Hey Family,
So I am in Pinehurst, I swear I get sent to clean up areas. I have been here and there was nothing going on, literally no investigators no nothing. But we have done some amazing things this week with Elder Christensen's Greene fire! I can't wait to tell you about them.
Mon-
So, we went and picked up a DVD from Tara, it was really hard to say goodbye, she is the bomb the Lord has big plans for her and she is going to do some amazing things in the church and for the Lord. We played football at the intramural fields. We taught a lesson to a girl named Christina, it was was cool we were all on fire and there were inspired questions. Everyone was on fire, Zach was with us and he was on fire! We went to have a cookout with our ward mission leader, I have some cool pictures to show you but at this library they won't let us load our pictures! We taught Lauren that night and she believes in the Book of Mormon, she bore such a powerful testimony of it. When we got back, a member called me and was said, Elder Petersen, I gotta give you props their was nothing at all going on in this ward and their hasn't been anything going on for awhile, but you got the ward fired up Elder Petersen on missionary work and you did alot of good things and I just wanted to thank you! It was really neat it came from the person I would have least expected it to come from.
Tues-
W.O.E... Week of Ending, man leaving Chapel Hill was tough. D-Rock the EQP picked us up, we said our goodbyes and took some pictures. I was sad but super excited. So I don't know if you all remember the big monster on the Goonies! But that is what my new comp looks like and he sounds just like that monster. He is from Perry a really nice kid, really quiet. It was a sad day at transfer meeting 4 missionary's 4 really great missionary's left our mission and headed for the Charlotte mission it was sad. There was alot of great missionary's going home this transfer too. It was a rough transfer meeting. Bro. Bayless gave us a ride to Pinehurst. That is where my new area is, I guessed right!. President Bayless is the EQP he took us to his home and we shared a thought it was neat, the spirit that a family brings is incredible. We had dinner with a really LOADED family, gated community's everywhere but the Scribner's, he is a pharmaceutical consultant! Loaded and living on the course! Not the life for me!
Wed-
We had district meeting it was on Revelation through church attendance. This district is incredible! I love every Elder! Elder Foster a convert from Nor CAL and a Seminole Indian! And Elder Lopez my main man from Nor CAL he has missionary trader cards! He is probably my favorite he has such a love for the gospel and is so positive and is so fun to be around! We toured and biked the area all day it was a crazy nice area, met a lot of people set up some appointments, just following the spirit! I love how I get sent to fire up area's I've never gone to an area where work was moving along. I've never gone to an area where their was even one investigator not even one! But the gospel is true, the spirit guides. We are in the middle of nowhere, around no missionary's.
Thurs-
I got a letter from Elder Dealba man, I love that kid, I got this amazing package from my family with some apples, THANKS GRANDPA!!! Some Amazon TIES they are beautiful, dad you have good taste. And full of other tasty things but most importantly a good LETTER. I got a funny letter from Alyssa Ball and an RM from this mission! It thought they were getting married when I first got it! But mom one thing I am missing, is your sugar cookies! OH boy probably good I am not around those! I would do some damage! So we had dinner with this young man named Shea, his mom is a member but his mom wasn't at dinner, but we had an exchange Bro. Phillip who his wife introduced him to the church, but she never joined; but he is loaded as well, drives a sweet JAG but we had a powerful lesson it was the first time he had met with missionaries and we were able to extend the baptismal invitation! He committed for Nov 13th! Elder Christensen asked some incredible inspired questions.
Fri-
We were completely lost and looking for our bishops house, we went like 7 miles the wrong direction and we pulled into this neighborhood to look at a map and this guy pulls up and is like are you alright, and we said we are lost, and he was like oh well where are you going and what organization are you with, that you have to ride a bike in that! We told him who we were and his girlfriend was a member and he is looking and always asked her about the Church but she doesn't say much and invited us to come teach him more! We met an awesome FAMILY yeah back in the business of finding families but they are the Burns and they are excited for us to come back this week so it will be neat. I will keep you posted! We found the bishops and had a good talk with him, he is from Soda Springs. We also made some fish and is was bad and we both got super sick!
Sat-
We went to Sanford and stole some other elders car! Our district is huge so we got a car President said. We ate at Golden Corral a member owns it, in Sanford and had some missionary moments it is neat! We came back and Elder Christensen asked if I would help him not be so quiet. So that is the plan! There is so much money in this town I don't like the money it is intimidating!
