A Missionary's Work: Focus in Service

5/22/2017

Hey guys, it's Elder Peterson again... you're probably bored of me by now, haha.

It's been a good week though, hot, hotter and then rain and hot humid. But it's close to transfer day so my companion or I could get transferred to a new place. Anyway, lately we've been the legit Filipino chefs. Cooking dynamite which is peppers with cheese and meat inside and wrapped in a lumpia wrapper and fried. We also cooked banana que and a range of meats... of course with rice, ha.

So this week I have been learning to "Forget myself and go to work", as Gordon B Hinckley said. Isn't it great when you're involved in a greater work and you use your all, and never even think once selfishly towards yourself, but always outward toward the job? It's not that easy, but when you ever find yourself in a moment as such, you feel sooo good. Like one time, during a service project I was involved in, after about a few hours of straight focused work, I stopped and took a look around and realized the cause we were working toward. It all of the sudden changed from a task to do, to somewhat of a bigger picture and scale. Truly building more than a building, but building the people. There is more of us to find when we serve others because we are more when we serve. Something I started to do is that if I ever feel angry for any reason I do something for someone else. It seems completely impossible to stay angry and do something good at the same time, and your mood changes soo much. Sort of like being angry then hugging someone. Eventually you can't help but smiling. When we are focused in our service we truly do become more and do more. And  so, like the saying earlier "Forget yourself and go to work", I challenge you guys to serve others this week, no matter the situation and truly do so without expectation of anything in return, being focused on them. I know you'll see a different you :)

Love you all!
Sorry there were problems with my pictures so I'll send them next week, but here's some old ones haha!

A Missionary's Work: Mother's Day!

5/15/2017

It's going to be a short letter this week, sorry! Happy Mother's Day!! We are great and especially me, because I got to Skype call my family on their Mother's Day! It was great to see them and check up on how they are doing. Also, thank you for all the mails I get from you. It's great, but sorry about my responding because the time is limited and it's hard to reply to everyone. :) It has been a complete day with caribou racing in the morning, and basketball (ya, I know wrestlers can't play basketball, but it's something besides my regular workout routing ha). Then we had an exciting experience with lighting a gas oven, haha (I don't have any arm hair on my right side now, haha).

Anyway, this week I have started to learn the difference of leading by love and by fear. There is this kid that is next door that is kinda spoiled and rude all the time, but a good kid too. He's always getting into trouble. One thing I noticed is that when his grandpa comes out and chastises him with fear of something, it only takes minutes until he's doing that same thing again. But when I see his older brother come out and speak to him with kind yet firm words, he chooses to stop. Now I am not in the least saying not to discipline, justice must be filled, but our loving example is like a beacon to others. I found the loving example is like a magnet, those who seem lost always make a u-turn and find their way back to that wonderful example. Like Jesus, he is that perfect example for us, perfect, loving example that always invites us back. he is that mercy to the justice, for us. When we fall, he will help us up. When we get lost, he guides us home. He is our loving Savior. Now let's do our part as examples and help others when they fall into bad habits, guide those who feel there is no home to the place they can call home. We are the Savior's hands, now let's go to work and always help those in need by actions and our example.

Mahal Ko po Kayo! Alwad Sikayo (I'm learning Ilikano, ha)

Elder Peterson

A Missionary's Work: Not Too Much, But A Lot

5/8/2017

Hey everyone, it's this Elder again!

Kumusta po kayo (how are you guys doing)? It's been a great week, complete with finding a feeding a monkey, catching a bird that speaks but isn't a parrot, and ate another cashew (turns out I'm not allergic to cashews, yesss!) This week has been hot and hotter. Probably because of all the electricity black outs we have. If the electric fan goes out, it's a sauna in our apartment. Though I have also been using the toaster oven we have to bake interesting creations, haha! Not sure my companion likes those creations very much ha.

We went to visit a new area in our area and I saw the most interesting man-made bridges ever (sucks I didn't take a picture, next time). It was bamboo, of course, but the supports were just a couple of pieces of wood in the shape of a triangle, balancing on the point to support this very long bridge. I don't know how that thing is up but it seemed to hold.

