sharing the gospel is like eating pie

So last week was a good week, it was a little slow. A family invited us over for Christmas eve dinner. It was a lot of fun, and spiritual.  They had some non-member family over, it was great experience for them, one of them commented that he didn't know that Mormon's knew how to have fun. And they totally felt the Spirit there. Christmas day was spent at the Arellono, the family that let us use their tablets for skype. And at the Marshells. We had a good time at both of them.

We were able to meet with Henry, we had a good lesson with him, we talked to him about church attendance. The concern there is that he thinks church is supposed to be loud with the Hallelujahs and the amens, he thinks that he doesn't like quiet hymns. He did agree to give it a try, but he didn't show up. So we are hoping we can get him to come this week

We also meet with Ruben, he is doing good, his faith is growing and he is starting to answer his own questions after we gave him a push in the right direction. He is still a little agnostic and doesn't really want to come to church, but he has agree to baptism.

On Sunday for the combined Priesthood Relief Society lesson, our ward mission leader Bro. Long was in charge, we went over the ward mission plan, and talked about missionary work. He asked the missionaries to speak, and some converts. The he had a object lesson on how members can do missionary work. Which by the way none of us knew he was going to do. He compared the Gospel to a delicious pie.  He had me come up and put a plastic garbage bag over my head, so the bag covered my suit. I was a little worried, knowing Bro. Long, plus pie plus plastic bag probably was not going to end well.  So he started to demonstrate how we need to shared the gospel one spoonful at a time. So he feed me the pie as he shared the gospel with me. Then he started to sharing everything. My thought then was maybe I should take my glasses off. Then I had a pie in my face. He did that to show that we can't throw the gospel in peoples faces, or it won't be delicious to them. Then he let me go get cleaned up. But just so you know my face, my glasses and my suit are okay. The pie was good and not everyone can say they got pied in the face as a missionary

So that's my week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

kinda slow right now

So last week was an alright week. It was also kind of slow right now in Temple City. So Dylan doesn't want to meet with us right now. He haven't been able to meet with Henry, and Kelly is on vacation until January. We did pick up a new investigator, His name is Matt, the missionaries found him on the bus a couple of months ago, and we meet with him and are hoping to keep meeting with him. Reuben is doing good, still a little agnostic, but he wants to believe in God. He tried to come to church on Sunday but he missed the bus and couldn't make it. He still wants to meet with us, so we will keep going by.

So recently they have started a new way to teach investigators, I'm not sure if it is world wide but it sounds like it might go that way, because it came from the church missionary department. Basically it makes the lessons shorter and simpler. We have started teaching using the pamphlets, so lessons are now around 15 to 20 minutes, and it simplifies the teaching.

This week we are going to receive training for Facebook proselyting, so once again you can't contact me on Facebook or chat with me. I'm not sure all the details about it so at the end of this week or next week you will start to see me on Facebook. We will also be getting tablets and the end of January.

So nothing else to exciting happened. Thanks for the love and support, I really appreciated the Christmas letters I received from the ward thanks.

Elder Peterson

We are planning on calling around one, because of the time difference it will be two for you. I'm not sure if the members we are going to have Skype, but if they do I will probably do that.

dreaming of a white christmas

Well first off, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. It's strange being in the middle of December with no snow, eighty degrees and sunny.

So last week was a slow week. We currently have four investigators, and I've only meet one of them. His name is Dylan, he is eighteen. We schedule appointments and when we get there he is in the middle of doing something and can't meet.  Our other investigators are Henry, a guy named Kelly, and Reuben. Reuben was picked up as an investigator this week from a pass off lesson with the Spanish Elders. The Way pass of lessons usually work is in this case one of the Spanish Elders who had been teaching went in with Elder Stinson. It's done this way because four missionaries would be intimidating so that's why I haven't meet Reuben, but I will be meeting him this week. Henry won't answer his phone, and the only days that work for Kelly are Monday and Friday afternoons, we can't do Monday because that's P-day and last Friday didn't work for us because he had a Mission Christmas training/devotional/party so that took up most of the day. It was fun, I think everyone had a good time.

Other than that it was a boring week. Thanks for the love and support.

info on Temple city according to google

Temple City

City in California

Temple City is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Temple City is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Rosemead, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a rapidly growing Asian population. Wikipedia

Area: 4.005 sq miles (10.37 km²)

Weather: 61°F (16°C), Wind NW at 0 mph (0 km/h), 0% Humidity

Population: 36,099 (2012)

Local time: Tuesday 12:05 PM

Unemployment rate: 6.6% (Aug 2013)

Transferred to Temple City Ward

Well sorry that I didn't email on Monday. So Saturday we had transfer calls both Elder Bell and I thought that both of us were staying, but we were wrong. I got transferred to Temple city ward, which covers parts of Rosemead, Temple city, Arcadia and El Monte. I live in an apartment in El Monte. It's kind of weird being back. The reason why I didn't email was because the libraries around here are closed on Monday kind of stupid I think. So my new companion is Elder Stinson from Portland Oregon.

 

My last week in Claremont was a good one. When I first got there, we had next to nothing to work with, in the last transfer we had several investigators we were working with.

