A Missionary's Work: The Real Importance

5/28/2018

This week was hot...  I love the heat but man I'm using an umbrella, what is this! haha!

This week I got sick and am now pushed to drink about 4.5-5 liters every day, but hey I feel better now, healthier, and saving money, ha its great!

So this week I have been studying faith. I love this topic soo much because it brings greater meaning to everything. I downloaded this talk about faith in wrestling by wrestling mindset, and I love it because (Seth Gross was the guest speaker), Seth talks about how he wrestles. He wrestles with faith in a greater purpose, he talks about how he goes out there and gives it his best, but knows in the end, what's important. I love that mentality and how faith works in everyday things like wrestling. I like to add this to a bigger picture of our lives. With work and studies and such, if we have faith in a bigger purpose or even the mentality of remembering what's really important, in the end of it all doesn't all that stuff all of a suddenly seem smaller? Ya I think so, I believe that a loving God has given us such things as family, His own plan and other things so that we can find the deep, real importance in life. We don't have to get lost in little things that simply distract, instead we can have faith and find those things that really matter to see, even a little bit more of, the bigger picture. I love you all see ya all next week!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: "One Day More"

5/21/2018

Hey guys! this week was really fast and awesome, and "I'm loving it up in the city" (guess that phrase). It's been really great though. We had tons of opportunities to serve this week and the opportunities keep coming and its great, I love serving! We got to paint the elementary school and clean up a bunch of stuff, then tomorrow we're goin back to do some more because there's a lot more to do. We also cooked an awesome Filipino desert called bibingkan kanin its a sticky sweet rice with caramelized coconut sugar on top (hhmmmmm).

So LG (life's good), and really fast but great. Anyway this week at church I heard a great talk about a different talk they had listened to called, "One More Day." Its about a family who had a child with an illness and knew that he would die at a younger age. Then on in the talk it's about loving up our time that we have while we have it and sacrifice. He said that this short time we live is a time to, of course spend time with those we love, but also make sacrifices. I think about this time here and now to serve the people of the Philippines, I really love making memories and spending time with them, but it's the sacrifices that count. I remember something that someone said to me, "What would you do for your family?", next he said, "now what would you do for God?" It was a good question, would I give my best to share his word or give of my time or give up certain wants for him? Ya it's a really good question with a limited time period. Maybe we should think more of our time and what we can Give or Sacrifice during that time.

I love you guys and seeya next week lagi maingat kayo!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Understand and Enjoy.... :)

5/7/2018

Hey guys this week was fun though not a ton happened except for the 45 celsius so super hot! but we're still happy :) so I don't have tons of time today but I do want to say we're doing pretty good got to taste new fruits and make homemade trail mix and cook some new foods which is great!

Anyway I think what came up a lot this week were two things 1: be understanding to other people and 2: enjoy "this moment." So in the mission there's a period (at least that's what others say) that when a missionary is close to going home he gets "trunky" or in other words kinda ready to go home and gets lazy. I really don't want that to ever happen so I said to my companion, "lets work even harder!" And in doing so I kinda lost the enjoyment of the service that we're doing and became less understanding of people's needs and weaknesses. As I realized what was happening, I made an adjustment to change. I sometimes forget when I get super focused on things to remember nobody's perfect and to have fun or enjoy. You can ask any of my wrestling coaches there were soooo many times I was so focused that I wasn't enjoying it. Now when I think about it what's the use of memories and doing good if you don't just love and enjoy it right now. It's already a short life that we're meant to feel joy and enjoy. Just a little thing from this week but important to me so I'll see ya'll again next week love ya'll!!!

--

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Love

4/30/2018

Hey guys how's life in the U.S. of A? Here we're doing not so great... just ... Awesome!! This week we found a lot of people to teach and it was great! We got to go to this far part of our area and it was great, just straight bukid (farm land) and it was peaceful, full of even Nicer people (didn't know that was possible), and just overall a great time. I really love it here and I love being with these people. 

