As the Days Go By...

YO YO YO my fellow Utah peeps! SO I GOT MY PACKAGE ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best day of my life.  

The pictures were great except I look super blah in them.  I for sure need to hit the gym when I get home.  Oh my, the one where we are jumping.. Yeah I totally was in the air first and that's why I am the lowest!!! seriously that is my conclusion.  The pictures from Josie were just about the best drawings ever! I drew some for her too! :) Emma's letters were just cracking me up.  haha anyway thanks for the package! MOLLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVED your letters! they were PERFECT! When I read the Han Solo quote, I JUST ABOUT DIED!! And the seat belt story.. Hilarious.  You are so pretty Mollie. So every now and then I fall apart, and I need ya here tonight.. and I need ya more than ever! But I won't give up on this. Even if the skies get rough.  I'm giving it all my love cuz God knows it's worth it! So you don't either.  You just gotta keep your head up OH OH! yeah yeah... :] So about running in the rain during the race.. Wahh Wahh.  I walk everywhere in the rain! ha ha what a joke. 
So this past week went pretty well.  We found two new investigators and we are working really hard.  Karen was confirmed in sacrament yesterday and I felt like a proud mom.  She came back and she was just like it's so true! it's just so true! like UH! it is! haha I love her so much! :)  She is incredible! I can't wait for ya'll to meet her! 

So HAPPY 18Th BiRTHDAY SPENCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeeeahhhhh budddyyy.  Seems like just yesterday I turned eighteen during our Escalante trip! That was my favorite birthday! :) Congrats to him on Graduating too! That's CRAZY!

Sis Duffy, Me, & Sis Byam

So we are getting transfer calls tonight which makes everyone pretty anxious.  Sister Duffy is for sure leaving cuz she flies home next week! I could either stay here in Brookswood with Sister Byam or I could train here or I could get sent somewhere else! So we will see! By this time next week I could be clear in a different part of BC. Transfers are on Thursday.  So pray I can handle whatever news I get tonight.  I'm gonna need prayers no matter what happens haha. seriously.

So lately, when ever we knock on people's doors, they say that there is no way there is a God because of all the evil that is happening in the World today.  They don't think God would let those bombings or shootings or all that happen if he really was there and loved us.  The thing is, we all have our agency or the ability to choose how we live our lives.  Some people choose to abuse that right and it's sad.  All we can do, is keep up the faith and focus on the good. We have to stay positive and believe and trust in the Lord. 

Speaking of the world we live in today.. So I've noticed a lot that whenever Utah gets brought up, people around me say that we (the youth mostly) have it way easier than others and that we are just in this little bubble. So, since we grew up around lots of LDS people, we don't have as much pressure to stand in holy places and live a worthy virtuous life. It makes me so frustrated! I'm like, if anything it makes it that much harder because we have responsibility and are accountable for all the knowledge we have! like oh my heck we are all equal people.  Our trials may be different, but God is a just god.  I believe that we have some of the strongest youth in North Ogden and I think they have a lot of pressure placed on them in different ways.  Ahhh. I could just go on and on.  

I just want to say that I am so proud and grateful to be born where I was and to have the family I have.  I couldn't imagine anything different and I know that we chose our families before we came to this earth.  I am so grateful to be born into the Gospel.  Some think I had it lucky, and they are so right.  I did and I am not going to ever take it for granted.  I would not have been strong enough to serve a mission if I wasn't taught my whole life the principles and ordinances of the Gospel.   

I love serving the Lord.  I love being a missionary.  How could I know what I know about his plan and sit back and do nothing?  It's hard and it can be tiring, but the blessings that come from it are incredible.  It's the greatest experience in the world and I am so happy that my YW are going to get to serve missions one day! :)

Welp, I hope everyone is doing well! I love you all so so much! Congrats John on gettin hitched.   

Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. 
Stand out. 1-10-15 WORK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
five stars! :) I love ya all! :) THE CHURCH IS TRUE! NEVER EVER EVER EVER FORGET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is with us always, people. ALWAYS.
-LOVE SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

...and that's how we do it in Brookswood

Hey so sorry that I didn't email yesterday! Dang Canada and their random Holidays! yesterday was Victoria Day apparently.

BUT I HAVE SUCH FABULOUS NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me & Beautiful Sis Karen :)

so it's no big deal or anything, but Karen, our investigator, got baptized on Sunday. WHATTTTT!?!?!!!???? yeah yeah yeah. Let me explain.  So all week last week, I kept getting this feeling that Karen needed to be baptized before the 25th, but I didn't know if it was just me or if that was what needed to be done.  So we have a lesson with her on Thursday right? and she informed us that she wanted to move it back a week to June 1st because work was just so stressful since she is going to be on brand new baby leave. AHH. We were so shocked we didn't even know what to say or how to respond.  We kinda were just like uhhhhhh ok......... tots awk. So, then We come home after the lesson and we were totally unsettled.  Like she was ready to be baptized the day we met her!!! so we talked about it for over an hour and then I just prayed.  Boy did I pray.  I prayed and prayed. We all felt that she needed to get baptized this last weekend or the adversary would totally get the best of her, or her baby would come and it would be postponed even longer.  So, after much consideration and making sure it was OK with the Lord, we called our Mission President but he couldn't talk until Friday morning... so it was the most anxious night of my life! He called us back Friday morning and we told him what was going on.  He was just like, Have no fear I am here! ha, I mean more spiritually, but ya get the point! So he suggested we just do it right after church and that he would come himself and baptize her.  We were like ahhhhhhh!!!!! We were going to do it Saturday, but she was out of town.  So, next we needed to tell Karen and see what she thought about it! Of course she was SO HAPPY and thought it was an amazing idea! So, we made a few calls and let me just say that the Brookswood ward is amazing.  Sister Ozorio, the RS pres, had people bring refreshments and she gave a talk and it was perfect.  So many people showed up to support Karen and it was great.  We only met Karen three weeks ago.  Who would have thought?  So, we got the programs all put together and Saturday we drove around to different chapels trying to find a dress that would be big enough because she is 8 and a half months pregnant.  We ended up going to Maple Ridge and they had one, so that was good!  We had already taught her everything except a couple commandments, so we just taught them in our GP class and then during RS, President Tilleman interviewed her, and then Karen was baptized.  It was so spiritual and so powerful! She just cried during the entire service and I just kept my arm around her the whole time.  I didn't cry though... I was just too happy! I couldn't Cry! The Bishop went down to Seattle earlier in the week, which is like two hours away, and he got her a set of scriptures with her name printed on it for us to give her.  After the baptism, when we gave it to her, she just broke down.  She said it was the best gift she has ever been given in her whole life. (I was like you just wait till next week when you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!) it was funny cuz during sacrament she leans over pointing at my scriptures and was like, "I want one of those! where do you get them?" ha i was just like I think you can order them online.. haha sneaky sneaky. Anywho, it was a crazy couple of days and I am so insanely happy for her! She is so beautiful and she was so prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I was the first sister out of eleven who came out in my transfer to baptize someone so that was pretty cool.  My comps think so anyway.. but really i feel like nothing. I feel like I'm just the dust of the earth.  It really was the spirit who did all the work.  Like the Lord did it all! I could never take credit.

Sis Byam, Me, Karen, & Sis Duffy

Can you believe that yesterday was my three month mark???? so weird.  I am sending Tara and Trevor a letter today.. I just gotta find a mail box. Next Monday night we get transfer calls and then transfers are Thursday so we will see what happens.  Oh so I never got a raincoat and it rains here so it doesn't really work out to well! ha luckily Sister Duffy just gave me one like an hour ago.  It is big and the sleeves are short but it's all good! it works right? so if I ever asked for one, scratch that.  I would of bought it myself, but there is never time.  I hope the race and wedding and all that went well! I'm gonna hurry and print off your emails and I'm sure you told me all about it! I'm excited. 