 

We started teaching a guy named Andrew, he was a referral form the Spanish missionaries, we really seems excited to meeting with missionaries. The wright family (the part member family I've mentioned) have feed a dinner a while back and also seem excited, especially the kids. They made it to church on Sunday. John didn't come to church, so his baptism date will have to be pushed back. We meet Denise and started meeting with here daughter Brittney last week. They both came to church, Brittney seems really excited to meet with us. Saturday evening before we got transfer calls several missionaries were volunteered to help  be crowed control for a Chirstmas Parade in Covina, So we walked around in the cold for about 4 hours. 

 

So thats my last week in Claremont I was sad to leave, I'm not sure how a feel about this Temple City ward, the ward is split with us and a set of sister missionies so thats a first for me. It will be interesting and it sounds like I am going to have to be doing the same thing here that I was doing in Claremont, building the trust of members, started with next to nothing again. But is sound like it is better than what it was. 

 

Thanks for the love and support

 

Elder Peterson 

Thanksgiving=slower week

Last week was kind of a slow week mostly because everyone was out of town for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving day was the slowest, but a member invited us over to there house for dinner. It was strange both Elder Bell and I felt out of place.

We did meet with John and he is doing great he understands what we are teaching him and is excited to keep meeting with us. He didn't not come to church on Sunday, we aren't sure why but will are going to find out. 

Lorenc has moved out so he can be closer to school. He doesn't have a car so it took him about an hour and a half by bus. We are a little sad because he was doing great. We both know that he was a testimony but he doesn't know that he was a testimony. We was rent from John and Jerry so we kind of started teach John and Lorenc together. One time John asked us a question and Lorenc stepped in and answered it for him and pretty much testified to him without realizing it. So we are letting the missionaries that cover the area he moved to know so they can continue to teach him.

We meet with Denise but her daughter Brittney was not there, Denise told us that they would both come to church on Sunday. Denise walked in and sat down, we didn't see her so we thought she didn't come. So we stopped by and found out she did, once again Brittney wasn't there. Denise says Brittney interested, so we keeping hoping to teach her with Denise. Though working with Denise will be kind of slow, she didn't really remember much. 

So if I didn't mention it we live with our zone leaders, and at the start of this transfer the new zone leader Elder Davenport, came out with me and we had lived together in the Orangewood ward when I was in El Monte, then he trained while we were still there. Last week the other zl Elder Mendoza when home to Spain a couple of week early so he could go to school. His replacement was Elder Maybe, the missionary that Elder Davenport trained, so all three of us are living together again. To make things crazier Elder Bell and Maybe were in the same MTC district. That doesn't happen everyday. 

So that was my week transfer calls are this weekend, most likely I will be staying in Claremont. The mission office has moved to a new location to make more convenient to get there by bus. It is 614 west Foothill Arcadia. Another thing is that I'm not sure when but it will be soon we will start Facebook proselyting so don't freak out if when you see me on Facebook. And you can't talk to me when I am on there or my mission president will make me defriend you. That means you Kersten.

Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

my week in a nutshell

Well last week was busy and kind of crazy.

As you know we have been trying to pick up John as an investigator and we did. He asked us if he could meet with us. So we set up a time to meet with him. We were also helping him with his yard. So we taught him the Restoration.  That went really well and he still wants to meet with us. We couldn't contact Lorsne this week, we found out later it was because his phone broke. Both he and John showed up at church as well as Jerry (John's adopted dad who is less active). That was exciting to see them, they participated well in gospel principles. There is a member who is a professor at Cal-Poly (i think that is how you spell it) who is in our ward, Bro. Lamb. Lorsne and Bro. Lamb know each other so that was a nice surprise for both of them. Brenda and Sean, we haven't been able to meet with them last week. 

Thursday morning we got a call from the missionaries in the Claremont first ward, and they told us they had meet a part member family that lives in our ward who wants to meet with the missionaries, so we got the information, and gave the wife, who is not a member, a call. The husband is less active and the kids are not members. She sounded excited to meet with us, and we are planning on meeting with them. Saturday we had dinner with the bishop and when we told him that he told us that members in the ward have been working with them for a long time. It sound like he was going to ask us to go and visit them. The Lord works in amazing ways.

We went to subway on our way home from helping John in his yard. So we were still in our work clothes with our name tags on. The girl that was making our sandwiches saw them and started to talk with us. She told us that her mom used to meet with missionaries, so we asked what her moms name was when she told us it was Denise Sheets both Elder Bell and I recognized that name as a former investigator.  And she asked us to go by, the next day when we had some time we went over there. Denise said that is was okay for us to keep coming by, we even saw her daughter, whose name is Brittney, they both said that they would come to church, but they didn't show up, so we are going to try and stop by again this week.  

A member gave us a referral, which means they gave us a name of a person or family for us to go and teach. The family name was McGarey and they know a few people in the ward. So we stopped by both of them were feeling sick but they said to come by on another day. They seem excited to meet with us. Then Saturday night we got 4 referrals from the Spanish Sisters who we need to contact this week. So that's my week in a nutshell, thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

better week

 

So last week was a good week. Also a little crazy with how things worked out.

