It's a beautiful day to save lives

Yes. Elder Holland spoke to my face. And yes, because I had the will and the Lord provided the way, I was standing RIGHT behind him in the full mission picture. And yes I am one happy little clam now.

-THAT'S MY COMPANION

Elder Holland was obviously the highlight of the week! Absolutely incredible! He just came and told us how lucky we are to be missionaries. It hit me in that meeting that heck yes I am! I am probably one of the luckiest most blessed people in the world. He told us we will NEVER do anything MORE important than serving as a missionary. We will have kids and families but that is AS important, not MORE important. That gave me a huge perspective on what we're actually doing. We're saving souls people!

So many spiritual experiences came from that meeting a lot of them very personal. One thing I want each of you to know is that I felt the spirit of God speak to me through Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He is a man of God. Yes he is imperfect, I was on the front row with my glasses on I saw a lot of his physical imperfections over 2 hours, but imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with! What a wonderful thing that we don't have to be like Elder Holland or Mother Theresa or your older sibling or your neighbor or your spouse, the only person you are trying to be like is the Savior. I want to share this quote from Elder Holland's last conference.

"Every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life...If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites, we are human."

THE GOSPEL IS FOR EVERYONE

Get it? Everyone of us. Quit turning inward and thinking about yourself. I gotta quit being so trunky sometimes and realize I only have 3 more months to give my heart out! It is a beautiful day and age to be a member of Christ's kingdom. IT'S JUST SO AWESOME! AHHH I WANT TO SCREAM AT YOU BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I AM DOING SO MUCH. Everyday I now wake up thinking, "What can I do to save a soul today?" We all need to decide what team we're on and then, play our hearts out. I love you all so much. I am grateful for every person and experience the Lord has blessed me with to be His refined, humble, servant. I love my Savior and His gospel is perfect! 

-THAT'S OUR DISTRICT MEETING THAT WE SKYPED INTO
 BECAUSE THE A/C REPAIR MAN CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!

I will not lie, the plans were changed and Elder Holland did not ride in our mini van..... ): (: don't be sad, be happy!

We went to Dothan Zone Conference and Sister Wilson taught us some Australian songs on the way and made us sing in rounds #bestroadtripever haha on the way home I may or may not have explained the Lord of the Rings trilogy to those living in darkness *cough *cough Sister Smario and Sister Wilson.

-THAT'S OUR SIDE KICK SISTER WILSON

Anyway I just love everything about my life and you should too because the Savior suffered so you could enjoy it, and if you are miserable, that's a little pathetic that you are wasting the gift of the gospel. Seriously, find some dang joy brothers and sisters. (: I LOVE YOU!

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n☀

-THAT'S MY HOT MOM

THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY MISSION

Not a trickle but a flood

This is the story of a girl, who was sitting on a long-board. I know the set up for the perfect miracle ammi right? 

-first and last district selfie because it just got blown up
and now everyone but me and Sister Smario is gone! (: (: I ain't even mad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On Tuesday I learned another valuable lesson from my Heavenly Father. When He corrects you, He will always show an increase of love when you humbly repent and follow the spirit. After our district meeting, we were not in a big hurry to get to campus and we all hung around the institute for a few minutes. "In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been." Not long after President Smith happened to stop by for something and he didn't say anything, but the spirit sure did. Well, Sister Smario and I acted. Fast. Without speaking we went to campus and started contacting again. And that's when we met Katy.

{D&C 121:43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;}

Katy is so amazing and probably the most prepared person I've ever met on my mission. She is our Relief Society President's roommate and she is seeking for truth. We talked with her for maybe 3 minutes and she wanted to meet again. Her heart is pure and open and I love her more than my snuggie, which is a lot. Heavenly Father needed us to get our butts on campus Tuesday so we could find her. Thursday we met back up and had an amazing Restoration lesson with her. We taught her all about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was good but the best part was when we realized that she doesn't need all the details, all she wants is to know the truth about who God is. We take our relationship and knowledge of God for granted way too often. Seeing Katy's love for learning and growing really gave me such deep appreciation for my Father. He loves us so much. He loves us enough that He sent Jesus Christ so that we can know Him. How amazing is the gospel. The teachings, instructions, directions, that we have to know who we really are. We are Sisters and Brothers of an eternal family. It is glorious. 

-movie debut, we HAD to make popcorn for the fans

-Chinese run for the cute new missionaries.
But c'mon... mirror pic in the mission home

Also, we got President Smith to sing a song with us at Zone Conference and he played the Ukulele with Elder Hansen and dang it I have the best mission president ever I just feel bad for anyone not in the FTM. The Lord is flooding the earth right now with truth. We have so much access to spiritual knowledge. Share it.  I love being a missionary. I love serving my mission on Florida State. We get to meet so many wonderful people and tell them what they're missing. Some people take offense, but the elect harden not their hearts. The link at the bottom is the new Mormon Message and I love to think that as missionaries we are like the little boy who teaches the blind men what an elephant wholey is. I know the fullness of the gospel is here and it is in Jesus Christ's church. We are led with pure priesthood authority. I know it. 

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages-2018?cid=HP_WE_31-1-2018_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng

Momma I made it!

.. y'all don't even know what's about to hit this zone

SISTER HULSTINE OF THE HULSTINE FAMILY OF THE SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA PROVIDENCE IS PLEASED TO JOIN ME IN THE WORK OF SALVATION.

