Week 69: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

THIS WEEK WAS THE MOST AMAZING WEEK OF MY MISSION!!!!

We have been seeing miracles after miracles as this transfer has come to a close and Christmas has been approaching!!! Last week we got 4 new investigators!! THIS WEEK WE GOT 3 MORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS

That's one way to take your tree home!

CHRISTMAS AND PEOPLE ARE BUSY!!! God is so good!!!! This week started out super eventful!!! Sister Gartside got SO SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were leaving an appointment and oh my goodness...not good!!!! Poor thing!!! So we drove home super fast (I tried not to make her sick I promise!!) and she was up all night sick :( I tried to help her but there's not much you can do :( So we didn't sleep very much. The next day the Sister Training Leader's came and Sister Steele and I went to District Meeting and went to work!!!! Throughout the day we switched in and out that way we could all work! Sister Steele and I literally had 30 min to go out and work. We prayed and then she said "lets go find a new investigator". Literally 5 min later we we knocked on a door of a street that's been tracted out a bagillion times and he wanted to learn more. As we talked to him we found out that he has had a rough life, but he had turned his life around. As

he was talking I got the prompting to ask him If he's been baptized!!!! I was like man...that's a bold question...but I did it! I asked him and he said yes, but he should probably be baptized again and recommit! HOW PERFECT!!! We told him we prepare people for baptism. We taught him the Restoration and he was so excited to come to church and get baptized!!! IT WAS SUCH A MIRACLE!!! Even though Sister Gartside was sick we still were finding people to teach!!!! Later that night though....I started to feel sick....then THE SICKNESS HIT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DESPISE BEING SICK IT'S SO GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!! So I called the nurse, but she told me to still go out so I did....it was really hard but we made it through!!!! We were able to have an awesome lesson with our investigator Levi!!! I prayed the whole time that I would be able to make it through...that I wouldn't get nauseous!!! We talked about the Book of Mormon and gave him more of the background!! He is excited to read and pray! I made it

through the lesson fine!!! but right after...back to being sick!!! Heavenly Father definitely blesses you for doing his work!!! Friday CHRISTMAS EVE EVE!!!!!! We set up a lesson with our investigator Leslie! Her and her kids came to the Ward Christmas party last week!!!! We were expecting just to meet with her at the mall in between her Christmas shopping but her and her husband showed up!!! So we taught him and he is interested so we got ANOTHER NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! SURPRISE!!!!!! We asked them in the lesson if they would be baptized and they looked at each other and said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Their whole family is going to be changed because of this gospel!!! They are going to be so much happier and closer with Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!! SO AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR THEM!!!!! After we had to rush to the store and grab a rotisserie chicken....because we forgot...and we were having a nice Christmas dinner with the YSA sisters!!! It was

so cute!! Sister Steele used a white sheet (clean I'm assuming) as our tablecloth and laid out little place settings for all of us!! We had chicken, stuffing, potatoes, yams, veggies, cider....quite the meal!!!  After we were walking around downtown talking to people, and we had been invited to a party at a member's house...we didn't want to go because...we probably wouldn't be very effective...but we prayed about it and we felt really good about going...weird...but okay lets do it!! So we went and MaryAnne our investigator was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE HADN'T SEEN HER IN ABOUT A MONTH!!! That was a miracle!! Then we talked with these two non-members for about 45 min about missionary work, the light the world video, the church

and all that jazz!!! Really a miracle!!!! So good!!! Saturday.....CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went on a random Blitz with the sisters, they felt prompted to go so we went!!! I went with Sister Steele and we were walking and talking and I said Hey there's a potential there....lets go knock it!! So we did and the lady opened the door and we got to talking!! She said she was weary of the Book of Mormon and she said, "Well if the Book of Mormon is true then I'll stand before God and say whoops missed that one!!!" We told her she could find out if it's true on her own!! No pressure we would just come teach her and she could read and pray and ask God. We taught her the Restoration and just like that .....WE GOT AN OTHER NEW INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 for the week!!!!!!! MIRACLES!!!!!!!! Turns out she works at an old folks home too, so I asked if we could come caroling and she said they would love that!!! Yay!!!! Sister Steele and I also found a potential named Utah...we had a great laugh about that one!!! For

My Christmas Card from Gram!

Christmas Eve dinner we went to the Vaski's house!!! They do seafood appetizers for Christmas eve....IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!! I FINALLY TRIED SCALLOPS!!!!!!!!!!! Yum!!!! They are such a sweet family!!! They took really good care of us :) After eating there we went and spent Christmas Eve with Sister Stevenson!!! She got baptized on Christmas Eve 20 something years ago so we celebrated with her!!!! Christmas day was so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We woke up and FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!!!! We've been reading it for 4-5 months now and we finished it Christmas day!!! I just flipped through the pages at all the red markings where Jesus is mentioned and the doctrine I had highlighted and just knew it was true!!! :) After that we opened our gifts!!! My family is so sweet!! They sent me all my favorite things!!!! It was like I was just at home!!! :) I love them so much!!!  Our church service was amazing because we had a General Authority come!!!! Elder DeFeo! His brother is in our Stake Presidency!! It was a sacrament meeting with
tons of musical numbers and then the General Authority spoke to us! I got to sing in a choir for one song!! So good!!! After we walked around the streets and talked to people! We went and caroled at Lisa's old folks home!!

