WEEK 26 - FAMILY! BEACH! FAITH! MIRACLES!

I cannot believe this is the last week of the transfer already! Time goes by way too fast as a missionary! This week I hit my SIX MONTH mark and it feels very surreal. I absolutely love and cherish every minute! This week has been a roller coaster of goodness!

 

(BEST parts of this week: FAMILY! BEACH! FAITH! MIRACLES!)

Starting off the week with the new six month training was incredible! I really needed it emotionally. I know my purpose and LOVE this work so much! It was so inspiring to be on mini exchanges with Sister Thomson to go down to the training as well. We were both so excited to go and were able to reflect on it with each other on the way back and how we can help each other with our goals and apply what we were trained on. She is such an inspiring missionary! The training breakouts were on the perfect topics to uplift and inspire me at this point in my mission. I am now even more aware and striving to have that same drive and motivation that I had when I entered the MTC and when I arrived here in Los Angeles. It hasn't faded it just needed to be a little brighter. So I am so grateful for that training and can’t wait until I can attend another training! (Hopefully sooner than in another 6 months)

I have been struggling a little bit the past few weeks showing my emotions. It’s hard to explain. I have always been known as the one that is always smiling. Then the other day I realized that I wasn't and that I hadn't been smiling as much recently and that it was more difficult for me to smile. It’s not because I’m not happy because I feel I am happier now than ever. I realized that it’s because someone else doesn't talk much or show emotion unless we are in a group or with certain people and I don’t want to seem too happy if she is not. This realization was frustrating to me. At the training while talking about our purpose I read the first part of what our Heavenly Fathers ultimate goal is for us, to be happy. I realized that I don’t need to suppress my happiness because of my uncertainty. But I can do what I did the beginning of my mission and throughout my life and uplift people with smiling and being happy. Just as in 3 Nephi 19:25 “And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them..” Christ’s smile and positive countenance uplifted his apostles. As a representative of Christ I realize I can lift others with my smile too. So the rest of this week I was me, happy smiling me and it was great! I noticed a difference and others did as well and even thanked me for my smile again. Little things truly make a big difference.

Wednesday was SO great! It was our Temple Day! I love the temple so much! I received more out of it this time than any other. The Love our Heavenly Father has for us I don’t think I will ever fully be able to comprehend. It was a temple experience I will never forget.

At the Visitors’ Center (VC) I was able to apply one of my training goals which is to commit ever elder whether from our mission or from a surrounding mission to refer someone back home to one of us Sisters in the Visitors’ Center. Elder Chavis and Elder Bauman were here at the VC while there companions were in Departing Missionary practices and meetings. So I grabbed a Sister and practiced a couple of my Visitors’ Center tours and greetings with them. I was able to use that as a preset and I was able to get real referrals from each of them. Then Cindy, who has come into the visitors’ center a couple times over the past few months, came in and I was able to have a really inspiring conversation with her. She is incredible and such a great member missionary! Then after the vc we got a text from our investigator Chen Chen who had been not feeling well and she asked if we could come over and pray with her. So we headed over there and her neighbor Sis. Manoogian is a member so we had a thought with Chen Chen at her house and then all ended up at Sis. Manoogian’s for a member present lesson. It went really well. She is seeing and recognizing the Hand of God in her life for the first time. The gratitude she is feeling is so real and new to her. It is so special to be able to be a part of this!
So once or twice a week whenever we come home there is a bag of goodies and food hanging on our door. So we started leaving little thank you notes for our “food fairy”. Well Wednesday night we caught her leaving eggs and a rotisserie chicken! She is a member of the Westwood 1st ward and is so sweet! She just loves the missionaries and is serving here as well so since she isn't able to have the missionaries over for dinner she goes around and leaves treats for the sisters in the apartments around her.

VC TRAINING THURSDAY!!! Training on how to preset people to prepare them to hear new doctrine such as baptisms for the dead and the restoration of the priesthood. For us it is something that we know but for others it is very new so by teaching with love and and teaching it simply after presetting it helps them understand and gain a stronger testimony of it. Then after the VC we went straight to the Merrill's at 3pm to help them get all moved out. They are such a sweet couple and we live just a few apartments down from them and were closer to them. I would take there trash down for them every morning and we would help them carry their groceries up and such. It was quite the project clearing them out though... I no longer have the desire to ever keep anything. It is such a miracle that we got them out that night. It was just Sister Merciales, Me, Sister Bateman, Sister Abellan, Elder Chestnut, And Elder Adair for the majority of the time. All of us were there from 3pm - 9pm. We got done just in time. I don't have any idea how we got everything they wanted into their little car. Miracles happen that's for sure! It was such a blessing to be able to serve them one more before they left. It was such an answer to Sister Merrill's prayer that morning. It was so good to be able to all serve together too! We were able to have such uplifting conversation as we worked. Sister Abellan and I had a great talk on The Book of Mormon and how we have since its value change for us on our mission and share the scriptures that have helped us with each other. She is such a strong missionary I am so glad I was able to share my testimony with her.

