First Week

This last week has been really crazy. Every minute has been filled with something. If we have an extra minute to breathe, we spend that studying for our progressing investigators and TRC investigators. The first time we have really had a chance to breathe is today during P-day. It has definitely been great. We spend most of our time in a classroom either being taught different fundamentals of missionary work or studying as a companionship or individually. It has been a lot of work.

 

We have a progressing investigator the one of our teachers portrays. Mine and Sister W.'s is E. She is attending a Lutheran college and has come to church a few different times. The first few times that we met with her, she seemed interested, but a little distant. However, after we challenged her to read the Book of Mormon during the second lesson, she was really involved in the third lesson. We were teaching her about the Plan of Salvation and while I was teaching her about the Atonement, the coolest thing happened. I was talking and I had no idea what I was saying. It was like someone else was speaking for me. And then the challenge to be baptized came out. Sister W. and I had talked about committing her to baptism a little bit and we felt like it would be good, but that shocked me. It didn't come from me.And she accepted. I'm a little worried that now that she has accepted that Satan will really start working on her more. It's crazy that, even though I know that this is real, that E. is really just Sister D. B. acting, but I still feel like it is real. It's awesome. I think we were shocked more than anything else of the timing and that she said yes. So we need to get used to  that a little more.

 

On the other hand, our TRC investigator, N., wasn't even interested in religion, and I wasn't even able to connect with him. I tried everything I could think of. He really connected with Sister W. though, so she led the discussions and lessons and I just kind of helped out occasionally. It was really cool to watch her work with him and connect with him, especially through baseball analogies. In the end, she taught so well that he almost said a prayer with us! He kept telling us that he didn't believe in God and didn't want religion, but he was so close to praying. He backed out at the last minute. I really think if we had more visits, she could have gotten somewhere with him, which is cool because he laughed in our faces during the first visit when we asked if we could say a prayer. There wasn't much of a change, but he started to soften a little bit.

 

Conference was amazing! I loved listening to all the talks. President Monson's and Elder Holland's talks were probably my favorite. If you could find a way to get me a copy of those, that would be great. And the one from the seventy who spoke in the first session. It was Carig someone. I don't remeber his last name and I don't have my notes right now. I don't know if or when I will be able to find a copy of those and I really want them to study. And the missionary numbers! I was so excited to hear those numbers and know that I was part of that. It seemed like a lot of the talks were about missionary work and I'm not sure if that is just because that was the focuse that I went into conference with. Lots of great inspiration.

 

And I have a calling the branch right now. For the one Sunday that I am here, I am the Branch Music Coordinator. This means I choose the hymns, find the accompanists and conductors and organize the special muscial number for sacrament meeting. And because I am the only pianist who has volunteered that I play, I'm going to be playing for sacrament meeting and the special musical number. Hopefully one of the elders who arrived yesterday will know how to play the piano, or priesthood will just sing a capella. I'm really wishing I brought piano music. I'm going to have to find something from the MTC library that I can learn in just two or three days and it's a little stressful. I;'m actually going to look for music as soon as I'm done with this e-mail.

 

Thank you for the package! I'm so glad I have my blanket and the brownies are so good. Elder K. and Sister W. were singing your praises, Mom. And the hand lotion smells so good. And the key chain really made my day. I love things like that.

 

Also, unless you are using same day delivery, don't send anything after Saturday. Stuff mailed on Monday the regular way gets here on Wednesday afternoon and I leave at 8am on Wednesday. So just send it to Canada after that.

 

Love you all,

Sister Peterson