We also went and visited some of our investigators. They're some of our favorite people. The family consists of mom, dad, two brothers and two sisters. The hard part is the oldest brother has leukemia cancer and even though he's my age, he looks the size of a 12 year old with no hair. Their family has become so much closer together because of their trials they have had the last few years. So that's why we are so excited to serve them and teach them and help them come unto Christ. Especially knowing families can be together forever, through God's plan that he has given us. It's so amazing to think someone that has made a world, and life on that world and space, and is so much more than any of us, would care for each of us individually. He knows us and loves us like nobody else does. He loves us enough to let his son, Jesus, suffer, die and live for us. All of that, and he has a plan for us; that's amazing! This family is on their way to baptism and getting sealed in the temple (to be with their family forever).

I really love the people we get to meet, serve, teach, and be a part of their lives. I am trying to focus on these people and their needs more. Have you ever tried to help someone so much that you cared for them and their needs and not your own? It's an amazing feeling to truly pick someone up from their spiritual fall, because you let you own needs and wants go, so you could help them with their own wants and needs. I don't have a lot this week but it truly has been a week of wonderful moments.

Love you all and remember to Stay Pogi / Maganda and smile on!

--Pics of course!
Elder Peterson

A Missionary's Work: Love and Smiling On

5/1/2017

Hello everybody, yes it's me again 😉

This week was a good hard working week. We had CSP (Community Service Project) on Thursday. We helped floor a house, but probably not the way you all are thinking. We hauled dirt inside so that the dirt floor is more elevated for floods and such. So my back felt great the next day, ha. But you all probably know it was the best and I can't wait to go another round. 🙂

Also, we have tons of lizards in our house and such. Which this morning we found that we have accidentally smashed 2 lizards in the door and one smashed by my companion's desk. I think by next week there might be more, haha. Here's some background on my area here. There's pretty much just one job here and that's in the bukid/farm growing palay/rice with the shells still on. So when there's no work there after harvest, there's a lot of sitting around. There's a lot of debt here also because of the lack of work. Sort-of a dead end town. Like born here and going to die here in this small town type of deal. Kinda sad, but the good part is we can help them smile because of the message we share about Christ. The people are very nice though and love to chat, especially with a foreigner who speaks Tagalog, ha!

Anyway, I would love to share two things. One is a saying I always say, "Stay Pogi (handsome) and smile on." It's just a reminder to me and maybe others that we can choose to be happy. Like one thing my coach said, "fake it 'til you make it". It's true, in every wrestling match, whether tired or not, we would always act like we were just warming up and would jog around the mat or bounce in place. You know what, coach was right, by the end of the season, I wasn't tired. Now, if we apply this principle to other parts of our life, like happiness, we can become happy. I guess it's a little deeper than practice over and over again becoming a routine and not real happiness, but it's the fact as we continue to smile, even if you don't feel like it, we are enduring something to a better level than it would be if we frowned. As we try our best, we get a boost from others and God's tender mercies and can eventually see more of a happier sphere, than the sad one that would be there if we were to give up the fight, quit the race, or simply let the frown take over. So the phrase "smile on" has something to it, and I know can help as we truly do "stay Pogi and smile on".

The second thing I have felt to share is about God's love for his children (us). Every day I meet new people. All of them are bukod-tangi (unique) and in different life spots/situations. One thing that I notice is almost everyday, one person we meet is in such a low place, sad or depressed, angry and such. I feel such a compassion and love for them, because of the love of God. I know he loves us so much. He sent his son to die for us (the only one who could atone for us) and watched the people of the world crucify him. He gave us families and friends. He gave us a plan so we could, if we live the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end) we can return to him and Jesus Christ with our families. He love us so much, he wants us to stretch, learn, and grow, so he give us some trials to help us become more of the person he knows and envisions us being able to become. He never gives too much, just enough to really feel it and grow from it. He never gives anything we can't handle in Christ (because all things are possible in Christ). He truly loves us and as we feel that love, we also become instruments, teaching and helping and serving others so eventually they can feel his love for them. I know he loves us and I love all of you, so this week, try to show God's love for his children through what you do for others, for we are his hands.
P.S. Stay Pogi and smile on!
P.P.S. Here's some cool pics of this guy and friends, haha!