On Friday I, an English speaking sister, taught a Spanish lesson in the teaching center. I was trying to follow up with one of the memebers of a referral but it turns out she just left on her mission and one of her friends has her phone now. He is a member from Mexico and served his mission in Honduras. I taught about the importance of member missionary work and the continuation of reading our scriptures daily after our missions. Do I have any idea how I was able to communicate with him? Not at all. But it just testifies to me even stronger that through the spirit we can do anything. It was such a special experience! Then I came out of the teaching center and had the coolest conversation with an eight year old that was getting baptized the next day. He had already read the Book of Mormon once, prayed about it and new it was true, could recite all of the articles of faith, had his favorite scripture (Alma 37:37) memorized and why, and was rereading the Book of Mormon and is in 3 Nephi again! He is inviting his friend from school to church next Sunday and is planning on giving his neighbor a Book of Mormon when they get home. He is the coolest eight-year old I have ever met! He definitely inspired me for how I want to raise me children!

Saturday! BEACH!!!!!!!!! 

Pres. Gave us permission to go participate in our ward service beach day! It was such an incredible opportunity to work with them and get to know them more. We have been having a hard time meeting with our members so this was perfect. We were also able to do a lot of contacting and has a lesson with a young man from Holland who was going back that night. (He is totally the prince of Holland! or at least looked like he could be! ;) )He accepted the missionaries and committed to having them bring him a Book of Mormon and reading it. He gave us his contact information. Since then, Sister Merciales has been able to call him in the teaching center to have a lesson over the phone and send out his referral to his local missionaries! 

Yesterday the experience I was able to have at the VC was so special to my heart and I will never forget! Auntie Lani,Uncle John, Nani, TJ, Johnny, Korina, Mai'ila, Mitch, Leilani, James, TJ's parents and all the little kids from Arizona were here in CA for vacation and surprised me at the visitors center! They were my second family growing up. Whenever anyone asked my name as a child my last name was always Petersen/Auwen. We were able to take them on tour and it was so incredible being able to be with them all! It was so surreal and I still can't believe that they were here! I want a copy of the picture of everyone in front of the Christus! :)

Such a good week!
I am so excited about our special Zone conference this weekend too!!!!

RAP OF THE WEEK:

WALK INTO A CITY SO OPPOSED 

MAKES ME THINK OF AMMON MY HERO YA KNOW

FAITH LIKE A SWORD ITS ALL WE HAVE 

GIVING OUR BEST TO OUR HEAVENLY DAD

WE GO HARD ALL DAY AND NIGHT 

CONVERTING THESE LOS ANGELITES!

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 24 - I learn so much everyday through prayer.

My week:

-Cleaned a turtle tank

-2 new investigators

-cleaned the grossest kitchen I have ever seen in my life... BLEACH is my best friend (3in of sludge in the sink under everything.

-Ben Dropped Us.."its not you its me" "You can still come over lets just not talk about churchy stuff"

-Got a free cherry pie

-"Where's Waldo" is our new Zone Goal

-Realized that November 22 is my half birthday

-"Jews for Jesus!"- Sister Merciales

-Robbie who we met on chat that I transitioned to his local missionaries when he went off to school was baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!

-Yesterday we had a miracle experience at the Visitors Center. 

Every night when we plan we plan for our area and for the Visitors Center. 

Well the night before it was my turn to plan and I said we need to plan for not what we want but for what Heavenly Father is willing to give us. I said a prayer and Said I feel that tomorrow we should plan and prepare for a non member man to come into the Visitors Center that has a sincere desire to learn more about what we believe. And if at all possible let him be from our area. We planned to use the Christus, the Book of Mormon area, and Special Witnesses. Then yesterday morning during studies we continued to pray that the man we planned for would come into the Visitors Center. WE do this every day but something just felt extra faithful and special yesterday. Then yesterday Sister Merciales were the only Sisters at the VC for a short period of time while the others were in church. A man came in named Corey, he says he pasts the temple all the time and he was now ready and open to learning more about what we believe. He is Jewish but open to learning. We showed him the Christus, explaining how Christ is our Savior and older brother and how we are ALL sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. He listened to the Christus twice and was touched by Christs words. He then wanted to know more about the Book of Mormon and the Prophets. We took him back to the Book of Mormons and had him read the first two paragraphs of the introduction. I explained as in Ezekiel 37: 15-17 that The Book of Mormon is the Stick of Joseph and they have come together just as foretold they would. This made made sense to him. We then took him into Special Wintesses and explained how Joseph Smith was a prophet just as in the old testament that restored Christ's truth to the Earth and how we continue to have a prophet today. He listened to Elder Anderson's testimony on the saints trusting there faith. When we invited him to learn more he was thrilled and more than willing to self-refer himself. He lives in our area. We set up a lesson with him for Tuesday at 3:30. This was such a miracle and shows that our efforts are consecrated as we have the plan according to God's will, have faith that it will happen, and pray and act upon that faith. 

I learn so much everyday through prayer. We truly gain the most knowledge from our Heavenly Father as he opens our minds and our hearts to his words. Especially when we have the faith to act upon what He guides us to do.