Sun-
We had 4 investigators at church, Shea ran up and said I read what you told me to and it was awesome! A family came that were looking for a church! The ward is awesome alot of good people. We had dinner with the Doolittle family! It is because of families like that to why this gospel is so real! We biked all the way out to the Stake Presidents home and it was forever away and we couldn't get in because it was a gated community and the guard MR SINCLAIR, wouldn't let me in but I didn't leave empty handed, well I did actually, but I didn't leave him empty handed, I left him with a Book of Mormon in his hands! THE CHURCH is TRUE.
I love you guys, I hope you all have a good week! Pray for me!
Love and Respect,
Elder Taylor Petersen
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hey Familia,
It has been an awesome week here in the Durham 3rd ward! I love every bit of this place! It was rough at first but it really helped me appreciate the good times! I am so excited to tell you about this week it has been good, filled with Spiritual experiences and trial and faith. It is put on the line moments and miracles and a BAPTISM! I love you all, I hope everyone is doing great! And that you are having a good week and life is good in IDAHO, that is a good place to be! Not as good as North Carolina, seriously, my main goal besides my really main goal to BAPTIZE, is to develop a "SOUTHERN ACCENT" I love "YA'LL"!
Mon-
We played football with a bunch of Elders on the intramural fields, it was so much fun! You can fly on that turf! We played this game that I have never played before called Mafia. It is so much fun, like it is so lame from the outside looking in but it is so much fun! Zach took us to dinner and it was LATINO night at the Dining Hall, so we were apart of the FIESTA! They had a nacho cheese fountain! But don't worry I stayed healthy and stuck to the beans and rice. Lauren came to FHE they carved pumpkins, she is trying to find some good friends that won't make fun of her for going to church events. This ward is awesome and they invite them to all their little parties and lunches and game nights and stuff! I have come to realize that the singles ward is like its own little Frat or sorority it is neat! They all have such powerful testimonies!
Tues-
Today was UNC's 217th birthday, we got free cake. A member in our ward is part of this dance crew called KAMAKAZI!. We were just on fire, like when we as missionaries strive to understand our purpose that fires us up! Like their is a difference when you are just contacting because you know you should and when you are contacting because you understand your purpose to baptize, and I felt that, that day we understood our purpose and like were on fire! We were setting return appointments left and right it was so awesome! It just changes missionary work completely, it is so awesome! We went to Duke to see a member and help him with his missionary work. This girl was talking about awful things and she did it just because we walked up, it was sad. But we rode the bus back and we left our cell phone on the bus. But at this moment we didn't know it yet so we went to go get dinner with a member at the Dining hall and then went to our appointment with Zaire and she wasn't their and we went to go call her and NO PHONE!!!! Elder Miller got sick to his stomach because he knew he lost it on the bus! But that is why you write all the numbers down in your planner, we called her from a members phone. So we went to the bus stop waited for the bus and their was our phone! We were lucky! Then we bounced over to R.U.F this girl on campus that we are trying to share the restored gospel with invited us to! It was like a praise jam session and a pastor got up and said a few words! It was good, he talked how because of the fall we are all imperfect, but he just left it at that. So thankful for the knowledge of the atonement and that I know what I need to do to return to live with GOD.
Wed-
Last District meeting it was good, hard saying goodbye to everyone and all that jazz, but I had a real spiritual experience. I was role playing with an Elder and something was wrong. So I felt prompted to stop and talk about his situation. We did and he started crying explaining to me the struggles in his area, and his companion and it was neat we said a prayer the spirit was really strong and we worked everything out it was neat the promptings of the holy spirit! We went to Bojangles afterwards they have this thing that was created in HEAVEN called a Bo berry biscuit it is incredible covered in icing and contains about 800 calories in every bite! We did some service at the community garden that was great, I love that place we talked about the gospel alot with students that would volunteer! One girl said I think the only reasons Mormons want to get married so young is just because they want to have sex and that is for all the wrong reasons! It was funny! Those are the kind of questions we deal with on the COLLEGE CAMPUS, I love it! We were on exchanges today and I went with Elder Pirere-Louis from Rupert Idaho. We went on a split with Tyler Ellison, Kenz's orthos son! He is going to UNC to be a dentist he is the man he was like I remember hanging out with Shane, Kelsi's brother and he was like how cool is that tree house they have, I was like it is way cool! Then he started screaming, "REPENT ELDER" I am sorry, I brought it up, now I know you are thinking about cuddling with Kelsi in that tree house I am a bad member, I am sorry I brought it up!!! REPENT. It was so funny he is a good guy! Elder Pierre-Louis taught me alot! That as leaders we are more effective when we praise missionaries for what they do that is right! Then they respect you when you correct them!
