hola, somos las misioneras!

Picking up right where we left off with transfers because we are staying so busy! For the first couple days of the new transfer we had sister zanotti staying with us until her companion arrived in the mission. She's from Argentina and she taught us some Spanish so we are basically fluent now... ok all I learned is how to introduce myself as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but hey that's pretty useful! Vámonos and let's see what happened this last week and a half! 

Last Wednesday the new missionaries arrived in Eugene and sister Udall and I were able to take them out for their first in field teaching experience. I was with sister Cockrell from New Mexico! We taught A about temples and family history and eternal marriage. We talked about the scripture in D&C when Joseph smith received revelation to build the Kirtland temple since we just watched the Restoration movie with her the night before. Sister Cockrell shared her experience of how her family was just recently sealed for all time and eternity and how much that meant to her. I definitely believe that personal experiences are very valuable when teaching.  

Sister Udall had a lesson with G and she basically told them she has a lot of concerns about the church that just popped up. 

Thursday we sang the efy medley to the new missionaries and as always it was spiritual and beautiful! We had a lesson with J after and read from 3 nephi with her, and talked more about how everything works in gods timing. 

Friday sister Udall and I were walking on campus and we were about to head to dinner when we noticed two girls sitting and studying so we went up to them and started talking about their lives and religion. One of the girls is named Im. and she told us she was atheist. So we asked her how she came to that conclusion and she told us she's studied a lot of religions and doesn't feel comfortable at any church. We asked her if she's ever studied with the LDS church and she said no. Then she asked us what made our church different from the rest. We brought up how we have a modern day prophet on the earth today to lead us and guide us and we asked her what it would mean to her to know this is true. She said it would mean a lot to her and then she told us she's more spiritual than anything. We invited her to church and she said she would come! 

Saturday A was baptized!! She was so excited and looked good in white! Her mom even came to support her and her grandma, who is a member, was there too. 

Sunday morning G texted us and told us she won't be coming to church and doesn't want to meet with us anymore because she has too many concerns that she can't get past. It was so sad, but we didn't give up and we set up a time to meet the next day! During church A was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was really nice to see her there and I feel like I've known her forever even though it's only been a little over two weeks. Im came to church! And it was perfect because we talked about the scriptures during Sunday school, and when she was leaving she said it was really cool that we have another book of scriptures. So I pulled out a Book of Mormon from my bag and explained that it is another testament of Jesus Christ and that if she read it, it would bless her life. She took it and was really excited to read! She also told us the reason she said she's atheist is because she doesn't believe in the creation, and she asked us what we believe in. We told her what we have come to know is true and invited her to pray about it. I know that will help her come to know truth. And she also told us that she feels a lot better and more comfortable in our church than she's ever felt anywhere else. The spirit was working within her! Now during Sunday school L is talking to us and she tells us that she's been thinking and feels she needs to SERVE A MISSION! She wants to go on a mission!! And during class she made this amazing comment about how all the scriptures go so well together and nothing contradicts the other. She's going to be the best missionary! Jo. came to church again!

Monday we had our personal interviews with President Russell and talked with sister Russell. They're so great! 

Tuesday, march 21, was a busy day for us! At 11 we had a lesson with G to salvage our relationship. We prayed so much for the spirit to be there and guide our lesson. When we got there we asked her about her concerns, but we ended up telling her that "if it was right when you struggled and prayed about it then it's still right now." That's one of my favorite quotes from Elder Holland. And it's true! G had so many experiences that pulled her closer to Christ and this church. She just needed a reminder because she agreed with us that the quote is true. We all came to the conclusion that her anxiety got the best of her and when she was scared about coming to church she got scared about everything and dropped us. She's going to Utah for spring break to be with her boyfriends family. Who are members, and she is going to church with them. And since she met with us she's watched meet the Mormons and loved it! Thank goodness for the spirit because without him we couldn't have salvaged that relationship!  

Right after Gs lesson we had a lesson with L and she opened her phone to the gospel library she started laughing to herself, so we asked why and she showed us what she had been studying and it was the first chapter of preach my gospel! She's already studying for her mission and you should see how excited she gets when she thinks about it. We asked her what made her want to go, and she told us how much she loves this gospel and she wants to share that with everyone. Maybe she'll go to Texas :D  

We had a lesson with Im and we were able to teach her some of the restoration. She had a lot of good questions about the nature of God and about the Book of Mormon. We brought joel, he's a ysa member, and she shared a comment that I really liked. He explained to Im that what we were teaching is true, but that we don't want her to just listen to us and take our words for it, but we will always invite her to pray and ask God. And that's something we share with everyone we meet because even though we know it's true now we still had to get on our knees and ask god to reveal the truth to us. That's how I know this is all true. It's because god showed it to me. She told us she wants to get connected with missionaries when she moves back to Portland and she wants to find our church up there! 

Today we went to the Portland temple and it's so BEAUTIFUL! The spirit that is around the temple and inside the temple is amazing and I could spend forever there, but right. Is there is work to be done and I was called by God to serve! I love you all and thank you again for your support. You keep me going strong and I'm so grateful for you all! Have the best week! 

Love, 

Sister Peterson