RAP OF THE WEEK:

TRACTIN ALL DAY NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT 

A MAN SLAMS THE DOOR BUT ITS AIGHT

THIS HEAT IS BLAZING FROM THE SUN

MY COMP FEELS IT TOO AT LEAST IM NOT THE ONLY ONE

APPOINTMENTS CANCEL WHY PEOPLE GOTTA BE SO SKETCH

DONT THEY SEE THERE LIVES COULD BE BLESSED?

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 23 - This month will be my 6 month mark!

This month will be my 6 month mark! does that seem way weird to anyone else that I am almost 1/3 done with my mission? Just ponder that a little bit...

So this week we had quite the miracles! 

We were tracting on Tuesday and we were about to leave to go to the next area when we both felt we needed to knock one more door. The apartment complex next to our car had its door open so we went in and knocked the first door. A man answered and said "Sisters! we're so happy you came! We've been wanting to meet with you! So sorry that we have been so busy!" Sister Merciales and I was so confused! It turns out that this man Johnathan and his wife Fiona had been meeting with the missionaries in Redondo Beach. They are a young couple have been married for just over a year and just recently moved up here. They invited us in and we were able to have an incredible lesson with them. They are both Christian and believe what they know to be true yet they are so open more and wanting to know more truth! We set up a return appointment and met with them again on Saturday. They had not only done the reading commitments we had left them with, but they had taken notes together and been praying together as we had asked as well! We were able to answer the questions that they had and stay on the topic of the Restoration that we had prepared for. They had a question about a verse in the bible that we had actually planned and prepared for that morning to use! It was such a blessing! The spirit led the entire lesson. It was such a beautiful and powerful experience for all of us. They are excited to meet with us again and thanked us for the spirit that we brought into their home. They are going out of town for work for a week and a half but we have another time set up to meet with them again once they return. 

The next day we were contacting a less active and we were able to make contact with him. we are the first contact he has had with the church since he was a teenager and now hes in his late 40s. He isn't interested in coming back or anything at this point but he did allow us to sing a song for him and share a message. He thanked us and said he really needed it. He said he doesn't want frequent visits or anything but did except to call or text him to invite him to the different events at the visitors center! :) THEN, we decided to knock some of his neighbors doors but it was the middle of the day and no one was home. Sis. Merciales started to walk back to the car and I said wait look there's one house down the street with a truck in the driveway, maybe someone is home. So we walked down and knocked and David answered. David is a less active of about 20 years and he loves the church just doesn't want to live it right now. He said maybe with time though he may come back. He is super sweet and said we are welcome anytime. We had no idea he lived there but we were able to update his records then too so it was great! Such a blessing! 

We were also able to have another lesson with ChenChen starting the Plan of Salvation. She really like everything we have taught so far. She has not accepted a baptismal date yet but we are hoping to set one this week! :) 

The Visitors Center is so special. On Saturday in the Teaching center I was able to have four non member lessons, get two new investigators, transition one of them, and committed Prentice to going to church which for the past 3 months he was opposed. I've been teaching Prentice in the TC since back in May, he's from Birmingham AL! I finally got him to re-meet with the missionaries so he is now doing that plus me teaching him and hopefully he went to church yesterday! I'm calling him tomorrow to find out! This week was full of the spirit and smiles which goes perfectly together! 

RAP OF THE WEEK:

SHORT AND SWEET THATS OUR STYLE

EVEN WHEN WE WALK A THOUSAND MILES

THE BOOK OF MORMON IS WHERE ITS AT

THE PROMISE IT MAKES IS A FACT!

(not my best but out of time...)

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 22 - This week was another week of miracles!

This week was another week of miracles!

Thursday we got a text from our zone leaders saying for our zone goal each companion ship was challenged to find three new investigators that day. And who ever succeeded would get to pie someone. Well with the Visitor Center Schedule we are lucky to get 1 new investigator in a week. However we both really were praying for our key indicators and to make our goals with this challenge becoming one of them. So after our Visitors Center shift we headed out into our area. We first stopped by a referral from a member couple that just moved back to Utah. It was their neighbor that they referred and when we stopped by the 24yr old son answered and we were able to share our purpose, pray, sing a song, and set a return appointment! It was great! Then we went a couple streets down to try to contact Jasmine a girl we had contacted a couple weeks ago that didn't seem very interested but said we could come back. And when we did, she was so much more receptive so we were able to do the same thing with her and set a return appointment as well. Then, we went to Sister Manoogian's home for dinner and she had invited her neighbor Chenchen as well. We were able to introduce ourselves and our purpose during dinner then afterwards she was very interested in learning more so we were able to give her the first lesson and set another time to meet with her again as well! That's three new investigators in one night! AND we were able to contact and share a message with an AWESOME less active that we have been trying to get in contact with for months!!!! BLESSINGS!

