The Good Kind of Busy

SOOOOOOO many things to talk about this week! for starters, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) I JUST LOVE YA! I hope you are having the best birthday ever! you deserve it! go on girl! have your cake and eat it too! ha what? i donno.. anywho You're the greatest Mom ever! :) Work iT! from Jaynie.  

So I got your package! oh happy day! :) I LOVED LOVED LOVED my rain coat! ahhh it is just sooo dang cute. that is like my new favorite color by the way! :) THANK YOU SO MUCH! I loved the skirt too! kinda big, but it works! Also I was just in need of a new journal so that worked out perfectly! :) thank you!!!!!!! 

So I didn't get transferred, thankfully.  I had a feeling I would stay cuz Trevor told me once that he stayed in an area for seven and a half months, so I just assumed that would happen to me too, I guess.   Oh, last week I think I forgot to mention that the kid who gave his farewell talk wasn't worthy to serve so after he had the desire to serve that night, he then had to go through all the repentance process and he knows that is why the Lord gave him four months to prepare. cool huh?

So Saturday was the craziest day ever.  

So let's see, we had a primary activity, Merle's Baptism, Jason's Endowment,  

a random Wedding Reception, 

and the Mission Conference thing 

all happening pretty much at the same time! 

It was the busiest day ever.  

But what great things to stress over ya know?  

Love it.  

Bab's, Merle, Me, Sis Gale

So My investigator Merle was baptized on Saturday the 24th! :)  I love him SOOOO much. About a month or so ago when we invited him to be baptized, he said he would be going RV'ing so he wouldn't be in town, well we all decided to pray about it and the next time we met, he said that every single RV he tried to rent, had to be returned no later than the 23rd! ha. So he said yes to the 24th!  So we were not able to talk to him or even have contact for a week before he was baptized.  This stressed our zone leaders out, but I felt good.  We called President Tilleman last Friday and we told him that he would be out of town, but we knew his baptism was going to happen and asked if he would do the honors of performing the baptism.  President liked how bold we were and was like, "how could I say no to that?!" haha, so it all worked out just like I knew it would.  Merle and his wife Babs are soooooo cute together! They are the ones that are doing this so that they can be together forever!  ahhh.  That means they can get sealed right before I leave in one year.  I could and am going to their sealing! I love them.  They love each other sooo much! They just got married in June and the RV trip down the Oregon coast was like their getaway.  I can just picture his sweet disposition and her wide eyed gaze... reading the Book of Mormon getting lost upstate! ahhh. precious.  The baptism went really well.  President Tilleman loved the story about the RV having to be returned by the 23rd.  Elder Aidukitis couldn't make it in time, but the meeting with him was sooooooo good.

Basically, we went straight from the baptism into the chapel where we sat with like 100 other missionaries from the lower mainland. It was a spiritual feast of a day.  The meeting was broadcast to all the other missionaries in the mission.  When President Tilleman spoke, he told the RV story about Merle.  He also talked about HOW PROUD he was of his, "two little humble, pure, and hard working Brookswood Sisters!"  He used us as an example for being bold and he also talked about how I received personal revelation for the 24th because at zone conference I had talked to him and I originally wanted it to be on the 17th, So we said a prayer together and he gave me a blessing to know what to do. He said we need ask, and act, in regards for personal revelation.  He was pleased that I went to the Lord and chose the 24th.  It was cool.  I donno.. whenever I hear stuff about myself.. like compliments.. I feel like I just have to immediately disregard it cuz I don't want to get prideful.  So yeah.  It was pretty exciting.

Elder Aidukitis is So funny! ha he was just cracking me up with his accent.  I love it.  He talked about how we should be New Era missionaries! Not Old Era ones.  It was really motivating.  Our Bishop even went over it in Ward Council.

Last week we took one of our Investigators Coffee Machine and Coffee! That was pretty awesome.  I've never done that.  I loved throwing away the coffee! haha  Other than that, not much to report on.