THEN WE GOT TO SKYPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My family is so wonderful!!! Even though my sSkype shut off 2 times they still stayed on to talk to me hahahahahhh Then in the middle of it....MY  NEIGHBOR....MY BEST FRIEND SINCE THE WOMB....KAILEY CAME OVER TO SEE IF WE HAD A EGG SHE COULD BORROW....IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKYPE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!PERFECT TIMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hahah It was such a good surprise!!!! LOVE YOU MAJEWSKI'S!!!!! After we had to rush to our dinner!!!! We had dinner with a lady in our ward that doesn't have much family!! She did so much for us and got us presents!!! Very humbling....I love her a lot!! She gave us so many leftovers though...oh my goodness too much!!! On the way home, I saw all of the homeless people outside and I felt like I should give our leftovers to them...so as I was driving I was on the look out!! I saw one man huddled down and I knew I needed to talk to him. So I pulled over...my companion was a little scared of why I was going to talk to a homeless man in a dark

area and scary area in town haha I said "Hey! Have you had supper yet???" He said "no I haven't." I said well here we have some for you!!! I gave him the whole thing!!!! We even happened to have an extra wrapped fork in the car from take out a few weeks ago....it was perfect!!! His name is Clinton!! We talked to him about the Gospel and what we do as missionaries!! He was just so happy to have some food :) I WAS SO HAPPY TOO!!! I've never really done anything like that before.....I'm not telling you this to seem like "look what I did" but I'm telling you because in that moment I TRULY FELT THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS....I literally felt so good!!!! So spiritual, so charitable, so christ-like, so filled with joy!!! Clinton was so happy and I know that he appreciated it!! I will never forget that :) His bright smile as we simply shared with him what we had to share and the message of Jesus Christ. This has been such a memorable Christmas :) One of the best yet! I hope you all had a great Christmas!!

Please enjoy our Mission Christmas Poem:

With clouds over head, a storm in the night. we beg and we plead for the moon to shine bright. 

To lighten our path, to show us the way, all we can think is to love serve, and obey.

Through mountains of snow, and showers of rain,

we sometime must climb for our personal gain.

if we pray and we ask we are promised his love.

His heavenly guidance, from a world up above.

Fully seeking the truth, we know he'll respond. no moon has appeared,

I guess we'll pray on. we try and we try but nothing appears,

frustration and doubt often lead us to tears.

we come in at night on our knees, in our room, when a new star appears,

 "but god, where's the moon? you promise you'd give 

what we asked in his name, am I the one lacking, or

 is my faith to blame"?

"my child, you know not what you asketh of me.

for with the light of the moon for a time you would see.

If you follow my star, this new light will shine,

forever and ever, no matter the time.

sometime when you ask your desire is pure but wait for my answer, i knoweth the cure.

The light of the world, he's the one who can heal, so keep pressing forward, his atonement is real.

Remember this star , it shone bright in the sky.  when the savior was born for all of mankind.

He is there as your guide, the light for your path, follow him home, and you'll receive all that I have" 

by Elder Lieber

Love you and Happy New Year!!!!

2017 is going to be a great one :)

Love,

Sister Peterson :)

Week 68: 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS!!!

Well this week was pretty fantastic!!!!! Monday was rough! We had to wait in line at the post office.......TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took about an hour total and it was horrific!!!!!! Hopefully my family likes their presents though:) Tuesday we had such a big miracle!!! We were at a member visit and we were talking to her about how she shares the gospel and she said she just tries to be a good example. Then she said she had some cookies for us from a market she goes too and the baker there is just so sweet and always comes out and gives her a hug!! He's one of the people that notices her great example!! She said his name and we were like....THAT'S OUR NEW INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So cool!!!!!! Wednesday we had Zone meeting!! It was really good!! We were trained on how we can "boil" like Jeffrey R. Holland wants us to so we have this little activity now and we set a goal for just about anything and then write specific steps to help us meet that goal. Then we take one step and break that down into another 206-212 chart...it's super inspired and we've been using it with our transfer goals and it's working. We are way more dedicated to them and we have a clear plan on how to achieve it.

GOAL

212*

211*

210*

209*

208*

207*

206* WE ARE HERE

We had a great lesson with Sandra on Thursday!! We invited her to be baptized! She didn't say no, but she didn't say yes either!! She's still in the process of researching and finding things out and she had a very spiritual experience with her baptism before so I can understand why it would be hard for her. We're going to keep working on it! She is so good though! She said she met

President and Sister Burt and Elder Nattress at the airport last week when she was working and they recognized her!!!!! It was so cool!!! I just love them!!! She said they are amazing people :) I agree!!! Thursday we had lesson after lesson after lesson!! We had a lesson scheduled with a potential Levi that we met last week, but we couldn't find a member to come with us (we can't meet with males alone...we have to have another female with us) We called through everyone on our list!!!! No one could come...we were like okay maybe he will cancel??? We know God has a greater plan!! hahah So we went to our dinner appointment with the Lemoines! Brenda is a recent convert and we told her about our dilemma...she said we can't let someone not hear about the gospel, so she made us eat fast and then we were out the door to the lesson!!! It was so cool to see her and her husband bear their testimonies to Levi!!! He is very involved in the Catholic church but has a strong desire to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. We set up an appointment for next week at the Lemoines house!!! We're so excited!!!!! Then in Ward Council on Sunday we were asking who has a background in the Catholic church and a member of the Stake Presidency said he did and he would love to come. Then he said and my brother is coming for Christmas he's a General Authority, a member of the 70, we can see if he would want to come to the lesson too. WHAT????????? THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's probably super busy, but it's a cool

idea!!!! Basically Levi's lesson is going to be great no matter what!!! Friday we had lots of lessons too and we taught a bunch of little kids about the Plan of Salvation! One of the little kids isn't a member and she asked us "Who are God's parents???" "Do we have a Heavenly Mother or does God have a wife??" THIS CHILD IS SUCH A DEEP THINKER!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha She's only 9!!!!!! Saturday was lots of fun!!! It's been around -10 to -20 the last week so we've been freezing, especially me!!! My limbs go numb within a couple minutes hahahaha but that doesn't stop me!!! We walked and talked all day and got a few good potentials that said we could come back!! Saturday night was our Ward Christmas Party and Leslie and her kids came!! Their the family I met on the bus back in November!!!! MIRACLE CONTACT!!!!!!!! We gave them a church tour before the party and taught them the Restoration!! They loved it!! They also loved the party!!! Everyone was so friendly and we had a lot of fun!!! The kids liked it and Leslie said they really like the atmosphere and are so excited to come to church and stuff!!! YAY!!!!! So with that family we got 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunday was good!! We had a great Sacrament meeting and we had lots of meetings to attend!! I didn't feel too great all day. Felt really dizzy and light headed!! We had to teach Relief Society...I barely remember it hahahahha I took a 10 min nap when we got home and then just pushed through the night. Heavenly Father definitely helped me! I didn't feel sick while we were out, but as soon as we got back in I started to feel woozy and get my headache again! Tender Mercy!!! We taught an awesome family Sunday night!!! We read with them the Christmas

