A Missionary's Work: Hard Workers

1/9/2017

Hoy! Kumusta life ninyo!
Here in the Philippines, Angeles mission in the Bongaler Zone, in the Bongabon Area, we are just living it up with work every day and loving and serving these people. My companion Elder Dela Cruz is awesome and after a frustrating interview with the president (in English), he now wants to learn English, yes! It's pretty important here. If you want that extra income, English will get you and advance for sure, and if you want to work abroad, it's a big help too.

So we had exchanges this week with the Gabaldon Elders in their area Gabaldon (very mountainy and beautiful!). Where we taught one person that absolutely agreed with us on everything... until (always an until, ha) she told us how she believes that Jesus Christ was reincarnated as a Filipino hero named Rizal. Which was quite interesting to say the least. We also had a worker with us and he has to be the most masipag (hard working) ever because he's around 70 years old, is paralyzed on his left side of his body and works with the missionaries every day, which we probably walked 7+ miles that day, wow is what I say! He's still smiling too! Great people here and I have the opportunity to meet them and teach them, yesss!

I also am making the district shirt and hopefully it is cool enough for them haha, though custom shirts here are cheap, the equivalent to 5 US dollars for full print on the front, back, and both shoulders, ya sweet!

The highlight this week was our baptism. Though we baptized the Agres family and they are amazing people, they make me want to become fluent in Tagalog so so much more, so I can help them grow personally and so they can understand me more. It makes me ponder the covenants (a two way promise with Heavenly Father, we promise something and if we keep our promise, we can receive from his many blessings that he wants to give us) we make in such ordinances like baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and even family sealings. It sometimes feels like a simple thing like "oh my family has been baptized so I guess I will too," but do we ever really think about that promise or covenant that we make or will make? We have a joyful and hard working road to follow. When we are baptized, it's taking Christ's name upon us and how we represent him is ultimately our decision, but knowing that he suffered for our sins and died for us, then again lived for us, we should ponder this. Don't shy away, but take this gift and try our best. We aren't perfect but with the gift of repentance, we can continue to strive to honor his name and follow his example. I love to be a part of helping people understand these opportunities he has given us and understand the importance of them too. I know that it's really important to have these ordinances done and that Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and these are part of it. I know that he loves us so much that he suffered to send his son to die for us, and the Christ loved us so much to offer himself to die for us.

Love you all and hope that your week is great, and the you meet even greater people!

Elder Peterson
Here's some awesome pics!

 

A Missionary's Work: I'm a Translator

1/2/2017

Catch The Rainbow

Hey everyone!

Taste The Rainbow

This week was great and filled with joyous work! I will have to say, having to teach in two languages is hard, mainly because of the transition from English to Tagalog. So what happened was at one appointment that we had, the husband of the sister is visiting and he's Indian. So because he doesn't know Tagalog, and is pretty fluent in English, I taught the lesson in English then Tagalog. And when Sister Vanessa commented and gave a life experience, where prayer was important, I would translate to English. Now, I'm not fluent, not even close, but somehow it worked out amazingly! Plus, I'm sure he feels lonely since everyone he's surrounded by is ok in English but not fluent one bit, so he's my new friend.

Other than that, we've been working, working, working and finding people who want to listen to a message about Christ, family and that there is plan for us from God. I love to teach and every time I smile and feel so great because it's amazing to answer questions and serve others. I love these people so much. I want to do so much for them an so whenever I can, I cook for them (yes, I know that sounds funny, Chef Elder Peterson), but food is such a big deal here. So now I'm a leche flan chef haha.

Anyway, the new year was great. It's very different here because it's all your neighbors with super illegal fireworks and really close to you. I was almost afraid of leaving the house ha.

Having Fun

Having Fun

Anyway, this week I have loved learning about a balance between obedience and loving and humility and not being so serious. For me, through wrestling, I have realized that sometimes I don't know how to relax and have fun, and I'll be super serious and like a robot (you can ask my wrestling coaches). So I really want to learn the balance where you have diligence and work hard, but have fun. So what I do now, is every now and then, I smile and think of something funny, maybe even do something funny just to lighten up the mood. It's hard, but I love to learn and grow and what I say is to think of something you want to work on, like my example, and try to see what you want to be and become personally, then constantly think about it and do what you can and slowly it'll happen.

Love you all!
Happy New Year!!

A Missionary's Work: Maligayang Pasko / Merry Christmas

12/26/2016

Maligayang Pasko / Merry Christmas!

Merry Pasko or Maligayang Christmas or however :)!

So this Christmas was completely missionary and Filipino-fied. With no Christmas tree, we made a Christmas palm tree/flower out of a Gatorade bottle, a nativity scene out of a coke can, some leaves, some ornaments, and a sky scene thing (a piece of the coke can with stars cut out and a candle lit behind it). This, and a package from home... Sweet, it was a cool scene! But our main focus, besides Skyping home for Christmas, was service. It was more of the missionary lessons kind of way of Christmas service.

