Quality vs. Quantity

BROTHERS AND SISTERS! 

The Lord directs our plans! That's a fact of life. Thursday we went into downtown Fairhope to contact at this Farmer's Market. As we were driving into town, there were witches everywhere!!! On bikes and roaming the streets all decked out black pointy hats strolling around. We jumped out of the car and found out that there was a huge charity witch bike ride! I LOVE FAIRHOPE! We contacted a bunch and watched the parade, it was a blast! Oh and we were casually on tv because the news reporter was filming right next to us... (: 

MEAGAN! Send prayers for our dear friend! We met her at Subway a few months ago and we saw her again and she is so stoked to learn more and meet! MIRACLE. I'm telling you what she was a straight answer to tons of prayers! 

-Dogwood girls at the 5k- High class stuff here. Frankly Scarlett.

Saturday the Elders ran in a 5k (Turkey Trot) and they took 1st and 2nd! HOLLA! We were at the finish line cheering them on! It was so, so, so freezing cold, but with all those race vendors and such, it was #worthit.

Yesterday, I had to speak in Sacrament Meeting with President Smith. That's right, President Smith as in the President Clint W. Smith of the Florida Tallahassee Mission. :]  I wasn't stressed at all. Anywho, I spoke on overcoming the world and I took a spin on overcoming the natural man through Faith, Hope, and Charity. For charity I talked about how my mom has grown to love and forgive our family cat after clawing up her favorite couch. It was a crowd pleasa. I love being around President Smith, he just brightens my soul. But dang it they pulled a prank on us! 

So Bishop Boxx has a specific spot in our church parking lot that he likes to park in. Over the past several weeks we think it's so funny to race him and try and take his parking spot before ward council and such. Well, yesterday Bishop Boxx legit pretended to be really mad in front of President Smith that we've been stealing his parking spot, and then this morning for interviews President very seriously rebuked me and Sister Evensen, telling us we need to respect Bishop Boxx. We felt pretty bad and we were also annoyed with Bishop because he knows we're just trying to be funny. Well, I get into my interview with President and he just starts laughing! Apparently, after our fireside last night, Bishop and President devised this twisted plan over dinner to make us feel really bad. President knew the whole time that it's all lighthearted fun! He apologized if he was too harsh but I was just so joyfully surprised that President Smith is a real life jokster!!! I LOVE MY PRIESTHOOD LEADERS (:

We have been having kind of a dry spell the past several weeks in our area but this past week we have seen a billion miracles! I got to pondering about the work we've been doing. In Elder Ballard's book Our Search for Happiness he says, 

"'The quality of our lives.' It's an interesting phrase. I suspect most people think of this concept in terms of the comforts and conveniences they enjoy. But I prefer to think that the quality of our lives has more to do with substance than style. A quality life is one that positively influences others and makes the world around it a better place in which to live. A quality life is one that is constantly growing, expanding its horizons and enlarging its borders. A quality life is one that is filled with love and loyalty, patience and perseverance, kindness and compassion. A quality life is one that is based on eternal potential and not confined to this life only. A quality life is a life well-lived."

I know I am surrounded by quality people. I have given a quality effort. We might not have a huge teaching pool, but we have quality individuals we have the opportunity to be around. I have had a quality mission, and that's all that I think really matters to me, and the Lord. 

Bring more quality blessings into the world around you! I love you! I genuinely love each of you very much! 

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n 

-Witch ride

- My best pal Nikos put on his Dumbledore costume when we went for dinner.
 Legit he is the coolest human I know.
LOOK AT HOW SPOT ON HIS COSTUME IS. I LOVE HIS FAMILY. #parentalwin

 Nikos found his twin. I have the best humans in my life here. 

Mind your y'alls and all y'alls

Elder Uceda visited our mission this week and that was really amazing. He gave us great insight on how to go about the Lord's work. He is from Peru and we had the opportunity to hear from his wife as well. Sister Uceda speaks Spanish so one of our Spanish elders had to translate for her. She talked about what mothers hope for their children to gain on a mission. Her whole topic was very moving as each of us thought about the people we want to become and the missionaries our families back home pray that we are being. I was particularly touched by the thought of sacrifice by all the missionaries and their families that are serving the Lord as best as we can. The spirit was very overwhelming. Afterward, I ran up to Elder Uceda and talked to him for a moment. In the fall he actually spoke at USU and I had the opportunity to listen to him in the crowded Spectrum. We talked about his talk he gave on prayer and he shook my hand and looked me in the eyes and the spirit was very piercing. I am very grateful for the servants of God that I get to work with. 

