Dulce de Leche

We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission. Did I already tell you that?  Anyways, it is a great experience.  Right now we are reading about the prophesies of Isaiah where he saw the Book of Mormon and how it would spread throughout the world bringing truth the the children of God.  I love reading the Book of Mormon, especially in spanish.  It is such good food for the soul.  It is so true.

Lidia is so sweet.  We meet with Lidia and the family twice a week and they always send us off with sweets.  Yesterday it was two alfajores each and a conito, which is a little cookie with a giant dolop of dulce de leche on top in the shape of a cone all bathed in chocolate.  They go to church each week and it makes me so happy.  They are reading the scriptures every day and praying sincerely.  These two sisters are 84 and 86 years old and they are so actively looking for knowledge and light.  It is incredible.

Hermana Passos began to take the lead in all the lessons and planning this week.  She was stressed and angry and frustrated but then happy and hopeful and diligent.  It seems to work that way for all of us. :)  What a lovely companion I have.  Our classes of Portuguese and English are going well.  We found new people to teach the Gospel this week and the Lord is teaching us how to do this work in His way.  Faith precedes the miracles.

I love you all so very much and when that baby is born you all better give it extra extra love for me!!!!  I am so excited to see him/her.  What was that word Nick made up? It would be useful right about now.  Thanks for all the prayers and examples and words of love.  My heart is happy.

Hermana Peterson

Menos Activos

Today I want to talk about those that sometimes have a hard time getting to church.  We had some great experiences this week.  We went to eat in the house of a family that hasn't been to church in a few months.  Two little kids, one that will turn eight this year.  We began to talk about how the mom was introduced to the church and learned about her story, her family (this is one of the best parts of being a missionary:).  she was baptized when she was eight, her parents found the church when she was seven.  She was married in the temple, always a faithful member of the church.  Then the ward boundaries changed.  She was separated from the rest and put in our ward.  She began to go but she didn't feel at home.  The building is different, the people are different, there wasn't anyone to be in the nursery.  I asked when the last time she had been to church was and she said, with watery eyes, that already a few months had passed.  Her husband arrived home from work and joined in the conversation.  He shared that he felt guilty.  Their daughter wants to be baptised this year and they aren't going to church.  He has covenants that he is not fulfilling.

So what keeps you from going?

The mom tiredly said that each Saturday they prepare the clothes to go to church, they get everything ready.  Then Sunday morning rolls around....and they just don't go.  She said she doesn't know what it is that happens, but they just don't make it out the door.  There was suffering in her eyes the whole time.  She never expected to be in this situation.  She never expected to have this struggle, and it pained her to see the effects.  They told us they just needed a push.  So we pushed!  They committed to go the next day, and all committed to pray.

Church starts at 9:30 and as the hour got closer and closer and they still hadnt arrived we began to pray harder.  9:40.....9:50....and they entered the chapel!!!  We were so happy.  They were so happy.  The Hermano later shared that they woke up at 9:05.  His wife said, no, we´re already too late.  He said they were going to church.  They all got ready in a flash in their Sunday best and ran to the chapel.

Perhaps it is difficult sometimes to see the importance of this simple act of going to church each Sunday, but the truth is that it brings miracles into our lives.  We find peace, we find strength, we find faith.  And the Lord blesses us with what He knows we need.

I love this ward so much.  The members are valiant and true disciples of Jesus Christ.  

We are teaching classes of English and Portuguese, did I already tell you that? I think so.  But it is so fun!  Our students love it too!

I love you all to the moon and back and Im so proud to be here in the service of the Lord.

With lots of love,

Hermana Peterson

Doors open and doors close

And sometimes in between, we enter the house!  We had a miracle this week.  We were walking down the street and two people were walking our way.  I was getting ready to give them an invitation when the woman said, "Hey, I was just telling my mom the other day that you two never came by!"  We started talking and realized that we had talked with her some weeks before and noted down her address but it wasnt in our area and we forgot to hand it over to the elders.  She said her mom wanted a visit and she gave us a vague description of where her mom lived because she couldnt remember the address.  Later that day we went searching for the house.  We knocked many doors and asked everyone and nobody knew who we were talking about.  After a silent prayer we stood still for a moment and I looked down the street.  She told us it was a house without a gate and I thought I saw one that-a-way.  We knocked and a woman opened the door. "Hola, buenas tardes. Nosotras somos representantes de Jesucristo y estamos buscando a Andrea."  She smiled and said, "Soy yo!"  She let us in and we had a lovely lesson.  We didnt know where she lived but Heavenly Father sure did.  

We had a happy Sunday.  We have been working with a family in the ward, the family where we went for new year´s.  The abuela stopped going to church when her husband got sick and after her passed away a year ago she still hadn't been to church.  Her sister lives there with her and isn't a member of the church.  This week la tía abuela accepted a baptismal date and the both of them went to church!  When these two elegant ladies entered the chapel everyone was overjoyed.  Its been years since she went to church.  We are all smiles.

