Sister Peterson Week 9

Hello everyone!

Can you believe it? Because I cannot. About this time next week I will either be on a plane headed to Japan or will be in Japan. WHATTT. Even though I do feel like I have lived here my whole life, it has also flown by. I am still not processing or letting myself think about saying goodbye yet, because that is going to very hard. 

This week was very Japanese heavy. We spoke a lot in class and out. We did a soft launch of SYL (speak your language) which means you commit to speaking Japanese outside of class too. Our soft launch was that we would do half days, and I'll just say I tried my best. The hard thing for me was not necessarily forming sentences (grammer),  but not knowing words I wanted to say (vocab). I feel like there is just so much to learn that I don't know where to start which means in some cases I don't start. It's frustrating but I have found the times I throw myself in a random spot I learn lots. So I gotta keep doing that.

Me and Sister Merrill also did our last Helping Others (Fake Teaching) in 100% Japanese and it went well. I understood our "investigator" about 70% which is pretty cool. There was one question she asked that I had no idea what she said, but Sister Merrill knew and answered her!! I was so so proud.

OH BOY! Sister Merrill and I had quit the adventure this week. Including 3 trips to the doctors and 2 to the pharmacy. I won't go into too much detail but one of us (not me) had a minor toe procedure, the other had a sinus infection and stress induced rash on her arm. HA! The 3 day span this took over was a total fever dream but we did get a total of 5 prescribed medications (only 1 was hers) and a party size bag of cheeto puffs! SCORE! Overall, a pretty memorable experience.

Here is my thought for the week. Jesus Christ is everywhere. He is always there to reach out His hand to you, you just have to grab it. I wrote this down in my notebook from a talk President Holland gave to the missionaries. It was from a long time ago and I just saw a little clip of it from a video so I do not know what it is from. "We are never alone, we are always going to be standing next to the most perfect missionary, Jesus Christ. Struggled, cast out, spit on, rejected, ignored". This does not just apply to missionary work! In life we maybe feel cast out or will struggle etc. He felt that too, He knows you and wants to help. SO PRAY AND READ YOUR SCRIPTURES!

I love you all and so does God! SEE YOU IN JAPAN AHHHHH

<3 Sister Peterson

 Hot Goss of the week: an elder got sent home because he was SECRETLY MARRIED AHAHHA WHATTTT HE HAS A WHOLE WIFE AT HOME crazy town

-Emma Nissen! Listen to her music! I predict she's gonna get famous

-a little taste of mine and Sister Merrills adventure this week (NOT my foot!) HA

-We <3 apples 

-RAT TAT PHT PHT

-sprite and bananas (did not end well)

Sister Peterson Week 8

Another week down!

I feel like I do not have much to report from this week because we are doing the same things each day. Filled with classes and meal times. 

I did forget to mention last week that me and Sister Merrill did our second Helping Others (fake investigator lessons) in full Japanese and we are so proud of ourselves. It was a 15 minute lesson and she asked questions that I partly understood!! It was very exciting. Most of the time she talked though, we just smiled and nodded at her. She is very kind and patient with us!

We have been here for about 6.5 weeks now and have seen so many people come and go. The stateside missionaries are only here for 2 weeks which is absolutely wild to me. 2 weeks was right when I got past the hard adjustment and started liking this place. Which is weird to say that I will be very sad to leave. But we do not have to worry about that right now.

Visas! Half of us got ours and half got reassignments. We got girls going to West Virginia, North Dakota, Virginia, Canada, and England (The last 2 are from around those places). Such lucky people these girls are going to bless in those places! We are all very excited for them.

I gave a talk on Sunday! I will attach a link to it! My district sang Love at Home in Japanese in Sacrament meeting too! The spirit was real strong that meeting;)

Here is a thought that has been on my mind a lot this past week. I am a firm believer in the importance of trials. Something that I love to think about is that God gives us trials according to our spirits. He gives us trials that He knows we can overcome (with His help of course) and that He knows will strengthen us into a better person. When you are going through something hard remember that it is for your benefit and your benefit only. God trusts you with this trial and He trusts you to get through it the right way. Through HIM! Remember that He loves you! And I do too!!!

Have a great week :)

<3 Peterson

Good morning!