Story in Luke 2! One of the kids said "an angel is someone with a light bulb in them...wearing a white dress" hahahhahahhahhaha I died!!! Then I let them borrow my scriptures! I said I got these when I was baptized they're really old so be careful with them. Then the same little kid that made the angel comment gave them back to me after we were done reading and said "here's your scriptures that you got when you were baptized that are old and can turn into dust any second." THIS KID CRACKS ME UP!!!! He's only like 7 hahahahahaha Overall it was a great week!!! We are seeing miracles as we exercise our faith!!! I am super excited to Skype my family on Sunday!!!!!!! Yay!!!! This is my last Skype call on my mission!!! Crazy!!!! We also get transfer calls on Christmas Eve so stay tuned for that!! I could stay...I could go!!! Who knows!!!!

Love you all

Love,

Sister Peterson

Week 67: Zone Conference, Creche, & Snow!

This week was GREAT!!!

At the beginning of the week we helped set up for Creche which is a huge Nativity display this ward does every year!! They have hundreds of Nativities! We set up a table and let me tell you IT'S HARD!!!! Rearranging the table cloth, the stands, and

the nativity pieces! Gee wiz!!! It turned out really pretty though! We had a great lesson with Sandra! One of our favorite members Sister Purnell came with us! She did a really good job at explaining the deep doctrine of the Plan of Salvation really simply and guess what....SANDRA NOW BELIEVES THE PLAN OF SALVATION UP TILL KINGDOMS OF GLORY!!!! We're still working on that :) She is progressing really well!! She asked me after I bore my testimony about God's plan for us, "So you know this 100%?" I said "Yes!" There was no doubts in my mind.The Spirit was so strong in that moment and confirmed to me again that I DID know this was true and that it really is God's plan for us!  Sister Burt called and asked if a few missionaries would sing at our Zone Conference with Elder K. Brett Nattress a member of the seventy. Of course I said YES!!!! We had 1 practice on Tuesday...just 1...crazy...what were we thinking singing for a general authority and we only get 1 practice!!! hahah It turned out really good! We Sang The First Noel :)  Wednesday was Zone Conference! IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!! ONE OF THE BEST ZONE CONFERENCES I'VE BEEN

TOO!!!!!! I received so much personal revelation. One of my questions was, how can I make the last 3 months of my mission GOLD!?!? How can they just be filled with blessings and hard work and dedication! It was definitely answered! Elder Nattress is such a great man!!! He is just so relaxed and funny and has such a great spirit with him! When it was my turn to go up and shake his hand he asked about me and you could tell he has a strong love for all missionaries! His training was all about the Savior. He asked three great questions: 1) What think ye of Christ? 2) When did you know? {that christ was your savior} 3) When did you know that you know? I LOVED his training so much!!! That was another one of my questions. How can I strengthen my relationship with Jesus Christ and understand the atonement more!  I could go on for days about this zone conference...IT WAS SO GOOD!!! Thursday we helped a member and her roommate who's one of our investigators move! It was quite fun :) They were just moving down the hall, so we would just load up a shopping cart wheel it down the hall and unload hahah We looked silly but it was fun!! Later we went and

hung out at the Creche the nativity display at the church! It's a community event, so there are lots of non-members that come. We just went up to everyone and introduced ourselves. Sister Gartside was able to have a great conversation with one lady who is searching for a church. It was really successful! Friday IT SNOWED LIKE CRAZY AND IT'S BEEN SNOWING EVER SINCE!!!! The city did a bad job with the roads and so it was so bad!!! Sister Gartside doesn't drive, so I'm the designated driver...SO HERE I AM....A LAS VEGAS GIRL...DRIVING A BRAND NEW 2016 ROGUE....IN 1 FOOT OF SNOW....NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!! hahah But I've been doing good! I'm learning all the tips and tricks. I'm also learning not to walk to people's driveways because it compacts the snow and makes it hard to scrap off...so we've been shovelling our way down to our car each morning and up the driveway each night :) I really don't understand why anyone would subject themselves to this....and this isn't even bad!!! The people on the other side of Canada are getting it worse!!! Saturday was walking day...so we dressed up like Eskimos and started stomping snow!!! One of the houses we knocked the mom opened the door and came out to talk to us. Her 4 yr. old son opened it and said

