry I forgot your birthday Knowll!! I love you pal, I'll be shooting you a card in the mail soon! 

p.s. I get to talk to some Scottish people sometimes too ha ha!! I love their accent too mama! Oh and no site of the package yet, but I'll be on the look out!

Dec 6-2011 Bergerac

Bonjour Tous!

   What a great week! Lots of good things are happening, and I love Bergerac! We are beginning to find some new people through our efforts to porte, and contact, and I am excited to see the results!

   It was a good week for our investigators: We taught Mme. Foucaud, and she is progressing! She only has a few concerns, but we are going to try to get her husband involved. All concerns are solved if he is in on it haha!

   We seen Bernard, and it was..... a bit crazy. Bernard is the father of Sr. Bouchet(member)  Well anyways,  His two nephews were drunk in his house and wouldn't leave. We went next door to Sr. Bouchet’s house who is a member (Sr. Bouchet) and to make a long story short, his nephews ended up in the street screaming and moaning for Bernard. Eventually, the police came and took away his nephews. It is sad, because they just lost both their parents and trying to cope with it, however alcohol isn’t the answer. I am so grateful for the peace, joy, and hope the Plan of Salvation brings me in my life. I know that whatever happens, I can see my family again after this life. If only these young men knew!

    We had a lot of people at church today! It was great; I’d say about 40-50 people. We also seen Sr. Ouiste, a less active show up for church. Saturday night I told Elder Willett we should invite her to church, and he wasn’t very confident because Sr. Ouiste has some problems with the church. However I called her and told her we had just got done praying and thought to invite her to come to church.  She said, "I'll come if I'm motivated" I said in response, "well we are going to pray that you are motivated then!” She was motivated J God answers our prayers and does so according to our HOPE and FAITH!!!

   District meeting was a success! We had to hold it Friday because Brive didn't have trains due to a strike. I need to move the meeting on a little be faster, but overall, we were all edified and learned some great ways to work with the members. Elder Willett and I have already invited many members to give a Dedicated Book of Mormon as a Christmas gift. Woop Woop! I also invite you to do so! Think of someone that has just had a baby, a death in the family, or is having difficulties raising their teenage children, and give them a special gift this Christmas; a dedicated Book of Mormon. Write your testimony in the front and tell them why it means so much to you! For example, the Book of Mormon gives us answers as to where we come from, why we are here, and where we will be going. My testimony is simple. It testifies of Christ, and that He is our Savior. It is by and through Him and his Atonement that we can find comfort and peace!

   I also did my exchange with Elder Williams at Perigueux. He is a very interesting Elder, but a hard worker! We taught some great lessons, and were able to contact, and porte. He is very charismatic and has a way to win over people's hearts. You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I see someone that I met last year on exchange in Perigueux! That means I was there for one day, met someone, and a year later, on another exchange I seen her. I gave her a book of Mormon and dedicated it in front of her! Miracle!

   I'm doing well overall, I'm finding it harder and harder to find time for everything! ha ha.  I have been trying to catch up in my journal..... I sure hope I can catch up, I really value the time I have to write in my journal.

   I did have one experience that I would like to share with you. I studied the prophecies of Christ like President Murdock told us to, and I had a powerful experience this week. Saturday night, we were porting and I had an experience that strengthened my testimony of Christ and his Atonement. We were let into an apartment building after using the sonnerie, and two people opened their doors. One was an elderly man in a wheel chair, and the other a middle aged man. I addressed the old man in the wheel chair as "Madame" because at the time it wasn't evident that he was a man. He was missing on leg and he was wearing a very long nylon sock on the other. The middle aged man said to me, "Can't you tell that it's a man?" in an angry manner. I was stunned, I felt terrible. He repeated again, "Can't you see the difference?" I replied, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake, I'm not perfect". It was then I bore one of the most powerful testimonies about Christ's Atonement and the miracle of Forgiveness. I told the man I was there because I knew Christ forgives all men. I was in tears, and I turned to the man and asked for forgiveness. He couldn't speak due to medical problems, but I seen his response in his eyes. I also saw the man's composure change completely as well, the eyes do not lie. I don't know how to explain it, but I know they both were very touched by the spirit. The power of the Atonement is extended to all men; I know it is true, because I have felt it.

  I received your first package! I will be expecting the others! I'm sure which bizarre address you are talking about.... is it one for Thoiry? That is a french correspondence for the mission home because the mission home is actually in Switzerland. Oh I need Lindsey's address!!!! Oh and I would like you to search for ear muffs called "180's" or something like that. They are really slim and smooth looking ear muffs, that would be nice for the winter season :) I sent you another package, so be expecting it soon! 

   I love you all, until the next time!!!!