Going in for transfers is always fun because you get to see everyone! I like that! Good things are happening here in Brookswood.  I love my ward more than ever.  They are so good about getting us food and making sure our needs are met.  We have a couple sisters who come out with us a lot and it's great! So all in all, things are pretty good.  We just need to have more baptisms dang it!

We are teaching this family right now from Burma and they don't speak a lick of English.  Jk. the kids sorta do, so they translate for the parents in Karen.  It's kinda fun and different.  They came to our baptism which was cool.  I really hope they will follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized.

Well everyone, I want you to know that I know the church is true and that it is the very exact same church that Jesus Christ taught and led while He was on the earth.  This past week, my understanding of the Plan of Salvation was enhanced.  I love everything about it.  It is perfect.  It is beautiful, and incredible, and amazing, and it is so real, and so true.  I often find myself thinking about the pre-earth life.  I just know with all my heart that I lived with all of you and God before I came to this earth.  I get really worked up with excitement and awesome wonder when I think about the council in heaven.  How crazy must that have been?! I wish I could just call you all and talk about it.  Writing it just doesn't give it justice.  I love it though.  Sometimes I picture it like the first Lord of the Rings when they are counciling about what to do with the ring. Then Frodo volunteers to take it and Gandoff's face is just like ahh.  I picture that is what it was like when Jesus Volunteered...  Heavenly Father must have been like ahh. Why? is there no other way? it is kind of sad but beautiful at the same time.  heart wrenching really.  I am very grateful that you all chose to follow Jesus Christ's plan.  I know that is why we are here.  I know that I did things before this life that led and permitted me to where I am now.  I know I am a daughter of God and I know he loves me.  I know that I was placed in my family and my country by virtue of my obedience in the pre-earth life.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will bring others so much happiness.  My heart aches for those who don't know or reject this plan.  How awful that must be.  I am very humbled and grateful for the knowledge I have.  I love being a part of God's Army.  I know the church is true. I know that we have living day prophets on the earth to help lead and guide us back to our Savior and Loving Heavenly Father. 

 I know the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God.  

I know it. I live it. I love it. 

 Thank you for all the love and support.  You don't know how much it means to me to hear from each of you.  It's like a piece of heaven.  I'm surprised I haven't heard from some people, but I wouldn't hold it against them and it is never too late.  Well, I love you all.  Please remember to be strong and of good courage.  Be not afraid. Stand firm in the faith.  For the Lord will be with us where ever we go. Be His. Be One. Be Strong.  

1-10-15. 

remember the small and simple things.  

                                              5 stars! WORK iT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I love you.
                         LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY! JAYNANNE PETERSEN! :]

BEST MISSION WEEK EVER :)

Hey it's me Jaynanne!
So this past week has been the best week of my entire mission! no lie.  I don't even know where to begin! For starters, We tripled the Standard of Excellence with our Member present lessons AND our New Investigators this week!!! What.  We worked so hard to bring this to pass. You just have no idea!

haha so I'm gonna tell you about yesterday.  So yesterday Sister Gale and I had the opportunity to go to this fireside in Burnaby(which is bascially Vancouver and about 20 or 30 minutes away)  The reason we got to go to the fireside was because we had one of our Investigators with us!  The Second Counselor in our Ward and his wife drove the three of us.  I was really nervous about taking her ya know, cuz she has never even been to church or anything! Well, as we pulled up to her house, she got out of her car to get in ours and guess what?! her Car looks just like the one that Jake Ryan has on the Classic hit, Sixteen Candles! (that's an 80's movie people) I thought, 'hmm is that a sign?!'  I wasn't real sure and still super anxious! Well the Lord, in his clever little way, confirmed to me that YES! it in fact was a sign, because as I sat there contemplating this, the song 'Don't you forget about me' came on the radio! WHHHAATTTT?! The Spirit was like... 'Don't you forget about how the Lord is in the tiny, tiniest details of our live's! Don't forget about him!'... So after that, I was totally fine and I just put all my trust in the Lord, and just to make sure I got the hint, at the beginning of the meeting the speaker talked about Indiana Jones. Coincidence? I THINK NOT! 