Well with this short time here's my spiritual thought.    I think since i've been here i've really learned about charity or love for others. But i've got to say looking back it all started when I was a kid in being a recipient of much love. Looking at key role-models of mine and their example I sense a ton of love. My Mom is probably one of those bigger examples for sure! I remember when I was kinda rebellious and even though I was I knew I was still welcomed by her and that kn matter what I did or do, she will. Then its always good to think of an even bigger example, the savior.  Though he served many people all his days and loved them and did everything he could for others, in the end, after suffering for the sins of a fallen people, he was then taken. Mocked, beaten, and suffering he took it all and then died on a cross for those same people. Thats a great amount of love. Maybe its one of those traits that make life more worth living or just me, but I know if we can love everyone even your enemies or those kinda annoying people who honk angerly at you though they don't know you still can not control traffic. Anyway the point is if we really want to become better and follow abetter example, this might be where we should start and I know if we truly are trying and seek for help from God, we'll get just that and become a lot better. I love you guys and hope you have a great week. 1st and 2nd commandment huh! take care!!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!​

A Missionary's Work: Compassion

4/23/2018

Hey guys this week was Pretty good! So we had a hard workin' great week and I love my comp he's awesome! Then on Thursday we had a huge CSP (community service project) we got to pretty much do everything I did before the mission, dig holes and work hard. Which was a blast and it helped them out a lot after we were going on exchanges which means you get to switch your companion with someone else for a day and we get a call and someone my companion knows in his area is in the hospital. So we go to the hospital and find this mom and her 10 year old girl. The little girl is obviously in great pain, not able to move half her body, or speak, and not able to communicate. I remember looking at her and feeling such a great amount of compassion and love for her and her family, even though I don't know them. After that experience I thought about how Jesus must've felt as he was to suffer for us all even though we're imperfect. Or when he was beat and mocked just to, in the end, die for those very people. He must've had a lot of compassion and love for us to do so much for us. Even now he's always by our side and ready to help us. So just something to ponder this week and appreciate. Well love you guys and hope this week is great ingat!!! 

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A MIssionary's Work: Big Pic

4/16/18

Hey guys! there were a few interesting things that happened this week. one is a fun fact that I thought I should tell you guys so your prepared if you come to the Philippines, every kid that is toddler or younger don't where pants and pee anywhere they want. two, when me and my comp are bored after we're home for our curfew we play basketball inside our small apartment trying to pass each other up its a fun sight to see haha. Three, one of our investigators kids fell off their porch head first and was completely ok. That 2 yr old has the head of a rock, true because i've seen him get into a hammock and fall, also head first, then repeated it like three times more. So that was some things that happened or are fun facts for you guys. Anyway this week I was thinking about things, mostly about purpose. I thought about how sometimes our goal or purpose in something is direct and that's what you want. Then after hard work and other things that may happen you feel you have failed. But little did you know another purpose and goal of an other went through. For example yesterday (sunday ) we were running really late for church and thought we'd miss the first part that's kinda like mass, called the sacrament. And I was just praying we'd make it and when we got there 30 mins late we somehow made it on time. Later I come to find that they were trying to start on time and tried everything to get the microphone to work, but nothing happened. A little later they just brought in a speaker and hooked up a different microphone stating late. But we made it. I thought about how sometimes maybe things don't go how we want it but it helped someone else. I've come to know that theres a purpose for all things even failures and successes. Its kinda crazy how things kinda just go right or things some how work out but its part of a bigger plan so When we fail at something don't think its the end of the world think maybe it was part of a bigger picture that is meant to help you or others. well there's my lil' thought for you guys take care and love ya'all stay safe this week!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Testimony

4/9/2018

​So this week was good guys! We found this awesome family of eight who we're now teaching, they're super cool and they love to ask us about God and who he is and how he can help us. Some great questions to even ask ourselves and they were asking us about this and we were blessed to have that great conversation guided by the spirit. I can tell God is important to them and I'm excited to continue these discussions.

We got to have a great community service project where we got to help one of our members here needed help to clean his yard. He lost his leg a while ago from diabetes and so his huge yard was like way to hard for him to clean, especially him being alone at his house. So we got to take out some trees which is exactly what a bunch of 18-21 yr old's need haha.