Monday evening we were at dinner, while we were there we got a call from Jerry (the less active member with the non-member son named John). He called twice and left a message, we checked the message and he thought we were coming over, there was some miscommunication we thought he had said Sunday the day before, when we tried it was a bad time. So anyway Elder Bell and I both felt like we needed to go there he lived just around the corner from where we were. We biked over there and when we got there there was a man in his late twenties standing out front. He asked are you  Mormons? We said yeah we are we are looking for Jerry and John. He then said Oh they are inside and he let us inside. His name is Lornse, he is renting a room from Jerry. He moved from Italy about four and a half years ago and is going to school to be an engineer. He was also talked with missionaries in Italy. He started asking some questions, and we just started with the Restoration. Jerry was there, John got up and left into the other room. Lorsne had questions, he accepted what we taught him, and a Book of Mormon he said that he would read it. Then we both felt like we should invite him to be baptized. We told us that if he found out the Book of Mormon and what we taught was true he would be baptized. We left and were like that was awesome. He meet with him again on Saturday, which was just as awesome. We got there and it was just Lorsne this time. He had read the first 6-8 chapter of First Nephi. We answered his questions, he said that he had been praying about it, but is still not sure. Then we asked if he had any other questions, then he asked what happens to those that die and didn't not get to hear about Mormonism, Elder Bell and looked at each other and smiled and started to teach him the Plan of Salvation. That went really well, he said that he would keep reading and asking if what he taught was true. We plan on meeting him this week. 

We weren't able to to meet with Brenda last week or Sean. We decided that we should drop Amber. We couldn't get in contact with her. She wouldn't answer her phone and she wasn't home. And we think she wasn't all there mentally. And it didn't seem like she wanted to meet with us, because she wouldn't contact us. Stuff think this happens so we just move on.

Other than that it was kind of a boring week. Thanks for the love and support

Elder Peterson

kinda rough

So last week was kind of a slow week. We found out the Elijah is going to stay at his grandparents for the holidays, so he will be gone till about January. We are still hoping to be able to teach his mom Denise, but we haven't been able to get in contact with her. We were unable to meet with Sean on Saturday, she didn't reply to our messages to confirm the appointment. We wanted to confirm because we needed to bring another guy with us because she lives alone, and we can't go in with out another male there.  So we were hoping to confirm so we could find someone, instead of finding someone and the lesson canceling. So we hope we can get a hold of her soon.

Amber has kind of dropped of the face the planet, we can't get a hold her, she doesn't answer her phone, or respond to voice mails, and when we go by her house she isn't home. But both Elder Bell and I don't think she is all there mentally. Hopefully we can meet with her again, and see if she will progress. So we will see what happens. 

We did pick up a new investigator, her name is Brenda she had been taught by missionaries in the past, but she is willing to meet with us. She is on call, so we can't set appointments in advance, but will still will be able to meet with her. We have also been trying to pick up another investigator. His name is John Phan. He is the adopted son of a member who was baptized a couple of years ago but has stopped coming to church. It kind of annoying, but the weird thing is they gladly have us come over to do yard work (mostly us doing the work), but they won't sit down and have a lesson with us. We asked John when we were over there last time if we could have a lesson with him after we were done. He said yes, then a few minutes later he said can we do it tomorrow. We went by the next day, and they canceled. But they want us over to do more yard work though.

I guess the only exiting story I have this week is I got really sick on Thursday. It was at zone meeting, and I started not feeling well shortly before is started, Long story short I got up twice to go throw up, after the Elder Bell knew I was sick after the first time. So basically  we stayed home while I slept and puked about all day. It was not fun especially after there is nothing left in your stomach. But I feel better know, the weird thing was my chest hurt more than it had been that day. It has calm down to its normal pain level now. But I don't want do to that again. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

"Being a district leader is basically being a babysitter"

Last week was great. Being district leader is basically a babysitter for about two other companionship (district can vary in size). And on Thursdays I teach district meeting, this week it was on Our Purpose as missionaries.

So the sister missionaries gave a referral. They are teaching a kid about 14, and his friend sat in a few times. His friend, Elijah, wanted to be taught by the missionaries. So they gave us his mom's number, and I gave her a call. She said that Elijah wants to come to church and she would like to come too. Her grandma is a member, and had come down to visit and brought them to church. We haven't started teaching them yet but we will this week, but the grandma is excited and Elijah and his mom, Denise, are excited to meet with her.

We are meeting with Sean Saturday, she doesn't seem to understand we would like to meet with her more that every two to three weeks. At least we are still meeting with her.  We haven't met with Amber again, but she called Saturday night at 8 because she wanted to come to church, so thankfully we were able to find a ride for her on short notice. We are hoping to meet with her again. We aren't sure how it is going to work out because either she was or is still on drugs, because she doesn't seem to be all there.

Halloween was just a normal day, expect we had to go in earlier. Last exciting story for the week. I can't remember what day this happened, Elder Bell and I were figuring out plans because other plans fell through, as we were standing there a car full of teenage boys drove by and were flipping us off. They then turned around and drove by again. Elder Bell kind of held up his hands, and looked at them like what's your problem, it wasn't a glare or anything. So they stopped and got two of them got out and started to walk towards us. I was watching them the corner of my eye as I was looking at a map, Elder Bell was watching getting ready to beat them if they tried anything. When they were a few feet away from us. One of them stopped and said I can't do this that's messed up. The other guy looked really tick off left us alone anyway. As they were walking away he said something, and the other kid said that God is right there man, and was pointing between Elder Bell and I, after they left we both felt we needed to get out of there, so we did and we avoided that area the rest of the day. 