Plus the next day after District meeting we were the only companionship that met the challenge so we received two pies. However Sis. Merciales doesn't like to pie people so we gave it to Sis. Barney to pie someone. So we were conspiring on which to lucky Elders to pie and couldn't decide so we had all of them line up against the wall and close there eyes as we chose. So she started at one side and I started on the other and we pied all of them! Haha it was so funny! Except they get me back when I wasn't paying attention. Which I would have been completely okay with, except that half of it ended up in my hair. They will learn soon not to mess with the hair. :p

As far as other investigators go, Ben is awesome but he is going up to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert this weekend... So he will be gone for a week then need time to recuperate  for sure.. but we did help him decorate his bike. Lets just say you can definitely tell that two girls decorated it! haha he likes it though so that's what matters! (I'll attach a pic)

Our Bishop, Bishop Marsh, who is awesome, him and his family are moving this week so we got a new bishop on Sunday! Crazy! but exciting!

Also, the Visitors Center is such an incredible place where the spirit truly testifies and softens hearts. Whether it be in person or calling in the teaching center. One of the 13 mission baptisms this weekend was Diego who we transitioned from the VC to the LA YSA sisters and I have continued to encourage through the Teaching center! From where he was a year ago to when we took him on the tour a month ago until now has been an incredible blessing to witness and be a part of! The Teaching Center is the neatest place! There is going to be a baptism in two weeks in Missouri of a guy that I transitioned to the missionaries there from a Mormon.org chat we received. There are so many other miracles but this past week has truly been enlightening to me and the spirit has testified to me so strongly of this work and my purpose here. I am so grateful to be blessed to serve in this mission at this time!

RAP OF THE WEEK:

OUT IN THE SUN TRACTING ALL DAY
WHY IS IT STILL HARD TO KEEP THE CREEPERS AWAY?

LOOKIN SO FRESH WITH OUR TAGS AND OUR SKIRTS 

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES LOOKIN OUR BEST AND OUR WORST

KEEPIN OUR EYES AND OUR HEARTS FOCUSED ON HIS NAME 

DAY AND NIGHT ITS HIM I WILL PRAISE!

My new quote

"3 pages (or prayers) a day keep the temptations away!"

P.S.
hint* hint" I love mail and pictures.. just throwing that out there

(more postage stamps are appreciated too;)  ... )

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 21 - It has been such a great week and drum roll........

Sister Petersen and her wonderful artwork

It has been such a great week and drum roll........ Sister Merciales and I are staying together in West Wood! YAY!!! 

At first it was looking down because non of our investigators are progressing and we only have about 3 investigators anyways. But with lots of prayer and fasting we received 2 incredible new investigators that we have appointments with this week and we also were able to meet with a former who is more interested and we were able to receive and contact some referrals. Plus a member called us yesterday and she wants us to come over this week because she has a couple referrals for us as well! 

 One of our new investigators, Miss Jackie, was so excited when we knocked on her door! (MIRACLE) She had the lessons back when she was a teenager in Argentina and that is how she learned her English. We were able to have a little lesson with her and her daughter, who is visiting for the week from college, and they are very interested in continuing to learn more!

Sister Salina Cortez we have been trying to get a hold of ALL transfer we were able to contact! We went to her house but she wasn't there. However, while walking to the next house she walked in to us while walking her dog and invited us inside! She hasn't been attending our ward because she doesn't have many friends there but she does attend one of the other wards with another MSA once in a while which is better than not at all. We told her of how so many people are moving into our ward and are encouraging her to come back! We were able to share an uplifting message with her about prayer and she was just so grateful that we were able to get in contact. She wants to start meeting with us more (about once a week) to help strengthen her testimony and for our support in coming back to church. She was so happy she referred her neighbor, our other new investigator, who for identity purposes I will leave unnamed in my general email but if you want to know email me and I will tell you personally.. We stopped by her home the next day and and she was so nice! They were getting ready to leave but we were able to give her a Finding Faith in Christ DVD. We have a return appointment for this Friday! 

We also had zone temple service on Thursday. It was my first time being able to do Temple Service and it was INCREDIBLE! Sister Merciales and I were able to work inside the temple for the first part and it was really special. We dusted and cleaned all the floral arrangements in the Celestial Room. Working and feeling the spirit so strongly, it was like being on the receiving end of being in a lesson.  Very special. Then we went outside and laid sod. We stayed with part of our zone a little longer to help the workers finish it. Afterwards the head of the temple staff who was helping thanked all of us and said that our zone worked so well together and in unity to accomplish a job faster than he had seen it done before so that was a special boost to us as well. We're doing the Lord's work. We are doing our best to do it with perfection, haste, and precision. As individuals, as companionships, as districts, zones, and as a mission! :)

Last night was just really fun! We went and helped do service at Sister Manoogin's and afterwards guess what! She had Chinese floating lanterns! YES! LIKE the ones in TANGLED <--- LOVE THIS MOVIE! We went on her roof with her and let one off! It was so cool! Seriously like a dream come true. I don't care how silly it sounds it was so awesome!!!! 

This week I also:

-ate at a Los Angeles taco truck for the first time (and didnt get sick)

-Received more referrals from the visitors center than I ever had before

-went to El Chollos with our zone (last lunch together before transfers

-Lots of pictures that will be sent later! 

GREAT WEEK!

THE CHURCH IS TRUE AS THE SKY IS BLUE

WITH THE BOOK OF MORMON AT HAND FOR HIM I'LL STAND

WALKING THESE STREETS AND KNOCKING ON DOORS

TEACHING THE WORD IS WHAT I LIVE FOR!

