Week 4: A week of Craziness and Miracles

This week has been CRAZY!! Crazy weather, crazy people, crazy everything!! The week started out SUPER SLOW!! Everyone was cancelling appointments, people wouldn't show up and our plans were just being thrown out the window! It was tough! When you're aren't busy as a missionary your thoughts tend to turn inward and you think more about yourself which makes missionary work 10 billion times harder!! As the week went on the work picked up, we saw and talked to lots of people and saw so many little miracles!! This was just a reminder to me of how we can plan as much as we want, but Heavenly Father always knows the main plan and gives us blessings right when we need them! So here we go with the week:

Snacks for our road trip!

First, P-day is the best!!! I got to go to Superstore! It's like a big thing here. You have to pay to use their shopping carts though!!! How crazy!?!? Then we went to Walmart...and I found myself a decent size Coca-Cola!! Every drink here in Canada is so small compared to the states! So I had to buy a whole liter of that sweet nectar I call Coca-Cola...Oh well! P-days are fun because you actually get to see your area!! You're not looking for a house number or street sign so you can actually enjoy the scenery!! If you haven't look up some pics of Campbell River...its BEAutiful! Later in the week we got to drive to Courtenay for district meeting! Road trip!! It was pouring rain so I didn't get to see much scenery, but it was still fun! Even though its only a 40 min car ride I made sure we had car snacks! haha can't take a road trip without snacks! We are the only missionaries in our area so going to district meeting and seeing other missionaries just makes your day!!! WE ARE NOT ALONE! haha

Oh no! Not you again.

At district meeting they talked about the importance of talking to everyone and relying on the spirit when we are finding (going door to door and talking). When we came back into town we decided to find in an area we hadn't been to before. We took the counsel from the meeting and prayed that we would be able to find someone! NO ONE WAS HOME! We were like what the cheeseballs!?!? It was pouring rain, we were soaked, but we kept going! We ended up knocking on the door of a lady who was interested! We left her a restoration pamphlet and she seemed super stoked!! Hopefully, we can teach her and get to know her better!!! At the end of the road, we met this nice couple that insisted they weren't interested and wanted to close the door so fast!! Then I felt like I should give her a mormon.org pass-along card in case she had any questions. When she saw MORMON she got super excited and started talking to us about how she LOVES...LIKE MORE THAN A MORMON...LOVES MOTAB!!! We told her about General Conference next weekend and that MoTab would be singing (hopefully they tune into some talks too ;)) She said she would look it up! SWEET!!! Prayer is amazing and when we just keep going and put our trust in the Lord we can do anything! Later in the week we had a referral which was interesting because she didn't really want to meet with us. She was going through a really hard time and didn't even know us. We tried all day to meet up with her and finally at 8pm we got to meet up and we taught her...in our car!! haha it was the most interesting lesson I've taught yet. She had no belief in God or Jesus Christ...it was like she had never heard about them before. By the middle of the failing lesson...I felt like she just needed a friend and to know that someone cared. It was so amazing!!! I realized that there are more people out there that

The Woods

don't know about God or Jesus Christ and that's why it's important for me to be on a mission to spread the Good news!! We ended up giving her a restoration pamphlet which she may never read but I just kept thinking all night that she has truth in her pocket!!!!!! How great is that! Another cool thing that happened this week is we got to walk through the woods to go to an appointment!!! I know I've said this a ton but this place is so beautiful! For those of you who watch Once upon a time...it's like that but better (They actually filmed in Vancouver!) Anywho...the woods were AWESOME!! We've been told there are bears and cougars and I swear we were being stalked by something but we made it out okay haha My dad says I should get Bear Spray but the wildlife probably think I'm too loud and crazy so they stay away! As the week went on we met people who were the definition of being prepared to hear the gospel! It was so cool!! 

Sydni and Mom: we met this one gal who is a dental hygienist and was just in Las Vegas for the dental convention and we had a cool convo!! She works in an office here that's right on the ocean...Finding Nemo status!! She's so cool and we're teaching her next week!

Idaho!

Nevada!