The fireside was given by Hyrum Smith's third great grandson and his wife.  They brought the clothes that Hyrum was shot and killed in, as well as other objects that was the Smith Families, including the box that the Gold Plates were first carried in! We got to go up and look at everything after and it was soooo cool.  It was so real.  I felt the spirit testify to me that all the stories I was hearing were true.  I have an even stronger love for the early saints and for Joseph Smith and his family than ever before, now.  It was so powerful and I know without a shadow of a doubt the the true church of Jesus Christ is back on the earth.  The Smiths thanked me for serving a mission when I went to the front to look at the stuff! That was pretty cool. 

I have to go right now because the librarian is mean and won't give me my full time, but one quick story... Yesterday this kid in our ward gave his farewell talk and he talked about how four months ago they had the sister missionaries over for dinner and that one of the sister missionaries was SO excited that he was getting his call in four days! He went off on how she was just so happy and stoked for him and he didn't understand why.  He told everyone that because she was so happy for him and thrilled, that for the first time in his whole life, he was actually looking forward to his mission.  Well after the meeting was over, his mom came up to me with tear filled eyes and told me, "thank you."  She hugged me and told me she loved me and told me that I have made my mission proud.  Jason later told me that he was talking about me if I didn't guess! haha It made me feel good to know that I have done some good here.  

Tomorrow is my six month mark.  I just can't believe it has been six months! that is insane.  I'll be home in a year! This coming week is just crazy hectic.  We have transfers on Thursday and Elder Aidukaitis of the first presidency of the seventy is coming to speak to us on Saturday, (he spoke to me at the mtc) also on Saturday, my investigator Merle is getting baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

President Tilleman is coming to baptize him and he is going to see if Elder Aidukaitis can come too! ahhhhhhh. I'm So excited! :)  I feel like this transfer while I have been training, I have become a Jedi Master! haha We had a mission fast yesterday and I hope that everything goes well this week. 

 I love you all so much! thank you for the support! 

Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass! 

BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE! WORK iT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

1-10-15 five stars baby! long live. keep calm and carry on.  

I can't wait till the day that I get to throw my fist up in the air as I see you all. 

 ha just saying. I know this is the only true church.

LOVE SISTER MASTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]

I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

HEY Whaz Up my fellow Saints?!  

haha alright where to begin.. Well the church is true. We got that covered.  check. This past week was just Eh.  Nothing too exciting to share about. Oh the other day, We had just got back into the car after going to a no show of a lesson and I look up and watch this squirrel get ran over by a car! what? true story.  It was a bit disturbing if I do say so myself.  I didn't know if I should take that as a sign or something.. at any rate, it was gross.

Yesterday Sister Gale and I taught our Gospel Principles class and afterward, we handed out these smarties that we rolled up in sticky notes which had a message on it! Everyone loved it! The Elders were like Ah man.. we got to do that! ha ya that's right.

So up here, everyone drives around these old fashioned cars! Like...they are everywhere! I love it sooooo much.  They all come out during the summer apparently.  It's so cool to see them.  they are so nice lookin' too. Like they take really good care of them.  I want one! Speaking of cars,  I saw a crappy purple scion the other day.. I was like ha that's funny. Anywho, last Friday we went on Exchanges! I stayed here in Brookswood with Sister Galbraith who is our District Supervisor and in the YSA ward.  I love her!  Exchanges are soo fun.  We were walking down the street and this guy on a bike peddled past us and this lady was riding on his handle bars and was facing him and had her arms around him. haha it was weird and as they went by we kinda stopped talking and just like stared at them.. haha weird. Maybe they were on a first date and he was trying to impress her! who knows.  young love. so presh. 