"guys stop talking..." shuts the door "guys seriously stop talking" hahahhaha it was so funny!!!!!!!!!!! We went on a blitz with the sisters. Sister Hoffman and I found a really solid potential named Ash! He and his family just moved here and they're looking for a church!!! We can't wait to teach them!!! After the blitz, we found out Sister Gartside and Sister Steele got kicked out of the mall for proselyting, so now we can't go in there except to shop :( so sad!!!!!!!!! They have been stalking us on the cameras for weeks now.....oh man!!! Sister Gartside and I drove to our next area and we realized...Sister Hoffman still had our phone...and we had no way to contact them... hahahah WHY DO WE RELY ON OUR PHONES FOR EVERYTHING!!! So we knocked on a members door...no luck...not home...so we walked through the snow down the street to another members home and she invited us in allowed us to use the phone and made us some hot cocoa! We've been trying to meet with this particular member SINCE I GOT HERE, so it was a miracle!!! We eventually got our phone back hahha crazy. Later we were walking downtown and we met person after person that was interested in the gospel and meeting up! It was so cool!! We handed out so many pamphlets and we met  really cool

guy named Levi (leh-vi) not (lee-vi) he was really interested in the fact that we believe in a modern day prophet!!! Really cool! Sunday was good! We had great talks at church from the high council (makes me excited to come home and hear my dad's talks now :) hahah) All our appointments cancelled after church....I was so shocked and disappointed and I immediately went in the room and started praying. President Burt challenged us at Zone Conference to have mighty prayers and boy did I have a mighty prayer!!! I pleaded with God to bless us with people to teach and that while we were out at night walking around in the snow that someone would be outside that we could talk to....well just like always he blesses us. It seems hard in that moment. We think "I can't do that I'll freeze or I'm not capable" but all we have to do is put our snow boots on or our big boy pants and JUST DO IT {quoting Mosiah 4:10...not Nike} It turned out to be a great night! We met a lady that has met missionaries before and she is so appreciative of what we do. She offered to show us around her business and meet with us tomorrow. It was a tender mercy :) Overall things are going good...just praying for those miracles to happen each day! We have to work for them!!! It's so hard to just get over the natural

man and do it, but when you're focus is on Christ and helping others to come to know him you just do it because you know it will help them so much!! This mission is so great!!!! One thing Elder Nattress said is that our missions are preparing us for our future families. I know that's true!! I'm going through all these trials so I can know how to help my family in the future. It's hard but I know there will be tons of blessings to come from doing the will of the Lord and letting him shape me into who I need to be.

Do the Lord's will....JUST DO IT!!! 

(Mosiah 4:10)

Love you all,

Sister Peterson

Week 66: Tender Mercies!!!!!!

Well...this week was full of Tender Mercies from Heavenly Father!!!!

Monday after we emailed we went to Walmart per usual to shop! All the check out lines were super long and there were only a

Sister Steele

few open (typical walmart) so I found one that was super short and I booked it!!!! The lady behind the till started smiling at me!! It took me a split second, but I realized it was Leslie from the bus last week!!! The One who knew a girl from Quesnel...you can look up the rest of the story...anyway she was like YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!! She said this is no coincidence!!!!!!! TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So cool!! So we got to chat with her and invite her to all the Christmas activities happening at the church!!! She said she was looking for a church for her daughter and is really excited to check out ours!!! Tuesday our plans didn't work out very well, so we did a lot of spirit finding and just trying to figure out where Heavenly Father needed us! We rode the bus for a little bit because it's free till the end of November!! WE SAW SO MANY MIRACLES!!! We got on and this lady was just chatting it up and everyone on the bus could hear us talking about the gospel!!! hahah then the bus stopped to switch drivers and it was us and one other lady left on the bus...we started talking to her and she said "I'm less active. I was baptized in 2005 in

Sister Gartside

Hong Kong!!!!!!!!" WHAT?!? So cool!!! That definitely isn't chance people!! TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were able to testify of what church can do for her and invite her to the Christmas Devotional this weekend!! So cool!!! Then the bus started going again and it stopped and ANOTHER LESS ACTIVE got on the bus!! I recognized her and luckily I had a seat open next to me! We started talking and she said she really wants to get involved with Church again! Her 4 yr old loves Primary and she wants to come to activities!!! PERFECT!!! So we got her number and wahbam!!!! TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so fun!!!

Wednesday we had a super good District Meeting. I love my district! Everyone just has such a strong desire to do this work that the spirit in our meetings is electric!!! After District Meeting we went on exchanges!! I got to go with Sister Steele and we covered Kelowna 2nd area!! I miss that girl!!! Oh man...last transfer was GOLDEN!!! So much fun and so many miracles!!! I miss Sister Steele and Sister Hoffman!!! It was great to work with Sister Steele again! We had a great day and we went on the buses again..it's free why not...right? So we got on and had some super good conversations and then {just like the day before} the bus stopped for a driver change and it was just us and one lady...we started talking and she said "yeah about 2 years ago I was all ready to be baptized with my daughter, but then we got scared and it didn't go through." WHAT?!?!? We asked her what she was scared of and she
said she didn't know. I asked her if she still knew it was all true...the Restoration...the Book of Mormon...she said Absolutely! TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully we'll meet up with her in the New Year!! She was too busy right now! While I was talking to this lady......Judy......Shona and Rimpy got on the bus!! That's the YSA Sisters' investigators from India!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so happy........we were so loud hahaahhaha But it started a group conversation

and even the bus driver was asking us where we were from and all that!! Once they got off we still had a ways to go and another girl got on named Tristan! I started talking to her, and she said that she needed to make more friends...good friends. I invited her out to YSA branch and she said she would love to come before I knew it....we were AT OUR STOP....oh no....I frantically said "We have to get off here!!!" She said "Oh no!!" I asked for her number and she gave it to me so fast like as I was running off the bus!!!!!" We called it afterwards and it went 'beep.beep.beep' like it was the wrong number :( I WAS LIK.....NOOOO......THIS CAN'T BE....I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! So I texted her and she texted us back 20 min later!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday was fun. We had an appointment down South with a potential and he wasn't home, so we decided to go visit one of our members that lives down there in the middle of no where. We start driving through all the orchards and vineyards...it's pitch black...MY GPS