I am SO Grateful I am from VEGAS! We have had so many conversations because people start talking about how they went to Vegas and blah blah blah...it's like my little missionary trap! Sorry my emails are so all over the place...if you love me you should keep reading!! haha The Relief Society Broadcast was AMAZING!!!! Our little ward had a Visiting Teaching Conference that was so cute, dinner, and then we all watched the Broadcast and one of our investigators came!! We were so stoked!!!!! I loved all the talks and the reminder that we are all children of God and that we are important!! My favorite talk was Uchtdorf's...big surprise there! haha He always speaks to my soul with his stories! 

We've seen so many miracles this week but this was the coolest!!!Every week we have to get 140 Quality Gospel Conversations (QGC's). So we have to meet people and talk about the gospel and religion. Yesterday we were still shy of our goal 

Supermoon

and because we had church and some appointments we didn't spend that much time walking around outside. We had about 1 hour until we had to be in for the night and we saw all these cars parked on Ocean Hwy!  We decided to stop and walk around. Apparently there was going to be an eclipse/super moon/ Blood moon that night!! Seriously the whole town came out to see it! There were people in their cars, bonfires on the beach...perfect timing Heavenly Father!! We ended up getting all the QGC's we needed in an hour!!!!!! MIRACLE!! As we were leaving we even got to see some of the moon! It was so cool!! If we have faith anything is possible! You can accomplish anything when you trust in the Lord and serve him with all you've got!!

Here are some of the funny/crazy moments of this week...brace yourselves...jk

• We met with some members of our ward and I said I was from Las Vegas. they started talking about their trip and how they went to Lake Las Vegas and Lake Mead and were surprised at how many carp there were! I thought it was so funny how they remembered that!! Then they told a funny story...Their friend was in Israel and apparently they have tons of carp there too...people were feeding them popcorn and it was like the water was boiling with fish!! Then their friend had an idea...Jesus probably had a bag of popcorn and was walking on the carp!!! It was so silly!!! hahah We all know that Jesus really walked on water though :) 
• Canadians have no clue what Capri suns are...just trying to explain it was painful. 
• We got the ward calendar and it had Thanksgiving on Oct. 12th I was like hold up that's wrong...then I realized Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on a different day...I then had a dumb moment and wondered if they celebrated Halloween....I'm exhausted hahaha
• I gave an investigator a hug and she thought my shampoo smelled like coconuts..."Is that your shampoo??? We just have to add some Chocolate and we could make you into a Nanaimo Bar...only in Canada!

This week has been so good and we really have seen so many miracles!!!! 

Please write me friends!!! I miss hearing about your lives :)

peterson.shelby@myldsmail.net

Love, 

Sister Peterson

Week 3: The Field is Green...Beautiful...and Super Rainy

Welp!

President & Sister Burt

I made it to Canada! It took 3 hours to clear customs! By then all 15 of us were beat! But we had training the rest of the night! I got to meet President & Sister Burt which was the best!! They are so amazing!! I met my trainer and was assigned my first area. CAMPBELL RIVER, BC! I was so excited! Campbell River is on Vancouver Island and it's SO PRETTY like it's almost fake its so pretty! My knowledge of Canada is like 0 and I thought it would take us like an hour to get there...uh no it's like a 5 hour trip!! We took the ferry from the mainland to Vancouver Island which took 2 hours!!!

Holy Cow! Then we drove to Nanaimo and stayed the night at our Sister Training Leaders apartment because it was too late and we were tired! The next morning we drove another 2-3 hours and finally made it to Campbell River...the promised land!! When I first got here it was 14*C (a.k.a 57*F) and rainy. I was like wow what a great island...but now its SO great! When we go street contacting we walk by the ocean and it smells like trees everywhere!

Ocean view

My companion/trainer is Sister Ricks from Texas!! She is AMAZING!!! I'm so blessed to have her as my trainer! We live in an apartment on the edge of the woods and people have seen cougars and bears right there! SCARY!! Every night we walk home and see Bambi and his mother...it's so cute! I tried to snap a picture, but I think it was too dark. Right now Sister Ricks and I are doing a lot of finding! We are walking all day trying to meet new people and set up appointments! We are walking because we are running out of K's (kilometers) because of the trip to the mainland. We have met some really great people!