Growing up I knew the Book of Mormon was important so I read it every night. I cannot tell you one thing I learned from all those years because I was just doing the motion, checking the box off. It was only until I really understood how important the Book of Mormon really is that I actually started to get things from it. Instead of just hurrying through a chapter or a page every night, I now go into the Book of Mormon looking to take something out of it. My life has been blessed so much since this mindset change and I have been more excited to read it and share about it. 

Starting my first semester at Byui Last September, I signed up for a Book of Mormon class. My professor challenged us to take 30 min out of each day to study the Book of Mormon. Not in a particular order, wherever we wanted at the time, and to heavily record our thoughts and feelings. 

I started out really strong at the beginning of the semester and absolutely loved the challenge. I was filling up pages of my notebook every study and sharing all the cool things I found with my roommates. After a few weeks the craziness of 1st semester at college got in the way and I was back to hurrying through a chapter each night. I found myself missing those 30 minutes of pure revelation, and i am glad to say i have reconnected with thay habit since being here.

One night before coming here me and my dad were talking and I had some realizations. I also recently found Preach my Gospel talks a bit about this too. When we strengthen our testimony of the Book of Mormon we can't help but strengthen our testimonies of almost every other category in the gospel. For example, Joseph Smith. If we believe this book was true, we naturally believe that Jesus Christ used Joseph Smith to translate it. We then naturally believe that we have modern day prophets who are God's mouthpieces. When you put it like that it really makes sense on why it is considered the keystone of our religion. Joseph Smith once said, "take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion?"

Since being here at the MTC I have heard almost everyday that the Spirit first of all but second the Book of Mormon are our most important tools as missionaries. I always believed in the Book of Mormon but I was confused on why it is so important. I started to dive deeper into and and read chapters, applying them to my life. One of my favorites was talked a lot about last week during fast and testimony meeting and that was Jacob 5, the story of the lord of the vineyard. While I read it I thought of my mission. I found so many truths and comfort through this chapter. I highly encourage each of you to read that story and apply it to you. 

The reason the Book of Mormon is such an important tool is because it is a source that the spirit can talk to us easily. When we are fervently studying this book the spirit will teach us and help us feel exactly what God needs us to. I can testify that it will be the exact same for our friends that we invite to read it. 

As we strengthen our testimony of the Book of Mormon, we will become better missionaries! In PMG chapter 5 it says

 "Your own testimony of the Book of Mormon can lead to a deep and abiding faith in its power to help others become converted. Help the people you teach recognize the enlightenment they feel as they read it sincerely. Emphasize its powerful witness of Jesus Christ. Encourage them to pray to receive their own witness that the book is true."

Our friends can receive their own personal conversion through this book, but it is most important to first gain your own firm testimony of its truths. As individual missionaries we need to recognize the Book's enlightenment, the powerful witness of Jesus Christ, and pray to know of its truth.

 I can promise that as we strengthen our own testimony of the Book of Mormon, our power to help others strengthen theirs will be unbeatable. I know this Book of Mormon is true and it has been so neat to dive into it and listen closely to what Heavenly Father needs me to hear out of it. 

I know this church is true and I know we are doing God's work. We are right where he needs us to be, so we need to be prepared for what he needs us to do. Remember God loves you and is proud of you!

I will end on one of my favorite scriptures that comes out of the Book of Mormon. 

Jacob 3: 1-2

1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and apray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will bconsole you in your cafflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down djustice upon those who seek your destruction.

2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his alove; for ye may, if your bminds are cfirm, forever.

In the name of Jesus Christ amen!

Sister Peterson Week 7

Dracula's Holy Mansion

Hey everyone! 

I hope everyone's week was amazing! A lot of fun things happened this week here at the MTC. Except bad news: I am sick again. Like are you kidding me. But luckily I have an amazing district who has been feeding me with medicine and lots of vitamins. On the road to a healthy happy missionary!

On Tuesday my district had the opportunity to go to the Provo City Center temple and it was amazing! The coolest temple I have been to. The inside looks like it would be Dracula's mansion if he was a holy man. Even the exit signs matched the vibe and I loved it so much. A beautiful building and the grounds were beautiful too. If you ever have the opportunity to at least walk around it, I highly recommend!

