I Love My Family :)

Hi and HAPPY NEW YEARS here in a little! ahh..just think.. the next time I talk to you.. it'll be in 2014! Whaaaat? That's tots cray cray.  None of you will ever see me in person when I am twenty! isn't that weird?! Too bad.. ya would loved me! ;) Alright so talking to you all on Christmas was one of the best things I think EVER! Honestly, we have the best family in the whole entire world! Like no one else even compares.  I LOVE MY FAMILY SO MUCH! you all sound amazing and I am so grateful to have each of you in my life! I feel like the entire time I talked to you, I was just saying I love you! I LOVE you!! I LOVE YOU!!! :) Cuz I do.. A LOT! Every time we get to call home, my call is way better than my comps.  I JUST HAD TO SAY IT! ha. yes.  

Christmas here in Canada was good! We had two Christmas dinners and I was oh so full! We visited a lady in our ward who was at the hospital and sang her a song, but we drove around forever trying to find parking on a street so we wouldn't have to pay at the hospital cuz that is how it works in Canada, and we finally gave up and were going to pay when low and behold, they had free parking cuz of Christmas! MIRACLE! oh I was just so happy! :)  

So I had to speak in Sacrament Yesterday.. it was not my best. not gonna lie. ha but what can you do?  It was only five minutes anyway! The Bishop also spoke and several times throughout his talk, he would say, "Can you feel that?" and our cute little eight year old investigator named Angela who was sitting right by me would always answer in an obvious tone, "Yes." haha it was so funny. You had to be there.. 

The Relief Society gave each of us four missionaries a stocking full of stuff on Christmas so that was nice.. This one lady also gave each of us a 200 dollar gift card to the Mall! I just couldn't believe it! we didn't realize till later and we were like uh we can't accept this! We even called President and were like um what do we do? can we donate it? turned out it was ok to keep.. So today me and Sister Foley went and bought these Canada blankets and I got a Canada hoodie and yeah.. it was SO generous! The funny thing is, we thought the lady who gave it to us did not like us cuz the week before at church we went up to her and were like, "Hey can we come visit you sometime this week and share a message?:) " and she flat out was like "NO." ha um.. that was a first on my mission from a member. I was like oh alrighty then! Have a lovely day! Acko-Taco. ha so yeah.. she's incredibly kind! I'm so grateful for all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  They are just Super! :)

Oh hey I just got Josie's notes/drawings in the mail today! TELL HER I LOVE THEM! :) BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!! :]

Pink Eye??  Glasses

So this past week I have kinda felt like how I felt during my second transfer with Sister Duffy and Sister Byam.. it's so weird.. like I kinda get corrected A LOT and then I'm like insecure and it's just a joke! anywho.. I just think you gotta Work iT and go with the flow.  Like yesterday at a door the lady said her name was Stacy, and so of course I was like, "do you get lots of questions about your Mom?" haha I mean it just came out.. how could I not ask? haha she laughed and said she did a lot in high school.. ha she became a new investigator and I know it's cuz we weren't robots.  just sayin.  If the Spirit is there, than no harm no foul.

Anyway... tell Miss Jaymie I say Hi and that I miss her! random, but she is just one of the greats if ya know what I mean! OH and hey.. Pray for Tanya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) that's right.. God has a way of making everything come together! :) He is so full of grace and mercy and I see his hands in the details of our lives every single day!

I love being his missionary! I love serving and seeing others happy! I love feeling the Spirit! I love the Gospel! I love hearing others stories! I JUST LOVE IT ALL! I know this is the only true church on the face of the planet earth and anywhere else.  I know that Jesus Christ is MY Savior and YOUR Savior and I know that He lives! OH HE TOTALLY LIVES! NO QUESTION! HANDS DOWN! He. is. there. people.  SO don't forget Him! and remember to keep calm and carry on! and to be strong and of good courage!

Just know that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass! 1-10-15 LONG LIVE!!!!!!!! five stars. 3-2-1!! WORK iT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY FOR LIVE! SISTA JAYNANNE PETERSEN! :)

ONSIE!!!

Look what I just tried on.. :) it cost sixty bucks that I don't have and the store closes tomorrow! ha oh well! it was hard to put on with a skirt...

