October 7, 2013

So, I'm going to start by apologizing for the lack of letter last week. Myldsmail was having trouble last Monday, so none of the emails sent on last Monday got to my inbox, and I spent most of the time waiting and hoping I would get an email. And then I realized after my time was over that I hadn't sent you one. Sorry!

 

So, transfers are over, and I am still in Kamloops. Not really a big suprise. I still have at 6 weeks of training Sister Foley, and I have a feeling I might be here for a long time. There is a lot of work to be done here. There are a lot of people who need the gospel, and there are a ton of less actives. It's absolutely overwhelming sometimes. We just don't know where to start sometimes. So we just go and work, and somehow work it out.

 

Conference and transfer meeting in one week was spiritually filling and exhausting. And we have a zone conference this week as well, which is going to be pretty exciting. It is so invigorating to be taught by our leaders! I can't believe I ever took conference for granted. It was amazing, and I can't wait to see what comes from applying the direction received.

 

There was a lot of messages about missionary work. So what are you doing all doing to help the missionaries? One thing that we challenged a family to do recently is to develop a family mission plan. In the last chapter of Preach My Gospel, it talks about working with stake and ward leaders, and it also talks about the ward mission plan. The ward mission plan is what directs the missionary efforts of the members of the ward, but the principles can be applied to a family as well. There is someone out there who needs your help, but you have to act to help them. Developing a family mission plan will give you the direction and the plans to help them. One example of such a plan can be found in the September Ensign in the article entitled "Two New Deacons." I want to extend the same challenge to you as we did to this family. Develop a family mission plan in the next two weeks and then begin to implement it. Fast and pray about who you can help. The Lord will place you in the path of someone, or place them in your path.

 

Biggest news in Kamloops is that Sister Peterson is completely unobservant. Sister Foley and I were approached after conference yesterday by a young man named J who wants to take the missionary discussions. It was super cool, but he has been in church for the last three Sundays now, and I didn't know that he wasn't a member. So, I need to get to know this ward a lot better. We are teaching him tonight, but it smarts a little that I didn't know that he wasn't a member. I feel a little stupid. But that's okay, because he is ready!

 

I love you all!

Sister Peterson