(I now rap: fun fact of the week!)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Transfer Pictures

Transfer Pictures

Transfer Pictures 

Transfer Pictures

Week 20 - 20 Weeks already?!?! Time goes by so fast!!!!

20 Weeks already?!?! Time goes by so fast!!!!

This week has been quite interesting!

Irmagard went to Las Vegas and got married spontaneously! She is really excited to meet with us again once she gets back though!

Luckily our other investigator is now progressing. His name is Ben and he is genuinely interested in knowing more about his purpose in life. This week he even prayed the Heavenly Father, "the Great Spirit", AND ended in the name of Jesus Christ! This is a huge step for him recognizing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ more than just as possible figures. 

We are trying to get more members involved in our lessons which is great when they can, but 98% of the time they are busy. We do have some more families and couples moving into the ward despite how many are moving so I'm praying that we will get at least one member who is free enough to join us in lessons. 

I have truly seen the blessings and difference it makes with the investigators when a member is present to not only support and testify what we are saying but to be their friend and share their testimonies as well. I love when a member can confirm to the investigator what he or she is feeling for them. It's like a light bulb goes off for the investigator. "If we abide in Him, He abides in us"

I also had a very special experience for me this week. I don't know it was like my own personal light bulb went off. I have truly been able to see on my mission how certain people are placed in our life for a purpose and how we are placed individually in other peoples lives as well. However, I was able to see this week that it is not just on our mission that this happens. 

A friend from BYU Hawaii came to the visitors center this week and we were able give him a little tour of the Visitors Center.  I didn't know Eric very well while we were there. However, one day I didn't have class and was at the beach just walking by myself and he was there and talked to me for a little while. He gave me some advice and council that I have never forgotten and have been able to apply in my life to help me go on a mission and on my mission as well. Before he left the Visitor's Center I was able to thank him for that council over a year ago. He remembered it as well. It was then that it hit me that he made a change in my life over a year ago and it was not a coincidence but a blessing. Afterwards I was able to think back at all (or a lot of ) the people I have come in contact with. It was amazing to see how many I didn't know very well but made an influence in my life. It is such a blessing to know that Heavenly Father is ALWAYS watching out for us and helping us even when we don't realize it.

My companion Sister Merciales is so inspiring as well! I love her so much! She is incredible!. We are really being unified. Last night we were able to give a brief tour to Sister Weidman (President Weidman's wife) and her son Danny. I think it was the best Sister Merciales and I have ever worked together teaching in a tour. It was natural transitioning and the Spirit was very strong.

OH! I got pied in the face for District Meeting! :) We have fun like that! lol A set of Elder's made all their goals so they got to pie someone and lucky me I was chosen... BUT we made our goals and the AP's were at our meeting that day so I was able to pie Elder Black. haha It was fun. 

Today for P-day our zone activity was sand volleyball at the park so finally got a little bit of sun! It has been cloudy and we dont get out in the middle of the day a lot being at the Visitors Center. 

I want a perm. Just sayin. I rock me some curls. 

I LOVE this mission so much! It is such a blessing to be working in West Wood right now, it is hard work in this area but so rewarding and I know I am being a hand in these members and investigators lives as well as them in mine!

 Ether 12:27 "27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen 
California Los Angeles Mission
1591 E. Temple Way
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 19 - This week has been exciting, stressful, and strait up CRAZY!!!!!

This week has been exciting, stressful, and strait up CRAZY!!!!!

On so many different levels and for different reasons.

To start off the week Heavenly Father humbled me.

That is an understatement. Don't get me wrong its not like I was super prideful, He just has a way of answering prayers in a very unique way.

 Well last week I mentioned that I had gotten a parking ticket. And it wasn't a lot thank goodness. It was $68. However for a missionary that is a lot. So I used the rest of my "emergency" funds to pay it. Which would have been fine except July was a five week month and I had some additional expenses come up which used the rest of my monthly allotment given by the mission. 

This was a problem because I was going to buy food for this past week with my now non-existent emergency funds. So last P-day I wasn't able to buy groceries. Any other week this would have been fine. Except this week my side of the fridge was literally completely empty except for one bell-pepper, a half of a cucumber, two slices of bread and juice. Luckily in the cupboard I had one pack of top-roman and a couple snack packs of cheese crackers a member had given me from Culver city... basically a mini meal and a snack for the week.. yeahhhh...

I was like okay I'm just going to be VERY "healthy" this week and fast a lot. So I prayed to Heavenly Father for a way to let me find a way to have meals this week since our members in our ward are super busy and don't usually have time to have us over. 

Tuesday morning we miraculously had a member meal for lunch and I was like yes! A meal for the day! (Thank you Sister Anderson) And for dinner I had my cucumber and Sister Merciales had made some extra rice and shared with me so that was fine. 