That about sums it up, thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

 

 

New Companion Elder Bell

 

Transfers were today, I am staying in Claremont and Elder Thomsen went to Arcadia. My new companion is Elder Bell. I have also been called as the District Leader which means I get to teach district meeting every on Thursdays, and there will be 8 of us in the district.

Amber missed our appointment on Thursday, and we set up another time to meet with her on Wednesday, she also didn't make it to church. We were able to meet with Sean again, we taught her the plan of salvation, she understood it, but I think she just wants to know more about the Church rather that join it. Tuesday we had a pass of lesson with the Spanish ward sister missionaries. Which is a lesson where you pass an investigator of to another set of missionaries, in this case the investigator wanted to go to an English ward. Her name is Bianca, she is looking for a good Church, mostly for her son. She understands what we have taught, and we are meeting with her again on Tuesday. The biggest concern is that her husband is a Jehovah's Witness, and for some reason they don't like Mormons. So we are hoping to talk to him and find out if it is okay if we can teach her.

 On Friday we had a mission tour. A General Authority came and taught us. Elder Sitati  of the Seventy came. He is originally from Kenya. He focused mostly on our purpose as missionaries. It was most of the day, I learned a lot from it, and I study the notes I took and apply what I learned. 

I think that's about sums up my week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

New investigator

Since Wednesday not much has happened. We had interviews with our Mission President. He does this just to check up on us and see how we are doing.We had a lesson with a referral we got. Her name is Amber. She had a rough past and wants to turn it around. She has been living in a sober living home for women. The missionaries that found her said that she was ready to be baptized. So we were able to meet with her on Thursday. The rough thing is that she doesn't answer her phone so we can't really confirm with her. She always remembers though. We taught her the Restoration. Just talking with her brought up some concerns. We aren't sure if she is all there mentally. We were talking about Joseph Smith and she started talking about how she wouldn't ever do heroine. That's just an example. So we are going to keep teaching her and see what happens.

This weekend the LaVerne stake, the stake I am in, had there stake conference. Elder Risenmay of the Seventy was the presiding authority. He shared some of his missionary experiences. There was also a special meeting for investigators, recent converts, and less actives. Amber was able to make it, she enjoyed both meetings. On Saturday, one of the councilors in the stake president talked about increasing our testimony. He shared an experience he had. He had an opportunity to go to the Hill Cumorah. While he has there he wanted to make it more memorable. So he grabbed a small tree he felt the bark, then he shook it, a few leaves fell off. Feeling good he grabbed a bigger tree. It felt the same when he tried shaking it, but it didn't budge. He compared that to growing your testimony. There will be times where your testimony wavers like the first tree. As you continue to grow it will be the second tree unmovable. The entire stake conference was really good.

Thanks for the love and support

Elder Peterson.

The sweater fits, I like the pillow case and towel. The other missionaries have commented on them. 

small bike crash

Sorry you had to wait so long. 10 days, and it's also a long drive to the LA temple mostly because of traffic. Anyway it has been a good ten days. I enjoyed the temple enjoyed the new film I understand more now. I did not know Elder Page, we had only been out only four weeks. On Sunday we had memorial service for him. All the missionaries got together, it sounds like Elder Page had a powerful testimony of the Plan of Salvation. The service was recorded and sent to his mom.

These week and a half have been busy, we have been getting referrals and trying to contact them. I hoping that we will be able to teach them. We were able to get meet with an investigator we had not meet in a awhile, Mike, Though it seems that, not much is going to be happening with him, because his wife wants him to start going back to her church. So will see what happens. Hopefully we are able to meet with Sean this week. 

I got to bike in the rain on Wednesday, that was exciting.We left in the morning to an appointment. There was a lot of overcast, so I grabbed my rain coat. It sprinkled a little on the way there. One way back to the apartment to have lunch it poured. Elder Thomsen's jacket wasn't as rain proof as he thought. I got the sweater that day so that helped me stay warm on Wednesday. On Saturday I crashed my bike, I just got a few cuts an bruises. Not sure how it happened, the funny thing is, even though people saw me crash the only person who asked if I was okay, was Elder Thomsen.

Thanks for the love and support. Next week is a normal week so I we be emailing on Monday.

Elder Peterson

3 email in one week:-)

Last week was kind of interesting. Sean canceled her appointment, and rescheduled for two weeks from last Saturday which is kind of frustrating. We haven't been able to get a Bible in Arabic yet, but we run into Hanann (the Egyptian lady) every once in while and says hi. She doesn't seem interesting in taking the discussions right know.

It was interesting because we got a call from Spanish missionaries asking if Elder Thomsen could play the piano for a funeral for a lady that passed away in their ward. How they found out the he is really good at the piano, we don't know. So it was awkward because we didn't know the lady that passed way and we didn't really know anyone there because it is a Spanish ward  so everyone there only speaks Spanish or is bilingual. 

