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

If I was you I'd wanna be me too

Ok the spirit is telling me that all you need this week is a miracle story, which is convenient for me because I'm weak from emailing.

Step Down. But look up.

We were walking on campus and we were having a lot of rejection. And I was hungry. Not a good combination. I don't often wear my miracle shoes but we wanted a miracle, so I asked for one and put them on. As we walked I was getting pretty down doubting if we would find who we embarked to find. We sat on a bench said a prayer and started walking. We only had a few minutes left in the day because of other things we needed to get done. As we were walking I saw this little note to me from God on the sidewalk and He knew I knew what it meant. So we took a picture and I knew we were on the right path. Sister Smario tells me we need to turn left so we go and talk to this girl. As soon as she sees us she says, "I know who you are." Well let me tell you what, I was actually screaming in my brain I was so excited. We found out that she has a best friend serving a mission in LA and she would love to learn more. As soon as we were done talking to her we searched her friend on Facebook and our plan is to try and have skype lessons with her friend in them! I'm not lying to you right now the course of our day turned around in a matter of minutes. This girl's life changed because we didn't give up looking for her.

You never know what part of the story you're in. Don't put the bookmark in the page because you're tired and you want a break. Keep reading! Keep going. Stand still, pray for revelation, then go. Follow those promptings. They will come. I love being a missionary and I love serving my King. I love you all so so so so much. Please reach out and let's lift our Brothers and Sisters together (:

I just love my companion more than I love kisses.

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

ps. my miracle shoes work everytime. And I looked real good at MLC, pics to come. 

Spaghetti Tacos in real life.

Our reaction when we found out Elder Holland is actually coming February 24th to the FTM.
Actually this is a lie we had to tame ourselves for a picture.

RIP brick phones

Well I'm not gonna give you too much detail but I got to go to Fort Walton Beach on an exchange and I actually rolled over and died of happiness. And then on the way home we also got to stop in Marianna bc "medical reasons"........(; so I was pretty pumped on life that I've experienced all of my mission in the past week! 

-Sister Smario because she's actually the chick-fil-a sauce to my chick-fil-a
and I named my password after her

Alright, I basically have nothing to tell you except it was absolutely freezing cold this week on campus. We had a booth one morning where we basically have this huge five foot Book of Mormon and we give people free drinks. We weren't cold enough so Sister Smario, my favorite current companion, and me decided to have a contest of who could hold ice in their hand longer. She won so I let her buy me lunch. Actually we starved because we're broke, while the elders ate their chick-fil-a right in front of us. Some people have no chill. 

-First phone selfie with the FSU krew

Oh yeah and I had to get my Facebook up-to-date so reliving the past ten years was really exactly what I wanted to do as a missionary (-: but Facebook is actually going to be awesome on campus so we're pumped. oh yeah and I got my phone!!!! CHECK IT! 

Best part of the whole week was when I bought a box of Whoppers at the gas station to keep me awake and then after about five I remembered Hawaii is a thing so one by one me and Sister Smario chucked them out the window. It was so liberating.

Well here's my advice to you friends. Put down your phone unless your kid's name is phone, or unless your adding me on Facebook and sending all your heathen friends my way. LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUU. 

No really save a life, get off your phone.

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

Well in that case...I'm DEAD

Hello I have a sinus infection and not the good kind. So basically because I haven't been wearing a quote on quote "stocking cap" in this frigid weather all my spidey senses have turned against me. I'm now subject to using the classic Neti Pot thrice daily which basically means I shoot water up my nose and hope that it heals me. #sendprayers

~hand dryers and bathroom pics bc we're cool and
actually it was colder than hell frozen over

Other than the fact that I feel like my face is going to explode at any second and my ears are constantly ringing, this week has been so fun! I went on an exchange with the legendary Sister Evensen. Of course y'all know her but she's the bestie and I love her so much it's unreal! But sad day for her because campus was like -36 degrees and pouring rain. We ran into the bathroom and used the hand dryers because we're low key not allowed to go into any other buildings on campus..... you gotta do what you gotta do. The only person we contacted was this guy on crutches who couldn't run away. (:

President Nelson is the PROPHET!!!! WOOOO HOOOO. Today in our lesson with our investigator Katherine, Sister Smario was all "I know Russel M. Nelson is the Lord's prophet on the earth today." And in my head I was all "ohhhh yeah that's what's up." I love him so much and I know he is truly God's prophet today! We got to watch the broadcast and press conference as a district and we could not stop laughing at his comment to Peggy the feminist, "I know your mother." HAHAHAHAHA SOOOOOOOO FUNNY. Anytime one of us does something stupid now we all say "Get your act together Peggy." HAHAHAHA  Also at district meeting , we had a funeral for the beloved Sister Katy Leavitt! She flies home Tuesday after 23 months of service! I love this girl with all my heart! What a tender opportunity to have served with her on campus!