But then Tuesday night it was 9:30 and we were finishing daily planning and we got a knock on the door. It was Sister Lago and Sister Foutz and they came in carrying bags of groceries and gave them to me. I was so confused. They knew I was low on food for the week but it wasn't a huge deal or anything. Then it hit me that it wasn't P-day so it couldn't have been them that got the food. At there meal that night with la familia Olivarez, a family from the sister's Spanish ward, they were given some extra tamales and said something along the lines of oh great we can give these to Sis. Petersen. And when they asked why they said I was running low on food and so they gave them some extra tamales for me. But then to go even further that night the Olivarez's showed up at the visitors center with groceries for them to give to me. I was speechless to hear this. I had never even met Sister Olivarez and had only met Brother Olivarez briefly a couple times at the visitors center and wasn't really able to communicate much because of my poor Spanish. I was overcome with gratitude and humility. Tears of so many emotions came over me and all I could do was pray in thanks for this miracle. I knew that this wonderful family didn't have a lot, yet they were willing to give what they didn't have to someone they didn't now but knew was in need. Heavenly Father truly takes care of His children and answers our prayers in incredible ways. The next night The Olivarez family came to the Visitors Center and I just hugged Sister Olivarez and tearfully thanked her. Miracles happen.

Then Thursday was the most stressful, exciting, overwhelming, yet way fun night I will probably EVER have on my mission. I hope so anyways. So we went to dinner with our investigator Irmagard, but it ended up being SO much more. Irmgard is incredible, super fun and exciting and we just love her. Take into consideration that we have to be home at 9:00pm okay. We met her at her house in Beverly Hills at 7pm so she could drive. We rode with her (in her super cute cherry red Mercedes Benz convertible) to go to dinner. 

However, instead of taking us strait to dinner as planned, she drove us downtown Los Angeles for an hour and a half being our "personal tour guide" and explaining EVERYTHING to us. Which would have been great except it wasnt in our area boundaries and when we said this she was just like "girls girls, this is Los Angeles you have to see the beautiful Architecture and beauty of the city!" Then she headed back so we could all go eat dinner. 

But she took us the The Saddle Ranch Restraunt in Holly Wood that is famous for its fun atmosphere and mechanical bull and right across from The House of Blues (where she wants to take us for dinner next time). All of this would have been AWESOME except none of it was in our area and we had the Malibu Sisters car parked at Irmgard's house that they needed to have by 9pm too. 

So this entire time I am trying to be happy and stay positive yet on the inside I am freaking out and we're texting our zone leaders letting them know we aren't going to be home until later and trying to call sisters in the bathroom to figure out a car for Malibu but there wasn't any service in there so we had to text a million people to find a car for them. I got to the point where we were just like ok we have to enjoy this or we're going to explode from stressing out. So we ordered and my meal could have paid for my groceries for two weeks which we were also like AH! about but Irmgard just said "girls girls enjoy! I come for good food not for prices!" So we did. I had the best dinner I have had on my mission. We enjoyed and we were right in front of the mechanical bull so we got dinner and a show!  Yeah be home at 9pm right? ha. We kept saying we needed to leave because they would close the gate and she kept saying "girls girls dont worry! you'll be home on time!" (thats an hour after we're already supposed to be home) We ended up getting home at 11:30 pm! I was exhausted! And we still weekly planned for the next day! SO CRAZY!!!!! But SO FUN! Post mission I'm coming back and riding the bull! ;) for reals though!

Friday we had district meeting which is always great! I love our Westwood Zone! We have a new zone goal for August and its Harry Potter themed, which is fun but it was the theme my first transfer in my old zone but they're doing it way different so it'll be cool to see. If we reach our lesson goals for the week we get to pie someone in the face, but if we dont.. we get pied in the face... not happening! They're the best! 

Then we had a lesson with Irmgard at the VC that night and it was actually our best and most productive lesson we have ever had with her. We went over the Doctrine of Christ and restated our purpose. we explained to her again about our area boundaries and if she would like to take us out of our area (not the mission boundaries, just our area) that we would have to do it on a P-day and plan it ahead. She was happy with that and said that she was excited for the next time we could go out! haha oh we love her! 

Saturday I had a baptism! in South Carolina! 18 year old Meredith came to the VC in May with her Aunt who is the only member in the family and we gave her a tour. I have kept in touch with her via the Teaching Center and she got baptized on Saturday!!!!!

We have really been trying to make our key indicators this week and so praying to do so. At the start of yesterday by looking at what we had so far for the week you would have said there was no way to make our goals but we did! We've been praying to make them and fasted for it yesterday too. 

Yesterday Irmgard and Ben came to church for the first time! Ben only came because his naighbor and recent convert Ernie's car broke down and needed a ride. But he still came! He only stayed for the first part of sacrament but that is still so much progress for him. 

Testimony meeting was so special. The Spirit was so strong! I bore my testimony. We decided to call and text some members yesterday afternoon and go on splits for two hours to see if we could miraculously make our lesson goals and not get pied in the face this week and we did! We found two young awesome couples that could go with us. Divide and conquer! I had two member present lessons with our investigators Sarah and Ben. And Sister Merciales had a lesson with a referrals son who is interested now and now had a baptismal date for August 25th! Miracles!!!

