Sister Peterson Week 25

Hiii!

Yesterday was Byron's baptism and it was so amazing! This was my first time going to a convert's baptism and I loved it! The whole program was in English because he is from New Zealand, so I really got to appreciated everything. It is interesting because in Japan, it takes a lot of teaching and understanding for a person to be Baptised. And Japanese are really stuck in their Buddhist culture ways. So when a baptism happens, not too often, it is pretty powerful and meaningful. I am happy I got to be apart of it. -just wait for next week -

 Last Pday we went to the aquarium with some other missionaries and oh my goodness you guys. I had the best time. We got to watch a dolphin show and it was so precious. The cute little dolphins seemed so excited to show us their tricks and jumps. There were some balooga whales, turtles, jellyfish, lots of other aquarium things! Overall 8/10 aquarium. (They didn't really have sharks:/)

Haha I made an absolute fool of myself on Friday. As most of you could probably guess, I am just not good at all at basketball. But we were invited to play with some people. We show up and it's literally the elders and all teenage Japanese boys (+2 older ppl) who are SO GOOD at basketball. My comp didn't want to play, so I was on my own. Idk how I did it but I ended up scoring a whole 6 points for my team WOOP! I will not tell you the total point we had and let you think 6 is a lot! 

We had zone conference this Friday and wow, so amazing. As always of course. (I also got to see my favorite Sister Harris from the MTC! Oh I love her!!) The main thing I learned and am really trying to work on is being mindful and present. My brain tends to wander a lot and over think a lot. Especially being on the mission this can be a problem and has become one quickly. I over think small things I have done, maybe I didn't talk to a person I walked by, I stress because I do not know the Japanese for my next lesson, etc. It's hard. But I am working on focusing on things around me, being more present and allowing the spirit to just guide me, and trusting that God will always pull through!

Alma 36:3 

"for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

I am sorry, I have to cut this email short. I am exhausted and have lots to do. 

Next week's email will be more fun! 

I love you all!

God loves you too!!

<3 Sister Peterson 

08/26/24

Also my bike ATE my skirt  and tore it so bad  very unfortunate, humbling, exposing moment for me. (ごめん Ferraz 姉妹, the skirt was great while it lasted)

Also my mom already chastised me for freezing unpeeled bananas, and I have already understood why you gotta peel the bananas, THEN freeze them. So I don't want to hear it.

The Little Mermaid

 The Music Theater of Idaho was putting on the musical The little Mermaid and one of my friends who taught for Cyndi with The Dance Connection was playing the role of Ariel. I was so excited when Augustine told us she got the role and was really excited to watch her perform the part. Kefford doesn't normally go with us to the plays we like to go to but I made him go to this one because it was The Little Mermaid and I knew Augustine who played Ariel. He also was forced to go with us to seven brides for seven brothers because we had an extra ticket, lucky guy.

It was super fun watching Augustine perform as Ariel. At first I didn't recognize her because there is another girl who plays the part just on different days and with the hair, makeup and costume I was unsure if it was my friend. Pretty soon though I recognized her mannerisms and the way she talked and I knew it was Augustine. At intermission I saw Holly and Brigitte, other Dance Connection teachers, so I went over to visit with them for a bit. 

Once the play was over we went out to find Augustine and get some pictures. She was taking pictures with the guy who played Prince Eric and when we came over for a picture he was unsure if we wanted him in it with us. He ended up sitting our pictures out but this picture Rylee took with him in it makes me laugh, he looks so bummed not to be part of our pictures. 

Elizabeth, Augustine, Holly and Brigitte

Relief Society Spotlight

 Our Relief Society does a Sister Spotlight in the newsletter once a month. When I got the list of questions I thought they sent it to everyone and I put it aside and didn't think about it. In the next newsletter that was sent out they added a blurb about the spotlight and said if you got the email questions about it then it is your turn for a spotlight. After that I got another email with the same questions and I immediately stressed because I knew I had to do it. It took me a while to finally get around to it and once I wrote it out and sent it in I stressed even more and regretted everything I said. I am just not good at talking about myself and feel super self conscience knowing that sisters in the ward are reading it. Nevertheless it got sent and maybe read and I am posting it here as well because why not.

I grew up in Southern California and love being able to go back a couple of times a year to visit my family, I love the beach, Disneyland and my family so my visits to the West Coast are always a win/win.  I grew up a member of the church, my Dad was a convert at 19 and my Mom is a second generation member, I have always looked up to them for their dedication to and love for the Lord and am so grateful for how I was raised and their examples. 