...Well I want to make you a snuggie.  If you'd rather have that, the cost will be the same by the time I buy material, make it, and send it.  :)  Up to You. :)

OH SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU!!!!!!!! it'll be in my big email, but this lady gave me and my comp a 200 dollar gift card EACH to the mall and there was this canada blanket that I just bought with it so you don't have to send me a snuggie anymore! unfortunately the card would only work at some stores, so it didn't work at the lazy one onesie store! :( but I bought a blanket.. if dad is ok with you giving me some money for the onesie, than I will haha I just feel bad cuz I know we are not rich and plus remember tht HUGE package you sent me already a couple months ago?! but it is UP TO YOU MOM! hah cuz I can't decide......... i love it, but yeah...

...I am totally fine if you want to get the onsie instead.  That is so cool about the blanket.  That was such a nice gesture.  Do you know her well?!  Let me know if I need to transfer the $$

ohhhhhh alright...........................gosh dang it.  i will regret it if I don't............ mom you are so sweet. I'll probably need like a few more bucks than sixty... ya know? THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And.........CUTE blanket :)

ahh mom I just love you! You are a great woman. I hope you know thaT! There is a scripture in alma about how we as soldiers do not doubt or fear because our MOthers taught us! and knew it and i always think of you when I read it.  :) love you mom! :)

It Taste Like Candy Canes On Christmas! :)

HOLLA! how's it going ya'll?!  haha HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY DAD! WOO WOO! you are getting old:) So first things first.. Dad knows the details of my Christmas Call so if you have questions, then he is your guy! get it got it good.  I AM SO EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ON CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) You guys should have like a list of questions for me! ya? sound good? alright cool.

So I have some news..  We got a transfer call last Monday! AHH! The Assistants told us that Sister Allen was getting transferred to Burnaby(which is in the Lower-Mainland) and that I would be staying in Penticton and training a new missionary! WHAT!? ha ha we actually saw this coming my first week here.. anyway on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM, we drove an hour to Kelowna to take the Greyhound bus to the Lower-Mainland.  It ended up being late so we didn't leave until after Midnight! Ah man it was awful, it was really hot and crowded and I was sitting by this guy who was drinking and smelled so bad and he had the window seat. :( lame.  Well, we didn't get to Langley until after 5:00 in the AM and the Burnaby Sisters were supposed to pick us up, but because they lived further away, My Langley YSA Sista's got us and we stayed with them! AHH MIRACLE!!!!! we were so excited! I love God's little tender mercies!! :) Anyway, we didn't even Sleep.  Sister Weller finished packing cuz she was getting Transferred and ended up training the girl who sold my shoes to Mom a couple weeks ago! small world! It was truly meant to be that I stayed there for the transfer so I could be there for Sister Pavone when Sister Weller left and I got go visit some people in Langley! :) Anyway we drove an hour to Richmond with a pile of luggage on us and I looked like a zombie.

Just Fitting In :)

During the meeting, President Tilleman was handed this note from the Office which was curious and than he started to pair us up with our new companions! He always does the Sisters first and I was the last one he called on! When I stood up to go with my new comp, President explained that the note he had just received was regarding a new Sister from Guatemala who was supposed to be my companion, but her visa was canceled and she was getting sent back to the MTC immediately! SO, there was going to be a tri companionship this transfer, but instead, one of the Sisters was coming with me! SO my new companion is Sister Foley! She has only been out four months and is 19.  She is from Missouri and has a twin brother! CRAZY! I didn't know how to react in front of all those missionaries so I was just like "Yes!" and everyone laughed! haha So then we stayed in Langley Thursday night and then spent all day Friday on the Bus and when we finally made it back to Kelowna, the Roads were so bad cuz of the ice and snow and weather, that we ended up staying the night with the YSA sisters (Sisters,Galbraith&Willmore) and drove to Penticton Saturday morning! AHH!!! it was a long week.  I love traveling though! I thought it might be kind of hard to go back to Langley and see people, but no.  It felt so familiar.  It felt like home.  Nothing has changed ya know? everyone is still the same and everything still looked the same! It was perfect! :) I am so happy I got to go back.  Helps me know that I'll be back for sure again in the future! Oh so I left my Scriptures on the Bus on the way down and I was so panicked but did not have enough energy to freak out due to lack of sleep haha. Luckily they were found and I got them back! :) I would have been devastated had I lost them for good!