LOSES THE SIGNAL....we were like oh no....So we got a little lost hahahahhahah, but good thing I know how to read a regular map!!!! hahahh We were a little late, but got there okay and didn't hit any deer  :) success!!!! TENDER MERCY HAHAHAH Friday...GUESS WHAT....IT SNOWED!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first Snow Fall :) IT WAS SO COLD!!! All the people from Eastern Canada are laughing at me, but I don't care!!! It's way to cold!!! It's only low 30's hahahaha, but tomorrow it's going to be -12*c which is about 5*F. burr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to buy me some Long Johns today!!!! Let's be honest maybe 4 pairs!!!! Saturday we met with Robinette SHE'S BACK!!!! Yay!!! I've missed her! She's one of the best recent converts ever!!! We did a lot of walking and actually forgot about lunch and realized about 4:30 that we should probably eat something!!! Luckily, the Nicsners our Landlords were having a dinner party and invited us to come!! Everyone there was from different countries, so we had some African food, Hungarian, Filipino, Australian...all sorts!! It was so good!!! After our plans fell through, but we felt super prompted to go downtown, so we did and we saw one of our Investigators walk out of a restaurant. At first we didn't recognize her, and we complemented her friends boots...then I said Wait hold on! You're blah blah blah!! She said yeah!! I thought you were familiar!!!! IT WAS SO COOL!! We haven't been able to meet with her again since October and it was SUCH A GOOD LESSON, so this really was a.......wait for it.......TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Also I learned about a Newfoundland Christmas tradition called Mummers......it's kind of weird...look it up...it's like caroling ghosts...hahah 

Oh Canada....you can learn about Mummers/Mummering here --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlEduy-2Mlc

Sunday was great!! Really good testimonies were shared from our ward!!!  I LOVE KELOWNA SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! After church we had a Linger Longer, and then we watched the Christmas Devotional! Our investigator Joan was there!! It was a good broadcast! I just love our church :) Things are going really good :)  We are praying so hard to find some new investigators, so we can keep teaching and keep this process rolling along!! We could really use your prayers :)

Love you all & Have a great week!!!

Love,

Sister Peterson

Week 65: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

I don't have much time so here are the highlights from this week :) We had an awesome lesson with Sandra and she said she FOR SURE HAD A SPIRITUAL WITNESS THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYYA!!!!! She is now working on the Plan of Salvation and trying to study that out :) We had an amazing District Meeting on Wednesday!! Everyone in our district is just fired up and we're so ready to baptize Kelowna!!! We made some great goals for our transfer and as a zone we are NOT TOUCHING OUR CAR ON SATURDAY... we are walking all day!!!! So we started planning that way we can get members to drive us around! It's a little harder for us because we live 4 miles out of our area and everyone else lives in their area...so it was tricky! Thanksgiving on Thursday was....well...not like home hahahahha We found a place called WrapZone that makes a thanksgiving dinner wrap....so we got those and then we went and bought a pumpkin pie and apple cider and we were parked far away so we walked back through town and ate it in the car hahahahhaha Well when we got home we wanted some cold apple cider so I put it in the freezer till after planning...well planning went a little long...we got a little tired...and we FORGOT ABOUT THE CIDER!!! I remember waking up and hearing weird sounds from the fridge but didn't think anything of

it....then in the morning during my prayer...I remembered it....I KNEW WHAT HAPPENED....I slowly opened the freezer and BAM....THERE WAS MY PERFECTLY GOOD APPLE CIDER BLOWN TO PIECES AND FROZEN TO ALL THE WALLS OF THE FREEZER!!!!!!!!! My heart ached!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE APPLE CIDER AND IT'S SOOOOOO EXPENSIVE HERE!!!!! Oh my goodness. We had apartment inspections that day too, so we had to clean it all up and it was such a sticky mess!!!! Happy Thanksgiving :) Saturday was our WALKING DAY!!! We had to pack everything with us!!! My bag weighed so much!!!! It was also rainy and cold, so we had to take the umbrella...rain jacket... all of that!!! WE WERE SUPER PREPARED!! The Johns the senior couple picked us up in the morning because all the members were at a craft activity at the church (super saturday) So we got dropped off and we walked...and walked...and walked....and walked {you sang that didn't you? ;) } it was A REALLY GOOD DAY!!! We

talked to so many people!!! We had 2 miracles this day :) 1) We were eating at a little cafe place and the lady next to me was eating sushi, so I asked her if it was good. We got to talking about Kelowna, and she said she met missionaries in West Bank and they gave her a Book of Mormon and she even went to church!!!!!! I was able to teach her The Restoration and she said she would want to meet up with missionaries again!!!! She said "I'm really glad you are outgoing and asked me about my sushi!!" hahah ME TOO!!!! Really cool!!! 2) So there was a bus strike for 2 1/2 weeks so the buses are up and running and free for the rest of the month!!! So we decided it would be good to try out some bus contacting for a change. I get on the bus and I sit down and THERE IS NO ONE AROUND ME...I WAS LIKE SISTER PETERSON WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU CHOOSE THIS SEAT....WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!!!! hahahh 5 min into the ride...this mom and her two kids come up from the back of the bus and sit in front of me....TENDER MERCY!!!!!!!! So I started talking to them and she said she was from Alberta...that led into Mormons....and then she said, "Yeah my friend just got baptized up in Quesnel her name is so and so." That triggered something....a story that Sister Hoffman had told me a while ago about her companion who's brother married a recent convert in Quesnel. I asked do you know her last name now? I said the name and she said THAT'S HER!!!!!!!!!!!!! No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE HOLY GHOST TOTALLY HELPED ME WITH THAT ONE!!!! I have never met this Sister Missionary that served here and I heard that story for like 5 min....it was so cool!!!! Anyway I asked her...Do you want to meet up and see why she chose to get

baptized??? She said YES I DO AND HER KIDS SAID YES TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I got their number and names just before they got off the bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS IN AWE AND SHOCKED AFTER!!! THAT'S CRAZY!!!! The world is so small!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway :) Those are my miracles this week :) Oh wait one more!! A member family invited us for dinner yesterday and it was AMERICAN THANKSGIVING WITH THEIR WHOLE FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tender mercy :)  I love my family so much and I miss them tons!!! I'm so grateful for the family I was brought up in and for the things I was taught so that I can be here in BC teaching people the gospel!!! It's amazing and I'm so grateful :) Hope you all had a great week :)

Love

Sister Peterson

Week 64: New Transfer and It's Getting Cold!!!!!