Thurs-
We taught this young woman we found on our own efforts named Anna and the spirit was strong. First it was just to learn more about Mormons now it is to find out for her self! She just said she wants to know more then ever that their is a God and she feels like we could let her know if their was! That hit me hard man...we are changing these peoples lifes it is crazy but she is such an awesome girl. She supports us and is funny. I hope she gets answers about God and the Book of Mormon! Actually I know she will cause she is sincerely looking! Elder Pierre-Louis is so funny he is a trip! We taught Zaire and last time she said she wasn't looking to get converted but now she said she needs truth more then ever! It is weird how the Lord works through rough experiences! The humble accept though! We went to a members home and talked about the restoration like it is incredible. We don't talk about that in our home and what a powerful moment in the history of time that was! Makes them want to share with their friends!
Fri-
I saw Elder Beechum on Campus he served in Dolly's mission but came home for medical purposes! He was with Dolls like 2 months ago I gave him a huge HUG! We saw this crazy guy named Gary Birdsong look him up he is the Pit Preacher and he hates Mormons we went and listened to him and he just tells everyone they are going to Hell! But he was talking about homo's and he liked us I think because of President Packer's talk! HAHA We went to Friday forum it was awesome they talked about God is no respecter of persons. She talked about her mission and she said all your pep peevs about people can be wrapped up into one person called your companion. She is an African American and is a convert and was muslim and it is crazy her husband is from Herriman! Natalie! Did Erica get married that is weird! We went to the mall to get Tara a baptismal suit from a member! He hooked us up with Chick fil a. I love that place their shakes are amazing! Then we taught Lauren! It was an incredible lesson she came to stake conference and to Tara's baptism and had such a special experience. These college kids are smart! They know if they tell us they haven't got an answer that we can't really move on. So they pretend that they haven't gotten an answer, but we got it out of her. She is super scared to tell her parents! WE had dinner with Tara she is super pumped and excited this gospel is so TRUE
Sat-
Pres called and I am being transfered to the Charlotte mission: HAHA ( Tara's baptism was aweseome, (see the pictures) as you can tell it was incredible it was a blast! She is a solid member, she is calling us about missionary work! The Lord has big plans for her she is going to build up his kingdom! Her mom came the spirit pricked her heart I know it did, it was awesome! We went to the dairy to celebrate! I talked to this guy about grandpas pershon horses forever it was cool! The elder who was struggling at distrit meeting got called to be a zone leader! d+c 1:24 "when we are at our weakest the Lord calls us to do the greatest work!
Sun-
Boundary changes, lost 4 elders, I am one of them! President grilled Lauren at Stake conference, our Bishop the white guy out of the 2 old guys in the picture he was called and put in the Stake Presidency, and the one guy they released was called in the Mission Presidency, he is the man, him and his wife ran up to me and Elder Miller and were like we are so excited to be in this work and we will help you with whatever you need it was cool! He was talking about being released at Stake Conference and then talked about his new calling, and put on his Tag like he just signed with the Dallas Cowboys; it was neat! This mission is CRAZY!!!! I love President he is bold!
--
With Love and Respect,
Elder Taylor BLAINE Petersen
It has been an awesome week here in the Durham 3rd ward! I love every bit of this place! It was rough at first but it really helped me appreciate the good times! I am so excited to tell you about this week it has been good, filled with Spiritual experiences and trial and faith. It is put on the line moments and miracles and a BAPTISM! I love you all, I hope everyone is doing great! And that you are having a good week and life is good in IDAHO, that is a good place to be! Not as good as North Carolina, seriously, my main goal besides my really main goal to BAPTIZE, is to develop a "SOUTHERN ACCENT" I love "YA'LL"!