For our Tuesday devotional (it was a great tuesday), we were lucky to have Elder Dale G Renlund of the Quorum of the 12 talk to us and he did amazing. Talked on temple covenants AGAIN. I swear that was the theme of general conference too and it has me thinking. Obviously the time Christ comes to the Earth is getting closer and our leaders are trying to prepare us in every way possible. One being the importance of temple covenants that bind and yoke us with Jesus Christ's will. 

I have been reminded, told, and know that these next 18 months are going to go by so quickly. I mean I am past half way of my time at the MTC and I really do not know where all the weeks went. Obviously I want to make the most of my time here. Leave it all on the field is what I have been telling myself. I want to work so hard and I want to make my Heavenly Father so proud, so the way I am going to do that is to leave it all on the field. This doesn't only apply to my mission but everyday life too, don't you want to look back on your life and be able to feel like you "left it all on the field" with everything you did? I sure do. Just something to think about! :)

The Sistrict is going strong and better than ever. You can hear our giggles and squeals from a mile away. The other day in the cafeteria one of our sisters got a package and we are all squealing for her when an elder came up to us. Once he saw what we were screaming about he looked very confused and said "I thought someone got a reassignment or something" HA nope! We just get excited about little things and can only express it in our girly screams. The name of the sistrict is being well represented, don't ever worry!!

A scripture I am going to leave you with is Jacob 3:2 

"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."

Aka GOD LOVES YOU! Take advantage of that news and let it sink in. Everything he has to offer is good. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

<3 Peterson しまい

also, I GOT MY VISA!! So basically when I am done at the MTC I get to go straight to Japan WOOPWOOP

Pictures...

I accidentally dressed up as Shrek. 

You very quickly learn how to fall asleep sitting up at the mtc 

We got a selfie with Uchtdorf!!

jk but we thought it was Uchtdorf for a split second. hehe

Sister Peterson Week 6

Hi everyone again! 

The weather here has been so good! You will never believe it but I got sunburnt again, Sorry mom I forgot to use the sunscreen you sent hehe.

Being able to watch general conference here was so cool, I didn't even fall asleep!! I loved all the talks and have loved even more being able to go back and read them. A way that I have loved rereading them is printing them off and writing all over them aka annotating them! I have felt the spirit so much and have been able to apply it better to my life doing it that way, I highly recommend doing it that way! 

Life here at the MTC has been SO fun! Honestly the first 2 weeks were hard just getting adjusted, but now that I've got my routine down it's been good. We have made so many new friends and it's good seeing faces I recognize around here! 

Elder Gaynor (elder that used to be in our district who was very good at Japanese) left on Friday! He got reassigned to Salem Oregon while he wants for his visa and when he told us that I go "LOOK OUT FOR THE WITCH TRIALS"  I got laughed at and I was confused for a minute then I realized that the witch trials did NOT happen in Oregon. Anyways we will miss him and wish him lots of luck!

My brain feels like it's going to explode any minute now with all the Japanese I am learning but so far it has been okay. Me and Sister Merrill had our first helping others (a lesson with fake investigator) IN 100% JAPANESE!! It was rough and spent half of it flipping through my notebook looking for things to say haha but overall it was alright. Still praying very hard for the gift of tongues woooop

Something that I got out of one of the conference talks I annotated is to trust in God. I am about to quote myself haha but I take no credit. This came straight from the spirit because He knew I needed it. Okay.. "trust in God. Dont stress, let His plan slowly unfold as life goes on. Be strong in prayer and do what you know YOU need to and can control! If there is nothing you can do about it, there is nothing to stress about! God's got it!!" I hope that helps someone because I know it will help me as my life goes on! 

I love you all and don't forget God does too! He knows you personally and cares so much about you so don't forget to show Him you care too! Give a little prayer, it's the least you can do! Have an amazing week!!

<3 Peterson しまい

Sister Peterson Week 5

Happy General Conference weekend!! I hope everyone was able to watch at least a little of it! Such amazing things!

This week was really good and flew by. Although it feels like Easter was forever ago. (time is really weird here). I hope everyone was able to really enjoy it because I sure did. I have never been good at focusing on Jesus Christ when it came to Easter, but here at the MTC it was an amazing experience, because it was so Christ centered. It makes me think and puts it into perspective of how amazing each day would be if we woke up and decided to dedicate it to the Lord. NEW GOAL ALERT!

