2/17/14 Letter

Sretno Valentinovo!!!! 

I have no clue where this week went- but it was great! it started off as I went to slovania to do a border hop.But before I could go I had to have this paper which I put  in this special spot so I would not lose it. Well, it was time to go and to our surprise... I didn't have the paper!!! I looked everywhere!! I knew it was in this spot, but I could not find it.  After about 10 min of wanted to cut off my now long hair because the older couple was down stairs waiting for me.  I knelled down to ask for my father in heaven for help and guidance.  As I got up I have no clue what to do next, but then about 7 mins later I looked in this stack of papers (the original spot where I was sure I put the paper) that i looked through about 10 times and there it was... I found the paper!!

 Miracles happen all the time in our life's if we are willing to be humble and call upon our Father in Heaven. I think he made me not see the paper as a test to see if I would ask him for help. I was so grateful for true intent prayer and how if we have any questions we can ask him and he will guide us. 

 Then we had English class, which i love teaching,we had a lesson with a student after! then  this week we have been hart attacking people cause they don't know what this is here!

v-day is just starting to be a thing here so its nothing really special but we had fun. i decorated the house for my comp and wrote her a card and set the table really cute! we were fasting so on Sunday my comp heard that we have pink pancakes so she surprised me with pink paličinke  before church!! it was so great! 

well one of our investigator really opened my eyes when she said she is just getting electricity back in her house as she has been with out it for a year! This poor girl parents died and she has nothing, but she said "others have it way worst then me as they live on the street and go without food."   It really makes me think how blessed we are and how we take so many things for granted. she has to cook hot water if she wants to take a how shower. Then Antonija just got out of the hospital with her son and she had to go right back in as we taught her and then the next day she had a temp of 103!  Bess her heart!! she is the most amazing person as she has a scripture journal and she has all her favorite verses in there along with our hearts and pic of Christ!!  i feel like there is so much to learn from these people and i am nothing compared to them. They have gone through so much here and its amazing to see there faith that builds mine everyday! 

ljubavlju,

sestra peterson!

2/10/14 Letter

Fasting works and we can still receive revelation today!!! I know this to be true and how lucky are we! well I put in a random general conference talk and it was all about following the spirit  (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/how-to-obtain-revelation-and-inspiration-for-your-personal-life?lang=eng ) it might just be one of my favorite talks as i have listened to it 5 times. Sister Ostarkovič, who is my role models- talked to me. She is bff with president Monson. (she says he is very limited on seeing people these days and he is kind of losing it- as she talked to him over Christmas.) She has done many things for the church. she is just so amazing and her husband is the NBA SCOUT  and the were one of the first members here. We just has a great talk! 

We got rejected this week!  Twice! I mean we get rejected all the time, but this time it was by people we know! You remember our amazing English student who came to church twice?! Laura. I seriously thought she was so prepared, but last week she gave us back the Book of Mormon we gave her:(  geeze. She just said that she likes to be with us as friends, but she isn't interested in our church. I hope that she will be ready to hear the gospel someday!  Then we finally got in contact with this teenage girl that we gave a BOM to a few weeks ago (every time we called her her phone was off) So we txted her to see if we could meet up and she just sent us back one word "sbogom". That word is what people use to say goodbye if you are never going to see them again, it literally means "with God". haha oh gosh. I just wish people could see all the good we are trying to give them! It is hard to watch friends reject all this goodness! I guess you just do all you can do and leave the rest the the Lord and His timing.

We are having a mission conference with somebody named Elder Charles next week! I'm excited to go there and get some pure revelation! Just bring your paper and pen! This should be my only mission conference my whole mission!  I don't even know what is happening with time these days! 

2/2/14 Letter

Everyday it rains and heard its the rainiest place in Europe! i still don't have rain boots  and I'm starting to get sick because of it but nothing is so hard for the lord!  well this week i went on exchange and we saw snow for the first time when we went to another city! well me being me started a snow ball fight and one of the elders hit me and then my nose started bleeding ha ha well its not fun unless if someone gets hurt right!

