NCIS: Eugene YSA

The Eugene YSA has been a dream! But not the sleep kind because you don't get that as a missionary. It's more of a daydream where you have to stay awake, but you can still imagine some pretty cool stuff going on! Sister Udall is so great and such an amazing teacher. I've learned a lot from her in just a week, and she's really caring to me and also everyone we meet. 

For a couple days we were in a Tripan with a sister who was waiting to train. Her name is sister Pfau and now she's back in Klamath Falls training! Now our tríos down to two! That was pretty crazy especially knocking on doors and walking on campus because we were like a wall of spiritual knowledge coming at Cha! Not really but it was a lot of fun. The first night we went on campus and OYMed which means 'opened our mouths' and talked to a bunch of students. They were all so nice which is a change up from getting doors slammed in your face. It's been really nice to relate to them. That same night we had a lesson with a girl named S. and she was preparing for baptism on Saturday! She's 19 and she's been dating a boy who's a member and is really close with his family. When she learned a little about the church a couple years ago she said she would never join and knew her family wouldn't approve either. Now she's been meeting with missionaries for a couple months and it's been a really tough ride for her. Her family is not happy at all with her decision, but she knew in her heart that she wanted to follow Jesus Christ no matter what it took. She has a lot of courage and she's so sweet! 

Tuesday we had a lesson with a girl named L. who the sisters met with once before and she is preparing for baptism! We taught her the restoration and the spirit filled the room and confirmed to her that she was making the right decision. She's 19 and here for school. She has a friend that's a member and his family has been a great example to her and helped show her how joyous this gospel has made them and will make her! 

Wednesday sister Udall and I were able to take the new missionaries out to teach with us before they met their trainers the next day. We took two of the the sisters out and went on splits meaning we both taught two different people. I was with Sister Allen and we taught S. This lesson strengthened my testimony SO much in how perfectly god knows his children. Sister Allen and S. had never met before and when S. brought up her boyfriend the sister knew his family and is friends with them! This is such a small world we live in and the gospel makes it even smaller.  

After we dropped the new missionaries off we had a lesson with a girl named J. who's in the same position and situation as S. Her family is disappointed in her decision to be baptized and that really got to her. After much talking and strong testimony she decided not to be baptized. That was really hard for sister Udall and I because we know that things will work out, but that is a really hard choice to make. We are confident that she will be baptized it just will take some time. 

Thursday morning S. texted us saying she had a terrible dream where she came to find faults in the church after she was baptized and her family was really upset with her. We were pretty scared and prayed so much for her all week. We had a lesson with her that night and President Russell came. He talked a lot about feeling the spirit. He asked her where she was receiving her good feelings and she told him she was feeling em in her heart. He talked about how god gives us answers in our hearts and good thoughts in our minds. He went on to tell a couple stories about his mission and families who had a similar situation as S. where their families threatened to disown them as well as their work would fire them for being a Mormon. One family prayed and made up their minds to be baptized regardless of the conflict which would be upon them, and because of that their family soon came to realize that this gospel is truly what made them happy. The husband was fired from his job, but a few weeks later found work again. Blessings come from living this gospel and following Jesus Christ. I know as well as S. that God will ALWAYS provide a way for his children, and although the path is narrow it is the straight path to our Heavenly Father. She was completely confident in  her decision to be baptized at the end of the lesson. 

Friday we went and talked to students on campus and met this really cool girl named Si! She told us she went to a Mormon church from ages 6-9 with her family because they were trying to find the best church for them. She remembered missionaries helping her to build a treehouse in her backyard. She told us she wanted to come back to our church and she didn't remember the doctrine  but she remembered how she felt when she was going. We had another lesson with L. and she came in just glowing with happiness! She's so excited to keep learning. We taught her the plan of salvation and she said she loved it! She's got a good point there. 

Saturday was the baptism and she was so excited! The program was amazing and the spirit was really strong. When she came out of the water she looked so excited and couldn't stop smiling. She bore her testimony and said told us that in other people's testimonies they would always say "I know this church is true" and she thought she could NEVER say that, but after so much studying it out for herself she can say whole heartedly that this is the true church. Even this past week I've seen the light grow in her eyes. She's amazing! 

Sunday we had church and being in a YSA Ward is a lot different than being in a family Ward. It's a lot quieter because there aren't screaming babies. Since it was fast Sunday we had a testimony meeting and I realized how pure and true the testimonies were. They all talked about the struggles they had to go through to get to knowing god and to be where they are today. They are pretty amazing! L. came to church and she told us she wanted to move her baptismal date from march 19 to march 4! Since the baptism yesterday she's been even more excited for her baptism. She told us that she told her mom and dad and her mom is a strong Catholic and concerned about her decision, but her dad told her they would love her no matter what. She's just so happy in the lessons and at church that I know she has a strong testimony that will keep her going. 

I hope you all have an amazing week and remember the small miracles that happen every day. They lead to huge things and create the happiness in all of us. I love you all! 

Love, 

Sister Peterson