Mon-
We played football with a bunch of Elders on the intramural fields, it was so much fun! You can fly on that turf! We played this game that I have never played before called Mafia. It is so much fun, like it is so lame from the outside looking in but it is so much fun! Zach took us to dinner and it was LATINO night at the Dining Hall, so we were apart of the FIESTA! They had a nacho cheese fountain! But don't worry I stayed healthy and stuck to the beans and rice. Lauren came to FHE they carved pumpkins, she is trying to find some good friends that won't make fun of her for going to church events. This ward is awesome and they invite them to all their little parties and lunches and game nights and stuff! I have come to realize that the singles ward is like its own little Frat or sorority it is neat! They all have such powerful testimonies!
Tues-
Today was UNC's 217th birthday, we got free cake. A member in our ward is part of this dance crew called KAMAKAZI!. We were just on fire, like when we as missionaries strive to understand our purpose that fires us up! Like their is a difference when you are just contacting because you know you should and when you are contacting because you understand your purpose to baptize, and I felt that, that day we understood our purpose and like were on fire! We were setting return appointments left and right it was so awesome! It just changes missionary work completely, it is so awesome! We went to Duke to see a member and help him with his missionary work. This girl was talking about awful things and she did it just because we walked up, it was sad. But we rode the bus back and we left our cell phone on the bus. But at this moment we didn't know it yet so we went to go get dinner with a member at the Dining hall and then went to our appointment with Zaire and she wasn't their and we went to go call her and NO PHONE!!!! Elder Miller got sick to his stomach because he knew he lost it on the bus! But that is why you write all the numbers down in your planner, we called her from a members phone. So we went to the bus stop waited for the bus and their was our phone! We were lucky! Then we bounced over to R.U.F this girl on campus that we are trying to share the restored gospel with invited us to! It was like a praise jam session and a pastor got up and said a few words! It was good, he talked how because of the fall we are all imperfect, but he just left it at that. So thankful for the knowledge of the atonement and that I know what I need to do to return to live with GOD.
Wed-
Last District meeting it was good, hard saying goodbye to everyone and all that jazz, but I had a real spiritual experience. I was role playing with an Elder and something was wrong. So I felt prompted to stop and talk about his situation. We did and he started crying explaining to me the struggles in his area, and his companion and it was neat we said a prayer the spirit was really strong and we worked everything out it was neat the promptings of the holy spirit! We went to Bojangles afterwards they have this thing that was created in HEAVEN called a Bo berry biscuit it is incredible covered in icing and contains about 800 calories in every bite! We did some service at the community garden that was great, I love that place we talked about the gospel alot with students that would volunteer! One girl said I think the only reasons Mormons want to get married so young is just because they want to have sex and that is for all the wrong reasons! It was funny! Those are the kind of questions we deal with on the COLLEGE CAMPUS, I love it! We were on exchanges today and I went with Elder Pirere-Louis from Rupert Idaho. We went on a split with Tyler Ellison, Kenz's orthos son! He is going to UNC to be a dentist he is the man he was like I remember hanging out with Shane, Kelsi's brother and he was like how cool is that tree house they have, I was like it is way cool! Then he started screaming, "REPENT ELDER" I am sorry, I brought it up, now I know you are thinking about cuddling with Kelsi in that tree house I am a bad member, I am sorry I brought it up!!! REPENT. It was so funny he is a good guy! Elder Pierre-Louis taught me alot! That as leaders we are more effective when we praise missionaries for what they do that is right! Then they respect you when you correct them!
Thurs-
We taught this young woman we found on our own efforts named Anna and the spirit was strong. First it was just to learn more about Mormons now it is to find out for her self! She just said she wants to know more then ever that their is a God and she feels like we could let her know if their was! That hit me hard man...we are changing these peoples lifes it is crazy but she is such an awesome girl. She supports us and is funny. I hope she gets answers about God and the Book of Mormon! Actually I know she will cause she is sincerely looking! Elder Pierre-Louis is so funny he is a trip! We taught Zaire and last time she said she wasn't looking to get converted but now she said she needs truth more then ever! It is weird how the Lord works through rough experiences! The humble accept though! We went to a members home and talked about the restoration like it is incredible. We don't talk about that in our home and what a powerful moment in the history of time that was! Makes them want to share with their friends!
