My joy is full

Well, this is it. I can't believe that a year and a half has come and gone. This was such a good week though!! 

"For this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation..." 

Alma 26 in the Book of Mormon (a chapter that helped me through my mission) 

I was able to go on a switch off in Samut Prakarn which is the neighbouring area of my greenie area of Bangna. It was such a good switch off with the lovely Sister Mader. On the way back, I saw the place where as a greenie I invited and contacted people constantly. Then, when we got on the sky train, for some reason instead of waiting at the first door, I kept walking down (I hadn't noticed I had done this, until Sister Mader pointed it out later) and then we sat down in a random spot with not a lot of people around. Then a few stations down, I look over, and someone I recognized sat in on of the empty seats a few spots over. She was a girl who had (over a year ago) learned with the other missionaries. I recognized her right away and REMEMBERED HER NAME. She remembered me too. I was able to talk with her and ask how she was doing. She didn't remember how to pray and so I was able to teach her that again. I felt like me seeing her again, and the fact that I recognized her and remembered her name was evidence of God's love for her and that He hasn't given up on her. God never does give up on us. 

I have been really happy and grateful this whole week just being a missionary. I love this work. But I am happy because when I go home, I won't stop being a missionary. 

Saturday: our investigator Aun in the last week has been progressing in her faith and conversion so so well and was interviewed for baptism! She passed! She was so happy and excited to be baptized.

Sunday was such a good day. We went to go help sister Bee (who was baptized last month) and helped her organize a few things so she could stay at church in the evening for a special fireside. THEN, we had Aun's baptism after church. It was such a beautiful and simple service. She and the Elder's investigator (who I and Sister Rogers on a switch off actually contacted at first and then reffered to the Elders) were baptized. The room was packed full of members and some people of interest all there to support. As Somchai went into the water first, I remembered the first time I met him, and how after we walked away when we thought he wasn't interested, Sister Rogers heard him call after us and asked if we could go back and teach him more about Jesus Christ. Then I remembered how last transfer, me and my companion Sister Bluem prayed to find a family in a specific week that would be baptized in the next few months. Then one evening that week, we were contacting in a park and I saw Aun and her sister and Mom and her son. At first I'm sure I was very awkward in trying to talk to them. I invited them to learn English at first, but then Aun saw the church's name on the card and totally lit up. She had been waiting for people who taught about Jesus Christ to come and teach her. And now, she has come so far and has been baptized. Her sister is also going to be baptized in a few weeks. I am just so in awe at the miracles God can do in the lives of His children. 

I love Elder Renlund's talk from this last general conference. I wish more would really understand the principles in that talk.

 

In the evening on Sunday, there was a fireside (a church devotional meeting) where Elder Tad Callister and Elder Meurs (cool right?!) Spoke!! Its was so good! AND many people from Bangna were there and remembered me!! I was so happy to see the people who so graciously welcomed me and took care of me when I first came to Thailand. They all said that I was way better at speaking Thai too haha. I love and cherish the friendships I have made here. These people are so wonderful. I love them so much. 

More than that, I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I have learned the significance and necessity and magnitude of Heavenly Father's plan for all of us and about how Jesus Christ's gospel is the way we can be successful in Heavenly Father's plan. I invite all of you to take a leap and learn about God's plan and how you and your family can be together forever through following Christ. This will change your life and you will be happy. 

I love you all. See you soon! 

Love, 

ซิสเตอร์  พีเตอร์สัน

Pictures

Running Asoke in Pink

This has been such a great week :) I feel Heavenly Father is blessing me with so many great experiences. It's hard to believe that so much can happen in one week, but that is also normal life as a missionary - so much happens!!  2 days this week I found myself wearing a pink shirt and a pink skirt. Pink on pink. Haha they were happy days! Monday night - our original plans didn't work out and we were scrambling to make appointments and find something to do. We ended up beign able to meet with one member who we haven't met with or seen in ages. And then as we were walking away after the appointment, we randomly ran into another member who we haven't seen in a very long time and were able to talk and share a message with her! No coincidences! Side note: I'm supposed to plan an escape room activity for english class tomorrow... does anyone have any ideas??? (Please please please I need all the help I can get!) We had จบer's meeting (meeting for all the missionaries that will soon be going home)... weird that I am one of those missionaries now. We met with the Relief Society president (finally!!) And were able to serve her! She at first said she was good and didn't need any help... but when we asked again she said "well ever since my injury it's been hard to carry in water up all the floors to my apartment. Do you mind going to 7/11 and getting me some water?" I almost screamed with excitement at the chance to serve!! This group of little boys kept following us, amd they asked to walk us back to wherever we were going. So we had them help us carry all of the water back to the apartment. We bought them candy from 7/11 and explain that we teach about Jesus Christ :) "I like you! Where are you from? What do you do here? How old are you?" Haha they kept checking the RSP door while we were visiting her. A few weeks ago, sister Shaw and I were in charge of the food for zone conference. We had ordered everything and then thought that we should have some watermelon with the meal. The watermelon at the store were a little pricy but we have enough in the budget so we bought them. We took all the food to the church a few days before. The day of zone conference we found that someone had STOLEN the watermelon. I was so mad. I called the mission office to check the cameras to see who stole them. Anyways, this week there was a really foul smell from one of the cupboards in the kitchen... one of the members found our rotten watermelons! Ahhhh so sad. We had to go clean it up. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am so blessed and am so happy to serve God. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, that Jesus Christ lives, and that we can all live again with our families for eternity as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Love, ซิสเตอร์ พีเตอร์สัน

Janey Too

Last Monday: we picked up a Sister from Burma (I can't remember if I included some of this last week, but I will write about it this week anyways.) Janey Too has been a member for little over two years. She had never ridden in a plane before and has never been to another country either. She was amazed by all the small things. Escalators, the Waterway transportation, our MRT cards. She had never seen a real church building before, so we gave her a tour of the church. Then she helped us teach an investigator! She bore powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon, which she has not yet read in her native language (it is still being translated into Burmese), she has only read it in English, and was able to read the whole Book in 2 months. Amazing. We took her to president's house for dinner, and then she was set apart as a missionary! It was so cool to see that as I come to the end of my mission, and this sister begins hers. I remembered my setting apart blessing (making me a missionary) and the peace that I felt from that. This sweet sister has never been to America or out of her country, but she faced the airport the next morning (at 4 am!!) So bravely. Sister Shaw and I were a little worried, just trying to make sure that she had every thing she needed, but she was just calm and told us that the senior couple gave her a blessing and that she knew she would be ok. Such faith. 

I went on a switch off in Thonburi and worked there for a day! Such a cool part of Bangkok. 

Met with this really cute girl for the second time that I met earlier this transfer. She was so excited to learn how to pray! Then we rushed to the other side of our area to meet 2 potiential investigators who fed us dinner! But then it turned out that they just wanted to be our friends and not actually hear the message of the gospel. Awkward when we tried to share... 

But other than that, we have been having great teaching opportunities and I pinch myself every lesson to make sure that it is real. I am trying to cherish every minute left! I cherish the opportunities I have to recite Joseph Smith's first vision, or bear testimony about Jesus Christ. It is the best. :)  

General Conference has been awesome! I love the straightforward and bold guidance we received!! 

รักนะ 

ซิสเตอร์ พีเตอร์สัน

Pictures

Crazy flash flood rain storm

Spontaneous service

Some of my favourite sisters at zone conference. Sister Yo from Myanmar and Sister Wong from Thailand (from Mahasarakham!!) 

Another great crazy week!

We had zone conference this week where me and my companion and the zone leaders gave training about planning, goal setting, and accountability! We had a slide show and activities with the training! It went great! We also Tim tam slammed! Then later that night I threw up... weird. 

Even though I was a little sick, I was still able to switch off twice this week with some awesome sisters! I love being able to work with different sisters and learn from them. 

I absolutely love this Gospel. I know that God has called a living prophet, President Nelson to lead His church! I love love love General Conference! I still haven't watched all of it, but I am also so excited for my investigators to watch it! 

Tomorrow morning we have to get up at like 3 am to drop a cute sister from Myanmar off at the airport to go to the MTC. She is so brave! 

We had an awesome lesson with a new investigator last week where she understood almost everything we explained! She understood about the Holy Ghost and about just everything without us having to explain a few times like how we usually do... does that make sense? 

I gave my farewell testimony at zone conference. Bitter sweet that that was my last zone conference... 

Love you all!! 

Sister Peterson

I wish my life was a movie

I have said "I wish my life was a movie" so many times this week with Sister Shaw. So many cool, weird, interesting stuff has happened. 

One of those moments: we were teaching a new investigator who is actually from Burma. She didn't speak Thai that clear so it was interesting to begin with trying to communicate with her. Then her friend who was also Burmese came, and so me and my companion are trying to teach them in the heat at Lumpini Park. Then this (probably homeless) guy comes and is trying to see what we are doing. Then he holds his hands out towards the sky and stands there for a few minutes. So weird. We were like 'what in the world is going on?' 

Another one of those moments: We decide to visit an investigator who hasn't been coming to church in a few weeks. When we get there, she was tearing apart a piece of flooring using the biggest kitchen knife along with a hammer. We were slightly confused, but then we asked if she was going to go to church with us or not. She came!! 

On this app called LINE we found a contact that was a former investigator. We contacted her and set up an appointment. When we met with her, she seemed slightly annoyed that we had wanted to meet with her and asked if our appointment would take a long time. I said no, so we just decided to teach her prayer seeing that she didn't want to be with us for very long. We painfully taught her prayer because she didn't understand a lot of it/wasn't paying attention. So I just started speaking very straightforward with her and asked if she loved Jesus Christ. She said yes. I asked if she wanted to follow Christ. She said yes. Then I felt to invite her to be baptized. So I did. She accepted! 

We met with a woman who doesn't come to church anymore. We have been trying to build her trust and her faith to come back. It was her birthday and she wanted to spend it with us!! We met with her and made her a little card with a picture of Christ. She hugged and kissed the card! Then we showed her the "Because of Him" video and she began to cry. She opened up and we were able to see more of the "whole iceberg" of her problem. She doesn't have friends at church. 

So please go find the one that needs a friend. 

Love, Sister Peterson

This picture captures Thailand!

Most of our original MTC group.  Current companion Sister Shaw has the long braid and black and white striped dress.

On your right hand and on your left

Friday: we had an awesome lesson with an investigator at 

Lumpini who brought her sister to come learn, who brought her

boyfriend to come learn! Then we rushed over to the other end

of (what we thought was) our area. As we get into a taxi I look 

over and see a sign saying that we were in a different area. I 

was feeling really frustrated because we had taught this 

investigator a lot, not knowing that we were out of our area... 

anyways we went and taught her and old the sisters of that area

about their new investigator... so mad. As we were heading 

back though, we got out of the taxi that dropped us off at the 

sky train station. Sister Shaw and I walk past these two people. 

I didn't notice, but it was a foreigner man trying to talk to a 

young thai woman. The situation looked uncomfortable and 

Sister Shaw pointed it out as we passed them and went up the 

escalator. I looked back and saw and suggested that we go 

back down. So we go back down and kind of linger around 

(pretend to be making phone calls) but just observing the 

situation. I won't put in all of the details, but basically this man 

was trying to get this lady to go with him somewhere. She 

seemed uncomfortable and both my companion and I felt like 

we should help her get out of the situation. Just as this lady was

about go with this man, we just felt so compelled to just talk to 

her. I just walked up and spoke to her in thai because I knew 

that the man wouldn't understand. I blurted out the first thing 

that came into my head "uh do you know the MSU university?? 

We need to go there." Though she was a little suprised she was

more than happy to tell us how to get there. And then we asked 

her if she knew that man. She said no, and that he just 

approached her as she came down the escalator on the way 

home. We told her to be careful and to not go anywhere with 

him. Then we said that she could go with us to pretend to give 

us directions. She agreed, and then we just quickly walked 

away and went up the escalator. As we were trying to get away, 

this man followed from a distance. Sister Shaw and I walked on 

either side of her and tried to come up with a plan of how we 

could get her home safely and lose the creepy guy. And then 

the thai national anthem went on, and it is super disrespectful to 

walk during the anthem. My heart was pounding so bad and 

Sister Shaw was praying out loud. We tried to go up and down 

a few different set of staris at the sky train station and then we 

got the girl a motor bike taxi and told her to never talk to men 

again. But then the man (from a distance) looked angry and 

kept walking in our direction. Sister Shaw was still praying out 

loud, but we were able to just walk really fast in a different 

direction and run up some escalators, buy our tokens really 

quick, tell the security guard, and then go through security and 

wait for the sky train. We were so scared. Anyways, I don't tell 

you all this story to make you worried, but just to share the 

lesson that I learned about how critical it is to 1. Be in unity with 

your companion and communicate. 2. To act on the promptings 

of the spirit, quickly. If we were have waited any longer what we 

should have said to that girl, it might have been too late.
3. God needed us in that time and place to help her.

I'm out of time, but right now I am completely safe so don't 

worry! But I do know that there are angels on our right hand 

and on our left.

Bee Yogurt Dream

You are probably wondering what happened this week with the title of my email :)

 Bee was just baptized this last Sunday and is such a pure soul! 

 Yogurt is a 12 year old, only member in her family who reminds me of my sister Emma, and we began teaching her mom this week. 

 Dream was an investigator of mine in my last area who was also baptized this last Sunday. 

There was a time on my mission where I felt doubtful about mine own abilities as a missionary, but I have learned over and over again that this isn't my work, but that it is God's and that nothing can stop God's work. Sister Bee came to the church by herself and was so prepared. When she passed her interview she ran out and gave me a big hug and then ran out of the church with her hands in the air rushing off to work haha.

 Someone else taught and baptized (at that time) 11 yr old Yogurt, who's mom is now learning and wants to learn more about how her family can be together forever and temples. 

Dream, like Bee was so prepared, and she really made sure she was ready and commited to her decision. On the day she got baptized, she messaged me and said "Today is my day! Thanks for inviting me to Christ, Sister" I couldn't reply right away, but that filled me with so much joy!! 

Our mission president at a missionary leadership meeting at the begining of the transfer talked about the difference about FUN and JOY. Fun is fleeting, and Joy is lasting. As I approach my last transfer, I determined to experience as much joy as possible through hard work and service :) I encourage you all to seek joy over fun. 

Love, Sister Peterson 

Blazing Trails 🔥

I'm gonna jump right in!

Sunday (yesterday): we have 1pm church, so in the morning we went to give the elders a referral. As we were waiting for the investigator to come, this guy (who was not Thai) started shouting at the Elders about how everything we believe is evil with a whole lot of profanity... We all just stood there as everyone was looking at this guy and then at us. All we said was "Ok bye have a good day." And then that sad little man went away. Yay persecution! But right after that this kind Thai man approached the Elders and asked if they were ok. Then 2 min later another person approaches us and shakes our hands and thanks us for our service. And then the investigator showed up. I am explaining all of this because it was just evidence that no matter what some hate-driven person might say, they can't stop God's work. That sad little man can't stop that right before that I contacted a super nice japanese lady who was so grateful that I just said "Hi!" to her and now she has my facebook. The sad little man doesn't know that the investigator referral that came only 7 min after he stopped shouting at us, ended up accepting the invitation to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized. And if anything, his words won't shake my faith. I am happy. And I don't think someone who can shout the things he did at us can really have happiness. 

Saturday: Sister Bleum and i just went ahead into an area that missionaries don't usually go and just started blazing trails! One man accepted the Book of Mormon and we sat down with him and taught the whole Restoration! He also invited his friends to come sit and listen. Later that day at Lumpini Park, we contacted 2 sisters who have been wanted to read more about Jesus Christ. After we gave them one pamphlet, they asked if we had anymore, I happened to have one on temples and the family proclamation on hand! We will meet them again this week! 

One of investigators (who will be baptized next week!) Just had her heart broken and felt sad. But after church on sunday she said "I feel so much better!! I am happier now!" Attending church brings peace. 

I love this Gospel, and I know it is true! I know that Jesus is my Savior and I am so grateful to represent Him! 

Running in the Rain

So much has happened this week. Went on 2 switch offs, my companion took the Michigan test, and there is so much work to do. And it really is WORK! 55 I am tired, but happy. I found myself running from the church to the MRT station in the rain several times this week, and just feeling so so happy. In those moments I wish my life was a movie because the rain pours so hard and there are the lights from the city and it's just so cool. 

We have such good people learning the gospel right now. One cute person learning is named Bee and she always asks the most sincere questions. My favourite question she asks is "Sisters, when are we going to meet again to learn?". 

This last Sunday I was able to go to the Sacrament Meeting in the International ward because we had a part member family go that I translated (but this time English to Thai), and it was so cool hearing talks in English! The bishop gave a talk and he is this really funny Scottish guy. Its was just cool.

We have been taking President Hammond's daughter Haylee out doing work with us several times a week, and in one lesson, we were teaching an investigator the Sabbath Day. I invited Haylee to share her testimony about the Sabbath day. She would say a few lines, and I would translate. I liked how it was different, different as in it was 'traditional missionary' explanation. I learned from that that there are many different ways to explain, to bear testimony that will equally touch the hearts of the people. So something I am trying to work on is "breaking from the mold" of traditional missionary work (while still following the spirit and guidance from Mission president). My gist in this whole ramble is I am going to try to be more creative in the work that I do, use all my resources, etc. So if any of you who read my emails, send me some of your ideas of things that worked for you on your mission (or just in life) that was something different than the "norm". (Not that the norm is bad) 

Sister Peterson 

Photos

1. Switch offs with Sister Christensen (who's Dad is from Welling - this world is so small) and my child Sister Pimsuwan!! 

2. It was some sort of Korean pop star's birthday the other day, and all of his fan club were at the MRT station lighting a special birthday cake for him and were basically worshipping him. *facepalm* A crowd of 15-22yr old girls were there all day. 

3. Sister Christensen and I contacted at this way way way rich neighbourhood. No one was home (wrong timing, we'll go back another time) but this was one of the houses. 

Pictures

Back in the city

"What stops you?"

The tourists I translated for at church

The amazing Sister Blume :)

What stops you?

I asked this question "what stops you?" to my companion yesterday morning after seeing it on a skyscraper billboard. She replied in Thai: Nothing but red lights at intersections!" 555 After hearing that I had an unstoppable attitude the rest of the day! As I was thinking about that question "what stops you?" I was thinking "nothing should stop me, I can do all things with Christ's help. I can overcome anything and achieve the "impossible".  The only thing that stops me is my own fear or laziness, but with Jesus Christ, I can overcome that too! Anyways there's the motivational piece for this week.

This week we had switch offs, and I went with a greenie who has only been in country for a week! She reminded me of myself over a year ago, and I was able to see how far I have come and how much potential she has. With my new responsibility of being a Sister Training Leader there are more responsibilities, but I love being able to work with and help out newer missionaries. 

On Saturday, we were taking the MRT (underground train) and there was a man standing next to me. I usually don't begin conversations with men on the deadly silent MRT, but I had the thought "what the heck I can just say hi." So I did.... long story short, he came to church the next day and the Elders are going to teach him. I am still so happy about that

At church yesterday, I translated for 2 tourists who happened to be from Cardston! So that was way cool! 

The city is growing on me, even though I miss my rice fields. I just love Thailand 🇹🇭

ซิสเตอร์พีเตอร์สัน

Next Station... Asoke

Its been 2 weeks! And once again, so much has happened. I am now in the heart of Bangkok - Asoke - and am companions with the lovely Sister Blume who is Thai. 

Leaving Mahasarakham was really hard, a bunch of the members sent us off at the bus station giving us gifts and hugs and taking pictures. I love these people. 

I feel kind of like a greenie again being in a big city. Its not like the rice fields I used to bike past. 

I have just one story I want to share that happened today actually! 

A few days ago we found out that the member area 70 (church leader in asia) was coming to Bangkok. We were asked to think of some people we thought who would be good for him to go visit and give encouragement. Sister Blume thought of one family and told the Assistants. They set up the appointment and had planned to go today at 12:00. We had talked with this woman and her daughter yesterday just to get to know them, and we found out that the daughter loves to draw, so we told her that we would go over to her house to go draw together for my preparation day. We had planned to go after the mission president and the area 70 and their wives visited, but when we got there, they had just gotten there too. So we sat in the visit, and the spirit was so strong. This woman isn't in the best situation in many aspects, but this visit from church leaders really boosted her testimony. After they left we had planned to draw, when Sister Blume felt like we should order some food for this family (they hadn't eaten) So we tried to order some KFC, but for some reason they wouldn't deliver so we decided to go pick some up at the mall. When we get there (we went with the daughter of the member) we see another member and she just started filling her shopping cart full of food to give to this girl and her mom that we had been visiting. THEN when she buys all the food, we began to walk back to their house to drop it off, when the Relief Society president drives by on her motor cycle and helps us take the food back to the house and also gives encouragement to this lady and says that she will visit again and talk about self reliance next time. THEN THE BISHOP CALLS AND NOT long after that the bishop and his whole family visited this woman and her daughter. Wow. Miracles. This woman has been struggling and so has her daughter, but now her faith has been built and she feels the support from leaders in the church and from her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

I was just grateful to witness the whole thing. 

Love, Sister Peterson