Anyway this week I really felt time just fly by the more I think about how to help these people and not about myself. I find that time not only goes faster but you find more of the good in people. I just want to share my testimony with you all. I have only been here for almost 2 years but I feel a big difference in my and hopefully other's lives. Since being here I have had to humble down, gain more confidence, love people that are hard to love, and learn how to serve in all situations. I have found that everything has a purpose and reason for why things happen. I have come to know that we aren't alone either, when we fall or fail we can get back up with a loving hand stretched out to help us. We do get 2nd chances, in-fact we get unlimited chances as long as we're doing our best. We are children of God who has a plan for each and everyone of us. He loves us and wants the best for us, that's why we have hardships in life so we can grow and that he can help us. I know I am loved and so are we all, and one day after this life I can be with my family again and I leave all my testimony with you all in Jesus's name amen.

Love you all and I'll see ya all in 3-ish months, kita-kita tayo doon sa amin bahay ha

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Im-possible?

4/2/2018

Hey guys this week was cool I met someone with my first name [Rodney] which was kinda mind blowing haha. This week was Holy Week here which is of course Easter week that people celebrate here. Though in some places here it's extreme where some people will reenact the crucifixion of Christ not with the same brutality of it but will literally get nailed to a cross for like an hour. That's kinda Crazy with a capital C. so that was one thing that happened this week.

Anyways  [Anyways 1 fav word ni E.Peterson ngayon] while listening to the testimonies on Sunday, one in-particularly caught everyone's ears. One by an 18 yr old girl who told us about how she doesn't believe in the impossible. She apparently got into a big accident when she was young and everyone had told her that she would never be able to  finish her schooling, she's now graduating 12th grade. They said she wouldn't be able to walk again, she's now walking. Then they said she wouldn't be able to walk without a limp or straight and she has overcome even that. My whole life I have believed if you put forth the effort and work you could do anything. I am happy to still say I believe that, even in a world where people say you can't change or be something else. Like this girl, nothing is impossible we can become better in all things. We can improve, and we can become Who God see's us being able to become. We can use bad circumstances and failures to improve and progress. Little by little the "impossible" becomes possible and reality. That's what God has given to us is the ability to progress, change, and do the impossible. I like one picture thing where it has written Impossible with IM in parentheses meaning I'm possible, {"Im"possible}. I love you all and mean it when I say, WE are possible, we can do the Impossible. Seeya all next time!!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: See the Potential...

3/26/2018

So this week was crazy with lots of changes. First my companion got emergency transferred, second this is now my third hiligaynon companion (a different language in the Philippines) Elder Lasmarias, and third it's been one of the happiest times of the mission. Tomorrow is exciting too, we're going to a member's house and surprising them with a celebration cake. It's the last day of radiation for the mom there. So it's a surprise party and I know it's important for them so it'll be good. And I think it'll be good for the moral of the family, it's been a hard one for them lately. Amazing people though.

So this week form y spiritual thought it's about identity, or rather who we are. I was listening to this talk the other day about seeing people as they can be, and as thinking about this I tried to put myself in different situations and still see other people as their mom would see them, because we all know moms see all the good and great and positive in their children. So what if we saw others through their eyes, wouldn't all those times that you're in traffic and that one guy is angrily honking at you moment change to a more patient and love-filled experience. Wouldn't helping others change from sometimes being a burden to a lifting experience. Wouldn't that one guy in your office that seems a little over the top on how awesome his life is change to feeling good for him. God loves us a lot and knows where we are and where we can go or in other words who we can become. When we start seeing people not as what or who they are right now but see them by their potential in becoming something more, I know we'll come to love them more gain better patience, and learn compassion for others. We'll be more like that person God knows and sees us becoming. I love you all and hope this will help change our perspective on others/our weaknesses. Seeya all next week!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Divine Design

3/19/2018

​Hey guys! how are you all doing?! This week we caught Timmy he's a ROUS (Rodents of unusual size [Shout out to princess bride fans haha]) and its pretty inconceivably large haha! I also ate this like super spicy Korean noodles that's "all the rage lately. " They weren't that spicy for me so next time its X4 next time oh yaa! We also made corn with mayonnaise and Mexican chili powder which brought back such good memories ohhh ya... Anyways I heard Jake got 3rd in state, congrats Man!!! So this week I listened to this great talk about Divine Design. It's about how there is no coincidence in God's plan, kinda like there's a purpose for everything. For an example there's a reason why trials happen in our lives or when we're given specific responsibilities. In everything there's a purpose in God's plan so that we can learn, grow , and become more. Like a muscle we exercise and go farther and do more and push to farther limits each time to become stronger. Also like life we are given harder trials or other uncomfortable positions so that WE can become stronger and better. God's plan is designed for each one of us individually to help us Become who he see's us being able to become. I know he loves us that's why life isn't all "butter cups and flowers" but it's difficult at times on purpose for us. So I just want to leave these things in Jesus's name and will talk to you all next time. Love ya'll!!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!

A Missionary's Work: Understanding

3/5/2018

Hey guys sorry I wasn't feeling good last week so I didn't email. Though I did hear that Jake got to state oh ya I'm pumped for Solon wrestling! Speaking about wrestling I got to wrestle one of the missionary's today who's a 6'7" giant and It was a blast wrestling again, ya I miss it a lot!!! So this week was cool because of some of the super cool people we get to teach. We're teaching one family who the mom is half blind and the super kind family. Even though they have very little they still give us food and their time. We also have a cool old nanay who understands our Tagalog but speaks in Ilocano a different dialect here, which is super hard to understand ha. This week was a hard and good week, I really learned a lot this week. I learned a lot about understanding this week. Sometimes, as I have come to know, we expect more than we get. We expect super high expectations and then we get super sad that we didn't achieve or get close to something. What I have found this week is that understanding is very important for expectations. We can't expect someone who idols Michael Jordan to be exactly like him because he's so athletic. First we need to understand the person, as we understand him we come to find he doesn't like bball anymore, he's since burned out of the sport and love instruments with a passion. Sometimes we want to help someone, maybe because we want them to change, but we don't fully understand them. I had a hard time with, "helping" some people lately by just pushing something that has helped me and expecting it to help them too. But as I realized that it wasn't helping them I found that its also not what they needed to change, to feel love from God, to become who God knows they can become. And so I haven't become an expert at understanding others but I am starting to learn more. I love you all and hope your week is spectacular!!!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little

​!​

A Missionary's Work: Change

2/19/2018

Hey guys its another week and another small adventure! So I don't know if I told you guys but back then when I had my bday one of the people we were teaching had their baby girl on my bday and I got to name her haha #coolexperiencesinaforeignland (name is Alexandra). Just a cool thing I remembered the other day ha, we also caught a rat the size of forearm and that was crazy haha! 

     

So this weeks spiritual thought comes from my talk last Sunday about the ability to Choose change/progress. We want to become something more right!? Well that's good cause that's what God wants too. That's why he gave us the power of Choice. He loves us dearly and wants us to come home to him again, but that means we have to want that too. It also means if we look at ourselves today are we as we think we should when we return to Him? if not that means there is change to be made of course as being imperfect people that means we also need to change. The thing I have seen a lot lately is a ton of people who say, "this who I am, I can't change." That's when I think of a quote by a rehabilitation worker who would help bad people turn their lives around. One interviewer once told him, "don't you know cheetahs cannot change their spots?!" and he replied, " well I'll have you know I don't work with cheetahs I work with people and people change everyday." We can choose to change which will be step by step, lil' by lil' but we can! I remember one time here in the mission, I and my companion were on bad terms with each other and it was rough times. I eventually had to step back and look at myself and evaluate. I wasn't who I wanted to be or who I thought God would want me to be. So I decided it was my turn to change and not make things so hard for me or my companion. Not instantly but little by little I changed my attitude and things worked out. Now that missionary (I already apologized for my hard headed-ness ) is one of my close friends. Maybe that's what we need is a self evaluation, but what I do know is if we want to become like Christ we need to continually change. I know its part of His plan for us. I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

-- 

Elder Peterson 

remember stay Pogi, smile on, and laugh a little!