I went to Ricks College where I studied dance, I was not into school and when I couldn't come up with something I wanted to major in my Mom suggested Dance and I thought that was a great idea. I have taught dance for over 12 years, more recently I have scaled back my teaching schedule and now teach just two classes a week on Monday mornings. I teach a 2's class and a 3-5 year olds class and I love my littles so much. Every year I get the cutest kids and I have a lot of fun teaching and loving them. 

I have 4 kids, my oldest is Kenedy, she is 24 and is married to Tyler, they live in Salt Lake City where he is attending the University of Utah. Next we have Ryker who is 21, he served a mission in Texas and is now attending Utah State. Avynlea is 19 and she is currently serving in the Japan, Nagoya mission where she is trying to survive the humidity and language barriers. Rylee is our youngest, she is 17 and just started her Senior year of High School. I love my kids, they are my best friends and I love being their Mom, they are such good examples to me and are so fun to be around. 

With lots of time in my day I am grateful for the few hobbies I have to help occupy that time. I have always loved to read and used to get in trouble in school for reading instead of doing school work or home work. I was taught how to sew by my Mother-in-law when I was a newlywed and made dresses, pajamas and Halloween costumes for my kids. They have not wanted to wear my homemade creations in a long time and so I switched my allegiance from sewing clothes to making quilts. I love the process of quilting and find such satisfaction at the completion of another quilt. Through watching youtube videos and a lot of practice I have learned to style hair and I enjoy doing my hair and have done others hair for weddings, proms, homecomings and Baptisms. My guilty pleasure is Reality TV and that is all I have to say about that ;)

Currently my calling is with the Young Women and I love being with the youth. We have an amazing group of girls, Moms you should be so proud of your daughters, I feel I learn more from them then they do from me. I love this Gospel and am so grateful for a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father. I love attending the Temple, my specialty is initiatory :), and find a lot of peace and love within those walls. I love our Ward and appreciate the love and support shown to our family. I can get shy and awkward sometimes in large groups, I am trying to overcome that and hope I can continue to meet more of the amazing women in our ward. 

Sister Peterson Week 24

Happy Pday everyone!

Btw Pday means Preparation day! Like a Saturday for us missionaries! Woop woop

Guys, I have been eating like 5 bananas a day... A member from another ward knows one of our elders because he served in that ward previously. Well this man asked if he could give us Bananas so we were like oh sure. HE LITERALLY GAVE US A WHOLE BOX WITH LIKE 100 BANANAS! So our whole apartment smells like Bananas now. I am planning on making banana bread, but please if anyone knows what to do with a bazillion Bananas LET ME KNOW!! I am not sure if I can keep up with my 5 a day streak for much longer.

On Tuesday evening we went out streeting and talked to this man. (I approached him, so I was proud of myself) We told him we have free English classes (eikaiwa) and if he was interested (in Japanese). He responded "a little bit" in English!!! We were like woahhh. We then were able to get his phone number and add him to our eikaiwa group chat! A couple days later he texted us asking if he can bring his friend. We were like ummm of courseeeee! After eikaiwa that night he told us he has ANOTHER friend he wants to bring AND that friends child! So by talking to 1 person, we got 4 more people to our class. It was so amazing!!

Another evening we were streeting again hehe (basically all we do) and we saw this girl named Sashini! We had talked to her a little bit a couple days before while we were all riding bikes but she had to go to work. The conversation was really casual. Well, when she saw us again this evening she was riding her bike while we were walking. Girl screeches her bike to a stop and asks US for OUR phone number! It was amazing! I'm guessing she is about 17-18 years old. She had to zoom off to work again, but I have high hopes for her!

We had dinner with a member and her daughter, then they took us to a Matsuri (festival)!! It was fun! There were a lot of people there! When we got there we went over to this area where everyone was doing like Japanese culture dances. They were pretty simple so we joined in! We also walked around the vendor area where they had lots of food. I bought a yummy chocolate covered banana (despite my collection at the apartment) and a frozen can of mandarin oranges haha. Both were amazing! I decided that I literally do not care the price, I am going to buy a kimono. You know, the fancy outfits Japanese people wear. A bunch of people were wearing them around the festival and I felt so left out. 

Japan Tips!

- People do not say USA, only America. I one time told someone I was from the USA and they were confused until I said America. Idk what that's about.

- Cars here are alwaysss reversed parked. At least at home and work and stuff. Not as much at grocery stores or quick stops like that.

- Even at 9 o'clock at night, with the sun down, you will still be sweating because of the humidity... 

-Denwabango is phone number in Japanese

You are welcome

This week we visited with a member and she shared an incredible personal story that made it into the Ensign (a church magazine) like forever ago! I will attach a picture of it, so PLEASE READ IT!

It is a story about a crazy miracle that happened in her life. Since being on a mission I have gained a testimony of God's miracles. They are not all huge, most often times not, but I know they are all from God.