Picked up this Sister who was hitch hiking down the road and needed a ride back to Fairhope. Sister Hulstine is sweet. Like suuuuuwweeeet! She is from California and she actually came out on her mission the transfer right before me! We served in the Fort Walton Zone together and basically she doesn't know this but I've had an undying desire to be her companion for 11 months. (: So I'm excited!

The most exciting thing in the mission right now is that we made it on the news! HEYO! Basically there was a big lighting of the trees in Downtown Fairhope, and we went to talk about Hashtag Light the World with people, and this guy was like hey do you wanna do an interview and we were like, yeah. So now I'm famous! I've made it. I've arrived. I might as well just pack up and go home now because I've peaked getting that black tag to all of the the Mobile Tri-State area 

 (: .. my 15 mins of fame - link -   News - Fairhope Christmas Tree Lighting #lighttheworld

Elder Beheshti from the seventy came to our stake conference and it was awesome! He was so powerful as he testified about repentance. It really all begins with one choice. Who do you want to be in one year? In five years? In thirty? It had a huge impact on me. 

 all my beautiful sisters from the Mobile Zone

Yesterday wasn't Pday so we could have a Zone Conference. Friends, there's a lot I don't know. There's a lot I am imperfect at. But I know President Smith is called of God to be here and to lead out this mission, and in knowing that, I know even more deeply that this work is true. I am beyond grateful for the knowledge I have of this restored gospel. I take it for granted far too often. I have such a deep love for my Savior. He truly is the Master Healer, the Great Physician. Please, come and join in His redeeming love. 

.. the one and only Sister Nielsen, she brings life to my soul

HAPPY THANKSTURKEYGIVINGGUMBODAY

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

Hide yo wife, hide yo kids, IRMA is here

My lovelies. How are you beautiful souls doing around the world?

IRMA- I'll cut to the chase and tell you what you really want to know, Hurricane Irma is not going to hit Fairhope, sadly.....but the East half of the mission is on total lock down! It's been so exciting here! Wow. Last Monday Elder Southway went on and on about how the hurricane was coming this way and we needed to be prepared, me and Sister Evensen were like "yeah yeah". Well the next day President Smith orders a mission wide conference call and he very strictly instructs us to get water cases, top our gas, and have a go bag ready if we needed to leave within a half hour. WHAT.

Now, I'm not your average Joe who goes into panic mode, but I'll tell you how foolish we felt not having any water and having to run to Walmart and all the water was completely SOLD OUT! WE HAD TO BUY RICH PEOPLE WATER (dasani). Lesson of the 10 Virgins I'm tellin ya. #calledtorepentance

-Sis E preppin for IRMA

Basically this week has been like the funnest week of my whole mission. Nobody is keeping their return apts because of hurricane prep but literally ANYBODY will talk to us if you use the word Irma in your approach. Blessings in disguise! We debated whether or not to make cardboard signs that say "REPENT NOW- IRMA IS HERE" and stand on the street corners preachin. 😉

Alright alright. Thursday we went back to my homeland of Fort Walton, what a celestial area, and we had Mission Leadership Council with President and Sister Smith. Whoa talk about some spiritual giants. I couldn't even soak in all their inspiration. Basically it's just this meeting where we talk about moving the work forward across the mission. It was AWESOME. But this is SO EMBARRASSING, I'm in this room with crazy good missionaries and we had to take a vote on what we thought needed improvement, and for the first option I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT RAISED MY HAND. HAHAHAHAHA Me and Sister Evensen could not stop laughing!!!

.

Straight from there I went and stayed the night in Mobile with Sister Polanco on an exchange. Dang straight Mobile was intense. HAHA. We went and proselyted all day in a town called Pritchard. (If you've ever seen that meme "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" that was made there) Met some AMAZING people! It was so awesome! Then we went back to Fairhope for Zone conference the next day.

-My Zone Sistas

At 8:30 at night me and Sister Evensen find out that because of the storm situation our neighboring zone would be combined with us.... what. So we had to train a whole bunch of missionaries, like 60 something. You can feel the power of other missionaries. I made a fool of myself multiple times but all is well. Moral of the story is, me and Sister Evensen are basically best buds with President because we laugh at all his jokes! HAHAHA, We're like his personal audience.

-President and his lackeys

Sunday rolls around and we go to this appointment, they don't answer. But while we're standing on his porch 3 police cars slowly round the corner to a house. 🚓 We both kind of agree that it's a little sketch, but we wear tags, we're fine. Next we walk over to their neighbor and this really creepy car with completely tinted windows rolls right next to us and stops.. Then this really drunk guy standing outside tells us that someone down the street just got shot! THE SPIRIT BASICALLY YELLED AT US TO GET OUTTA DODGE. We thank him and quickly make our way back to our car. I will neither confirm nor deny that Sister Evensen held my hand because she was so scared. Isn't that so cool that Heavenly Father kept us safe. (:

Tracy is in a tough situation so please please pray for her! And this coming week we're focusing on 5's. 5 BCDs, 5 Friends at Sacrament Mtg, 5 New Friends. (: Pray for 5's.

Well friends, I want you to know that God loves His children. Straight up. No if's, and's, or but's. Reach out and spread the love. Don't wait until a hurricane is on it's way to be your best self. We experienced a lot of miracles this week and if I wrote them all you'd have to get a life long subscription. Just know that God is working miracles here. We are messengers of truth. And like I've been saying since one year ago September, the Florida Tallahassee Mission has a big storm coming. 

I have just begun to fight.

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
​

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