This was a rollercoaster of a week when it came to Japanese. (Honestly each class is a rollercoaster) We had a substitute for half our classes and he was very strict. Each word of english we spoke = 2 pushups. The most we had to do in 1 class was 12 pushups which I recognize shouldn't be that bad. But coming from a person who's max pushups is about 5... was not easy. But we made it through. It is so cool to look back on all the progress I have made. It reallly helps and encourages me when I am feeling inadequate.

I have made friends around the MTC and its fun to walk around and see familiar faces. There are only a couple people who I knew before but even them I barely knew. So that has been fun. haha I am really trying to think of anything interesting that has happened but i just really cannot right now. 

One of our substitutes this week talked a lot to us about what she loved about Japan when she served there and it got me so excited. Apparently they have amazing fruit! My heaven!!! I am very very excited! Only about 1 more month left here 

Noo it's been great!

I love you all and so does Jesus and dont you forget it! Remember what he went through for you! Have an amazing week!!! Also if you email me thank you so much I literally love it, but please do not think ill if I do not respond because I am so busy!! hehe

<3 Sister Peterson!! 

Sister Peterson Week 4

In Sistrict We Trust

Heyyy everyone!!!

I love you all!

We are officially a full sistrict now! Our only 2 elders (Perez and Gaynor) got moved to another district for a couple reasons. So basically we scared them off. Just kidding, but we miss them very much. So we now have a sister district leader and that is the one and only Sister Hammer! She is amazing and is already doing so many good things for us. 

This week went well. I feel like I am getting out of the hard adjustment phase and I am just enjoying my time here. And no matter what anyone tells you the food is really not that bad. Its not good, but its not bad.The best things are by far the donuts and the chocolate creamies! YUM

Classes in Japanese are actually going pretty well. Our teachers are patient with us thank goodness and do everything they can to help us understand. Charades, pictionary, videos, etc. They are pretty creative! Amongst other things I now know how to bear my testimony which is so cool. And tell you my birthday!! It is weird though because for some things it makes sense in my head but when I put it to use it does not come out right. I just gotta keep practicing! And praying!

 

I took on the challenge to read the amazing Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar so ha uh pray for me. I have tabbed the most important to learn at this moment given to me by my teacher. It is a lot. A whole lot. (Picture below)

In my personal studies I have been mostly in the Book of Mormon but I ventured out to the good ol New Testament and found an AMAZING scripture. Even taped it up on my wall. 

It is Romans 8:18. 

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

How Beautiful. Read that a couple times and let it sink in. All the hard work we put forth will be rewarded. It may not seem like it right away, but we go through hard things for a reason!

ALSO there is a Japanese teacher here and a girl from his mission has a sister that is passing away soon.. so a couple Japanese districts all got together and we filmed a video singing love at home in Japanese because it is her favorite church song. The spirit was SO STRONG! I will attach a voice recording I took! Give it a listen! 

I love all of you and so does Jesus. So much that he SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR YOU. I hope you all have an amazing easter and party it up for me andddd eat lots of candyyyyy. But dont forget the reason for the season ;) I know that might be a Christmas phrase I think but it applies for right now! 

<3 Peterson Shimai (Sister Peterson)

OH! I also have 2 tips for you that I have learned while here at the MTC

1. Dont drop your bar of soap in the showers because it will slide into another persons shower stall and then it gets very awkward trying to get it back.

2. Make sure the load of whites are YOUR load of whites before you throw them in the dryer.  

Pictures below...

-My tabs for Japanese Grammer bleck

-The best companion duo aka Sister Merrill and I

- learning my favorite scripture in Japanese!

-RIP Elder Perez

-bus ride to the temple!!

- A very fitting picture of Jesus!

ENJOY

Sister Peterson Week 3

Hey Everyone!!!

I am basically fluent!

Just kidding, I am very very far from fluent. We started immersion yesterday so all my classes are in 100% Japanese. Yep, our teachers are already real good at charades and we even played some word games I swear I played in preschool. So fun, I am just trusting in the Lord and working my hardest because that is all I can do. WOOP

On Saint Patrick's day we got a special treat!!! Steven Sharp Nelson (Cello guy from Piano Guys) came and talked to us and performed. Everyone went wild, you would have thought 1 Direction walked in ready for a reunion. It was so good though and he brought up so many cool things to think about. 