Well...I'm going to be honest this week was a little less exciting then last week's Roadtrip and Elder Holland! BUT IT WAS STILL SO GOOD!!! KELOWNA IS GETTING SOOOOOOO COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRRRR!!!! We are breaking out the winter coats, jackets, scarves, boots, mittens, ear muffs...ANYTHING IN ORDER TO STAY WARM!!! They say it gets to -10 here so we'll see if i survive the winter!! If you don't hear from me next week I either died in the cold or they changed our P-day again...

Monday was CRAZY!!! I had to run to the doctor...then we had to clean the car and apartment...I had to pack...I got sick....oh my goodness!!! CRAZINESS!!!  Tuesday we dropped all my stuff off at the Kelowna 2nd apartment...I'M MOVING BACK!!! It was weird!! I haven't been in that apartment in so long!! We then went and dropped Sister Amat off at the airport! Her bags were WAY HEAVY!!! Even her carry on, but the lady must have felt the spirit of God or something and she said she would check it for free this time!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!! Then Sister Steele and I went and contacted at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus!!! aka... UBCO it was SO FUN!!! It made me miss college ;) crazy to hear me say that but school was so much fun!!  Anyway..this was our last day as companions! I miss Sister Steele and Sister Hoffman so much!!!!! They really changed my mission and taught me a ton!! I love them so much!!! Then at 4ish we picked up Sister Gartside and the other new Sister from the airport and off we went into the new transfer :) Sister Gartside is from Maryland, and she has been out for 7 months! She is super sweet and loves doing dishes...hahah so i think we'll do fine!!! haha She works so hard and we are ready for a great transfer!! We FINALLY met with MaryAnne this week and taught her the Plan of Salvation!! It was so good!! We drew it out and it really started to make sense to her! She asked us...if it's so simple why do we complicate the plan??? GREAT QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really is just so simple!!! We met with Patricia again and taught her the Restoration. She really has a strong testimony of it! We had a lesson with a lady, Laura, on Friday at Starbucks! She's a yoga instructor and she is curious about what everyone thinks of God. She really just wanted to know "Mormonism in a nut-shell" and wasn't really interested in learning much further, so that was kind of a bummer but at least she has heard the truth now!! Friday we walked around a ton!! It was so cold and dark!!! It starts getting dark here around 3:45 so we really have to make the best use of time during the daylight hours...as my dad always says when us kids are running late  "come on we're burning day light!" hahhaha Saturday we walked a ton too and just tried to be seen! We have really great investigators, but we need to build up our teaching pool more so that we never run out!! I made it a goal to just talk to everyone I could and not pass judgement because everyone needs the gospel! That's something Elder Holland taught us about. We never know who is ready and EVERYONE needs it. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I did it and we found so many that had family members that were Mormon...knew members...were curious about God's plan for us! It was super cool :) Definitely gained a testimony of that! Saturday night we went to Marta's house she's a lady in our ward who is blind! She is so wonderful! I just feel the Spirit everytime I see her! She made us Sauerkraut...{spelling might be off} but she's from Germany and IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it!!! Sunday was church and it was pretty good! Patricia didn't show  :( but we had a great day. Sister Gartside got to meet the ward and everyone is super excited to have their Kelowna 2nd sisters back FULL TIME!!!  We had dinner with a family in our ward who has a daughter out on a mission and we came out at the same time. She's in the Gilbert, Arizona mission! She asked "what should I send her for  Christmas?" I SAID IF SHE'S LIKE ME DO NOT SEND HER STUFF THAT SHE HAS TO PACK AROUND...it's too close now and we are wanting to get rid of stuff not accumulate more!!" We talked about how her mission is going and Elder Holland visited her daughters mission too!! So fun!!! I can't believe it's almost Christmas time!! Canadians already had Thanksgiving so everyone has their lights up already and their tree!!! I'm excited for this transfer! It's going to be different not as hectic but still fun :) Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving :) Eat some real American food for me!!!

Love,

Sister Peterson

NO PICTURES THIS WEEK! SORRY GUYS!

Week 63: The Week I Got to Meet Jeffrey R. Holland an Apostle of the Lord :)

OKAY MY WEEK WAS SO GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many awesome things happened!!!!!!! 1) We called this lady on the phone Sheila and she was super happy to meet up. We met with her on Tuesday and she said that God has blessed her so much and she just wants to show him her appreciation and she's been looking for a church. GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!! 

