I'm beginning to remember what it felt like last summer in Medford as the thermometer in our car got up to 107. It's hot! We did a lot of tracting this week and almost every door someone would open and ask us why we were walking around in the heat. Our immediate response every time was " because we love what we do" and it's true! I'm grateful to be a missionary in any weather. Rain or shine the work never stops. The miracles continued this past week and there were also some rough patches, but the power to endure is real and I'm grateful for my savior who is there to help me with everything. Let's start at the beginning!
Monday we went and visited the G. family before Alley left for girls camp. We bought her a journal to write her spiritual experiences in while she was away, and we hoped it would help her recognize that God is real. Then we went and talked to Joni and Winnie and shared an uplifting message and said a prayer with them.
Tuesday We woke up and it was August. it still feels like it's June so we were pretty confused. We had service in the morning and when we got home we had companionship study and role played teaching the law of chastity which we later taught to Joni, but it was Sister Banners first time teaching it out of the MTC so we made sure to get some good practice in. And we did teach it to Joni and it was the most intense lesson on chastity ever. Sister Banner did so well as she talked about the blessings of keeping this commandment, and how Jesus Christ helps us to overcome struggles and helps us to repent. Something I will never forget and am so grateful for is when The spirit took over my words and it was one of those moments where I felt like I was trying to find a way to tell her that she couldn't live with her boyfriend anymore, and it was so hard but after the lesson sister Banner told me that everything I said was what she needed to hear and she could feel my love for Joni and Joni understood why we had to tell her. And it was that moment where I recognized that the spirit took my words and made them meaningful, and put them in a way that Joni would understand. And I'm so grateful for the spirit because that was such a hard thing to do because you never want anyone to feel like they are terrible sinners, but the experience we had was full of love and we have a lot of love for this woman and so does god, and because Joni knows that and feels that she had a strong understanding. But also sister Banner did so well in the lesson! I forget all the time that she's a greenie because she just blows me away.
Wednesday we went to Eugene and picked up our new car La-a (pronounced La- dash-a) apparently it's a new name that's out there, but anyways while we were waiting for them to transfer our tiwi we got to hangout in the office with the office missionaries and that was a party! We had a lesson that night with a returning less active family named the S's and they are so amazing! They told us that right before we came over they tried to think of excuses to not meet for a lesson, but luckily their kids answered the door and let us in before they got to the front. And we talked about how much God loves them and their family and they told us that they've been away for so long but now they know they want to return.
Thursday morning we had interviews with President Orton. He's so nice and such a good mission President! Sister Banner and I went tracting the rest of the day and even got invited in a couple times because it was so hot out.
Friday we had a new missionary training where the new missionaries taught according to asked inspired questions to discern needs. They are so amazing! And all Improving so much. We tracted a lot that day and got yelled at a few times. But we got to go and talk to this older couple who are converts and they have a lot of health challenges so they can't come to church to take the sacrament, and he was telling us how sometimes they come and bring them the sacrament after church. And we sang the Spirit of God with him and and he looked so happy. It's amazing to me that he and his wife continue to do all that they know they should even with their challenges. It's a testimony to me to endure no matter what.
Saturday we went to a far out part in our area called Lowell. We had a lesson with a returning less active woman and her son who she wants to get baptized! He's ten and we just talked about what his concerns were and when we asked him if he knew who Christ was he did! He said he was the son of God. He's adorable!
Before the lesson we went contacting and OYMed this family on their porch. We talked about faith and after a couple minutes the husband told us to come inside and we went to talk with him and his wife. We talked about who they believe is and they said they went to church when they were in Mexico but not anymore because they didn't agree with all the doctrine they taught. We taught them about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. They took a copy and are excited to read it! It was a good experience for us and them to strengthen all of our faith in Christ.
That night we had a lesson with the G. family and we taught the girls about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. We focused on a talk called "guardians of virtue" by sister Dalton which has become one of my favorites! We talked about keeping our thoughts and words clean including what we watch and read, and the way we joke. It was a really good lesson with them.
Sunday we had church and the G. family came. Since it was fast Sunday we had our testimony meeting and it was amazing! A lot of people talked about how God is always there for you no matter what. And this little boy started it off by saying that Christ is there to strengthen us in our trials even when we sometimes don't feel like he's there. He's 6. Sister Banner and I got up to share our testimonies too. I talked about how grateful I am to know the gospel of Jesus Christ and how I've seen my faith grow over my mission. Sister Banner shared a beautiful testimony about coming out on her mission and the fears of leaving everything behind, but how it's so worth it. I feel so blessed to be here and with such an amazing companion! That night we saw Jonni and had to give her some strength because she felt like everything was a little too hard. But we told her that God would help her. We also had a great lesson with Tom on obedience, scripture study and prayer. He keeps telling us he knows this is the true church and he's so excited for his baptism. We are excited too!
I love you all. Also I've been reading in Mosiah at the very beginning and I love king Benjamins words to his people. He teaches them simply and wants them to understand. He wants to finish his life strong and become like Christ, and make sure everyone around him knows who they should become like too. Remember that the little things we do count and god is there for each of us.
Love,
Sister Peterson
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