So my District Split! Now I am just over the Osoyoos Sisters! Such a blessing! Not that I can't handle a bigger District, I just like smaller ones cuz you can focus more on their needs and area.  Dad last week you asked me if there were any Sisters in my District who were scared of me.. haha no! please. Not gonna lie tho, we have had our struggles! Another blessing from the split! :0

Well I have to go, but I am so excited to talk to you all soon! I love each of you very, very much! Mollie I am SOOOOOOOOOO freaking proud of you for geting your Young Women's Award! THATA GIRL! Thank you for keeping your promise! :) SO PROUD! GAH! I JUST LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love this time of year.  It is incredible.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that HE LIVES! I love the Plan of Salvation and I love being a missionary! I know this Church is true and I know the Book of Mormon is true. NO DOUBT! 10 months..check. BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE!!!!!!!! 1-10-15 Remember the Small and Simple Things! 3-2-1! KEEP CALM AND PREACH THE GOSPEL! be you and only you. Five stars! LONG LIVE! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Work iT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY FOR LIFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN YO!

Week of Miracles

AWH MAN! 

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY MISS MOLLIE MAE!!!!!!!  AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! can you even believe it?! geezz you are old.  Can't believe my little girl can date and drive! Ahhh :] 

Well, This past week was just full of so many miracles and tender mercies! like I can't even tell ya! We were so blessed! One of the greatest weeks yet.. I got my Christmas package! no worries, I won't open it till Christmas! thanks for sending me one though! :) I went to buy you all a little something somethin' and my card was declined. ha. acko taco. moral of the story is I have no money so all you will be getting from me is a phone call! Which I explained to Dad that I can only talk for 30 to 40 minutes and We have to figure out what Spencer is doing and if you want me to call at the same time as him! Just let me know! Remember that I talk a lot.

Oh I got some cards in the mail! YaY! THANKS! if you are sending me a card everyday then that is wild.  I have two so far. hey thanks:)

anyway.. This week I got to go on exchanges to Kelowna YSA with my Sissy Willmore!!!!!!!!!! ahhhh! reunited at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Felt like we were in the MTC again! :) So I just gotta say that I love Kelowna so much.  It's huge and Downtown reminds me of Park City.  So We were walking around talking to everyone we saw and handing out m.org cards and then we ran into Ryan and Krista.  They were sitting by the water so we sat down by them and started talking!  We were telling them who God was and that he had this plan for us.. Turns out that Ryan was dating Krista's brother and wanted to know what we thought about that! Sister Willmore just kinda stopped talking and it got awkward.  I mean we get asked that all the time, but they REALLY wanted to know and they were persistent.  We explained that God loves all his children and that we believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman and testified of the importance of families. During this, Ryan put this panda hat on and I was just thinkin.. yep it's all coming together..

Mike, Sydney, Me, Sis Willmore

haha anyway we had a lesson to get to at the Library a couple blocks away and they were cold and wanted go inside someplace so they started walking with us and we continued to talk to them about the church and what not.  Meanwhile, Sis Willmore was all hesitant about talking with them and it's her area so I was kinda letting her lead out ya know and I didn't know what to do besides just teach them. haha so we get to the Library and instead of going inside, Ryan just like walks the other way and just starts taking off his jacket! I was like, I thought he was cold? what is he doing? SO WEiRD! Then he turns around to face us and he has a missionary tag on! WHATT!?!?!?!?!?! I was like huh?! at first I was so confused! I was like wait is he a missionary?! wait why is he with her? wait where is his companion!? oh my gosh did they clear this!? he can't be alone with her?! WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?! turns out ryan and krista are actually Mike who is a recent convert and Sydney who was the investigator we were meeting with! I WAS PUNKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahaha you had to be there but it was soooooo funny.  they said I looked like a ghost.  they thought I'd scream, but I was just like so confused. hahaha that is why sis Willmore was actin not her self.  I wouldn't of known something was up if she hadn't been acting different. The whole time I was like, we can help them overcome this sin! We got this! I believe in miracles!  oh for your info, mike is not gay.  haha anyway it was so funny! GOOD TIMES! 

