Week 33:Fairmont Ward, Houston East Stake; Companion Elder Mangan

How's the weather over there? We've got 70s with 75-95% humidity pretty consistently. It's alright though, I'm getting used to it (not really).

Last week Elder Mangan and I met with a woman named Audra Rodriguez. She was referred to our Bishop by a guy at a car dealership and Bishop Dinsdale referred her to us. We sat down to get to know her for a minute and has a super great discussion. She said she believes that Jesus Christ is real, but she doesn't know much about him. We shared a couple scriptures and basically told her we can help her learn. She also expressed concern with scriptures and how it's hard for her to understand them. We can help with that too! We asked her to read 3 Nephi 11:10-12 (I think) to get a good start on who the Savior is. We are super excited to meet with her again and learn about Christ together. 

We also did a lot of service this past week. We (and other Elders) helped a lady do some yard work in her jungle of a backyard. We had to clear out her yard and then we just took a couple weed wackers and made it look waaaay better. We and some other Elders also helped a woman in our ward, Sister Lerdo, clean out her garage. It was pretty gross, it smelled not too great and there were more roaches than I've probably ever seen, along with other bugs I can't identify. It was a good time though, we cleared out a ton of junk. In this part of Texas you can throw your garbage on the grass space between the curb and the sidewalk and it will get picked up. No can or bag even needed (makes the streets smell awful sometimes). So we threw all the trash on this little section by the curb and filled it up very quickly. After being there for a couple hours we told her we had to go, but that we'd love to help finish up some other day. Hopefully she lets us help again!

In missions where phones or ipads are used we have an app called areabook. All the files and information that used to go on the physical areabooks (those 5 pound binders the missionaries used to lug around) is now digital and way easier to use. Unfortunately, with technology comes new problems. Like your areabook not recognizing you're in a new area and failing to sync, or instead of sending someone's information to the correct missionaries it will send it to no where (this is rare though). In our case, we have no area. Since Elder Mangan and I are technically opening an area, the app has to draw new boundaries, give us stewardship in the ward, give us the teaching records of people in our area, etc. Areabook I'd being stubborn and has decided to take its sweet time with the process, so we have been basically starting from scratch. Eventually (Hopefully within the week) it will update and then everything will be fine, but until then we are pretty much using the spirit to guide us. The situation isn't as bad as I make it seem, but it's slightly annoying. The Great news is that we've been able to meet with people anyway, which is a tender mercy for me because I really enjoy talking about the Gospel with people. 

So even though this past week has been a bit hectic (I forgot to mention we moved into our own apartment finally), the work of the Lord continues.

Hurrah for Israel!

If any of you have any questions or I forgot to write about something you are curious about, feel free to email me!

I hope y'all have a great week! 

-Elder Peterson

 1. A chicken from a BBQ place.

2. We had a leak last week. Luckily it got fixed very quickly.

3. A nice, classic Texan sign.

4. The missionaries on the left in this picture are from the Texas Houston SOUTH Mission. It was funny to see them at that bowling alley, so we got a picture.

Pictures April 13-25

 

Week 32: Fairmont Ward, Houston East Stake; Companion Elder Mangan

On Tuesday I pretty much assumed I was leaving the area, so we went and said bye to some people. When the transfer board came out that night my assumptions were confirmed, I was headed out. That made Wednesday another day of goodbyes. We went to the soup kitchen that morning and had a good time there, I once again had crazy people yelling at me for simply doing what I was told, which is always fun. But I'm gonna miss going there, it was good service. We later went with some other Elders to say goodbye to the Fontanozas, McHughs, and Jeters. Great families, I'm really gonna miss that ward. 

Wednesday was also filled with packing and figuring out what to take and what to leave. Luckily I didn't have too much junk, so I was able to keep most of it. I did have to leave some though. 

Thursday was transfer day and I sat in a car for probably a total of 5 hours that day. Not particularly fun, though I do like road trips. I got to see some friends, like Elders Webb and Westover, so that made the day better. I met Elder Mangan, my new companion, and we headed home. Our area is directly neighboring the one I was trained in, Broadway. So it's kinda fun to be back. The area is the one Elder Frogley started in, so there's stuff he left behind all over the place.

The work since transfers has been less than ideal. I'm currently living in an apartment with another set of Elders (for now, we get our own soon), and it seems to me like there's a little too much downtime around here. We've all spent way too much time in the apartment, which I'm not a fan of. So this next week I might have to push my companion and myself out the door sometimes, which is fine. I've got no problem doing so.

Despite that, and it's not as bad as I may have made it seem, we have talked to some great people. Our area is huge and covers a ton of neighborhoods and apartments, so it's not hard to find places to go. The people are also pretty nice as well, so far. They at least understand basic principles of the Gospel, something the people in Port Arthur seemed to struggle with, so I have high hopes for my time here. 