We also got a text from a former investigator who wanted to meet with us again. The only problem is the missionaries stopped teaching him because all he wants to do is Bible bash with the missionaries, Elder Thomsen was one of the missionaries that first contacted him so he knows what he is like. He brought his pastor on one of the lessons. We invited him to General Conference because we were going to be at the Stake Center watching it. He said he would try to come, then he backed out. 

I enjoyed General Conference, it was a good one this time, I was kind of surprised that they didn't announce a new temple this time. So Sunday we had dinner with a family they were the Felix family, when I told them I was from Hyrum they got excited. Turns out bro. Felix is from Mt. Sterling and Sis Felix grew in a small town by Tremonten. They moved to California because of work. Small world.

Thanks for the love and support

Elder Peterson

 

2nd email:

 

I don't know I how forgot about this, but next week we get to go to the temple again next Wednesday Oct 16, so preparation day has been moved to that day, so I won't be sending out an email in next Wednesday. Thought it might be a good idea to let you know.

Elder Peterson  

 

Sunday night after conference we always talk about what part of conference touched us.  This is Jake response:

 

3rd email:

 

I like Uchtorf's talk the same one as Rachel I also liked his Priesthood sessions about when you fall you get back up.

helping with moving

This week was a good week.  We help a couple of people move. The first one was on Tuesday, he is planning on moving to Provo. The second was on Saturday, she was the neighbor of a member, and the guy she was renting from decided to sell the house and kicked her out, but she found a house down the street so we help her move. The lessons we had with our investigators canceled, so this week we are going to work on finding more investigators.  We were able to get an Arabic Book of Mormon for the Egyptian lady, now she wants a Bible in Arabic.  So we are working on that. Nothing else happened this week other than working with less-active members. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

 

Second email:

 

Kersten can pick out the sweater, she'll know what's good, as for style, they have a webpage for appropriate missionary attire, so you can look there if you want.  As for the other stuff I don't really know. Thanks.

Elder Peterson

small earthquake

Last week was exciting. There was an earthquake Thursday morning around 4:45 and then another about half an hour later. They weren't to big 3.7 and 3.8 and they only last like two seconds. The first one woke all of us up, I thought it was my companion on the top bunk until another elder was like oh my gosh that was an earthquake. So we talked for awhile started to fall back asleep and were wakened by the second one. The only scary thing about them was the fact that earthquake come out of nowhere. No one got hurt and it didn't cause any damage.

So it was a pretty normal week, other than the earthquake, we haven't been able to meet with any of our investigators, but we did find a couple potentials. The first one stopped us, she Egyptian I think, she asked for an Book of Mormon so we gave were her one then she asked for one in Arabic, so we are working one that. The other one will be interesting, he believes that all religion is corrupt, and that the only thing we need to worry about is accepting Jesus Christ, but we gave him our number so we will see what happens.

They got ride of the cars to improve our finding efforts, ride now our mission is a pilot test mission for this and because Elder Perry told President Becerra. The idea is so that missionaries can be seen more it's kind of hard to see missionaries as they zip by in their cars. So public transportation, bikes and walking. So far it seems to be working.

 

If you really want to send me my sheets you can, and surprisingly I might need a sweater, the evenings have been starting to get cooler, but I might not need them for a couple weeks, because there is a possibility that it will warm up again because it is Southern California.

 

 

I did get your package, I liked it I really like the tie. The tag gave me a kick. Designed in Italy, made in China, Still creating jobs in the USA.  Thanks

Elder Petetrson

no more cars

Slow week again. We were unable to meet with any investigators last week. New transfer started today, Elder Thomson and I are still in Claremont. All cars are officially gone. So walking, biking and public transportation are how we are getting around. Zone leaders get to keep their cars for emergencies. So getting to the family history center today to do e-mail was an adventure. We rode the bus part of the way and we needed a different bus to get the rest of the way. The bus we needed doesn't run until 2:00. So we started walking we still had a few miles to go, we were able to find a ride. So we are going to change plans to get things figured out. This week should be a good week. One thing that we have started doing is sharing The Work of Salvation. It has excerpts from the broadcast back in June, it has videos about members missionary work. We share this videos with members to help them with their missionary work so we see how is works. Thanks for love and support.

Elder Peterson

New Investigator

Last week was a slower week. We did pick a new investigator on Saturday. Her name is Sean Massey. She was found by a set of missionaries as she was waiting for the bus. She wanted to know more about our church and agreed to meet with missionaries. They had given her a Book of Mormon. When we met with her she was a little confused about it. She thought it was another translation of the Bible. We got that cleared up and taught her the Restoration. Only downside is that she wants to meet again two weeks from now. Other than that it was slower. Nothing to exciting happened other than they are officially taking away all cars in the mission. Zone leaders will keep their cars but for emergencies only. So now every missionary is going to be using public transportation and bikes. We'll see how it works. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

a long letter

 

Last week was a good week. We were able to meet with our investigator Mike, and taught him the Restoration. We invited him to come to church, but he didn't come. Some less actives we have been working with showed up though that was exciting.  Last week we had a zone conference, Elder Haney of the 70 talked with us. He taught us how we need to find through members. The Hertzlers who you meet with on Sunday is in my ward, their son and daughter-in-law are moving in to your ward. We were supposed to have dinner with them yesterday, but they were out of town. Now I know where they were.