haha for our workout we went to the gym at the church and I played basketball it was fun.  I wish we could do that in Penticton but the church is too far away! Ya know... it doesn't really shake me when people reject us or tell us no or get really mad.  Like I'm totally fine.  I don't know if it means I just don't have a heart, but I just know and hope that the next person we talk to will be open to hearing more.  It's just like the wheat and the tares.  You gotta assume that everyone can become a new investigator though.
So tonight are transfer calls.  Transfers are a week early cuz of Christmas so next transfer is 7 weeks long.  I'm staying. no doubt.  Sister Allen might get transferred cuz she has been here and only here five months but I can picture her staying more likely than not.  Our district is probably going to get split for sure. that's my guess. I'll probably just be over YSA! who knows, maybe I will leave but I highly doubt it. I'd be shocked.  We are starting to get in the grove of things here and build up our teaching pool.  plus transfers wipes out like three days so we would have to do damage control. just saying.  

Creche week was incredible.  I don't have time to tell you all about it, but the miracles are unreal. 

Pray that Tania will get work off on Sundays. I'll tell you about her soon if all goes well.  She is basically amazing and has a bright future ahead.  Don't want to tell ya all about her and get my hopes up ya know? I have faith though! I'll tell ya her story next week maybe.

Well I love you all! Be strong and of good courage! WORK iT like you have never worked it before! remember the small and simple things! 1-10-15 & 3-2-1 keep calm and preach the gospel. five stars.  LONG LIVE!!!!!!!!!!! 

God be with you till we talk next week! :)
-LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER! 

SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!!!!!! :] :] :] 

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

HAPPY 20TH FREAKING BIRTHDAY MISS TARA MARIE SLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! aaaahhhhhh. the big 2-0. ahh. well tomorrow anyway.. YAY! :] 

So this week was pretty good! When I went on Exchanges, We drove all along the Okanagan Lake and it was so so so so pretty! I just love it! I am going on the drive again tomorrow to exchange with Kelowna YSA! happy day:) While I was in Westbank we ate at five guys! WHAT?! I was so excited when I saw one! I was like pull over we are going to eat. OH it was glorious!

Happy late anniversary Mom and Dad.  Congrats on getting old together. haha really though... you are stuck togeth FOR-EV-ER! esh. couldn't be more grateful! :) thanks for loving each other! :) 

So it is pretty cold here.  Not as cold as Utah, but when you are walking around in a skirt for a couple hours straight, than it kinda gets to ya if you know what I mean.  it's -12 C. right now.. I think it's cold. Some parts of the mission are colder so I am grateful.  I like Penticton.  So the other day we were parked in our car and we were about to say a prayer when Sis Allen was like, "HUGE DEER!" I look up and this massive deer with huge antlers is just walking down the street and into the yard of the house we were dropping by! We were like ahh! get the camera! It was so pretty.  

Making Treats aka smashing candy canes! No Makeup! :)

Anyway.. this week is Creche week for our Ward.  I guess Creche in some European country means Nativity scene. So Every year they do this thing where they get hundreds of manger scenes together and display them for the public.  This year they are down sizing it and at the same time we are doing an open house tour of the church and there is a movie of the Savior going on in the chapel and there will be this huge dinner and every night there are activities for the kids.  During the Open house, we have different stations and the Ward made Nativity sets and at each station they will collect a piece of their set. pretty cute. lot of work. This ward doesn't mind. 

Alright Keep this lady named Tania in your Prayers.  Pray that she will come to know of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel Sooner rather than later! Hey thanks:)

Well I gotta go, but I love you all so much! thanks for all the Support! this is the best time of the year! Wanna know why? cuz it's centered on Jesus Christ! :) I know that he is the Son of God and that he Lives today! I also know that he is my Savior and Redeemer! 

Be strong and of Good Courage. Keep things Small and Simple. Keep Calm and Carry on. 1-10-15 & 3-2-1 five stars!! WORK iT!!!!! Long Live!!!!! :) :) :) I LOVE YOU ALL!
-LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY FOREVER!!! SISTER J PETERSEN! :]

HAPPY DECEMBER!!

HAPPY DECEMBER!! :) :) :)
so last week was pretty alright and good! haha not to much to report on.   
It's getting colder! I went on exchanges with the Osoyoos Sisters and it started to snow a titch! it was hardly anything though, so no big deal.  I'm going on exchanges with the Westbank Sisters tomorrow and I just love exchanges! It's like a vacation from your own area for a day and you get to see new things! That is one plus about my district being so spread out! So we had a Relief Society Dinner on Thanksgiving and it was good.  Not as Tasty as Mom's food, but what can you do?