We invited her to be baptized and she said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!! She came to church on Sunday and she just understands everything! it's amazing!! She has such a strong desire to strengthen her relationship with God and she'll do anything for God! Amazing :) 2) Another awesome thing....THE ELECTION IS OVER!!! Being an American In Canada this past week was pretty awful....hahaha 3) We met with another woman Louise and she became a new investigator!!!!!!!!! She works at DQ too so that's where we have our lessons...pretty awesome hahah 4) We had a roadtrip to VANCOUVER on Friday to see Elder Holland!!!!!!! A huge charter bus came and picked up about 40-50 missionaries from the  Okanagan and the North! There were only 5 sisters....we each got to have a whole row to ourselves :) The bus ride was 5 hours! Not too bad!! We were able to catch up on journaling, we watched a church movie, we got to catch up on some sleep :) It was pretty wonderful! We got to work in White Rock for the Night! It was so much fun!! We went to a Pho place and they had baby sharks :) We weren't allowed to take our cameras to the conference with Elder Holland, so I didn't snap any pics!! I got to see the ocean :) Yay! I miss the ocean so much!!! I got to stay with Sister Brimhall and her companion!!!!!! I LOVE SISTER BRIMHALL SO MUCH!!!! She hits her year mark this week!!! CRAZY!!!! 5) Saturday we woke up early and drove to the Richmond chapel and anxiously waited for ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND!!!!!!!!! When he walked in the room.....THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!!! We each got to shake his hand and tell him our name and where we were from. I was tearing up a TON because it was such a special moment to meet an apostle of the Lord!!! He shook our hands talked to us for a second and looked into our eyes (he told us later he was interviewing us haha!) I had been praying to get something in particular out of his visit, but I got so much more. I didn't get that exact thing but I got it through his words. He gave me the tools I needed for the rest of my mission and really for the rest of my life, so that I could obtain that thing myself. It reminds me of the give a man a fish or teach him how to fish....he taught me how to fish. We heard first from President and Sister Burt...LOVE THEM!!! Then from Elder Murray of the Quorum of the Seventy and then Elder Holland spoke to us for 2 hours!!! IT WAS EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE!!! He testified of Christ's love for us...HE CHASTISED US. FIRE AND BRIMSTONE AT TIMES.

Then he said I can see a few of you are about to pass out, so I'll stop hahhahah It was the most uplifting and spiritual experience I've ever had. I've never been to General Conference, so this was my first time being in the midst of an apostle or general authorities. They truly are called of God. I know it and all doubts have been dispelled. I know that we have prophets and apostles today that lead and guide the church just like in the days of Christ. Christ leads this church and then to help us gain salvation and have happiness in this life. I KNOW IT. I KNOW IT. I KNOW IT.!!!! Some of my favorite quotes from him was: "IF YOU CAN'T DO THIS...YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING!" That was the fire and brimstone part! He was trying to help us see that we need to be more urgent in our work and that we are doing such good work but we're not anxious enough and that we're a smidge too comfortable in our work right now. SO I AM GOING TO WORK SO MUCH MORE HARDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE LORD EXPECTS MORE OF ME AND THIS IS PREPARING ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! I also liked this quote. "If that's the cup you've been given, you drink it" He was talking about the Savior and how he didn't want to do it. He asked if there was any other way...but there wasn't, so because he was obedient and loved God he did it and finished his earthly mission to be our Savior and Redeemer. It was amazing! I love that saying...I think this world is getting to good at just "getting out of it" we make up excuses, so we don't have to work hard or endure hard things. We are just cheating ourselves of life experience and soon enough all those things are going to come back to teach us a lesson.  In the middle of his talk he said he asked an olympic swimmer one time what makes a champion they said, "Kick when you don't want to kick, and stroke when you don't want to stroke, go clear to the end of the pool." That really stood out to me not because I LOVE SWIMMING, but because that's a life lesson that we all need to learn and me especially. I can't give up halfway through...I can't

shy away from the opportunity to learn and grow...what kind of life is that???? We will never progress....how will we EVER be successful in life...better yet how will we ever return to live with God again??? We won't if we don't do what's required and what God expects of us.  President wrote to us and said "try to imagine Elder Holland at the pulpit, he was so intense, fist pounding, finger shaking, and a voice to shake our souls...as he related this story "come to the edge he said, No, I'll fall. Come to the edge He said No I'll fall. Come to the edge he said, SO I DID, and he pushed me! And I flew!!!" This story showed me how inspired President and Sister Burt are...at our last Zone Conference they talked about this exact thing. They talked about how we all need to have the faith and we need to find our "push" so we can fly! IT WAS SO COOL!!!!!! THEY ARE SO INSPIRED!!! He gave us so much more counsel about how much we are loved and how he could feel how much Heavenly Father was proud of our mission. We got a picture with the whole mission!!!! All 200 missionaries!!! Or as Sister Burt says her 200 stripling warriors!!! hahaha  I am so grateful for this mission. I don't know what I did to get such a great Mission President and Mission Mom but they are amazing and I'm so glad they made this happen for our mission. It has really changed my life. My testimony has grown. I feel so much stronger and dedicated to work so hard for the remainder of my mission and have no regrets. On the bus ride home I was able to record all of this in my journal and re-live it again. As I read my notes I can hear Elder Holland saying it.This was one of the highlights of my mission that I will never forget. Amazing. 6) We got transfer news....the assistants didn't call us till Sunday, so we totally thought we were staying together!!! But NOPE!! I am staying in Kelowna another transfer!!!! My new companion is Sister Gartside from Maryland! Sister Steele Trained her and she's been serving in Richmond ward!!! I'm excited! It's going to be a great transfer!!!

Hope you all have a good week :) 

Love,

Sister Peterson

Week 62: B.U.S.Y.W.E.E.K :)

                                    

This week was SO BUSY!!!!!! Monday was HALLOWEEN AND NEVADA DAY!!! so we had fun :) Our day was switched around and we proselyted from 2-5 and then we had to be in from 6-9 so we got to finish p-day and have tons of fun and make yummy food :) Tuesday we

taught Sarah (YSA investigator) the plan of Salvation!!! THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!! I was explaining resurrection and the 3 kingdoms of glory and she gasped and just started crying when I said there wasn't just heaven or hell.....IT WAS SUPER POWERFUL!!! It was like some burden had been lifted off her shoulders like she had finally found what she was looking for or wanted to know!!! It was amazing!!! I love the plan of salvation! I've been studying it alot lately and each time I do I learn more and more and it just makes sense!!  We also taught Jenny on Tuesday!!! Kendall came so we had the moms and the babies again!!! We gave Jenny a church tour and it was really cool!!! She has never really been to church before so this was a big step on her part!! When we walked into the chapel at the end THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was like I hope she is feeling this!!!!!! She is still reading the book of mormon and she's slowly finding her faith in God :) We did some service for a lady named Melanie! She used to be a member