Sister Ricks

Everyone here thinks we are nuns...Mennonites...or brainwashed which is interesting and gives us a great opportunity to explain exactly who we are and why we're wearing skirts in rainy and windy weather :) The ward here is very small and our chapel is like 1/2 of a normal one! The members are so nice and welcoming! We haven't taught very many lessons yet but I know that we'll start finding more people who are interested soon! We just have to keep working! To my family: we taught a lesson to this nice old woman D. and she reminded me just like Great Grandma Morgan!! It was crazy! The way she spoke reminded me of her! It was like she was right there! 

Blackberries

I'm starting to learn the ropes and get adjusted, but the field is WAY different than the MTC! Different in a good way! Yesterday the rain let up for a little bit and we hiked to the top of this hill and I got to look out over the ocean and got to see Quadra Island (in our area) and other little islands! The water was so blue!!! It was a beautiful day until it got kinda dark and cold and we left our rain jackets in the car and had to walk back to the church far far away...memories right?? One day this week we were so tired that we walked back to the church and just laid on the floor like zombies for 5 minutes!!! One of the best places to go street contacting here is on Ocean Highway! So pretty! Along the pathway there are blackberry bushes and I ate one off the side of the road!! They are so good and fresh!! The members love to give us missionaries homemade blackberry jam!!! BEST THING EVER!! I really love this area because on one side you have the ocean and the other its dense forest with pine trees!! Score!! We're guessing that I will be here for at least 3 transfers so until the end of the year/beginning of next year! The members say it doesn't snow here very much, but it does get cold -10*C...I think that's like 20 degrees....hopefully...! 

I'm still learning how to be a "real" missionary which is stressful, but when I'm out there meeting people, knocking on doors, and teaching I feel such peace and happiness. I forget that my feet hurt, that my hair looks like a troll doll, that I'm soaked or cold, and I'm focused on the Lord and his work. It's amazing how much we can get done and how much we can change when we choose to turn to the Savior to help us. He loves us and helps me so much during my days when I feel inadequate or tired! He is always there lifting me up! I may have said this before...our purpose as missionaries is to bring others unto Christ, but one thing I've realized is that most of all as missionaries we bring ourselves unto Christ. It really is true that its through challenges and being outside our comfort that we grow the most! My motto as always is: Keep calm and carry on!

Love you all,

Sister Peterson

40+ bags for us 15 missionaries!

Here's some other fun pictures from this past week!

Canada shades!

Sister Hawke & I saying goodbye. She's serving in Kelowna, BC

. 

Week 2 - I'm leaving for Canada

So since I have NO time because I leave for Vancouver tomorrow (HALLELUJAH!) Here are just a few highlights from my week until I can write a detailed letter:

1. I'm still sick and I have a sinus infection...no fun BUT I get to get off the compound and go get medicine! SCORE!!!!

2. I am now in a TRIO of 3 Can-Van Sisters and it is so fun!!! Sis. Peterson, Sis. Graver, Sis. Hawke. 

3. I saw my cousin Sister Abbott!!!! Seriously the best thing! Now we see each other everyday! She is doing so great!

4. I ran into my old Piano teacher Sister Anderson who is serving in the Fresno, CA mission! That was so great! She remembered who I was and said "SHELBY!!!" I was like oh yeah...that's my first name! Haha

5. I got to go to the Provo temple today and it was just beautiful!! This is my district

6. I got THE BEST package from my family :) it had all my favorite snacks and some things for my birthday!!! So Sweet!! Packages seriously make your day here :) I love my family so much and I miss them everyday :) So when I got this package I cried!!! 

7. I got another birthday package from my Auntie Sharon with more snacks, and A PEPSI (heaven sent let me tell you) and a balloon! It was so funny when I opened the box and this balloon just started floating Haha 

8. This week everyone in my district is leaving :( which is so sad!! I've gotten close with all of them and so it is so sad to say goodbye!!! The Sisters are seriously my best friends and the Elders are so sweet! All of them are going to be great missionaries!!! I miss the sisters already but they are going to fine in Kansas!