Fri-
I saw Elder Beechum on Campus he served in Dolly's mission but came home for medical purposes! He was with Dolls like 2 months ago I gave him a huge HUG! We saw this crazy guy named Gary Birdsong look him up he is the Pit Preacher and he hates Mormons we went and listened to him and he just tells everyone they are going to Hell! But he was talking about homo's and he liked us I think because of President Packer's talk! HAHA We went to Friday forum it was awesome they talked about God is no respecter of persons. She talked about her mission and she said all your pep peevs about people can be wrapped up into one person called your companion. She is an African American and is a convert and was muslim and it is crazy her husband is from Herriman! Natalie! Did Erica get married that is weird! We went to the mall to get Tara a baptismal suit from a member! He hooked us up with Chick fil a. I love that place their shakes are amazing! Then we taught Lauren! It was an incredible lesson she came to stake conference and to Tara's baptism and had such a special experience. These college kids are smart! They know if they tell us they haven't got an answer that we can't really move on. So they pretend that they haven't gotten an answer, but we got it out of her. She is super scared to tell her parents! WE had dinner with Tara she is super pumped and excited this gospel is so TRUE
Sat-
Pres called and I am being transfered to the Charlotte mission: HAHA ( Tara's baptism was aweseome, (see the pictures) as you can tell it was incredible it was a blast! She is a solid member, she is calling us about missionary work! The Lord has big plans for her she is going to build up his kingdom! Her mom came the spirit pricked her heart I know it did, it was awesome! We went to the dairy to celebrate! I talked to this guy about grandpas pershon horses forever it was cool! The elder who was struggling at distrit meeting got called to be a zone leader! d+c 1:24 "when we are at our weakest the Lord calls us to do the greatest work!
Sun-
Boundary changes, lost 4 elders, I am one of them! President grilled Lauren at Stake conference, our Bishop the white guy out of the 2 old guys in the picture he was called and put in the Stake Presidency, and the one guy they released was called in the Mission Presidency, he is the man, him and his wife ran up to me and Elder Miller and were like we are so excited to be in this work and we will help you with whatever you need it was cool! He was talking about being released at Stake Conference and then talked about his new calling, and put on his Tag like he just signed with the Dallas Cowboys; it was neat! This mission is CRAZY!!!! I love President he is bold!
--
With Love and Respect,
Elder Taylor BLAINE Petersen
(This is a email written on Oct. 12, Yeah we are finally caught up)
Hey Family is has been an awesome humbling week! I have learned that humility truly is not thinking less of your self but thinking less about yourself!
Mon-
HAPPY BDAY MOM I hope you had a great day. It was an awkward day, I got a haircut and the lady was asking for counsel about her relationship! Then at FHE one of the girls in the ward started asking me about it! I mean DL stands for District Leader not Doctor Love. I wasn't set apart to do that! We had an Octoberfest with some other missionaries and cooked some BRATS, it was awesome! A good day!
Tues-
We had a leaderhip training meeting. I had a really spiritual experience role playing with another missionary. We taught this girl Zaire, it was really good, this guy she lives with is gay and he watched conference and the only talk he watched was Elder Packer's kinda funny!
Wed-
We went running, wake up at six then you hit the snooze button till 6:30, and you get like a half hour of guilt free sleep it feels like. District meeting was really good. We talked about the role of the holy ghost in missionary work! We did serve at the community garden We found this less active and taught a good lesson to her and gave her a blessing!
Thurs-
Went to Durham and got stoodup we biked back, and taught Kole we had to drop him he isn't looking for an answer, we dropped him the Lords way we still invite him to church and it was cool. We taught Tara and showed her the font she is so excited THIS SATURDAY!!!
Fri-
This guy named Vincent on campus called us out and he is a phd in religious studies with a focus on religious video games and he said mormons are the most like Nephi's quest! I asked him what they thought about the church, he said our claim to a living prophet is huge and if people could understand that. I asked him if he would want to understand it and he said no! But it was cool. Friday forum, God is the same yesterday today and forever and that he doesn't change but he grows with us. We taught this girl named Anna it was cool she did all this research, big things might happen with her!
Sat-
We went to Duke, but they were on fall break wrong move.
SUN-
Church was amazing, breaking the fast was awesome, we found some people, it was good day.
Sorry this is short, but I don't have much time I will write you a good letter!
Elder Petersen!
Hey Family is has been an awesome humbling week! I have learned that humility truly is not thinking less of your self but thinking less about yourself!
Mon-
HAPPY BDAY MOM I hope you had a great day. It was an awkward day, I got a haircut and the lady was asking for counsel about her relationship! Then at FHE one of the girls in the ward started asking me about it! I mean DL stands for District Leader not Doctor Love. I wasn't set apart to do that! We had an Octoberfest with some other missionaries and cooked some BRATS, it was awesome! A good day!
