Nightmare on Elm Street: Dead End

I think coos bay is getting into the Halloween spirit since it's
coming up quickly. The past couple days have been really foggy and
rainy, and I've heard a lot about clowns. But regardless this area is
still amazing and beautiful! Our zone decided to make a horror movie,
and I'm going to out it together for everyone, so each companionship
is making a short film in their areas and we are going to have a
screening at our halloween party on Halloween pday! More details to
follow! We played volley ball with our district for morning exercise a
couple times this past week, so I'm running on no sleep. But it was
worth it! Sister Peck and I had a lot of cool experiences this past
week. It's amazing what'll happen when you follow the spirit.

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday we don't have a
car, so we have to walk everywhere or find rides. Let's just say we
get a good workout during those days. Last Tuesday we walked to the
church to have a lesson with a man names B who the sisters started
teaching before we got there. He was really nice and he told us the
only reason he wasn't baptized is because he is trying to quit
smoking. We taught him the Ten Commandments and told him about a 15
step program to help him quite smoking. Later that night brother
Hoffine (our ward mission leader) helped find a ride for us back to
the church for a lesson with a man named D. He's been meeting with
missionaries for about 2 months, so we just tried to get to know him
better, and see where he is at with the lessons. He started by telling
us that's it's just been a good Book of Mormon study, so we laid it
straight that we are working towards baptism when he knows the truth
for himself. I think this lesson was important to have so he knows
where we are all at. But he's been reading in the Book of Mormon and
he's in Alma already!

The coos bay Ward had their fast Sunday this past Sunday, so all four
of us missionaries bore our testimonies during sacrament. I talked
about how I know all callings Come from Heavenly Father. It's pretty
amazing how he knows his children so perfectly. Sister Peck and I
taught gospel principles class on tithing. We focused a lot on the
attitude of paying and also bring examples to those around us. Mostly
parents to their children. When we understand that tithing is giving
back to God for all that he's done for us to be able to build up the
kingdom of God then it makes it much more special! Also when we pay
tithing with a positive attitude then we can really see those
blessings from God.

On Thursday when we got the car back we decided to go to an area
called Charlestown and tract a street. When we got down there we
parked on a small dirt road and were scared that our car would get
hit, so we decided to park across the street on a wider rode. We
started to tract and met a guy named K who told us he just moved
to town a couple months ago and would love to come to church.
Unfortunately he couldn't make it this Sunday. 

We kept walking and meta cute German couple who let us come in and talk to them for a while.
We talked about eternal families and how we can learn together. They
really liked that and were firm in their beliefs. And it got a little
awkward because both of them and their daughter are of different
faiths and they started bashing on the moms religion, so sister Peck
and I were like we gotta get outta here! But they were really nice. 

After a few hours we decided to head back home for dinner, and when we
got to our car I looked up and saw the house we were parked in front
of, and I got a feeling that we should knock. So we did, and no one
answered. Then I looked next door and got the same feeling and heard a
voice say " knock on that door" so we did and no one answered. I saw
the third house in and told sister Peck one more house! We got to the
porch and there was a real chicken sitting on their rail! We didn't
know what to do because we didn't want to get pecked. But we felt we
really needed to knock on this door, so we waited for the chicken to
hop down and eventually it did. And we ran to the door before it came
back. A little boy answered and then his mom came to the door. We
introduced ourselves and she told us her mom and grandma were members
of our church! Then we told us to come back to share our message with
her. It was a miracle! She said she was looking for a good church with
a kids program. Which we have! She told us her name is charisma tune
so that was pretty legit. She was so prepared to listen to our
message, and it's amazing to see how it all lined up so perfectly. It
started with us having to park on a different street, and then
following the spirit in where to go. I love being able to follow the
spirit in all things.

On Friday we had a zone training meeting where we learned about not
having contention with each other because it drive the spirit away
from our teachings. Our district leader elder Deppe came in with a
Hawaiian shirt and safari hat and talked in an Australian accent to
demonstrate how water buffalo are strong when they are together, but
when they get in to a fight and go off on their own they get eaten by
lions! Which demonstrates that we need to not have contention in our
companionship a or else Satan will get us! Then we learned about how
to study the scriptures during a lesson and we got some good tips! It
was a wonderful meeting and afterwards two of the senior couples in
our zone took us all out to lunch. It was so sweet!

We were privileged to go to the Portland temple today. Sister Ramirez
from our ward drove us and the north bend sisters. It was beautiful
there! And it was a refresher that I needed. I feel so close to my
Heavenly Father in the temple and it is always an amazing experience.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all!

Love,
Sister Peterson