The beginning of this week was so nice and sunny so we held most of our classes outside. Unfortunately my scalp got burnt though so if anybody knows good sunscreen that will not make my hair greasy... send it my way!!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone that wrote me a letter and gave to my mom to give to me. Seeing how many people wrote to me made me cry!! I have been reading a couple here and there so maybe on a random day just imagine me reading your letter because I probably am! ;) 

Devotional Tuesday was also amazing! President Johnson (General President over Relief Society (the women's program in our church)) talked to us and also said so many amazing things. One thing she said that stuck out to me was that we can still feel joy when we are going through a hard time. Think about that. Look for the sweet things throughout your day and you will live happier. That is what I have been trying to do and it has been helping me. Slowly but surely!

There are times where I think to myself what am I doing?!? I have thought about how bizarre missions seem to other people not in the church because what. I am 19 years old and about to move across the world for a year and a half for my church. BUT WAIT. That is wrong. I am not doing this for my churchhhh, I am doing this for my Savior and His children. The joy that Jesus Christ and His gospel has brought me is enough to motivate me to share it with people. I am so excited and happy to be doing His work and to be part of His plan. Dont forget you can be missionaries too! 

I love you all more than you know and miss you so much. 

Dont forget God loves you too! You are His child!!

<3 Peterson Shimai :)

P.s everyone is getting sick but it hasn't hit me yet... PRAY FOR MEEEE

Pictures!!!

-Joy D Jones!!!

-THE Steven Sharp Nelson

-Our lovely drawer

-might be back into my cereal kick, we will see

-went to the temple today with my amazing district!!

Dinner Date

Kefford warned me that I was going to get a lot of teasing about getting sick while out on Marks boat, Mark razzed me about it whenever chance he got a chance to while we were at his house and he told Bob about it happening. On our way back from the coast Mikell had sent a picture of Emily to our family group chat for National Downs Syndrome day and after people commented Bob sent a message to me. He was teasing me about getting sea sick and it honestly didn't bother me. I have been apart of this family long enough to recognize the teasing meant with love and I love that he feels comfortable enough with me to give me a hard time about getting sick. I know that he would not do it with everyone and I love that we have this type of relationship.

Friday morning I took my daily walk and decided to walk through the Spurwing subdivision to get to the green belt which took me past the temple. I love this trail and love that I am able to see the Temple on my morning walk.

Kelsey and Brit gave Kefford and I and bob and Alison gift cards to an Asian restaurant that is in Eagle. Bob and Alison were staying at the temple House Friday night and Alison came by to give Rylee her belated birthday gift, we asked if they had plans for dinner and decided to all go out to use our gift cards. It was a new restaurant for all of us and fun to try but it was not super impressive and I don't see any of us going back. I had fun being with Bob and Alison and love that them being in the Temple Presidency means more time with them in Meridian and more time for us to do things with just them.

Rylee, Alison, Bob and Kefford

 

Alison and Bob

Oregon Coast; Saying Goodbye

 Thursday morning we planned on traveling back home, we had a good week visiting Mark and Debbie but were ready to go home. We were not in a rush to leave so that morning I joined Kefford and Mark on their morning walk and we walked around Winchester Bay for a couple of hours. 

We saw this memorial which I really liked, it tugged at my patriotic heart strings and I wanted a picture so I could remember it.

There was a pier out into the ocean that looked broken and unusable at the end but I asked Mark if we could walk down the pier. I wasn't't sure if we would be able to but when we went over to it we saw that it was not closed off and we were able to walk down it. The end of the pair had a small fence around it but we could see where the pier used to go out to and I took a picture of the wood sticking up out of the ocean, I liked the seagull sitting on one post looking like Scuttle.

I took a picture of Mark and Debbies house and then Mark took some pictures of us in front posing with their wood carving captain. They bought the carving at the same place the crab came from, the chain saw carving competition. The crab won first place and if I remember right this boat captain won second or third, I cannot remember which.

We had a great week visiting the coast and Mark and Debbie and would be happy to go back any time.