Tues-
We had a leaderhip training meeting. I had a really spiritual experience role playing with another missionary. We taught this girl Zaire, it was really good, this guy she lives with is gay and he watched conference and the only talk he watched was Elder Packer's kinda funny!
Wed-
We went running, wake up at six then you hit the snooze button till 6:30, and you get like a half hour of guilt free sleep it feels like. District meeting was really good. We talked about the role of the holy ghost in missionary work! We did serve at the community garden We found this less active and taught a good lesson to her and gave her a blessing!
Thurs-
Went to Durham and got stoodup we biked back, and taught Kole we had to drop him he isn't looking for an answer, we dropped him the Lords way we still invite him to church and it was cool. We taught Tara and showed her the font she is so excited THIS SATURDAY!!!
Fri-
This guy named Vincent on campus called us out and he is a phd in religious studies with a focus on religious video games and he said mormons are the most like Nephi's quest! I asked him what they thought about the church, he said our claim to a living prophet is huge and if people could understand that. I asked him if he would want to understand it and he said no! But it was cool. Friday forum, God is the same yesterday today and forever and that he doesn't change but he grows with us. We taught this girl named Anna it was cool she did all this research, big things might happen with her!
Sat-
We went to Duke, but they were on fall break wrong move.
SUN-
Church was amazing, breaking the fast was awesome, we found some people, it was good day.
Sorry this is short, but I don't have much time I will write you a good letter!
Elder Petersen!
Friday, October 15, 2010
This email was writtten on October 4th!!! We are late getting posted.
Hey FAMILIA! Wow what a neat Conference that was to be uplifted and edified by the Holy Spirit! And how blessed we are to have that 3rd member of the God head the Holy Spirit as our comforter and teacher and personal revelatory. It has been an exciting week and I am so excited to tell you all about it! I hope all is going well for you all.
Mon-
We had what is called Zone-Day Preparation-Day. It was so much fun most all of the missionaries from Chapel Hill came down and we played football and soccer and it was a blast, just a really good experience to be around those that are doing the same thing you are doing! We played this cool card game called Were Wolf it was a blast! We went to FHE that night it was neat, no investigators there. Looking from the outside, in the church is pretty demanding, I mean getting baptised isn't a big deal you just say goodbye to all your free time and 10% of your income. But I then thought about it and what is going on at the campus and there is not another place that the Lord would want these students to be then FHE a place where they can lift and comfort one another! Just another Testimony of revelation in this CHURCH!
Tues-President Cotterell said something that stuck out to me. He said wonder why we don't have progressing investigators? We don't follow the program established by the brethren in preach my gospel. So at first I thought he was meaning by like teaching like robots, but I studied it and there is a program that the brethren have established. It is like a body of instruction and provides more of a way for the spirit to work so we may discern these needs of our beloved Father in Heavens children. Little things that make all the difference. Like daily contact and different things. Like the very important things that are in red in the back of preach my gospel. So Sunday we tracted into this guy named Greg and he set a return appointment then he called us this morning and asked if we could come at 4. Then we saw him in Chapel Hill and he said, I am excited to see you all at four so we were like okay this guy must be for real, but he was older and was in the family ward so we brought the other elders on an exchange and he wasn't there. He even shut his phone off. It was devastating! But the Lord knows how precious his time is. So I was with Elder Pierre-Louis and we were like alright principle one why does the Lord want us here. I was like I don't know we have tracted out this whole area, I just don't know then we walked around and there was this girl who plays on the club b-ball team and they are undefeated and she is looking for the church and we are meeting with her it was amazing! The Lord will never still us "Be still, and know that I am God." So simple of a scripture but so true! We have these new investigators we were teaching, her name is Zaire and she is a 5th grade teacher and she is searching and we followed the program and it was incredible she cried, the spirit was strong as she was bearing testimony of the love that God had for her!
