The Struggle

So wow where to begin, so the night before we flew out I got 2 hours of sleep, then we had to get up at 3:30 and be out of the MTC. it was crazy. So I got to call you (mom and dad & sistas) and that was amazing. I'm so glad. So then we got on the plane and I had a window seat, it was beautiful to be able to see the rolling hills of beautiful california. When we got off the plane we passed some missionaries heading home which was really cool! Then we met Pres. and Sis. Alba, they are AMAZING. they are so so loving and so amazing. They run a tight ship which is awesome cause I have already seen the blessings from being obedient. We had to wait at the airport for 2 hours for the missionaries coming in from the Mexico MTC. I fell asleep on a bench in the airport cause I was SO tired. hahaha. it was rough. we finally got to drive to Santa Rosa which was about an hour drive from Oakland. We got to the mission home and talked for a little bit then went to the mission office. Then we had another talk I couldnt even keep my eyes open. hahaha it was rough. Then they finally took us to our hotel which was amazing cause I stayed in a room with Sister Whimpey but we both got our own beds. I have never fallen asleep faster in my life. hahaha. the next morning we met our trainers, my trainer is Sister Decker. She is a saint. The most encouraging. she is the best. She is from Arizona and just the greatest person. hahaha. Any ways we get done with everything and we are about to leave and she hands me the keys.... IM A DRIVER. hahahaha she doesnt have her lisence so I am the driver. greene driver sup. we have a really nice car, but i cant park it to save my life. hahaha. Its a struggle. So we get to our area which is St. Helena. It covers Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, Pope Valley, and Angwin. Its a pretty big area BUT the towns are tiny. It's in the Napa Valley and it is BEAUTIFUL. We live in Calistoga, which is the cutest little town. It is 50% Hispanic and 50% 7th Day Adventist. Which a religion that was created in Angwin. hahaha. its rough. So the first night we were teaching at a members home. It had been raining on and off all day and it wasnt raining when we went to the members home. I wore my coat inside and Sister Decker decided to not wear her coat. when we opened the door to leave, after the lesson, It was POURING rain outside. it was coming down so so hard. hahaha. So The member gave us an umbrella but since I had my coat I gave the Umbrella to sister Decker, I thought "oh I'll go hurry and unlock the car" so I ran out into the rain trying to get to the car as fast as i could so I wouldnt get completely soaked and I was half way across the street when all the sudden my feet slipped out from under neath me and I fell flat on my back in the pouring rain. hahahaha. It was soooooo funny. hahahaha THEN sister Decker gets in the car and the cell phone we had fell into the gutter that had a river of water rushing down it... hahaha. When we got our phone back it was completely fried. hahahaha. so that was my first day in the mission field. it doesnt get much better than that! hahaha. It was rough.

This place is amazing though. We have about 5 investigators. Hopefully soon one of them will be ready to fully commit to follow the Savior. Its so hard cause people don't want to change, but I know how AMAZING this gospel is. I know that it's true. Its hard being here too because no one wants to listen to us so that's also hard. But the members here are amazing. I love them so much. Our Branch is tiny but its the best. I felt so at home going to church yesterday. It felt so good and everyone is so welcoming. I really love how well they have excepted me into this place. There are so many good people here, and I that one day they will really want to be baptized. We have an amazing mission. Everyone here is the best. Our district leaders are the best as well, they are awesome. We teach at the veterans home in Yountville. There is a man there that we are trying to get through to. He has been taking the lessons for 1 1/2 years. but me and Sister Decker both feel that this may be the perfect time for him to accept the gospel. We taught him an amazing lesson yesterday and finally gave him motivation to read the Book of Mormon. It was awesome. I really hope and pray that he finally keeps his commitment to read. We have had some amazing miracles happen since being here. Its amazing. We typed in an address in the GPS for this less active, but it pulled up 2 addresses one that was north and one that was south. so we decided to go to the one that was south and we met this guy who was SO cool. He was in the marine corps and He had the cutest daughter. He is so nice. I want to start teaching him soooo bad. He was the best.

Well, There are about half a million other things that happened this week, but I can't remember cause they all blur together. I am tired all the time, but its awesome. hahaha. I am so grateful for everyone's support. This place is exactly where i am supposed to be and I love it with all my heart. Its the best ever. I miss home but I know that I am supposed to be here. My testimony has already grown a ton and its coolest thing to see the change that has already happened from when I left to now, and I know its only the beginning. I love this work and I love the people here so much already, all of you wrtie me letters more cause it sucks to come home after a long day to an empty mail box. Its rough. hahahaha. K cool. Love you all. You da best. pray for all the 7th Day Adventists that they will realize that Joseph Smith is the real deal. Keep it real out there.

Love Sister Petersen.

 ps write me k thanks.