On Friday we were biking to our next appointment when we found a 5 dollar bills on the road. We were like okay this is strange, we looked around and found a wallet. We think it belongs to a student at the Claremont colleges (a group of colleges in Claremont, in the other ward). We are still working on getting it there, because the office was closed on Saturday. Other than that nothing to exciting happened. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

normal week

Last week was went well. We got another referral from the Spanish Elders. When they found him he was a little drunk, said he wanted to meet with the missionaries. We here able to contact him, he still wanted to meet with us. His name is Mike. His wife and daughter talk with us, but they go to another church. Mike goes occasionally but he doesn't like that the politics and paid ministry. We found out that his grandfather was a member and that is why we want to meet with us. Other than that it was pretty much a normal week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

some excited stories;-)

Last week was a good week.  We got three referrals and tried to contact them but ended up only contacting one. The other one we found was out of town until Wednesday, so we are planning on contacting him then. Other than that we just visited less active members most of the week.  Elder Thompsen had to replace both of his inner tubes, we ended up walking home because his back tire went flat, when we got home he pulled something out of his front tire and it went flat. There not really any other exciting stories, other than we keep running into this guy who shares with us conspiracy theories. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

 

Normal week

Last week was a good week. Getting used to the area. My companion is Elder Thomsen from Missouri, he has been out about 15 months. Right now we aren't teaching any investigators so we visited less active members. I'm liking the area, it's an all biking area, and it is in the foothills so it has a lot of hills. I am liking the ward. Nothing to exciting happened. We did get stopped by and atheist because he wanted to argue, apparently the missionaries run into him every once in a while. He basically wants a sign to prove that there is a God. All we would tell him was that isn't the way God works, I don't think he likes that answer. I just rolled my eyes when he walked away. Other than that it was a pretty normal week. Thanks for the love and support.

 

Elder Peterson

claremont

So I have been transferred to the Claremont 2nd ward, about the farthest east in the mission. and an all biking area, and I share an apartment with the zone leaders. Claremont is also greener and cooler than El Monte so that will be nice. I can't believe that I have been out six months, kinda weird. Nothing to exciting happened last week.  Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

two weeks of letters

It has been kind of slow the couple of weeks. Everything is still going well. Still teaching the same investigators. Transfers are in a couple of weeks, I'm thinking that I may get transferred because I've heard the President Becerra doesn't keep a missionary in an area longer than six months. 59 new missionaries and only about 30 are leaving. Most of the new one are Spanish speaking, but the groups keep getting larger. President is running out of room to but them. I've heard that we may be getting ipads at the end of the year, I have also heard the end of August. Guess I will wait to see what happens. Not much else really happen this week. I am glad that Nicole is doing well. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

Last week was a slow week. We got another HQ referral, but couldn't contact him. Transfer calls are on Saturday, so I will know then if I am staying are getting transferred. About every 3 months President Becerra has interviews with all the missionaries just to see how we are doing. Those happened over the last two weeks. Nothing exciting happened this week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

Normal Jake letter

So last week was a good week. On Friday we had a mission conference, talked a lot about faith. Still haven't started with the technology of missionary work.  We didn't see Angel, because he was out of town, so will are going to try again this week. Not much else happened this week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

Hi

 

So last week was a slower week. Not much happened. We had a lesson with Angel again, it went shorter than expected. We were teaching the Plan of Salvation. As we were going through the lesson we asked if he had any questions. He didn't have any, we asked again at the end of the lesson, he didn't have any. He said he understood it. So the lesson was only about half an hour even with us covering everything in depth.  

We haven't really started on the technology yet, but other mission's have been using ipads and stuff for a couple years know. I think by the end of the year we will be using technology.

Thanks for the love and support,

Elder Peterson

More communitive

Last week was a good week. Some area's in the mission are bikes, some cars, and some a car share. The area I am in is a car share. All the zone leaders have cars. It may be hotter in Utah, but California has a higher humidity and more UV so it feels hotter.

 We got two referrals from the Church Referral System. We get a text message with information like their name(s), phone number, address, and other information. We contacted the first one, Angel Reyes, right now it seems he just wants to know more about the church but not interested in joining. 

The second one was a couple Roy and Kendra Chandler, the text said to call first, so I called.  I talked with Roy, I told him we were missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and were referred to them. His response was something like the Mormon Church? How did you get our information and I not interested and I my wife wouldn't be interested, I am anti-Mormon. He was polite about the whole thing. The next day we get a phone call. Roy had called back, Elder Jensen had answered the phone and talked with him. He showed some interested in a church tour, but we haven't heard back yet. So that is my exciting story for you.

Thanks for the love and support,

Still in El Monte

Last week went well. I didn't get transferred, so I'm still in El Monte. The new investigator's name is Carlos Conales he is in his 50's, I haven't met a wife, he does have kids, but not living with him. Nothing exciting happened last week. Everything is still moving forward. President keeps saying that they are going to take away the cars in this mission to see if it will help with the work. I don't know when it is going to happen, he was been saying that for a few months know.  Thanks for the love and support

Elder Peterson

Better week

Last week went better. We haven't heard much from Manny but he seems to be doing better. We got a referral a set of Spanish elders and started teaching him. This week was still slow but felt more productive. The stake I'm in had stake conference yesterday it was really good.