AHhh. Well I love you all so much.  I am so grateful to have been raised in the Gospel.  Sorry if my last emails sounded judgmental of other sisters.  I didn't mean it that way.  It's just interesting.  You can see a difference.  The age change forever affected the way mission life is.  I just want to get out there and find people to teach and baptize! People out here say that it's prideful to think you can achieve a lot and that you really need to humble yourself and not set your goals high or you will suffer and have trials to learn that you are not the one in charge.. i get that, but the way I see it is God wants us to have Success.  We are on his watch and he doesn't want us wasting time trying to find ourselves.  We are his instruments and tools. You best believe I am going to dream big. We have to have faith.  I MEAN HELLO!??!? WE HAVE THE LORD ON OUR SIDE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! why wouldn't we have success? especially now.  He is gonna bless us for our obedience. ahh i could go off on this forever.

I have to go now, but I love you all so much! HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY SPENCER! for Saturday of course! be strong and of good courage. 1-10-15. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. 5 stars. WORK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all! LOVE ME! SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning...

HI! IT WAS SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO good to talk to you all yesterday! 

Words can not describe how good it was to hear your voices.  There was so much I wanted to say that I forgot about and I'm sorry we didn't have a lot of time! I love all of you.  I hope you know that. I hope you know that you are all my rock.   

I have THE BEST family in the world.   

Seriously.  I've met a lot of families out here and I've heard about all my comps families and none of them can even compare with what I've got.  Like my comps didn't even want to talk to their families and they all have struggles and what not.  And than there is me over here going YAYAYAYAY!!! haha Like Mom and Dad, you raised us right.  You raised us with love and you taught us that if we work hard than we can achieve great things.  Thank you for raising us in the gospel.  I'd be lost without it.  So I couldn't sleep a wink last night! I seriously just kept replaying our conversation in my head.  Sorry I cried and was so emotional.  There was a lot I wanted to tell you, but I really couldn't because my companions were sitting right there ya know?! They would judge. ha. So basically Since they are both so much older than me, we can't really relate.  They don't really get what my needs are.  Like they both have lived away from home for a long time before there mission and they obviously don't have as cool a family as mine back home so they don't get why I struggle sometimes.  Like they want me to open up to them and than when I do, it is not very effective at all.

Sister Duffy is at the very end of her mission.  She goes home June 5th.  I am at the very beginning.  I come home in over a year.  SO YEAH. there is a huge difference.  Also, the older Sisters out here look at everything a lot different than us youngin's.  I can't explain it.  I just like my age group a lot better.  You can tell a difference. Like we wanted to be here.  They did too, but it was like a fall back.. I'm not really making sense. So yeah that has been weird in each companionship except for my mtc one. They are all smart though and know their stuff.  Girls lose themselves out here.  Like they all get depressed and go insane.  then it makes ya question yourself.  Sometimes I wish I was just an Elder.  Or partnered with an Elder. ha I guess that is what marriage is for right?? ha well what I mean is girls are always like offended.  I've grown up a lot out here and I am just like drama free. My comps are confused by that. They don't get it when I don't think something is negative or bad. Like we have to do this comp inventory thing each week and tell the other person what they need to work on and it is so awkward.  Like I'm not a judgmental person.  I'm pretty accepting so I never have harsh criticism, but others can really grind your spirits.  Like if I'm just sitting there pondering or thinking or if it is silent, you start to get asked all these deep soul searching questions like, What's going on? are you alright? do we need to pull over and talk? I'm over here like um I was just fine until you asked me twenty times in a row.  ahaha it's like they want you to be sad.  I don't know. girls always think there is some flaw or we aren't doing something right. like if we don't meet all our goals that day, they just tear themselves down.  Ever since I accepted that I'm not perfect, I'm just like People! our best is good enough! we tried our hardest and we just have to keep our spirits up and focus on the good.  HAVE FAITH! just keep pushing forward.  Just because we don't see the fruits of labors doesn't mean that we don't have the spirit or we don't have the drive or desire or passion for it! see that is the difference I guess.  The sisters who were out before I got here, look at the glass half empty. It's hard to always to be bubbly and happy when your working with that kind of attitude.  I say focus on 90% good 10% improvement. what a joke though.  My biggest thing is this: I can't compare them to my BF Tara because we'll just never click like that. So, I love them for them and I focus on their strengths and I try to look at them through Gods eyes.  So yeah.. I don't think all the younger sisters are going to have problems with depression and stuff.  they are more innocent and faithful.. ahh it's really hard to explain.