9. Because all of our Elders in our district are leaving all the sisters bought oil and had them consecrate it...it was seriously the sweetest and most spiritual thing! They are seriously the best Elders!!! 

10. The sisters created a new hashtag #CAN-KAN....we were bored...since some are going to Canada and some are going to Kansas.

11. I sang in church with Sister Clark (Kansas-Witchita) and Sister Hawke (Can-Van) It was so wonderful!!!! According to the congregation we gave them a spiritual heart attack...I think that's good!

I can't think of anything else, but I have been so busy!!! There is so much to be done before I leave!! Once I get settled in Vancouver, I'll email out my address and all that fun stuff!! This week I've been STUDYING LIKE CRAZY!!!! but I've had so many spiritual experiences because of it! My testimony has grown so much. Prior to my mission I knew the gospel was true, but it didn't really "click" until I came here and threw myself into the gospel. I know that God loves us that he has a plan for us and the central part to that plan is His son Jesus Christ. In just two weeks I have become so much closer to my savior by applying His Atonement in my life everyday. I know that he knows me perfectly, that he has gone through everything I am going through right at this second, minute, hour, and week. The Atonement is AMAZING!!! I challenge all of you to repent daily. Christ atoned for your sins so you could use the power of the Atonement to stand unspotted before God. He loves you...use the power of the Atonement and become better everyday. I promise it will make a difference in your life, it sure has in mine. We can always become better and learn more. I know that the Spirit is real.I feel comforted and lifted up every day.  The gifts and power that God gives us as his Children are amazing and I know that as we use them and try to center our lives on Christ that we will see miracles in our lives.

Not going to go around it...missionary work is HARD! but if I trust in Christ by putting my faith in him and trying to be better I can do anything. I know that these things are true and I can't wait to teach the people of Canada about the restored gospel and of God and Jesus Christ's love. 

THE GOSPEL IS SO AMAZING!!!!!!!

MISSIONS ARE AMAZING!!!!!!

Got to go pack and go to town!

Sister Peterson

Week 1: All about the Compound

Hello world!!

Everything is going good on the compound (a.k.a. The MTC). The first few days I was just on a spiritual high and everything was new and awesome! However, the last couple days have been hard! I got the MTC plague which is just a cold/flu that has been going around...GROSS!!! The doctor told us (Sister Trawick and I) to go to sleep!! It's crazy how much knowledge we get everyday! We have about 10 hours of class a day and it's all focused on the gospel and our purpose as missionaries. Let me just say, I am so glad I am not learning a language! My brain would be mush!! So far I've taught 2 lessons to our investigator Eddie (our teacher pretending to be an investigator from her mission). The first lesson was terrible! Haha We committed her to baptism and then she was like wait what's true? Hahaha We didn't even teach her the first lesson and she said yes!!!! Our second lesson with her was SO GOOD!!!!!! Sister Graver and I listened to the spirit and our lesson was GOLD...or just better than the first. We taught her the first lesson and the importance of the Book of Mormon and she said she would read it!!!! We were so excited that we actually taught a lesson that went well! We meet with her again tomorrow.

Sister Graver

Sunday was Fast Sunday and let me tell you it was the hardest!! Here at the MTC we eat at 4:30pm which is 3:30pm in Nevada and so I'm basically starving once we get back to our residence halls at night. I was starting to get sick and I was starving, but I really wanted to fast. I ended up having a terrible day while everyone else had a great one. I was taught something really important by one of the Branch Presidency wives...she said that fasting is all about the intent in our hearts. After I realized that I ended up having a great day and I wasn't focused on how terrible I felt. Later that night we watched a MOVIE!! It's actually just a talk by Elder Bednar, but it was a nice break from the classroom. You all should watch it!! Its called the Character of Christ by Elder Bednar that he gave in the MTC on Christmas Day. One of the greatest things I learned from it was, 

"Who cares what you want!! Turn outward, not inward, and get over yourself. Its not about you!" It was so funny to hear an apostle of the Lord say those things, but it's true!! We as missionaries need to turn outward like Christ did, and when we do that miracles can happen. Yesterday was my birthday and I actually forgot until my whole room started singing to me!!! (we did sing some Taylor Swift...I'm definitely feeling 22 in this MTC, everyone seems like babies they are so "young" hahah) When I got to class the Elders left jelly beans on my desk which was sweet because we only get $6-8 a week and they don't really talk to us sisters so it was great!!! 