~Sister Smario and Sister Fast are actually my favorite humans,
I just love them more than life and I love this pic because it gives me life (:

Alright, alright, alright, just like Matthew McConaughey we decided to make a movie! Haha so a couple weeks ago Sister Smario and I had the opportunity to do 'dress and grooming training' for the mission, so we decided to make a motion picture... aka What Not to Wear: FTM edition! It was hilarious to film it, and we're all so excited to see how it turns out! Stay Tuned.

~movie stars for dayz

I love you all a whole heaping lot, and I hope that you really take a minute to think about how much the Savior loves you. If all you get out of this email is that the Savior is like a Neti Pot, I hope it changes your week. Think about it...he breaks down our walls and heals us, just like that nasal solution is breaking up my mucus and making me feel better. 

"It always comes back to the Neti Pot." -Sister Smario

MUCH LOVE FRIENDS (: (: (:

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

~Sister Katy is QUEEN

Hot Fudge Heals

So I don't think I've ever walked this much in my whole entire life and I want to die but it feels so good to be completely exhausted at the end of the day and feel totally wrecked when I wake up in the morning but it's all good because I'm burning holes into my shoes preaching the good word and I'm gonna be ok. [:

-First day of school (: (:

We walk a lot on campus (: I LOVE ITTTTTTTTTT No real talk though I really do love it hahahaha There are people everywhere! It's crazy! I was telling some Elders who were saying that campus was "dead" because there was only 50 people in sight instead of the normal amount, that one time in Mariana I distinctly remember driving for miles and miles and miles before seeing a house. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE READY TO HEAR THE GOSPEL IT'S AWESOME!

Yeah, right now I'm just trying to figure out how to talk to people my age that are not from the south. Hahah,a it's like a completely different mission here. Everyone is from Orlando or the Keys and basically Catholic or don't believe in "God" but in a "Higher Power".....mmmm... Tom Cruise?

-Rain....came...pouring...down

So, yeah it's awesome! But, last night I was reflecting on my week, and just thinking about how hard it was, and how long MLC was, and how much I want to improve, and I thought, you know what else heals besides the atonement of Jesus Christ? 

Hot Fudge on ice cream. 

So, during dinner, we RAN to the store bought some shhhhtuff and I put a thing or two in a pot and BAMO just like the good old days. And wow. My week and life are now complete. Really though, I have found so much strength from Jesus Christ this week, every night. Every night I think about all the things we did that day and how physically exhausted I am and I know He is the one that is going before my face.

-That is the question

Tuesday night all the STLs slept at the mission home before MLC, and Sister Evensen massaged my feet because she's always and forever the true homie. I love that Sister with my whole life! I love her!!

Ok, last note! We have a cute sister here on campus with Down Syndrome. (: Her parents are the CES directors and stuff for our council. She was out with us the other day, and trying to make conversation I said, "Sister Katy guess what!? I'm going to Hawaii when I get home." And she goes, "Um, actually Sister Petersen, I know, that's all you talk about." HAHAHAHAHAHAH SAVAGE but so true. HAHAHAHA We could not stop laughing! Sister Katy is awesome, and she kills it with the dance moves! OH YEAH AND I finally got to be companions with the one and only Sister Emma Hart that I knew pre-mission, only for a day, but still!

LOVE YOU!!!!! Keep being awesooooooome!

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n 

-on our merry way to the booth with all the kids in the while Sister Smario rocks the mom van (:

525,600 miracles

One year ago I walked into the MTC and embarked on a journey that has forever changed me. Every minute the Lord has allowed me to wear this tag, this last year, has blessed my life, and so many others. I am just so truly grateful I have had the privilege to serve as a Full-Time missionary representing Jesus Christ. How great is my calling!

-My beautiful wonderful perfect companion scraping ice
off our windshield with an apostate cd so we could go see our sisters

This week was off the CHAIN! Like, picture the Beast on Sandlot chasing down Benny the Jet Rodriguez, but I'm not as fast as that kid so I actually have been gasping for air and had to pull out my inhaler! This week we woke up to a FREEZING COLD SNOW-ICE STORM! Then we had to leave and go to Gulf Breeze but all the freeways were closed because of the ice and then they wanted me to feed Sister Smario TUNA! I can't feed a fish TUNA! That's an ABOMINATION! So we were driving to Gulf Breeze ,and no joke this was like a movie I kid you not, I had to decide last minute to pull off an exit because we were completely out of gas! Like I went over the triangle with the lines on it and we were screaming! Still a miracle that our minivan made it up that ramp #angels. 