Mormon 9:11

"But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are."

The same God of these miracle performing ancient prophets is the God who created you. The same Loving Heavenly Father who is always pouring miracles upon you. God works in small ways so please don't overlook the things He does for you! I shared some big miracles that happened this week, but I saw so many more small miracles. Like the chocolate banana being 400¥ instead of 800¥. His miracles are everywhere! Seek them out! You will see what you are looking for. I know this to be true!

I love you all!

A Miraculous God loves you!

Make it a good week!!

<3 Sister Peterson

08/18/24

I have to explain some of these pictures...

-While I ate my French toast with bananas and syrup, my (filipino) comp made hers like a ham sandwich. I cannot tell you how thrown off I was by that.

- A group of us missionaries were getting lunch after our meeting and these 2 old ladies were giggling the whole time and insisted we take a pic with them. Idk what that was about but it was fun. They reminded me of my mom when she is with any of her sisters.

- Meet my friend Kuchan. She weighs about 7 lbs and can't keep her tongue in her mouth no matter how hard she tries. She is like really old too, so we had to carry her the whole time we were at the festival, or we would probably still be walking there.

-The bananas are turning brown real fast. HELP!!! This Pic was taken after a couple days of having them, I am proud of the progress I have made!

Visiting Ryker in Logan

Ryker spent the summer living with Dustin and Sara and working construction for Sun Roc. The reason for this was because he needed to be there to gain Utah residency so he could pay in state tuition for school. It was a bummer to not have him home this summer but he liked being at Dustins and bonded with their family which I love. Dustins girls loved him like a big brother and would tease him and torment him but it was fun for all of them. I think Dustin liked having another guy around and I like that they were able to bond more as well. 

Ryker is an RA in the dorms and had to go back to school 2 weeks early for RA training which he hated and felt like it was such a waste of time. The only good part about it was the free food and they were fed really well with having different restaurants catering. Move in day for all the students was August 17th and Kefford and I drove down on the 16th to bring Ryker his mini fridge, take him grocery shopping, help him with his last minute RA duties and most important, spend some time with Ryker. 

When we got into town we needed to check in to our hotel and Kefford surprised me with a room at the Anniversary Inn. We have talked about going to the Anniversary Inn in Boise since we were married and have never done it so this was a fun surprise. Kefford booked the Swiss Family Robinson room and it was something. The theme was cool and all the stuff they had in there was pretty cool but it did smell and feel a little like a cheap motel to both of us. The bed area was upstairs which made both of us nervous about having to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and navigating the stairs so we left a light on downstairs which was not the best to sleep with. The ceiling also had twinkling lights to mimic the stars which was cool but again not the best for sleeping if you like it pitch dark.

The shower and sink faucet were cool and it was fun to try out this experience that we have talked about for 25+ years.

 

Some of Rykers duties as an RA were to make name tags for the dorm rooms, make an about me for his room and set up the bulletin board for his floor. Ryker is the RA for the first floor residents. Ryker did a Star Wars theme and designed Light Sabers for the door name tags which looked really cool. When we got there he had a lot of things made but he needed help cutting out the door name tags and that is what I helped him with Friday night for a little bit. The next morning we got the tags finished and taped them to the doors. Ryker spent the night printing out the stuff he needed for his Bulletin Boards and when Kefford and I came over Saturday morning we helped him put it all up on the boards.

All of the RA's do their own door name tags and it is tradition to have every RA give one of their designs to all of the other RA's and they put them all on their doors. I like Ryker's light saber the best but the other designs were pretty fun. Ryker has a little white board on his door and he had the idea from a friend who was an RA to put a question of the week for the residents to answer on his white board. This week's question was on theme with his floors decor and when I asked him a couple of days later about it he said he got a lot of answers on it. 

One thing the RA's have to have is an about me board put up. The bulletin board for Ryker to use was next to another residents door which was weird and annoying so he just put an arrow pointing to his door with a note saying what room he is in. 

Once we were done getting things set up Kefford wanted to go on a hike so Ryker took us on a hike to the Wind Caves. It was a hard hike for me but Ryker was super helpful and encouraging and helped me a lot. He kept telling me once we got to the wind caves that it would be worth it and once we got up there he asked me if it was worth it to which I said it was a beautiful view but I have no desire to ever do it again. I am glad I did it and that I survived it and it really was a beautiful view. 

Ryker had to do the obligatory make it look like I am falling off the cliff picture. 

I added my answer to the bulletin board and took one last picture of Ryker before Kefford and I left for Meridian.

Ewok #2 :)

Ryker got a letter from Audrey and sent us a picture of it. It was so sweet and I really love the relationship he was able to develop with his Cousins over the summer.