So the funniest experience happened! We went to visit a less active, and boy are southerners TALKERS! Phew.. ok so we go up to her porch and the moment we get out of the car, mosquitoes ATTACK! We try and make the conversation short but this lady, not even inviting us in, just keeps gabbing on and on about her life. Finally Sister Viola cuts her off and offers a prayer before we leave and she agrees....... Sis V- "Our dear Heavenly Father," "Wait one more thing I need you to pray for! (Followed by a long list of things to pray for)" Hahaha we didn't even know how to stop this one! 20 mins later we were back in the car with more bug bites than I've ever had in my life. But it was totally worth it that this sister was able to have the spirit on her porch. 

Ok, so tonight we went to a member's home for dinner. They have a few kids and man I just love the south! We talked about accents and all the kids giggled telling me I have an accent! The one daughter about 9 goes, "Yeah, you sound like you're talkin out of your nose!..........Ma'am!" Hahah I love how respectful everyone is here! Even little kids makin fun of how I talk! 

I've joined in a lot of street prayers with people and we commonly join hands in a circle because that's typical here for group prayers. This isn't something we normally did in my family and sometimes it can be kind of weird. But the more I do it, the more I love being connected spiritually and physically with my brothers and sisters. I am constantly reminded that our prayer language is very important. Mind your thee's and thou's, we gotta respect and love God the same way my cute friend respected me even when she was laughing at my voice (; God is always listening!

Also last thing, Marianna has some DANG HUGE hills. I'm talking San Francisco stuff here. Yeah I biked up a super steep one and needless to say I'm gonna have thunder thighs pretty soon. Hahahaha.

Y'all have a good day. (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: 

-sister  P E T E R S E N

Do or do not. There is no try.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE- Topic for this week, The enabling FORCE that change brings. Do it. You'll like it
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For starters, last Monday I started a competition with my dearest Sis Evensen! No sugar, soda, secondsies, late night munchies, and a whole bunch of other crap haha. Needless to say this week I experienced a lot of jelly bean and marshmallow matey withdrawals. But the loser of our competition has to wear the same pros outfit for a week straight...and with our humidity and sunshine.....I can't afford to break!

May the 4th--- 4 MONTH MARK!!!!! **cue Hot Rod grocery store dancing** Sis E got me a huge easter egg with G's in it, the 4th of every month is now our anniversary, we're like an old married couple that laughs at dad jokes. 

Zone Conference on Thursday was KILLER! Me and Sis Davis taught about the sacrament--- HUGH COSMIC POWER.... itty bitty little piece of bread.---- and TBH we blew it out of the water. Actually the spirit did all the work but it was way fun to teach everyone and I looked really good that day so double bonus. I love Zone Conference because our zone is so much fun! Last transfer like half the zone got moved so we have a bunch of new way fun people! President Smith read Enos with us verse by verse and we talked about teaching repentance, it. was. so. cool. Read Enos!

Later that night we visited our dear 89-yr old Marie. She was complaining and complaining about how the scriptures are too hard to understand and read. So we offered to read with her and she was in Jacob 3. In this chapter Jacob is explaining how difficult it is to write on the plates and that we need to cherish the words of Christ. OH THE IRONY OF THE HAND OF THE LORD! Marie is so stubborn and I actually could not hold back my laughter as we read the couple of chapters. It WAS SO FUNNY! We left her in good spirits and hopefully she will start enjoying her scripture reading more.

Seis De Mayo- Our ward had a huge fiesta because we find any reason to celebrate and that was way fun. But long story short the Elders took our car and we were stranded at the church. When we finally got back to our apt (spongebob voice 3 HOURS LATER) Elder Moore our ZL felt so bad! Later that night he was like "Sisters, John 11:35. 'Jesus Wept'. I want you to know, I wept when we hindered the work of the Lord today for you" Hahahaha what can ya do with Elders. Ya can't live with em........ and that's about it! Hah. But alls well that ends well.

Ok last stop on the Sis P express- KENNY!!! Kenny is our investigator that we tracted into and he is so so amazing! The first time we met him he told us he wanted to quit smoking and he's been clean for 3 weeks! He set his own BCD for May 27th! And yesterday when we walked into the chapel he was sitting with a white shirt and tie, clean cut, just beaming. Words cannot explain the joy that filled my soul to see him. I know I haven't written much about Kenny, but we've been teaching him for a bit and he is awesome. He's 20 and he's been smoking since he was 15. He has a small case of Autism and so he's not super emotional, but he understands and accepts a lot! He is so amazing. It's been a really cool experience getting to teach him! And our members have been so awesome helping him feel welcome! Yesterday when we talked about Word of Wisdom he was fine with everything until we said coffee, "NOPE, THAT IS OFF THE LIST!" Hahaha. It was so fun to teach him and he committed to following the WoW. He's prime!