So our Relief Society lesson was way good yesterday.  First off, the lady who teaches reminds me so much of my mommy.  We went over to her house and it's just like mom.  The yard. the porch. the chickens. everything.  She even had random furniture from a yard sale, drying from her paint job! Anywho, she taught this lesson about how we just need to love ourselves and be positive. She said that we need to compliment ourselves and not be so hard on ourselves and negative all the time.. give ourselves credit!  She told some really good stories.. One of which she went off on how often someone will do something and we will be like, "oh you are just like me!" She said that is such a great and positive compliment to ourselves because usually whoever you are saying that too is someone you really respect or admire.  Then someone raised their hand and said that we should picture the Lord saying that to us.  For some reason that hit me so hard.  So I tried to picture him saying that to me.. like when I get over OCD or stressed or when I want things to be perfect or when I try my very best to get the most out of lessons or the scriptures or my studies or people.. or when I try to listen to the promptings of the Spirit or say the right things or be a good example or plan effectively.. or even when I'm annoyed or frustrated or sad and discouraged.. I just sat there and pictured him saying, "Jaynanne, you are just like me!" It brought me a lot of comfort and it helped me to know that the Lord is on our side and he is right there with us through thick or thin.  We are NEVER alone and he knows exactly what we are going through.  I Jaynanne Petersen Know that I am a Daughter of God.  I know he loves me and thinks about ME all the time.  I know he just wants me to be happy and gain experiences and enjoy life! Words can not express how much I love MY Savior. I am so grateful for the Atonement and I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.  I know that this church teaches and is the same teachings that Jesus Christ taught when he was on the earth.  I know that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and I know that we have a living day Prophet named Thomas S. Monson who loves us and is constantly seek revelation on how to help us live in such a way that we can return to be with our Heavenly father and His Son and our Families forever.  I have the most amazing family and friends.  Thank you thank you thank you for just everything. 

You are my sunshine on a cloudy day.  You are my rock. You are my everything.  

Thank you so much for loving me and supporting me.  I hope you all know how much God loves you.  Your Soul is So great in His Sight! He see so much potential in you!  Never forget that you have the best gift ever called the Holy Ghost.  Use it. I love you all!  

By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. keep calm and carry on. 

BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE. 1-10-15. 

Life is good. don't be hard on yourself. 

God loves you just the way you are and really, his opinion is the only one that matters. 

WORK IT! :] 5 stars. Long Live. 

LOVE YA!

-LOVE SISTA JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!! :]

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Hi Everyone! 

So I am so excited for Spencer! 

He is going to be such an amazing missionary and I am so proud of him.  Leaving everything you know for eighteen months to two years and going to a place that is foreign to you, to tell people that you know Jesus Christ's true church is on the earth again and then inviting them to be baptized into it, takes a lot of courage and bravery.  

So word of advice for whom it may apply: 

Do not judge.  Judgement is of the Devil.  

I am not preaching or lecturing, I'm just saying that most of you have no idea what it is like to leave everything behind and forget about your self image and put on the image of Christ.  It is hard, and guess what?? Satan loves how hard it is and he targets those who are trying to follow the example of our Savior.  Whether that be preparing for a mission, or for baptism, or for life.  I was reading in the Joseph Smith History and right before he saw the light, he was so overcome with an evil Spirit.  Spencer said it best in his farewell talk.  I still remember how awful I felt before I went to the temple and before I left on my mission.  Those two choices were some of the hardest decisions I had to make and I know it is because Satan made it hard for me.  So we never know what others are going through.  We never know what kind of pressure Satan is putting on them.  So instead of judging them, criticizing, and just flat out being rude, just love them and build them up and support them and be understanding.  Have faith in others.  Have faith and trust in the LORD!  I've realized and seen so many times on my mission that I'm at my worst, right before it gets better.  And you know something else that President Tilleman has said.. Often times we criticize others, by calling them slow or lazy or annoying etc., when really there is something wrong with us that we need to change.  NOBODY IS PERFECT.  It is not our place to judge and luckily we don't have to.  Our purpose is to gain experiences and live in a way that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.  There is so much we need to work on personally, how do we even have time to judge others flaws? like for really.  anyway... 

