Hermana Rachel Ruth Peters

July 20, 2015

Hello Family :)

Well another great week has come and gone, and way tooo fast. I really am loving my time here, and pretty sure that I`m the happiest person in the world. Really the key to happiness as a missionary is just to work. Work until you cant work anymore, then work some more. And you will be happy :) I realized this this past week as I was on divisions with one of the sisters here. Her name is Hermana Beletzuy. She is from Guatemala and only has about one week in the mission so she fresh in the field. I could see in her eyes as we started that she was a bit sad, and discourage, so I said a little pray in my heart that she could feel excited about the work, and feel the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. Then of course all of our appointments fell... haha that`s just what Satan loves to do. So I told her, ¨Well lets start looking for people who want to listen to us¨ We walked for a while, talked to a few people, then found a few kids sitting outside there house. So we started talking to them and then asked if we could talk to their parents, they went in and got their grandma, and she invited us in. So then we started trying to teach the lesson, but the kids where more interested in me being a gringo than anything else. The beginning was hard, but then we started being able to talk more with the Grandma, and to bear our testimonies with her. After we left, I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted to be able to start off divisions great with Hermana Beletzuy.... So we walked out of the house and I just asked her how she felt. She had a huge smile on her face and told me that that was the best lesson she`s had in her whole mission. WOW. It showed me that I really need to looks at things in a better way. She was soo happy, because she could feel the spirit in the lesson, and felt like she could really testify of the truth. I guess that is something I have been taking for granted, because it`s something so normal now. But I realized that I really should be really enjoying all my lessons, and the spirit that I can feel in them. The next day with Hermana Beletzuy was also great, and I was really able to see such a growth in her, in just 2 days. I am very grateful for the time I have right now to help the sisters here. 

So Franchesca made is safely to Nicaragua, which is great, but we miss her a lot. We are hoping that she comes back soon. But our miracle from last week, Jennifer, is AMAZING!! I leave her lessons heal clicking because I am just sooo happy. I got a little worried because we had an appointment with her and she wasnt home so we just talked to her sister for a bit, and her sister told us that this has happened before, that Jennifer will get all excited and want to do something, and the next day not want anything... So I`ll be honest, I started to doubt. But then I remember the story in the Bible about doubting Thomas, (at least i think that`s his name) and knew that i need to just move forward with faith. Faith in every Footstep. The next time we stopped by she had the same glow in her eyes. YES. then she came to church on sunday. YES YES. and she loved it!! YES YES YES.  So she is now more excited than ever for her baptism on Saturday. :) 

We will also have another baptism that same day of this old lady named Cristina. She is the cutest old lady I have ever met, and honestly when I first met her, i didn't think that she would progress, but then she was progressing like crazy. I am thinking of making a quote book of all the funny things she says, so you can all read it after my mission. But she told us this past week that she will go to this church until the day she dies. she the best! We were teaching her about Joseph Smith this past week (actually with Hermana Beletzuy) and she asked Cristina is she believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. she said ¨No. I know he is¨:) 

This past week we also had interviews with the new president. I´ll be honest, I was a bit nervous, but like always, I left feeling better than ever. In the beginning he just asked about me. He asked me where I was from and I told him Bountiful Utah. He looked down then up way fast and said ¨Like Hermana Fowler¨ (She had her interview like 5 minutes before me) and so then we talked about how we are best friends and all that jazz... Hopefully he has a soft spot in his heart for best friends and will put us together as companions ;) but after he asked me if I had a boyfriend. so I said no, and he was surprised and asked me if I had one before the mission. I told him no and than I have never had one, and that I`ve never kissed. He sat there silent for one minute and then said ¨I didn't know there were more people in this world like that.¨ He explained that he had raised his kids in the same way, to not have anything serious before the mission, especially to be careful with your kisses. He spent about 10 minutes just congratulating me for such a great accomplishment. I realized every day here really how grateful I am for the choices I made in the past. Michael, and especially Sarah, dont fall into peer pressure. Dont let the talk of others get to you. You may stand alone, but know that you are standing high. As an example to everyone. We as members of the church cannot relax, living in Utah is a blessing, but also puts a lot of people in a staight of relaxation in living the gospel, because they are just doing what all the other Mormons are doing. Stay strong. It`s not easy, and I´ll be honest, sometimes it`s not fun either standing alone. BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT.

Well my time is now up, again, but I hope you know that I love you all so much. And am soo grateful for all of you. You are all such great examples to me. 

LOVE,

Hermana Peters

Leadership conference  July 20, 2015