This is the last week of the transfer, I may or may not get transferred. If not this one then most likely the next one. This week will be a good week. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson.

 

to Dad:

I'm glad that you enjoyed the brownies, I have a card a meant to send, but the slot for mail at my apartment complex is to small and I haven't had time to go to the post office. 

I hope you enjoy California, it has been getting hotter. I love and miss you.

Love,

Elder Peterson

Long weeks means long letter

Last week was a long week. Lessons with investigators canceled, and investigator died on Sunday...She is the sister of Manny who was baptized in February. She was in a car accident on Saturday, in a coma then life support. Sunday they let her go. Manny is coping well. We asked a member of the YSA ward to contact him becasue he would do better there than in the Orangewood ward.  Irene keeps canceling on us. So... last week sucked. I don't think things could get any worse "knock on wood." Thanks for the love and support

So the Relief Society President has her own little brownie business and she sends brownies to the missionaries  families for Father's Day. She makes different flavors, so I'm sending my favorite caramel toffee. So I hope you like them. I also bought a card before I knew about that so Dad gets brownies and a card.

Elder Peterson

short letter

Last week was a slow week. We did find out were Mirella went, she moved to Whittier California. Still figuring things out about what to do. So other than that nothing really happened last week. This week should go better. Sorry for the short letter.

Elder Peterson 

Another good week

This week was kind of crazy, we started teaching a couple of new investigators, the senior couple missionaries in our ward arrived, and one investigator dropped of the face of the planet... Mirella had been taught for at least six months over the course of that time, drama happened, more drama happened, then no one knew where she went. We have a general idea where she is, but it is outside of the mission.  Other than that it was a good week. Thanks for the love and support.

 

Elder Peterson

Kersten wants everyone to know she got her own email☺

 

I'm sending you 20 bucks to buy a memory card. I realize it may be more expensive than that, but HELLO I sent you 10 for your birthday too lol! But if you really can't get one with just 20 I demand that you let me know and I will send more. I'm serious Jake, this is important. I wouldn't demand these things if I didn't love you very much.

It was fun talking to you Sunday! I know you are such a fabulous missionary and that the Lord is mindful of you!

Always remember you're my favorite brother!!!!! I sent  you that picture of me sharing my special blanket with you so you'll remember that :)

Loves,
Kersten

 

 

I already used your 10 dollars to get a frozen yogurt and jamaba juice, so thanks. You should know I am not a big camera person, even with a memory card I still might not take many pictures. I will try just for you.

Love

Elder Peterson.

P.S. I am your only brother.

Staying Possitive

 

Last week was a productive week. We kept busy teaching investigators and recent converts. We had an investigator drop us, he told us that the Mormon thing wasn't for him. maybe someday in the future another set of missionaries will find him and he will be ready. We started teaching a new investigator. The next six weeks should be good and productive. Thanks for the love and support.

Elder Peterson

Staying in El Monte

Transfer calls came Saturday, I stayed in El Monte and Elder Jensen from Kaysville Utah is my new companion. He has been out about 18 months. Couple of weeks we picked up an investigator, she knew about the church because her ex son-in-law is a Mormon, she got in contact with the missionaries, she interested in genealogy is planning on going to the family history center. Right know she doesn't seem interested in joining, she just likes the way members of the church live. We had our first real lesson with her last week.  Nothing else too exciting happened this week other than the usual missionary work. Thanks for the love and support.

 

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We've been doing e-mails on Tuesdays because the closest library is closed Mondays, we may be finding a place to do it on Mondays just giving you a heads up so you can start sending emails Sunday night or Monday morning.

Elder Peterson

3 months

Well transfers are next week, hard to believe that it has been about 3 months since I entered the MTC. Last week was a slow week, but this week should be a good and productive week. We already have several appointments to meet with investigators and recent converts.I could possibly be taking over the area next week, Elder Adams as been in El Monte for about 9 months now, I will find out soon.

 

Jake

It's just getting hot!!

This week was been a good week. It been getting hotter and is only going to get hotter. No exciting stories to share it's just the same old missionary work. Teaching lessons doing service. We will be getting a senior missionary couple in our ward in a few weeks, that will help the ward out a lot. I love my family.

 

Jake

 

two paragraph:-)

Last week was a good week. We here busy last week and this week looks like it might be a busy week. We are starting to meet with few new people who are interested in the church. Nothing that exciting  happened this week.

 

I saw a doctor on Thursday about my chest and he looked at it asked questions about the kind of pain it was and other symptoms of my nf. He gave me a prescription for gabapentin. It helps calm damaged nerves. He has me one half the usual dose.  He told me to let him know if anything changes. It seems to be working.

 

Jake

 

regular missionary week

 

Well this week went well. We have a couple of baptisms in the coming weeks. Nothing exciting happened this week it has been regular missionary week. Taught lessons did some service.

 

The last couple of weeks my chest around my neurofibroma has been hurting, the best way I can explain it is before I never noticed it was there, but now I can feel it I guess is the best way of describing it. I not sure what to do about it. I plan on e-mail President Becerra about it.

4-9-2013

I like Christofferson's talk during the Sunday afternoon session on redemption.

 

This week went well. We've pick up a couple more investigators. Hope to have a few baptisms in the coming weeks. Coming to church is the roadblock for most of our investigators. I experienced my first bash the other day. Nothing else really happened this week. I love my family and their support.