Birthday Jelly Beans

We also had our first T.R.C. which is a REAL INVESTIGATOR!!!!! Holy cow! We didn't know much about her so we didn't know how to prepare. Before the lesson we wanted to do the plan of salvation, but I wasn't really feeling it and I could not retain any of the information so I told Sister Graver that I felt we shouldn't teach it.She said that maybe we should just ask questions and teach the Restoration. When we entered the room our investigator was already tired and stressed because she meets with 8 sets of missionaries a day (why are you not converted yet Sister!!! Hopefully we can change that!!) She was very defensive and was asking questions about the church that I don't even know how to answer! However, I felt calm the whole time. The first thing she said to us after all that was PLEASE DON'T TEACH ME THE PLAN OF SALVATION I'VE HEARD IT LIKE A HUNDRED TIMES!!! She then proceeded to tell us the plan of salvation lesson word for word...better than I could have ever done!!! That showed me how important it is to follow promptings! During the lesson I had more promptings to tell her about my experiences before my mission and to teach the restoration, but my companion (who I later figured out was having a hard time) kept asking questions so I didn't want to interrupt. TERRIBLE MISTAKE!!! Because I didn't follow those promptings, our lesson tanked. AND I MEAN BAD!!! My companion and I sat for like an hour afterward talking about everything and how we can improve. Part of that was learning how to communicate to each other and knowing when we need to switch off in order to meet our investigators needs. We learned a lot from that and it was hard to admit our weaknesses, but we are so much better because of it! One thing I've learned here is that in order to help investigators you need to apply the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism/covenants, holy ghost, and enduring to the end) to your life first. If you aren't converted, how can you go out and expect your investigators to be converted?! MIND BLOWN/HUMBLED!!!

My MTC teachers Brother Pritchett and Sister Graham are the BOMB.COM!!! They have such great stories that I can relate to and I'm grateful that I was placed in my district!!! While the MTC is hard because it exposes all your weaknesses, it also builds you up and you learn so much about the gospel. I seriously have my mind blown everyday! I say things that I know can only come by the spirit. It amazes me how many miracles and cool experiences happen if we just rely on the spirit. Here are some cool things that happened this week:

Sister Ralston

 I ran into Sister Sydney Ralston from Reno this week!!!  This was a blessing because I felt so unloved and sad, but then I saw her and she made me so happy!!!! She is going to do great in the Philippines!!!

We got to walk up to the Provo temple which was great!! I love getting off the compound :) Our room loves to be crazy and we had a photo shoot that was just the greatest thing ever!!! We are so tacky!!! Maybe I'll post some pictures...on second thought....maybe not Hahahahaha!

Service Project / My Roomies!

At the end of our roommate prayers we say 1....2....3....BISQUE!!!!! (its from Studio C look it up, it's hilarious) but we changed it to B.I.S.C...."Because I serve Christ!!!" Also my companion said I don't like to Buttercoat things because it doesn't work...I said yeah because your trying to Buttercoat it and you're supposed to sugarcoat it....I'm not sure if we were super tired or what, but that was pretty much the funniest thing ever. At dinner the other night our district just needed to get closer and take a break so we played this fun cup game..not sure if that's against the rules but it was THE BEST!!!

Cleaning Crew

So far we are just trying to have fun, be focused, and feel the spirit!!! All is going well! I leave for Vancouver in a week and I couldn't be more excited!!!!!!!!! Trust in the spirit, have faith in Christ and you'll always do great!!!

Love you all,

Sister Peterson