Mi Casa Nueva

Hola my favorite people!

I cannot believe that I live in Mexico now! So my area is called the Tepoztlan! It is the most cool area for my mission. God really knows I hate the heat! haha So it is 87 degrees right now and gets down to the 60s at night. It is pretty nice! I walk a lot but I have not gotten burnt or tan at all! I dont understand why! That is okay though, I have 16 months for that! Tepo is a very tourist area. It is called the city of Magic. It is pretty small but beautiful. There are fireworks all day, everyday and parties all weekend! It is very lively! The nice part of it being a tourist area is talking in english somedays! Some people get excited to see a white girl who obviously speaks english and I dont think I have ever been whistled at so much! But It is all good! I love it here. It is for sure a very different county!

For one... I cannot figure out the bathrooms! haha Our house has a normal one. The church had one without a toilet seat, a member had a toilet and then handed me a bucket. I had no idea what to do! Another member had me go in the shower and gave me a bucket to wash it down. And I never know where to put the toilet paper! What a struggle. My companion finds it hilarios though.

My companion is Hermana Obregon. She is a native and 23 years old. She is great! I think she is learning more english, than I am spanish though. She doesnt speak english, but knows words so listening to us talk would be hilarious. It is a big spanglish fest. We get along really well! I was really nervous about losing my personality once I had to speak spanish, but I can still make jokes in spanish! She finds me hilarious, so I love her! 

My very first lesson was the 2nd day I was here. We walked to this new converts house and we taught sitting on the cement floor. She went through all her phone and facebook pictures and showed me family members. Then we taught about Enduring to the End. I had practically had no idea what was going on. In the middle of the lesson, she gets up, grabs two huge shampoos and hads it to us. I dont know if that went with the lesson or not? But either way I actually needed shampoo! We then started cleaning her house. I didnt know what I was allowed to touch and move, It was a bit awkward. We went upstairs to the kitchen to eat lunch, which was on the roof! She said I was very sociable. I guess the sister that I replaced was being trained as well and never talked and did not do much. I feel bad she didnt like it here. But I try really hard to speak! It usually makes practically no sense, but its all good! The only thing I really have right now is my choice of attitude. I try really hard to be as positive as possible and just smile! It can get frustrating, but I just smile my way through it. 

So everyone told me I would get really fat serving in Mexico, but we only really eat one meal a day! In the morning we have cereal or toast, whatever we make and then eat with a member at 2 or 3. It is always soup! Which I do not understand. It is so hot, why serve a hot dish! But it tastes good. Then they give up some sort of chicken with rice, beans, or veggies and always always tortillas! It really is not what I expected for food, different then any of our mexian food. Oh and I havent had anything spicy! So far.. 

In one lesson, I was having a hard time getting a word in and I couldnt exactly follow the lesson. I know some of the words they say but I am not getting the full sentence. I kept thinking to tell the investigator, I do not know you, but I know God does, so please ask him what is in your heart and He will help you. She seemed to be pleased with it and then I shared a small testimony that God answers prayers and knows us all. I still dont know if it really went with the lesson, but it worked! 

Oh and everyone kisses on the check! I have probably kissed 100 women on the check and on accident one man... They are very friendly and accepting people. No body really rejects us. We arent suppose to knock doors, it just isnt that effective. We talk in the street all day with people and our area has a ton of less active members, so we visit them a lot. I try really hard to pay attention and follow the lessons. I can uinderstand my companion, but we barely get to teach! People talk for days just about one question. So once they get going, there is no stopping them! That is when I get lost. But it has only been one week! Lots of people help me and encourage me to talk. They are excited that I am learning spanish and so many people love practicing there english with me. It usually is really weird and doesnt make much sense! So I know how I probably sound. haha rough life! 

Im sorry this is so long! I just want to say so much and I am probably boring you all by now. If you have any specific questions ask them up! I miss you and love you! Have a fantastic week! 

Con amor,

Hermana Petersn

Cinco Dias Mas!!

Hola!!

I got my travel plans and I leave on Monday, the 17th! My flight is at 8:30 am but we have to get up meet at 4:30! That will be one really long day! I have a layover in Atlanta, Georgia. It seems like a weird place to go to get to Mexico.. But oh well! I wont get to Mexico until about 7 pm. How exciting! I know right when I get off the plane I will realize I can't understand anyone. So that will be a fun experience! It will probably be the first time in my life where I will actually be quiet and reserved. But the time here has just gone by so fast! I am so grateful for the 7 girls in my district! We are all so close and they have already changed my life. Each one of them are amazing sisters and will touch so many people with their love for the Savior. 