Today Irmgard took us out to The Grove for lunch at guess where... Cheesecake Factory! I had the salmon and shrimp. SO good! Ya'll know cheesecake is my favorite! :) I had the white chocolate Red Velvet cream cheese cheesecake of course. <3 Best lunch and dessert so far on the mission!!! Irmgard is so awesome!!! Love her! 

Yes this week was one of a kind that's for sure! People think it would get "boring" doing the "same" thing everyday. But it is FAR from the same. It is just incredible how the Lord works and ho no matter what we are doing or where we are He is here for us to help us through it! 

THANK YOU YOUNG WOMEN FROM THE DAPHNE, ALABAMA WARD!!!!!!!! I OPENED YOUR PACKAGE THIS MORNING AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE! IT SERIOUSLY MADE MY WEEK! I LOVEEEEEEEE IT! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen 

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 E. Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

Week 18 - BEST WEEK EVERRR!!!!!!

BEST WEEK EVERRR!!!!!! 

Why you may ask? 

I grew a lot this week. Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. 

This week I had to learn a lot. I had incredible interviews with President and Sister Weidman. I saw the doctor for my shaky hands (shes following up with the neurologist). I had to prepare two separate talks for two different baptisms. I gave my first training in District meeting. I went on splits for the first time with a member. I got my first parking ticket (while on splits with the member). (It is okay because I received it for being over my time limit but I was over the time limit because we found a new investigator, a Jewish woman who promised to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about it, which NEVER happens, EVER! so It was so worth it!) I read a ton of the Book of Mormon. I witnessed two beautiful baptisms. I received inspiration. I saw miracles everyday this week!

Yesterday July 28, 2013 Kevin and Kendall  were both BAPTIZED! It is the most incredible thing to be able to witness and be a part of this type of change in someones life! 

Kevin is the man I taught in the Teaching Center at the VC. It was incredible to be able to actually go to his baptism and the fact that he even lived in my mission! Yesterday was the first time I actually met him face to face! Not only was I able to be there, I was also a part of the program and gave the talk on baptism. It was an incredible service and he bore his testimony at the end which was incredible and it truly was a very special moment for me. 

Kendall is the sweetest little 11 year old girl ever! I taught her in Culver City and she had me give her talk on baptism at her baptism yesterday as well! And no, I did NOT give the same talk for both! Kendall's baptism was very emotional for me. She is such a sweet daughter of our Heavenly Father and the spirit truly radiates from her! I have learned so much from her if anything, how to open my heart more. Her testimony was so pure and truly inspired. This younger generation is truly blessed. I am so blessed to be a part of it and be able to see them grow and learn these truths our Heavenly Father has given to us! 

I am so blessed to have grown up with this knowledge. I look back and see how in some ways I took it for granted when I was younger. However I know that I have and continued to be humbled and see the ways this gospel has and keeps blessing my life and my family. I know that the Priesthood power of God has been restored to the Earth. I know that my family WILL be together for eternity because of being sealed in the temple. I know that there is a true Prophet of God on the Earth today. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is at the head of this Gospel and leads us today just as he did two thousand years ago. It was testimonies of my siblings it what I know truly strengthened me before my mission and I pray for each one of them every day that their testimonies and desire for their testimonies to grow will continue to increase just as mine has since I've been on my mission. 

Some people don't understand what any of this means, but they can. I KNOW they can. I have seen people come to know. Just like I saw Kevin and Kendall come to know. 

It was through prayer that I was able to know these things for myself and I know that anyone else can as well if they are willing to ask God, our Father, and humble themselves enough to have faith that they will receive an answer.

Also, the Apostles are some pretty inspired men! 

I love reading their talks!  The talks on revelation in this Augusts Ensign is 

INCREDIBLEEEEE!!!!!!!! Ya'll definitely need to read them! 

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen 

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 E. Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

How we park in westwood zone

Week 17 - Such a great week! We finally got our area completely divided!

Such a great week! We finally got our area completely divided! 

The area is hard because its all really higher class. Don't get me wrong there is plenty to be done and its really good! Its just harder to get in certain areas. There are so many less-active members in our area like 300... but that's why I'm here! to help invite and remind them of the love they once felt! :) I'm really excited about this transfer and know that it is going to be great!

So we have a really great and super fun zone! our theme this month is "Westwood's goin swimmin!". Where we have a drawn pool and get stick people for our investigators and add swim suits, floaties, goggles, fins, etc for each progressing step they make until they get in the pool (baptism). Every week our two districts in the zone have a certain task we focus on and we each get a water balloon for each point we get. My district dominates and so every week after district meeting we go outside and each district lines up across from each other and we have a water balloon fight! So much fun! And we get more balloons than them so I stay dry :) 

Every Wednesday night our ward has a Ward BBQ! It is perfect for inviting investigators and getting members involved in the work as well as a great way to introduce friends and family to the gospel! This week we had two investigators that came. It was funny because we were meeting one for a lesson before hand at the Visitors Center but she was stuck in traffic so we were waiting in a room with our member and then our other investigator and member walked in just stopping by but then we started having a discussion and lesson and then out other investigator walked in and joined is so it was super funny because none of them new each other and it was super random but it worked out really well and then gave them all fellow-shipping opportunities! Then we were all able to go and enjoy the BBQ all together! :) 

We did ALOT of tracting this week.... enough said. 