and the missionaries just tracted into her! We painted some trim and doors for her...BUT we first had to use OIL-BASED PAINT!!!!!! I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH ANYTHING MORE HORRID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was SO STRONG....LIKE THE POWER OF 1,000000,00000000,0000000 SHARPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also Sister Steele ran into me while I was painting the trim and she GOT IT ON MY PANTS AND IT DOESN'T COME OUT WITHOUT TURPENTINE SO I WAS LIKE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing we don't wear pants every day hahahahahha She hit me with the brush and said "oh....sister....." hahahhhaha it was so funny!!!!!!!!!!! Later that night we had THE BEST LESSON I'VE EVER TAUGHT ON MY MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!! am boasting of my God okay...not myself!!! (Alma 26) hahah a member in the Kelowna 1st ward had a friend that wanted to be taught by sisters so we went over and

taught a simple first lesson. It was so spirit-led and spirit-filled it was SO INTERESTING I was just wrapped up in it all the time flew by so fast!! We all taught so well because the spirit was so strong! This lady Suzanne really had the desire to learn and find out for herself and I think that's what made the difference. Everything was just perfect!! We were like man we should have filmed it and made our own District videos!!!! I WAS SO GOOD!!!!!! Wednesday We had district meeting in West Kelowna so we went over the lake :) We had dinner with the Johns the senior couple :) they are just wonderful!!  I also hit 14 months....it's so surreal....so weird!!!! Thursday we met with Shona (YSA investigator) and we had a super sweet lesson!! One of the members in YSA just got back from his mission in India so they met and chatted and talked about indian food and that fun stuff :) Shona is so good she just has a ton of stuff going on with family, work, and school!!!!!!!!!!! Next week she is going to let us try on her punjabi suits and indian dresses!!! yay!!! Friday was SISTER BRIMHALL'S BIRTHDAY!!!! so i called her in White Rock and wished her a happy birthday!! I miss that woman..but she just emailed me and said that WE ARE SLEEPING OVER AT HER HOUSE WHEN WE GO DOWN FOR JEFFREY R. HOLLAND this weekend so i am so stoked!!!!!! Friday we had interviews with President and Sister Burt!!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i don't know what I did to have him as my mission president but let me tell you!!! THEY ARE SO AMAZING!!!! OKAY....HERE'S THE COOLEST STORY YOU'LL EVER HEAR...ON THIS EMAIL!!! So we have been planning in "Holland" rd in my area for THE LONGEST TIME!!!!!!!! We never got around to doing

though...when i say we are busy I mean we have 5 min lunches and we have no time to dilly daddle around....always on the run!!! So we planned it in as a back up and as a main plan one night to MAKE SURE WE DID IT....well the day arrived!!!!!!!!!!!! FRIDAY NOV. 4TH.....WE TRACTED HOLLAND ST. We wanted to take a picture in front of the sign and make a thank you card for elder holland....admit it that's cool and you're jealous hahah anyway cheesiness aside...we couldn't take a selfie and get the sign...then this girl walks by. I yelled and said "hey could you take our picture!!! I told her all about elder holland and why we needed it!!!" she gladly took the picture, we shared the gospel then she said it's kind crazy you stopped me because my last name is actually Holland......WHAT?????????? ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE WAS

INTERESTED IN COMING TO CHURCH TOO.....IN THE WORDS OF SOMEONE "IS THAT ODD OR IS THAT GOD!!!!!" IT WAS SO FUNNY AND COOL THE ONLY THING WE COULD THINK TO DO WAS TAKE A SELFIE WITH HER HAHAHAHAHHA SO WE DID :) Anyway we tracted the rest of Holland and we found a FAMILY :) awesome!!! Holland rd was so inspired!!! Don't worry the pictures will be included :) Friday night we went to Sushi with some YSA members ;) it was tons of fun and we committed them to TEXTIFY (TESTIFY AND TEXT) or send their testimony to someone on their contacts or facebook friends :) it's been quite successful lately :) Saturday we had another cool experience! We had missed our turn so we parked somewhere else. As we were getting out sister steele started talking to this girl trying to set up a lesson and appointment. She said to be honest today is the only day that would work but I'm going to get sushi....we were like that sounds fun let's go and we'll teach you! So WE GOT SUSHI AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We taught her the restoration and she was so thoughtful!!! her heart

This is Sister Holland!!!

was definitely softened and you could tell it made an impact on her! We're meeting her this week again...NOT FOR SUSHI!! hahah We had a lesson with Patricia she contacted us again and said she is ready to quit smoking. There's a different light about her a motivation  to do something so we'll see where it goes. Sunday we had stake conference!! it was super good! President Burt said it was one of the best stake conferences he's been too!!  Last night we were rushing home after a member visit and we saw this lady outside raking her leaves!!! IT WAS FREEZING and SO DARK!!!!! we asked her what was up??? she said she was going through some really hard things...we had 5 min....till we were really pushing it....we took of our bags really fast...grabbed her rake and started raking her whole yard!!!!! Sister Hoffman and I grabbed black trash bags and started loading them with these wet cold leaves!!! Sister Steele raked them all up and we got most of them packed up and in trash bags in 5 min!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS SO FUN!!!! .she said

we were angels and that she knows that God is aware of her now!!!! It was such a good missionary moment :) Good week overall...we got a lot accomplished...WE ARE SO BUSY AND I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! This weekend we get to see Elder Holland :) we are taking a charter bus on Friday morning to Vancouver its a 5 hour bus ride and we're instructed to catch up on our journals, read the Book of Mormon, and sleep.....what??!? sleep!!! yes!!! hahahah I am so excited we don't get naps very often haha :) This weekend with Elder Holland is going to be the best!!! The spirit is going to be so strong!!!!

You'll hear all about it next week!!

Love,

Sister Peterson

<------CUTEST

<------ DOG

<------EVER!!!!!!