  
This week we had 2 new investigators and and another baptism date!  Antonija is in the hospital with her son but we saw her and i almost started crying cause her book of Mormon is all highlighted and she said "i read it when ever he is sleeping!"  they are a great family as she has 4 kids which is unheard of here!  they feel like family and can tell they will be great members for life! This is whats its all about bringing family's together and making them complete!  then once a year they have a night where all the museum are open and  free so for aktivnost we went there!  and a less active came who has not been to church in 10 year!  she is such a sweet girl we have been working with!!  then we went to this other less active house for dinner jadranka  and i tried the worst thing in my life!!!  she said i didn't have to try it but i want to try everything so are u ready... it was raw fish.... soaking in blood and oil... with just cut up.... i tried a small piece just to say i tried this fish and it was so salty....  it was like cave men style!!!   it tried SO hard to smile!  

well transfers were this week and they forgot to call us but me and sister rankin are staying!!!!!  i love her so much!! we have so much good work going for us!!!  we are getting a native elder so much language better go up!! well that's all for now! i loved this from Holland! I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” ¹⁰ And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing[. Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” ¹¹ The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants. "

 always have faith eving in the small things! 

xoxo sister peterson 

1/27/14 LONG letter

 "Correction is vital if we would conform our lives “unto a perfect man, [that is,] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Paul said of divine correction or chastening, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6). Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct. Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path.

I listened to this talk “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,” By D. Todd Christofferson Sunday morning  and everything became clear!   Past events that happened about month ago truly brought to my knees and wanted to be better. This was a way of god telling me  "i need to cut u down so you can  want to change and be the better  then u are!"  President Rowe said "in this Mission just being good is not enough for these countries, we need miracles.. we need more" so we  really  have to go above and beyond!  As i have taken that to heart i thought how can i be better how can i be who the lord wants me to be. How can my mission truly change me!  then i read about desire and a quote saying" Being who u are is great, but as a leader we have to be something else."  As i have tried applying all this in my life i have truly seen the hand of the lord come forth before me and bless me.   the biggest thing i have done to start off the new year is listen to a conference talk day and have fasted every week for the work and with prayer the lord has seen my efforts! 

As i am writing this to you my heart is full joy and compassion for our savior who is all mighty! my whole time in Rijeka  things have been going way slow but this past 2 weeks the heavens  windows have been opened  and  there is not enough room to receive them all! Malachi 3 :10.  we gained a member referral (which is like unheard of here!) and she loved Church how she just felt like a family! so we met with her and we had two members on the lesson and the spirit was so strong! the members were just the best!  she just felt so light and happy  like heaven on earth, so i asked her the question (ps boys should not be nervous to ask girl to get married cause asking the baptismal question i think really prepares them!) "If u find out the book of Mormon is true will you get baptized?" She said, "Of course! I feel it its true!"  WOW! ON THE SECOND LESSON! She lives with with her boyfriend and has 4 kids and one of hers children just pasted away. she is the sweet thing i have ever met!  so now we just have to talk to the boyfriend- but he said we could come back!  

Then on Friday we had a huge aktivnost! soo many people came like 30 people! then on sunday we  get around 20 people at church, but we had 52 there! we had 3 investigator and 3 potential investigator who we invited!  we got a new senior couple who are from Hawaii who are Asian and the babbles felt! so sad. then president Rowe was there! We were in shock. Right before president row interview me, Antonija (our baptism), said, "My friend will be here in 5 min TO MEET Y'ALL i just want u to give her a book of Mormon and meet people  so she can feel like how i was feeling!" so we met her friend and wow she was like ok here is my number and see me this week so i can talk about the church! WHAT THE HECK ARE U KIDDING ME?  IT WAS THE BEST THING OF MY LIFE! I JUST DID NT KNOW WHAT TO DO!  i ran down the streets of EUROPE DOING LEAPS SCREAMING !I LOVE MY LIFE I LOVE MY LIFE!!!  

Then president Rowe wanted to have a interview and when i told him what i have told u he had tears in his eyes and just said you are an amazing missionary and know that i love u!  he said i could tell something has changed about u!  i feel a different spirit, a stronger spirit about u then i have before.  it was just so nice to hear that hard work is paying off and people can see it!

After the lesson and i had really fish!!!! white fish from the sea!!! i was nervous but it was really good and didn't smell!   and then our investigator was life forcing me to drink wine and just said, look here is a spoon, just try it! so we gave them the word of wisdom! i have never been pressured so much in my life! shoot if i didn't beak it in college or high school there was not way i was breaking it on my mission!   but then after last night we went to a Catholic church with one of our potential investigator and then she texted us this morning saying " i am so grateful to have met u, u make me want to be better and i feel a light around you! so now we are going to ask her if she wants the lesson! 