Anyway... Is the marathon on Saturday?!?!?! if so, GOOD LUCK DAD! YOU CAN DO IT! WORK IT LIKE IT HAS NEVER BEEN WORKED BEFORE! JESUS CHRIST IS THE WIND AT YOUR BACK! YOU GOT THIS! I BELIEVE IN YOU! tell Brian Carter that I believe in him too. just Work iT.  

That's awesome about Stef Getting married!! Congrats on your part mom.  what temple is Stef and John & Sami going to be married in?  So guess what.. I curl my hair like everyday! what? i know.  And I hardly ever wear make up. Strange.  ARE YOU SO EXCITED FOR THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT!!?!?!? ahhh. she is amazing.

So tell My Josie that I Love her.  Tell her that she is my best friend forever and I miss her with all my heart. She is my favorite little girl and no one can compare.

Also! WhY do I never hear from Mollie?! like I swear.  Mollie we are best friends and I never hear from you.  WHAT?!?! like tell me some stories child.  hearing your voice was just about the greatest thing ever.  I miss you so much.  I miss you more than you'll ever know.  I can't even think about you with out getting emotional. I heard you were scared the other day when you were home alone.. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to give you a big hug.  I also heard that you bore a strong Testimony and that you gave an amazing talk. That's my girl.  You just pretend I'm giving you a hug ok.  Picture my arms wrapped around you telling you how much I love you! I hope the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day.  I hope you know that it's ok to be happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time.  It's beautiful and magical. OH YEAH! (this is the story of my life) I don't know about you, but i'm feeling pretty blue... I miss you. Never forget that you're beautiful, every little piece love. Don't cha know? YOU'RE REALLY GONNA BE SOMEONE! ask anyone... Stay beautiful. I love ya! you're a peach! 

ALRightY then. I gotta go print off all your emails.  I love you all.  The church is true.  it feels likes the perfect night for me to go find someone to teach and baptize. Pray for Karen.  It's gonna be a good week. Can ya feel it?! that's the SPIRIT!! :] I just love this gospel. I love missionary work.  Our family is the best.  Sorry this letter wasn't very churchy.. haha i have no stories to tell because I told you all about our Investigator over the phone! kay! I have to go! Talk to you next week! Long live.  by small and simple things...you know the rest haha. 1-10-15 BE STRONG! love me. Sister JAYNANNE petersen! :] 5 stars.

VICTORY! History is being mad Ya'll !

Hi! WoW. I hope Grandpa is doing ok. That's crazy! I'm glad you are all there getting him the help that he needs! I'll be praying for him and Grandma and all of you! I think we should be considered experts by now when it comes to people and dementia.  



Alright first things first! I GET TO TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! I just can't wait.  So you are actually going to call me. The number you will call is 778-386-5549. I repeat, 778-386-5549. You will call me at 5:00 my Canada Time.  So I'm not sure when that is for you, but I'll let you figure that out.

SO our Lower Mainland Conference was incredible!!! I loved it so much! :) President Tilleman along with his Wife and eight other Mission Presidents and their wives has this special two day seminar with Elder Jeffery R. Holland. I don't know if I told you this, but Sister Tilleman's Grandpa is Ezra Taft Benson and that is who Elder Holland took place of in the quorum of the twelve I think so they know of each other well. Anywho, they were taught many wonderful things that they shared with us that I don't have time to write about.  One thing I did want to say was this.. At the start of there long meeting, Elder Holland just stood there for ten minutes and wept.  He just cried. He said that he loves the missionaries so much. HE LOVES US. he loves ME. He said that we are making history and that we are so close to it that we can't even understand the importance of it and what is happening.  He said that what is happening now is going to be great and unforgettable stories told to our posterity's. The Lord is hastening his work and it's history in the making. I just really like that. There is no way on earth that the Apostles and Prophets and President Tilleman could do what they do unless God was helping them and giving them the energy and strength.  There is just no way. 