Easter Sunday was awesome! The talks given at church were fantastic and I felt the spirit very strongly throughout the meeting, despite the elderly man snoring right next to me. Sunday school was just as good, I love talking and learning about the Resurrection of the Savior. There's so much symbolism in everything, which helps us understand even more. I love these words from the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 16:

   "8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

   9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

I've always loved the phrase "the grave hath no victory." Jesus Christ conquered death and in turn has made it so that we all will do the same. Yes, we will eventually die, but because of Him, it is not permanent. Because of Him, we cannot be held in the bands of death, for He has broken them. Our Savior suffered all that mankind will experience and then was crucified on the cross. Simply because He loves the Father and because He loves us. Then he rose from the dead and became a perfect, glorified being, just as we may some day become. 

Easter is a wonderful time to remember these truths (and many others), but we should always have them in our hearts. Take time every day, every hour, to remember Jesus Christ's love for us. Because of Him, we can change.

Because of Him, the grave hath no victory.

Because of Him, we can have everlasting happiness.

He is the light and the life of the world, and I testify that it is only through His light and the life He gives us that we can find everlasting peace and happiness. I am forever grateful for my Savior's love and I know that He lives.

I'm excited for what this transfer has to offer, and I wish you all a safe and enjoyable week.

-Elder Peterson 

That's Elder Mangan

Those are the Fontanozas 

That's the mission office, never been there before

That's a model home with no access to the garage

Those are delicious eggs that Elder Hunter made for breakfast

Pictures April 1-12

 

Week 31:Twin City Ward, Beaumont Texas Stake (Port Arthur); Companion/Trainee: Elder Childs

Blare - Noun

A loud harsh or strident noise.

Now you know.

This week has gone very fast and VERY slow. It was fun though. On Tuesday we went with Elders Masaki and Heiner to do some service at the Olvera's. We got to their house and there was a giant pile of gravel/dirt. He had 3 shovels, but only one of them was a regular shovel, but we made em work. I got a nasty blister on my hand, because I haven't used a shovel in half a year, but it was worth it. I can't believe how much I enjoyed it, I didn't realize I had missed manual labor so much. We shoveled for about 2 hours, and then we had to go for a lesson. Brother Olvera said they won't need our help again, that we did a great job. That honestly kinda stinks, I really want to shovel some more. Doing service like that is such a mental reset for me, I pray daily for opportunities like that. Later that night they brought us a ton of pizza for dinner, we were very grateful for that.

On Wednesday I went to my 4th TLC. It was super fun and I really enjoyed seeing Elder Paulsen again. Lunch was great (Elder Paulsen wasn't impressed), Jason's Deli. After Lunch and after TLC we all hung around and chatted for a while. I got to talk to a lot of missionaries I haven't seen in a while. Hermana Steffensen, for example, was fun to talk to. She finally gave me the recipe for her red velvet cookies and I am SO EXCITED to have it. Probably the best (most unhealthy) cookies I've ever had. The first time I had them was back in September. I asked her for the recipe and she wouldn't give it to me. I eventually convinced her to give it to me before she leaves. 6 months later, I got it, She goes home next week. I'm scared for when everyone from my first zone have left... that will be sad. I've made a lot of awesome friends...

Anyway, on the way home we stopped by a John Deere and I got myself a nice hat. We passed 3 on the way to TLC and I needed the hat after seeing that many. It's a sweet hat, very comfortable. Ultimately, Wednesday was a very good day.

Yesterday was my last sacrament meeting with the Twin City ward. Probably. Transfers are weird this time, we find out what happens tomorrow, and then actual transfers are on Thursday. I've been here in Port Arthur for almost 4 months, so I assume I'm going somewhere else. But, the meeting was very interesting. Bishop McAllen was released and Bishop Fruge was called in his stead. So that was cool, Bishop Fruge is going to be awesome for this ward. He's a very Christlike man. 

After church we had a great discussion with Dameris. We talked about faith and I kind threw several scriptures at him, I might have overwhelmed him a bit . Great scriptures though: Hebrews 11:1, James 2:20 Alma 32:21, and Ether 12:6. Faith. He's been going through a trial of faith, so we bore testimony and encouraged him to keep exercising faith and trust in God. We told him that while we may not always understand the things God does, we can trust that he knows what he's doing. Ah, I should've shared 2 Nephi 2:24 for that... oh well. Anyway, God knows what he's doing, so as long as we have faith in Him we will slowly learn why He does certain things and how challenges will eventually lift us up.

"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things."

(2 Nephi 2:24)

I hope your week was good as well! I'll let y'all know what happens this Thursday in my next weekly email. 

Until then, stay faithful!

-Elder Peterson

So apparently the pictures never line up with my descriptions, so I'll do this:

The family with 3 kids is the Williams.

The family with 2 kids is the Barkers.

I love those families.

The one where I'm wearing a trash bag is Elder Dyreng giving me a haircut (he did a good job).

The two people, Robert and Lisa Turner, are two great people I've taught (or tried to) here in PA. 

The heel click is just too good to not put in here.

And the shades are Brother and Sister Olvera's little girl's. I stole 'em and tried them on. I don't think they suit me.