Sundays here are pretty weird. Sacrament meeting is in Spanish and they have everyone prepare a 5 minute talk in Spanish. They don't announce who is giving the talk until after the sacrament. So yes it is pretty stressful! But guess who was the lucky winner this week?? Hermana Peterson!! The topic was on "Fe in Jesucristo" (Faith in Christ). I pretty much just read off my paper and then shared my simple testimony. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I lived for sure! But for our last Sunday my district is going to sing "Come thou Fount." I would highly suggest you to look it up if you do not know the song. It was taken out of the hymn book, but it is such a great song! 

On Monday, we skyped this young man who is living in Nicaragua. His name is Walter and he is 25 years old. We had to teach him a lesson over skype. weird right? But it was so cool! We started to get to know him and found out that he is the Seminary teacher for the youth. He wasn't going to do it this year, but the kid's begged the bishop to have him come back! He said he goes and tries to find more kids every week to come to his class. He loves it! It was inspiring to me to hear his story. I always knew youth everywhere were doing the same thing as we are, but it didn't really hit me until then. It is so amazing to think everywhere around the world people are trying to follow Christ and stay strong in this difficult place. We told him to tell his class thank you for their examples for us and he asked to record a video of us. So we were able to thank them and share a small testimony with them! It was so cool. I just thought how excited I would of been to have some girls from another country trying to speak my language and thanking me. I know it wasn't probably correct Spanish, but it was a nice experience. so please remember people everywhere are choosing the right!!

Hermana Capener and I were able to teach the law of Chasity and the word of wisdom this week. It was our first time with either and we thought it could be a little awkward, but it was great! I have learned the invitation to repentance is an invitation to love. People can only improve themselves and return to God by repentance. So why would I be scared to help them change and improve? By breaking these two laws they are not allowing the Holy Ghost to be in there lives. I would not want to live without the constant help of the Spirit! By disobeying, they are pushing Christ aside. So please remember that repentance is a great thing and should be used constantly! It might be difficult, but it is necessary for us. 

Our teacher Hermano Chatterly is the best! We all get along with him so well. He is like our big brother. During our class yesterday, one of the girls asked him a question and he turned around to write it on the board. As he was turned around we all put on green and orange mustaches. Then Hermana Tidwell said, "I must-ache you a question." He turned around looked at Tidwell and Naut really confused. He was not sure what to think and then he saw orange in the corner of his eye and noticed we all had them on. He freaked out! His jaw dropped and his eyes popped out! he said "this is the best thing that has ever happened to me!" We all laughed so hard. Who would expect a room full of sisters to have some sick staches on! 

Well I hope that you all have a fantastic week! Remember to keep smiling and thank God for all the amazing miracles in your life! Please pray for my safety and speaking abilities in Mexico! I love you very much!

Love always,

Hermana Peterson 

Pics.. Mexico here we come!

and the two Elders were our Zone Leaders. They left to Argentina last Monday!

Hola! Cómo estan?

I hope you had a great progressing week of fun and wisdom! Thank you everyone who has been writing and emailing me. It is a great encouragement! 

This week as all fly by so quickly! Tomorrow we get travel plans and then I leave the next week! Say what?!? That is so crazy! It has been super fast! I know my spanish is not ready at all, but I know that God will help me once I get down there! It will be a whole new adventure. Can't wait!!

This last Sunday was fast Sunday and it was great! My zone all shared the testimonies in spanish and I didn't understand all of it but I could feel it so much more. It was great, because I have to rely on the Spirit because I cant understand everything! So it was a great experience. I shared my testimony and it was really simple. I cant say anything complicated and I felt so much power behind my simple words of truth. I love that I have the ability to have and share the Holy Ghost everyday with people around me. I know we all have this chance, so I would really encourage to appreciate the Spirit in your life and take time to feel His presence. 

Yesterday, Hna Capener and I taught the first lesson to Gabriel. He is such an amazing man! He opens up and shares so much love to us. We were talking about the 1st vision and he paused and said Joseph saw God and Jesus?? He was completely astonished by this. He was in deep thought and I never really thought how amazing and incredible this really is. I looked him in the eye and said yes, I know that he saw God and Jesus and I know that he is a prophet of God and restored His same church today! I asked him if he believed this and he thought about it and my companion said it is okay, and he said No, No! I think it is incredible and I do believe it! That has been one of my favorite experiences so far! It helped me truly know that I believe in the truth of this gospel and love it so much! 

Yesterday, we got 6 new sisters in our zone. I was able to help some of them get situated and answer lots of questions! I loved helping these hermanas and confirming that this is where they are suppose to be now. It is amazing to see the light in all the people around me and have them uplift me daily! I love being a missionary!

One of the sisters in my district told me that I have a face of a Disney princess! haha She told me that I should work at Disneyland! We all know that has been a dream of mine since I was little! So maybe I should actually try it when I get back! Either way I am a princess of God right? :)

I love you all and hope you have a great week! Please keep me in your prayers as I learn a new language and learn to help people come closer to Christ! 

Con todo mi corazon,

Hermana Peterson 

pic.. Capener and my attempt of heel clicks!

we all wore black and white!