Wed-
District meeting was good. It was incredible on the doctrine of Christ! We went to this amazing Mexican restaurant and they had amazing chips and salsa (btw will you send me some salsa mix PLEASE)! We taught Lauren it was an incredible lesson we had 2 amazing exchanges with us that both bore powerful witness and it was just such a neat thing to be a part of we invited her to be baptized and she declined but it is okay because we know what we need to teach her and truly find out her need and she knows we mean business (but really not business, but we mean salvation) and understands why she is meeting with us. This ward is amazing there testimonies are incredible! It was raining all day, I think Elder Miller might hate me since we had to bike in the rain. So we had dinner with some sisters in our ward! Myself and Elder Miller learned three valuable tips in life! #1)Don't Blood dope! #2)When being an RM don't date girls that are in High school #3)Don't let your wife get bullied by other women to have a natural or an at home birth let her do what she wants and fully support her. Now I do not understand what value those tips have to me now and they said these things may mean nothing to you now. But one day they will be of great importance! I don't even know what it means to dope BLOOD, I guess my HERO Lance Armstrong did it! We could not find our exchange that was supposed to go to a lesson with us so we biked there and it was raining, we got there and it is this Asian kid who is really coming from no where it was a good lesson but at the end he dropped us! But even though we found disappointment we did not find it in ourselves and were very thankful for the opportunity we had to teach Eric.
Thurs-
I got a letter from Elder Cahoon, Elder Dealba, and Elder Stanfield! The NCRM the greatest mission ever! We had a lesson with Kole it was really good, Zach was there and he bore a powerful testimony that the spirit was present cause it was, just so plain and just TRUTH and that is what the spirit will testify of! So we had dinner with Tara! It was so cool SHE PRAYED! And we were talking about her baptism and like talking about the details and again one of the members said something that changed my mission forever! "Tara, it will be taken care of you don't need to worry you just need to come and smile and make covenants with your Father in Heaven." That is what this work is all about, helping people make promises so they can receive the blessings from keeping the promise! Trust, that is what our father is all about! It is weird how Heavenly Father gives you Little reminders as a missionaries! Little tender mercies!
Fri-
October! Wow, to be honest I didn't think I would make it to the month of October on my mission! Didn't know I had it in me, but everything is possible with the spirit of the Lord! We went to Friday forum with Fatimah! It was incredible a super spiritual experiecne! We donated blood and time to the red cross! I donated double then like passed out biking after that, it was bad! But all is good! We went to Duke and met this lady Ann, who is ready for the restored truth is was awesome! We came back and Elder Miller nearly lost his testimony! We saw in a Bar the USU-BYU game and saw BYU loosing 17-3 it was awful! He said his testimony hadn't been that shaken in awhile it was funny!
Sat-
Conference was incredible! I just wanna thank you, Mom and Dad, like I was listening to Elder Hollands talk and thinking of all the sacrifices you have made for me and I am so grateful for the many blessings you all have given me! Like you guys are great and have done some amazing things. You both are great parents and are just what I needed, thanks for helping me develop a pattern of covenant keeping!
Sun-
Was another great session of conference! We had a potluck between sessions it was really good! I really felt like I was suppose to learn about the Holy Ghost, like how to have that listening ear for that still small voice like President Monson has! I love you all and am so thankful for all the blessings you have given me and have been there for me to receive. I just love you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!
Love,
Elder Taylor Blaine Petersen
Hey FAMILIA! Wow what a neat Conference that was to be uplifted and edified by the Holy Spirit! And how blessed we are to have that 3rd member of the God head the Holy Spirit as our comforter and teacher and personal revelatory. It has been an exciting week and I am so excited to tell you all about it! I hope all is going well for you all.
Mon-
We had what is called Zone-Day Preparation-Day. It was so much fun most all of the missionaries from Chapel Hill came down and we played football and soccer and it was a blast, just a really good experience to be around those that are doing the same thing you are doing! We played this cool card game called Were Wolf it was a blast! We went to FHE that night it was neat, no investigators there. Looking from the outside, in the church is pretty demanding, I mean getting baptised isn't a big deal you just say goodbye to all your free time and 10% of your income. But I then thought about it and what is going on at the campus and there is not another place that the Lord would want these students to be then FHE a place where they can lift and comfort one another! Just another Testimony of revelation in this CHURCH!