The best part of being out of Tallahassee... we went and served at our Bishop's Storehouse. It was so fun to load food and help out the saints in need! Oh I just loved it! Then we went to Fairhope and it was a blast!! I got to work with the one and only Sister Hulstine again and I was like BAM back in action in Alabama!!!! It was fun!

-All the lovelies in the #POUND#

Ok last story... 

We got permission to watch The Sound of Music for New Year's Eve. So because this film is from the stone age and it's like three hours long we only got through the first half and stopped at intermission. The next day was not our designated Pday but we all wanted to finish the movie! So I pulled the short straw and had to be the one to ask President Smith. 

This was our conversation.

"President Smith, this is urgent. Can we please, please finish The Sound of Music tonight? I don't know if Maria ends up being a nun or if the Captain marries the Baroness! Does Hitler invade Austria?!? The world may never know.."

"(; Please finish the movie."

HAHAHAHAAHAH we finished the movie and now we can't stop singing "How do you solve a problem like MARIA!"

-Sister Houston is literally my fav!
She gave this to me when I was sad
about leaving my pillow pet in Tally

Oh dear friends serving a mission is quite literally the best thing in the world! I know that this church is still led and guided by God. He will call another prophet and I will sustain him with my soul! I thank God for the prophet who guides me in these latter days! I love you all! Have a great week!!

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

Sylvester died and we had to clean it 

Since I'm going to Hawaii I haven't been eating sugar SOS

Hello friends. I am in Tallahassee Florida and I've never been colder in my life. 

-first night in Tally and we had to sleep on the floor. #lol

So right now, FSU Campus is closed for Winter Break. Fortunately, we have a man who receives revelation from on high for the missionaries here! We have literally just been riding the Tallahassee city buses for days on end talking to everyone we come in contact with. It's so fun!!! After we meet people and such, we just hand them off to other missionaries. It's kind of sad because we don't get to teach them and see them progress, but we are contacting like fools!

Bus people are crazy. 

Straight up.

 

-bus life. just look at this picture. this is bus life.

                        I have to clarify before I tell you this story, I DID NOT HITCHHIKE! Ok, glad we're both on the same page! We got stranded our first day, twice actually. The first time a miracle happened! We were nowhere near a bus stop and the bus we needed to get on was passing us and I may, or may not, have stopped it, so, very graciously, the bus driver pulled over and we were able to join the future saints of the C Bus!! (: I won't go into detail but we have been stranded a couple times and they have been learning experiences and growing pains! I remember Sister Smario through tears of laughter, and rain freezing us to the marrow of our bones, with a semi that just splashed water on us, said, "This is the lowest point of my mission!"   HAHAHAHAHAAH   Later, as we were waiting for the bus that never came, we decided the only thing worse than standing there would be if other missionaries saw us, right then a Malibu with a bike rack pulls up to the light! IT WAS THE ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT! ...TALK ABOUT EMBARRASSMENT ... HAHAHA!!

Real talk, we met a really special couple at one stop. Sylvester and Christine are from New York looking for work. They were SO PREPARED! They both accepted a Book of Mormon and Christine started crying and told us she prayed very earnestly on Christmas that God would find her and we were the answer to her prayers! We have a church tour with them today! It was almost like a movie to me. It was one of those out of body experiences while we were riding the bus with them and having a very spiritual conversation. Elder Jones and Elder Burbidge were also on the same bus contacting the person next to them. I was listening to Sister Smario testify of the restored gospel and the peace Jesus Christ offers us. The spirit was penetrating our small company. It was one of the moments from my mission I will never forget. The kingdom of God is rolling forth.

-What better time to wear matching ugly sweaters
than when skyping home?

For Christmas we watched a movie called The Other Wiseman. There was one line that really hit me. This wiseman was searching for Jesus Christ his whole life and a prophet told him, "To find the Savior you must look among the sick and impoverished, the weak and the weary, and there you will find him." That's how I feel being on the buses. Even though we have met some prepared people, most of the people we are in contact with are homeless or very close to being so. It breaks my heart to see them in this state, but I know that the Savior loves them and he suffered for each one of them just as he has for me. What an eye-opening experience to bring the gospel to my brothers and sisters here. <3

-SISTER  p e t e r s e n

-FTM Jingle Belt

*Christmas conf pics because look how fun it is!!*

            

*MERRY CHRISTMAS*

 & HAPPY NEW YEAR!