After the Conference, I was interviewed again and it was good! I feel humbled to get interviews because there are lots of missionaries.  President gave me another blessing.  I was like what is this? ha but I've come to realize that blessings aren't just given if you are struggling. They are just to comfort and uplift so it was good.  

SOOOOOO guess what?!?! WE GOT OUR FIRST LEGIT SOLID NEW INVESTIGATOR THIS WEEK! oh happy day.  She is AMAZING! she just walked into church last week after her coworker who is twenty years younger and goes to YSA who she only knew for two weeks, told her to come.  WHAT?! miracle.  She sat in the Gospel Principle Class We teach and afterward I gave her a BOM and we met with her on Thursday. Her YSA friend and and the Bishop also came and it was at the church.  We taught her about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  SHE SOAKED IT UP! words can not describe.  she is so prepared.  I love her so much. the room was filled with the spirit.  Later that evening, we were at the Bishops and he said that My Testimony of the first vision and Joseph Smith was the most spiritual and powerful testimony he has ever heard while sitting in a lesson with missionaries.  He was giddy.  I was like psh. NO BIG DEAL! haha just jokin.  No, it wasn't anything I said or did! It was all the spirit.  I give Props to Oskar though. If he wasn't 13 it might not of been as personal.  See I like to use him as an example when I talk about Joseph Smith being only 14. It really makes ya see just how incredible it all is.  We have completely gained the Bishops trust.  He and his wife are great people. So yeah. Our investigator came to church again on Sunday.  We had stake conference and President and Sister Tilleman were on the stand.  We had it broadcast to us from Abbottsford.  We are in the Abbottsford stake.  We are meeting with her two times this week and I see great things happening in her future.  Also, there is a baptism in our ward on Saturday.  It is this guy about Justin's Age.  He was taught by previous missionaries and had to wait  a while before he was baptized.  my second week here, we were at a dinner apt with him and during our spiritual thought, I just started crying and I made these three ladies at the table cry too while I spoke and so ever since then, me and him are good friends, I am SO HAPPY he is getting baptized, he told me I had to come haha

Can you believe the size of this Starfish?!!

SO I can read maps extremely well now.  It makes me want to do the Amazing Race. ha I am in charge of getting us around to places.  Not gonna lie, I AM GOOD. haha I love finding an address first try. best feeling ever. 

Dad your email last week was great. missions are definitely like marathons.  

So my inspiring hymn for the week is "Behold! A Royal Army."  Oh my gosh. sooooo good.  When they say, "their leader calls 'Be Faithful!' they pass the word along" Ahhh. I just think of Lord Of the Rings and I picture Aragon Screaming that in Elfish and I get all chilled.  haha it's so weird I know. and the chorus.. wow. Victory has been my word of the week.  I looked up lots of scriptures on it.  When we go tracting from door to door I sing the chorus and I feel like the soldiers on Mulan! haha Like when they are singing about marching on and a girl worth fighting for.. haha I don't even know.. 

Well anywho. I''m doing good! I can not wait to talk to you all! So excited! I'm so happy to be a missionary! :) it will be long, but must go on! The time is now.  History is being made. I have on the Armor of God. 
I'm so excited for Spencer.  Tell josie I love her and I've been craving a Josie hug! alright well I will talk to ya all on sunday! 5:00 my time! Work iT!!! 1-10-15! Be strong and of good courage.  By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Tara we are running a marathon when I get back just to let ya know! Write questions for me on mothers day! i'll only have less than an hour to talk! kay love ya. Long live. VICTORY! 5 stars.
LOVE SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!