Tues-President Cotterell said something that stuck out to me. He said wonder why we don't have progressing investigators? We don't follow the program established by the brethren in preach my gospel. So at first I thought he was meaning by like teaching like robots, but I studied it and there is a program that the brethren have established. It is like a body of instruction and provides more of a way for the spirit to work so we may discern these needs of our beloved Father in Heavens children. Little things that make all the difference. Like daily contact and different things. Like the very important things that are in red in the back of preach my gospel. So Sunday we tracted into this guy named Greg and he set a return appointment then he called us this morning and asked if we could come at 4. Then we saw him in Chapel Hill and he said, I am excited to see you all at four so we were like okay this guy must be for real, but he was older and was in the family ward so we brought the other elders on an exchange and he wasn't there. He even shut his phone off. It was devastating! But the Lord knows how precious his time is. So I was with Elder Pierre-Louis and we were like alright principle one why does the Lord want us here. I was like I don't know we have tracted out this whole area, I just don't know then we walked around and there was this girl who plays on the club b-ball team and they are undefeated and she is looking for the church and we are meeting with her it was amazing! The Lord will never still us "Be still, and know that I am God." So simple of a scripture but so true! We have these new investigators we were teaching, her name is Zaire and she is a 5th grade teacher and she is searching and we followed the program and it was incredible she cried, the spirit was strong as she was bearing testimony of the love that God had for her!
Wed-
District meeting was good. It was incredible on the doctrine of Christ! We went to this amazing Mexican restaurant and they had amazing chips and salsa (btw will you send me some salsa mix PLEASE)! We taught Lauren it was an incredible lesson we had 2 amazing exchanges with us that both bore powerful witness and it was just such a neat thing to be a part of we invited her to be baptized and she declined but it is okay because we know what we need to teach her and truly find out her need and she knows we mean business (but really not business, but we mean salvation) and understands why she is meeting with us. This ward is amazing there testimonies are incredible! It was raining all day, I think Elder Miller might hate me since we had to bike in the rain. So we had dinner with some sisters in our ward! Myself and Elder Miller learned three valuable tips in life! #1)Don't Blood dope! #2)When being an RM don't date girls that are in High school #3)Don't let your wife get bullied by other women to have a natural or an at home birth let her do what she wants and fully support her. Now I do not understand what value those tips have to me now and they said these things may mean nothing to you now. But one day they will be of great importance! I don't even know what it means to dope BLOOD, I guess my HERO Lance Armstrong did it! We could not find our exchange that was supposed to go to a lesson with us so we biked there and it was raining, we got there and it is this Asian kid who is really coming from no where it was a good lesson but at the end he dropped us! But even though we found disappointment we did not find it in ourselves and were very thankful for the opportunity we had to teach Eric.
Thurs-
I got a letter from Elder Cahoon, Elder Dealba, and Elder Stanfield! The NCRM the greatest mission ever! We had a lesson with Kole it was really good, Zach was there and he bore a powerful testimony that the spirit was present cause it was, just so plain and just TRUTH and that is what the spirit will testify of! So we had dinner with Tara! It was so cool SHE PRAYED! And we were talking about her baptism and like talking about the details and again one of the members said something that changed my mission forever! "Tara, it will be taken care of you don't need to worry you just need to come and smile and make covenants with your Father in Heaven." That is what this work is all about, helping people make promises so they can receive the blessings from keeping the promise! Trust, that is what our father is all about! It is weird how Heavenly Father gives you Little reminders as a missionaries! Little tender mercies!
Fri-
October! Wow, to be honest I didn't think I would make it to the month of October on my mission! Didn't know I had it in me, but everything is possible with the spirit of the Lord! We went to Friday forum with Fatimah! It was incredible a super spiritual experiecne! We donated blood and time to the red cross! I donated double then like passed out biking after that, it was bad! But all is good! We went to Duke and met this lady Ann, who is ready for the restored truth is was awesome! We came back and Elder Miller nearly lost his testimony! We saw in a Bar the USU-BYU game and saw BYU loosing 17-3 it was awful! He said his testimony hadn't been that shaken in awhile it was funny!
Sat-
Conference was incredible! I just wanna thank you, Mom and Dad, like I was listening to Elder Hollands talk and thinking of all the sacrifices you have made for me and I am so grateful for the many blessings you all have given me! Like you guys are great and have done some amazing things. You both are great parents and are just what I needed, thanks for helping me develop a pattern of covenant keeping!
Sun-
Was another great session of conference! We had a potluck between sessions it was really good! I really felt like I was suppose to learn about the Holy Ghost, like how to have that listening ear for that still small voice like President Monson has! I love you all and am so thankful for all the blessings you have given me and have been there for me to receive. I just love you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!
Love,
Elder Taylor Blaine Petersen
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