Can you hear my voice this time?

We're gathered here today to remember our dear loved one Sister Evensen, who is graduating from this period of her mortal life. She was a fighter. Her name will always be engraved on the hearts of many in Bama including for starters my own. This soldier has changed my life and impacted the history of the world. Tallahassee 6 is gaining the best of the best of the best SIR. I truly had the time of my life fighting dragons with her. Only Jesus Christ and probably Mama Suz truly understand how much I adore and love Liz Evensen from Alpine Utah. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that she is a soul I have in this life to call my friend.

On another note, this week changed my mission. We have some really incredible people we're working with. One of our bff members Sister Schuerman (Nikos aka Dumbledore's mom) referred us to her neighbor and Katrina is SO COOL. She loved the Restoration and when we taught her about Joseph Smith she was like "whoa, I have chills." It was cool. But there were a lot of distractions so even though she got a lot out of it we didn't really feel the spirit, it was weird haha. 

Thursday the RS threw a baby shower for Marina Ramos at Olive Garden! Oh it was such a blast! I love this woman with all my heart she is so great! Her mom was visiting from Moldova and only speaks Russian. Well when we were leaving her mom grabbed my bag of leftovers and would not give it back because she thought it was hers.. I was anxious. I wanted my leftovers woman. I EAT CANNED SOUP, GIVE ME MY RAVIOLI! Long story short through an awkward broken conversation I got my food.... I'll spare you the details...

Friday we had a mission wide no car day and it was supposed to be really faith promoting and seeing a bunch of miracles but we just got stranded and had to walk and waste a bunch of time...... I guess it built our character or something. HAHAH

Saturday my testimony got wrecked. We visited a family who hasn't come to church in a while and apparently they converted to Catholicism. He was so nicely and cunningly vicious. Like he would compliment us and then just stab doctrine and testimony and he liked completely ripped apart the character of Joseph Smith. We left on a good note but all that night my spirit was hurting so bad. The next day at church was not a fix. In Sunday School our class very quickly got into deep doctrine and the elders were scrambling like turkeys because their investigator was there for the first time and she was SO FREAKED OUT! So basically it was like a million stress levels and a half. 

By the end of the block I was drained. The elders had a baptism for these two kids right after church and that's when God lifted all my burdens off my back. President Jurgens over our stake, pulled me and Sister Evensen out to ask us about something and we ended up debriefing our work with him. He gave us so much good advice about being a missionary for Jesus Christ and truly understanding what we are offering people. He told us that the "darkest night is just before the dawn." It changed my mission. I felt so powerful walking out of that divinely appointed meeting. The rest of the day went seamlessly. And the most piercing miracle of my full-time service occurred. 

Two days previous we met a kid named Damelle who was home early from school. Because of time this was the only house we knocked on in this huge cul-de-sac. When we came back to see him Sunday night I felt a special presence of something about to take place that I would forever be a witness to. His mother then answered the door. Damelle was attending a night session at their church but we told her who we were and Danyka invited us in. We sat five feet away from her small, humble, living room and we answered questions she had about God. We explained to her how important our message of the Restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel is and the spirit shielded the entire room. Every word that we spoke was not from us but it pierced her heart with truth. Danyka heard, for the first time in her life, two ordained ministers of Jesus Christ. She is getting baptized December 9th and I plead with each person reading this to pray for her family. Pray that they will not forget that night.

Sometimes being a missionary is rough. But Jesus Christ never had it easy, so why should we? He will shape our backs to carry our load. He is working through us at every turn. Brothers and Sisters, I testify to you that this truly is the fullness of times. God has a prophet on this earth. Now is the time to arise and bring our families back with us. 

"It doesn't matter how hard you hit, it matters how hard you get hit and get up and keep going."

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n 

Does Jesus have pet peeves?

After district meeting on Tuesday aka April 25th aka the perfect date, we went to Subway with the sisters. Over lunch we laughed for a long time about stupid pet peeves we have about missionaries, parents, dating, friends, the way people eat, driving, everything that bugs us. It was SO funny to hear the random things that bug people!

Ok so overall I think my biggest pet peeve is when people copy me. IT DRIVES ME INSANE. Like if someone buys the same food as you or starts saying the things you say, or STEALS YOUR STORIES! Just to name a few.. but then you get the classic "Imitation is a compliment." Gag me. 

So I've been thinking about this a lot this week and Jesus LOVES when people copy him! That's what he wants everyone to do! Try and be like him! Man! Every single person we teach we invite to do the same things. People refer to our culture as "Utah Mormons" but it's not just in Utah. I've learned so much the past week about rejoicing in our unity. If you are doing the same things as those around you, it means you are working as a team.

