Hard Week!!

Extremely hard this week, not only because of Lisa's death, but we had a scare with bed bugs. Elder Steele got done with morning exercise and went upstairs to take a shower and the next thing we hear is a bunch of thuds and Elder Steele yell come quick. We all ran upstairs and Elder Steele with his shirt up and says I think we have bed bugs. So we called Sister Vellinga and she said to clean and spray, so that's what we did. Luckily no sign of bed bugs.
Getting ready for this baptism has also been a challenge. A lot of things to prepare for. This week has been absolutely crazy.
The funniest thing that happened was we went golfing. It was a ton of fun and the highlight of the week. We were planning a ultimate Frisbee game this coming Monday (13 Aug).
I also found out that the temple has a new video, I am so jealous. I am so excited to to see this new video.
Tell the young men a mission is not something to be taken lightly. It is extremely hard. But the experiences are priceless. Like getting to baptize my first investigator.

This experience is so rewarding. Including the people you meet, you learn to absolutely love them. I mean even though I'm in the Ghetto and people get shot everyday, there are nice people where ever they may be.
I have gained such a strong testimony and am loving my mission, I'm even dreading coming home, even though it's 22 months away. But the hardest is yet to come and that is leaving on the airplane to go home. It's hard for missionaries to go home, because they love it so much. I wish that we all could stay missionaries because it's so awesome.
Also this week we found sixteen dollars. My companion and I decided to share it and buy shakes. That's all I have tell next week.

Love, Elder Peterson

Transfer's? Winter? Ghetto?

12 July, Friday Kirtland Temlple

12 July, Friday, New Group of Missionaries touring Kirtland

It's great to get letter's, because it's funny how mail is you're life source to figuring out what's going on outside of the missionary world.  To answer Grandma's question, no I did not get to tour Kirtland fully. I only got to see part of it (here are a couple of pictures that I had taken while visiting Kirtland).

The funniest thing is that there is a street called Utah Street, so now I feel right at home ha ha. I am now on my fourth week which is absolutely crazy. If this keeps up I will need to start thinking about my coming home party. ha ha, but that is a scary thought. Only eight weeks with my companion, then transfers, (which stinks), because I have a great companion and love my apartment.

Can't wait for winter because my comp says that it's awesome because of how deep it is. Snowball fights here I come.

Spiritually speaking, our investigator Ali is ready for baptism. Our next investigator is Baptist but very open to learning. He took the Book of Mormon and is going to read it 30 minutes a day, along with another 30 minutes reading in the Bible. He is very open to learning more about Christ. The funny part is we found him by running into him on the sidewalk and he was asking what school do ya all go to? We then answered and said we don't to to a school, we're missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or the Mormons. He then said, "Mormons, how many wives do ya all have? That's how it all started.      
Well, can't wait to show you everything. The ghetto has a lot of stories, all I won't tell. But I will say that it is not safe to be out after 8:30 p.m.. But the people here are really nice, love it here (that's Cody for you, positive).  Can't believe a month and a half has already gone by, only one more July left then I go home. Can't believe it.

 Love Elder Peterson
                                                       
 Scripture he sent home:

 D&C 109:22 And we ask thee, Holy Farther, that [Cody] may go forth from this house armed with the power, and that thy name may be upon [him], and thy glory be round about [him], and thine angels have charge over [him];
                                                       

Riding wet, awesome

Letter from July 30, 2013 (We were on Vacation)

Our hottest time weather wise was 114 degrees, but our average right now is 107 degrees. This week has been one of our coolest weeks of 90 degrees. Funny thing about it is it's only about 65 to 85 degrees, but with humidity it heats up really fast. When it got to 114 degrees the mission president text us all and said stay out of the heat and drink 8 oz. of water every 30 minutes. So we went outside and tracked to our farthest place and that was 42 miles round trip. After we got back to the apartment and changed our clothes and had to ring our shirts dry, well, tell they were damp. Fun times.

We do however have two new investigators, which is awesome. Daniel is one of our new investigators he is African/American (both of them are) he stopped us and asked if we were the people who believed in polygamy. Queasia is our second contact, and is curious about how we believe in Christ.

I also have to get used to riding a bike in the rain, you get drenched. My companion and I new it was going to rain and in about 30 minutes or so rain started and soon after that just an absolute down pour. Then your riding wet, which was awesome. This is the letter I am writing because of the rain. But we did get three new potential investigators which is helpful.

Missionary work is taxing on the body because I'm always tired. But I love what I do, so there's nothing to complain about. Jesus gave his all and more, then I too can give this my all.

I was surprised to get a letter from Grandpa Peterson. Thanks to everyone. I get a lot of questions that I need to answer and I only get p-day to answer, but I will try to write letters to everyone when I can.

Love Elder Peterson

Had a weak testimony and now....