Then this morning i was reading some blessings and as i was reading i was brought to my knees to thank our Father in Heaven for all he as given me and as then i felt this joy fill my whole body as i almost had tears in my eyes as i felt this peace saying "Yes, this is who i want u to be, you are on the right path!" i have only felt like this only a few times in my life! Just remember we one day it will all  be made clear why we have the challenges we do but they are for the better to bring us closer to our savior and get to know him more!  I love it here and the work and the people! and my district and my companion! 

xoxxo

sister peterson!

missions are the best as you really find out who u are! 

1/20/14 Letter

“Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.

President Monson

SHOOT IT IS RAINING CATS And DOGS HERE EVERYDAY!! i have never seen so much rain in my life, but its fun=)

I love it here! i live next to the sea, i have a great companion and i really like the people i have met. right when the transfer is about to be over i finally feel like i know how to do missionary work in this city! 

Well this week  was a little slow in start but i had a lot of goals to reach! my goals were to just listen to motab for a week and see if i felt the spirit more then EFY, but after the trial run to be honest i didn't feel a difference. Well I have also started listening to a conference talk every single day as that is one of my new goals for the new year. I love it! Two talks are only about 15 min long and i just listen to them when i get ready! It makes a big difference in one's life i promise you this. 

In zone conference we talked about how in the morning when u first wake up those first few hours really make or break your day so do what ever u can to really be in tune with the spirit!  We have so many talks for us so USE THEM!  I have seen how it really makes my day ten times better!

This week started slow as everyone cancelled on us!  so it was off to tracking a tone cause we had like to one to teach, but then came Sunday!  in Sunday i gave my FIRST TALK IN CROATIAN , and man i was so nervous but i think it went really well, and then the missionaries all sang! We had a student from English class there and she was like "Oh i love the way i feel in this church." Then this member who brought a friend, and she has for 4 children and we are going to start teaching her! Then  we took the bus cause the senior couple feeds us every Sunday.  On the bus i gave this girl some glow stick and then it stated a conversation with her father and then i let my comp talk to this dad while i contacted  this other lady on the bus and we totally got her number! I was just like "Can i have it, can i have it?" ahha and turnes out she lives really close to us!

Then we were tracting and this one guy like opened the door like half way then closed it in our face, and then i was no lets just wait... then we knocked again and he was just like come on in!  so we gave him a lesson then his wife walked in the door with there 15 daughter!!!  we totally gave them a lesson and  were so nice and want us to come back!  then we sang for them cause my comp likes to sing to!  i have never sang more in my life then on my mission every where i go i am asked to sing which i love!  Me and my comp came out screaming cause we felt so good!!!! When u have things happen like that your world is on fire and its the best feeling in the world! the we were contacting up a storm and we contacted this model who has a Italian model boyfriend! She is awesome and we are going to hang out and then we are going! She said she is different cause is she not one of those model who is going to be used  she has better values then that! 

I LOVE IT HERE!

WOW  Sunday was just golden as it was raining so hard but i prayed that people would still come and it was a miracle that people still came!   There is no better joy that when u share the gospel, I have never felt this kind of joy before! this gospel is so true and I'm loving doing the work and sharing it with the people here! 

love y'all lots and have a great day! 

xoxo

sister peterson 

01/06/14 letter

WOW CAN U BELIEVE THAT NEW YEARS WAS THIS WEEK! WHAT THE HECK?  

The days have been flying by here like i am living in a dream! Well lets just say i have never hates holidays but it really slows down the work as no one wants to meet, but today was the last of it so I'm really ready to spring up and start! As Sister Frampton would say "NEVER STOP STARTING."  

Well on Monday, on our way home we saw our first African here!!! so we hunted him down and followed him cause we have to talk to him!  shoot i am training to be an agent or something we liked walked passed him and we didn't have a conversation so  we walked into two other stores and just like waited and then walked passed him and talked to him! he is from Niagara and it gets better as he and 5 others play for the city team here in rijeka!   So we totally met up with them in the church and played in the church!! if they can be baptized my life would be complete! then on news years we woke up at 12( well u really could not sleep) to see the million of fireworks over here and  ever second it sounded like bombs going off! i have never heard anything like it! we got out sparkling cider and took lots of videos! then the senior couple made us a great breakfast! Well then i found out that the cops have been hunting me down in varažđin  as they came to the house there cause i need my visa, then as we were tracking i said hi to a cop and then he started question, so that's my life haha.  