Wednesday night our investigators Chris and Lainee fed us dinner. We were really excited and we actually cancelled a member dinner when we got invited. The dinner conversation quickly jumped from a discussion to a bible bash. We got into a respectful discussion about the Trinity which they firmly believe in. My companion really struggled and she didn't give any input in the conversation. I was left alone with two southern Methodists who know their bible. I knew all I could do was testify of Joseph Smith and testify of my savior. I'm not sure if the spirit totally touched their hearts but I know that I was in unity with God that evening. The spirit was in the room. 

I think too many times we are scared that our testimonies and habits we have in the church are repetitive or common knowledge, this is when we become lazy about our promises. "When you are complicit with your covenants, you become complacent to the consequences." We promised that we would come and help spread the gospel. We would come and find our friends. Even if you gave up Sister Tedone's biscuits for an evening of bible bash and quinoa. I testified through the awkwardness of that dinner because I said I would. The evening left me discouraged for my area and relying on my companion but the spirit was in our lesson. "You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you."(PMG)

Becoming unified with the spirit will enrich every single aspect of your life. Everything will become unified. Relationships, conversations, feelings, thoughts, goals, everything. 

I know I am pleasing the Lord. I know I am a successful missionary. I know that what I know is true. All you haters out there DROP THE BOGUS! THE GOSPEL IS TRUE EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THIS!

ONE nation under God. Unify yourself.

It's gonna be Huuuuuuge

-sister P E T E R S E N

-My man Darian showing off his guns,
 but let's be real who do you think would win in an arm wrestle

 Will Smith's Childhood home? You tell me.

 the district lolz

piña coladas. CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

WOOOOOOOT WOOOOOT! Last Pday we hit up the beach as a district and played in the sun all afternoon. Basically we have the best area, just sayin. The picture attached is my district and they are such a blast! I love them! 

Tuesday we went out to our appointments and WE GOT STUCK IN A HURRICANE!!!! Legit we were riding along having little success and I threw my arms up and said "Bring it on God" and then IT STARTED POURING! hahaha be careful what you ask for! So we rode home real fast and watched as the streets flooded! It was insane....! But no worries Tracy, I kept my hair dry and it still looked decent when we got in (;

Sister Ramadhar is teaching me how to rap it's pretty gnarly.

So Friday night we ended up going to our ward Valentine's dance unexpectedly because of some miscommunication haha, and while we were there I met my best friend Ashley! She is so hilarious! We told her we weren't allowed to dance so she taught us how to dab. hahahah I loved her sweet sweet spirit. She was great. Honestly my favorite thing on my mission is seeing families. In my homeward the kids sang this song for the primary program and they scream/sang, "God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be" SOOOOOOo True!!! And the best part is, we're all part of God's family!!! I love it. 

I love how you can meet people and have completely different backgrounds and feel so connected with them.  It's because we truly are all children of God.

Ok ok ok I'll tell you a story, stop begging. Thursday afternoon we set out to go tracting. While riding to our neighborhood we chose, we decided to stop at this investigator's apartment who we've been trying to drop. This investigator has some crazy life issues and she hasn't been progressing so we have not been meeting with her. Well when we knocked on her door she didn't answer and so we were leaving the complex when her neighbor came outside and stopped us. He was very nice at first and asked us if we were JWs. We went on to explain we were missionaries for the LDS church. On a dime he started screaming and cussing at us, waving his cigarette at us like we were of the devil. He said some pretty nasty stuff about how awful Mormons are and told us we were wasting our time on missions. 

To be honest I wasn't scared or hurt, I was angry. I was so frustrated with everything he said because he was so rude. Like some people down here say they love Jesus but then they treat others with so much hatred. Like Breh, cmon. "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." So as we were leaving, Tammy's other neighbor ran outside and apologized that for what just took place. We assured her it was no big deal and we were fine. She promised us we would have success that day because there is opposition in all things. AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH! 

Tabitha. The sweetest most charitable woman welcomed us into her home and we talked about Jesus Christ for a very long time. Tabitha taught us so much about Jesus Christ's love and treating others as he would. Her example and life story truly inspired me that day. We haven't confirmed her as an investigator yet, but Tabitha is very much elect.

There are so many amazing people in the world. Don't put your head in the sand as a member of the church and think that everyone who isn't LDS is wicked. Christ is gathering His sheep. We are searching out the elect and the humble hearted followers of Christ. Most days here are kind of crappy without much success, but like Tammy's sweet neighbor told us, there is opposition in all things. When you are discouraged or upset or unhappy with the trials that you are going through, please please remember how great your joy is going to be. Men are that they might have joy. Enjoy to the very end.

I love y'all so very much. DCK. Love  S I S T E R   P E T E R S E N !!!!! 

Pday with the crew!