 

Jake

4-2-2013

Yesterday was transfer day because I am still training I didn't get transferred. Nothing exciting has happened in the last week. It has been kind of slow. Investigators aren't progressing because they haven't come to church. We have been helping a member with re shingling his roof it has been a good learning experience. Other than that it has been about the same.

 

Jake.

 

Jake did sent Kersten her own email. She must be proud she got a love Jake when mom only gets Jake:-))

Happy Birthday yesterday. I did get your egg it was cute. Let Tyson know I feel bad for him.

 

Love,
Jake

 

3-26-2013

Last week was kind of slow. Also a little irritating. Investigators cancelling appointments, less active members avoiding us. This week will be a good week we have appointments to meet with investigators and less active members and a couple service projects. We have a baptism planned for the end of April but we might have to push it back because they haven't been coming to Church.

Tell Sean congratulations. Tell Kersten and Jace Happy Birthday. I am going to need my aunts addresses to write them thank you cards. I love my family.

email to dad:

Most of the lessons I have in a week are mostly less active members. We have a few investigators that we teach but are not progressing, for the most part we just teach less actives, most of them are recent converts. We haven't done any tracting yet because my trainer says that it is the most effective way to waste time. I have done some street contact, just stopping and talking to someone when we are on our way to an appointment. Everything is going well.

Love

Jake

A few more words

 

Most of the people Elder Adams and I are teaching are less active recent converts. We have a few investigators and hope to pick up some more this week. We are hoping to have a baptism on Sunday. I don't have any exciting stories to share. The work is moving forward same old missionary work. The mission are making a new mission about July and will be taking part of this mission so if I am in Chino come July I will be transferred to that one. I am glad that everybody is doing good. I haven't had much Mexican food only once or twice.

For my birthday you could me a tie or something I don't know.

I love my family

Jake

Boy of so many words

I am glad that Nicole is doing better. This week has been a good week we have been finding more people to teach and we also had a baptism on Sunday. We mostly just have been teaching and finding nothing really exciting happened this week.

El Monte

Well things are going great here in El Monte. There are some baptisms coming up shortly for a few investigators. I have just been sharing the gospel with people and trying to find people who are willing to hear what we have to share with them. Just send letters to the mission office address in Arcadia and the zone leaders will pick it up and get it to me. It's the way my mission president would like it. Tell dad happy birthday let me know when Tyler and Sean get there call. Tell Porter congratulations for me. Not really sure what I need for my birthday right now but I will let you know. I'm not really sure what else to write about nothing exciting happened this week. I love my family.

Jake

First letter from Arcadia

So I and sixteen other missionaries leaving for Arcadia left the MTC at 4:00 in the morning and my flight left at 7:15, there was a 2 hour layover in Phoenix so about 11:15 we left for Ontario California where we were picked up by the mission president and his assistants. They had us write a letter when we got the the mission office to let our family know we made is safely We didn't get put with our trainer when we got there I don't know why instead we were put with another companionship for that night, I don't know why. The next morning though we got put with our trainer. My companion is Elder Adams from Payson Utah, he has been out for 20 months and this is his first time training. My first area is El Monte. Elder Adams previous companion was going to be giving a talk on Sunday, but he got transferred so I had the opportunity instead. I also attended my first Baptism Emmanuel Marin, he was a contact of Elder Adams had been teaching. I am happy to be here and I love my family.

Jake

Made it to Cali!

We received a letter from Jake's mission president to assure us he made it to California safely. Included was a hand written letter from Jake and a few pictures.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I made it safely to California. First thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport was that the air was clean. I can't wait to start sharing the gospel.

Jake

(Who else wishes Jake would write more than a few sentences each e-mail/letter?!)

 

 

Jake last letter from the MTC

I leave for Arcadia about 24 hours from now. The days feel long but the weeks go fast. I have learned and grown so much in the last two weeks. I can't wait to get out into the mission field and start teaching the people of California. I know that this is the only true church on the Earth. I know the Lord is sending me there for a reason, there are people that only I will be able to reach. I love my family.

Jake

First Letter

My first six days at the MTC have been great. My departure date is on February 19, thirteen days from when I arrived at the MTC. The group of missionaries I arrived with is the largest the MTC mission president has seen since he was called and it is just going to get bigger every week. We are also the first group to leave in two weeks. I have learned a lot about how to be a more effective missionary. I can't wait to get to Arcadia and start teaching. My MTC companion is Elder Fenn from Arizona. Including me my MTC district has twelve missionaries: Elder Compton, Elder Lindner, Elder Cotter, Elder Hahn, Elder Sasser,Elder Fenn, Elder Maldunado, Elder Jones, Elder Christensen, Elder Dunslow, and Elder Smith. Elder Christensen is the district leader. My teachers, Brother Yack and Sister Sandstrom, are great. President Richards, my branch president amazing. I love being here and I love my family.

 

Jake

MTC

Today we dropped Jake off at the MTC. 

Jake with his cousin Spencer, who just returned from his mission.

Jake with his youngest sister, Nicole.

We will miss him but we know that he is doing the Lord's work. We love you, Elder Peterson! See you in 2 years :)