So who wants to hear an amazing story!  Well on new years we had this impression to visit less active  and so we did. now we have tried to see this person like 10 time but she was not home, and to our surprise this poor girl answered with tears in her eyes! it was her birthday and no one saw here, new years, and she just found out that her grandpa had cancer!  the spirit can work in small ways to bring forth big blessings to others. we sang to her and the elders gave her a blessing. the lord truly cares about all his children.  well i love my ward and this week we had 32 people at church! they were amazed! we had 1 investigator and 1 less active!  

Then yesterday we were walking in the rain for like  2 hours and it led us to his less active house and his non member wife house so we fave her a lesson and she had chills when we were talking about the BOM she knows its true and she is excited for us to come again!  I think i felt the spirit the most then i have on any other lesson! 

i love it here and the people and the branch! I'm am excited for this new  year and to fulfill new goals!

love y'all lots

123 sister peterson

12/30/13 Letter

Wow it's it really over and gone! Holy cow time is flying!!!! Happy New Years Eve and New Years! 

Well Christmas was amazing cause i got to talk to y'all! It broke my heart when i heard Kai Kai (that's how they spell it in Croatian) said " i missed u when u left, when are u coming back!" My heart!!! i just want to give all the little kids the biggest hug in the world!!! 

On Christmas eve or badnjak we made cookies and delivered them to peoples houses! them at the church we got together and made gingerbread house! lets just say mine looked the best from all the years of experience i have =)  well then we went in the center of the town and the night before Christmas i was about to go "but then i thought..umm... better not!"  lots of bands are out playing and everyone is drinking then church service starts at like 12 at night! 

On Christmas i had to keep the tradition alive as i hid me companion gifts from her family as we made pancakes and muffins!  then after our Christmas morning was over we went to the amazing family house where they cooked this amazing meal of Croatians special meat with amazing cabbage(like they make it all hear and its so good!)  but first we always start with soup  then we potatoes bread and  about 5 desserts! it was so good!  then she asked for me to sing for her as a Christmas gift! so i did that and after i learned how to play chess..... I'm not well.... the best, but i try ahah. then i talked to my amazing family and after that the Senior couple made an amazing Texas chill as they lived in Austin! it a first that we have a district with no people from Utah in it, and everyone is so surprised cause everyone that served here is from Utah!  well then we went out and Christmas caroled to more people! that was my Christmas! it was good!  

Here people put up the Christmas tree the night before Christmas and leaves it up till the 6 we three kings day!  and here the 26 is also a holiday too!  So the one 26 we went to look in this beautiful catholic church. It's had these amazing shells filled with holy water and this beautiful nativity set! As the service was going on  and people were chanting and holding the beads with the cross i had the biggest confirmation that the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS  is the true church on the earth.  Though crossed my mind our savior Jesus did not give his sermons in these big beautiful buildings but in a peaceful humble place like around nature. It made me think that the churches here are small but the people are humble and u get a totally different feel when u walk into our church as it is simple but beautiful and u can feel a light happy feeling when u enter. How lucky are we!  

Then on Sunday we taught the preacher and he is very smart about the bible, but like how William Tyndale said, 

"If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doest." (Talking about the king of England.)

That statement is so true that as boys and girls, we go out and preach this Gospel about the the bible and book of Mormon how they go together and how not one is great but equal. As I was talking with this 65 year old man who write books on the bible, I could quote Scripture right back with him. He said I study the bible an hour a day, and i think he was surprised when I said, Good me too!  he said he has a lot of respect for us that was are so bold to do this in a different. And i just said we have the same God, same savior same bible and that the bible and now Christ church is restored on the earth just when Christ walked on the earth as we have 12 apostles, revelation and priesthood!  how lucky are we. well we prayed for him and then he was like oh you are in trouble i am going to start praying for u know hahaa! i said good i would like that please ahah! and he said we will so who's faith is stronger hahahah! I think he think i am going to H---. hahah. oh man fun stuff!  

Well other then that we got a ticket on our car cause we parked in the spot! European parking!!! Well don't worry i am still the same as i ran into a mail box and my head started bleeding! then as i touched my hair! i chunk of hair fell out of my head!!! my worst fear was happening before my eyes!!! ahhhhh!!!! like a chunk!!!! well as my shirt was covered in hair i realized it a day later that the mail box edge cut my hair!!! so now i have like a bald spot in my hair!!! what the freak!!! other than that i love it here and it is beautiful! i gave my first talk, but i forgot like half of it haha! 

hope all is well! 

123

 sestra peterson!