Today the library is closed for some odd reason so we are up at the church emailing.  I am trying to be speedy!   hope you got all my letters! I sent eight in eight different mail boxes. haha I try to make my own fun! Last P-Day we tried to do something somewhat fun so we went down to this place called Campbell Park and walked along a trail in some trees.  It was so lame, haha, oh well, we tried.  Our car was making these weird noise so we had to take it in.  It was fine in the end, they just fixed it a little and then we were back on track! 

I went on exchanges with the Willoughby Ward sisters! It was fun.  I like going to different areas.  It's kinda like a vacation or break from all my stress in my area.  The Willoughby Ward is right above ours and they share the building with us.  It used to all just be the Langley Ward, but they split it a couple years ago so there you go! 

I bought all the hymns on CD so we have something to listen to in the car! So that is exciting I guess! haha.  Thank you so much for my mini hymn book by the way! Every morning I pick one hymn and I look up the corresponding scriptures and highlight them and then at the top of the page, I just write the hymn page number so that way I know when I'm reading those scriptures, there is a hymn that goes along with them! BOOM BOTTA BING! that's how we do it in Canada. 

Yesterday I bore my testimony and afterward, this lady in our ward told me that for a split second she saw Jesus standing by me.. she was so serious about it  I didn't feel different.. ha but it was sweet. 

This past week we had sooo many set backs. It was the absolute worst.  We worked so hard and yet everyone used their Agency against us and it was awful.  I know that it is a trial of our faith though, and we just have to Keep Calm and Carry On.  I just worry what others think ya know? like I don't want to let anyone down.  I don't want to let God down or President Tilleman or Bishop Towns or any of you or my companion and it is just lots of pressure and I'm just trying to keep my head above water.  I feel like I'm doing the best I can.  Granted, there are times I could have done better, but they are in the past now so I'm just repenting and moving on.  Can't dwell on what ya can't change.  I just want to thank everyone who has been supporting me while I've been away.  I feel so much love from everyone and I just want to thank you.  Your letters give me so much encouragement and help me to stay strong.  They not only help me but they help others.  I can't tell you the number of times I have used stories you've shared with me while I am teaching or talking to someone.  Just this morning during studies, Sister Gale was having a hard time, so, I read her parts of some of my letters that I received from Mom, Dad, and Ellie.  As I read them to her, it helped strengthen me at the same time! I feel so humbled and blessed to have such great support.  I mean you all actually care.  It's amazing.  My one request is now that you have two missionaries, if ya had to choose who to write one week for some reason.. please please please choose Spencer.  I'll be fine.  In all seriousness, please write him.  Comment on things we say.  It helps us to know that you actually care.  We wouldn't share it unless it meant something to us.  We don't have enough time to do otherwise.  Send Spencer all of our family pictures like he asked.  Send everything he asked for.  Trust me. 

Well, I love you all so much and I am so happy I have you.  The church is true and I know you all know that.  Be an example to those around you and remember that everyone makes mistakes and we just need to be positive.  If you aren't positive one day or you get stressed and annoyed at something, well then, fake it.  Fake it as hard as you can.  Smile for five minutes straight.  Tell a joke.  If no one is around, then tell God the joke.  I'm sure he would get a kick out of it.  Life is good.  We are Latter Day Saints.  That's so Awesome.  Tell my Josie I love her and to work it for me.  BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

Well everyone.. Just hold on. HOLD ON! the light will come! By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.  BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE! WORK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 STARS. 1-10-15  

I love you all.  Sorry I have no rat stories this week! just pluckin along! :) 

                                                    I LOVE YOU. long live.
                                      -LOVE SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!!!! :]