A Missionary's Work: Time And Lovin' It Up

6/26/2017

Hey guys! How's it going over there in the NICE warm weather? (Here it's mean, hot, humid weather, ha.) Ya, earlier today we had a zone activity which was completely outside. I completely understand now why Filipinos love the shade and layer up in the summer (always longs sleeves in the summer), because I turned from really tan like toast to red like an apple, haha! You should see the really white Americans there ha!

It's been a good hardworking week. Our work is, as expected, in rain or blistering shine 😉 . We had some great hard rain and winds the other day that was a great cool-off, though it's sort of hard to share 2 umbrellas to 3 people (we love our worker brother Joshua). We got to help a member move in to the new house they built; like the refrigerator, cabinets, and a bamboo bed frame (Filipinos prove that you can build anything out of bamboo and welded metal). It's been great. The members have been feeding us, which is great because we walk a lot, and when we get home for dinner we just end up doing the needed stuff and going to bed.

Anyway, this week I have been learning to use time better and to truly love and cherish it. They always told me time is sooo fast, so love this moment and I always thought, "uh, I can't wait to be 15 so I can drive" or "I can't wait to get to eat anything I want after wrestling season" (and then I eat like one thing I want after season then continue to do the same, ha). Time is that one thing we can't take back and one of the only things we can truly give God. Everything is a gift to us from God, so we should love and cherish them, then give of our time to the one who has given it all to us, even just enough time to give thanks to him. So I have been looking at things a little differently lately, just a lot more filled with gratitude and things become so much more beautiful. Even hard situations. Actually, one time this week, I felt really sorrowful. One of the families here has had some crazy trials and they have endured well and were on steady ground, but all of a sudden, it all fell through. The feelings were almost unbearable, even though it wasn't even my situation. I doubted, and then a couple little tender mercies happened and I started to really appreciate his blessings for us. He give us hard things so we can become more, even who he wants us to become. He give us so much more good than bad. We just always look a the bad instead of the good. Let's take the time to be grateful and use this gift of our time and give some more time to God.

I love you all!!!
Seeya next time!
Elder Peterson
(Sorry but the pics just aren't working today)