Man I am so sleep deprived. haha. like I am just drained all the time! Bedtime is really the only time I can stop and think so than I just can't shut my mind off! It's cuz I make A TON of phone calls at night and I am just rushing before bed! Light's are out by 10:30, but often times I'm on the phone clear up till 10:15-20! So that is my goal this week.  To be done with phone calls and paper work by 10:00 and than that'll give me time to get ready for bed and write in my Journal.  Usually I can't sleep cuz I'm just trying to remember everything.  I never have time to write things down until the next day! Anyways.. sorry I went off on that!

My District. Left to right.. Sisters Larsen, Holm, Allen, Me, Peterson, Galbraith, Byam, Willmore

Um I love my Christmas CD's you sent me! I listen to them non-Stop.  I love the version of Silent Night, I got! I listen to it over, and over, and over. I'll never sing that song the old way again! 

SO last week we had a zone meeting (which is the exact same as our weekly district meetings but with the elders too and I don't have to prepare any trainings) we talked a lot about how serving a mission is not a sacrifice, but rather a privilege.  I thought about that after and ya know.. Jesus Christ's Sacrifice was NOT his mission.  He loved his mission!  He loved serving others!  He loved teaching others his doctrine!  He loved everything about his earthly ministry!  His Sacrifice was when he took upon him all the pains and sufferings of the world and died for us.  Yes he had sacrifices on his mission such as fasting 40 days and 40 nights and being tempted and hated among other things, but he endured.  I want to serve my mission like the Savior.  I feel so honored and humbled that I represent Jesus Christ. Yes, I have sacrifices on my mission such as not being with my family or listening to my favorite music or hanging out with Tara or eating food with real flavor haha or sleeping well or getting my hair done or not watching movies or sacrificing my sanity and so on, but it is all a privilege! It's all worth it! I mean.. it's the very least I could do to even try and repay a fraction of what the Lord has done for me. I don't feel like my mission is a sacrifice because I don't even feel like it's enough!  I love my Savior Jesus Christ with everything I have.  So I want to serve him with everything I've got! He is my light.  He is my rock.  He is my redeemer and my salvation and it's only because of him that I am even here.  I had a companion tell me once that I try too hard to be perfect and I got really mad.  To me it's like this... Why would I come out here and not try my very best to be the best missionary I can be for God?  This is my 10% to the Lord and why short change him?  If you are coming out to just have a good experience and see what's out there, than you are basically serving in vain. Or so the prophets in Preach my Gospel say.  Nobody is perfect.  That just a fact of life.  I am not aiming to be perfect because when you shoot for perfection than you better brace yourself for the fall cuz it's impossible to score.  BUT you can try your very hardest to work as hard as you can and be the best that you can be! The Lord than makes up the difference! You can have confidence in the fact that you gave it your all and you did all you can do! You won't be discouraged in yourself because you will know that you did all you could.  And when all is said and done, the Lord in his Grace and his Mercy pours out his blessings upon you and there you stand in the front row privileged enough to watch his mighty miracles.  I know that I am hard on myself most of the time and I know that I try to be an over achiever and I am working on not disciplining myself so much. I have weaknesses, but through the Lord I know they can be my strengths.  I am grateful for the trails and weaknesses I have in my life.  I am grateful to be here serving a mission for the Lord.  I know it is a privilege and I love all of you for supporting me.  I know that the things I testify of to complete strangers day after day are true.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored on the earth through Living Day Prophets and I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.  I know that small and simple things bring great things to pass.  I know that we all have to be strong and of good courage. I know that families are forever. I know that we must keep calm and carry on. I know that prayer is powerful.  I know that we can get five stars in life.  I know that 1-10-15 & 3-2-1 will change us for the better.  I know that I am a daughter of God. I know that we all need to WORK iT! Most importantly, I know that My Redeemer Lives! and Long Live his sacrifice for us.  I Love you all very very much! Thank you for everything! Have a great week and remember to be happy! :)
LOVE YOUR SISTER MISSIONARY FOREVER! SISTER JAYNANNE PETERSEN!! :) :) :) :)