So I've been reading a lot in Alma and it has really been incredible how it is relating to the work right now. Can I just say that Alma the Younger and Amulek are straight bosses! Like i know that is a complete understatement but seriously! They knew their purpose and despite the sheer torture they went through, they stood firm in their faith. By doing so they were saved and the wicked were destroyed. They never gave up even though the people told them to leave and they eventually were able to save other cities. Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah are a whole other group of inspiration! They are so strong and firm in everything they did. I love that though the Lamanites just wanted to kill them they continued to see them as their brethren that needed to know love and truth. I see this today in the work we are doing. Some of the people here in LA and all over the world are crazy or good and just don't know and they are our "Lamanites" today. They may not always like us or except us but as we continue with a steadfastness in faith and see them as our brothers and sisters that need this just as much as we do, it makes it easier. 

Also, Elder Shakespear, the directer here at the Visitors Center is incredible! He knows just about everything. He says I ask the hardest questions, which I do, but he takes it and helps me learn so much! Yesterday he explained more to me about the priesthood. I am so blessed to have the priesthood in my life. To have my dad and brother as priesthood holders means more to me than words can describe. The power of God to heal, comfort, and bless. I've experience and seen miracles by this Priesthood authority and if people knew about this I know it would soften so many hearts! So priesthood holders, don't hide it, look for opportunities to bless and help those in need around you. 

We also got permission from president to use a courtyard at the stake center behind us to work out during the week. We run everyday in the parking lot or around the blocks close by on the hills but Wednesdays we do insanity and Fridays we do kickboxing in the courtyard! So good!  :)

Hey! I have unlimited email time now so I will actually be able to respond to emails now! I only have one hour while in the vc but before or after my VC time on pdays i can email now too :) 

This work is incredible and I love it! Everything I teach out here and live by is true! It changes lives, including mine! 

I Love you all!

Love,

Sister Jordyn Petersen

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen 

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 E. Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801 

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Week 16 - "BEST WEEK EVER!"

"BEST WEEK EVER!" that has just got to be my saying now. But the weeks just keep getting better and better!

This transfer is going to be incredible! My companion is amazing! She's this tiny little Filipino and man is her confidence and testimony huge! I am already learning so much from her! She is so focused and just so sweet. I emailed some pics of us from today. Sister Merciales and I are getting along great and teaching well together! I can already feel and see miracles happening all around me and our area. Especially because of splitting it. It will be so good to be able to focus on a more direct group of people. It's sad giving up investigators but a blessing to be able to go and find more! We set a baptismal date already with a new investigator. Oh and I'm the driver of the companionship now! ;) Say hello to the BEST parallel parker Los Angles has ever seen. haha maybe not the BEST but I'm pretty good. Apparently dad, you were right about me hitting the brakes and accelerating to hard though because Sis. Merciales said the same thing my first day driving. But I'm good though :) 

This month is incredible! I have a baptism in our area, a baptism in my previous area, and a baptism in the another ward for a man I taught all the lessons to in the teaching center and helped him keep all of his commitments. Having the "problem" of to many baptism to attend is the greatest accomplishment I've ever had. 

The baptism I have scheduled for another ward had actually met with missionaries before, but dropped them because he wasn't committed and didn't want to work with or be taught by "kids". He respects them but it was just difficult for him to converse with them. He's had a testimony since he was young and has read the Book of Mormon. I found his information and called him after I got here back in the beginning of May and have taught him every week since. I have had my prayers and fasts for him answered! He has grown incredibly! I have truly been able to apply the teaching of Preach My Gospel to him. To teach him at his own pace and the lessons he needed. We set his baptismal date for July 28 and I was able to get permission from the APs to contact the Elders over in another ward and tell them everything and give them his number and set up a meeting with him for after church. He went to church and felt "at home". He was able to meet the Stake President, the Bishop, and many others. He is so excited to be baptized and be a part of this Gospel in its entirety. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to teach him. We both know that he wouldn't have looked at the church again for many years if at ever. He is so grateful for missionary work and I am too. I know I am so blessed to be able to bring my Father's children back into the fold. 

I have such a strong testimony of prayer and this is just one example. I am so grateful to be able to serve my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I love helping our brothers and sisters learn and come unto Them.

Haha okay so somehow we were talking about abs with the APs while waiting for the other sisters about splitting westwood and my companion was adorable and soo funny. So this is how you say how many abs you have:

1=ab 2=abs 3=abss 4=absss 5=abssss 6 pack=absssss   0= a like (ah in apple) 

It was so funny! 

Yes they are splitting our area but it needed it! And I still have the East side witch has Beverly Hills. Pray that we will be able to baptize a family! 

I teach all day without fail,

Its just sad when there's no mail.

I have an awesome farmers tan,

sometimes in the heat we need a fan. 

The Book of Mormon is so true,

the sky here is very blue.

^^^^^^ My awesome poetry of the day... :)) 

Love, 

Sister Petersen

Write me! :) 

jordyn.petersen@myldsmail.net

Sister Jordyn Kealoha Lani Petersen 

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 E. Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801