Just writing in my free time because Elder Brown is sick and so we are all taking turns staying with him (it's my turn). On p-day we played board games, boy do you realize how much you miss things. If you're busy it doesn't  matter and you don't care.
Funny thing happened on Sunday (that my companion or district won't let me live down) I broke the blender ha ha. All I did wrong was leave a metal spoon and it shot out the bottom. So I had to go buy a new one. Boy, breaking it with a spoon, trying to get iron in my body, the wrong way ha ha.
Can't believe that I have already been out a month. Only 23 more and not enough time. The missionaries say 24 months isn't enough time and I'm beginning to see it ugh.
Everyday I get closer to God, it's so hard to believe. I see everyday what the center of life is and what it is in becoming or striving to be like God. It's amazing how once you realize this, it changes your whole attitude. I thought that I had a testimony, but it was very weak. Now it is becoming much like Christ's testimony and I may not see Him, but I hear Him, I feel Him, and I can't thank my God enough to have sent me here.
To you Mom and Dad. It is something that I see now why it was and still is a blessing in my life. God has something in store for me and I have yet to figure it out. But trusting God that he will guide me to the direct path set out, placed and  pushed to form the man, servant, and tool God needs me to be to do his work.
To Christ, how great Thou art. Teaching, loving, and supporting me in times of hardship and giving me people to become my friends to direct me in the right path to come unto him. Giving me strength to do his work. To all who read, Praise God on all high. Love my Lord, can't wait to serve others and my companion.
As Jeffery R Holland states: "It wasn't easy for the Savior, then why would it be easy for us."

Love, Elder Peterson

Time goes by fast

Been a great week for fishing I see. Go Grandpa, but if I was there I would have caught the 30 lb Mac, ha ha. But anyways, I have caught a terrific sister who's name is Ali. She is so awesome, she does everything we tell her. We want to have her baptized by August 10 -27 we're hoping.
Did you know that there are fireflies and boy are the so cool, I never saw those before.  This area is so inactive and hard to get a hold of people. Just thinking about how I never talk about my companion and roommates .  Elder Schmidt (my companion) is from Logan and played football. He played in the state championship. He is very spiritual, but has a problem at staying focused during study time (he says). Elder Brown is very quiet and boy is he a clean freak. Elder Steele is so funny, he would be a fun companion to have.
My desire grows every week that I have been out. It doesn't even feel like I have been out that long, it will be one month in five days. Boy will I have big thighs from all this biking. This is not easy work. Even though you do get a lot of rejections, for a while it seems like a waste of time, but then you look at the success. Our investigator Ali has been amazing, she's growing so fast. She is ready (even if she may not know it) I see it in her. "We have her baptism set for August 17." Overall, it has been a great mission and more to come, good and bad, it becomes a great learning experience. Biking though has killed my behind. 18 miles worth of riding today, 19 of July, my legs are exhausted. I feel bad for the members and anybody who let's us in, because we sweat so much that it's like we are dripping in water We ring out our clothes and they are drenched. You always feel sticky, which feels weird.

Love, Elder Peterson

Ohio members are awesome

God has talked to me. Not in the way I expected. For Satan is a clever jerk, for he found my weakness. When teaching progressive investigators he filled my mind with doubt and insecurity. For I have been afraid to speak, but know I have learned my role.

Boy does it suck being on a bike, my tush hurts and I rode 30 miles. My new companion Elder Schmit (Sh-m-it) is so dedicated and he is so prepared. He also is a sports fan. His main sports are Football and futball (soccer).

We went tracking and found someone interested on our first day. We will see tomorrow what she says, we also have church. I am in Toledo, Ohio. My address is: 3049 Navarro Unit #F, Oregon, OH, 43616. Oh yeah, we also have to worry about bed bugs ha ha (for you mom).

Well today we started tracking and this is what happened. First we ran into a guy doing his yard, he was so spiritual, he even said that God was in money and gave us a dollar. Thought that was neat. Next we ran into a Vietnam war veteran he does believe in God but believes in no religion. Next was the bible (Greek Mythology) basher (which I mentioned before). It was funny because he wasn't even getting the Greek Mythology right in any way.

The members here though are awesome. They are so missionary minded. This guy named Brother Thomas is so awesome he told us since he's a teacher and doesn't work in the summer, he said to call so that way he can get out of the house.  Then we have the Cross family who gives us food and does what ever they can to lighten our load. We also have someone that helps pay for groceries, great huh.

But boy is it fun (the mission), even though it is slow on investigators.

Love Elder Peterson

Greek Mythology and Christianity

 I have a ton of information to write so I have decided to just send it all in a letter. But I will tell you of one
experience that I have had which is a funny one. So of course you heard of a bible basher, but have you heard of a Greek mythology basher (makes me laugh every time I write this hehehe). Well we went tracking and we decided to stop at a house and they talked to us and said how Greek mythology was the bases of Christianity. Don't ask me how that makes sense but what ever they think about it works I guess. They compared Hercules to Jesus and said how Hercules died for all man kind to be saved. Which in reality Hercules died because his girlfriend accidentally poisoned his cloak thinking that the Centaurs blood would keep Hercules fully indebted to her and never leave her. Hercules only cared about himself. While on the other hand Christ died to save the world, and put all his time and effort to serving others. So My companion Elder Schmit (SH-M-IT) and I laughed so hard because we never heard of that before. Anyways I love you and hope that you will get my letter.