A new investigator, Alicia, also went to church.  She is a strong woman and she is always reading and praying.  A woman of faith.  

Ramona isn't progressing right now.  We had so many great lessons with her but right now it is looking like she´ll need more time.  I'm trying to send some good pictures.

I am praying for all of you, especially grandma.  I love you all with all my heart and your testimonies and faith and examples fill my soul with light.  Invite everyone you know to join in the goodness you know.  I love you!!!!

Un besito,

Hermana Peterson
                             

Us!

             

noche de hogar

Bautismo de Augustina

panquecas

ramona and her grandson and girlfriend and us

el templo

                               

Work

Mother! I received your package this morning. Only two months´ wait. jaja. Muchísimas gracias. Muy lindo, todo.  

We changed this week!  We evaluated what we could improve and change and we are doing it!  This week we had much more success.  The Lord was still testing us, trying our faith.  On Sunday, we were wiped out.  Our one progressing investigator (Ramona) is in a wheelchair and her grandson went out of town so we helped her get to church and then took care of her there.  She was having an off day.  She was happy, then sad, then tranquila, then wanted to leave, then was actively participating in the classes, then falling asleep.  It was wild.  Then we had a baptism of an eight-year-old immediately after church.  Ramona was ready to go but we had to stay for the baptism because we were the ones that taught the little girl the lessons to prepare her for baptism.  When the baptism finally started we went to the font and it was practically empty!  The water to the church had been cut.  Luckily, we have a quick-thinking bishop who asked Brother Agüero if they could use his pool.  So the family and the bishop went to the pool and then returned and we had the confirmation.  I´ve never been so tired after a church meeting!  We still lacked many of our goals for the week, but we went forth with faith and mucho ánimo.  The Lord blessed us with many blessings.  We were led to four new people to teach and we were able to help them feel the Spirit.  All in all, it was a wonderful week.  We met lots of new people and learned how to be better representatives of Jesus Christ.

To see Ramona after she goes to church is incredible.  She has so much peace and feels the love God has for her.  We are working to help her turn her weaknesses into strengths, putting her trust in the Lord.  She has so much knowledge of the gospel.  We mention the name of someone in the Bible and she tells us the whole story with quotes of what the people said and every detail of what happened.  Now it is just a matter of overcoming old habits and allowing the strenght of the Lord to change her heart.  She is praying for it, and it will come.

It is super hot these days. Don´t worry, papa, I drink PLENTY of water. :) And it rained last night and now the air is cooler.  The rain is lovely.

I love you lots. Besitos.

Hermana Peterson

Church

We had the most wonderful time in church yesterday. Let me tell you about it.

We arrived at the church to be greeted by Cristian, the grandson of Ramona.  He said she was already in the sacrament room and he headed off to his own ward.  We greeted all the members and sat down with Ramona, in the back so that we could repeat everything the speakers said right into her ear.  She has a lot of difficulty hearing anything that isnt said right into her ear.  As the meeting began, I realized the task I was being put up to!  By the end of the hour I was completely wiped out!  It is one thing to translate something into English but something else entirely to listen and repeat everything in Castellano.  We had excellent speakers, one being a member of the Seventy, and it was spiritually very edifying.  Ramona was pleased to have heard all the talks (mas o menos :).  There was a whole lot of improv going on, but I did my best. jaja.

Then we headed to Gospel Principles where the Élderes taught a great lesson about Adán y Eva and the Fall.  Ramona was full of thoughtful questions and the members eagerly helped her understand better.  Ramona has a lot of knowledge of the Bible and a whole lot of faith.  Then we presented the Plan Misional to the Mujeres Jóvenes and got them all pumped.  Then we went to Relief Society and did the same thing.  As we explained the plan, the Spirit was filling the room, almost tangible.  Then Ramona raised her hand, and began to share the most beautiful testimony youve ever heard.  She thanked the Sisters for helping her grow closer to Jesus Christ, for helping her to feel so good, there in the chapel.  Then she explained that she still hasnt received the answer to know if she really needs to be baptized again in this church, but that she is praying to know the truth and hopes to continue attending each week.  It couldnt have been more perfect.  The Spirit touched us all.

Ramona has a lot of doubts and difficulties, but she keeps moving forward.  It is difficult for her to leave behind her past and accept the light and peace that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.  But she is doing it!  She is praying and studying and feeling more peace each day.  She is beginning to talk about all her children, and that she wants them to have this same knowledge she is gaining.  She is a blessing to us and to the ward and to everyone.  

We just have to open our mouths and share the gospel.  It is the way of the Savior.  It is the best way!

