My Eternal Friend and Death by Chocolate

Wow what a week it has been in Springfield. Sister Rhees is amazing and such a sweet person. It's been super easy transitioning in to the new transfer because I already know my companion! It's also amazing to see how much we've both changed in the last year. We've both grown so much and are not afraid to teach anymore. Well I know I was when I first came out and to reflect back I have grown and learned so much because of the lord and all of the prayers that God had answered. 

Tuesday we had a service opportunity at a place called meals on wheels. We helped serve food to people and it was fun! Then we did some more service for a woman that I actually got called about when I was in the ysa. She needed help going through her moms old things. It was a sad experience but she will be with them again. We went to visit our ward mission leader and his family, and I met them a couple months ago when I was here for a few days. They are so nice and positive and we talked about Helaman 5:12 and how we need to build our foundation in Christ. I love that scripture so much. 

Wednesday we went out to a far part in our area to have some lessons. Luckily sister jeffs (the ward mission leaders wife) came with us. We taught a woman who had six cats so I was in heaven. Although sister Rhees is allergic so she wasn't feelin it, but Y is wanting to learn more. 

Thursday we got to go to the Eugene stake center and sing to the new missionaries that came in last week! There are six new sisters, and they all looked really excited and a little nervous to be here! After that we had more service at the meals on wheels place. And we did some planning and then we had a lesson with this man named G. He was very nice, and is willing to let us teach himself. He's a talked, but he was willing to learn how we pray so that's a good start! Then we went to see the Cain/Johnson family who I visited when I was in the ysa because their son, J, is ysa age and we talked with them about prophets and Jesus Christ's atonement and the miracles he performed when he was on the earth. It was a really good lesson because I actually learned more about prophets and how important it is to listen to their counsel. And when we talked about Christ's atonement we focused on how no matter what we do there is always a way back to God, and that's because Jesus Christ has already paid for everything we've done. They still love us and that has always amazed me, but I know it's true. I was reading in 2 nephi 19-20 and when it talks about the wicked it says that god is angry they've sinned, but his hand is still stretched out to them because he loves us no matter what. He may be disappointed in us, but I've come to learn that is the same as a parent when we break the rules of the home, but just as our parents still love us God loves us multiplied by infinity. 

Friday was district meeting which was super good. It was all about invitations and helping people understand why we leave them with commitments. Then sister Rhees and I tracted all day. And the best part was that every time it started to pour we were standing under someones porch. Then we had dinner with this amazing member who gave us death by chocolate and we had brownies and chocolate ice cream, but we had no shame. She also gave us socks from a country that I don't know how to spell it's pronounced (kasicstan). The members here are amazing. 

Saturday sister Rhees and I walked around our area all morning contacting people and talking to anyone that was outside in the morning on a Saturday. Not many people were out, and the first person we talked to was VERY uninterested, as well as the second. But eventually we met this guy named J while he was skateboarding. He stopped to talk and told us he used to go to church and then he stopped and thorough it all he kept that faith in Christ. It was really amazing and I can't explain it how he did. We talked with him about strengthening his faith in Christ and had him read the last two paragraphs of the Book of Mormon intro, and then he explained it as we study in class and then ask the teacher if what we are doing and learning is right. And it was the best analogy and he was spot on! We study and read the Book of Mormon then we ask god if it is true and he will tell us! He is ysa age so we have to pass him off but he was so cool and wants to learn more of how to better his faith in Christ. We even ran in to the 3rd ward elders investigator D who apparently we see everywhere. He asked us for cards to pass out! He's only been meeting with missionaries for three weeks, but he passes out our number and church address to people who need it, and he helps at the bishop store house and gives service to members and everyone. He's pretty amazing! 

Then that night we went to contact this guy the sisters met before I got here and we walked to their house and this woman was outside and she was so kind and friendly. She is the wife of the person we were going to see and she told us that she just started going to a Christian church with her husband, and she feels so different and there's something there. We told her about the Book of Mormon and she said she'd never heard of it before but she seemed so excited when we gave her a copy. I love how pumped people get to read this book that has brought me and so many people so much joy! She told us we can come back and we said a prayer with her and she is coming to know that Christ lives and loves her. 

Sunday was amazing! We don't have church until one so Sister Rhees and I went to contact some people around the neighborhood and then we had church. I saw a lot of people that I met when I was here for three days back in September! It felt like over been here forever. Then we were walking in the hallway and said hi to a member and the first thing she asked us is if we were flying on a the plane from salt lake to Oregon a year ago in February. And sister Rhees and I said yes. Then she told us she met sister missionaries with her three daughters on the plane and I remembered her! She met sister Rhees and I! We were sitting in front of her daughter and we talked for a little on the flight over here and Now we are serving in her ward. What a cool miracle!

Then we went to the 18th street building in Eugene for Ks baptism!!!!! He asked me to speak on the gift of the Holy Ghost and so I started by telling everyone how we met K! It was a very spirit led situation and so that makes me very EXTREMELY grateful for the spirit. Sister Wilson and I knew K would be baptized right when we met him and got to know him and he just kept thanking us yesterday for everything. His family is coming to town to take him back to California when the term ends and they are all going to be there for his confirmation! And he's already all hooked up with the branch president of the ysa in Cali. It was so amazing because he was SO happy, and he said he felt very calm when he was baptized. Another eternal friend entered the waters of baptism and is now on the path back to god. 

Sister Rhees and I went to contact someone afterwards and his wife answered the door and told us he was sleeping, so we asked if she had ever met missionaries before and she said no. Then we asked if she'd ever heard of the Book of Mormon and she said no, so we introduced it to her and she told us she saw the copy we gave her husband sitting on their nightstand, so she would read it! She has a very strong testimony of Jesus Christ and she told us about this amazing personal experience she's had coming to know he lives and is watching over her family.  

I love you all so so much. Thank you for making me smile with your emails and for the support you send my way, and of course all of the prayers. I couldn't do this without my savior and all of you! I love my savior and his church, and my heavenly father and all the blessings he sends to me, and I love you all! 

Love, 

Sister Peterson