Making a "Christmas Tree"

Nativity

Christmas "Tree" with Nativity

The custom here is that during Christmas, everyone goes to visit family and when you visit, you bless the family (a sign of respect to the elderly) then the family will give them money or gifts. That's one way to motivate seeing all the family, even the ones that you don't really like (her mother in-law, joke lang! / jk).

Christmas in the Philippines

Anyway, I have been studying repentance lately and it's pretty deep stuff. I remember a time in my life when I felt that because I screwed ups so bad, that I felt like "it was over". that "why should I try anymore", or "I can't be forgiven, there's no hope for me." Then after learning and growing more in my life, I now see something different. So those times that you screw up badly and think that, think of Christ. why? Because he suffered for all of our sins, which means he has felt every sin we've ever made, making and will make. He felt all sin, he bore it for all people and from this he knows how we feel and gives all people the mercy to the justice. We can always be forgiven because of Christ and his atonement (his suffering for our sins). After you realize that he can forgive you, ask for it, ask for forgiveness and his help, he will give it. It's part of his Character to forgive and still love you after. Through we still have consequences from our actions, those burdens may be light when we ask for it. God loves us so much that "He gave His only begotten son" to suffer and die so we can have the opportunity or tool of repentance. someone once told me "repentance isn't all made of suffering and hardships, it's a way to receive joy. For it is what Christ intended us to use to someday live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families in heaven." I know that through repentance, we can live with them again in heaven and if we use the tool and opportunity, which is repentance, we can find true joy.

Love you all, Merry Christmas from the Philippines, and if anyone wants to talk, I'm here every Monday.
Here's some pics from this Christmas :)

Elder Peterson

YUM!

A Missionary's Work: Prep for Christmas (Yon!/cool!)

12/19/2016

This week has been a great week in getting to know the new people in this new area. We have such a cool area because it has bukid/farm and it's so beautiful! We have the best sunsets ever and when we go jogging, it's a lot cooler, not as hot because there aren't so many buildings to stop the wind. I think I've finally turned into a Filipino because it's cold for me and I'm thinking about buying a blanket (ha!). I think I have also become a beginner level (not a rookie) Filipino chef.

So this week, in the Christmas spirit, make it family, Christ and service centered. It's a perfect time to spend a special day with those you care about. It's even more special being as a family and focusing on Christ. How do you focus on Christ? We can look at all the blessings he's given us. Think about all he has done so we can live with our families and loved ones again, and share that joy with others. It's seriously a great opportunity to serve others, like making some goodies for those who have to work that day (ex. policemen, firemen etc.) It's really simple but you help share a part of the love Christ has for us. so really, have a great Christmas, a family, Christ, service centered Christmas! Love you all very much Malagayan pasko!

Here's some pics too...

A Missionary's Work: Messed Up Transfer Day

12/12/16

So the day before transfer day, we had a farewell party from the ward and it was soo great. We had lots of food and talking. This transfer day (last Thursday) was really, really messed up! I finished my training, which in most situations my trainer would get transferred and I would stay, because I know the people and area. But in this case, we were both transferred and the area became a sister missionary area, which could be hard for them because they're both new missionaries to the area and don't know who we've been helping and supporting while we were there.

Teaching his friends how to make Pizza

More Pizza

YUM!!!

So now I am in Bongabon; change because I went from straight city to straight bukid (super farming rural area). Now instead of a ward, it's a branch {Mom note: a ward is a congregation with 150-500 members that live reasonably close to the meeting house. A branch is typically a very small congregation with less than 150 members}, and it's so great because the area is so united and love the missionaries. We get a meal almost every night, which is great for the belly and the pocket ha.

Filipino Moving "Truck"

So I have a great scripture to share in Doctrine and Covenants 11:7-14. It talks about following the Spirit / Holy Ghost / Espiritu Santo. That if we follow his spirit, the works will be good and we can judge it by the works. "Put your trust in that spirit which leadeth to do good - yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my spirit." It's that kind of feeling you gt when you serve someone and feel so good and warm after, like that. When our works are good and help others, we generally feel this way, or when you're going through a hard time and need comfort so you pray, at least for me, I feel like that warm and comforted or when we have a huge question, a fork in the road situation, sometimes we can receive an answer if we ask in prayer. And it can be a feeling like that warm awesomeness or maybe a thought that you would probably not have thought of if you hadn't prayed. In other words, like a prompting to do something. That's the spirit and it's like a guide for everyone. Obviously, the scripture is way better and I recommend reading it. you can use the app or online at gospel library. I love the teaching from prophets of God and Christ. It's so uplifting an inspirational and really helps me every day, rough or not. I love that in his gospel, families can be together forever and I have a testimony that it's true and have seen great blessings from his gospel.

 I love you all and I'll see you all next Monday.