I love you all so very very much!!  I love hearing from you.  Thanks for all the support and prayers and love.  I feel them with force, even from so far.

Hermana Peterson

Ramona

Ramona, mi corazón! Let´s just say the Lord prepares the way.

Early in the week we were walking down the street when a couple on a moto passed and stopped a little ways in front of us. As we passed the man called us over and introduced himself as a member of the Ciudad Evita 1 ward. He said his grandma lived in our area and wants to be baptized. He gave us his number and told us to call when we can go visit because he wanted to accompany us. Woah! We called two days later and we went to meet Ramona in the nursing home, which is conveniently across the street from our apartment. Ramona is 64, in a wheelchair, mostly deaf, and incredibly desirous to have the gospel of Jesus Christ. I walked into the nursing home and was surprised by how similar it is where I worked in high school, but on a much smaller scale.  I felt right at home!  We went back the next day, again with Cristian, her grandson, and then on Sunday he brought her to the church. Cristian is a recent convert of six months, 24 years old, and very excited about the joy he has found. A member sat with Ramona for the first hour and helped her sing the hymns. All of the skills I gained from working in a nursing home came in handy as we helped her with all of her needs. The Spirit touched me many times throughout the day as I reflected on the mercy of the Lord and the grand plan He has for each one of us.  She is excited to be baptized on the 1st of February.

I am loving Ciudad Evita.  It is definitely where the Lord wants me to be, and for that, I am grateful.  

We were eating lunch in the house of some members yesterday when their cat brought in a mouse, still alive, and was playing with it, trapping it in the corner and just watching it!  It was just like the cats in cartoons.  Hermana Passos has a phobia of mice and the family is a house with only girls, all squealing despite the fact the youngest is 20. :)  So Camila, 22, and I got a box and trapped the mouse and set it free in the grass.  I sure didn't want to kill it and she didn't either, to the disappointment of the viewers.  It was exciting and we laughed lots.  The lunch was delicious.

I want to send pictures so I wont write more, but I love you all!  Be humble and obedient and I will do the same.  Loves.

Feliz año!!!

Hermana Peterson

Por fin, compre un sombrero - pero tengo verguenza

Card we sent to members

Our wonderful obispo and family invited us over for Christmas Dinner!

2014 New Year's dinner with the Familia Hererra

Feliz Ano Neuvo!

Hermanas Goncalves y Zamora

The wonderful familia Lissandrello in Aldo Bonzi

A favorite of mine - Familia Marchinarez - and the daughter of el obispo

We love our Christmas banner from Mumsie - Hna Passos loves the photo of Cristo Redentor

Una companera mui feliz!

Oreo Night! Cada Jueves - it's our rule!

The fanciestTuna Rice Salad I've ever seen!

Zona Aldo Bonzi - Largest in the Mission!

Ciudad Evita 2B

Nueva Área!!!  I look across the train tracks and wave to Rocío. :)  Not really, but it is super close.

We went to the new ward yesterday and I felt like I was back in Bella Vista.  The bishop is like the bishop there- muy capo, full of love, tall, skinny, and rubio.  He even makes the same kinds of jokes.  And he has high hopes for his little flock.  We were greeted warmly by everyone.  They are excited to have sisters because it is the first time ever.  S we felt loved and felt a lot of love for all of them as well.  It is incredible how quickly you can love somebody.  I already feel at home here in my new home.

We knocked a lot of doors this week.  We started with nothing on Tuesday so we are visiting all the members and they are all incredible and many are willing to go out and work with us.  But after all that there is still plenty of time for knocking doors.  We found a few people that let us talk with them, and for that we are grateful.  We ask for water at almost every house because it is stifling hot.  People get really sweet and eager to help us when we ask for water.  People are the best.

Hermana Passos is suffering slightly from culture shock but she is, as all of my companions have been, a real trooper.  She is eager to learn and change.  That part is so important.  She has been helping me a lot in this week to remember all the things we need to get done and helping us see what more we can do.  We are developing a ward mission plan that involves brownies and I think it will function quite well. :)  Everyone needs to feel the joy that comes from inviting and teaching and testifying to the people we love.  If we need a brownie to get us rolling, I see nothing wrong with that!  It will be fun.

Christmas was wonderful and I hope it was splendid for all of you!  I loved seeing your faces.  So beautiful.  I thought and studied a lot about the birth of the Savior this Christamas season and I think it was the best Christmas Ive had so far.  In the few chapters of the Bible where it talks about Jesus´ birth it talks a lot about prophets, revelation, following the guidance we receive, submitting to the will of the Father, humility, obedience, and walking with faith.  Such a perfect beginning to such a perfect life.  Although the day of Christmas has passed, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas throughout all the year of 2014.  It is going to be a good one.  I can feel it in my bones. :)

I just love you all a lot.  Be well.

Hermana Peterson