EARTHQUAKE HAPPENINGS‏

08/25/2014            

Wow. Where to begin?
 
I was dreaming away, on Sunday morning. In my dream I feel myself
rocking back and forth. I realize, that isn't me rocking... What is
that? I feel my bed rocking side to side. As I awake groggily,  I hear
the blinds lightly hitting the window, and hear chimes in the distance
in a sweet melody, but the wind isn't blowing. I feel the gentle yet
rigid sway of our apartment. Earthquake. Yes, yes it is. I open my
eyes and observe our dark bedroom. I looked at the clock. 3:21am. what
is that? Earthquake? YES. The swaying has stopped.
"SISTER FINLINSON!!! We just had an earthquake!" - I yelled.
"What does that mean?" -replies Sister Finlinson
She tells me that I am crazy and rolls over.
I lay in bed filled with adrenaline over the next hour and a half.
Finally after a little journal writing, hymns and a prayer, I drift
softly of to sound sleep. Only to rise in a short hour and a half.
 
Hahahaha. I hoped you liked my little story. YES IT HAPPENED. I awoke
to an EARTHQUAKE at 3:20 in the morning. No one else in my apartment
woke up. Imagine my disappointment when we all awoke in the morning
and I thought I was crazy. Hahaha. BUT! As I was getting ready, we got
a text from President Alba saying, "Serious Earthquake (6.1) epicenter
in American Canyon. Everyone report to your DLs on your status." YES I
AM NOT CRAZY.
 
Haha. It was a really crazy experience. I never thought I would
actually feel an earthquake. It was (hopefully) a once in a lifetime
thing. I was pretty scared that night, (of course) but I wrote in my
journal about it and then went back to bed. It was crazy, and I wish I
would have been awake to be thinking clearly about it. It was crazy to
feel the ground beneath you actually move.
 
That night I was a little spooked, know that aftershocks occur often,
and that earthquakes are often very dangerous. I worried about dying
(though I knew it wasn't going to happen. As I laid there and let my
thoughts wonder.. I turned to prayer and hymns to relive me of my
stress. Soon did I realize, it was the next morning and I had been
calmed by the spirit back to sleep.
 
I know that God was watching out for me that night. I know that all
those prayers people say for missionaries to be safe, truly WORK. I
know that without a doubt. I know that God loves us and that he is
willing to calm us when we are troubled. I know that we have been
blessed with the knowledge of prayer, hymns, scripture, church,
prophets, and all the amazing people around us. I am so grateful that
I was able to experience what I did this week and that I was able to
live to tell the tale. ;)
 
Always pray for missionaries to be safe! It works and we need it :)
 
Lots of love,
Sister Devin Petersen