Summary:

-Healthy Diet will change your whole mindset and make you feel physically happier

-Don't take jumping pics with a slippery abnormally large Easter egg containing covenants

-The sacrament taken with a penitent heart, manifests the power of Godliness within us

-Learn to Love the scriptures, man those prophets took a long time on that for us dang it!

-Don't make the Elders feel bad because they do a lot for people, and learn to not get annoyed when your plans get bumped a few hours

-IF KENNY CAN STOP SMOKING AND DRINKING COFFEE AND BE FLIPPING AWESOME YOU CAN EMBRACE ANY CHANGE LIFE THROWS AT YOU

Well that's all folks. Have a sunshiny day, we're gonna go hit up the beach. Be diligent in everything you do and you will find joy. It's guaranteed to the faithful! 

EMBRACE THE CHANGE WE CALL LIFE the Savior invites everyone to change (repent) and come unto him. Make the necessary changes to have joy (: (: LOVE Y'ALL

-sister  P E T E R S E N   

   

Mardi Gras? Mardi NAHHHH

subject has nothing to do with my week.... everyone is just celebrating Mardi Gras down here and I have been struggling with a clever subject.... lol #sorrsnotsorrs

Miracles. Miracles. Miracles. Straight blessed. Ok this week has gone so fast it really seems like a blur so I will tell y'all just some of the crazy miracles that God let me experience.

Miracle right there!

-We gave a Book of Mormon to our neighbor and SHE invited US back tonight! So solid.

-A member in our ward got us TONS of groceries right when we both ran out of money on our card

-We walked in home in the sketchiest neighborhood ever without getting mugged

-I have gone without sugar for 32 hours now, but who's counting..... hah

-I got a package from my favorite family the Weaver's yesterday!!!!!! ahhhh no post on Sundays! Unless the ZL's bring it from Tally. hahaha

-And finally, My bowling team, (Me, sis R, Elders Waddell, Cornforth, and Magnusson) GOT A TURKEY IN BOWLING TODAY WOOOOOOOOO. lol I broke 100... personal record. 

Okay so yesterday we went and visited this part member family and the husband is a anesthesiologist nurse. So his job is to put patients to sleep before their surgeries and whatnot. Well me and him are talking about his job and stuff and I look over at Sister Ramadhar and she looks confused/mortified. I ask her if she's ok and she asks if Brother Kamer like puts people down like dogs.... HAHAHAHAHAHA I laughed so hard I had tears coming out of my EYEBALLS! hahahah you gotta love language barriers (;(; I love Sister R she's always making me laugh. 

On Saturday we had a Stake Women's Conference and the theme was "Choose Joy, Make Covenants" I learned SO MUCH about choosing joy in our circumstances. We don't get to choose for other people. And sometimes we have to be the ones to suffer from other people's agency, but we do have the power of how we want to react to things. Choose to be joyful. Heavenly Father didn't send us down here to be miserable and just go from day to day and then die. No. He sent us down here so we can enjoy ALL that life has to offer. I promise that when you choose to have joy, the covenants we have made with Heavenly Father will empower us to feel that joy. Make Convenants ---> Receive Power-----> Feel Joy. That's all there is to it. Mormons aren't trying to work their way into Heaven, we are choosing to have joy in this life and making sacred binding promises with God to obtain those blessings and joy. 

Last story because I am sooooo tired of typing today haha. I had to speak yesterday in our ward and my dad told me that whenever you speak, start with a story because people are more inclined to listen haha. So I thought a lot about what story I would share and I had nothing. Our opening Hymn was "High on a Mountaintop" WHEWWWWW. SO powerful. I told my ward how when I was little and growing up my dad would always lead us in that song at the top of mountains at the peak of our hikes. The words in that hymn are so amazing. As members of the church, it is our sacred calling to spread the gospel and to shout it from the mountaintops. Us as missionaries are just servants Full-time, but EVERY MEMBER IS A MISSIONARY. You have a call to share the gospel and spread your light of Christ to those around you. Be strong examples of the believers.

I love you all. Sorry for the longish email. Don't let Satan get you down, he's a real bugger sometimes. 

DCK. STAND TALL. CARRY ON. WAVE YOUR BANNER TO THE WORLD. CHOOSE JOY. 

- Sister  P E T E R S E N

Pics- Photo shoot with our miracle groceries, our typical dinner, and my best friend. Her name is Emma (: she always holds my hand and I love her. Don't mind the nasty sticky sweaty me after our weekly kickball game. haha. But Emma is cute (: