Pictures Oct 25-31

 

Week 8: Broadway 1st Ward, Houston Texas East Stake; Companion/Trainer: Elder Paulsen

What a week! Last Wednesday we went to TLC(Teaching Like Christ). It's a training intervention thing for the new missionaries. I really enjoyed it, I learned a lot about teaching others and how I can improve my techniques. After TLC I got an interview with President Larkin (right after, in the same building). It was nice, I asked him some questions and he asked me some questions. It went well and I really like him. He's a super knowledgeable man and he is really easy to get along with. After TLC and interviews we began driving home (a one and a half hour drive, in which Elder Westover got 60 speeding violations from our car's "teen driver" system). On the way home we stopped by Buc-ee's (the biggest gas station in North America), per Elder Paulsen's request. It was super cool. Huuuuge gas station with super cool stuff. I ended up caving in and buying a blanket as a souvenir. I don't regret it though, it is super soft.

The other night Elder Paulsen and I were leaving an apartment complex, the one Gerald lives in (he didn't answer the door...) and we found this mug on the ground. For some reason Elder Paulsen felt it his responsibility to claim this "street mug" and now it sits on his desk. I also found a frog after we found the mug. It was the third frog I've held this month. Super awesome, I'm sure everyone thinks I'm weird, but hey... frogs are cool.

Today we carved pumpkins for some holiday that's coming up. The name slips my mind, but I don't think it's a super popular holiday. Hollow Wing or something like that. We're also just hanging out together (us two broadway districts) because next week is transfers and some of these missionaries won't be here anymore (Our Zone Leader is going home).

Other than that stuff, I seriously can't remember what's happened the past couple of days, it's been business as usual. Keep Monica in your prayers, we haven't heard from her in a couple days and she didn't show up to church. We're worried for her. We might go knock on her door later today. Also Jada, her pregnancy is not being good to her.

I've been studying the "spirit of prophecy" a lot lately and I've learned some interesting stuff. For starters, all who have a testimony of Christ and share it are prophets. That means all of us!!! Obviously there's a huge difference between us and the Prophet/President of the church, but still. Proclaim the testimony of Christ to all people and the spirit of prophecy will be known within you (that probably doesn't make a lot of sense, sorry). Another thing is that all spiritual gifts are available to us as worthy members of the church. Seek these gifts and you will receive many blessings in the process.

I pray for you all, have a good week! 

-Elder Peterson

Pictures October 15-24

Elder Paulsen, Elder Westover, Elder Peterson and Elder Prisbrey

Sister Masson, Sister Lake, Elder Grigoratos (the one being held), Elder Frogley, Elder Thompson, Elder Paulsen and Elder Peterson

Week 7: Broadway 1st Ward, Houston Texas East Stake; Companion/Trainer: Elder Paulsen

Yep, still alive. 

Last Tuesday the youth in our small ward had a spaghetti cook off. Sisters Lake and Masson and Elder Paulsen and I were judges. I didn't tell anyone except Elder Paulsen that I hate spaghetti. But I am also always down for free food. We got there and there was a mess of kids and tomato sauce in the kitchen as these juveniles attempted to cook the unsavory noodles. They actually did a pretty good job though. I believe I judged pretty fairly considering I disliked both dishes. And to no one's surprise, the young women won. And the young men had to clean up the mess in the kitchen which was 99% theirs. And then at the end of the activity, while I was playing kickball with a bunch of the primary kids (a couple of them had pretty foul mouths, it was hard not to laugh) Elder Paulsen acquired a full bag of spaghetti. It is still in our fridge today. I want to throw it out, but he keeps saying he'll eat it... I don't believe him.

On Wednesday we played the school kids at volleyball again. We came prepared this time...

The first game (of 3) was actually pretty close, but we pulled through in the end and Westover snatched the win with his awesome serve. It was hilarious, two of the kids both called it and then both stepped back and the ball just smacked the ground right between 'em. In the end, they beat us the next two times, but that fact remains that the "church league" beat the team that practices everyday at least once. And the other two games were still very close.

Time for an interesting story.

Last Friday, I think, me and Elder Paulsen were street contacting out in a very sketchy place. We got yelled at by a random hobo that called us some pretty ugly names, but when I looked over at him, he was staring at a wall. So... maybe it was the wall that offended him, I don't know. After a while, we were heading back to our car when a lady at a gas station yelled at us. She asked if we were Mormons, so we kindly corrected her and told her what we prefer to be called. She just smiled (pretty creepily actually) and said "I love the Mormons!!!" She then asked us to pray with her because she was cursed by some crazy transgender voodo he/she from Louisiana. We agreed and she had us pray twice. The weirdest thing was that she kept switching from bawling, to cackling, to very serious. She was quite possibly literally insane. But she said that the other person had been putting blood in her drinks, so we did what he could through prayer. Eventually we got out of there, but it was a very interesting encounter.

I'll finish off with another short testimony. 

I've seen some very interesting things this past month and Texas is constantly reminding me of how blessed I've been to grow up in a stable home with a gospel centered family. I've seen what the absence of Christ does to people in an extreme way, and it is very depressing. I've come to greatly understand that without the light of Christ in our lives, we cannot make it through the darkness that is mortality. I know that as we search the scriptures, serve others, and strive to follow the commandments, we will be blessed in so many ways. I promise all of you that are reading this that if you earnestly strive to make Jesus Christ the center of your life, you will find that your burdens become lighter and your life becomes more blessed. Jesus Christ is the Savior and the way. The only way.

I love you all and I pray for you. Have a great week.

Elder Peterson

The First Shall Be Last and Last Shall Be First

 

Week 6: Broadway 1st Ward, Houston Texas East Stake; Companion/Trainer: Elder Paulsen

I had a pretty great week, I'm adjusting pretty well. I'm typing this with my left hand only, so it might not be that long. 10 minutes ago my hand was smashed into the Church gym wall while playing soccer and because that stubbed most of my fingers, my hand isn't totally functional. Pretty swollen though.

ANYWAY, great week. We get tons of referrals from church ads, and even though not all of the referrals care to hear our message, a lot of them do. We taught several new people last week and they were (mostly) super good lessons. We even think that Jada and Monica could be on date for baptism soon.

I'm learning a lot and I'm having a ton of fun most days. 

Yesterday at church my ability to somewhat play the piano was exposed by other Missionaries and now I might have to play for the primary program... We'll see... 

But Elder's quorum was nice, I learned a lot about following the Savior and how to keep him centered in my life. Very important. 

I went on exchanges Thursday, right after zone conference, and was with Thompson and Frogley as a trio. It was a lot of fun to be back with him, and a trio is super fun turns out. We got fed a ton in their area and by Saturday night I'm pretty sure I had eaten more than the whole week before. Good times. 

I can't think of much else to say, partly because my head is a little fuzzy from my hand hurting, but also becuase I'm hungry right now. I'm gonna go steal some chips from Sister Steffenson. 

I'll end with a brief testimony. Prayer is a powerful tool. It is direct communication with Heavenly Father. The Savior taught that we should always have a prayer in our hearts. Never separate yourself from the spirit by shutting off your communication with God. Never harden your hearts towards the spirit. Always be ready and willing to receive inspiration from the spirit. And pray constantly that you will receive promptings in a way that you can easily react to. Pray ALWAYS. 

Have a good week everyone! You're all in my prayers. 

Elder Peterson

1) Frogley down

2) Creepy Halloween decoration. (I think she likes me)

3) An old edge trimmer. Pretty fun to use actually.

4) A ton of salad that me and Frogley were given after Zone Conference

5) My sweet new backpack for exchanges and carrying around a change of clothes